Maitreya (Mi Le in Chinese; Jampa in Tibetan; Miroku in
Japanese) Bodhisattva is a future buddha. His name, Maitreya,
means the "loving one". He resides in the Tushita heaven
currently.
He is to join this world
after the end of the third period of time after the passing of the
Sakyamuni
Buddha. The first period is known as the first turning of the
dharma
(buddhist law/doctrine) wheel which is to last 500 years. The
second
period is known as the deteroriation of the dharma which is to last
about
one thousand years. The third period called the "turning of the
wheel of the second
law" is believe to last three thousand years.
