benefit　利益 In the Buddhist tradition the consequences of the religious life are benefits to both oneself and others. The bodhisattva ideal, for example, is succinctly expressed in the statement, “Self-enlightenment and enlightenment of others, the ultimate fulfilling of the activity of enlightenment.” One of the characteristics of an enlightened being reads: “The perfect fulfillment of bringing benefits to self and others equally.” Shin Buddhism inherits this position, but establishes two stages in the gaining of benefits: the immediate benefits received by a person of shinjin in this life, and the ultimate benefit realized as going beyond the bounds of birth-and-death. The latter has two aspects: going to be born in the Pure Land (which is benefiting of self), at which point one immediately returns to this samsaric world to liberate all beings (which is benefiting others); both aspects are made possible by the empowerment of the Primal Vow. The former are benefits gained by the person of shinjin here and now, in the middle of ordinary life.