《太上护国祈雨消魔经》

At this time, the Primordial Heavenly Worthy (Yuanshi Tianzun), together with the great sages of the various heavens, the Perfected of Wondrous Practice (Miaoxing Zhenren), as well as heavenly dragons, ghosts and spirits, celestial immortals, flying immortals, divine immortals, celestial youths, jade maidens, and the two teachers of the Most High (Taishang), were expounding the teachings on Jade Capital Mountain (Yujing Shan), widely bestowing grace and delivering all living beings.

At that moment, precious flowers fell from the sky, and the ground shone entirely gold. The Heavenly Worthy emitted a vast light that illuminated the countless worlds of the ten directions: above, as far as the palaces of the celestial emperors of the thirty-six heavens, and below, as far as the innumerable hells of the dark underworld. The light reached every place, rescuing living beings so that they might dwell in peace and enjoy all manner of wondrous blessings and joys. Celestial fragrance spread in every direction; those who hungered ate jade grains, and those who thirsted drank golden nectar. All the hungry ghosts were likewise filled, swiftly escaped their suffering, were able to behold the Heavenly Worthy in person, and were reborn in the Pure Realm of Lasting Joy (a realm of purity and peaceful ease), where they often took part in the assemblies of the teaching.

At this time, from the realm below, a Perfected named Moonlight (Yueguang Zhenren), riding a white crane and holding jade blossoms in his hand, arrived at the assembly. He adjusted his robes and cap, bowed with reverence, knelt for a long time and touched his forehead to the ground, and said to the Heavenly Worthy: “I am now engaged in cultivation, wishing to save and heal all living beings, yet I possess neither spiritual powers, skillful means, nor wisdom. I see that in the world of Jambudvīpa below (the ordinary human world) there are all kinds of calamities: some people are swept away by floods, some encounter fires, some suffer famine, some meet with bandits, some contract epidemics, and in some places great drought strikes, so that grasses and trees wither and the five grains yield poorly. The country is unsettled, and the people are alarmed and afraid. How are they to be rescued? I earnestly beg the Heavenly Worthy to expound at length the methods of rescue, to protect living beings and spare them these disasters.”

The Primordial Heavenly Worthy said to the Perfected Moonlight: “Excellent, excellent! You are now willing to seek great benefit for all living beings under heaven and to rescue them with a sincere heart. I have a means to save living beings and spare them these disasters.”

At that time, the Primordial Celestial Worthy (Yuanshi Tianzun) said to the Moonlight Perfected (Yueguang Zhenren): “Excellent, excellent! You are now willing to seek great benefit for all living beings of the earth and to rescue them with wholehearted sincerity. I have countless celestial soldiers and mighty warriors, together with immortal perfected such as the Perfected of Wondrous Conduct (Miaoxing Zhenren), the Perfected of Compassion (Cibei Zhenren), the Perfected of Jade Clarity (Yuqing Zhenren), and the Perfected of the Imperial Cavern (Huangdong Zhenren), numbering as many as hundreds of thousands and millions. There are also two hundred thousand youths of Jade Clarity, as well as divine officials such as the Crimson Officers of Celestial Numina (Tianling Chiguan), the Merit Officers and Recorders (Gongcao Zhubu), the Marshal of Long Life (Changsheng Sima), and Elder Lord Han (Hanjun Zhangren), their numbers likewise reaching into the hundreds of thousands and millions. In addition there are two hundred thousand celestial immortals, flying immortals, and divine immortals, together with Spirit Kings (Shen) such as the Spirit King of the Awesome Sword, the Spirit King of Great Power, the Spirit King Who Subdues Poison, the Spirit King Who Dispels Demons, the Spirit King Who Devours Evil, the Spirit King Who Shatters Demons, the Spirit King Who Hurls Fire, the Spirit King Who Sprinkles Water, the Spirit King Who Devours Jing (essence), the Spirit King Who Gathers Pestilence, and the Spirit King of the Flying Immortals, their numbers likewise reaching into the hundreds of thousands and millions. The Three Masters of Precepts and Prohibitions and the Eight Divisions of Cloud and Thunder (Daoist divinities and spirit generals of the Thunder Department) also dwell constantly in the human world, bringing relief from every kind of calamity and suffering.

“When flood or fire is met, recite this scripture (Jing); when bandits rise in disorder, recite this scripture; when seasonal epidemics or drought occur, recite this scripture as well. When the state is not at peace and the five grains fail, this scripture may likewise be recited. If one can copy this scripture and recite it with a sincere heart, one will obtain immeasurable blessings: every kind of vicious and poisonous Qi (vital energy) will disperse, bandits will be driven back, epidemics will be eliminated, the disasters of flood and fire will subside, and the state will be settled. The foreign peoples of the four quarters will submit, and foreign lands will come to pay court; epidemics will quickly be cured, disputes will cease, lawsuits and shackles will be lifted, entangling misfortunes will be cut off, deviant demons will no longer arise, and pestilence will withdraw far away.”

At that time, the Moonlight Perfected again asked the Celestial Worthy: “Throughout the lands under heaven and the foreign countries of the four quarters, drought sometimes strikes, and the common people suffer because of it. What ritual should be performed so that rain may fall at the proper time, the five grains may ripen in abundance, and the people may eat their fill?”

The Celestial Worthy said to the True Person of Moonlight: “After you have received my teaching, you may, within Yanfu (the human world), choose a village, a high mountain, a place beside water, a cave, or a pure and quiet spot, and there establish an altar. Set up the venerable images, hang banners and canopies, burn incense and light lamps, bathe in fragrant water, and put on clean new clothes. Recite this scripture (Jing); for living beings prepare fresh flowers, fruit, and fine incense, and offer them at all times. You should also set out ritual meals widely, offering them to the innumerable Celestial Worthies of the ten directions, the Imperial Lords of the Thirty-Six Heavens, the parents of heavenly merit, and all the gods and immortals, dragon spirits, and numinous sages.

Acting in this way extends benefit far and wide. The Celestial Emperor will dispatch the eight hosts of great dragon kings, together with the masters of cloud, thunder, and rain, to raise clouds and spread mist, so that cloud and mist encircle the world. Before long, the rivers, streams, and ravines, and both the upper and lower fields, will all receive abundant rain; grasses, trees, and groves, together with every kind of flower, fruit, and the five grains, will likewise grow, their branches and leaves thick and flourishing.”

Thereupon the True Person of Moonlight bowed in thanks to the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning and praised him in verse:

Clouds of Qi (vital energy) surge in from the north, and clouds of Qi come roaring from the west; rain from the south pours into the rivers, and from the east nine divine spirits descend.

The true dragon king of the center brings relief to living beings; the dragon kings of the five directions descend together, drifting lightly into the realm of the Most High.

Heaven sends down a great rain that covers Mount Kunlun. With this scripture I teach and transform living beings, wishing that it may long be transmitted and jointly upheld.

At this time, the Perfected One of Moonlight (Yueguang Zhenren) once more addressed the Celestial Worthy (Tianzun): “I have passed through countless kalpas—spans of time of extreme length—and have rarely encountered a dharma gate so supremely excellent. Today I have been able to hear this subtle scripture (Jing), and I have also seen the Great Medicine King and the entire holy assembly manifest all manner of inconceivable transformations. What name should this Jing bear, and how are we to receive it and put it into practice?”

The Celestial Worthy said: “This Jing is called the Scripture of Celestial Merit for Protecting the Nation, Praying for Rain, and Dispelling Demons (Tiangong Huguo Qiyu Xiaomo Jing). You must proclaim it well and honor it with reverence. If anyone, foolish and ignorant, treats this Jing with contempt, that person will fall into the evil paths and suffer for a long time.” The heavenly beings, dragons, Brahma hosts, and immortals present all accepted this teaching in faith; after paying their respects they departed, bowing their heads and putting it into practice.