Decline of Dharma (ධර්මය අඩු වීම)
Teachings fade in practice and realization. Rituals may persist, but wisdom diminishes, signaling the end of an era.
Overview (සාරාංශය)
Maitreya (Pali: Metteyya) is the prophesied future Buddha who will arise after the Dharma of Gautama Buddha fades. His advent symbolizes renewal: rediscovering and teaching the path to liberation when conditions are ripe again.
Timing
Tusita residence
Conditions & signs
Teachings & role
His era
Traditions
Symbolism
Extra details
Q&A
A study scroll: language is simplified for accessibility; specifics vary by school, language, and commentary.
Timing of descent (අවතරණ කාලය)
Texts describe Maitreya’s appearance in the distant future, after Dharma has disappeared and humanity has passed through a moral nadir. His arising is linked to renewal phases in cosmological cycles, emphasizing readiness rather than calendar years.
Current residence — Tusita Heaven (තුසිත ලෝකය)
Maitreya is said to dwell in Tusita Heaven as a bodhisattva, surrounded by devas, teaching loving‑kindness (maitrī/metta) until his final rebirth among humans. Tusita is traditionally the realm where future Buddhas reside before their descent.
Conditions and signs (අවතරණ ලකුණු)
Moral nadir and renewal (නීතිමය අවසානය)
Greed, hatred, and delusion intensify; lifespans shorten. After the nadir, virtue increases and lifespans rise again.
Ripening of conditions (අවස්ථා පක්ව වීම)
When communities regain ethical stability and the need for guidance is strong, conditions ripen for a new Buddha.
Teachings and role (ආචාරය සහ භූමිකාව)
Maitreya will rediscover and teach the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path anew, guiding beings with compassion. His era is described as one of peace, prosperity, and long lifespans, with Dharma flourishing widely.
Era of Maitreya (මෛත්රේය යුගය)
Peace and prosperity (සමගිය සහ සෞභාග්යය)
Societies flourish with reduced violence and greater stability, enabling widespread practice.
Longer lifespans (දිගු ආයු)
Lifespans lengthen again, reflecting improved ethics and collective well‑being.
Wide Dharma access (ධර්ම ප්රවේශය)
Teachings become accessible to many, with communities organized around compassion and mindfulness.
Interpretations across traditions (විවිධ ආගමික දෘෂ්ටි)
Theravāda
Emphasizes moral cycles and renewal after Dharma fades. Focus on rediscovery of the path.
Mahāyāna
Portrays Maitreya as a savior‑like bodhisattva, accessible now through devotion and practice.
Vajrayāna
Integrates Maitreya into esoteric frameworks, viewing his advent through pure realms and skilful means.
Across traditions, the heart of the prophecy is consistent: Dharma declines, then rises again through wisdom and compassion.
Symbolic meaning (සංකේතමය අර්ථය)
Maitreya symbolizes hope, renewal, and the enduring rhythm of Dharma. Even when ignorance dominates, conditions can ripen for awakening. The prophecy invites practitioners to cultivate loving‑kindness now, preparing the ground for future clarity.
Whether taken literally or metaphorically, the teaching points to impermanence, ethical causality, and the possibility of collective transformation.
Extra details (අමතර විස්තර)
Tusita imagery (තුසිත රූපකය)
Described as radiant gardens of joy, Tusita is where bodhisattvas dwell before their final rebirth. Maitreya teaches there among devas, sustaining loving‑kindness as the central virtue until conditions ripen for descent.
Signs before his coming (අවතරණයට පෙර ලකුණු)
Dharma fades from living realization, lifespans reach a nadir, social trust weakens. After the lowest point, renewal begins: morality stabilizes, lifespans rise, and communities become receptive to profound guidance.
Era characteristics (යුග ලක්ෂණ)
In Maitreya’s time, prosperity and peace allow wide Dharma access. Practice becomes communal and compassionate, with long lifespans symbolizing collective well‑being.
Questions & answers (ප්රශ්න සහ පිළිතුරු)
Is the timing a fixed date?
No. The emphasis is on moral and spiritual conditions rather than calendar years. It is a teaching about readiness and renewal.
Can we connect with Maitreya now?
Traditions advise cultivating loving‑kindness (metta), ethical conduct, generosity, and deep practice. The path itself is the connection.
How does this relate to science?
Science studies empirical trends in biology and society; the prophecy frames moral cycles and spiritual readiness. They illuminate different dimensions of humanity’s future.