《元始说功德法食往生经》

At that time, the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning (Yuanshi Tianzun), a revered deity of Daoism, together with the holy hosts of the various heavens, the celestial immortals and earthly immortals, the officials of the Three Realms, the earth offices of the Five Marchmounts, the water bureaus of the Five Emperors, the Northern Capital of Luofeng (the legendary underworld), and the Two Lads of Good and Evil, arrived together at the Jade Treasure Pavilion World of the East. Beneath the azure-blue tree, seated upon a blue-green lotus, he expounded the ten kinds of causes and conditions and the thousand kinds of karmic retribution, so that the beings attending the assembly gave rise to the aspiration to seek liberation.

At that moment, the Celestial Worthy manifested a vast radiance that illuminated the entire world. The assembly saw the hungry ghosts and animals in the hells, their heads and faces scorched and festering, their bodies burned by fierce fire. The acute pain inflicted by blade-wheels and sword-edges shot straight up to the heavens and pierced to the marrow. Raging flames burned all the way to the sky, and the beings were so parched that they could drink only molten copper. They wailed over enmities and karmic debts, and their suffering never ceased for a moment. Everyone in the assembly witnessed this scene.

Among them was a Perfected One named Great Compassion and Great Wisdom. Weeping with grief and sighing, he rose from his seat, bowed his head in reverent salute, and addressed the Celestial Worthy: “I humbly beg the Holy Worthy, in your compassion, to hear me. I, together with everyone in the assembly, and the flying immortals, divine immortals, and the rest, all pity the beings of the lower realms. I beg the Celestial Worthy, with a heart of great compassion that regards all equally, to save and deliver them.”

The Celestial Worthy remained silent for a long time. Only then did a compassionate expression appear on his face. Raising the Five-Brilliance Fan (a ritual implement used in Daoist ceremonies), he answered the Perfected One in a mighty voice: “Excellent! Excellent! That you can broadly arouse compassion for living beings, and that you raise this question today, accords exactly with my intent. All of you should listen carefully.”

The Celestial Worthy said: “In the Three Paths, the Nine Bureaus, and the one hundred and twenty Fengdu hells, there are many beings who do not cultivate the true Dao (the Way). After death they enter the dark and endless underworld; their hun and po souls become ghosts of the lower realm and sink into the evil paths.” Sighing in sorrow and compassion, the Celestial Worthy composed a hymn, saying:

Cool, sweet dew nourishes body and mind, and the savor of the dharma-food (fashi) is profound and beyond words. The fragrance of burning incense drifts toward the Seven Perfected (Qizhen, the realized immortals of Daoism); in that darkness, what is there to doubt or fear? The deceased who receive this dharma-food may ascend into the heavens and rise to Purple Tenuity (Ziwei, the palaces of heaven). The field of merit accumulated through this offering is vast and lofty, and the act of giving is thereby made pure. Every conditioned deed can be transformed into merit that prolongs life for the deceased. It can deliver you from the sufferings of the Three Paths (Santu—hell, hungry ghosts, and animals) and bestow upon you the blessings of the Nine Mysteries (Jiuxuan, ancestors and descendants alike). When the time comes to partake of the dharma-food, all the heavens offer praise.

The cold, dim underworld is filled with grief. The deceased should turn their hearts and reverently honor the Primordial Sovereign (Yuanhuang, a venerated deity of Daoism). The Nüqing Lingbao Fulu (talismans and registers) and the Writ of the True Emperor of Zhongshan (a Daoist scripture or talismanic book) can help the deceased attain deliverance. In a single thought one ascends into Grand Clarity (Taiqing); in the next thought one returns to the Great Non-Being (Taiwu). When this merit is dedicated to the depths of the Ninefold Darkness (Jiuyou, the hidden underworld), the deceased are gradually reborn in the Purple Void (Zixu, the pure and lofty realm of the immortals).

The Celestial Worthy (Tianzun) said: To bestow the dharma-food upon the deceased brings merit beyond conception. These departed souls, whether men or women, all become fully satisfied; each leaves suffering, gains liberation and rebirth, and sits at peace upon a cool lotus throne, thenceforth free from places of pain.

At this, the Celestial Worthy once more proclaimed a verse:

Merit beyond conception: those who do good will receive its blessing. Bestow the dharma-food upon the deceased, and they may live forever in the Dao (the Way) of peace and joy.

When the Celestial Worthy had finished the verse, the hells that had appeared dispersed at once in response. These souls of the darkness were reborn according to their own wishes. The Zhenren (Perfected) of Great Compassion and Great Wisdom, together with everyone in the ritual assembly, all, through receiving the dharma-food, live forever in the Dao of peace and joy.

When the Celestial Worthy had finished the verse, the hells that had appeared dispersed at once in response. These souls of the darkness were reborn according to their own wishes. The Zhenren of Great Compassion and Great Wisdom and everyone in the ritual assembly rejoiced and leapt for joy, prostrated themselves with the five limbs to the ground, then withdrew, received the teaching in faith, and carried it out.

Here ends the Scripture Spoken by the Primordial Beginning on Merit, Dharma-Food, and Rebirth (Yuanshi Shuo Gongde Fashi Wangsheng Jing).