Common people Quote by Kaiten Nukariya
![“[FN#268] Se-ji-hyaku-dan. 12. 'The Five Ranks of Merit.' Thus far we have stated how to train our body and mind according to the general rules and customs established by Zenists. And here we shall describe the different stages of mental uplifting through which the student of Zen has to go. They…” quote by Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0a6/kaiten-nukariya-793_common-people_fn-268-se-ji-hyaku-dan-12-the-five-ranks_119094.jpg)
““[FN#268] Se-ji-hyaku-dan. 12. 'The Five Ranks of Merit.' Thus far we have stated how to train our body and mind according to the general rules and customs established by Zenists. And here we shall describe the different stages of mental uplifting through which the student of Zen has to go. They are technically called 'The Five Ranks of Merit.'[FN#269] The first stage is called the Rank of Turning,[FN#270] in which the student 'turns' his mind from the external objects of sense towards the inner Enlightened Consciousness. He gives up all mean desires and aspires to spiritual elevation. He becomes aware that he is not doomed to be the slave of material things, and strives to conquer over them. Enlightened Consciousness is likened to the King, and it is called the Mind-King, while the student who now turns towards the King is likened to common people. Therefore in this first stage the student is in the rank of common people. [FN#269]””
About This Quote
The passage outlines the first stage of Zen's Five Ranks, where the practitioner turns away from external cravings toward inner enlightenment, likened to a common person approaching a king.
In simple terms: Zen begins by shifting focus inward, renouncing desire.
Key Takeaway
Inner transformation starts with turning away from material attachment.
Themes
spirituality
Zen
mindfulness
self‑discipline
Mood
calm
inquisitive
Type
didactic
spiritual
When to use this quote
- meditation practice
- psychological therapy
- habit change
- ethical decision‑making
Key Concepts
inner vs. outer focus
hierarchy of consciousness
Practical Applications
- practice daily reflection to notice desire
- use visual metaphor of a king to guide progress
Questions to Reflect On
- What does 'turning' feel like in your daily life?
- How can you recognize the 'king' within?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may oversimplify complex psychological processes.
![“The fourth stage is called the Rank of Co-operative Merit,[FN#273] in which the student 'co-operates' with other persons in order to complete his merit. Now, he is not compared with a general who conquers his foe, but with the prime-minister who co-operates with other officials to the benefit of…” quote by Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4a6/kaiten-nukariya-793_quote_the-fourth-stage-is-called-the-rank-of-c_48041.jpg){kind=icon}
![“The third stage is called the Rank of Merit,[FN#272] in which the student distinguishes himself by his 'meritorious' acts of conquering over the rebel army of passion which rises against the Mind-King. Now, his rank is not the rank of a courtier, but the rank of a general. In other words, his duty…” quote by Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3bb/kaiten-nukariya-793_quote_the-third-stage-is-called-the-rank-of-me_355420.jpg){kind=icon}
![“Rin-zai also says: "Spirit is formless, but it penetrates through the world in the ten directions."[FN#149] The Sixth Patriarch expresses the same idea more explicitly: "What creates the phenomena is Mind; what transcends all the phenomena is Buddha."[FN#150]” quote by Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d4e/kaiten-nukariya-793_spirit-formless_rin-zai-also-says-spirit-is-formless-but_13012.jpg)
![“it is the overcoming of egoism, the destroying of mean desires, the uplifting of the moral ideal, and the disclosing of inborn wisdom. [FN#12]” quote by Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3ae/kaiten-nukariya-793_egoism_it-is-the-overcoming-of-egoism-the-destr_46308.jpg)
