The SaengMiReukBul (生彌勒佛), meaning ‘Living Maitreya Buddha,’ refers to a being who appears in the present era, having descended from the time of Shakyamuni Buddha, to save sentient beings in the future.
While the general concept of Maitreya Buddha speaks of an arrival in the distant future, the SaengMiReukBul is associated with the belief that a savior will manifest directly in this world to bestow enlightenment and salvation upon sentient beings and usher in a new era. It is particularly mentioned in prophetic texts such as “Gyeokam Yurok” and in various Buddhist scriptures as a term designating a savior who brings the ‘sweet dew’ (甘露水).