[Buddha-l] Buddhist salvation

[curt]

There are three Gods/Bodhisattva that certainly qualify as "salvific" 
beings - and these are by no means limited to Pure Land Buddhism:

Avalokitesvara (Kwan Yin in Chinese, Kannon or Kanzeon in Jp., Kwan Seum 
Bosal in Korean)
Tara (primarily Tibetan - I think?)
Candi (Cundi in Chinese, Juntei in Jp., Junje Bosal in Korean)

Some other Gods/Bodhisattvas also seem to fall into the "salvific" 
category, especially Kshitigharba (Jijang Bosal in Korean - don't know 
about Chinese and Jp.) who is basically a psychopomp (ie, leads dead 
people on their journey to wherever it is they go).

- Curt


Jørn Borup wrote:

> Dear colleagues,
>  
> Modern Western Buddhists are often reluctant to have what they see as 
> a spiritual way identified with a religion of salvation. Indeed, it is 
> questionable if words such as "save" and "salvation" are appropriate, 
> just as it should always be discussed whether other concepts used in 
> the study of religion (myth, ritual, meditation, cosmology, god(s), 
> mysticism etc) could be replaced by other, less Christian/Western 
> inspired concepts. However, salvation I think is a proper translation 
> and interpretation within Chinese and Japanese Pure Land traditions. 
> Since I do not know Sanskrit I would like to hear you experts, if the 
> same is true in for instance the Bodhisattva vows - or other texts. 
> And how about ideas and traditions in Tibetan Buddhism - any 
> "salvation" there?
>  
> Best regards,
>  
> Jorn Borup
>
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