Ten Bodhisattas

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.[3] Maitreya is currently residing at the Tushita realm.

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.[4]

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).

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.[5]

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.[6]

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

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.

In the newly formed Kalpa, Dīghasoni asurin (Rahu Asurin), a deva, will become a Buddha first.

Caṅkī (Candanī), a brahmin, will become a successor of Dīghasoni.[7]

According to the Majjhima Nikāya of the Pali Canon, Subha was the son of Todeyya.[8]

When Gautama Buddha visited Subha's house, his pet dog barked continuously. As soon as he revealed the past of the dog, it ran away in fear. When Subha knew about the matter, he went to the Buddha to disprove his statements. However, he only told him to ask his pet about the possessions he buried in the past life. As they could find the hidden possessions, Subha began to respect him and to do donations for his father.

Another time, Subha asked the Buddha seven questions about the difference between humans. Having got satisfactory answers, he decided to become a devoted Buddhist and to practise Pāramitā. The Buddha did not see an omen, so their practice to gain enlightenment was not complete.[9]

Todeyya was a rich Brahmin during the time of Gautama Buddha. Despite the wealth, he did not manage to donate his possessions and hid them instead. Because of his obsession, he became a pet dog of Subha in the afterlife.[8]

Nāḷāgiri was the elephant that was used by Devadatta to murder Gautama Buddha. It was fed sixteen pots of alcohol and ordered to fight the Buddha.[10] When it was rushing towards him, he gently soothed the drunk elephant. He then began to preach some Dharma.

After preaching, the elephant was tamed and paid respect to Buddha, then gradually walked away. Gautama Buddha did not give him the omen but had told him to follow the Five precepts. It also had got another name, "Danapāla".[11]

Gautama Buddha once left alone to the Palileyaka village due to the conflict between his disciples. The villagers built a monastery for him at the Rakkhita forest which was near their village.

Meanwhile, an elephant named Palileya (Burmese: ပလလဲ) left his family because he felt cramped. He thought that living alone would be a solution. Then, he met the Buddha at his monastery. The Buddha told him about the benefits of solitude.[12]

In the Jinatthapakāsanī (The explicit life of Buddha) written by Kyee Thel Lay Htet Sayadaw, Palileya looked after the Buddha. He usually guarded while he was sleeping. He gave a lot of fresh fruits to him and followed him to the village during alms. He had taken care of him for the Vassa(three months). After three months, Gautama Buddha had to leave him. He told him that he was not ready to practise for enlightenment. Palileyya died of grief. In the afterlife he became a Deva named Palileyya in the Tāvatiṃsa realm.[13]

According to the Hmannan Yazawin of Myanmar, it is believed that the Bagan Kings, Thamoddarit, Anawrahta and Kyaswa are the future lives of Palileyya.[14] King Myet-Hna Shay of Prome was also believed to be another afterlife as he spent most of his time mediating at a pagoda.[15]

• Sayadaw, De Pell Yinn. Anāgatavamsa "The Future Life of Maitreya Buddha" (in Burmese).
• Sayadaw, Vicittasārābhivamsa (2011) [1995]. The Great Life of Buddha (in Burmese). Vol. 4 (Sixth ed.). Department of Religious Affairs: Ministry of Religious Affairs (Myanmar).
• Sayadaw, Kyee Thel Lay Htet (2017) [1995]. Offset, Thein Htun (ed.). Jinatthapakāsanī (The Explict Life of Buddha) (Eighth ed.). Yangon: Khin Cho Tun.