Back by Trijang Dorje Chang As it was said by the being of great nature, Je Tsong Khapa: "I pray to the feet of Lord Maitreya, who due to his kindness, not being able to stand the sufferings of countless migrators to whom previous sugatas were indifferent, will come to the essence of enlightenment in this field of taming!"; Unexpressible numbers of eons ago, at the time of the great eon called "Holding", in the presence of Buddha, Essence of Jewel, the son of a brahmin named Ocean-Particles who was in his turn the minister of a Chakravartin King named Rim-of-Spokes, there were a thousand Veda-reading disciples of Ocean's Particles who generated the mind of enlightenment. The Tathagata also prophesied their becoming buddhas in this fortunate eon and at the time of choosing their own fields of taming, they all, from the first, Destroyer-of-Cyclic-Existence, up to the last, Manifestor-of-Aspirations, chose exclusively the fields which were easy to tame, and there were only two fields left: the time of disputes with 100 year life spans, and a future time with 80,000 year life spans. Since the time with 100 year life spans is the period of an extremely large increase of five degenerations (life span, views, delusions, persons and time) it was forsaken by all the others. Not being able to bear it due to compassion, Ocean's-Particles generated the intention to manifest at this very time. He was the future Shakyamuni Buddha. Since the future time with 80,000 year life spans is extremely favourable, all the others left it with indifference, and the protector Maitreya, who was at that time the fifth Veda-reader named Stainless-Light, not being able to bear that, generated the intention to come at that time. Sugata-Essence-of-Jewel also prophesied his becoming the fifth buddha of the fortunate eon. In this and other ways, the noble Protector Maitreya generated the mind of bodhicitta in front of many buddhas. Having done so he accumulated the two collections in countless, limitless eons and finally when having come to this field he will show the deed of attaining buddhahood. The way of it is as follows. Shakyamuni's doctrine, abiding in the universe for 5000 years, step by step, will come to an end and finally there will be a 500 year period of "keeping mere signs". Later, that will also decline and gradually vanish, and at the very end there will come a time with ten year life spans. Then will come eons of famine, disease and fighting with weapons, and sentient beings will suffer. At that time, there will appear a magnificent emanation of Maitreya, one cubit in height, wearing Dharma robes. Due to his skilful means, virtuous qualities of sentient beings will gradually develop and the glory of lifespan will increase so that finally, it will become 80,000 years of life. The qualities of the environment and its inhabitants will be inexpressible, equal to those of the gods. At that time, in Grassy Town, in the palace called Top Intelligence, there will appear a Chakravartin King named Conch, who rules the four continents. There will also appear his great minister, the brahmin, Extreme-Purity, and his wife, Pure-One. Then, having made five observations of time, family, caste, mother and land, Protector Maitreya will descend from Tushita and come to Jambudvipa. He will enter the womb of his mother, Pure-One, and finally in the garden called Blossoming-of-Good-Flowers he will take birth accompanied by limitless, wondrous signs. Gradually, he will enjoy games of youth, showing skills in 64 arts etc. and will stay in his home palace for 20,000 years, placing numberless living beings in the path of ripening and liberation. When the time for him to become buddha arrives, due to observing how brahmins divide properties of an extremely big precious stupa, he will realize impermanence and become ordained. Together with 4080 brahmin's and king's sons, He will sit in front of the Bodhi Tree called Naga-Tree and will attain completely manifest enlightenment on the very night of ordination. For seven days after he will not teach and then following prayers of Brahma he will turn the first wheel of Dharma. At that time He will be attended by a gathering of 960 million arhats. At the second turning there will be a gathering of 940 million and at the third, 920 million. At that time, due to the power of light rays emanated by the Victorious One, there will be no darkness. No distinction of day and night will be made. Only flowers will open and close and birds will sing or not sing. By the power of Protector Maitreya all the beings also will act exclusively in accordance with Dharma and when his sravakas go to town to collect alms, gods themselves will offer them various types of offerings and will spread excellent monks' rugs for them. (Sravakas here means disciples of Buddha, not necessarily followers of Hinayana path). In that way, benefitting immeasurable, inconceivable numbers of sentient beings and turning the wheels of Dharma up to 60,000 years, Maitreya will enter parinirvana and his relics will become holy pills. Top of Page · Print Page · Email Page · Home