A BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATABASE ON BUDDHISM
Brought to you by the BDK/Numata Foundation

: | | |

Buddhas

In addition to the historical Buddha, Śākyamuni, there have always been multiple Buddhas in Buddhist literature. In the earliest Buddhist traditions, it was assumed that there would be only one Buddha at a time, and the next Buddha to be born, Maitreya, would not arrive in our world for several millennia after the last one. In later forms of the tradition, multiple Buddhas existing in multiple Buddha fields were posited, dispensing teachings or compassion and leading beings to awakening.