People in China often describe someone who is chubby, big-bellied, and constantly prone to laughter as a Maitreya Buddha. That familiar image, however, is a purely Chinese creation. A pudgy, good-humored monk named Pu-tai who lived at Yueh-lin Temple during the Five Dynasties Period (907 to 960) was said to be an incarnation of Maitreya, and his looks were attributed to Maitreya.

Buddhist scriptures record that Maitreya was a disciple of Sakyamuni and now resides in the inner court of Tusita heaven. Sakyamuni has directed that followers of his who have not yet achieved nirvana be entrusted to Maitreya and has ordered Kasyapa to wait at Kukkutapada mountain and give his cassock and almsbowl to Maitreya when he takes over as Buddha 5,670,000,000 years in the future. So Buddhism says that there are 28 heavens in the universe: the six heavens of desire, or kamadhatu; the eighteen heavens of form, or rupadhatu; and the four heavens without form, or arupadhatu. Tusita is the fourth heaven among the six heavens of desire.

That place could be called a grand and lovely lecture hall, and the activities that go on there are none other than the revelation and the exposition of the dharmic law. Besides Maitreya expounding the law by day and by night, all the multifarious sounds of heaven--the asparas (heavenly nymphs), the musical instruments, the rustling trees, the purling streams--recite the Buddhist scriptures and declare the law.

The people in Tusita heaven are constantly gratified with respect to the five senses, and Tusita in fact means contentment or satisfaction in Sanskrit. Originally, the only people who could go to Tusita were those who adhered to the Buddhist rules and avoided committing any of the ten evils (killing, theft, lust, lying, double-talk, coarse words, lewd language, covetousness, anger, and folly), but later, thanks to Amitabha's beneficence, anyone who hears of, calls on, or worships Maitreya can go there.

Experts who have studied the Pure Land of Maitreya say it actually consists of two stages--ascending to Tusita heaven and being reborn into the world of men below--but people who believe in Maitreya nowadays are only intent on reaching Tusita heaven and forget that Maitreya intends to be reborn with them into the world below.

When that day comes, mountains, rivers, and barriers will disappear, and the earth will become a vast plain covered with gold, silver, and jewels. Huskless rice will spontaneously sprout up for food, and soft garments will hang from the trees for clothing. People will be strong and healthy and live to an average age of 84,000 (500 will be a suitable age for marriage), but they will still suffer from the three ills of urination and defecation, eating and drinking, and senility and old age.

At that time the Cakravarti ruler will appear and subdue all the lands within the four seas without resorting to force of arms. Peace and order will reign everywhere. Maitreya will be born into the world and achieve enlightenment while meditating under a naga-puspa, or dragon-flower tree. He will then lead his disciples to Kukkutapada mountain, where Kasyapa will give him Sakyamuni's cassock and almsbowl.

When Maitreya takes the cassock and almsbowl they will cover just two fingers of his hand, and people will marvel at his explanation. People were never taller than six or seven feet during the previous 5,670,000,000 years, he will say, because they were filled with cupidity, wrath, folly, pride, impurity, sloth, and other passions, but now that they have overcome their desires they are 160 feet tall, so they shouldn't be surprised that the cassock and almsbowl won't fit.

Maitreya will expound the law three times under the dragon-flower tree and will save a total of 28.2 billion souls, all of whom performed good deeds and cultivated merciful intentions during the previous era of Sakyamuni.

Finding consolation in a far-off future to come seems to be a common characteristic of many religions, such as the Second Coming and the Last Judgment of Christianity. And for devote Buddhists, the time when Maitreya returns to earth is the day the world will achieve complete perfection: his significance goes far beyond just "happily making money"!

[Picture Caption]

According to Buddhist scriptures, Maitreya will descend to the human sphere after 5,670,000,000 years and preside over the world of the future as Buddha. If the sentient beings of the earth are firmly intent on goodness, this happy land of the future will appear sooner.
(photo by Chiu Sheng-wang)

After belief in Maitreya passed to China, a big belly and a mouth opened in laughter, influenced by the appearance of the monk Pu-tai, became his distinguishing traits. A Buddhist gatha describes him this way: "A capacious belly to digest the many cares of the world; a joyous chuckle to laugh away the sorrows of past and present."

After belief in Maitreya passed to China, a big belly and a mouth opened in laughter, influenced by the appearance of the monk Pu-tai, became his distinguishing traits. A Buddhist gatha describes him this way: "A capacious belly to digest the many cares of the world; a joyous chuckle to laugh away the sorrows of past and present.".