<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1773" style="vertical-align: top; border: 0; margin: 8px;" title="Maitreya_en_genezeres_1988" src="http://strangeattractor.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Maitreya_en_genezeres_1988.jpg" alt="Maitreya_en_genezeres_1988" width="450" height="300" />

<em>“It is absurd to be put in this position, when I’m just some bloke,” Mr. Patel said.</em>

<em>A native of London now living on Potrero Hill in San Francisco, Mr. Patel suddenly finds himself an unlikely object of worship, proclaimed the messiah Maitreya by followers of the New Age religious sect Share International.</em>

<em>He was raised as a Hindu and had never heard of the group. He has no desire for deification. But he may not have a choice.</em>

From <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/05/us/05sfmetro.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>, via <a href="http://www.anomalist.com/" target="_blank">The Anomalist</a>

[Above pic is of  the Maitreya taken in Nairobi in 1988 - he doesn't look much like <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2010/02/05/us/05sfmetro_CA0.html" target="_blank">Mr Patel</a>... and more on the Maitreya from <a href="http://www.share-international.org/maitreya/Ma_main.htm" target="_blank">Share International</a>]