弥勒菩薩

Maitreya Bodhisattva

मैत्रेय

Maitreya

“friendly, benevolent”

मैत्रेय Maitreya or मेत्तेय्य Metteyya (Pali), also Maitreya Buddha or Metteyya Buddha, is regarded as the future Buddha of this world in Buddhist eschatology. As the 5th and final Buddha of the current Kalpa, Maitreya's teachings will be aimed at reinstating the dharma, a vital concept in Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism. In all branches of Buddhism, he is viewed as the direct successor of सिद्धार्थ गौतम बुद्ध Gautama Buddha. In some Buddhist literature, such as the अमिताभ सूत्र Amitābha sūtra (Shorter Sukhāvatīvyūha Sūtra, 佛說阿彌陀經) and the सद्धर्मपुण्डरीकसूत्रम्, Saddharma Puṇḍarīka Sūtram, lit. 'Sūtra on the White Lotus of the True Dharma',  "Lotus Sutra"), he is referred to as अजित Ajita. Despite many religious figures and spiritual leaders claiming to be Maitreya throughout history, all Buddhists firmly agree that these were false claims, indicating that Maitreya, the Buddha of the Future, is yet to appear.

According to Buddhist tradition, Maitreya is a bodhisattva who is prophesied to appear on Earth, achieve complete Enlightenment, and teach the Dharma. According to the scriptures, Maitreya's teachings will be similar to those of Gautama Buddha (also known as शाक्यमुनि Śākyamuni, “sage of the Śākyas” Buddha). The arrival of Maitreya is prophesied to occur during an era when the teachings of Gautama Buddha have been forgotten by most of the terrestrial world.

Maitreya, in the Buddhist tradition, presently resides in तुषित， Tuṣita heaven (兜率天). Maitreya is the earliest bodhisattva around whom a cult developed and is mentioned in scriptures from the 3rd century CE. Maitreya has also been employed in a millenarian role by many non-Buddhist religions in the past, such as Theosophy, and the White Lotus, as well as by modern new religious movements, such as 一貫道 Yīguàn Dào, the Consistent Way or Persistent Way that focuses on the worship of the Infinite Mother 西王母 or 無生老母 'unborn old mother' (aka 無極母 'infinite mother').

一貫 ㄧ ㄍㄨㄢˋ consistently; unfailingly; from first to last

一貫性 ㄧ ㄍㄨㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄥˋ consistency

貫 ㄍㄨㄢˋ

* a string of one thousand coins 

* to go through; to pierce 

* one's native place 

一貫道 symbol

The character 母 mu, meaning "mother" in different ancient Chinese scripts.

It is used as the symbol of 一貫道 Yīguàn Dào, the Consistent Way, mostly in a style derivative of oracle bone or bronzeware scripts. According to the religion, the character also means "fire".

快慶作・弥勒菩薩立像 （ボストン美術館蔵）

現存する快慶作の仏像の中で最も古い作品、弥勒菩薩立像。

１１８９年（鎌倉時代）作、ヒノキ造・水晶玉眼入。

片肘を膝に乗せ、アルカイックスマイルで思索にふける有名な広隆寺の仏像とはまったく違うスタイルで蓮華の上に立つ弥勒菩薩。

体内からは快慶による「宝篋印陀羅尼」と弥勒三部経のひとつ「弥勒上生経」が見つかっています。

１９０６年まで、奈良の興福寺に安置されていましたが、当時、文化的知識・教養が皆無の薩摩・長州人によって行われた廃仏毀釈により、興福寺にあった仏像・仏具・寺院の多く（その数２千以上）が、破壊・略奪されました。

「快慶デビュー作ともいえるこの仏像だけは何としても守りたい」そう考えた興福寺は、この仏像の未来を日本文化財保護の祖・岡倉天心の手に委ねました。

１５歳でフェノロサに出会い、英語と古美術鑑定の技術を徹底的に叩き込まれていた岡倉は、この仏像の重要性と希少性はフェノロサ以上にわかっていました。

難を逃れ、ボストン美術館の東洋部長になっていた岡倉天心と共に海を渡った快慶の処女作・弥勒菩薩立像。