I have added few of my own having done some basic research.
Kalpa is the Lifetime of a Universe.
The current Bradrakalpa is an extremely magnificent Kalpa with 5 Buddhas to be born.
Kakusandha
Konagama
Kassapa
Gautama
Already four born and one Maithriya to be born.
We are in the Bradrakalpa.
After this current five Buddha Kalpa there are 59 Kalpas where no Buddhas or Arhats are born.
Abhudassa Kala is the name given for the period after the period of Mettaya Buddha.
According Balangoda Ananda Maithriya Thera this a magnificent period to walk the path laid by Gautama Buddha and follow his teaching unless one wants become another Buddha.
I have no sympathy for those who follow the Tibetian Passe-Buddha. It is a Mahayana or Indian Tradition by enlarge.
No more about Mahayana.
I dish out Theravada the Text of the Elders including Balangoda Ananda Maithriya Thera.
It is only through "Vidhassana Bhavana" one can achieve the goal, at least the Stream Entry.
Satara Sati Pattan is the way.
"Samatha Bhavana" without understanding of Dhamma one can obtain higher Dyana and birth in Heavenly Worlds including Maha Brahma.
This is the approach of Hindu Teaching.
Their belief is that Maha Brahma is eternal and he has created this World. Additionally beings possess "Soul" and the Soul is eternal.
We do not believe in creation of World Systems but Grand Energy conversation which has a natural order of creation and dissolution according to natural physical laws.
We Buddhists additionally do not believe in "Soul Concept".
Our belief is Maha Brahma having consumed all his good Kamma would end up in a lower lever, even lower than humans (but as animals because he has consumed almost all Kusala Kamma).
It is rare to be born as a human.
It is even worse to waste that time on Samatha Bhavana which is alluring as id Ayahuasca inhalation, to say the least but does not lead to the Path of Nibbhana.
I have no problem with anybody practicing Meditation but when one reaches the Dyana level one becomes addicted and this addition is counterproductive and may even lead to physical illnesses including strokes and hearth disease.
I have seen these adverse events as a medical practioner.
At least six cases before our marriage.
This is why I say one needs a reliable trainer versed with Dhamma to practice meditation. One does not get anywhere in 6 weeks if one does not follow it up.
Currently, I do not practice meditation since I have got a lot to finish as regard to my books.
It is time consuming.
By the way, blogging as a pastime.
In one Kalpa one may have upto, to Five Buddhas. One Buddha is the least in one Kalpa.
We are in the fourth Kalpa.
Gauthama is our Buddha.
Buddha went through 6 years of hardship before attaining Enlightenment.
This period of rigorous practice can go up from 7 days to 7 months.
This all depends on the mental purity (stage) achieved by the previous life.
I have to make a correction here that 100 year time limit to understand the Dhamma. Longer life time considered was as an impediment.
It is relative.
According to Ananda Maithriya Thera there we Kalpas with 1000 year Buddhas. Those have come and gone and our one is in 100 year cycles.
So do not waste time.
Waiting for next Buddha is prolonging Samsara. My mother wanted to see Maithriya Buddha and that was her wish.
Next Buddha is Matteyya or Maithree
One who has obtained the Niyatua Viyawara and who is destined to become the next Buddha.
He has already obtained it from our Gautama Buddha.
It is long time to come and we do not know who he is.
Some even say Balangoda Ananda is destined to be the next.
He has never claimed it but has many attributes.
I have never met this Thera but has sent messengers to him when I have had difficulties and when I needed advice. Twice in my life he guided me through my difficulties and I am glad to say I have overcome them in good time.
I deliberately did not visit him thinking that I may ask more than what I should ask.
I needed to know the minimum and nothing more. My wish was to see him after accomplishing my tasks and appreciate his help. He had passed away including Rev. Narada when I returned home from abroad.
Since then Buddhist Publication Society has been my Dhamma Fountain.
Fortunately, Balangoda Ananda Maithriya Thera has left recording. He was a brilliant in his Dhamma Exposition.
There are Kalpas without Buddha where there are nobody who is destined to become a Buddha. Those periods far exceed the periods with Buddhas are born.
Assuming the number of Kalpas to come in the future is 59 out of 64 we are in the 4th Kalpa and the next Kalpa is the 5th Kalpa when Mettaya Buddha would be born.
