Gnostic Glossary: Tibetan Lexicon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The being that is depicted here rising out of the waters is called in Tibetan lhu གླུ. In Sanskrit, the word is Naga नाग. Naga means serpent. Lhu or Naga is a type of being that is not human, and that does not generally appear in the physical world, although they can. They are elemental spirits, primordial intelligences of nature that protect a vast amount of knowledge and energy. Any shaman works with lhu, the forces of nature.

Every body of water has a lhu. A river has lhu, a lake, a tree, a rock, a mountain. These are all the elemental forces of nature, but now remember your body. You are sitting in a body that is comprised of all of those elements from nature. Everyday you take in more elements from nature. You take in the energies and components of lhu, and they become your body. But, we do this unconsciously, without any consciousness at all of what these elements are, what we do with them, and what they become. Fuel for Spiritual Experience

Maitreya is the future Buddha prophesied to appear on Earth to achieve complete enlightenment, teach the pure dharma, and lead all beings to salvation once the teachings of the current Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama) have been entirely forgotten.

Maitreya holds a unique and highly revered status across various traditions and schools of thought:

1. In Buddhism: Maitreya is technically a bodhisattva—an enlightened being who waits in the Tuṣita Heaven, patiently biding his time until humanity needs the ultimate spiritual teachings again. The name comes from the Sanskrit word maitrī, which translates to loving-kindness or friendliness. He is often depicted in two distinct ways: seated with both legs dangling (ready to descend to Earth) or in a serene, “pensive” posture. He frequently wears jewelry, holds a small water flask, and wears a small stupa in his hair. His arrival will occur in a distant future age of peace and prosperity, during which he will guide millions of disciples to liberation.

2. In Theosophy: Maitreya was widely adopted by esoteric and New Age communities, including the Theosophical Society. In these traditions, he is often viewed as a “World Teacher” and the head of the Spiritual Hierarchy—a cosmic entity acting as a spiritual guide who can manifest in different physical and metaphorical forms across multiple religions (sometimes identified with figures like the Christ or the Imam Mahdi).

3. Historical and Artistic Influence: The concept of Maitreya has inspired breathtaking art and architecture for centuries. Notable historical representations include the colossal Southern Buddha Maitreya at the Mogao Caves in China and various intricate metal sculptures in Tibetan and Mongolian Buddhism.