Maitreya

Maitreya is a prominent figure in Buddhist tradition described as the future Buddha who will succeed Gautama Buddha (Shakyamuni) as the next enlightened teacher for humanity. The name comes from Sanskrit maitri, meaning loving-kindness or friendship.

In Buddhist cosmology, Maitreya is believed to presently reside in the Tusita heaven, awaiting conditions favorable for his descent to the human realm. When the current age has declined and the Dharma has faded, he will descend, attain full enlightenment, and teach the Dharma anew to future generations.

Across Buddhist schools, Maitreya is known by different names: in Pali sources he is called Metteyya, in Chinese Milefo, and in Japanese Miroku. He is typically depicted as a bodhisattva who will eventually become a Buddha, and iconography varies by region. In East Asia, Maitreya is often associated with the coming age and is sometimes linked to popular images of the future savior in temple and art traditions.

Historically, references to Maitreya appear in early Buddhist literature and are elaborated in later Mahayana sutras and commentaries. The concept has influenced temple iconography, devotional practices, and artistic representations throughout Buddhist regions, serving as a symbol of future renewal and the enduring cycle of teaching.

In broader religious and cultural contexts, the name Maitreya also appears outside mainstream Buddhism. In Hindu tradition, a sage named Maitreya is mentioned in some texts, such as the Maitrayaniya Upanishad, and in modern and esoteric movements the figure is sometimes invoked as a world-teacher or messianic presence.