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[Alexandr Korol]

“Cult of Maitreya

Maitreya (Sanskrit: “Loving One”), Ajita (Sanskrit: “Unconquerable”) — such names were given to him by the Buddhas (see Mahāparinibbāna Sutta, Chapter 5). Buddhists believe that Maitreya will appear on Earth, attain full enlightenment, and teach the pure Dharma. Already in the Dīgha Nikāya (III, 26), he is mentioned as the future Buddha, the successor to Shakyamuni. In one of the sections of the Lalitavistara (V, 39), it is said that before descending to Earth from the Tusita Heavens to become a Buddha, Shakyamuni pointed to the bodhisattva Maitreya as his heir and placed his Bodhisattva diadem upon Maitreya’s head. Maitreya is the future teacher of humanity, bringing new teachings and serving as the continuation and expression of the Buddha’s message.
The cult of Maitreya has an ancient tradition and is especially developed in Central Asia and the Himalayas, where numerous statues have been erected in his honor (see the works of S. F. Oldenburg and the materials of the Central Asian expedition of N. K. Roerich), with some statues having been built as early as 350 BCE.
One of the earliest mentions of the name Maitreya is found in the Sanskrit text Maitreya-vyākaraṇa — “The Prophecy of Maitreya,” which asserts that gods, humans, and other beings will worship Maitreya and lose their doubts, and the currents of their attachments will dry up: free from all forms of poverty, they will be able to cross the ocean of becoming, and under Maitreya’s teaching, they will lead a holy life. Never again will they regard anything as belonging to them — nothing will belong to them: not gold or silver, not a home, nor loved ones! But they will live a sacred and chaste life under the guidance of Maitreya. They will break the net of passions and will enjoy an abundance of joy and happiness for their righteous lives.
Another tradition directly links Maitreya to the emergence of the Mahāyāna teaching. According to this tradition, the renowned founder of the Yogācāra Buddhist school, Asaṅga, visited the Tusita Heavens several times, and there, in the presence of the future Buddha, he grasped the essence of the Mahāyāna.

Tusita Heaven
The Buddha Maitreya resides in the Tusita Heaven, awaiting the time that will be favorable for Salvation.