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Levels of Existence in Islamic Mysticism and Buddhist Mahayana

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Journal of Religion and Theology Volume 4, Issue 1, 2020, PP 8-18 ISSN 2637-5907 Levels of Existence in Islamic Mysticism and Buddhist Mahayana Ali reza Khajegir*, Sarvnaz Heidary PhD (Comparative religions and Mysticism) Shahrekord university, MA in religions and comparative mysticism, Shahrekord university Iran. *Corresponding Author: Ali reza Khajegir, PhD (Comparative religions and Mysticism) Shahrekord university, Iran. E-mail:[email protected]. ABSTRACT In the comparative studies of religions and mystical schools various, terms are used which despite linguistic differences, can refer to a single truth and have many similarities. The concepts of the Buddhist trikaya and the five divine presence in Islamic mysticism are among these reforms. In most of the mystical schools, in the form of generalization of universes, there is a discussion of the mystical worldview. In these two schools. For the comparative study of cosmology, it is necessary to explain the manifestation of transcendental truth. In this regard, the two concepts of the five divine presence and the trikaya, one of Islamic mysticism and Buddhism of Mahayana, the transcendental truth, have been discussed, and the aspects if the sharing and differences of these levels of existence have been investigated. In terms of school of Mahayana .almightiness, divinity and absoluteness, they are bodhisattva, dharmakaya and nirvana. Both schools believe that the single truth for it’s appearance and presence in the material world has its own manifestation. Although this transcendental nature is mentioned by a different name, it is nonetheless referred to as a single entity. Keywords: Trikaya, The five divine presence, Transcendental essence, universe levels, Mahayana INTRODUCTION the general aspects of the universe and manifestations of the emergence of truth. Islamic The issue of cosmology and the levels of mysticism and Buddhist mysticism, although existence in all schools and religions is of great originating from two completely different schools, importance. Because this also has a two-way have evolved over time, but since the mysticism is relationship with the topic of anthropology and basically the root of human being's intrinsic truth, theology. In the mystical worldview of the and the mystics seek a single truth, they are universe there is a degree, and these levels and therefore in these two mysteries seem to be alien to levels each have certain titles. Of course, this is each other. There is also Dara Shukoh in the book not solely a religion and school, but in many of the Majmaul Bahrain on the hierarchy of the schools and religions. In various religions and existence of the universe within the framework of schools, such commonalities are abundant in the foure worlds with the Arabic realms. The spite of difference in language. The concept of aristocratic landscapes are human nature, kingdom, trikaya in Buddhist Mahayana and five divine almightiness and absoluteness, which added some presence in Islamic mysticism is one of the of the sufism of the example universe to these bases of the comparative study of these two realms. This view shows that there is a detailed mystical system in this field. literature on the hierarchy of the realms of existence The first person in the orient to examine the in the works of the mystic and the sufism, including comparison of Islamic mysticism and Hindi was Hinduism and Islamic mysticism (Arabi, 1991; the Abu Rayhan Biruni who played a very p.15) influential role in the study of the Hinduism and EXPLAINING THE CONCEPT OF THE FIVE the indoctrination of Muslims with Indian DIVINE PRESENCE IN THE MYSTICISM mysticism. He believed that there are many similarities between Islamic mysticism and One of the major concepts developed in the Hinduism mysticism. (Biruni,1973; p.43) The Islamic mysticism, and in particular the school main purpose of this article is to study the of IbnAl-Arabi, which became a mystical term, Buddhist and Islamic mysticism in explaining is the concepts of (the five divine presence). Journal of Religion and Theology V4 ● I1 ● 2020 8 Levels of Existence in Islamic Mysticism and Buddhist Mahayana This concept is one of the fundamental topics of are an expression of the manifestation the truth Islamic mysticism, which refer to the degrees and of the sign and its attributes. and authorities of absolute existence and the The Meaning Truth in Nature and Truth place of appearance and manifestation of the Transfigure truth. On the basis of the mystical monotheism, in the realm of existence, only the true existence In Islamic mysticism, and in particular IbnAl- of the Almighty is Allah, and in besides-God, all Arabi, essentially the (truth) has been used in the creatures of manifestations and two ways: manifestations are truth and their existence is The truth in nature which is a pure and pure dependent upon Him. On the other hand, the existence, which is an absolute of all essence of Allah does not have any limitation constraints and conditions are applicable and, according to the commentators of the even from the condition; therefore it is statements of IbnAl-Arabi, is absolute and superior to our imagination, and as a result of surrounds all aspects of existence. (Gheisari, our knowledge it is impossible, and indeed 1996; p.13-15) Expositor from IbnAl-Arabi's between him and the universe, it is school, when speaking of the hierarchy of impossible to prove a certain common and appearances, have called this issue, which is of comprehensive aspect. the basic topics of Islamic mysticism, in the ontology system of the IbnAl-Arabi school of The truth transfigure, unlike the truth in the (five divine presence). nature of innate power in all manner of appearance and appearance in all The presence in the word means proximity and manifestations, is related to the creation and affinity. (Manzur, 1984; p.197) And in its properties, but also to the objects, and the mysticism it means the manifestation of the terms such as same truth existence and praise place of the appearance or presence of God, and of objects clearer and He same and the like in a more specific sense, the meaning of each observer this place. (Jahangiri,1998;p.207- descending order of determinants, from the 209) unity of nature to the greatness of the universe The truth in nature to the God exalted face is of witnesses. (Lajevardi, 2014; p.65) Therefore, observe and truth transfigure knows the besides- the five divine presence express the explanation God. IbnAl-Arabi regards the word of the of the multiplicity of appearances of Allah. universe the of the sign. The world of the name IbnAl-Arabi does not use the term (five divine is what is known by something else, and it is the presence) in the book bezels of wisdom and whole besides-God. The universe is the image apparently does not refer to it as a specific of God, and he is the spirit of the world who concept. In fact, the commentators and guides it. And since everything in the affairs followers of his idea presented this concept. of the world is a sign and a symbol of the The origin of the term (five divine presence) divine name, and every nominal one in terms should be sought in the works of sadr al-Din of its stature on the essence, which is a al-Qunawi ; he is the first to use this term in comprehensive name of all names, includes explaining the levels of existential existence. all them, therefore every individual of the (Qunawi, 1984,p.62-97) Hence, the Gnostics universe is the universe itself, which is the have designated the five presence or the five sign of all names. (Qaysari, 1996; p.89-90) divine presence in the manifestations of the truth. Existential Hierarchy (The Five Divine Presence) Since the truth to exist is pure and that the existence of all beings leads to that presence The arrangement of the system of existence is and that presence is the ultimate of all beings, one of the important discussions that arise in the and like light, it appears in the essence of search for the unity existence and the necessity, and since the essence of the absolute justification of the greatness of the universe. truth is unknown, the human being cannot This discussion along with its ontological aspect understand it. This is the basis of the presence, is the attempt of the mystics to know the the place of the manifestation of the right to the universe. In Islamic mysticism, the general essence or to the attestation of the attributes of level, which is the place of appearances and his descendants, called these appearances of manifestations of the truth, forms the five the (universes) and (presences). (Gami, 1991; presence in the mystic language. The number of p.46) In this way, the creatures of the universe realms of existence varies according to the 9 Journal of Religion and Theology V4 ● I1 ● 2020 Levels of Existence in Islamic Mysticism and Buddhist Mahayana various authors. IbnAl-Arabi and many others, other, at the level of there is an essence of such as Qaysari and lahiji, believe in the five oneness.(Faraghani,2007;p.51) divine presence. Although the names are The Degree of the Essence of Uniqueness exclusive, but the set of universes and creatures, with no boundaries, is generally This is the first degree of the divine and the enclosed within the five presence, which is a origin of the emergence of being as names and comprehensive concept of all realms, and in attributes and fixed essences. Names and fact existential realms are exclusive to the five attributes are in fact manifestation of nature: In universes.
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