Hello dear readers - seekers of knowledge and truth!
All Buddhists of the planet know about the beginning of a new time, which will be associated with the coming of the saint. This is Buddha Maitreya. It is about him that we want to tell you today.
Our article will tell you about who he is, as described in Buddhist literature and portrayed in different types arts: painting, sculpture. We will also find out when Maitreya will come, and what awaits humanity with his arrival.
Well, forward - towards new knowledge!
Who is Maitreya
The name of Maitreya is translated in different ways:
- invincible;
- giving love;
- bestowing mercy
- compassionate ruler;
- future Teacher.
However, all agree on one thing - this is the coming Teacher, he will appear in the future in the world of people, attain Enlightenment and bring salvation to humanity. He will be a bodhisattva - a buddha who will bring people a new teaching, give a pure one and help everyone get out of the cycle of samsara with its constant rebirth and suffering.
Maitreya is the only Buddha who is recognized by all directions of Buddhist thought, including one in which the pantheon of Buddhas is practically absent. He is especially revered by Korean, Chinese, Burmese Buddhists.
Buddhist monks in Myanmar
In every country and in every direction, it can have a special name:
- in Japanese - Miroku;
- in the Pali language - Meteya;
- in Chinese - Mile;
- in Tibetan - Maidar;
- in some interpretations - Maidari, Maitri.
But the name familiar to all Buddhists is Maitreya. This Buddha of the Future must come at the end of the present age - the kalpa.
It is believed that he is now in Tushita Heaven, waiting for the right time to be saved. This is the place where the deities reside, this is one of the six heavens, the fourth from the bottom. Their name is translated as "gardens of joy" and they are located between the Heaven of the Yama and the Heaven of Nirmanarati.
Tushita Heaven is inhabited by those who in a past life observed the main Buddhist commandments, adhered to the Middle Way, engaged in meditative practices and cultivated good thoughts and noble deeds. Here they find a new incarnation of a bodhisattva. Some Mahayana scriptures claim that it was here that he appeared before he incarnated in our world and became a great Teacher.
Mahayans believe that their line of Buddhist thought arose thanks to the Coming Buddha. According to their beliefs, the founder Arya Asanga got rid of defilements and was more than once in the Heaven of Tushita, where Maitreya told him the truth. Based on the teachings taught by Maitreya, Asanga wrote down his five main sutras.
MantraMaitreya sounds like this: "Om Buddha Maitri Mem Soha."
What Buddhist Literature Says About Him
The main sacred text about the Future Buddha is considered to be a Sanskrit sutra called "Maitreyavyakarana", which means "the prophecy of Maitreya." According to the scriptures, deities, people and everything in the world will follow Maitreya, follow his teachings and thereby get rid of attachments and doubts.
The coming Buddha will prove that nothing - neither property, nor wealth and jewels, nor dwellings and even relatives - belongs to people. And this will rid living beings of passions, grant them a joyful and happy life.
The Dikha-nikaya, which is included in the Tripitaka collection, calls Maitreya a follower of Shakyamuni. The same is said by "Lalita Vistara", which dates back to 3-4 centuries AD. It says that before the incarnation of people in the world, Gautama Buddha, while still in Heaven Tushita, pointed to Maitreya and placed a bodhisattva wreath on him.
The Mahaparinibbana Sutta mentions the Future Buddha, calling him Maitreya and Ajita, that is, "invincible." He is also devoted to the works of recent centuries, including those developed in Russia, for example, the studies of N.K. Roerich, S.F.Oldenburg, H.P. Blavatsky.
When will he come?
As we already know, the Buddha of the Future is in Heaven Tushita waiting for the moment when people will be ready for his coming. But there is also an opinion that Maitreya can appear right now where he is most needed. Moreover, he can be in several worlds at once.
Predictions about the coming of the Coming Buddha can be found in the first Mahayana sutras, as well as in the Maitreya Vyakarana. The sacred texts of Buddhism describe what level humanity should reach before the arrival of Maitreya:
- Human life expectancy will be about 80 thousand years.
- The world will be seized by the Buddhist school, which will surpass the teachings of Buddha Shakyamuni in the number of successors.
- A wise Buddhist ruler will be at the helm of humanity;
- Deaths from hunger, war, disease will end.
- Love and patience will reign among people.
In some texts, you can find the estimated time of the arrival of Maitreya. But these figures turn out to be disappointing - they assert that the Buddha of the Future will come no earlier than in 5 billion years.
Maitreya Buddha statue, Tibet
Just before the very arrival, the oceans will become smaller in size so that the Coming Buddha can cross them. It will take Maitreya only a week to become enlightened in this world because of past lives lived in truth. Then sentient beings will be able to comprehend the pure dharma, which will create a new beautiful world.
How he is portrayed
On images and thangkas, the Future Buddha can be painted in different poses. Sometimes he sits on some kind of dais like a chair, sometimes he is depicted riding a white horse. But most often he takes the usual Buddhist pose: padmasana, lotus pose, or lalitasana - a position in which the deity sits in a half-lotus with his leg hanging down.
Maitreya is lavishly covered with ornaments, including a crown on his head. His skin is radiant with a golden hue, and his clothes are the usual robe of a monk.
There are three-faced and four-armed images of Maitreya. In this case, he squeezes a saffron twig in his left hand, with his right hand expresses the bestowal of the good in the form of varada mudra. The other two palms are folded in Dharmachakra Mudra, which symbolizes the expression of the Dharma Law.
Maitreya is often depicted in statues, some of which date back to 350 BC. One of the most famous sculptures is located in China, namely in Leshan. It is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Carved into the rock, the statue is striking in size:
- total height - 70 meters;
- head - 14 meters;
- shoulders - 29 meters;
- nose - 5 meters;
- finger on the hand - 8 meters;
- toe - 1.5 meters.
Our compatriot, artist and researcher Nicholas Roerich made a great contribution to the study of Maitreya. In the 20s of the last century, he was on the Central Asian expedition, where he studied cultural heritage Buddhism and embodied them in painting.
Maitreya the Winner. N. Roerich
There is a well-known series of paintings by Roerich, which is called “Maitreya”. The most famous of them is "Maitreya the Winner", now it is kept in the Moscow International Center-Museum of Roerich. The remaining seven paintings are presented in Art museum Nizhny Novgorod.
Conclusion
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When going on a trip, people initially set themselves a goal: to relax, have fun or learn something new. On the last component, one should stop and consider it deeper. To get new emotions and fill your hearts with impressions, you should go to China and visit the Buddha statue. Imagine a giant statue of Maitreya Buddha, the teacher of mankind, is carved into the rock.
The statue of Buddha is located in China, in Leshan, Sichuan province. You will be thrilled to see the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Historical facts of the Big Buddha statue in China
According to legend, the monk Hai Tun, in order to appease the elements, decided to carve out the image of the supreme deity in the rock. For twenty years he raised money for the construction of the Buddha sculpture. And when, finally, the required amount was collected, the local authorities decided to take it to finance the city's infrastructure. Hai Tun's refusal to share money with the local authorities caused them discontent and a refusal to help the construction. After starting the carving, the monk died when the statue was half finished, the rest of the work was continued by his disciples. Work on the construction of this magnificent sculpture began in 713 and lasted for 90 years. The formation of the Big Buddha sculpture in China took place during the Tang Dynasty.
The workers worked for many years, tirelessly, in the name of great art, and faith helped them in this. And decades later, a statue was created big buddha China as the embodiment of the universe.
The statue symbolizes the unbroken spirit and the purity of people's faith in higher powers, this fact still attracts the attention of not only hundreds of tourists, but also spiritual followers of Buddhism.
What is a Buddha statue in China?
The face of Buddha is turned to Emeishan - a sleeping mountain, which is located opposite the statue, and gathers many who want to look into the eyes of the legendary creed of all Buddhists, who are in a fifteen-meter head. The ears of the statue are carved out of wood, 7 meters each. And a dozen tourists can fit on one toe. The location and appearance of the statue is not accidental, it contains both mystical and obvious facts that attract deep into history, stretching to the present day. There is a statue in the place where three rivers merge, which create dangerous gyres, and where many local residents die.
His hands are on his knees. He sits on the same level with Lingyunshan Mountain, and his feet rests against the river, from which it blows cool. It is not for nothing that the statue is called the Big Buddha in China, its dimensions are simply stunning, just imagine the height of the sculpture - 71 m, and the width of the shoulders - 30 m, thanks to these dimensions, the statue is recognized as the largest in the world.
Functions of the Big Buddha statue in China
The attraction has not only a spiritual majestic character, attracting with its appearance, but also a number of other important functions:
- shelter from the rain;
- erosion protection;
- carrying out a plumbing structure, for drainage systems.
These features contribute to a better life for the people of China.
But no matter how the world changes, and no matter what happens to the external indicators of the statue, it will always remain powerful and captivating the views of others.
It's all about herself, the majestic statue of Buddha, and if you decide to spend your journey in order to learn new things and seek inspiration, this sculpture is an excellent option. Become one of the hundreds of tourists who travel annually to the foot of the Big Buddha in China, a magnificent architectural monument. Climb to a height of one hundred meters and breathe in the air saturated with faith and awareness of life's truths.
The Chinese city of Leshan in the Sichuan province became famous all over the world thanks to a giant Buddha statue. To date, this sculpture is included in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest sculptural image this deity. What is the size of the Leshan Buddha statue and what is its history?
Legends about the creation of a giant statue
The largest sculpture of Buddha that has survived to this day was created over 90 years. The date of the beginning of work on its construction is considered to be 713. The giant Buddha statue in Leshan was carved out of the Lingyunshan rock. Initially, the sculpture was located inside the thirteen-story Dasyange temple, or the Pavilion of the Great Image. In the seventeenth century, the wooden structure burned down. But the gigantic statue was not in the least damaged by the fire. Now the majestic huge Buddha can be seen from a considerable distance. There are many legends about the creation of this sculpture. According to the most widespread version, the monk Hai Tong proposed to make a giant statue. He hoped that the statue of Buddha would be able to pacify the turbulent rivers Minyan, Dadu and Qingyi, which intersect in this area. Curiously, the water streams have really become calmer. The thing is that during construction, boulders fell into the river. Another legend says that the Buddha statue in Leshan was created to protect the area from heavy rains.
Largest Buddha in exact dimensions
The large-scale statue of Buddha created during the reign amazes even engineers with its size. The deity is depicted in a seated position, with his hands resting relaxed on his knees. The statue has been worked out in detail and has survived to this day in excellent condition. The statue is made of stone, and only some of its individual elements are carved out of wood. The total height of the sculpture is 71 meters. At the same time, the height of the head is 15 meters. The stone Buddha's shoulders are almost 30 meters wide. The fingers are 8 meters long. Nose at giant statue also strikes with its size - as much as 5.5 meters. The length of the toe is 1.6 meters. Despite its scale, the Leshan statue of Buddha does not look intimidating or intimidating. On the contrary, from the statue it breathes with calmness and pacification.
Description and photo of the attraction
The largest sculpture of Buddha in the world is located on the territory of the park-temple complex. The majestic statue looks at sacred mountain Emeishan. Relief images of Bodhisattvas can be seen on the walls around the giant figure. There are more than 90 of them. There are also many images of the Buddha himself. The deity's feet rest on the river, and his head ends at the level of the mountain. Along with the ears of the Buddha is observation deck, which tourists can climb by a long stone staircase. A breathtaking view of the city opens up from here. At the head of the sculpture is the Pagoda of Souls, a Buddhist temple in operation today. It is worth noting that the Leshan Buddha statue is not the only attraction in the area. A large-scale statue is located on the territory of a large complex. It is luxurious nature Park, on the territory of which you can see many shrines, historical architectural structures, sculptures.
Amazing facts and myths about the giant statue
Today the Buddha statue in Leshan (China) is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Despite its considerable age, the statue is perfectly preserved. Many local residents over the centuries explained this fact by the mystical properties of the image of a deity. But in fact, the secret of the sculpture's durability lies in the drainage system hidden from prying eyes. The creators of the sculpture hid a whole network of grooves and grottoes in the folds of clothes, on the head, arms and chest of the Buddha. Thanks to this solution, the sculpture is reliably protected from weathering and is practically not afraid of the effects of meteorological precipitation and temperature extremes. Some standard-sized statues in the same temple complex as the giant Buddha are severely damaged. According to experts, the sculptures suffered from the hands of vandals, and not from natural phenomena.
Useful information for tourists
Where is the Buddha statue in Leshan, how to get to this attraction for tourists? From Chengdu, the giant statue can be reached in 2.5 hours by bus or taxi. Planes fly to Chengdu from Beijing. The entrance to the territory of the temple complex is paid, the cost of visiting is 90 yuan. You can also admire the large-scale sculpture while walking on river tram... Every day, many tourists come to Leshan who want to see the local attractions, in particular, the most famous of them, the giant statue. In Buddhist culture, local sculptures and buildings also have religious significance and are revered as shrines.
The world's largest Buddha is rightfully considered the statue of the seated Maitreya Buddha in Leshan in Sichuan province. Locals they call it Da Fo, literally "Big Buddha", and also "Buddha of the Mountain". Its height is 71 m, and its body length at the shoulders is 30 m.
On both sides of the Giant, about a hundred stone images of bodhisattvas, buddhas, celestial birds and lions are carved; on the top of the mountain there is a temple and a park.
This unique complex is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (since 1996), and is also one of the important cultural property China.
Every day hundreds of tourists come from all over to see the largest Buddha in the world.
The world's largest Buddha carved into the rock is considered to be the statue of the seated Maitreya Buddha in Leshani. Photo: turj.ru
The largest Buddha in the world: Buddha's feet seem to rest against the river. Photo: turj.ru
Buddha mountains and Buddha mountains
Emeishan - Buddhist mountains. They stretch for 200 kilometers. Emeishan, as well as Wutaishan, Putoshan and Jiuhuashan are famous as "the mountains of the four bodhisattvas." In ancient times, this place was considered sacred for Buddhists and Taoists. From the Eastern Han era to the Qing Dynasty, over 200 Buddhist temples where thousands of monks lived. Of these, only dozens of sights have survived to this day, in particular, the temples of Baogos, Wannians, Xianfengs, Sisianchi pond, and the statue of Da Fo belongs to them.
The statue of Maitreya Buddha is carved in the thickness of Lingyunshan Mountain, where three rivers of Sichuan province - Minjiang, Daduhe and Qinjiang - flow together. His divine body has truly impressive dimensions: height - 71 m; the height of the head is about 15 m, the length of the finger is 8 m, the height of the toe is 1.6 m, the length of the nose is 5.5 m, so his figure is visible for several tens of kilometers. Half-closed eyes are directed to the sacred mountain Emeishan, the head reaches the top of the mountain, and the feet seem to rest against the river. In Sichuan there is a saying: "Buddha Mountains and Buddha Mountains."
Inside the sculpture, there is an amazing water drainage system, invisible to visitors, but still working. Cleverly hidden in the folds of clothing, on the arms, head and chest of the Buddha, grottoes and grooves protect the statue from destruction.
Until about the middle of the 17th century, almost the entire body of the Great Buddha to the very head was hidden, as if under an umbrella, by the thirteen-story Dasyange temple, which was built on the rocks above the statue. At first it was called the Great Image Pavilion. During the Ming Dynasty it was destroyed and has not yet been rebuilt.
On the mountain itself, at the level of the Buddha's head, there is a 38-meter-high pagoda of souls, as well as a park and temple complex... The walls around the giant are carved with images of numerous Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
To the right of the crown of the Buddha's head, there is a small park on the site. Faithful lovers come here to receive the will of Heaven for an inseparable life together. Taking ordinary padlocks with them, they hook them, lock them on the fence, and throw the keys into the abyss. From now on, they are not threatened with divorce - this is the custom.
Locals call the statue "Da Fo", literally "Big Buddha" and also "Buddha of the Mountain". Photo: turj.ru
The largest Buddha in the world: Upstairs, at the level of the Buddha's head, there is a 38 meters high pagoda of souls, as well as a temple complex and a park. Photo: turj.ru
Legend
They say that the turbulent streams of the three rivers brought many troubles, taking more than one life. According to legend, only after the construction of a giant statue of Buddha Maitreya, this problem was resolved. One of the names of Maitreya is the Lord endowed with compassion.
The construction of the Da Fo statue in Leshan was started by a monk named Hai Tong from Lingyun Temple. In 713 ─ during the reign of the Tang Dynasty ─ he and numerous craftsmen began to hew the Enlightened One from the Lingyunshan rock. The construction of such a colossal complex lasted, according to stories, about 90 years. The monk died when the statue was half finished. The work was completed by his students.
According to legend, Hai Tun has been collecting money for the construction for about twenty years. However, when he returned to hometown, the authorities forced him to give the collected funds to establish local infrastructure. Unable to resist, the monk gouged out his eyes, amazed by this act the officials who went away, leaving the construction alone, but not helping it in any way.
The largest Buddha in the world: This unique complex is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Photo: turj.ru
Leshan. City at the confluence of three rivers. Photo: ironromeo / Livejournal.com
Buddha of the future
In Buddhist philosophy, Maitreya is the Expression of the Teachings of the Buddha, the future Teacher of humanity, who will bring a new Teaching. This is the only bodhisattva revered by all schools of Buddhism.
“The Coming Teacher of Humanity”, “Benevolent”, “Bodhisattva and Buddha of the New World”, “Invincible”, “Loving” are the names given to him by his followers.
Buddhists believe that Maitreya will appear on Earth, achieve full enlightenment and begin to preach the pure dharma.
The Maitreya Buddha statue is a thousand-year-old monument. Modern statues, cast from bronze and copper, cannot be compared with it. Numerous carved images of the Enlightened Ones enrich the unusual complex of the statue, carrying through the centuries the belief and respect of the gods by man.
In the bosom amazing nature─ mountains, rivers and forests ─ Leshan Buddha sits majestically in the Middle Earth between Heaven and Earth.
Da Fo, created for decades with great difficulty, was, is and remains for future generations a symbol of divinity and greatness of the spirit.
The largest Buddha in the world, China
There are places in the world about which you seem to know everything, which you repeatedly see in photographs, but still, meeting an interesting image again, you admire the people who did it. And when there is an opportunity to see them with your own eyes, it is overwhelmed with such excitement that it seems that this is one of the happiest moments of life.
In the Chinese province of Sichuan, near the city of Leshan, a giant sculpture of Maitreya Buddha is carved into the thickness of the rock. For 1000 years, the 71-meter-high Leshan statue held the first position in the ranking of the tallest monuments in the world. According to ancient architects, the great should be embodied in gigantic proportions, because Maitreya is revered by all schools of Buddhism. Maitreya is the coming Teacher of humanity... Sooner or later he will appear on Earth, attain enlightenment and preach dharma - the path of piety. The Leshan Buddha is one of the oldest in the world. It is installed at the place where three rivers merge, the oncoming waters of which create dangerous whirlpools.
As the legend says, the monk Hai Tun decided to appease the elements by carving out a sculptural image of the supreme deity in the rock. For many years the monk wandered through the cities and villages, collecting money for the construction of the statue, and in 713 he began construction. Hai Tun died when the statue of Buddha was made only to his knees, but he managed to achieve his noble goal.
Cutting the statue into the rock, the workers threw stone fragments into the river, as a result of which they partially filled up the water streams. Thus, it turned out that the Buddha tamed the stormy nature of the river. According to legend, when the local ruler demanded that Hai Tun give him the donations collected for the construction of the statue, he replied: "I'd rather gouge out my eyes than give away the Buddha's treasures." Soon the ruler came to the monk for money, but he drew a knife and fulfilled his oath, depriving himself of an eye. The confused extortionist backed down. After the death of the monk, his work was continued by the rulers of Sichuan, and after 90 years, in 803, the statue of the Enlightened One was completed.
Leshan Buddha statue- the embodiment of the universe. The giant, 70-meter high Buddha sits facing the expanse of water with his hands on his knees. His huge, 15-meter head rises flush with the rock, and his feet rest against the river. The ears of the Buddha (7 meters each) are carved from wood and skillfully attached to the stone face. The enlightened one is "dressed" in a stone tunic, the folds of which drain rainwater, preventing cracking of the rock.
In the walls surrounding the statue, stone images of 90 bodhisattvas - the spiritual mentors of people - are carved. At the head of the giant there is a pagoda and a temple complex with a park. Against the background of the monument, viewers seem like tiny insects.
The stream of tourists, like a swarm of bees, surrounds the head of the Buddha on all sides and cascades down the cliff to his feet. A small group of tourists can sit on any of the giant's toes (toe length - 1.6 m). Each viewer tries to find the most convenient point of view, but is forced to examine the statue only from the side view. From the top of the cliff, the impartial face of the Enlightened One is visible, while his legs and body are hidden under the ledge. Below, the entire panorama is occupied by the knees of the Buddha, above which a gigantic face peeps out somewhere in the sky.
The statue is not created for contemplation: in Buddhism, the entire universe is nothing but the body of Buddha (Buddha-kaya) or the body of Truth (dharma-kaya), and it is incomprehensible with the help of the senses or the mind. But it is precisely dharma-kaya that connects a person with true existence, allowing him to attain the purest and highest state of "transcendental" being. As they said in China: "We attain Perfect Enlightenment when the heart merges with the base of a stone monument." Interestingly, in the Middle Ages, the body of Buddha was hidden under a 13-tier temple-tower, but this building burned down during a fire.
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Big Buddha impresses not only with its size, but also with its expressiveness: the appearance of a giant literally breathes nobility, greatness and kindness.
Maitreya Buddha in Leshan- pacifier of the water element.
Inside the sculptural work, a drainage structure is skillfully drawn, which is almost impossible to notice from the outside. The grottoes and grooves, hidden in the folds of clothing, on the arms, head, chest of the Buddha, serve as drainage systems and protect the sculpture from weathering and destruction.
Upstairs, on the mountain itself, at the head of the Buddha there is a 38-meter-high pagoda of souls, as well as a temple complex and a park. The walls around the giant are carved with images of Bodhisattvas (there are more than 90 of them) and numerous images of Buddha.
Maitreya is considered the coming incarnation of the Great Teacher of mankind, and he is revered by all Buddhist schools, believing that one day he will appear on Earth, will surely reach enlightenment and will preach the path of piety - dharma to people.
Leshan Buddha statue installed at the confluence of three rivers. Once upon a time, their swift streams, meeting, whipped violent and dangerous whirlpools. According to legend, the Buddhist monk Hai Tun, seeing this, decided to pacify the elements by sculpting a giant sculpture of the Teacher in the adjacent mountain gorge.
Now, having arrived in Leshan, any tourist can admire the impressive statue. The face of Buddha Maitreya faces the river, gigantic hands are folded on their knees; its 15-meter head reaches the top of the cliff, and its huge legs (toes about 1.6 m long) almost abut the river. The Master's 7-meter ears, carved from sturdy wood, are artfully fitted to the stone face. The Buddha is dressed in a tunic, through carefully carved stone folds, water flows down when it rains, preventing the destruction of the rock.
A temple complex with a small park is built at the head of the colossal monument, and sculptures of 90 bodhisattvas - the spiritual mentors of mankind - are carved in the rocks surrounding the statue.
In the Middle Ages, the sculpture of Buddha was hidden under a 13-tier temple built over it, but this building was destroyed by fire, and now, as before, the rocks are the only walls for the giant statue.
Interestingly, it is almost impossible to fully gaze at the statue of Buddha in Leshan: an impartial face is open from above, but the legs are hidden under a mountain ledge, and from below the legs can be seen perfectly, but the face of the statue is almost completely covered by huge knees. The best vantage point is from the side, but even this does not allow us to see the entire monument in detail.
This feature is not given to the sculpture by chance. It fits perfectly with the Buddhist doctrine of the universe, according to which the whole world is the body of Buddha (Buddha-kaya) or the body of the Law (Dharma-kaya), which is incomprehensible from the point of view of the senses and the mind. That's why Buddha statue in China not meant to be looked at. As the material embodiment of Dharma-kaya, it connects people with true existence, allowing them to achieve a special state of the purest transcendental being, which, according to Buddhists, is the true goal of every person's life. In this regard, the Chinese say the following: "We attain Perfect Enlightenment at the moment when our heart merges with the base of the stone statue."
