user-1: Say, the next 30 years?
The world is going to undergo great turmoil IMO, as technology outstrips not just need but the reality we live in.
Is there much or indeed any chance that Maitreya will appear to help humanity through these changes?

user7611: I don't think so, how can anyone believe that Maitreya would appear in this lifetime?
The main sign of Maitreya's arrival is the life span being around 80,000 years. During The Buddha's time He said: 

"At present, monks, one who lives a long time is 100 years old or a
  little bit more" (Arakenanusasani Sutta, AN 7.70)

Which is basically the same as now in modern times. The life expectancy among people that had food has been like nearly the same since ancient times.
But arahants and paccekabuddhas still can arise during the time-period in between the appearance of a Sammasambuddha.
The distinction between paccekabuddhas and sammasambuddhas is that sammasambuddhas are considered as Supreme Teachers but paccekabuddhas can still teach just not as well.

user985: Most of the commentaries say that this Buddha Sasana will last for 5000 years...So there are around 2400+ years still left for the Gotama Sasana to disappear...This link gives a detailed explanation of the way in which the first the attainments will disappear, then the method, then the learning, then the symbols and finally the relics.
http://www.lawsofthenature.com/GotamaSasana.aspx

user2282: Well, things have to get really really bad and then it'll have to get really really good in order for Metteyya Buddha to appear:

"And the sons of these sons will come to live eighty years; their sons to 160 years; their sons to 320 years; their sons to 640 years; their sons to 2,000 years; their sons to 4,000 years; their sons to 8,000 years; their sons to 20,000 years; their sons to 40,000 years; and the sons of those that lived 40,000 years will come to live 80,000 years.
Among humans living 80,000 years, brethren, maidens are marriageable at 500 years of age.
Among such humans there will be only three kinds of disease—appetite, non-assimilation and old age."
At that period, brethren, there will arise in the world an Exalted One named Metteyya, Arahant, Fully Awakened, abounding in wisdom and goodness, happy, with knowledge of the worlds, unsurpassed as a guide to mortals willing to be led, a teacher for gods and men, an, Exalted One, a Buddha, even as I am now. ~ DN 26 ~


-1: <p>Say, the next 30 years?</p>

<p>The world is going to undergo great turmoil IMO, as technology outstrips not just need but the reality we live in.</p>

<p>Is there much or indeed any chance that Maitreya will appear to help humanity through these changes?</p>
 7611: <p>I don't think so, how can anyone believe that Maitreya would appear in this lifetime?</p>

<p>The main sign of Maitreya's arrival is the life span being around 80,000 years. During The Buddha's time He said: </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>"At present, monks, one who lives a long time is 100 years old or a
  little bit more" (Arakenanusasani Sutta, AN 7.70)</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Which is basically the same as now in modern times. The life expectancy among people that had food has been like nearly the same since ancient times.</p>

<p>But arahants and paccekabuddhas still can arise during the time-period in between the appearance of a Sammasambuddha.</p>

<p>The distinction between paccekabuddhas and sammasambuddhas is that sammasambuddhas are considered as Supreme Teachers but paccekabuddhas can still teach just not as well.</p>
 985: <p>Most of the commentaries say that this Buddha Sasana will last for 5000 years...So there are around 2400+ years still left for the Gotama Sasana to disappear...This link gives a detailed explanation of the way in which the first the attainments will disappear, then the method, then the learning, then the symbols and finally the relics.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.lawsofthenature.com/GotamaSasana.aspx" rel="nofollow">http://www.lawsofthenature.com/GotamaSasana.aspx</a></p>
 2282: <p>Well, things have to get really really bad and then it'll have to get really really good in order for Metteyya Buddha to appear:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>&quot;And the sons of these sons will come to live eighty years; their sons to 160 years; their sons to 320 years; their sons to 640 years; their sons to 2,000 years; their sons to 4,000 years; their sons to 8,000 years; their sons to 20,000 years; their sons to 40,000 years; and the sons of those that lived 40,000 years will come to live 80,000 years.</p>
<p>Among humans living 80,000 years, brethren, maidens are marriageable at 500 years of age.</p>
<p>Among such humans there will be only three kinds of disease—appetite, non-assimilation and old age.&quot;</p>
<p>At that period, brethren, there will arise in the world an Exalted One named Metteyya, Arahant, Fully Awakened, abounding in wisdom and goodness, happy, with knowledge of the worlds, unsurpassed as a guide to mortals willing to be led, a teacher for gods and men, an, Exalted One, a Buddha, even as I am now. ~ <a href="http://suttacentral.net/en/dn26" rel="nofollow noreferrer">DN 26</a> ~</p>
</blockquote>
