《太上老君玄妙枕中内德神咒经》

The Supreme Lord Lao (Taishang Laojun), a revered deity of Daoism, said: The Great Dao (the Way) has no fixed form. It constantly abides in places deep, hidden, and hard to see, yet it can accord with the timely moment to transform and nurture the myriad things, thereby responding to people’s devout faith. If you can quiet your heart, receive, and hold fast to the true scripture (Jing) that I transmit, you should first keep your mouth pure and your spirit (Shen) clear and bright, and only then recite it. In this way, evil affairs will not arise; the recitation may be used to cure illness and lengthen one’s years, and it can also keep all kinds of deviant Qi (vital energy) from invading and prevent demonic evils from working harm. This is so because all sentient beings who receive this true scripture can thereby obtain long life.

You must further cultivate body and mind with assiduous effort, constantly keeping the three activities of body, mouth, and mind pure, and calming the desires of the six senses. In this way, the five spirits will naturally protect and bless you, and the Three-and-One (Sanyi)—the three important divine perfected ones within the body, as Daoism teaches—will long endure. Sitting and lying down will be secure, and the hun and po souls will be at peace. Recite the scripture three times each morning and each evening, and your ears will be keen, your eyes bright, and your body strong, healthy, and light. What follows, you should listen to with care.

The Lord Lao said: Within your bodies there are thirty-six thousand spirits. On the left are the three hun souls, and on the right the seven po souls. Throughout the whole body there are one thousand two hundred forms and shadows, and within the body twelve thousand rays of essence-light (Jing). In the five viscera and six bowels there are also twenty-four spirits. You should constantly visualize and retain these spirits, not allowing them to leave the body. If illness arises, call out three times, and they will descend and manifest their presence.

The Lord Lao said: If you wish to pass through the three calamities and nine adversities—all manner of disasters and hardships—you should say: “Within my body there are one thousand two hundred forms and shadows; within my body there are twelve thousand rays of essence-light; in the five viscera and six bowels there are twenty-four spirits. I constantly visualize and retain them, not allowing them to leave the body. If illness arises, I call three times, and they will descend and manifest their presence.”

Laojun said: If you wish to pass through the three calamities and nine adversities (all manner of disasters and hardships), you should recite as follows:

“I take Heaven as my father and Earth as my mother, and I dwell between Heaven and Earth, ever as pure and genuine as an infant. The sun is my merit officer (the divine clerk of daily affairs), and the moon is my registrar (the divine clerk who keeps the registers); the emissary of the Thunder Duke stands at my left and right, while the Earl of Wind and the Master of Rain stand before me and behind me. The duty talismans of the Six Jia (the divine generals who take turns on guard in Daoism) encircle me. The Azure Dragon supports me on the left, the White Tiger guards me on the right, the Vermilion Bird leads me forward, and the Dark Warrior follows behind me. The Northern Dipper shelters the crown of my head, the Celestial Gang points toward the top of my head, and the Soaring Snake keeps watch at my feet, dispelling calamity on my behalf.

I dwell within the elixir chamber (the abode for cultivating Neidan, internal alchemy), with Taiyi (the deity revered in Daoism, or the primal Qi, vital energy) as my companion. Three is on the left and seven on the right; nine is above my head and one is beneath my feet; two and four are my two shoulders, and six and eight are my two feet. I reside at the center and fill the abdomen, so that calamity is dispelled for me. I now command the thousand ghosts and the ten thousand spirits each to return to their native places: whoever invades me must die, and whoever turns against me must perish. Flee at once, and hide yourselves in the depths! Great Ding warriors (divine generals of myth), cut down all that is inauspicious. Quickly, quickly, in accordance with the statutes and ordinances!”

Laojun said: When you are about to sleep, you should summon forth the four beasts to guard your person. The Azure Dragon comes forth from my liver and keeps watch on the left; the White Tiger comes forth from my lungs and keeps watch on the right; the Vermilion Bird comes forth from my heart and keeps watch in front; the Dark Warrior comes forth from my kidneys and keeps watch behind. You four beasts must sharpen your teeth and stand guard to my left and right, before me and behind me, driving off every kind of malign influence and demon-ghost, and you must not allow them to intrude of their own accord upon my jade chamber (bedchamber), so that I may sit and lie in peace and suffer no nightmares. Quickly, quickly, in accordance with the statutes and ordinances!

Laojun said: When the whole recitation has been completed, you should then let Shen (spirit) and Qi each return to their proper places. The liver is charged with storing the hun-soul, the lungs with storing the po-soul, the heart with storing Shen, the spleen with storing intention, and the kidneys with storing Jing (essence). The Azure Dragon returns into my liver, the Vermilion Bird returns into my heart, the White Tiger returns into my lungs, the Dark Warrior returns into my kidneys, and the Yellow Dragon stands guard over my spleen, so that the abdomen is filled; no malign influence or evil ghost may find a place to hide. Quickly, quickly, in accordance with the statutes and ordinances!

Lord Lao said: “Bring Jing (essence) and Shen (spirit) back to their proper places, and hold fast to Jing and Qi (vital energy). Let the Azure Dragon return to my liver, the Vermilion Bird return to my heart, the White Tiger return to my lungs, the Dark Warrior return to my kidneys, and the Yellow Dragon stand guard over my spleen, so that the abdomen is full and firm. In this way, no baleful influence or evil ghost of any kind can enter the body and cause disorder. Quickly, quickly, carry this out in accordance with the statutes and ordinances!”

Lord Lao said: “Once Jing and Shen have returned to their places, strike the Heavenly Drum thirty-six times (tap lightly behind the ears with the fingers; the ancients called this ‘sounding the Heavenly Drum’), swallow the saliva thirty-six times, then hold the breath and count inwardly from one to ten, stopping when the count of nine is complete. Next, visualize a stream of red Qi in the heart, exhaled from the mouth and spreading as it turns in every direction like the light of fire, until it fills the whole room. When the red Qi has settled, visualize yourself sleeping peacefully within it. Do this often, and you will remain far from illness, so that a thousand calamities and ten thousand evil specters will not dare to intrude; you will become one with the Dao (the Way), live long, and your Shen will be bright and clear; your descendants will be peaceful and happy, the family estate will prosper, and wealth and honor will increase day by day. A golden carriage will enter the gate, your path in office will rise step by step until you reach the rank of the Three Dukes, and, holding loyalty and filial piety in your heart, you will assist the sovereign. Quickly, quickly, carry this out in accordance with the statutes and ordinances of the edict of the Most High Nüqing (the title of a Daoist deity)!”

The Scripture of the Divine Incantations of Inner De (Virtue/Power) from the Mysterious and Wondrous Pillow of the Most High Lord Lao is complete.