Yesterday, when I was listening to my local “Classic Hits” radio station in Sacramento, I was caught off guard by an announcement that the one known as the “Awaited Teacher” would soon begin his public ministry.  The radio spot declared the Awaited Teacher is also known as the Christ, Messiah, the fifth Buddha, Krishna, and the Imam Mahdi. 

I heard this ad repeated three times in the short periods I was in the car. I wondered if this ad blitz was being repeated on other radio stations and in other cities. I wondered how much money was being spent to promote the new age messiah.

The commercial referred the listener to Share International to learn more. It turns out, as I suspected, that the ad referred to Lord Maitreya.  On April 25, 1982, newspapers around the world announced the presence of Maitreya as the New Age Christ. In the 80s I was aware of the claims about Maitreya, and referenced him in my briefings about the New Age Movement when not much was known about such things in Christian circles.

Twenty-six years later, his advocates have now announced that Maitreya will begin his public ministry.  According to Benjamin Creme, Maitreya’s loyal frontman, Maitreya has accepted a request for an interview by a major American network. His timing relates to the financial collapse which Maitreya allegedly has foretold.  After this interview, and further interviews in Japan and England, an international press conference will be held for Maitreya’s “Day of Declaration.”

With some amount of chutzpah, Creme claims that on his day of declaration, international media will be linked so that the entire world will watch and each person will see his face on television, but each person will hear his words telepathically in his own language as Maitreya simultaneously impresses the minds of all humanity. Even those who are not watching Him on television will have this experience.

After twenty-six years of waiting, Maitreya and the Masters of the Universe are declaring that their time is now. Will Maitreya be able to fulfill the hype—and impress the minds of all humanity?  His adherents are betting—with their money—that he can.