《太上救苦天尊说消衍灭罪经》

At that time, the Celestial Worthy Who Relieves Suffering (Jiuku Tianzun), the honored deity who saves living beings in distress, aroused a vast heart of compassion, wishing to remove every karmic offense from living beings and to rescue those who had sunk into suffering. He therefore commanded living beings to establish Zhaijiao (purification rituals), to give wealth in alms, to practice good deeds widely, to accumulate merit, and to sow fields of blessing on a broad scale. He also summoned the celestial dragons, the earth deities (spirits of the land), the Four Brahma Heavenly Kings, the Asura kings, the sovereign lords of the various heavens, Yama the Son of Heaven, the Prefectural Lord of Mount Tai, the Director of Fate and the Director of Records (deities who govern lifespan and records of merit and fault), the Great Gods of the Five Paths, and those who preside over affairs in the prisons. The assembled deities paid reverent homage, bowed and knocked their heads to the ground, and reported to the Celestial Worthy:

The various karmic retributions received by living beings in the world are all recorded in the registers of offenses kept by the Great Demon King. If anyone in the land of Jambudvīpa (the human world) commits the Ten Evils and the Five Rebellions (grave wicked deeds and offenses of defiance), fails to honor parents, breaks the fast and violates the precepts, slaughters domestic animals such as pigs, sheep, oxen, and horses, or hunts and kills birds and beasts, committing crimes of every kind, then after death all such persons enter the Ninefold Dark Hells, suffering day and night with no way of release. Even if in life they widely cultivated merit and established fasts and almsgiving, they may still, because of their karmic offenses, endure prolonged beating and imprisonment, unable to ascend to heaven.

At that time the Celestial Worthy said: “You living beings, listen carefully to what I say. If in the world there are men or women who, after their parents or relatives have died, establish a ritual sanctuary, set up a fast and practice the Way, distribute wealth, and cultivate and accumulate merit, they may thereby bring relief to the departed in the dark underworld.”

King Qinguang of the first seven-day period, the underworld king who governs the First Court, bears the title Perfected Lord of Great Simplicity and Wondrous Vastness (Taisu Miaoguang Zhenjun).

King Chujiang of the second seven-day period, the underworld king who governs the Second Court, bears the title Perfected Lord of Hidden Virtue Who Settles in Repose (Yinde Dingxiu Zhenjun).

On the third seventh day (the twenty-first day after death) presides the Great King Songdi, True Lord of Penetrating Illumination and Universal Stillness (Dongming Pujing Zhenjun). On the fourth seventh day (the twenty-eighth day after death) presides the Great King of the Five Offices, True Lord of Mysterious De (Virtue/Power) and the Five Numina (Xuande Wuling Zhenjun). On the fifth seventh day (the thirty-fifth day after death) presides the Great King Yanluo, True Lord of Supreme Victory and Radiant Numen (Zuisheng Yaoling Zhenjun). On the sixth seventh day (the forty-second day after death) presides the Great King Biancheng, True Lord of Precious Orchid and Manifest Perfection (Baolan Zhaocheng Zhenjun). On the seventh seventh day (the forty-ninth day after death) presides the Prefect of Mount Tai, True Lord of Mysterious De and Wondrous Birth (Xuande Miaosheng Zhenjun). At the hundredth day presides the Great King of Equality, True Lord of Unsurpassed Orthodox Salvation (Wushang Zhengdu Zhenjun). On the day of the Lesser Xiang (the memorial day preceding the anniversary sacrifice) presides the Great King of the Capital, True Lord of Flying Demons and Extended Celebration (Feimo Yanqing Zhenjun). On the day of the Greater Xiang (usually the memorial day two years after death) presides the Great King Who Turns the Wheel, True Lord of the Five Transformations and Awesome Numen (Wuhua Weiling Zhenjun).

At this time the Heavenly Worthy (Tianzun) said: “You living beings among the common people, after death you sink into the hells. Now, because you have taken part in this assembly of goodness, you are all able naturally to transcend and pass on to new life. The hells will thereby stand empty, sinful karma will be eliminated, and pain and bitterness will likewise cease.” The Heavenly Worthy thereupon commanded the True Lords…

At this time the Heavenly Worthy spoke again: “You living beings among the common people, after death you sink into the hells. Now, because you have taken part in this assembly of goodness, you are all able naturally to transcend and pass on to new life. The hells will thereby stand empty, sinful karma will be eliminated, and pain and bitterness will likewise cease.” The Heavenly Worthy immediately ordered the Yang officials of the Left Bureau and the Yin officials of the Right Bureau (Yin-Yang) to examine and weigh merit and De, and commanded the examining officers and clerks of the twenty-four hells of Fengdu (the underworld in Daoist legend) to release all the solitary souls and lingering spirits then undergoing suffering (souls that have been unable to find rest and remain stranded in the underworld). He had them all ascend the Pool of Fiery Refinement, each holding a numinous talisman of the Elixir Realm capable of transforming the bodily form, and thus obtain the opportunity of rebirth, returning together to the other shore of the Dao (the Way).

The Heavenly Worthy said: “You living beings who suffer pain and punishment, having received the deliverance of this ritual assembly, are all able to transcend and pass on to new life. Listen carefully, all of you. I shall recite for you a gatha (a rhymed verse used to proclaim the teaching):

The dark ravines of Fengdu suddenly shine with radiance.

It illuminates the souls in the hidden darkness and brings them fragrant gruel (sweet porridge).

When the numinous talisman passes through fiery refinement, the body can rise of itself.

Having been able to join the ritual assembly, one knows the road to the immortal realm and also knows how to return.

I recite one more:

Through ten thousand kalpas it is hard to meet; having gained this good affinity, the merit is precious.

To open the road through the hidden darkness depends entirely on the true wind of the Dao (the transforming power of the methods of the Dao).

By ladders and by boats, living beings are ferried to the other shore; the grace of salvation is without end.

Every single thought can plant the causes and conditions of rebirth; riding the light, one flies into the void.”

At this time, when the assembly had finished hearing the gatha, all obtained liberation. Each kowtowed and paid ritual respects, took leave, and withdrew.

Scripture Spoken by the Supreme Heavenly Worthy Who Saves from Suffering on the Dispelling of Transgressions and the Extinction of Sins