《太上虚皇保生神咒经》

The Most High Void Sovereign (the most exalted Void Sovereign deity) opens and unfurls the Jade Court. Golden palaces glitter with light, and the verdant high terraces lie deep in blue-green shade. I establish three method-gates of the Dao (the Way), eliminate ghostly evils, and enable living beings to survive. I can transcend death, and I can also transcend birth and extinction. Life endures long, free and unconstrained, and the aged are returned to a state like that of an infant. The hun and po souls are refined and transformed, and the Five Spirits (the deities within the body corresponding to the five viscera) rest in peace and harmony.

Riding a revolving wind-chariot, I go north to pay homage to Jade Clarity (Yuqing, the Qingwei celestial realm of Daoism), ascend into the Great Non-being (the realm without form or image), shine together with the sun, and at last cultivate myself into a Perfected Person (one who has attained the Dao). The Five Emperors (the celestial emperors of the five directions) gather in assembly; the Three Primordials (the Three Officials of Heaven, Earth, and Water) transmit their mandates, and the myriad spirits all come to hear and receive them. Entering the samadhi of Dongxuan (Cavern of Mystery, one of the Three Caverns: the state of discerning the mysterious and of absorption in concentration), countless perfected numina assemble, hosts of immortals stand guard, and my name is entered in the immortal registers of Jade Clarity.

The Jade Void of Dongzhen (Cavern of Perfection) is the nothingness within nothingness and the Dao within the Dao; divine and marvelous transformation is accomplished in an instant. The Numinous Response of Dongshen (Cavern of Spirit) puts measures and forms alike into effect, able to drive out evil influences, destroy harms, and turn the Xuanji (referring to the movement of the heavenly bodies, and also to the operation of Daoist methods).

The life-preserving deity of the East is the Azure Lad spirit, who guards the hun and po by the methods of Zhengyi (Orthodox Unity), so that I may enjoy long life. The life-preserving deity of the South securely protects the Qi (vital energy); the Red Numina do not allow the host of spirits to cross their bounds and intrude, so that I remain at peace for long. The life-preserving deity of the West guards the po; the White Numina ward off demonic and deviant Qi, so that all goes smoothly and prosperously for me. The life-preserving deity of the North opens and harmonizes the primal Jing (essence) and, by the true talismans of the five Qi, causes me to flourish enduringly. The life-preserving deity of the Center governs my bodily form, enabling me to fly freely and stand alongside Heaven and Earth. I roam and behold the Great Void (the vast, formless cosmos), ascend to audience at the Jade Capital (the capital city of the heavens), and below drive out evil influences and demonic sprites, bestowing blessings and grace upon all living beings.