In recent years, information about Maitreya's emergence has come primarily from Benjamin Creme, a British artist and author who has been speaking and writing about this event since 1974. According to Creme, Maitreya descended in July 1977 from his ancient retreat in the Himalayas and took up residence in the Indian-Pakistani community of London. He has been living and working there, seemingly as an ordinary man, his true status known to relatively few. Maitreya has been emerging gradually into full public view so as not to infringe humanity's free will.

As a modern man concerned with today's problems, Maitreya has worked on many levels since 1977 to prepare humanity for his outward presence. From behind the scenes, the outpouring of his extraordinary energy has been the stimulus for dramatic changes on many fronts, including the fall of communism in the Soviet Union, the end of apartheid in South Africa, the rapprochement between East and West, the growing strength of the people's voice in many countries, and the worldwide focus on preserving the environment.