Taoist systems believe that there are nine levels of humans existing in the universe. If all of them are aligned with each other, the universe can maintain its YinYang in balance. When the levels are aligned, countries are peaceful, their leaders are supported by many wise sages and scholars (Xian Ren, 贤人). At each conscious level, “The human is at the head in the regulation of all things”. (Tai Ping Jing)
Nine Levels of Human Consciousness
Level 1 – Shen Ren. Shen Ren (神人) is a formless energy whose job is to regulate the source energy, called as Yuan Qi.
Level 2 – Da Shen Ren. Da Shen Ren (大神人) has a form similar to Heaven, thus its job is to regulate Heaven.
Level 3 -Zhen Ren. Zhen Ren (真人) is focused and trustworthy, similar to earth, thus it regulates Earth. Understanding the YinYang changes of Heaven and Earth, one can regulate the breath, absorb the pure clear Qi, create inward focus instead of worldly focus, maintain spirit and essence inside. Exercising with such meditation makes the bones strong and muscles highly coordinated in order that their lifespan can be as long as Heaven and Earth exists without end.
Level 4 -Xian Ren. Xian Ren(仙人) changes all the time and is similar to the four seasons, thus it regulates the four seasons. It has a deep virtue and understanding of the Tao of living, is always synchronized with the four seasonal changes. Thus it avoids all the worldy disruptions that people get caught up by in society. Xian Ren focuses on the accumulation of physical vital essence and Qi as well as spirit and its essential essence. Doing so it is fully immersed in between Heaven and Earth, reaching to places of unlimited possibility. With these, it is a means of reaching longevity. As one can see, Xian Ren is similar to Zhen Ren.
Level 5 –Da Dao Ren. Da Dao Ren (大道人) is good at predicting things. It knows when times are propitious and when they are dangerous. It is similar to the
five motions; thus, it regulates the five motions.
Level 6 –Sheng Ren. Sheng Ren (圣人) controls ZhongHe Qi, and is similar to YinYang, and thus it regulates Yin and Yang. Sheng Ren focuses on following the Heaven Qi, understanding YinYang and its changing principles.
Level 7 –Xian Ren. Xián Ren (贤人) focuses on writing papers and articles, giving speeches and teaching people. It is similar to language and books, thus it regulates words and books and offers teachings to people.
Level 8 –Shan Ren. Shan Ren (善人)are kind people, able to help others whenever they can. They are hard workers, and have great responsibility.
They understand the principles of nature and laws of society.
Level 9 –Fan Ren. Fan Ren (凡人)are ordinary people who lack order at various levels, mostly due to ignorance. They need a higher work force to regulate their behavior and keep them in order. In this way, they are similar to all things on earth. Thus, they are regulated like all things on earth. They do farming and planting, by doing so, they regulate grasses and trees.Nu Pi (奴婢), meaning servants, is part of Level 9. They are similar to merchants. If rich, they have more things and, if poor, they have nothing. Thus, they are intimately connected with buying and selling, and thus, they regulate trade and mercantile activities.
When the servants and ordinary people do not follow the Tao, they will fall prey to greed and steal from each other. There will be fighting and no harmony; the planet will be destroyed rather than flourish. Thus, scholarly type people Xian Ren (贤人) start to emerge. When the scholar Xian Ren (贤人) is not able to do an effective job of teaching, that is because Xian Ren may not be able to receive the wisdom from sages Sheng Ren, or it may be because sages Sheng Ren have not arrived yet at that period of time. Equally, it may be because a higher spiritual level of human has not formed yet. Thus, this is the result of YinYang being unbalanced in the universe.
When one of the Qi’s is not in harmony, then YinYang balance can be disrupted, and the world will not be peaceful. To reflect the realities of our societies, there are more and more spiritual teachers emerging to teach various way of harmonious living and protecting environments from being harmed by greedy corporations. These are the Xian Ren that emerged from those areas. They help human to live in balance with nature.
There are spiritual teachers or sages who continue to appear to teach human and Divine love and compassion to all beings on earth. They are the many inspirations that exist and lighten our societies.
From Ignorance to Spiritual Immortal Being
People who teach others to become kind are teachers. People who value and respect their teachers and listen to their teachings and follow their guidance will develop their true inner nature in accordance with Heaven and Earth. Thus, people can transform themselves into higher spiritual levels of consciousness with kindness by practicing Tao.
When a human practices Tao continually, even an ignorant person, level 9, can grow to become a sage; if this practice is not disrupted and continues, the person can grow indefinitely and reach immortality.
Following the Tao and practicing the Tao ceaselessly, an ordinary person of level 9 consciousness can transform himself as follows: an ignorant unkind person, or an ordinary person can be transformed into a kind person (善人 at level 8);
Level 8: If ceaselessly practicing the Tao, a kind person (善人) can deepen his/her kindness. They are motivated to learn more about the Tao.
Doing further kind acts motivates him or her to teach Tao, becoming a teacher. Thus, he or she will become a Xian Ren (贤人).
Level 7: When Xian Ren ceaselessly does kind things, the person will offer and experience more love and a greater level of selfless kindness. Thus, a Xian Ren (贤人) will become a Sheng Ren (圣人 ,sage).
Level 6: If a sage continues offering more kind acts without end, that person will understand the True Dao at a much deeper level.
Level 5: If a Sheng Ren keeps following the Tao without end, he or she will transform into a Da Dao Ren (大道人).
Level 4: If Da Dao Ren (大道人) continues to practice Tao, a Da Dao Ren will become a Xien Ren (仙人). Then there is no death for
him or her.
Level 3: After becoming an immortal Xien Ren (仙人) and continuing to follow the Tao, a Xien Ren (仙人) will become Zhen Ren (真人).
Level 2: After becoming Zhen Ren (真人) and continuing to follow the Tao, a Zhen Ren (真人) will become a Shen Ren (神人).
Level 1: A Shen Ren (神人) who continues following the Tao will become a Greater Shen Ren (大神人), receiving the nature of Heaven.
Being the infinite Source: after receiving the nature of Heaven, this person carries the nature of source energy, Yuan Qi and becomes the source energy, Yuan Qi, itself.
Taoism believes that every being can cultivate unceasingly their spiritual nature and their physical body to reach a higher spiritual expansion level, thus becoming an enlightened being. They can even reach immortality and become immersed in the universe. It is hard to imagine what it would be like to become an immortal being immersed in the universe. What we learn from this Taoist belief is that every human being has the potential to raise his or her spiritual level and become an immortal being.
The Tao will remove any obstacle in the way of the goal for one who is truly sincere and selfless in their quest. The only thing holding us back is our base human nature, tendencies and conditioning.Unlike other religions, Taoism does not think that there is suffering in human life or that people have sin because people were born into human life. Instead, it sees human life as a great chance to cultivate the highest human nature, to provide positive impact on the universe and to realize enlightenment. Taoism holds that ordinary people, after accumulating a vast amount of good deeds, can reach the level of the deities, becoming immortal, and ending the cycle of rebirth here on Earth. Taoist tradition treats man and woman equally, but sees them having different energies and playing different roles in the physical world, in society, home and nature.
