Difference between revisions of "Metteyya"
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At {{Wiki|present}}, [[Metteyya]] is a [[bodhisatta]] abiding in the [[Tusita heaven]], practicing the [[spiritual]] qualities that will lead to his [[enlightenment]] in the distant {{Wiki|future}}. In most [[Buddhist]] {{Wiki|iconography}} [[Metteyya]] is depicted as a [[beautiful]] young {{Wiki|prince}} with a [[stupa]] in his {{Wiki|crown}}. In late {{Wiki|Chinese}} [[art]] he is often depicted as a rotund smiling figure, so as to {{Wiki|emphasize}} his approachability and his warm friendly [[nature]], and is inelegantly and incorrectly dubbed ‘[[Laughing Buddha]]’ by some Westerners. | At {{Wiki|present}}, [[Metteyya]] is a [[bodhisatta]] abiding in the [[Tusita heaven]], practicing the [[spiritual]] qualities that will lead to his [[enlightenment]] in the distant {{Wiki|future}}. In most [[Buddhist]] {{Wiki|iconography}} [[Metteyya]] is depicted as a [[beautiful]] young {{Wiki|prince}} with a [[stupa]] in his {{Wiki|crown}}. In late {{Wiki|Chinese}} [[art]] he is often depicted as a rotund smiling figure, so as to {{Wiki|emphasize}} his approachability and his warm friendly [[nature]], and is inelegantly and incorrectly dubbed ‘[[Laughing Buddha]]’ by some Westerners. | ||
| − | The [[Mahayana]] and some of the [[Theravada]] commentaries place the arrival of [[Metteya]] at approximately 5,000 years after the passing of [[Buddha]], which would make it somewhere around the year 4517 which is about 2,500 years from now. The early [[Theravada]] discourses hold that there is no set date and that it depends upon when the [[Dhamma]] disappears from the [[world]] and when the [[conditions]] are right, which could be that far off or even longer. | + | The [[Mahayana]] and some of the [[Theravada]] commentaries place the arrival of [[Metteya]] at approximately 5,000 years after the passing of [[Buddha]], which would make it somewhere around the year 4517 which is about 2,500 years from now. The early [[Theravada]] [[discourses]] hold that there is no set date and that it depends upon when the [[Dhamma]] disappears from the [[world]] and when the [[conditions]] are right, which could be that far off or even longer. |
See also: [[28 Buddhas]] | See also: [[28 Buddhas]] | ||
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[http://www.dhammawiki.com/index.php?title=Metteyya www.dhammawiki.com] | [http://www.dhammawiki.com/index.php?title=Metteyya www.dhammawiki.com] | ||
[[Category:Maitreya]] | [[Category:Maitreya]] | ||
| − | + | {{PaliTerminology}} | |
Latest revision as of 01:09, 24 October 2015
Metteyya (Pali) or Maitreya (Sanskrit) means ‘The Loving One’ or ‘The Friendly One’ and is the name that the Buddha of the next era will be known by (D.III,76).
At present, Metteyya is a bodhisatta abiding in the Tusita heaven, practicing the spiritual qualities that will lead to his enlightenment in the distant future. In most Buddhist iconography Metteyya is depicted as a beautiful young prince with a stupa in his crown. In late Chinese art he is often depicted as a rotund smiling figure, so as to emphasize his approachability and his warm friendly nature, and is inelegantly and incorrectly dubbed ‘Laughing Buddha’ by some Westerners.
The Mahayana and some of the Theravada commentaries place the arrival of Metteya at approximately 5,000 years after the passing of Buddha, which would make it somewhere around the year 4517 which is about 2,500 years from now. The early Theravada discourses hold that there is no set date and that it depends upon when the Dhamma disappears from the world and when the conditions are right, which could be that far off or even longer.
See also: 28 Buddhas
