“A person of no rank” is a Zen saying attributed to 9th-century Chinese monk Linji Yixuan, who was known for his provocative statements and teachings, which eventually developed in the Rinzai school of Zen in Japan. It represents someone unattached to ego—someone who embodies the principle of not-self, which points to the emptiness and interconnectedness of all of us.
While the concept of being a person of no rank, or nobody special, is emphasized in Zen practice, surrender of ego to the dharma resonates throughout traditions.
Of course, the notion of being nobody special couldn’t be more at odds with the cultural obsession with celebrity, exceptionalism, and individualism. “Our reaching out for singularity these days is not unexpected, given that social media bombards us with opportunities to acquire the latest product or the swiftest device to put us out in front of the crowd. Our jobs are sometimes less about intrinsic value or usefulness than position and status and salary. To be special is to be safe—from criticism, from dismissal,” writer and Buddhist teacher Sandy Boucher points out.
And as the teachers in this week’s Three Teachings readily concede, even if one is able to temporarily realize the concept of no-self, staying continuously unattached to the self, immune to criticism or praise, is difficult. Being nobody special is an ongoing practice, but one that yields great fruit if we trust it.
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