Prophecy of the Maitreya

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Prophecy of the Maitreya

 

" The appearance of Great Mother Buddhism in modern times has been

prophesied by Chinese popular religious literature, called

pao-chüan. Although the origins can be traced back to the

fourteenth century, the first books were composed in the sixteenth

and seventeenth century. The exact meaning of pao-chüan is

" precious book " . Quite contrary to the official monastic scriptures,

the precious books were written by religious lay people.

Characteristic of this literature is that they emphasize " the

restoration of the primordial unity " , both spiritual and worldly. The

members of these Buddhist sects not only hoped for personal

liberation, but also for a " better world " . These people were more or

less embracing " all three teachings " (Taoism, Confucianism and

Buddhism). Hence, respect was paid to life-giving powers and persons

such as heaven, earth, parents and teachers. There was an awareness

about the continuous decline of religion, including monastic and

priestly Buddhism, so that eventually common people became the

representatives of the Way. They bore the true tradition and were

neither clerical nor lay.

 

The pao-chüan literature is unique with regard to its mythical

background. Unlike the mainstream Buddhist definitions the Ultimate

is described as the " Eternal Venerable Mother " (Wu-sheng lao-mu).

According to these myths the Eternal Mother sends down to earth

ninety-six myriad's of her children. Although they are originally

all " Buddha's and immortals " , once on earth they forget their true

home in paradise and become attached to fame, profit and sensual

pleasures. Trapped by their desires, they are immersed in samsara,

the " sea of suffering " , repeatedly encountering death and rebirth,

and enduring punishments in purgatory. The Venerable Mother, grieved

by this, sends down messenger deities to remind her lost children of

their true nature and the way home*. It is likely that pao-chüan

literature links the ancient notion of the prehistoric Great Mother

to the outcome of later spiritual practice. To it he Void isn't just

an " abstraction " (Nirvana), but the Realm which includes the dynamic

aspects of life - birth and death - a " compassionate Mother " who

cares about the world.

 

" Heaven " (the Light, Buddha) and earth continuously die in the Great

Mother, while being reborn in the selfsame eternal moment

 

The main messenger of the Great Mother is Maitreya Buddha. His

mission is " to show the lost and ignorant the way home to the Eternal

Mother " . Several texts emphasize his importance as a teacher and a

savior. He is supposed to " take charge of religion (chang chiao) and

of the world (chang shih-chieh). His task is " to restore the original

wholeness " (shou-yüen). Maitreya descends in a time of chaos and

decay with the promise of world renewal. In the " Huang-chi- chiu-

lien " pao-chüan Maitreya is first protesting against his mission,

because of too much attachment to the joy of paradise in which he

resides ( " Tusita Heaven " ). But finally he is giving in and descends

to earth and - because of " his weaknesses in the past " - manifests

himself as an ordinary human. His call to the people is to " realize

their true nature, recognize the true savior (himself) and their way

home to the Eternal Mother " . These promises gain momentum, as they

are placed against a time of terrible chaos, the end of the world,

warfare and death...with the hope that the true Buddha (Maitreya)

will appear, so that the Mother's children " can escape all forms of

calamity and difficulty " . Maitreya is said to put " the world in

order " "

 

Prophecy of the Maitreya

http://greatmother.faithweb.com/3-prophecies.htm