Item: Maitreya (Bodhisattva & Buddhist Deity)

Maitreya (Tibetan: cham pa. English: Love), the bodhisattva of loving kindness and the coming buddha of the future aeon after the age of Shakyamuni Buddha. Maitreya currently resides in the Tushita heaven and is commonly depicted as either a bodhisattva or in the appearance of complete Buddha with all the typical charateristics.

"With the fire of great love burning the fuel of anger, the light of pristine awareness removes the darkness of ignorance; heir to the Conqueror's Dharma, upcoming leader of beings; to the one residing in Tushita, I bow." (Buddhist liturgical verse).

Jeff Watt 2-2007