Ten Bodhisattas-Cedar Herald Index

Ten Bodhisattas refer to ten future Buddhas during their lives as bodhisattvas. They have also been referred to as successors of Gautama Buddha.

In Dasabodhisattuppattikathā

Dasabodhisattuppattikathā ("Ten Bodhisattva Birth Stories" or "Lives of the Ten Bodhisattvas") is a Pali Buddhist text that deals with ten future Buddhas during their lives as bodhisattvas. It is a "strange small work of late Pali literature" and "the only example of a book devoted entirely to extolling the Bodhisattas who will be Buddhas in future ages."

Ten Bodhisattas

There are several recensions to the text, all of which were consulted in the publishing of Saddhātissa’s book. Despite frequent differences in vocabulary, they agree in the arrangement and content of the stories. Each story is about a virtuous person near the end of his or her cycle of rebirths. Each character has lived a meritorious life and dies through some self-inflicted act, often gruesome, which serves as an offering to the universal Buddha. Each will be reborn one final time and attain full Buddhahood.

Ten Bodhisattas

In Sotattakī

In the Sotattakī Scripture, one of the exclusive texts to the Pali Canon, Ānanda asked Gautama Buddha about the people who were practising to achieve the Buddhahood. Gautama Buddha answered that there will be 10 future Buddhas. The Bhodhisattas are introduced as: "Metteyyo Uttamo Rāmo, Paseno Kosalobibū, Dīghasoṇīca Caṅkīca, Subo, Todeyya Brahmano. Nāḷāgirī Pālileyyo, Bodhisatthā imedasa anukkamena sabhodiṁ, pāpuṇissanti nāgate". which can be translated as: "The 10 people who will gain enlightenment in the future are: The noble Maitreya Buddha, King Uttararama, King Pasenadi Kosala, Abhibhū, Dīghasoṇī, Caṅkī (Candanī), Subha, a Brahmin named Todeyya, an elephant named Nāḷāgirī and the king of elephants Pālileyya. They will become the Future Buddhas in such order"

Ten Bodhisattas

The 10 Bodhisattas

Maitreya

According to the Anāgatavamsa, Maitreya buddha was a monk disciple named Ajita. One day, Gotamī offered a golden robe to Gautama and his disciples. As no disciple accepted it, Ajita accepted the offering. The monk crowd were not satisfied as they felt that the robe was dedicated to the Buddha. In order to prove that Ajita is his successor, Gautama Buddha hid his emerald alms bowl and told his disciples to help retrieve it. Only Ajita was able to retrieve his bowl. After getting his alms bowl back, Gautama Buddha explained to his disciples that Ajita would become the next future Buddha. He also had told the future biography of Maitreya as Sāriputtara requested for it. After getting the omen, Ajita donated Gotami's robe as the ceiling of the monastery. Maitreya is currently residing at the Tushita realm.

Uttararama

In the time of the Kassapa Buddha, King Uttarāma was a young man named Nārada. When he saw the Buddha, he thought it worthwhile to give his life for the Buddha. And he burnt himself, like a torch. Then the Buddha Kassapa foretold that Nārada would be the future buddha.

After Maitreya Buddha died, there will be 100,000 Sunya-Kalpas. After the 100,000 Sunya-Kalpas, there will be a Maṇḍa-Kalpa. In the Maṇḍa-Kalpa, he will become Rāma Buddha (Rāmasambuddha Buddha).

Pasenadi

King Pasenadi of Kosala was an Upāsaka of Gautama Buddha. He usually invited him and his disciples to his palace for meals and also went to Buddha's Place to listen to his Dhamma.

In the time of Koṇāgamana Buddha, he was a young man named Suddha. He guarded lotuses in a lake. He sold two flowers every day. Having appreciated his work, he foretold him that he would be the future Buddha. He also had protected him against the heat of the sun with two pieces of cloth. After his death he was reborn in one of the desire realm.

In the future, he will become a Buddha named Dhammarājā Buddha in the same kalpa as Rāmasambuddha Buddha.

Abhibhū

Abhibhū Buddha will be born in the next Sārā-kalpa, which will be formed a few Sunya-Kalpas later. After Abhibhū Buddha dies, there will be another 100,000 Sunya-Kalpas.