I was reading somewhere of a prophecy of a future Buddha that is supposed to come. I think his name is Maitreya. Could anyone tell me where I can read more about it? Are there any prophecies referring to the timing?
Greetings SolitaryBuddhist.
If you click on the big Q icon on the top right of the page, you can type in Maitreya Buddha. It links you with all the discussions etc that dealth with this
This is always a good first option to try, as it is likely that your question has already been asked and answered.
Here is what it shows
https://discourse.suttacentral.net/search?q=Maitreya%20Buddha
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- The Arising of the Buddha Metteyya
And the Blessed One named Metteyya will arise in the worldāperfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those who wish to train, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessedājust as I have arisen today. He will realize with his own insight this worldāwith its gods, MÄras and BrahmÄs, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, gods and humansāand make it known to others, just as I do today. He will teach the Dhamma thatās good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased. And he will reveal a spiritual practice thatās entirely full and pure, just as I do today. He will look after a Saį¹ gha of many thousand mendicants, just as I look after a Saį¹ gha of many hundreds today.
Then King Saį¹ kha will have the sacrificial post that had been built by King MahÄpanÄda raised up. After staying there, he will give it away to ascetics and brahmins, paupers, vagrants, travelers, and beggars. Then, having shaved off his hair and beard and dressed in ocher robes, he will go forth from the lay life to homelessness in the Buddha Metteyyaās presence. Soon after going forth, living withdrawn, diligent, keen, and resolute, he will realize the supreme end of the spiritual path in this very life. He will live having achieved with his own insight the goal for which people from good families rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness.
Mendicants, be your own island, your own refuge, with no other refuge. Let the teaching be your island and your refuge, with no other refuge. And how does a mendicant do this? Itās when a mendicant meditates by observing an aspect of the bodyākeen, aware, and mindful, rid of desire and aversion for the world. They meditate observing an aspect of feelings ā¦ mind ā¦ principlesākeen, aware, and mindful, rid of desire and aversion for the world. Thatās how a mendicant is their own island, their own refuge, with no other refuge. Thatās how they let the teaching be their island and their refuge, with no other refuge.
(DN 26, Ven SujÄto translation)
Apparently he will come after King Saį¹ kha rules all of India (see the preceding section of the scripture above). So weāve got some waiting, I guess.
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Do we know why this is?
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I think itās just because heās the beeās knees.
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I wonder if AvalokiteÅvara could be the bodhisattva that will realize Buddhahood. He has been very active in helping people in the path to salvation (if I understand correctly he is the one who incarnates as the Dalai Lama). The tradition in Tibet seems so strong and vibrant.
I think the greater SukhÄvatÄ«vyÅ«hasÅ«tra gives Avalokiteshvara a different name upon his abhisheka from the Buddhas of the 10 directions. After this if I recall correctly the text has him inheriting SukhÄvatÄ« after AmitÄbhaās parinirvana, to look after the beings there.
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