Maitreya is a bodhisattva who is believed to be the next Buddha to appear in the world. According to Buddhist tradition, after Gautama Buddha, the historical Buddha attained enlightenment and passed away, the teachings he left behind would gradually decline and be lost over time. To ensure that the teachings would not be lost, it was prophesied that Maitreya would appear in the world as the next Buddha and bring about a new era of enlightenment for humanity.
Maitreya is often depicted as a large, plump figure with a smiling face and is sometimes referred to as the “Laughing Buddha.” He is said to be a symbol of happiness and contentment and is popularly invoked for blessings and good fortune. Maitreya is believed to be residing in the Tushita Heaven, a realm of existence in Buddhist cosmology, awaiting his turn to be reborn on earth.
In East Asian Buddhism, Maitreya is often depicted in the form of the future Buddha and is a popular object of worship. Many temples and shrines throughout East Asia have statues of Maitreya, and devotees often make offerings and perform rituals to invoke his blessings. Maitreya is also an important figure in Pure Land Buddhism, a popular form of Buddhism in China, Japan, and Korea, which teaches that devotion to Maitreya will lead to rebirth in the Pure Land, a paradise realm where one can easily attain enlightenment.
In Theravada Buddhism, Maitreya is not seen as a future Buddha but as a bodhisattva who will appear in the world and propagate the Dhamma after the teachings of the current Buddha, Gautama Buddha, have been lost.
In addition to his role as a future Buddha, Maitreya is also seen as a symbol of compassion and altruism in the Buddhist tradition. He is said to embody the bodhisattva ideal of working tirelessly for the benefit of all beings without concern for one’s own enlightenment. This is reflected in the many stories and legends about Maitreya in Buddhist literature, which often depict him as a generous and selfless figure who is always ready to help others.
Maitreya is also an important figure in various Mahayana sutras, such as the Maitreya Upanishad, the Maitreya-nāma-saṃgīti, and the Mahā-Māyūrī. These texts provide teachings and stories about Maitreya and his role as a future Buddha.
In many Buddhist countries, Maitreya’s festival, known as the Future Buddha Festival, is celebrated on the 8th day of the 12th month of the lunar calendar. On this day, people make offerings, perform rituals and practice virtues to accumulate merits in hopes of being reborn as a human in Maitreya’s era.
In summary, Maitreya is an important figure in Buddhism, who is believed to be the next Buddha to appear in the world and bring about a new era of enlightenment for humanity. He is often depicted as a large, smiling figure and is a symbol of happiness, compassion, and altruism. Maitreya is also an important object of worship in many Buddhist traditions and his festival is widely celebrated.
