Is Maitreya a Bodhisattva or Buddha?

Helo Haoqi

Hmm... me has a curious question... Is Maitreya a Bodhisattva or Buddha now while waiting to be reborn in this Saha world?

Thanks
Jessie Tan

hi hi Jessie,

I had asked Ah Gong similar questions before when we visited the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum last year. hee...
(http://www.btrts.org.sg//Nagapuspa/naga_vol_12/vol12_pdfpages/v12_106.pdf)

Your question is, "Is Maitreya a Bodhisattva or Buddha now while waiting to be reborn in this Saha world?"...hmm...Maybe i can "haolian" (show off) without asking Ah Gong this time...hee...since Maitreya is still awaiting to be reborn, it means that he has yet sit under the Nagapuspa tree and gain enlightenment, and hence, I would say he is a Bodhisattva..heehee...what do you think?

Cheers
Haoqi

Helo Haoqi

Hmm... I have the same perception as you. If I think this way, i.e. He is still waiting to be decended to the saha world so He is a pu sa, this is logical.... But why is the image of "Buddha" appearing now? Known as "Mile fo"??

May Haoqi shed some light? ;p

Regards
Jessie Tan

Hi hi Jessie,

So so sorry, I was busy with exams last few weeks, and Ah Gong forbade me to go online. That is why I took so long to answer your questions. Well, from my understanding, I know that the depiction of Buddha Maitreya is that of the Future Buddha （当来下生弥勒尊佛塑像）. It may not be necessary that he is enlightened.

Oh…do you remember, in “When Haoqi Meets Maitreya” (《好奇的浩琦看弥勒》；http://www.btrts.org.sg//Nagapuspa/naga_vol_12/vol12_pdfpages/v12_106.pdf)?? Since Qici recited “Maitreya Oh True Maitreya” (“弥勒真弥勒”), I asked Ah Gong if there was a “fake” Maitreya? What I learnt then was, in Chinese History, there were a few uprisings that used Maitreya’s name as a pretext to rebel. This is because Buddhism believes that Maitreya will become the next successor, and bring about peace and happiness, and more importantly, joy in Dharma. Hence the “arrival of Maitreya” naturally symbolises a change in regime. That was also when some sculptures of Buddha Maitreya came about.

Cheers,
Haoqi