试论弥勒信仰与密教的融合

Integration of Tantra and the Maitrey Belief

密教对弥勒信仰的影响被学者认为是"有限"的,但语焉未详。二者的相互影响是多方面的,如经典、仪轨、造像等。弥勒信仰与密教的结合,产生了密教化的弥勒形象和密教化的弥勒经典,拓展了弥勒信仰修持方法的新途径。但弥勒信仰与密教的融合根本说来还是修持法门的结合。王雪梅,历史学博士,西华师范大学历史文化学院副教授,西北大学佛教研究所特邀研究员,四川大学道教与宗教文化研究所博士后人员。

It is held by scholars that the influence of Tantra on Maitreya belief was 'limited',but there was insufficient evidence to prove this.They were interactive in scriptures,rituals,statues and so on,and Maitreya image and Maitreya scriptures in perspective of Tantra came into being duo to their combination,thus paving a new way for the cultivation approach of Maitreya belief.However,their integration resulted from the initial approach of cultivation fundamentally.