Misunderstanding Regarding Listening to the Great Birth Sermon

An Arahant, Fully Enlightened Buddha Named Maitreya by The Words of The Buddha

The Words of The Buddha in The Pāli Canon illustrates the arising of an Arahant, Fully Enlightened Buddha named Maitreya that states:

“And in that time of the people with an eighty thousand-year life span, there will arise in the world a Fortunate One, an Arahant, Fully Enlightened Buddha named Maitreya, endowed with wisdom and conduct, a well-farer, knower of the worlds, incomparable trainer of men to be tamed, Teacher of gods and humans, Enlightened and fortunate, just as I am now.

He will thoroughly know having realized it by his own experience and proclaim, this universe with its heavenly beings and Māras and Brahmas, its Ascetics and Brāhmins, and this generation with its princes and people, just as I do now.

He will teach The Teachings, lovely in its beginning, lovely in its middle, lovely in its ending, in the spirit and in the letter, and proclaim, just as I do now, the holy life in its fullness and purity. He will be attended by a company of thousands of Monks, just as I am attended by a company of hundreds.”

This was all The Words of The Buddha mentioned in The Pāli Canon regarding the Arahant, Fully Enlightened Buddha named Maitreya.

(Reference: DN 26)

An Arahant Fully Enlightened Buddha Named Maitreya by Unreliable Literature

Phra Malai Kham Luang is a Buddhist literature which does not appear in The Pāli Canon. The period of Maitreya is found in a scripture called "Malai Discourse” which talks about a Buddhist Monk named “Malai” who was born in Sri Lanka, attained Arahantship and had a supernatural power. He was able to travel to hell, distinguish the fire burning in hell, destroy a red-hot metal cauldron, extinguish sorrow for hell-beings, able to travel to heaven to bestow lotus to the Culamani-Shrine, converse with Phra Sri Ariya and informed that humans want to be reborn in Phra Sri Ariya era. Monk Sri Ariya

instructed Monk Malai to tell people (on earth) to always make merit, practice generosity, and follow the Buddhist precepts. Whoever listens to the story of Phra Vessantara in the Great Birth Sermon that comprise a thousand incantations within one day and bestow different type of lotuses, one thousand lotuses each, they will be reborn in the Phra Sri Ariya era as stated in the Malai Discourse that:

…The future Buddha, joyful to hear (this) news of human beings in Rose-Apple Island, said ‘Sir, let everyone who wishes to see me when I have attained omniscience listen to a complete recitation in one day of the Great Vessantara Birth-Story; if they worship with a thousand lamps or a thousand lotuses, a thousand blue lotuses, blue water-lilies, Mandara-flowers, flax flowers, a thousand banners, parasols, flags or vehicles, and bring everything to worship The Teaching, they will attain Arahantship along with the analytical insights at the time of my Enlightenment (and) in my presence’.

A book called Kae roi Phra Malai (tracing Monk Malai) stated the source of Phra Malai which can be summarized as follows:

…Phra Malai manuscript can be found in several literary styles. It was originated in Sri Lanka, taken to Burma who composed “Maleyya Discourse”. From Maleyya Discourse to Maleyyaheavenly beingttheravatthu in Lanna (Northern Thailand) and spread to Ayutthaya which led to the composition of Maleyyavatthudipanitika in Ayutthaya. Moreover, various literatures were composed about Monk Malai such as Phra Malai Kam Luang, Royal literature, Phra Malai Klon Suat, folk version of Phra Malai that talks about hell and heaven, Phra Malai tale, preacher manual teaching hell and heaven, Sermon version of Phra Malai used in donating merit to the deceased.

In addition, the above book also mentioned the effects of Phra Malai Kam Luang on people’s way of living and cultures such as teaching them to be scared of hell and to aim for heaven, pouring water to donate merit to the deceased, listening to the Great Birth Sermon in order to meet Phra Sri Ariya. Phra Malai is also recited in weddings and funerals.

References:

Sinlapanon, Dendao. 2010. Kae roi Phra Malai. Krungthep : Museum Press.

Thammathibet, Chao Fa (Prince). 2007. Phra Malai Kham Luang. Nonthaburi : Sukhothai Thammathirat University

Udoporn Khampiranon. 2008. A Study of Buddhist Teachings as Appeared in the Phramalaikamluang Literature Master's thesis of the Buddhist Studies Graduate School Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University.

Maurice Walshe (trans.) (2012). The Long Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Digha Nikāya. Boston: Wisdom Publications. ISBN 978-0-86171-103-1.

K.R. Norman. 1993. Journal of the Pāli Text Society XVIII The Pāli Text Society. Oxford.

The Teachings from Phra Malai Kham Luang Buddhist literature do not appear in The Pāli Canon. The stories of Maitreya Buddha from this text are not considered to be accurate and can be disregarded and ignored.

Why Did Gotama Buddha Share That He is a Buddha and Why Will Maitreya Buddha Not Share with The Public That He is a Buddha?

During the lifetime of Gotama Buddha, people did not know what is a Buddha. To help humanity understand what a Buddha is, Gotama Buddha needed to help us to understand this important Teaching by sharing that he is a Buddha.

So, during his lifetime, he shared that he is The Perfectly Enlightened One - a Buddha.

This helped us to understand what a Buddha is and is not, so this important Teaching was understood and available to be shared throughout humanity after his death.

What is a Buddha?

A “Buddha” is not a Stage of Enlightenment but instead, is a unique type of Enlightened being. A Buddha is an Arahant who has attained Enlightenment without any assistance of Teachers but only through their own efforts of using the world as their Teacher and perhaps Teachings of a previously awakened Buddha.

There are three primary criteria of what makes a Buddha a Buddha.

1.) A Buddha awakens to Enlightenment through their own independent journey without the assistance of any Teachers, independently discovering The Teachings that lead to Enlightenment.

A Buddha has fully eliminated The Ten Fetters to attain Enlightenment as an Arahant but they have done so through their own independent journey without the assistance of any Teachers, developing deep wisdom of what is needed to attain Enlightenment.

2.) A Buddha guides countless others to Enlightenment during their lifetime through sharing their independently discovered Teachings that led to their own Enlightenment during their independent journey.

A Buddha has the ability to guide countless beings to the attainment of Enlightenment during their lifetime and after their death. A Buddha will dedicate the remaining time of their life towards sharing their Teachings and guiding countless beings to Enlightenment.

3.) Upon a Buddha’s death, they will leave their Teachings in a condition that can be continually shared assisting countless more beings to Enlightenment after their death.

A Buddha’s Teachings and Students will continue to guide countless people to Enlightenment after a Buddha’s death. A Buddha has already done the hard work of figuring out how to attain Enlightenment. You just need to learn and practice his Teachings to improve the condition of the mind and your life.

A Buddha is referred to as a Fully Perfectly Enlightened Buddha, a Perfectly Enlightened One, or a Tathāgata. They are a human being, a Teacher, one with deep compassion for all beings and the world. A Buddha has deep wisdom to help the world and can accomplish that goal through individuals choosing to learn and practice their Teachings to attain Enlightenment.

They are considered Perfectly Enlightened because there are no outside influences that have led to their awakening, so they have “Perfect Enlightenment” where their mind is unaffected by any teachings outside of their own independently discovered Teachings that led to their awakening.

A Buddha will have an excellent memory being able to recall countless past events and situations with stunning accuracy. Unlike other humans, their memory does not fade and is not overwritten.

Why Will Maitreya Buddha Not Share with The Public That He is a Buddha?

Gotama Buddha predicted that a new Buddha would arise 2,500 years after his death and referred to him as “Maitreya Buddha”. Gotama Buddha died in 483 BCE which dates the awakening of Maitreya Buddha to the year 2017.

“Maitreya” refers to “loving-kindness” as it is predicted that this new Buddha will have a significant amount of loving-kindness for the world and choose to share The Path to Enlightenment with all of humanity, restoring The Teachings of Gotama Buddha for all of humanity to gradually become Enlightened.

Since Gotama Buddha shared The Teachings of what a Buddha is and is not, and in current times declaring one’s self as a Buddha would be viewed as arrogance, prideful, boasting, and based in ego, Maitreya Buddha will not share that he is a Buddha but instead, humbly share his Teachings without a need for others to know he is a Buddha - his Students may gradually discover this truth on their own as they progress towards awakening to Enlightenment.

During the lifetime of Gotama Buddha, there was no such thing as “worldwide fame”. Instead, Gotama Buddha was initially isolated to a small portion of the world. He taught in, what we refer to today as, Northeast India. Sharing and teaching that he was a Buddha, did not produce the perception that he was attempting to elevate himself to “worldwide fame” because worldwide fame did not exist during his lifetime.

Humanity spoke many different languages 2,500 years ago and there was only minimal interaction between various populations and societies. So sharing and teaching that he was a Buddha was to acknowledge what a Buddha is and is not, while helping humanity understand this important Teaching along with all the other Teachings that lead to Enlightenment.

Today, if someone declared they were a Buddha, this would be scrutinized and considered as, someone attempting to attain “worldwide fame” and people would consider this to be based in arrogance, pride, boastfulness, and ego. Therefore, an individual who publicly declares themselves as a Buddha could not actually be a Buddha because they could not be Enlightened if there was arrogance, pride, boastfulness, and ego.

Maitreya Buddha would know that if he announced his awakening to Enlightenment, that no one would believe this and therefore, it would hinder his ability to share The Teachings that lead to Enlightenment.

A Buddha’s Teachings are not based in belief. They are not interested in anyone believing anything at all, including, believing that they are a Buddha.

A Buddha does not need anyone to know they are a Buddha to be able to effectively share their Teachings into the world. A Buddha would be wise enough to awaken to Enlightenment on their own without any Teachers or guidance which is an enormous feat that requires a significant amount of wisdom. The last Buddha currently known to the world existed over 2,500 years ago.

Maitreya Buddha would not only have the wisdom to awaken to Enlightenment on his own without any Teachers or guidance but, he would also have the wisdom of how to share his Teachings with all those who have a sincere interest to learn his Teachings without the need for others to know he is a Buddha. Not only would Maitreya Buddha have the wisdom to awaken to Enlightenment on his own but, he would be able to create a wholesome environment that is conducive for Students to learn, reflect, and practice The Teachings that lead to Enlightenment with his guidance and without anyone needing to know he is a Buddha.

In fact, others knowing he is a Buddha would actually hinder his ability to share his Teachings and to guide countless Students to Enlightenment.

One of the most significant “powers” that a Buddha has is that no one knows he is a Buddha.

A Buddha has the ability to observe the quality of mind of his Students based on observation and interaction with them. He can observe the wholesome and unwholesome qualities of mind and then offer Teachings to help them cultivate wholesome qualities of mind and eliminate the unwholesome qualities of mind. A Buddha is more effective when no one knows that he is a Buddha so that he can more readily observe the normal state of an individual’s mind and then share Teachings to help his Students who are seeking guidance.

In this way, if people knew Maitreya Buddha existed in the world, they would potentially be on their best behavior anytime they are around him and thus, render useless his ability to observe the normal state of his Student’s mind.

He would be unable to observe the wholesome and unwholesome qualities of his Student’s mind, therefore, he would lack the insight to readily offer Teachings that would help guide his Students to Enlightenment.

A Buddha’s only goal is to guide as many Students to Enlightenment as possible during their lifetime and leave The Teachings in a condition that countless more people can get to Enlightenment after their death.

If a population of people were convinced that Maitreya Buddha is a Buddha, not only would people need to believe him, not only would people consider that he has arrogance, pride, boastfulness, and ego, thus, not be a Buddha…but also, his power and ability to diagnose the mind of his Student’s would be rendered useless and hinder his goal to guide countless Students to Enlightenment because he would lack the insight of the wholesome and unwholesome qualities of mind of his Students and be unable to share Teachings with them based on those important observations.

There was not a worldwide announcement of Gotama Buddha’s awakening nor was there a worldwide announcement of the arrival of other important Teachers, such as, Jesus Christ. Therefore, Maitreya Buddha would not need a worldwide announcement to be an effective Teacher but instead, would have the wisdom to accomplish his goals of restoring The Teachings of Gotama Buddha that guide all of humanity to Enlightenment on The Path to Enlightenment without anyone knowing he is a Buddha.

Having countless Enlightened beings in the world would create the ability for all of humanity to create “heaven on earth”.

People not knowing that Maitreya Buddha has awakened to Enlightenment would be beneficial to Maitreya Buddha, his Students, and all of humanity in multiple ways.

1.) People would not need to believe he is a Buddha, they could discover the truth on their own as they learn, reflect, and practice his Teachings to awaken to Enlightenment.

2.) Humanity would not regard him as having arrogance, pride, boastfulness, or ego because he would humbly go about his work guiding countless people to Enlightenment while restoring The Teachings of Gotama Buddha back into the world.

3.) He would retain his ability to observe the wholesome and unwholesome qualities of mind of his Students, thus, aiding him in more readily guiding countless people to Enlightenment.

No one should expect that Maitreya Buddha will make a worldwide announcement of his awakening. Instead, he will humbly, peacefully, and respectfully share his Teachings into the world with all those who have a sincere interest in learning, reflecting, and practicing The Path to Enlightenment to attain Enlightenment.

If you learn, reflect, and practice The Teachings of Maitreya Buddha that are restoring The Teachings of Gotama Buddha, then you will see the clarity, conciseness, and preciseness that Maitreya Buddha can share Gotama Buddha’s Teachings with all those who choose to progress towards Enlightenment. And, you will be able to make significant progress towards Enlightenment through his in-depth Teachings based on his deep wisdom.

Maitreya Buddha’s only goal is to restore The Teachings of Gotama Buddha by guiding countless people to Enlightenment during his lifetime and after his death. He would have no interest in fame or fortune as he would know those are not what leads to lasting and fulfilling peacefulness and joy that is permanent - the Enlightened mind.

If you live during the lifetime of Maitreya Buddha, this is the very best time to learn, reflect, and practice The Teachings to attain Enlightenment. There is no other time in history that is better than learning directly with a Buddha to attain Enlightenment.

May you all experience the peace and joy of the Enlightened mind.

Be well and have a wonderful life…..perhaps your last life.