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Part IV - Jesus as Bodhisattva

Martien E. Brinkman
Affiliation:
VU University, Amsterdam
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Summary

Among the many meanings that can be attributed to Jesus in a Buddhist context – such as exemplary monk (arhat) or Amida Buddha – bodhisattva is the one that easily stands out the most. In all the different East Asian contexts, the figure of the bodhisattva more or less colours the nature of the mediation between finite and infinite existence. This simply begs the question of a comparison with the role of Jesus in Christianity. But this comparison raises several questions. First, given the method by which enlightenment is attained, can one speak of mediation in Buddhism? Does the notion of mediation not conflict with the essence of Buddhism? After all, Buddhism teaches one how to attain enlightenment on one's own. And, second, if there is room for mediation, what is the role of the bodhisattva in this? Third, how personal can the relationship with him be? After discussing these three issues we will close the discussion of Jesus as bodhisattva with a number of conclusions in which we will apply the principle of double transformation that was developed in Chapter 1.

Type
Chapter
Information
The Non-Western Jesus
Jesus as Bodhisattva, Avatara, Guru, Prophet, Ancestor or Healer?
, pp. 79 - 80
Publisher: Acumen Publishing
Print publication year: 2009

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