unspoken wrote: ↑Tue Jan 04, 2011 4:07 pm
I recalling that Meitreya Buddha, where the previous Buddha said that he is the Buddha of the future, successor of Gotama Buddha. And I search wiki and plenty of information poped up.
So I wondering, was Meitreya Buddha here? Or yet to come? Because in some online context they say about the future buddha "will be" coming here. But if the buddha haven't arrive here, then why would wiki have so much information and have some sculpture of the buddha's image?
No, according to DN 26 Metteyya appears long in the future to a more beautiful, moral, long-lived generation that lives to be around 80,000 years.
Modern scientists have found no theoretical maximum limit to lifespan and many scientists believe that humans will be living for thousands of years in the future but this hasn't happened yet.
The lifespan is still around the same as during The Buddha's time 2,500 years ago, a long life is "hundred years or a little longer".
This clearly indicates that the world we live in is still full of beings with very bad kamma, a wicked, immoral, unethical, faithless, unbelieving generation.
But the suttas also indicate that the future isn't fixed, the reason why Gautama, the arahant, the teacher, The Buddha didn't stay alive for the eon is because Ananda refused to ask him to even though He hinted to on many many occasions:
“Sir, I have heard and learned this in the presence of the Buddha: Note that this is the idiom that Ānanda uses when directly quoting the Buddha. ‘Whoever has developed and cultivated the four bases of iddhi power—made them a vehicle and a basis, kept them up, consolidated them, and properly implemented them—may, if they wish, live for the eon or what’s left of it. The Realized One has developed and cultivated the four bases of psychic power, made them a vehicle and a basis, kept them up, consolidated them, and properly implemented them. If he wished, the Realized One could live for the eon or what’s left of it.’”
“Do you have faith, Ānanda?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Therefore, Ānanda, the misdeed is yours alone, the mistake is yours alone. For even though the Realized One dropped such an obvious hint, such a clear sign, you didn’t beg me to remain for the eon, or what’s left of it. If you had begged me, I would have refused you twice, but consented on the third time. Therefore, Ānanda, the misdeed is yours alone, the mistake is yours alone. " - DN 16
Ananda refused to ask The Buddha to remain alive even though he gave obvious hints many many times so He relinquished his life force and will to live.
unspoken wrote: ↑Tue Jan 04, 2011 4:07 pm
If Meitreya "was" here, then.... AM I TOO LATE? WHY HAVEN'T I BEEN ENLIGHTENED?
Arahantship seems to be achievable still, or if not pacceka buddhas can still appear.
In order for arahants to exist in the world the practice of bodhipakkhiyā dhammā needs to be emphasized (the four kinds of mindfulness meditation, the four right efforts, the four bases of iddhi power, the five faculties, the five powers, the seven awakening factors, and the noble eightfold path) since these practices directly lead towards arahantship here and now and were taught by direct experience and knowledge.
“So, mendicants, having carefully memorized those things I have taught you from my direct knowledge, you should cultivate, develop, and make much of them so that this spiritual practice may last for a long time. That would be for the welfare and happiness of the people, out of compassion for the world, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of devas and humans.
And what are those things I have taught from my direct knowledge? They are: the four kinds of mindfulness meditation, the four right efforts, the four bases of iddhi power, the five faculties, the five powers, the seven awakening factors, and the noble eightfold path." - DN 16
