Maitreya in Tibetan Buddhism: Image and Myth

Investor logo
Authors

BĚLKA Luboš

Year of publication 2006
Type Article in Periodical
Magazine / Source Studia Asiatica: International Journal of Asian Studies
MU Faculty or unit

Faculty of Arts

Citation
Field Philosophy and religion
Keywords Maitreya; Buddha; Bodhisattva; Natha; Bhattaraka; Tibetan Buddhism; Mongolia; Buryatia; Thangka
Description There are various depictions of Maitreya both in the countries where Buddhism was an active religion and in various periods. The future Buddha and the present Bodhisattva Maitreya is the only Bodhisattva common to Theravada and Mahayana and this fact constitutes his exceptional position in the Buddhist teaching and in the pantheon. The study deals with one picture found in the collections of National Museum – Náprstek Museum in Prague. This Mongolian or Tibetan thangka depicting the field of the Maitreya (Sa. Maitreyaksetra) captures three forms of Maitreya altogether – Maitreya as the Bhattaraka, Natha and in the end as the Buddha, both in the heaven of Tushita and on the earth, where he will „turn his own wheel of teaching” in the future. This type of depiction is known only within the context of Tibetan Buddhism in Tibet and in Mongolia and Buryatia.
Related projects:

You are running an old browser version. We recommend updating your browser to its latest version.