Toh 1096The Prayer of Maitreya
Pāli / Sanskrit:[no Sanskrit title]
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An Explanation of the Prayer of Bodhisattva Maitreya
Context
The Prayer of Bodhisattva Maitreya (Toh 1096) is recorded in the Kangyur, the fundamental scriptural collection of Northern Buddhism. Maitreya, or Byams pa in Tibetan, is the future bodhisattva who will become a buddha after the wondrous Dharma of Buddha Shakyamuni has completely disappeared.
In the Mahayana tradition, Maitreya is not a mythical figure but an actual bodhisattva, presently practicing in the Tusita heaven while awaiting the time to manifest activity. This bodhisattva represents immeasurable compassion (mahakaruna) and eternal care for all sentient beings. The prayer records Maitreya’s noble aspirations to liberate the multitudes when the Buddhadharma has declined.
The appearance of this scripture in the Kangyur reflects the importance of the Tibetan Mahayana tradition in maintaining faith in the future of Buddhism. The scripture is not only a prayer of praise but also practical guidance for those who wish to act like Maitreya in the present.
Main Content
The Prayer of Maitreya is a profound prayer in which the future bodhisattva vows that, when he descends into the world and becomes a buddha, he will carry out his activity with boundless compassion. These vows include:
The vow of vast liberation: Maitreya vows that when he becomes a buddha, the sound of his Dharma will resound throughout the ten directions and reach sentient beings even in the most painful realms. No one will be left behind; no one will be forgotten.
The vow of all-capable miraculous activity: The scripture states clearly that Maitreya will use miraculous powers and skillful activities suited to the capacities of each class of sentient beings. Those able to receive the Dharma through words will be taught directly. Those who need concrete demonstrations will witness sacred miracles.
The vow to end suffering: The heart of the scripture is the vow to eliminate the three kinds of suffering (tatha dukkha): the suffering of suffering, the suffering of change, and the suffering of conditioned formations.
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