On hearing about Maitreya as the Teacher for the coming time, many wonder about the relationship between him and other teachers. Here we shed some light on the relationship between Maitreya and several well-known figures from the distant and recent past: Sai Baba, the Buddha, Krishna and Krishnamurti. This information can be found in greater detail in the books of Benjamin Creme.
Sai Baba
Sai Baba was a teacher or guru in south India with an enormous following. Hundreds of thousands, perhaps one or two million people from all over the world would claim to be his devotees. These followers see him as God, the creator of the universe. He is a cosmic avatar. Sai Baba and Maitreya both embody the same energy — what we call the Christ principle, the energy of Love — Sai Baba at the cosmic level, Maitreya at the planetary level.

The relation of Sai Baba to the Christ: The Christ is a planetary avatar, Sai Baba is a cosmic avatar. Sai Baba is a Spiritual Regent, sent into the world by the Lord of the World, Sanat Kumara, on Shamballa. A regent “stands in” for the king. Similarly, a Spiritual Regent “stands in” for God, for the Logos, Whose reflection Sanat Kumara is. Sai Baba embodies the energy of Love at a cosmic level (the Christ embodies this energy at the planetary level) and his work, in part, is to prepare humanity for the work of the Christ. By awakening the love principle in humanity, Sai Baba prepares people for the Initiatory work of the Christ. As the Initiator at the first two planetary initiations, the Christ will lead humanity gradually out of the strictly human kingdom into the Hierarchy, the Kingdom of Souls, or the Kingdom of God. That is his major work in the coming age of Aquarius. These two Great Ones work together in daily contact, complete harmony and shared purpose in the evolution of mankind.
The Buddha
Shakyamuni Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, is the brother of Maitreya. They were among the first on this planet to take initiation and have been at the forefront of humanity ever since. He overshadowed Mithras, Memnon and Gautama. He now dwells on the highest center of our planet, Shamballa. He acts as the Divine Intermediary between Shamballa and Hierarchy, and is deeply engaged in the process of Maitreya’s mission as World Teacher. He will send two initiate disciples to reform Buddhism.
Krishna
Sri Krishna (c3000 BC) was overshadowed by Maitreya. Despite the discolouration that has occurred by its dissemination over the centuries, the Bhagavad Gita remains a fairly accurate allegorical statement of his teaching for that time.
Krishnamurti

Krishnamurti (1895-1986) was one of a number of individuals who were being prepared and trained to act as a potential vehicle through whom Maitreya could manifest. In 1945, Maitreya decided that he would come in person, so the trainee disciples were no longer required. Krishnamurti subsequently established himself as a great teacher in his own right, with a tremendous following throughout the world. In Share International magazine Maitreya’s associate has said: “He was a true disciple of Maitreya. The teachings of Krishnamurti are the teachings of Maitreya.”
Krishnamurti was due to reincarnate before the end of the 20th century.