Maitreya — The Future Buddha

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• Maitreya — The Future Buddha and the Promise of the Next Turning of the Dharma Wheel
  **Maitreya** (弥勒, 'loving kindness') is the Future Buddha in Buddhism, currently residing in the **Tusita heaven** as the 9th in the sequence of 27 historical Buddhas preceding him in this world-system. According to Buddhist eschatology, Maitreya will be the next Buddha to appear in our world, teaching the **dharma** when the teachings of the current Buddha (Shakyamuni) have decayed and disappeared. In Mahayana Buddhism, Maitreya is a major bodhisattva figure who will appear in the future "when the teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha have been forgotten." He is associated with the **next turning of the dharma wheel** — a new set of teachings that will be appropriate for beings in that future time. **Maitreya images** are among the most common in Buddhist art, particularly in China, Japan, and Central Asia. The famous **Bamiyan Buddhas** (55m and 18m) in Afghanistan were among the largest Maitreya statues in the world before their destruction by the Taliban in 2001. Chinese pilgrims **Faxian** (5th century) and **Xuanzang** (7th century) both described large Maitreya statues in Central Asia and India. In **Theravada** tradition, Maitreya is not emphasized as a future savior but is still recognized as a bodhisattva who will become the next Buddha. In **Mahayana** tradition, Maitreya is a major figure with extensive textual development. Tibetan Buddhism includes elaborate Maitreya practices and visualizations. The concept of Maitreya represents Buddhist eschatology — the belief that the dharma will decline and then be restored by a future Buddha. This provides hope for Buddhist practitioners that even after the current teachings fade, another Buddha will arise. Today Maitreya is worshipped across all Buddhist traditions as the Future Buddha and is especially prominent in East Asian Buddhism, where temples dedicated to Maitreya (such as the **Yungang Grottoes**) are major pilgrimage sites.
  — Buddhist tradition + Mahayana sutras + scholarly sources