The Eighteen Grades of Life — Friendly Version¶

One Question: How Much Spirituality Is in You?¶

Most systems for ranking people use wealth, status, power, or achievements. Lifechanyuan uses one criterion: spirituality.

"Human beings are divided into eighteen grades according to the percentage of spirituality in their human nature. The greater the percentage, the higher the grade."

This is not a judgment. Xuefeng says clearly: these eighteen grades are "offered only for your reference." They are a mirror, not a verdict.

The Eighteen Grades at a Glance¶

The Top Five: Spirituality Leads the Way¶

Grade One — The Transcendent People who understand what the Greatest Creator is trying to do. They spread His will; they have no self-will of their own. They see multi-dimensional space, live beyond worldly concepts of nation and ethnicity, and measure people only by their spirituality. "Their merit is boundless; their future is luminous."

Grade Two — The Transcendent but Not Yet Fully Unworldly Resolute believers — who live, struggle, and sacrifice for their faith. But they can become rigid in doctrine, compelling others to follow the letter of the teaching rather than its spirit.

Grade Three — Those Who Live Without Contention Wise, cultivated, and moral — "the seeds of the celestials." They know that greed is the pit of suffering and knowledge the root of mental turmoil. They live simply and apart, without illness, without ambition. They are alone but not lonely.

Grade Four — Those Who Seek Self-Liberation Artists, explorers, philosophers — driven by an inner spirit they cannot suppress. They do not work for money or status; they create because something inside them must. "From them, the glow of truth, goodness, and beauty can be seen."

Grade Five — The Faithful Supporters Loyal, capable, and indispensable — but without the drive to lead. They are the "capable assistant" behind every great leader, working tirelessly, never betraying, never claiming credit. Without them, nothing gets built.

The Middle Grades: The Varieties of Ordinary Life¶

Grade Six — Those Who Live for Family Family-centered, filial, attentive. Their home is harmonious and peaceful. Their horizon, however, rarely extends beyond the family circle.

Grade Seven — Those Who Speak for the People Revolutionary leaders, reformers, visionaries who take the suffering of the common people as their personal responsibility. "Their life is a life of rebellion, revolution, reform, advance, and struggle." Half-believing in the divine, wholly believing in the power of human will.

Grade Eight — Those Who Enjoy Life Content, balanced, grateful. Xuefeng calls them "the most ideal members of humanity." They don't chase wealth or status. When flowers bloom, they are happy. When the sky clears, they are cheerful. They have "the healthiest mentality among all people."

Grade Nine — Those Who Live by Conscience Principled and justice-minded — but never at rest. They are always analyzing the rights and wrongs of everything around them, always ready to argue for their position. Their families tend to be tense; they are prone to heart trouble.

The Middle-Lower Grades: Various Forms of Being Bewildered¶

Grade Ten — Those Who Regard Only Themselves as Supreme Strong-willed, capable, ruthless when necessary. They believe those who submit to them will flourish; those who resist will perish.

Grade Eleven — Those Bewildered by Love Infatuated people. For love, they would give up kingdoms. They live their whole lives within an illusory beautiful world of their own weaving.

Grade Twelve — Those Who Pursue Comprehensive Perfection Xuefeng says this is the largest grade — over 50% of all humanity. They want everything: career, love, family, status, spiritual practice, perfect health, children at top universities, a spotless reputation. They are "the slaves of life, not the masters of life."

Grade Thirteen — Those Who Toil for Fame, Profit, and Position Calculating, strategic, skilled at using connections and reading political winds. Every step is purposeful.

Grade Fourteen — Those Bewildered by Money They love money more than anything. The number in the bank is their daily source of peace. Even when parents go hungry, they cannot bring themselves to spend.

Grade Fifteen — Those Who Pursue Immediate Pleasure "Eat, drink, and be merry, for life is uncertain." They misread freedom as indulgence, and never seriously engage with life's deeper questions.

The Lower Grades: Contracting Away from Others¶

Grade Sixteen — The Selfish and Self-Serving "In their hearts there is only themselves." Wayward, unreasonable, quick to rage when anything does not go their way.

Grade Seventeen — The Muddled No direction, no goals, no ideals, no faith. "Do a day's work as a monk, ring the bell for a day." Just surviving, with no idea why.

Grade Eighteen — Those Who Have Inverted Right and Wrong They believe that earning through honest work is a fool's game — that seizing, swindling, and deceiving is simply smarter. They are a source of fear wherever they go.

The Most Important Line¶

After describing all eighteen grades, Xuefeng writes:

"No matter which grade one occupies, the key is to clarify the meaning of life. As long as one has clarified the meaning of life, as long as one can quiet the mind, there is a way to change oneself — an opportunity to obtain pure spirituality — and hope of walking the road beyond space and time, extending one's precious LIFE into higher-dimensional LIFE spaces."

No one is locked in. The grades are a mirror. Look, recognize yourself, and then take the next step.

Outlook on Life and Values · Spirituality · Awakening · Value, Meaning and Purpose of Life