《大洞经吉祥神咒法》

The venerable deities of universal radiance who spread salvation and deliverance set their hearts upon Taixuan (the supreme, profoundly mysterious realm of the Dao [the Way]) and Zhenyi (the primordial true Qi [vital energy] of which Daoism speaks). The profound arts of the Great Cavern elixir scripture (Dadong Danjing) give forth clear, harmonious, and auspicious sounds.

The original three primordial Qi emit the auspicious sound of Tanchijun; the voices of the Brahma heavens and the pure, wondrous sounds between heaven and earth likewise give forth this auspicious sound.

The sound of samādhi (sanmei, a state of concentrated and settled meditative absorption) arising from the sovereign mind, the voice as exquisite as jade, the sound in which the radiance of the Dao appears within empty space, and the faint, soundless voice that nonetheless penetrates the mysterious principles—all are the auspicious sound of Tanchijun.

The inner true sound proclaimed by the Ancestor of the Dao, the sound of the Taiyi Yuanhuang, the sound of the supreme wondrous practice, the peerless golden sound, the sound of the Nine-Numina Jade Mother, the resplendent divine sound of the deity Dongwangfu (the King Father of the East), together with such sacred sounds as Yiyin Dongyuanzun, Hongdong Lingyin, Kuiyin Dongkongxiang, and Lunyin Dalongguang, all likewise belong to the auspicious sound of Tanchijun.

The scripture then repeatedly lists divine sounds such as Fengyin Baheshen and Heyin Dongguanhua, closing each line with “auspicious Tanchijun.” Here “Tanchijun” consists of specialized syllables within the incantation; it should be recited according to the original text and should not be interpreted as ordinary words. By continually extolling the celestial realms, the deities, the realms of the Dao, and sounds of every kind, the whole passage forms a divine spell praying for auspiciousness.

Phrases at the end of the original text, such as “笠舳疵鳠簦” and “N泓劾中音,” are suspected of being corruptions or errors of character recognition, and their meaning cannot be determined from the text as it stands. They are therefore understood here only according to their place in the passage, as names of sounds within the divine spell.

In the Dongyuan (the primordial source of the grotto-heavens), the golden sweet-dew nectar brings auspicious sandalwood fragrance and blazing celestial music. A subtle, exquisitely sweet flavor like fine jade is likewise accompanied by auspicious sandalwood fragrance and blazing celestial music.

The golden food gives forth wondrous sounds and brings auspicious sandalwood fragrance and blazing celestial music. The Huangyuan grain of the Dongxu (the realm of luminous emptiness and profound void) is an immortal food of the Eight Harmonies, precious as a purple gem.

Auspicious sandalwood fragrance and blazing celestial music accompany the ziyin (subtle musical tones) and the great luminous dharma-wheel. Auspicious sandalwood fragrance and blazing celestial music also accompany the sounds of guikang and the treasures of the methods of the Dao (the Way).

In the realm of Dongqing there are provisions that can be drawn upon without end, and the lizhu (the precious pearl beneath the black dragon’s jaw) gives forth an auspicious radiance. Auspicious sandalwood fragrance and blazing celestial music accompany the yuanmu tones of the gujiao (an ancient measuring vessel, here a mysterious vocalization).

In the Dongzhen realm of the Three Caverns (Dongzhen/Dongxuan/Dongshen), the Celestial Emperor wears resplendent garments, a yellow robe paired with a skirt of purple radiance. Auspicious sandalwood fragrance and blazing celestial music attend them.

In the realm of Dongqing there are provisions that can be drawn upon without end, and the lizhu gives forth an auspicious radiance. Auspicious sandalwood fragrance and blazing celestial music accompany the yuanmu tones of the gujiao.

In the Dongzhen realm, the Celestial Emperor wears resplendent garments, a yellow robe paired with a skirt of purple radiance. Auspicious sandalwood fragrance and blazing celestial music are further accompanied by “shu hu wu gan dian,” a mysterious vocalization whose meaning is hard to determine.

Auspicious sandalwood fragrance and blazing celestial music accompany the sounds of the lotus boat and of pojing; they also accompany circling musical tones and the skirt of purple radiance.

Auspicious sandalwood fragrance and blazing celestial music accompany the jiyin, reaching through to complete fulfillment; they accompany the guiyin, which transforms into wondrous heavenly blossoms.

Auspicious sandalwood fragrance and blazing celestial music accompany the sound of bird-dragons in flight; they accompany the sound of light, revealing the Great Zhenru (ultimate reality).

Auspicious sandalwood fragrance and blazing celestial music accompany the sound of the precious moon illuminating the pure celestial court; they accompany a light of wisdom and clarity like that of the cenri.

Auspicious sandalwood fragrance and blazing celestial music accompany the tones of jingluo jieli; they accompany the zhuyin in the chanting of the Taiyuan Song.

Auspicious sandalwood fragrance and blazing celestial music accompany the moyin and the verse texts of the Compassionate Father; they accompany the sounds of the stars and of Chenhuang, the Morning Sovereign.

Auspicious sandalwood fragrance and blazing celestial music accompany the sound of diaoqiang giving off wondrous fragrance; they also accompany the zhuyin in the chanting of the Taiyuan Song.

Auspicious sandalwood fragrance and blazing celestial music accompany the moyin and the verse texts of the Compassionate Father; they accompany the sounds of the stars and of Chenhuang, the Morning Sovereign.

Auspicious sandalwood fragrance and blazing celestial music accompany the sound of diaoqiang giving off wondrous fragrance; they also accompany the Taixuan fragrance of the hengwei (fragrant herbs).

Auspicious sandalwood fragrance and blazing celestial music accompany the inward fragrance and the fragrance of the Central Emperor; they accompany the fragrance of Yuchen amid the clear and lovely celestial scenery.

Auspicious sandalwood fragrance and blazing celestial music accompany the true fragrance of Dongshen; they accompany the sounds of divine spirits and the songs of the Taiqing immortal realm.

Auspicious sandalwood fragrance and blazing celestial music accompany the true-M fragrance of the Miaomen (Wondrous Gate); they accompany the resplendent fragrance given forth by Qimu, the Mother of Qi (vital energy), mother of primordial Qi.

This incantation takes the repeated intoning of “jixiang tan chi jun” as its rhythm, setting forth the food and drink, clothing and adornment, precious light, wondrous sound, and fragrance of the immortal realm. Many of the expressions belong to the mysterious vocalizations or proper names of Daoist Zhaijiao (purification ritual) chanting, and the text as it stands is not sufficient to fix their precise meanings. The “M” in the closing phrase “true-M fragrance” is also suspected to be a corrupt character from manuscript transmission or data entry, and is therefore retained as it is.

The auspicious sound of Tanchijun manifests as the sacred and wondrous imperial tone of Tianbao, the Heavenly Treasure; the auspicious sound of Tanchijun gives rise to the numinous and wondrous tone of the True Emperor.

The auspicious sound of Tanchijun is the tone of the Immortal King’s divine aperture; the auspicious sound of Tanchijun is the tone of the Master’s aperture within the Mystery.

The auspicious sound of Tanchijun sings forth a sound that pervades all things and shines with light; the auspicious sound of Tanchijun sends forth a sound that is clear, resonant, and brightly distinct.

The auspicious sound of Tanchijun sends forth a sound as cool and pure as jade blossom. The middle tone.

The auspicious sound of Tanchijun sings forth a sound that pervades all things and shines with light; the auspicious sound of Tanchijun sends forth a sound that is clear, resonant, and brightly distinct.

The auspicious sound of Tanchijun sends forth a sound as cool and pure as jade blossom; the auspicious sound of Tanchijun manifests the tone of supreme De (Virtue).

The auspicious sound of Tanchijun is the primordial tone of great auspiciousness. The Tanchijun sound of the Imperial Heart is profound and still, mysteriously subtle and freely penetrating.

The auspicious sound of Tanchijun is as deep and far-reaching as the tone of King Gaoguan; the auspicious sound of Tanchijun answers in harmony the tone of longevity in the South.

The auspicious sound of Tanchijun is pure, peaceful, and wondrous in its transformations; the auspicious sound of Tanchijun is lofty and unbowed, reaching throughout the eight directions.

The auspicious sound of Tanchijun brings blessing and long life, like the tone of the Immortal King; the auspicious sound of Tanchijun receives the tone of the Unsurpassed Pure Emperor.

The auspicious sound of Tanchijun is like the tone of Qingyun Shilao; the auspicious sound of Tanchijun is like the tone of Ayi Liuyin.

The auspicious sound of Tanchijun is like the tone of Yuli Puyujun; the auspicious sound of Tanchijun is like the tone of Daqing Dafan.

The auspicious sound of Tanchijun is bright and circles within the realm of mystery; the auspicious sound of Tanchijun is like the tone of Xuyuan Longluo.

The auspicious sound of Tanchijun is like the tone of Dongfu Shengyu; the auspicious sound of Tanchijun is like the tone of Kongling Zeluo.

The auspicious sound of Tanchijun is like the tone of Lüluo Yunfei; the auspicious sound of Tanchijun is like the tone of Nayu Moluo.

The auspicious sound of Tanchijun is like the tone of Jinglan Yunrong; the auspicious sound of Tanchijun is like the tone of Kuoyi Shenying.

The auspicious sound of Tanchijun is like the tone of Chanyou Baiyuan; the auspicious sound of Tanchijun is like the tone of Poni Wansou.

The auspicious sound of Tanchijun is like the tone of Fanmeng Xiaoyu; the auspicious sound of Tanchijun is like the tone of Chanyou Baiyuan; the auspicious sound of Tanchijun is like the tone of Poni Wansou.

The auspicious sound of Tanchijun is like the tone of Fanmeng Xiaoyu; the auspicious sound of Tanchijun is like the tone of Yixia Wuji.

Yuzhu Wanshou, Yanyou Zibian, Pinshou Fugai, Changsang Baikong, Jueyu Shangxuan, Tuoluo Heyun, Feitian Shatuo, Yingxian Hezhong, Biluo Fuli, Baozhen Eyi, Dongmiao Huimo, Renxin Zena, and Dadong Wuliang are all sonic names and titles listed in the incantation. After each item is recited, one continues by chanting the line “Jixiang Tanchijun”; syllables of this kind belong to the specialized vocabulary of Daoist incantations and are ordinarily not translated word for word as ordinary language.

A practitioner who accumulates three thousand kinds of profound merit and brings to completion eight hundred kinds of wondrous practices of purification and precept-observance may ascend to a venerable rank, give rise to auspicious signs like the lingzhi, and manifest the radiance of the Lingbao (Numinous Treasure) in the two colors of cinnabar red and azure green. In the end they fully realize the “Ten Penetrations” (ten kinds of spiritual powers), and their bodily form ascends into the “Three Subtleties” (the lofty and wondrous celestial realms of which Daoism speaks).