Thank you, Piya.

Peter Harver in his book An introduction to Buddhism (p. 130)
mentions "Of the heavenly Bodhisattvas, the earliest one referred to
is Maitreya, 'The Kindly One', who is acknowledged even in the
Southern tradition." He does not indicate any textual information. It
could be the text you have refereed to.

So, to believe this Bodhisattva is a future Buddha is only in the
Mahayana tradition, not in the Pali Buddhism. Possibly other early
Buddhist schools also do not have such a faith of the future Buddha
(I could be wrong).

Regards,

Thomas Law

--- In Pali@yahoogroups.com, libris <libris@...> wrote:
> Dear Thomas,
>
> Metteyya is only mentioned in the Cakkavatti Sihanada Sutta (D 26)
in the Canon, definitely not in the Sutta Nipata, although there
mught be a disciple whose name is very close,
>
> Ajahn Sujato has a very interesting theory about Metteyya. You
might loike to ask him about it.
>
> Sukhi
>
> Piya
>
> --- thomaslaw03 <thomaslaw03@...> wrote:
>
> > Dear all,
> >
> > I heard that Maitreya (Pali: Metteya) Bodhisattva as a future
Buddha
> > is
> > also found in Pali canon (Sutta-Nipata?). If it is correct, then
> > this
> > faith came to exist in Buddhism at historically early state. Also,
> > only
> > this Bodhisattva in the Mahayana is recognized by all Hinayana or
> > early
> > Buddhist sects.
> >
> > Please give me advice. Thank you.
> >
> > Sincerely,
> >
> > Thomas Law
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
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