Today is the first day of the first lunar month in the Chinese calendar and the birthday of Bodhisattva Maitreya, who will be the immediate successor to Śākyamuni Buddha to teach and transform sentient beings in this Saha World.
《中阿含经》记载，佛陀告诉各位比丘，未来会有一尊佛名号弥勒如来。当时弥勒菩萨正在会中，便起立启白佛陀：世尊！我将在未来人寿八万岁时成佛，名号弥勒如来。“弥勒”是音译，意译为“慈氏”。菩萨还有一个名字是“阿逸多”，意思是“无能胜”。弥勒菩萨从最初发心，就一直修行慈心三昧，大慈之心无人能及，因而得名。
As recorded in the Madhyama Āgama (Middle-Length Discourses), the Buddha told the bhiksus that a Buddha named Maitreya Tathāgata will appear on Earth in the future. Hearing this, Bodhisattva Maitreya rose from the assembly and addressed the Buddha, "World Honored One! I will become a Buddha with the name of Maitreya Tathāgata when humans will live to an age of eighty-four thousand years." The name "Maitreya", transliterated as Mi Le in Chinese, means "the Compassionate One". The bodhisattva is also called "Ajita", which means "invincible". Ever since he brought forth his resolve at the beginning, the bodhisattva has been practicing the samadhi of loving-kindness and therefore has a loving heart beyond comparison. It is for this reason that he is known as Maitreya, the Loving One.
弥勒菩萨和我们有着甚深的缘分。不仅佛陀嘱托弥勒菩萨接替自己继续在娑婆世界说法，菩萨也发愿即使到了刀兵劫也要守护娑婆众生，直到众生的贪嗔痴烦恼微少，成就了十善业，方证无上正等正觉。
Bodhisattva Maitreya has deep affinities with us. Not only that he was entrusted by the Buddha to continue to teach the Dharma in the Saha world, the bodhisattva himself has also vowed that he would protect sentient beings even when the śastrāntara-kalpa (the calamity of war) comes and that he would not attain the supreme perfect enlightenment until sentient beings have diminished their afflictions of greed, hatred, and ignorance to the minimum and accomplished the ten wholesome actions.
因此未来人类寿命减短到只有十岁，释迦教法隐没，饥馑、瘟疫、刀兵斗争渐次而来，极度苦难之时，弥勒菩萨将会化现世间，教导大家不要互相伤害，应该行持善法。从此人们福报渐长，寿命渐增。人寿增长至八万四千岁时，此方国土殊胜美妙，无有尘垢瑕疵，大地平坦，绿茵细软，香稻自生，花果芬芳，天雨甘露，泉水清净，人身高大香洁，受用如同天界，远离恶行，行十善业，安享幸福快乐的果报，人间有如净土。那时弥勒菩萨才会示现龙华树下，成等正觉，三会说法，度尽释迦牟尼佛教法下已结善缘、早植善根的众生。
In the future, human lifespan will shorten to only ten years, the teachings of Śākyamuni Buddha will have been forgotten, and famine, plague, and wars will occur one after another. At that point of extreme suffering, Bodhisattva Maitreya will manifest himself in this world and teach humans to stop hurting each other and practice and uphold virtuous actions. As a result, humans will enjoy more merits and live longer. When their lifespan grows to eighty thousand years, this world will become excellent and splendid, with no dust or flaw. The land will be level, covered with soft grass. Fragrant rice will grow naturally (from the soil). Fine fragrance will issue forth from flowers and fruits. Sweet dews will fall from the heavens. Springs will be crystal clear. Humans will have big, tall bodies that emanate pleasant odour, and enjoy resources as plentiful as those in the Realm of Heaven. By staying away from unwholesome deeds and practicing the ten wholesome deeds, they will enjoy the karmic fruits of joy and happiness, and the world will be like a pure land. It is at that point that Bodhisattva Maitreya will manifest himself and realize proper enlightenment under the Mesua ferrea tree and expound the Dharma in the three great assemblies, so as to liberate sentient beings who have developed affinities and planted the roots of virtue under the teachings of Śākyamuni Buddha.
弥勒菩萨大愿的启示是，从当下开始、从自己做起，点滴行持善法，是未来整个世界美好圆满的重要因缘。当每一个人都在减少内心的烦恼，努力做好十善业，这个世界就会成为人间净土。
The message from Maitreya's great vow is that we should practice wholesome deeds bit by bit right at the moment and starting with ourselves. This constitutes an important condition for building a wonderful world in the future. When everyone strives to lessen his or her afflictions and practice the ten wholesome deeds , the world will become a pure land.
菩萨当来，法身常在，新的一年祈愿慈光注照，让我们更有力量断恶行善，内心越来越光明，越来越清净！
Bodhisattva Maitreya will descend to our world in the future, and the Dharma body will perpetuate. In this new year, may we immerse ourselves in the light of his loving-kindness, be more energetic in renouncing bad and doing good, and become brighter and purer in our hearts!
翻译：北京龙泉寺翻译中心
Translated by: Beijing Longquan Monastery Translation Center
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