Bodhisattva (bosatsu)

Miroku Bosatsu

弥勒菩薩みろくぼさつ

Miroku Bosatsu is taught as a buddha who will appear in this world in the future and save people. He is regarded as a bodhisattva who now preaches in the Tosotsu Heaven and is promised to become the buddha who succeeds Shaka.

This introduction is based on materials from Shōhōin (Tobi Fudō). It is summarized within the scope of the beliefs and traditions those materials convey, and does not present explanations or customs common to all schools, shrines, and temples.

English pages are the site’s own translations of its Japanese pages. The sources cited are in Japanese. 日本語で読む

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A bodhisattva of loving-kindness who will become a buddha in the future

Source: 浄土宗

The wish to be born near Miroku, and the wish to await his coming

Miroku devotion includes jōshō belief, the wish to be born in the Tosotsu Heaven after death and receive his teaching, and geshō belief, which awaits Miroku's appearance on earth. The "5.67 billion years" also mentioned by Shōhōin is a vast span of time taught in the Buddhist tradition.

Source: 浄土宗・飛不動尊正宝院

A devotion handed down since the Asuka period

Miroku devotion in Japan goes back to the Asuka period and later developed mainly among monks of the Hossō school. Shōhōin introduces forms with a jeweled crown or a jeweled pagoda, in addition to the half-lotus pensive posture. The images that represent Miroku do not take only one form.

Source: 浄土宗・飛不動尊正宝院

Mantra (in Japanese, as written in the sources)

おんまいたれいやそわか。

Source: 飛不動尊正宝院

Shown as written in the Japanese sources. This site does not set how or how many times to recite it.

Related shrines and temples

Related kami and buddhas

Sources (in Japanese)

飛不動尊正宝院「仏様の世界：弥勒菩薩」（2026-10-14 確認）
飛不動尊正宝院「仏様の世界：目次」（2026-10-14 確認）
飛不動尊正宝院「仏様の世界：十三仏」（2026-10-14 確認）
浄土宗「新纂浄土宗大辞典：兜率天」（2026-10-15 確認）