The Coming Buddha,
Ariya Metteyya
Sayagyi U Chit Tin
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The
Birth of the Next Buddha
Namo Tassa
Bhagavato Arahatto Sammasambuddhassa
Many details
concerning the coming Buddha can be assembled by combining Buddha
Gotama's prediction in the Digha-nikaya,[62] the Anagatavamsa,[63]
the two versions of The Ten Bodhisattas,[64] and the Dasavatthuppakarana.[65]
Further details can be added from the description by Buddha Gotama of
the past Buddha Vipassi,[66] Ven. Ananda's praise of the Buddha,[67] and
the commentary on The Chronicle of Buddhas.[68]
Before his last rebirth, which is in the
human world, each Bodhisatta resides in the Tusita Deva world. He is
mindful and aware when he is reborn there and while he lives there. He
lives there as long as his life span lasts. One thousand years before he
is to be reborn as a human and become a Buddha, Devas or Brahmas go to
the world of men and announce that a Buddha will arise. This is a Buddha
tumult.[69]
When the time is right, he descends into
his mother's womb,[70] mindful and aware. He is aware it is his last
existence. At that time, there is an illimitable, splendid radiance
throughout the universe. His mother is protected by four Devas during
the gestation period. His mother does not break the five precepts during
her pregnancy, and she is not attracted to any man. The mother is
surrounded by all the pleasures of the five senses. She suffers from no
illness, and she can see the Bodhisatta in her womb. He is seated
cross-legged in the womb facing outward.
His mother gives birth in a standing
position and in a forest. The Bodhisatta Metteyya will be born in the
deer park at Isipatana.[71] The feet of the baby are placed in a golden
cloth. He is received first by Devas and afterwards by men. Before his
feet touch the ground, four Devas present him to his mother, saying,
"Rejoice, lady, for mighty is the son that is born to you." He
comes forth without any stain. Two showers of cool and warm water fall
from the sky to bathe the mother and the Bodhisatta. He takes seven
steps to the north, surveys the four quarters, and pronounces the lion's
roar that he is supreme in the world. When he is born, an illimitable,
splendid radiance is seen throughout the universe. Seven days after the
birth of the Bodhisatta, his mother dies and is reborn in the Tusita
Deva world.[72]
When Bodhisatta Metteyya is reborn in
the human world, life on earth will be like life in a Deva world. Women
will marry at the age of five hundred. There will only be three
diseases: desire (to eat) (iccha), sluggishness after eating (anasana),
and old age (jara).[73] India will have Ketumati (present-day
Baranasi) as its capital city. In addition, there will be 84,000 cities
with 90,000 crores of princes.[74] India[75] will extend for 100,000
leagues. It will be without thorns, clear, with green grass. There will
be grass which is four inches high and soft as cotton. The climate will
always be good. The rains will be even, and the winds will be neither
too hot nor too cold. The rivers and ponds will not lack water. There
will be white sand that is not rough, the size of peas and beans. The
country will be like an adorned garden. The villages will be close
together, full of people, without interval.
The people will be tranquil, safe, and
free from danger. They will be happy and joyful, enjoying festivals.
They will have plenty to eat and drink. India will be delightful, like
Alakamanda, the capital city of the Kurus. The capital city of
lndia,[76] Ketumati, will be twelve leagues long and seven leagues
wide.[77] The city will have beautiful lotus ponds, full of water that
is fragrant, clear, clean, cool, and sweet. The ponds will be accessible
to people at all times. There will be seven rows of palm trees and walls
of seven colours, made of jewels, will surround the city.
In squares at the gates of the city,
there will be shining wishing trees: one blue, one yellow, one red, and
one white.[78] Divine adornments and ornaments as well as all sorts of
wealth and possessions will be hanging on the trees.
-ooOoo-
FOOTNOTES:
- D III 75-77 (DB III 72-74; TS
365-368).
- This "Chronicle of the Future"
is entirely devoted to the next Buddha.
- Dbk 55f., 61/120f., 127f.; Dbu
298-302, 306/338-341, 344.
- Dvp 125-127/132-134.
- D II 1-54 (DB II 4-41) (Mahapadana
Suttanta).
- M sutta no 123 (MLS III 163-169).
- CSM 428-430.
- CSM 389 mentions three such tumults
and says the four guardian Devas will make the announcement of a
Buddha. Illus. 130f. mentions five tumults and says the Brahmas of
the Suddhavasa Brahma world announce a Buddha.
- According to Dbu he is conceived on
the full-moon day of Asaha (June-July).
- According to Dvp 126/133. [
- See Th-a I 502. From the Tusita
world, she goes to the Tavatimsa world to hear the Abhidhamma.
- The translation of the first two
diseases is based on the commentary to D III 75 (Sv 855). Pj II 323
says these mean (1) the craving which is a wish to be a Deva (Devapatthana-tanha),
(2) hunger (khuda), and (3) the decay of old age (paripaka-jara).
- Dbu 299/339.
- Anag vv 33-42.
- Anag vv 8, 15-20.
- Dbu 299/338 says one league wide.
- According to Dbu 106/344 a wishing
tree will spring up through the merit of the seven-days walk made by
the Bodhisatta in the past life when he went to see Buddha
Sirimutta.
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