About Maitreya

With a name meaning “loving kindness”, Maitreya is the embodiment of all-encompassing love in Vajrayana Buddhism. He is the future Buddha who will appear in the fifth aeon when the Dharma is completely lost to revive the teachings and lead countless beings out of suffering. When he appears, his teachings will follow a Sutra path, concentrating on the practice of the Six Paramitas in extensive form.

His practice helps us to attain pure view, immense love and the same virtuous qualities as our gurus. Keeping him close is a reminder to develop the qualities of loving-kindness and to accumulate the merits to reincarnate at his feet and receive teachings directly from him. It also has the effect of helping us attain the Six Paramitas.

Maitreya was the heart disciple of Buddha Shakyamuni. As Buddha left Tushita Heaven, he passed his crown to Maitreya, inviting him to his seat as an indication that Maitreya would be the next Buddha. And so, Maitreya resides as the current monarch in Tushita Heaven, awaiting the time when he will descend to teach the Dharma again and bring us out of suffering in samsara.

He is seated upright in full readiness to arrive and teach us, and his form resembles ours showing that he will manifest in that way to help us out of suffering. His hands, held in the mudra of teaching, represent the defining act in which he will manifest – to teach and turn the wheel of Dharma. His golden skin indicates that he can bring increase and great growth to our spiritual practice.

Further Reading

• The Buddha of the future by Tsem Rinpoche
• The relationship between Lama Tsongkhapa and Maitreya Buddha (video)

• Material: Copper
• Height: 120 mm (4.7-in)
• Width: 75 mm (3-in)
• Depth: 47 mm (1.9-in)
• Weight: 0.25 kg (0.6 lb)