41b. Buddha Metteyya – 1681
Otherwise, the Buddha Metteyya will continually be surrounded by 1,000
billions of those who have attained the six types of higher knowledge (
abhiñña
)
and great psychic power.
Buddha Gotama said that just as he was accompanied by a Saṅgha of hundreds
of bhikkhus when he wandered around, Buddha Metteyya will be accompanied
by thousands. Buddha Metteyya will go through the countryside teaching the
Dhamma, awakening many people. Some will take the three refuges, some will
be established in the five precepts, some will undertake the
[23]
ten skilful
actions. There will be some who become ordained, some who attain the four
excellent fruition states, some who will attain analytic insight into the Dhamma,
some who will attain the eight excellent perfections, some the three knowledges,
and some the six types of super knowledge. The teachings of Buddha Metteyya
will be widespread. Seeing people who are ready to be Awakened he will go
100,000 leagues in a moment to cause them to be Awakened.
It is said that Buddha Metteyya will quench the heat for beings reborn in the
lower realms. The first chief disciple will be the Universal Monarch Saṅkha who
will have the bhikkhu name of Asoka. The second chief disciple will be
Brahmadeva. The Buddha’s attendant will be named Sīha. The chief women
disciples among the female monastics (
bhikkhuni
) will be Padumā and Sumanā.
The chief lay attendants among the men will be Sumana and Saṅgha; among the
women, Yasavatī and Saṅghā.
Wherever he goes, Buddha Metteyya will be accompanied by a great company
of Devas honouring him. The Devas will make necklaces which will be adorned
by the kings of the Nāgas and the Supaṇṇas. There will be eight garlands each of
gold, silver, jewels, and coral. There will be many hundreds of banners hanging
down. Awnings adorned with jewels will resemble the moon. They will be
surrounded by nets of bells and jewelled garlands. They will scatter sweet-
smelling flowers and different sorts of perfumed powder, both divine and
human. And there will be various types of cloth of many colours. Having faith
in the Buddha, they will sport all around, and many marvels will take place
through the power of Buddha Metteyya’s merit. Seeing those marvels, many
people will decide they would rather die than abandon him as their refuge.
Many of them will attain Awakening, and those who do not, will do good deeds
which lead to heavenly worlds.