In education, the definition of “grade 1” is “an averaged level where he general population of 5-6 year olds can attain a general understanding, and then build on that understanding into the next grade….. and so on”
Somehow, an individuals growth has been graded in the same fashion.
But we all know that different persons have different levels of ability, so if we apply this “average” to peoples growth, what do we end up with?
In teaching children, we begin by trying to build the widest “roadway”, where they have a number of lanes to choose from when they get to the age where they know themselves well enough that they can choose which one they want to drive on.
Reality is Dharma 