|
Jade Buddha Temple
 Maitreya Bodhisattva: In the middle of the hall facing the gate is
a sculpture of a smiling Maitreya in a seated position, with a bare chest and
belly. In Buddhism, Maitreya is the Buddhist Messiah; he is also called Ajita, a
disciple of Sykyamuni. Maitreya was born in Southern India to a Brahman family.
It was said that he now lives in the Tusita heaven and will become the next
Buddha in this world after the Nirvana of Sakyamuni. After Maitreya becomes
Buddha, he will preach Buddha's teachings for three assemblies under the
dragon-flower tree, the bodhi tree of Maitreya, and everyone on the planet.
According to historical records, Maitreya's incarnation appeared three times in
China. The first was in the Southern
Dynasty (420-589); the second, at the end of the Tang
Dynasty (618-907); and the third time was in the Liang period of the Five
Dynasties (907-960). During the first incarnation Maitreya was born in Yiwu
of Zhejiang
Province under the name Fu Xi (later called Bodhisattva Fu), and he once
preached to Emperor Wudi of the Liang period (502-557). The second time he
appeared in Putian of Fujian
Province , where many legendary stories still remain. Maitreya's third
incarnation is known as the story of the "bag monk."
Under the dharma name Qi Ci (his parents called him Changtingzi), he was fat and
always carried a bag on his back. Everything that people offered him he put in a
bag, and although no one ever saw him take anything out of it, the bag was
always empty. If a man asked him a question about Buddhist dharma, he would put
his bag down. If the man did not understand his meaning and asked his
question again, Maitreya would take his bag and leave immediately without
turning around. If the man still did not understand him, Maitreya would burst
into laughter. Therefore, he was later regarded later as the incarnation of
Maitreya, and people often depicted him as a monk with a bag.
Weituo Bodhisattva: Behind the Maitreya sculpture stands a sculpture of
Weituo, a deva and guardian of Buddhism. Weituo holds a vajra in his hand and
appears ferocious and strong; he is the guardian of the temple. It is recorded
in the Buddhist sutra that Weituo is really Indra, the lord of the Trayastrimsas
and the four deva kings are under his command. Sakyamuni favors Weituo and often
explains dharma only to him. After the Nirvana of Sakyamuni, Weituo ignores
exhortations and obtains Sakyamuni's teeth to place in a shrine in heaven.
Weituo Bodhisattva often appears in the form of a heavenly god in gold armor who
conquers evil and heretics; this is why he is the guardian of the Buddhist
dharma.
|
|
E-Mail
This Article 
Print
Friendly Format 
Maitreya Bodhisattva: In the middle of the hall facing the gate is
a sculpture of a smiling Maitreya in a seated position, with a bare chest and
belly. In Buddhism, Maitreya is the Buddhist Messiah; he is also called Ajita, a
disciple of Sykyamuni. Maitreya was born in Southern India to a Brahman family.
It was said that he now lives in the Tusita heaven and will become the next
Buddha in this world after the Nirvana of Sakyamuni. After Maitreya becomes
Buddha, he will preach Buddha's teachings for three assemblies under the
dragon-flower tree, the bodhi tree of Maitreya, and everyone on the planet.
According to historical records, Maitreya's incarnation appeared three times in
China. The first was in the Southern
Dynasty (420-589); the second, at the end of the Tang
Dynasty (618-907); and the third time was in the Liang period of the Five
Dynasties (907-960). During the first incarnation Maitreya was born in Yiwu
of Zhejiang
Province under the name Fu Xi (later called Bodhisattva Fu), and he once
preached to Emperor Wudi of the Liang period (502-557). The second time he
appeared in Putian of Fujian
Province , where many legendary stories still remain. Maitreya's third
incarnation is known as the story of the "bag monk."
Under the dharma name Qi Ci (his parents called him Changtingzi), he was fat and
always carried a bag on his back. Everything that people offered him he put in a
bag, and although no one ever saw him take anything out of it, the bag was
always empty. If a man asked him a question about Buddhist dharma, he would put
his bag down. If the man
did not understand his meaning and asked his
question again, Maitreya would take his bag and leave immediately without
turning around. If the man still did not understand him, Maitreya would burst
into laughter. Therefore, he was later regarded later as the incarnation of
Maitreya, and people often depicted him as a monk with a bag.
