Maitreya Buddha 彌勒佛

Maitreya is regarded as the future Buddha of this world in Buddhist eschatology. According to Buddhist tradition, Maitreya is a bodhisattva who will appear on Earth in the future, achieve complete enlightenment, and teach the pure dharma. According to scriptures, Maitreya will be a successor to the present Buddha, Gautama Buddha (also known as Śākyamuni Buddha). The prophecy of the arrival of Maitreya refers to a time in the future when the dharma will have been forgotten by most on the terrestrial world. The “Happy Buddha” is traditionally depicted as a chubby, bald monk wearing a simple robe. While his big belly is a symbol of tolerance, his laughter is a teaser to our ignorance. He carries his few possessions in a cloth sack, being poor but content. The Maitreya Buddha’s statue is usually venerated at the entrance of the monastery.

彌勒佛，是釋迦牟尼佛的繼任者，將在未來娑婆世界降生成佛，成為娑婆世界的下一尊佛，在賢劫千佛之中將是第五尊佛，常被尊稱為當來下生彌勒尊佛或彌勒佛。在佛教中，彌勒菩薩還具有慈悲、忍辱、寬容與樂觀等象徵意義。彌勒佛傳統上被描繪為一位胖大和尚，袒胸露腹，一个大肚子滚圓凸出，《大肚能容，容天下難容之事; 笑口常開，笑天下可笑之人》。佛教寺院中的彌勒佛，通常尊俸在寺廟的前面，一進山門的地方。