Across the 88 temples on the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage, various Buddhist deities are enshrined as the principal deity. Among them, Miroku Bosatsu (Maitreya Bodhisattva) is believed to become a Buddha in the future and save people. Until then, he is believed to continue his Buddhist practice in Tusita Heaven.
Miroku Bosatsu is regarded as the “Buddha of the Future,” who will appear in this world 5.67 billion years after Shaka Nyorai (Shakyamuni Buddha) enters nirvana, attain enlightenment, and save people. For this reason, Miroku Bosatsu has long been worshipped not only as a figure who offers relief from suffering in the present, but also as a symbol of hope for the future.
On the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage, there is one temple, Temple No. 14, Joraku-ji, where Miroku Bosatsu is enshrined as the principal deity.
In this article, we will explain in an easy-to-understand way who Miroku Bosatsu is, his distinctive features, his relationship with Shaka Nyorai, his role as the Buddha of the Future, and the benefits associated with worshipping him.
- What Is Miroku Bosatsu?
- When Will Miroku Bosatsu Become a Buddha?
- The Relationship Between Miroku Bosatsu and Shaka Nyorai
- What Is Tusita Heaven, Where Miroku Bosatsu Resides?
- Benefits of Worshipping Miroku Bosatsu
- What Does Miroku Bosatsu Save People From?
- Temple on the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage Where Miroku Bosatsu Is the Principal Deity
- Conclusion
What Is Miroku Bosatsu?
Miroku Bosatsu (Maitreya Bodhisattva) is a bodhisattva known as Maitreya in Sanskrit.
In Buddhism, Miroku Bosatsu is regarded as the one who will become a Buddha after Shaka Nyorai (Shakyamuni Buddha), and is therefore also known as the “Buddha of the Future.”
Miroku Bosatsu is currently believed to be continuing his Buddhist practice in Tusita Heaven, waiting for the time when he will appear in this world in the future.
It is believed that in the distant future, Miroku Bosatsu will appear in this world, attain enlightenment, and become a Buddha, saving many people.
For this reason, Miroku Bosatsu has long been worshipped as the Buddhist figure who will appear in the future to save people.
What Does Miroku Bosatsu Look Like?
Miroku Bosatsu is generally depicted as a youthful-looking bodhisattva. He may be shown wearing a jeweled crown and ornaments such as a necklace.
He is also often depicted in a seated posture, and Buddhist statues of Miroku Bosatsu can take various forms.
His statues express the calmness and compassion of a figure who is destined to become a Buddha in the future.
Some statues depict Miroku Bosatsu teaching the Dharma in Tusita Heaven, while others represent him waiting for the time when he will appear in this world in the future.
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On Mai Tareiya Sowaka
- Relief from disasters and misfortune
- Good relationships and connections with others
- A connection with the Buddhist path
- Happiness in the next life
- Guidance toward enlightenment
- Hope for the future
When Will Miroku Bosatsu Become a Buddha?
One of the most well-known teachings about Miroku Bosatsu is that he will appear in this world 5.67 billion years in the future.
This is such a distant future that it is difficult to imagine from our current human perspective of time.
In Buddhism, it is believed that after Shaka Nyorai (Shakyamuni Buddha) enters nirvana, the Buddha’s teachings will gradually decline, and eventually Buddhism will disappear from the world.
After that, Miroku Bosatsu will appear in this world, attain enlightenment, become a Buddha, and once again teach the Dharma.
Miroku Bosatsu, who will appear in this world in the future, is sometimes called Miroku Nyorai or Miroku Butsu.
In other words, Miroku Bosatsu is currently continuing his Buddhist practice as a bodhisattva, and in the future, he will become a Buddha and save people.
The Relationship Between Miroku Bosatsu and Shaka Nyorai
Miroku Bosatsu is the one who will become a Buddha after Shaka Nyorai (Shakyamuni Buddha).
In the Buddhist world today, Shaka Nyorai is regarded as the Buddha who attained enlightenment and taught the Dharma to people.
However, it is believed that after Shaka Nyorai enters nirvana, his teachings will eventually disappear in the distant future.
Miroku Bosatsu is therefore regarded as the next Buddha to appear in this world.
Because of this relationship, Miroku Bosatsu can be thought of as a “successor to Shaka Nyorai.”
A simple way to understand their relationship is that Shaka Nyorai is the Buddha who teaches Buddhism in the present world, while Miroku Bosatsu is the bodhisattva who will become a Buddha and teach Buddhism in the future.
What Is Tusita Heaven, Where Miroku Bosatsu Resides?
Tusita Heaven is the place where Miroku Bosatsu is believed to currently reside.
In the Buddhist view of the universe, Tusita Heaven is considered one of the heavenly realms.
Miroku Bosatsu is believed to continue his Buddhist practice in Tusita Heaven while teaching the Dharma to the heavenly beings who live there.
When the time comes, he is believed to descend from Tusita Heaven into this world, attain enlightenment, and become a Buddha.
For this reason, worshipping Miroku Bosatsu has traditionally been regarded as a way of forming a spiritual connection with the Buddha of the Future.
Benefits of Worshipping Miroku Bosatsu
Because Miroku Bosatsu is worshipped as the Buddha who will save people in the future, various benefits associated with hope and happiness for the future have traditionally been believed.
Some of the main benefits include:
- Relief from disasters and misfortune
- Good relationships and connections with others
- A connection with the Buddhist path
- Happiness in the next life
- Guidance toward enlightenment
- Hope for the future
Rather than being a Buddhist figure who grants wishes immediately, Miroku Bosatsu is worshipped as a figure who will save people over the course of time and guide them toward the future.
For this reason, some people pray to Miroku Bosatsu when they wish for happiness later in life or want to hold on to hope for the future.
What Does Miroku Bosatsu Save People From?
Miroku Bosatsu is regarded as the Buddha who will save people in the future.
In Buddhism, human beings are believed to experience suffering because of worldly desires, attachments, and confusion.
Miroku Bosatsu is believed to become a Buddha in the future, teach the Dharma, and guide people toward enlightenment.
For this reason, the salvation offered by Miroku Bosatsu is not limited to a single disaster or difficulty that people may be facing at a particular moment.
Helping people encounter the teachings of Buddhism, move away from confusion and suffering, and progress toward enlightenment can itself be understood as the salvation offered by Miroku Bosatsu.
The belief that a Buddha will surely appear in the future also gives people living in the present a sense of hope for the future.
Temple on the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage Where Miroku Bosatsu Is the Principal Deity
Among the 88 temples on the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage, there is only one temple where Miroku Bosatsu is enshrined as the principal deity: Temple No. 14, Joraku-ji.
Temple No. 14, Joraku-ji
Temple No. 14, Joraku-ji, is located in Tokushima City, Tokushima Prefecture.
According to temple tradition, the history of Joraku-ji began when Kobo Daishi visited this area and had a spiritual vision of Miroku Bosatsu.
Kobo Daishi is said to have carved an image of Miroku Bosatsu and enshrined it as the temple’s principal deity.
Joraku-ji is also known as one of the few temples on the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage with a “flowing rock garden.”
Natural rock formations spread throughout the temple grounds, creating the impression that the rocks are flowing like water. Visitors can see this unique landscape, which has been shaped over a very long period of time.
Conclusion
Miroku Bosatsu is known as the Buddha of the Future, who will become a Buddha after Shaka Nyorai (Shakyamuni Buddha).
He is currently believed to be continuing his Buddhist practice in Tusita Heaven and will appear in this world in the distant future, attain enlightenment, and save people.
For this reason, Miroku Bosatsu has been worshipped not simply as a Buddhist figure who fulfills people’s wishes in the present, but as a figure who represents hope for the future and guides people along the Buddhist path.
On the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage, only Temple No. 14, Joraku-ji, enshrines Miroku Bosatsu as its principal deity.
When visiting Temple No. 14, Joraku-ji, understanding Miroku Bosatsu as the Buddha who will appear in the future to save people can help you appreciate your visit to the principal deity on a deeper level.
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