Maitreya

Buddhism 75px
Basic terms
Three Jewels Four Noble Truths Dukkha Suffering Samudaya Cause of Suffering Nirodha Cessation of Suffering Magga Noble Eight Fold Path Buddhahood Enlightenment Nirvana
People
Gautama Buddha Dalai Lama Bodhisattva Sangha
Schools
Theravada Mahayana Zen Vajrayana Nyingma Kagyu Sakya Gelug
Practices
Dharma study Noble Eightfold Path Meditation Chanting Metta

Maitreya, in Buddhist tradition, is the future Buddha. He is presently a bodhisattva living in the Tushita heaven. It is believed that they will descend to Earth to preach the dharma (“law”). This will happen when the teachings of Gautama Buddha have completely decayed. The name Maitreya is derived from the Sanskrit maitrī (“friendliness”).

Maitreya Media

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  Schist Greco-Buddhist statue of Maitreya, Gandhara, c. 3rd century

• The Bodhisattva Maitreya LACMA M.69.13.7 (7 of 7).jpg

  11th century Maitreya, Bihar, India

• Standing Bodhisattva Maitreya (Buddha of the Future).jpg

  Greco-Buddhist standing Maitreya

• The Bodhisattva Maitreya, the Buddha of the Future MET DT244.jpg

  Nepalese Maitreya sculpture, c. 11th century

• Bodhisattva, Kamakura period, Japan.jpg

  Maitreya, 13th century, Kamakura period, Tokyo National Museum, Important Cultural Property of Japan

• MET 1991 384.jpg

  Maitreya depicted as the founder of the Hosso (Japanese Yogacara) school, c. 16th century

• Boddhisatva Maitreya, Gandhara, 2nd-3rd cents., National Museum of Korea, Seoul (1) (41088563922).jpg

  Bodhisattva Maitreya, Gandhara, 2nd-3rd cents., National Museum of Korea, Seoul

• 58.1 Maitreya- 11th century CE-Basalt- Bihar- 3790-A25136-Sculpture Gallery of Indian Museum-Kolkata-West Bengal.jpg

  11th century CE, Basalt sculpture, Bihar

• Rituals in Jamchen Lhakhang Monastery.webm

  Rituals in Jamchen Lhakhang Monastery Nepal