What is definition of "Shirk" in Shi'a school of thought? Does asking help other than Allah constitute Shirk? Is asking Du'a other than Allah is Shirk?

 Shirk is to associate anyone or any power with Allah Almighty.
 
Asking for help from, or Du'a to other than Allah is Shirk.  However when we ask the Ma'soomeen for help we are doing so according to the teaching of Allah Himself {O ye who believe! do your duty to Allah, seek the means of approach unto Him . . . 5:35.} and the teaching of Rasulollah (S), and in the process we are not them on par with Allah Almighty, nor are we associating with them any independent absolute power.  [This was mentioned in the previous email].  They have been AUTHORISED with power and authority to help the Mu'minin.
 
When we make Du'a to them it is still on the same basis.  Or we make to Du'a to Allah that by the virtue, station of the Ma'soom, and by the Ma'soom's nearness to You O' Allah help us.
 
So the ultimate and absolute power and authority goes to Allah and Allah only; except when He Exalted be He relegates some of that power and authority to those He loves because of their station.
 
For example Allah is creator of all existence, and there is no one else who is able to do so. And any one who says there is another creator besides Allah Almighty is committing Shirk.  However we have it in the Qur'an that Allah Almighty empowered Jesus to create bird from mud {just as Allah created us from mud!!!} and also Allah Almighty empowered Jesus peace be upon him to raise the dead.  And he did all of these with the permission of Allah, and not of his own power.

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