Religious Research

Religious Research

A Comparative Study of bodhisattvaness in Mahayana Buddhism and Intercession (Shafāʿa) in Shiism

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
1 PhD student, Teaching the Theoretical Principles of Islam, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
2 Assistant Professor, Faculty of Islamic Studies and Thought, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
10.22034/jrr.2024.394462.2111
Abstract
The belief in the intermediation of the saints to achieve salvation, known as intercession, is a crucial aspect of the eschatology in Islam and certain other religions, including Mahayana Buddhism. Due to the differing theoretical foundations of Islam and Buddhism regarding salvation, the attributes of the intercessor (shafīʿ or bodhisattva) and the conditions for intercession also vary. This article uses a descriptive-analytic method to evaluate and compare the concepts of shafāʿa (intercession) in Shiism and bodhisattvaness in Mahayana Buddhism, examining the perspectives of both religions and identifying their similarities and differences. The research concludes that, in Mahayana Buddhism, bodhisattvaness is the primary path to salvation, while in Shiism, shafāʿa complements other main factors for salvation, which include the individual's faith and righteous deeds.
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