Concept of Metteyya in Lan Na Buddhist Literature

Abstract

The concept of Metteyya, the future Buddha, has been accepted in both Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism. However, he was mentioned very little in the main Theravada Pali cannon, the Tipitaka. Metteyya appeared later in the local Buddhist texts in Lanka and Lan Na called Anagatavamsa. The details of the two texts were differ. In Lan Na text, the belief in Metteyya exists at the end of the Pali literature in which the devotees would set their mind to be born in the age of the Metteyya. In order to be born at the age of Metteyya, one needs to listen to Jataka for one day continuously. This practice promotes one of the important Buddhist tradition called mahajataka-vessantara preaching.