Because of this, it was and remains a common practice in Theravada to attempt to establish the necessary conditions to meet the future Buddha Maitreya and thus receive a prediction from him. Medieval Theravada literature and inscriptions report the aspirations of monks, kings and ministers to meet Maitreya for this purpose. Modern figures such as Anagarika Dharmapala (1864–1933), and U Nu (1907–1995) both sought to receive a prediction from a Buddha in the future and believed meritorious actions done for the good of Buddhism would help in their endeavor to become bodhisattvas in the future.
because of this it was and remains a common practice in theravada to attempt to establish the necessary conditions to meet the future buddha maitreya and thus receive a prediction from him medieval theravada literature and inscriptions report the aspirations of monks kings and ministers to meet maitreya for this purpose modern figures such as anagarika dharmapala (1864–1933) and u nu (1907–1995) both sought to receive a prediction from a buddha in the future and believed meritorious actions done for the good of buddhism would help in their endeavor to become bodhisattvas in the future