Maitreya 彌勒佛
The Laughing Buddha — the future Buddha, and in Chinese form the wandering monk Budai with his cloth sack. Petitioned for contentment, abundance and letting go.
弥勒佛 · 布袋和尚 · the path of joy
The Laughing Buddha
“大肚能容，容天下難容之事；笑口常開，笑世間可笑之人。” Walk the Path of Joy with Maitreya. At each turn you face a real choice — to hold on, or to let go. Your choices reveal your way of contentment.
About 弥勒佛 · the Buddha of joy
Maitreya is the Buddha-to-come; in China he took the beloved form of 布袋和尚 (Budai), the round, laughing monk with a cloth sack — a sign of abundance, tolerance and a heart that holds everything lightly. His feast day is 正月初一 (New Year’s Day): begin the year with a smile, offer incense and give generously; rubbing his belly is said to invite luck and ease.
An interactive parable for guidance & reflection.
三皈依 · The Three Refuges (Pali)
Buddhaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi
Dhammaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi
Saṅghaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi
Dhammaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi
Saṅghaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi
“I go to the Buddha for refuge · to the Dhamma (the teaching) for refuge · to the Saṅgha (the community) for refuge.” Recite three times to settle the heart, then chant the mantra of the Buddha-to-come.
梵文真言 · Sanskrit Mantra
मैं
maiṃ — the seed-syllable (bīja) of Maitreya, the Buddha of loving-kindness (慈氏)
彌勒佛心咒 · Maitreya Mantra
ॐ मैत्रि मैत्रेय स्वाहा
Oṃ Maitri Maitreya Svāhā
"Oṃ — loving-kindness — O Maitreya — so be it." Maitrī means loving-kindness, the very root of his name; Svāhā seals the blessing. Recite it to soften the heart and ripen good karma for the age to come.
The longer root mantra (心咒長咒) ▾
ॐ अजिते अजिते अपराजिते
अजितंजय हर हर मैत्रि अवलोकिते
कर कर महासमयसिद्धे
भर भर महाबोधिमण्डबीजे
स्मर स्मर अस्माकं समय बोधि बोधि
महाबोधि स्वाहा
अजितंजय हर हर मैत्रि अवलोकिते
कर कर महासमयसिद्धे
भर भर महाबोधिमण्डबीजे
स्मर स्मर अस्माकं समय बोधि बोधि
महाबोधि स्वाहा
Oṃ ajite ajite aparājite · ajitañjaya hara hara maitri avalokite · kara kara mahāsamayasiddhe · bhara bhara mahābodhimaṇḍabīje · smara smara asmākaṃ samaya bodhi bodhi mahābodhi svāhā
"The Incantation of Noble Maitreya's Promise" — invoking the Unconquered One (ajita) and the great seat of awakening.
Two figures in one
Maitreya is the Buddha of the future age, awaiting his descent. In China he became identified with 布袋和尚 Budai, a tenth-century monk with an enormous belly and a cloth sack, always laughing, who gave sweets to children and was recognised as Maitreya’s emanation at his death.
That fusion is why the future Buddha appears in Chinese temples as a fat, laughing man rather than a serene bodhisattva. His feast is the first day of the first lunar month.
Mantra and refuge
The Sanskrit mantra oṃ maitri mahāmaitri maitriye svāhā is given with Devanagari, Chinese and pronunciation, preceded by the Pali refuge — Buddhaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi — as recited in Buddhist practice.
Common questions
Is rubbing the belly traditional?
It’s a modern folk habit rather than a canonical practice, but a widespread and harmless one.
Is he a Buddha or a bodhisattva?
Currently a bodhisattva; a Buddha in the age to come.
What is he petitioned for?
Contentment, abundance, and the ability to put a burden down.