Buddhist Prophecy

The Kalachakra (Wheel of Time) teachings of Buddhism describe ‘Kalpa’ (era), which is (relatively) small cycle of time extending several centuries, similar to Yuga in Hindu traditions. According to the Maitreyavyankarna ("Prophecy of Maitreya"), the present era will end with severe geological catastrophes which will significantly change the face of the planet that a world leader can easily travel between countries. At that time, Buddha will incarnate as Lord Maitreya ("The Buddha Who Returns") who will teach dharma and help people to attain salvation.

A prophecy by Gautama Buddha in Chapter 26 of Digha Nikaya describes, “At that period, brethren, there will arise in the world an ‘exalted one’ named ‘Maitreya’, fully awakened, abounding in wisdom and goodness, happy, with knowledge of the worlds, unsurpassed as a guide to mortals willing to be led, a teacher for gods and men, an exalted one, a Buddha, even as I am now. He, by himself, will thoroughly know and see, as it were face to face, this universe, with its worlds of the spirits, its Brahmas and its Maras, and its world of recluses and Brahmins, of princes and peoples, even as I now, by myself, thoroughly know and see them”.

In the Surangama Sutra, Gautama Buddha told his disciple Sariputta of the signs that precede the end of the age: "After my decease, first will occur the five disappearances.   And what are the five disappearances?  The disappearance of attainments (to Nirvana), the disappearance of the method (inability to practice wisdom, insight and the four purities of moral habit), the disappearance of (spiritual) learning, the disappearance of the symbols (the outward forms, the robes and practices of Buddhism), the disappearance of the relics...”

"Then when the Dispensation of the perfect Buddha is 5,000 years old, the relics, not receiving reverence and honor will go to places where they can receive them... This, Sariputta, is called the disappearance of relics."

Buddha had previously promised that the Dharma would last for 5,000 years, which if broken down is really five periods of one thousand years, each period representing one of the five disappearances.  After the fifth period, that is five thousand years, the Dharma would disappear and the true message of Buddha would be lost.

However, Buddha contests that because he has allowed women to participate in the fullness of Buddhist life, he would halve the time until the Dharma's expiration from five periods of one-thousand years (5,000 years), to five periods of five-hundred years (2,500 years) which is described in a conversation with Ananda in Vinya Pitaka (II: 253).

"If, Ananda, women had not retired from the household life to the houseless one, under the doctrine and discipline announced by the Tathagata (another Buddha), Dharma would long endure; a thousand years would the good Dharma abide.  But since, Ananda, women have now retired from the household life to the houseless one, under the doctrine and the discipline announced by the Tathagata, not long Ananada, will Dharma endure; but five hundred years, Ananda, until the Dharma abide".

The Chinese Buddhist text Abhidharmakosha (4.12c. III. p. 41) affords a few more details about this prophecy: "The monks and stream-attainers will be strong in their union with Dharma for 500 years after the Blessed One's Parinirvana. In the second 500 years they will be strong in meditation. In the third period of 500 years they will be strong in erudition. In the fourth 500-year period they will only be occupied with gift-giving. The final or fifth period of 500 years will see only fighting and reproving among the monks and followers. The pure Dharma will then become invisible."

The advent of Maitreya will be after 2500 years from the dispensation (death) of Buddha (or the beginning of ‘Buddhist era’). One of the possible dates is 544 B.C., which suggests 1956 A.D. as the birth year of Maitreya. Another possible date is 483 B.C., which suggests the year 2017.

The ‘Buddhist scriptures’ by Edward Conze describes the birth of Maitreya as “The Lord replied, Maitreya, the best of men, will then leave the Tushita heavens, and go for his last rebirth.  As soon as he is born he will walk seven steps forward, and where he puts down his feet a jewel or a lotus will spring up.  He will raise his eyes to the ten directions, and will speak these words:  'This is my last birth.  There will be no rebirth after this one.  Never will I come back here, but, all pure, I shall in Nirvana.”

Nicholas Roerich, who traveled in Asia during the 1920s, transmitted this Tibetan prophecy of the end of the present era: "First will begin an unprecedented war of nations. Afterwards brother will rise against brother. Oceans of blood shall flow. And the people shall cease to understand one another. They shall forget the meaning of the word teacher. But just then shall the teachers appear and in all the corners of the world shall be heard the true teaching. To this word of truth shall the people be drawn, but those who are filled with darkness and ignorance shall set obstacles. As a diamond glows the light in the tower of the Lord of Shambhala. One stone on his ring is worth more than the entire world's treasure. Even those who by accident help the teachings of Shambhala will receive in return a hundredfold. Already many warriors of the truth are reincarnated. Only a few years shall elapse before everyone shall hear the mighty steps of the Lord of the New Era. And one can already perceive the unusual manifestations and encounter unusual people. Already they open the gates of knowledge and ripened fruits are falling from the trees."

"For 60,000 years Maitreya, the best of men, will preach the true Dharma, which is compassionate towards all living beings. And when he has disciplined in his true Dharma hundreds and hundreds of millions of living beings, then that leader will at last enter Nirvana. And after the great sage has entered Nirvana, his true Dharma still endured for another 10,000 years."

The Gautama Buddha explained Sariputta "At that time, the ocean will lose much of its water, and there will be much less of it than now. In consequence a world-ruler will have no difficulties in passing across it. India, this island of Jambu, will be quite flat everywhere, it will measure ten thousand leagues, and all men will have the privilege of living on it. It will have innumerable inhabitants, who will commit no crimes or evil deeds, but will take pleasure in doing good. Human beings are then without any blemishes, moral offenses are unknown among them, and they are full of zest and joy. Their bodies are very large and their skin has a fine hue. Their strength is quite extraordinary. Three kinds of illness only are known: people must relieve their bowels, they must eat, and they must get old.”