《太上洞真贤门经》

At this time, the Primordial Heavenly Worthy began to proclaim the spiritual images of the Heavenly Worthies of the ten directions, together with the names and titles of one hundred and eighty Dao Lords and one thousand two hundred Lords Lao. If one were to set forth in detail the names and titles of the Heavenly Worthies of former kalpas, they would be as numerous as fine dust; even if one exhausted an entire kalpa in proclaiming them, one could not finish. What is spoken of now are the Heavenly Worthies of the ten directions who, in recent kalpas, attained the Dao (the Way) and appeared through responsive manifestation, five hundred and seventy-three Heavenly Worthies in all. The merit gained by bowing to them and praising them is beyond all reckoning.

Whether man or woman, whoever hears this Scripture of the Worthy Gate of Lord Lao (Laojun Xianmen Jing), even if only a single sentence or a single verse, can obtain the reward of blessings and longevity and can eliminate the great offenses created by the three karmas of body, speech, and mind. The various merits spoken of in the scripture cannot be stated one by one, nor can they all be recorded. If one but bows in the space of a finger-snap and answers with reverence, one should honor and put into practice the teachings of the scripture.

At this time, the Most High Primordial Heavenly Worthy further said to the Perfected One of Universal Salvation of the East and the assembled immortals: “In the boundless world of the Nine Qi (vital energy) of the East, the Heavenly Worthies who have appeared through responsive manifestation number one hundred in all. One should now take refuge with a sincere mind and, with reverent faith, bow in worship:

With a sincere mind take refuge, and with reverent faith bow in worship of the Jade-Treasure Imperial Sovereign Heavenly Worthy of the East,

With a sincere mind take refuge, and with reverent faith bow in worship of the Taiji (Supreme Ultimate) Heavenly Worthy of Penetrating Function,

With a sincere mind take refuge, and with reverent faith bow in worship of the Wuwei (non-action) Heavenly Worthy of Limpid Stillness,

With a sincere mind take refuge, and with reverent faith bow in worship of the Heavenly Worthy Who Entrusts Form and Responds with Spirit,

With a sincere mind take refuge, and with reverent faith bow in worship of the Heavenly Worthy of Causeless Solitary Salvation,

With a sincere mind take refuge, and with reverent faith bow in worship of the Heavenly Worthy Who Pacifies and Harmonizes the Myriad Beings,

With a sincere mind take refuge, and with reverent faith bow in worship of the Wuwei Heavenly Worthy of Limpid Stillness,

With a sincere mind take refuge, and with reverent faith bow in worship of the Heavenly Worthy Who Entrusts Form and Responds with Spirit,

With a sincere mind take refuge, and with reverent faith bow in worship of the Heavenly Worthy of Causeless Solitary Salvation,

With a sincere mind take refuge, and with reverent faith bow in worship of the Heavenly Worthy Who Pacifies and Harmonizes the Myriad Beings,

With a sincere mind take refuge, and with reverent faith bow in worship of the Heavenly Worthy of Hidden De (Virtue/Power) and Penetrating Transformation,

With a sincere mind take refuge, and with reverent faith bow in worship of the Heavenly Worthy of Great Kindness and Graded Compassion,

With a sincere mind take refuge, and with reverent faith bow in worship of the Heavenly Worthy of the Mighty Power of Numinous Talismans,

With a sincere mind take refuge, and with reverent faith bow in worship of the Most High Heavenly Worthy of Mysterious Emptiness,

With a sincere mind take refuge, and with reverent faith bow in worship of the Heavenly Worthy of the Supreme Apex of Jade Clarity,

With a sincere mind take refuge, and with reverent faith bow in worship of the Heavenly Worthy of Lofty Clarity and Great Simplicity.”

With utmost sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy of Dragon Majesty and the Nine Transformations (Tianzun), the venerable deity who manifests nine kinds of transformation and possesses the majesty of the dragon.

With utmost sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy of the Lofty and Supreme Luminous Sovereign, the venerable deity who is supreme and radiant.

With utmost sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy of Responsive Manifestation at Xina, the venerable deity who appears at Xina in response to circumstances.

With utmost sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy Who Cuts Off and Extinguishes Deviant Delusion, the venerable deity who severs deviant thoughts and confusion.

With utmost sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy of the Utmost Reach of the Great Void (Taixu), the venerable deity who attains the supreme realm of the Great Void.

With utmost sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy of Sympathetic Movement of Highest Clarity (Shangqing), the venerable deity who belongs to Highest Clarity and can move in sympathetic response.

With utmost sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy Whose Name Arises through the Ten Transformations, the venerable deity whose title comes forth and who passes through tenfold transformation.

With utmost sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy Who by Power Subdues Demonic Trials, the venerable deity who overcomes the ordeals of demonic obstruction by strength.

With utmost sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy Who Dwells on High in the Empty Cavern, the venerable deity who resides aloft in the realm of the empty cavern.

With utmost sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy Who Treasures, Transmits, and Expounds the Teaching, the venerable deity who reverently preserves and transmits the scriptures (Jing) and proclaims their teaching.

With utmost sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy Who Rescues and Protects by the Power of Goodness, the venerable deity who saves and shelters living beings through the power of goodness.

With utmost sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy of the Jeweled Grove Spreading Fruits, the venerable deity who, like a jeweled grove, widely bestows the fruits of goodness.

With utmost sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy of Attaining Transformation in the Unseen, the Cavern Celestial Worthy, the venerable deity who brings beings to transformation within what cannot be seen.

With utmost sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy Who Treasures, Transmits, and Expounds the Teaching.

With utmost sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy Who Rescues and Protects by the Power of Goodness.

With utmost sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy of the Jeweled Grove Spreading Fruits.

With utmost sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy of Attaining Transformation in the Unseen.

With utmost sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy of Precious Wisdom and Sovereign Ease, the venerable deity who is fully endowed with precious wisdom and is free and unobstructed.

With utmost sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy in Whom Wisdom Gathers among the Superior Perfected (Shangzhen), the venerable deity in whom wisdom condenses among the Superior Perfected.

With utmost sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy Who Embraces Compassion and Wondrous Wisdom, the venerable deity who holds a compassionate heart and subtle insight.

With utmost sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy Who Extends Transformation unto Great Harmony (Taihe), the venerable deity who carries out teaching and brings all things back to Great Harmony.

With utmost sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy of Lofty Jade Preservation, the venerable deity who is noble and exalted, precious as jade.

With utmost sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy, Jade Emperor of the Purple Void, the venerable Jade Emperor deity of the realm of the Purple Void.

With utmost sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy Who Transmits the Scriptures and Imparts the Teaching, the venerable deity who transmits the classics and the doctrine.

With utmost sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy of Lofty Clarity and Supreme Holiness, the venerable deity who is lofty, pure, and clear, supreme and most holy.

With utmost sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy of Compassionate Response, the venerable deity who answers sympathetic resonance with a compassionate heart.

With utmost sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy Who Greatly Delivers from Peril, the venerable deity who raises up relief and frees beings from danger and hardship.

With utmost sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy Who Spreads Good Faith and Bestows Kindness and Love, the venerable deity who widely extends trustworthiness and grants favor and compassionate love.

With utmost sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy of Solemn Purity and Cavern Radiance, the venerable deity who is majestic and pure, penetrating and luminous.

With utmost sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy Who Holds Harmony through Patient Endurance in the Teaching, the venerable deity who maintains peace by patient endurance in the Dharma.

With utmost sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy Who Reveres the True and Utters the Wondrous, the venerable deity who honors the true Dao (the Way) and proclaims the mysterious and subtle.

With utmost sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy of Endless Responsive Transformation, the venerable deity who adapts to each matter and transforms without end.

With utmost sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy of Exalted Transforming Response, the venerable deity who dwells in a lofty and honored station and moves living beings through teaching and sympathetic response.

With the most sincere heart I take refuge in, place my faith in, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Radiant Brilliance in the Purple Void (Zixu Huanyao Tianzun, the venerable deity who symbolizes resplendent radiance within the Purple Void), the Celestial Worthy Lofty in Supreme Clarity and Mystery (Gaoshang Qingxuan Tianzun, the venerable deity who dwells on high in the realm of pure mystery), and the Celestial Worthy of Everlasting Joy in the Mysterious Teaching (Changle Xuanjiao Tianzun, the venerable deity associated with the wondrous teaching and constant joy).

With the most sincere heart I take refuge in, place my faith in, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Radiant Brilliance in the Purple Void, the Celestial Worthy Lofty in Supreme Clarity and Mystery, the Celestial Worthy of Everlasting Joy in the Mysterious Teaching, the Celestial Worthy of Universal Salvation and Equality (Puji Pingdeng Tianzun, the venerable deity who universally relieves all beings and regards them as equal), the Celestial Worthy of the Great Ocean of Wisdom (Da Zhihui Hai Tianzun, the venerable deity who symbolizes wisdom vast as the sea), the Celestial Worthy of Constant Stillness in the Daluo Heaven (Changji Daluo Tianzun, the venerable deity associated with the ever-still realm of the Daluo Heaven), and the Celestial Worthy Who Rides the Void in Wisdom and Awakening (Chengkong Huijue Tianzun, the venerable deity who travels through empty space and awakens through wisdom).

With the most sincere heart I take refuge in, place my faith in, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Great Loving-Kindness and Great Compassion, the Celestial Worthy of Compassion Who Saves and Delivers, the Celestial Worthy of Enduring Joy and Great Peace (Changle Taiping Tianzun, the venerable deity who bestows lasting peace and happiness), the Celestial Worthy Who Seeks the Cry and Relieves Suffering (Xunsheng Jiuku Tianzun, the venerable deity who, on hearing a cry for help, goes forth to relieve suffering), the Celestial Worthy Who Uproots Suffering and Bestows Joy (Baku Yule Tianzun, the venerable deity who delivers people from hardship and grants them peace and happiness), and the Celestial Worthy Who Protects Longevity and Life (Changsheng Baoming Tianzun, the venerable deity who safeguards long life and vitality).

With the most sincere heart I take refuge in, place my faith in, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Grand Floriate Jade Radiance (Taihua Qiongyao Tianzun, the venerable deity associated with the immortal realm of Taihua and with brilliant light), the Celestial Worthy of Inner Vision Who Penetrates the True (Neijing Tongzhen Tianzun, the venerable deity associated with the inner landscape of body and mind and with penetrating the true Dao), and the Celestial Worthy Who Communes with the Numinous and Transforms Without Hindrance (Tongling Jionghua Tianzun, the venerable deity who reaches the wondrous and numinous and transforms freely, without obstruction).

With the most sincere heart I take refuge in, place my faith in, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy Who Flies and Strides through the Nine Voids (Feibu Jiukong Tianzun, the venerable deity who symbolizes flight through the ninefold void), the Celestial Worthy Who Treads the Cycles of the Seven Primordials (Buji Qiyuan Tianzun, the venerable deity associated with moving in accordance with the seven primordial stars), the Celestial Worthy of Expansive Descent and Enduring Radiance, the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Radiance and Extended Numinosity, the Celestial Worthy of Undifferentiated Completion Who Opens Transformation, the Celestial Worthy of Grand Empyrean Radiant Scenery, the Celestial Worthy Who Opens Illumination to the Primordial Ultimate, the Celestial Worthy of Empty Mystery and Luminous Brahma-Sound, the Celestial Worthy of the Great Void’s Mysterious Shade, and the Celestial Worthy of the Numinous Capital Where Blessings Gather. The phrase “utmost heart, take refuge, believe, and worship” that recurs above is a devout formula of praise in the liturgy, meaning to take refuge, to believe, and to offer worship with the most sincere heart.

With a sincere heart, take refuge in, profess faith in, and pay reverent homage to the Celestial Worthy (Tianzun) of Auspicious Clouds Universally Sheltering (the Celestial Worthy who, through auspicious and propitious cloud Qi (vital energy), universally shelters all living beings).

With a sincere heart, take refuge in, profess faith in, and pay reverent homage to the Celestial Worthy of the Floating Cavern and the Seven Luminaries (the Celestial Worthy associated with the seven luminary stars).

With a sincere heart, take refuge in, profess faith in, and pay reverent homage to the Celestial Worthy of Numinous Light Illuminating the Four Quarters (the Celestial Worthy whose wondrous radiance shines upon the four directions).

With a sincere heart, take refuge in, profess faith in, and pay reverent homage to the Celestial Worthy Who Preserves Life and Protects the Soul (the Celestial Worthy who safeguards life and the hun and po souls).

With a sincere heart, take refuge in, profess faith in, and pay reverent homage to the Celestial Worthy Who Penetrates the Void to Perfect Ultimacy (the Celestial Worthy who reaches through to emptiness and is perfectly complete to the utmost).

With a sincere heart, take refuge in, profess faith in, and pay reverent homage to the Celestial Worthy of Flying Blossoms Shining Bright (the Celestial Worthy radiant and brilliant, like flying flowers).

With a sincere heart, take refuge in, profess faith in, and pay reverent homage to the Celestial Worthy of Flowing Radiance, Supremely Honored (the Celestial Worthy whose brilliance streams and circulates, noble and without peer).

With a sincere heart, take refuge in, profess faith in, and pay reverent homage to the Celestial Worthy Who Opens the Hidden Mystery (the Celestial Worthy who opens realms that are profound and mysterious).

With a sincere heart, take refuge in, profess faith in, and pay reverent homage to the Celestial Worthy of the Numinous Radiance of Xuanpu (Xuanpu is the abode of the immortals, and numinous radiance refers to sacred brilliance).

With a sincere heart, take refuge in, profess faith in, and pay reverent homage to the Celestial Worthy of Spiritual Powers, Empty and Luminous (the Celestial Worthy of vast spiritual powers, empty, clear, and bright).

With a sincere heart, take refuge in, profess faith in, and pay reverent homage to the Celestial Worthy Who Assembles the Holy Ones in the Purple Court (the Celestial Worthy who gathers sages and perfected beings in the Purple Court).

With a sincere heart, take refuge in, profess faith in, and pay reverent homage to the Celestial Worthy of the Four Assemblies of the Many Perfected (the Celestial Worthy who gathers the Perfected (Zhenren) of the four directions).

With a sincere heart, take refuge in, profess faith in, and pay reverent homage to the Celestial Worthy of the Numinous Radiance of Xuanpu.

With a sincere heart, take refuge in, profess faith in, and pay reverent homage to the Celestial Worthy of Spiritual Powers, Empty and Luminous.

With a sincere heart, take refuge in, profess faith in, and pay reverent homage to the Celestial Worthy Who Assembles the Holy Ones in the Purple Court.

With a sincere heart, take refuge in, profess faith in, and pay reverent homage to the Celestial Worthy of the Four Assemblies of the Many Perfected.

With a sincere heart, take refuge in, profess faith in, and pay reverent homage to the Celestial Worthy of Broad Operation and Vast Edification (the Celestial Worthy who extensively sets transformation in motion and widely propagates teaching).

With a sincere heart, take refuge in, profess faith in, and pay reverent homage to the Celestial Worthy of the Numinous Origin That Universally Nourishes (the Celestial Worthy who, through the wondrous primordial origin, universally moistens and nourishes all living beings).

With a sincere heart, take refuge in, profess faith in, and pay reverent homage to the Celestial Worthy Who Exalts the True and the Mysterious Ancient (the Celestial Worthy who reveres the true Dao (the Way) and is mysterious and remote in antiquity).

With a sincere heart, take refuge in, profess faith in, and pay reverent homage to the Celestial Worthy Who Pacifies and Transforms the Great Origin (the Celestial Worthy who settles and nurtures the primordial Qi of the Great Beginning).

With a sincere heart, take refuge in, profess faith in, and pay reverent homage to the Celestial Worthy of the Radiant Scene of the Western Perfected (the Celestial Worthy of the Perfected of the West, whose scene shines with light).

With a sincere heart, take refuge in, profess faith in, and pay reverent homage to the Celestial Worthy Who Upholds Radiance and Penetrating Illumination (the Celestial Worthy who sustains brilliance and reaches through to thorough clarity).

With a sincere heart, take refuge in, profess faith in, and pay reverent homage to the Celestial Worthy of the Eight Scenes in Cyclic Transformation (the Celestial Worthy who causes the scenes of the eight directions to revolve and transform).

With a sincere heart, take refuge in, profess faith in, and pay reverent homage to the Celestial Worthy of Rounded Radiance Shining upon the Rosy Clouds (the Celestial Worthy whose full and complete radiance reflects upon and illumines the colored mists).

With a sincere heart, take refuge in, profess faith in, and pay reverent homage to the Celestial Worthy of Brilliant Light at the Ultimate of Dawn (the Celestial Worthy of morning brilliance who dwells in the ultimate realm).

With a sincere heart, take refuge in, profess faith in, and pay reverent homage to the Celestial Worthy of the Jade Radiance of Yuxu (Yuxu is the pure and empty realm of the immortals, and jade radiance refers to brilliance like fine jade).

With a sincere heart, take refuge in, profess faith in, and pay reverent homage to the Celestial Worthy of Golden Light Shining Bright (the Celestial Worthy whose golden radiance shines with clarity).

With a sincere heart, take refuge in, profess faith in, and pay reverent homage to the Celestial Worthy of Brilliant Light at the Ultimate of Dawn.

With a sincere heart, take refuge in, profess faith in, and pay reverent homage to the Celestial Worthy of the Jade Radiance of Yuxu.

With a sincere heart, take refuge in, profess faith in, and pay reverent homage to the Celestial Worthy of Golden Light Shining Bright.

With a sincere heart, take refuge in, profess faith in, and pay reverent homage to the Celestial Worthy of the Eight Scenes Shining Together (the Celestial Worthy in whom the scenes of the eight directions shine forth as one).

With a sincere heart, take refuge in, profess faith in, and pay reverent homage to the Celestial Worthy Who Sovereignly Commands the Host of the Perfected (the Celestial Worthy who presides over and governs all the Perfected).

With a sincere heart, take refuge in, profess faith in, and pay reverent homage to the Celestial Worthy of the Clarity of the Law and Numinous Discernment (the Celestial Worthy who, through the clarity of proper norms, sees into all things).

With utmost sincerity I entrust my life and respectfully bow in worship to the Celestial Worthy Who Binds Clear Light and Radiant Brightness (Jielang Huiming Tianzun), the Celestial Worthy Who Opens the True, the Mysterious, and the Plain (Qizhen Xuansu Tianzun), the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Transformation and Changing Birth (Hunhua Biansheng Tianzun), the Celestial Worthy Who Meditates on the Mysterious and Gathers the Registers (Sixuan Huiji Tianzun), the Celestial Worthy Who Condenses the Origin and Streams Forth Brilliance (Ningyuan Liuyao Tianzun), the Celestial Worthy Who Benefits the Origin and Mysteriously Unfolds (Huiyuan Xuanchang Tianzun), and the Celestial Worthy Who Condenses Emptiness and Rests Skillfully in Stillness (Ningxu Shanji Tianzun). When the worship is complete, I repent with utmost sincerity.

Repentance is then offered once more.

The Celestial Worthy said: “All sentient beings endlessly cast off their old bodies and are born into new ones, sinking in the sea of suffering. Even after passing through many kalpas they cannot gain liberation, and all of this is because what they think in their hearts and what they speak with their mouths creates every kind of grave offense. The three karmas of body, speech, and mind give rise to the ten evils, so that beings become stained and clinging and can hardly transcend. Sentient beings wish to leave the cycle of rebirth, realize the fruition of eternal peace and joy, and remain far from the Three Paths, the Five Sufferings, and the Eight Difficulties, and they also pray that these karmic offenses be eliminated. Now that they have vowed to extinguish their offenses, they should entrust their lives and repent without measure and without bound.”

“Constant joy” means happiness that is enduring and secure. The “Three Paths, Five Sufferings, and Eight Difficulties” are classifications, in Daoist and Buddhist scriptures, of evil destinies, sufferings, and obstacles to cultivation. Body, speech, and mind are called the “three karmas,” referring to bodily actions, speech, and thoughts of the mind.

With sincere hearts we take refuge in and reverently honor the Unsurpassed Celestial Worthy, and once again repent the offense of taking life. From countless kalpas down to this day, we have harmed parents, brothers, and kin, and we have also lacked compassion toward living beings of the past and of the present. Some killed enemies in warfare; some, while serving in office and conducting affairs, used cunning words to twist the law and wronged upright people; some, out of jealousy, took human lives, caused unborn children or infants to die young, or harmed others with poison. There were also those who killed all kinds of living creatures and ate their flesh and bones; who slaughtered animals for gatherings and banquets held for parents, for themselves, or for brothers and relatives; and who, at weddings, the third-day rites after marriage, full-month celebrations, and other festivities, or when sacrificing to gods and ghosts, killed living beings. These acts of taking life are beyond counting.

The living beings that were killed include domestic animals and fowl such as oxen, sheep, donkeys, horses, dogs, chickens, and ducks; wild beasts such as water deer, deer, foxes, hares, tigers, leopards, jackals, and wolves; birds; and aquatic creatures such as giant softshell turtles, Chinese alligators, fish, turtles, and softshell turtles. The offenses thereby committed are measureless and boundless. Today, with hearts of shame, we repent each of them in utmost sincerity.

At this, the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning (Yuanshi Tianzun) again told the True Person of Prolonged Life of the South and the assembled immortals: “In the Boundless World of Brahma-Qi (vital energy) of the South there are the numinous images and names of ninety-nine Celestial Worthies. You should now, with sincere hearts, take refuge in and reverently honor them:

With sincere hearts, take refuge in and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Illustrious Blessings Who Protects Souls of the South;

With sincere hearts, take refuge in and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Longhan Brahma Deliverance;

With sincere hearts, take refuge in and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy Who by Radiance Opens the Treasure Store;

With sincere hearts, take refuge in and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of the Lofty and Supreme Mysterious Subtlety;

With sincere hearts, take refuge in and reverently honor the Unsurpassed Celestial Worthy of Subtle Wonder;

With sincere hearts, take refuge in and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Diligent Transformation and Skillful Means;

With sincere hearts, take refuge in and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of the Jade Void and the Mysterious Mirror;

With sincere hearts, take refuge in and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Great Compassion and the Sea of Wisdom;

With sincere hearts, take refuge in and reverently honor the Unsurpassed Celestial Worthy of Subtle Wonder;

With sincere hearts, take refuge in and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Diligent Transformation and Skillful Means…”

With a heart of utmost sincerity, I take refuge in and pay reverence to the Celestial Worthy of the Jade Void and Mysterious Mirror (Yuxu Xuanjian Tianzun), the Celestial Worthy of Great Compassion and the Sea of Wisdom, the Celestial Worthy of Mysterious Subtlety and Supreme Sageliness, the Celestial Worthy of the True Countenance of the Azure Empyrean, the Celestial Worthy of Wisdom-Awakening and Penetrating Illumination, the Celestial Worthy of the Ever-Clear Sea of the Teaching, the Celestial Worthy of the Nine Lights Shining Universally, the Celestial Worthy of Deliverance from the Sea of Suffering, the Celestial Worthy of Kindness Put to Endless Use, the Celestial Worthy of the Mysterious Void and Purple Dawn, the Celestial Worthy of the Jade Void and the Three Pure Essences, the Celestial Worthy of Great Wisdom and Victorious Light, the Celestial Worthy Able to Propagate the Supreme Teaching, the Celestial Worthy of Skillful Means Who Benefits Others, the Celestial Worthy of the Lofty Void Who Remains Unmoved, the Celestial Worthy Who Ever Turns the Wheel of the Teaching, the Celestial Worthy of the Unsurpassed Jade Void, the Celestial Worthy of the Three Pure Essences and Flying Numina, the Celestial Worthy of Measureless Constant Joy, the Celestial Worthy of the Purple Void and Great Simplicity, the Celestial Worthy Whose Virtue (De) Crowns All Without End, the Celestial Worthy of the Ten Blossoms on High, the Celestial Worthy of Grand Tenuity and the Golden Tablets, the Celestial Worthy Who Prolongs the Blessings of the August Ultimate, the Celestial Worthy of the Five Clarities and Penetrating Radiance, the Celestial Worthy of the Nine Lights and the Divine Ultimate, the Celestial Worthy of Pure Numen and Compassionate Goodness, the Celestial Worthy of Cinnabar Numen and Vast Deliverance, and the Celestial Worthy of Great Penetration and Numinous Response.

Here the phrase “with utmost mind, taking refuge and entrusting one’s life, believing and paying reverence” is repeated to express sincere refuge, faith, and reverent worship. The titles of these Celestial Worthies embody the Daoist manner of praising deities, bearing such meanings as wisdom, compassion, radiance, salvation, the propagation of the teaching, and the bestowal of blessings. The “Wheel of the Teaching” (falun) refers to the circulation and wide transmission of the teaching.

With the utmost sincerity of heart I take refuge in, believe in, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy (Tianzun) of the Constant Dao (the Way) and Wisdom That Opens Understanding—the Celestial Worthy who constantly upholds the Great Dao and opens understanding through wisdom; the Celestial Worthy of the Eight Powers Who Repels and Restrains—the Celestial Worthy who blocks evil with eight kinds of power; the Celestial Worthy of Fourfold Brightness That Thoroughly Illumines the Dark—the Celestial Worthy who, with the bright light of the four directions, illuminates darkness through and through; the Celestial Worthy of Streaming Radiance That Brightens the Void—the Celestial Worthy whose brilliance circulates and lights up emptiness; the Celestial Worthy of Constant Vacuity and Mysterious Unity—the Celestial Worthy who constantly abides in vacant stillness and unites with Mysterious Unity; the Celestial Worthy Who Embraces the Unadorned and Cherishes Jade—the Celestial Worthy who holds fast to pure simplicity and harbors De (Virtue/Power); the Celestial Worthy Who Destroys and Dispels Turbid Miasma—the Celestial Worthy who clears away turbid and evil Qi (vital energy); the Celestial Worthy Who Subdues Demons and Binds Ghosts—the Celestial Worthy who subdues demons and ghosts; the Celestial Worthy of Light Reflecting the Pure Current—the Celestial Worthy whose pure light shines and flows without cease; the Celestial Worthy of the Mysterious Upper Realm and Jade Blossoms—the Celestial Worthy who dwells in the wondrous upper realm, pure and beautiful as jade blossoms; the Celestial Worthy of Imperial Light Illumining the Cavernous Depths—the Celestial Worthy whose imperial divine light thoroughly illuminates the profound realm; the Celestial Worthy of Flying Cinnabar and Flowing Radiance—the Celestial Worthy of flying cinnabar-red clouds and circulating splendor; and the Celestial Worthy of Mysterious Radiance Like the Dawn—the Celestial Worthy whose wondrous brilliance is like the first appearing of morning light.

With the utmost sincerity of heart I take refuge in, believe in, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Imperial Light Illumining the Cavernous Depths, the Celestial Worthy of Flying Cinnabar and Flowing Radiance, the Celestial Worthy of Mysterious Radiance Like the Dawn, the Celestial Worthy of the Great Emperor’s True Mystery—the Celestial Worthy of utmost truth and utmost mystery within the realm of the Great Emperor; the Celestial Worthy of Numinous Light and Jasper Radiance—the Celestial Worthy whose wondrous light shines like fine jade; the Celestial Worthy Whose Wisdom Penetrates and Illumines Appearances—the Celestial Worthy whose wisdom reaches through and illuminates phenomena; the Celestial Worthy of Precious Light That Shines Everywhere—the Celestial Worthy whose precious brightness universally illuminates; the Celestial Worthy of Jasper Light That Flows and Moistens—the Celestial Worthy whose jade-like radiance circulates and nourishes; the Celestial Worthy of Great Stability Who Secures Peace and Blessing—the Celestial Worthy who, through great stability, brings peace and blessed fortune; the Celestial Worthy of Pearl and Jade Who Dwells at Ease in the Cavern—the Celestial Worthy, bright as pearls and jade, who peacefully resides in the cavern-heaven; the Celestial Worthy of Equality in the Cavernous Void—the Celestial Worthy of unobstructed equality within the realm of the cavernous void; the Celestial Worthy of Jade-Bright Mysterious Radiance—the Celestial Worthy, clear and pure as jade, of wondrous radiance; the Celestial Worthy of the Golden Tablets and the Treasury of Teachings—the Celestial Worthy who holds the treasury of teachings recorded on golden tablets; the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Harmony and Reverent Love—the Celestial Worthy who embodies primordial harmonious Qi and the De of reverence and love; and the Celestial Worthy of Luminous Wisdom and the Understanding of Emptiness—the Celestial Worthy who, through wisdom, is luminously clear and penetrates the principle of emptiness.

With the utmost sincerity of heart I take refuge in and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Jade-Bright Mysterious Radiance; I take refuge in, believe in, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of the Golden Tablets and the Treasury of Teachings, the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Harmony and Reverent Love, the Celestial Worthy of Luminous Wisdom and the Understanding of Emptiness, and the Jade Emperor Celestial Worthy of the Cinnabar Cavern—the Jade Emperor Celestial Worthy who dwells in the immortal realm of the Cinnabar Cavern.

The repeated use here of “zhixin guiming xinli” is an honorific formula in Daoist liturgical worship and hymns of praise. It means taking refuge in, believing in, and reverently honoring the Celestial Worthies with the utmost sincerity of heart.

With a heart of utmost sincerity I turn toward, believe in, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy (Tianzun) of the Divine Truth of the Seven Luminaries; I reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Celestial Radiance and Mysterious Subtlety; I reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Golden Reflection and Brilliant Splendor; I reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Yang and Dragon Radiance; I reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of the Mysterious Capital Who Gathers All De (Virtue/Power); I reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Radiant Tranquility and the Myriad Goods; I reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of the Shining Spirit Who Causes the Realm to Flourish; I reverently honor the Celestial Worthy Who Assists the Perfected in Numinous Subtlety; I reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of the Flowing Pearl’s Illuminating Light; I reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Precious Light and the Primordial Cavern; I reverently honor the Celestial Worthy Who Aligns the Perfected and Gathers the Sages; I reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of the Imperial Design and Pure Beneficence; I reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Mysterious Truth and Primordial Radiance; I reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of the Flowing Pearl’s Illuminating Light; I reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Precious Light and the Primordial Cavern; I reverently honor the Celestial Worthy Who Aligns the Perfected and Gathers the Sages; I reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of the Imperial Design and Pure Beneficence; I reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Mysterious Truth and Primordial Radiance; I reverently honor the Celestial Worthy Who Protects Life and Endures Forever; I reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Cavern Numen and Mysterious Illumination; I reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Long Life Who Oversees Destiny; I reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of the Purple Pole and Streaming Roseate Clouds; I reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Flying Paces and Luminous Numen; I reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Flying Mist That Congeals into Purity; I reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Cinnabar Blossoms Outshining the Sun; I reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of the Mysterious Terrace and Empty Ultimacy; I reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of the Jasper Cavern and Liberation into Emptiness; I reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of the Mysterious Pearl of Dazzling Colors; I reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Luminous Jade and Pure Whiteness; I reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Taiji (Supreme Ultimate) and Golden Florescence; I reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Solar Brilliance and Streaming Light; I reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of the Blue-Green Hall and Flowing Luster; I reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Golden Florescence and Compassionate Grace.

Here, “zhixin guiming xinli” means, with a heart of utmost sincerity, to take refuge, to believe, and to perform the rites; “Tianzun” (Celestial Worthy) is an honorific for the venerated deities of Daoism. This passage of scripture expresses devout reverence by continuously paying ritual homage to the various Celestial Worthies.

With the utmost earnestness of heart, take refuge in, believe in, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy Who Descends in Spirit and Protects Radiance (Tianzun), the Celestial Worthy of Bright Rosy Clouds and Resplendent Color, the Celestial Worthy Who Prolongs Life and Presides over the Reckoning of Years, the Celestial Worthy of Merciful Shade and Universal Shelter, the Celestial Worthy of Renewed Light Shining Afar, the Celestial Worthy of Fine Jade and Flowing Liquid, the Celestial Worthy Who Earnestly Descends in Glorious Radiance, the Celestial Worthy of Auspicious Clouds That Ever Shelter, the Celestial Worthy of Numinous Communion and Blessed Felicity, and the Celestial Worthy by Whom the Way (Dao) Moistens and Illumines Goodness. Then bow in worship, and repent with a sincere heart.

With utmost sincerity, take refuge in, believe in, and reverently honor the Unsurpassed Celestial Worthy, and once again repent the offense of killing living beings. From countless kalpas down to this very day, we have killed and harmed lives beyond number. Some have slaughtered living beings in order to sacrifice to ghosts and spirits; some have cut off their heads and feet, stripped away their skins and fur, and then fried and boiled them over a fierce fire; some have separated animal mothers from their young and cut off the life-force of the fetus; and some have deliberately severed life so that it perishes utterly.

We have also unjustly killed worthy persons, Daoist priests, and men and women among the common people, and have killed creditors, enemies, and good people of every region. Some have caused death by poison, by drugs, by curses, or by abusive speech; some have killed themselves or incited others to kill. Even merely seeing or hearing of killing and feeling joy in the heart is included among these. Acts of this kind—raising a hand to inflict harm, or stirring a thought to inflict cruelty—have caused countless casualties. All such offenses, immeasurable and boundless, are today openly confessed before the Celestial Worthy and repented one by one.

At this time, the Most High Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning (Yuanshi Tianzun) again said to the Compassionate Perfected One of the West (Zhenren) and the assembled immortals: “In the Western Limitless World of the Seven Qi (vital energy), the numinous images of Celestial Worthies manifested by transformation bear seventy-three titles in all. One should now, with the utmost sincerity of heart, take refuge in, believe in, and reverently honor them:”

With a heart of utmost sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy of the West, Compassionate and Saving from Suffering (the honored deity who rescues those in suffering), and I pay homage to the Celestial Worthy of Great Compassion and Equal Awakening, the Celestial Worthy Who Is to Come to Save from Suffering, the Celestial Worthy Who Spreads the Power of the Dharma, the Celestial Worthy of the Nine Blossoms Who Bestows Protection, and the Celestial Worthy of Boundless Luminous Wisdom.

With a heart of utmost sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy Who Spreads the Power of the Dharma, the Celestial Worthy of the Nine Blossoms Who Bestows Protection, the Celestial Worthy of Boundless Luminous Wisdom, the Celestial Worthy of the Wheel That Turns Without End, the Celestial Worthy of Supreme De (Virtue/Power) and Formlessness, the Celestial Worthy Who Upholds the Precious Blossom Dais, the Celestial Worthy of the Ocean of All Wisdom, the Celestial Worthy Who Transforms Through Wisdom and De, the Celestial Worthy of Unobstructed Majesty, the Celestial Worthy of the Dharma Treasury of the Great Vehicle, the Celestial Worthy of Immovable Majestic Power, the Celestial Worthy Who Reveals Causes and Conditions, the Celestial Worthy of Wisdom’s Illumination, the Celestial Worthy of the Benefit of the Dharma, the Celestial Worthy of Wondrous De, the Celestial Worthy Who Is Sovereign of Supreme De, the Celestial Worthy Who Dispels the Host of Doubts, the Celestial Worthy Who Attains the Mysterious and Subtle, the Celestial Worthy Who Sets in Motion the Conditions of Former Lives, the Celestial Worthy Whose Majestic De Pervades All, the Celestial Worthy of Measureless Radiant Form, the Celestial Worthy of the Borders of the Fragrant Grove, the Celestial Worthy of Formless Dignity, the Celestial Worthy of Boundless Sovereign Freedom, and the Celestial Worthy Who Reveals All Teachings.

With a heart of utmost sincerity I pay homage to the Celestial Worthy of Measureless Radiant Form, and I devote my life and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy of the Borders of the Fragrant Grove and the Celestial Worthy of Formless Dignity.

With wholehearted sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy of Boundless Freedom (Tianzun), the Celestial Worthy who is free and unobstructed, vast and without limit.

With wholehearted sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy Who Reveals All Methods, the Celestial Worthy who makes every method of the teaching manifest.

With wholehearted sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy Who Universally Sees All Methods, the Celestial Worthy who knows every kind of method throughout.

With wholehearted sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Boundless King Celestial Worthy, the Celestial Worthy whose majestic virtue is vast and without boundary.

With wholehearted sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy of the Light of Wisdom, the Celestial Worthy of wisdom and radiance.

With wholehearted sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Most Victorious and Supreme Celestial Worthy, the Celestial Worthy who is most excellent and highest of all.

With wholehearted sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy of Ten-Thousandfold Grace, the Celestial Worthy of profound beneficence.

With wholehearted sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy of the Wondrous Virtue of Golden Blossoms, the Celestial Worthy who possesses virtue as wondrous as golden blossoms.

With wholehearted sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy Who Can Make Firm, the Celestial Worthy who can make faith and cultivation firm.

With wholehearted sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy of Wisdom’s Bright Illumination, the Celestial Worthy who illuminates all things with the light of wisdom.

With wholehearted sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy Replete with Every Wisdom, the Celestial Worthy who fully possesses all kinds of wisdom.

With wholehearted sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy Who Desires Vigorous Pursuit of the Teaching, the Celestial Worthy who exhorts practitioners to strive diligently in seeking the methods.

With wholehearted sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Great King of Physicians Celestial Worthy, the Celestial Worthy who, like the Great King of Healers, saves and treats living beings.

With wholehearted sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy Who Departs from the Obstructions of Affliction, the Celestial Worthy who helps living beings leave behind the obstacles of vexation.

With wholehearted sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy of Boundless Wisdom, the Celestial Worthy whose wisdom is vast and without limit.

With wholehearted sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Wondrous King Celestial Worthy Who Gives Rise to Understanding, the Celestial Worthy who enables people to penetrate wondrous principle.

With wholehearted sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy Who Turns Aside All Difficulties, the Celestial Worthy who helps resolve every kind of hardship.

With wholehearted sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy Who Treasures Renown, the Celestial Worthy who harbors a fair name and reputation.

With wholehearted sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy Ever Close to the Good, the Celestial Worthy who remains constantly intimate with wholesome teachings.

With wholehearted sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy of Firm Resolve, the Celestial Worthy whose aspiration is steadfast and unwavering.

With wholehearted sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy of Splendid Contemplation and Grace, the Celestial Worthy who possesses beautiful contemplative insight and wisdom.

With wholehearted sincerity I take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy of the Pure Sovereign of Jade Vacuity, the Celestial Worthy of the Golden Perfected and Wondrous Treasure, the Celestial Worthy of Pure Simplicity and Primordial Radiance, the Celestial Worthy of Dazzling Reflection of the True Ultimate, the Celestial Worthy of Wondrous Marks Who Venerates Antiquity, and Chongji Ling…. Here, “zhixin guiming xinli” means to take refuge and pay homage with a sincere heart. Some titles in the scripture appear more than once. The wording after “Chongji Ling” at the end is incomplete, and the titles are retained according to the text as it now stands.

With a heart of utmost sincerity I entrust my life to, put my faith in, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy (Tianzun) of Wondrous Appearance Who Venerates Antiquity, the Celestial Worthy of Exalted Stillness Soaring in the Void, the Celestial Worthy of Lofty Perfection and Wondrous Fruition, the Celestial Worthy Who Oversees Kings and Greatly Bestows, the Celestial Worthy of Abundant Light That Shines on All, the Celestial Worthy Who Opens Transformation and Delivers Humanity, the Celestial Worthy of Majestic Radiance and Majestic Virtue (De), the Celestial Worthy of the Mysterious Tradition Who Delivers Through Immortality, the Celestial Worthy of Jade Eminence and the Treasure of the Law, the Celestial Worthy of Wondrous Accomplishment and Wisdom-Awakening, the Celestial Worthy Who Manifests Brightness and Opens Deliverance, the Celestial Worthy Who Manifests Brightness and Brahma-Deliverance, the Celestial Worthy of Steady Light Greatly Resplendent, the Celestial Worthy of Luminous Brahma and Supreme Splendor, the Celestial Worthy of Splendid Reverence and Supreme Subtlety, the Celestial Worthy of Bright Opening and Deliverance, the Celestial Worthy of Mysterious Brightness and Brahma-Conduct, the Celestial Worthy of Jade Perfection and Great Brahma, the Celestial Worthy Who Delivers Living Beings in Supreme Brightness, the Celestial Worthy of Precious Light and the Teaching of the Law, the Celestial Worthy of Precious Clouds and Wondrous Fruition, the Celestial Worthy of the Thunder of the Law and the Eye of Wisdom, and the Celestial Worthy of Brahma-Qi (vital energy) and Wondrous Understanding.

I bow before all these Celestial Worthies and repent with utmost sincerity. The repeated recitation of the Celestial Worthies’ names, together with the acts of worship, expresses taking refuge and reverent devotion; the final sentence indicates that, once the worship is done, one repents of one’s faults in sincere earnest.

We sincerely take refuge in and pay homage to the supreme Celestial Worthy (Tianzun), and once again repent the offense of theft. From time without beginning down to this day, whether in the past or in the present, we ourselves, together with our six classes of kin, our parents, our own persons, the nine generations of ancestors and the seven mysterious lines (that is, ancestors and descendants both near and distant), and all relatives brought together by karmic conditions, have, in the cycle of rebirth—when casting off one body and receiving another, and whenever a thought arises or the mind is stirred—again and again stolen the property of the Celestial Worthies. Some have stolen the belongings of ritual masters and of monastics; some have stolen goods offered to the Celestial Worthies, to monastics, or for the preaching of scriptures (Jing) and the expounding of the teaching; some have stolen offerings from the mysterious altars (Xuantan, Daoist sacrificial altars) and the numinous abbeys (Lingguan, Daoist temples and monasteries), items offered for scriptures and precepts, and materials used to make sacred images, scriptural teachings, mysterious altars, or temples and abbeys; and some have stolen pure offerings, things presented by the faithful who uphold the precepts, or the permanent property used in common by the assembly and long kept in Daoist monasteries. Offenses of this kind are immeasurable and without bound, and today we all repent them with sincere hearts.

At this time the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning (Yuanshi Tianzun, a supreme deity of the Daoist tradition) broadly announced to the Perfected Being (Zhenren) of the North Who Preserves Life and to the assembled immortals: “In the boundless world of the Five Qi (vital energy) of the North there are the names and titles of the numinous images of ninety-nine Celestial Worthies. You should now sincerely take refuge in them and pay them homage:

We sincerely take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy of Compassion and Joy of the North,

we sincerely take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy of True Mystery and the Myriad Forms,

we sincerely take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy Who Constantly Delivers All Living Beings,

we sincerely take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy of Attained Homage, Compassion and Joy of the North,

we sincerely take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy of True Mystery and the Myriad Forms,

we sincerely take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy Who Constantly Delivers All Living Beings,

we sincerely take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy Who Has Attained the Wondrous Dao (the Way),

we sincerely take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy Who Protects the Lives of All Beings,

we sincerely take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy of the Golden Precious Form,

we sincerely take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy Who Proclaims the Wisdom of the Dao,

we sincerely take refuge in and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy Mindful of Compassionate Giving,

we sincerely take refuge in and pay homage to the Unobstructed Celestial Worthy.”

With utmost sincerity I turn in refuge and reverently worship the Celestial Worthy (Tianzun) of the Great Bestowal of the Dharma (the Celestial Worthy who widely dispenses the methods of the Great Dao [the Way]), the Celestial Worthy of Condensed Stillness of the Supreme Clarity (Shangqing) (the Celestial Worthy of pure quiet and silent repose within the realm of Supreme Clarity), the Celestial Worthy of Numinous Response (the Celestial Worthy of wondrous spiritual resonance), the Celestial Worthy Who Propagates Faith and Bestows the Grace of the Dao (the Celestial Worthy who spreads belief and confers the beneficence of the methods of the Dao), the Celestial Worthy of the Dignified and Proper Form (the Celestial Worthy whose bearing is solemn and upright), the Celestial Worthy of Majestic Precious Blossoms (the Celestial Worthy symbolized by majestic precious flowers), the Celestial Worthy of Profound Stillness in the Mysterious Capital (Xuandu) (the Celestial Worthy of deep clarity and quiet within the Mysterious Capital), the Celestial Worthy Who Leads into the Wondrous Gate (the Celestial Worthy who guides beings to enter the mysterious and wondrous methods), the Celestial Worthy of the Wisdom-Mind (the Celestial Worthy fully endowed with wisdom), the Celestial Worthy Who Dispels Darkness and Ignorance (the Celestial Worthy who shatters gloom and benightedness), the Celestial Worthy of Constant Universal Deliverance (the Celestial Worthy who perpetually and universally saves all beings), the Celestial Worthy Who Removes Craving and Desire (the Celestial Worthy who helps sever greedy attachment and desire), the Celestial Worthy Who Propagates the Orthodox Dao (the Celestial Worthy who spreads the correct Dao), the Celestial Worthy Whose Light Illumines the Subtle and Hidden (the Celestial Worthy whose radiance shines throughout obscure, minute, and concealed places), the Celestial Worthy Who Responds According to Resonance (the Celestial Worthy who answers in accordance with what beings sense and invoke), the Celestial Worthy Who Subdues Demons and Protects Life (the Celestial Worthy who subdues demonic obstructions and safeguards life), the Celestial Worthy Who Cuts Off Accumulated Miasma (the Celestial Worthy who eliminates obstacles and impure Qi [vital energy] built up from the past), the Celestial Worthy of Differentiated Bodies and Responsive Manifestation (the Celestial Worthy who manifests different bodily forms in response to beings), the Celestial Worthy Who Transforms According to Occasion (the Celestial Worthy who changes in response to opportune conditions), the Celestial Worthy Who Opens the Secret Treasury (the Celestial Worthy who unlocks the profound treasury of the teachings), the Celestial Worthy Who Widely Delivers True Immortals (the Celestial Worthy who broadly saves those who cultivate the Dao and attain true immortality), the Celestial Worthy of Limitless Numinous Transformation (the Celestial Worthy whose divine transformations are without end), the Celestial Worthy Who Constantly Responds to the World (the Celestial Worthy who perpetually answers the beings of the world), the Celestial Worthy of Karmic Bonds from Former Lives (the Celestial Worthy associated with causes and conditions from past lives), the Lofty Celestial Worthy of Compassionate Rescue (the Celestial Worthy who is supreme and compassionately saves beings), the Celestial Worthy of the Ever-Quiescent True Body (the Celestial Worthy of the true Dharma-body that remains perpetually still), the Celestial Worthy Who Endures Defilement (the Celestial Worthy able to bear filth and humiliation), the Celestial Worthy of Universal Relief and Deliverance (the Celestial Worthy who universally aids and ferries beings to salvation), the Celestial Worthy Who Prolongs Life and Relieves Calamity (the Celestial Worthy who extends life and rescues beings from disaster and distress), and the Celestial Worthy Who Resonates in Accord with Conditions (the Celestial Worthy who responds to beings by following causes and conditions).

This passage, through the repeated formula “with the utmost mind I take refuge, entrust my life, have faith, and pay homage,” gives expression again and again to sincere refuge, belief, and worship of the many Celestial Worthies.

With the utmost heart we take refuge and, in sincere faith, reverently honor the Celestial Worthy (Tianzun)—a venerated deity of Daoism—who constantly roams about teaching and transforming living beings.

With the utmost heart we take refuge and, in sincere faith, reverently honor the Celestial Worthy whose spiritual power is unobstructed.

With the utmost heart we take refuge and, in sincere faith, reverently honor the Celestial Worthy whose radiance spreads abroad and shines throughout the four quarters.

With the utmost heart we take refuge and, in sincere faith, reverently honor the Celestial Worthy who transmits the essential methods.

With the utmost heart we take refuge and, in sincere faith, reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of exalted station, mysterious and wondrous in the extreme.

With the utmost heart we take refuge and, in sincere faith, reverently honor the Celestial Worthy whose spiritual power is unobstructed.

With the utmost heart we take refuge and, in sincere faith, reverently honor the Celestial Worthy whose radiance spreads abroad and shines throughout the four quarters.

With the utmost heart we take refuge and, in sincere faith, reverently honor the Celestial Worthy who transmits the essential methods.

With the utmost heart we take refuge and, in sincere faith, reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of exalted station, mysterious and wondrous in the extremeWith wholehearted refuge and sincere, reverent homage, one honors the Celestial Worthy (Tianzun, a venerated deity of Daoism) who constantly travels about teaching and transforming living beings.

With wholehearted refuge and sincere, reverent homage, one honors the Celestial Worthy whose numinous power is unobstructed. With wholehearted refuge and sincere, reverent homage, one honors the Celestial Worthy whose radiance spreads abroad and illuminates the four directions. With wholehearted refuge and sincere, reverent homage, one honors the Celestial Worthy who transmits important methods of the teaching. With wholehearted refuge and sincere, reverent homage, one honors the Celestial Worthy of exalted station and supreme mystery. With wholehearted refuge and sincere, reverent homage, one honors the Celestial Worthy whose numinous power is unobstructed. With wholehearted refuge and sincere, reverent homage, one honors the Celestial Worthy whose radiance spreads abroad and illuminates the four directions. With wholehearted refuge and sincere, reverent homage, one honors the Celestial Worthy who transmits important methods of the teaching. With wholehearted refuge and sincere, reverent homage, one honors the Celestial Worthy of exalted station and supreme mystery.

With wholehearted refuge and sincere, reverent homage, one honors the Celestial Worthy who holds the jade tablets (Yujian, jade documents recording ordinances or methods) by which the statutory norms are transmitted. With wholehearted refuge and sincere, reverent homage, one honors the Celestial Worthy of mysterious sanctity and luminous clarity. With wholehearted refuge and sincere, reverent homage, one honors the Celestial Worthy who casts aside deviant thoughts. With wholehearted refuge and sincere, reverent homage, one honors the Celestial Worthy who enters the realm of Wuwei (non-action), according with the great Dao (the Way) and refraining from willful action. With wholehearted refuge and sincere, reverent homage, one honors the Celestial Worthy who guards the methods of the teaching and enables people to attain long life. With wholehearted refuge and sincere, reverent homage, one honors the Celestial Worthy of solemn sacred countenance who benefits the world through De (Virtue/Power).

With wholehearted refuge and sincere, reverent homage, one honors the Celestial Worthy Yuanyao Minghuang, the Bright Sovereign of the Primordial Luminary, whose brilliance shines forth. With wholehearted refuge and sincere, reverent homage, one honors the Celestial Worthy Yuxu Zhendong, of the True Cavern of the Jade Void. With wholehearted refuge and sincere, reverent homage, one honors the Celestial Worthy who shelters living beings by the power of great loving-kindness. With wholehearted refuge and sincere, reverent homage, one honors the Celestial Worthy who is the root of the methods and the numinous wonder of the primordial beginning. With wholehearted refuge and sincere, reverent homage, one honors the Celestial Worthy who leads people back to the true Dao and manifests the sacred form. With wholehearted refuge and sincere, reverent homage, one honors the Celestial Worthy Yuxu Zhendong, of the True Cavern of the Jade Void. With wholehearted refuge and sincere, reverent homage, one honors the Celestial Worthy who shelters living beings by the power of great loving-kindness. With wholehearted refuge and sincere, reverent homage, one honors the Celestial Worthy who is the root of the methods and the numinous wonder of the primordial beginning. With wholehearted refuge and sincere, reverent homage, one honors the Celestial Worthy who leads people back to the true Dao and manifests the sacred form.

With wholehearted refuge and sincere, reverent homage, one honors the Celestial Worthy who is the root of the methods and who cherishes life. With wholehearted refuge and sincere, reverent homage, one honors the Celestial Worthy Yuanling Faxiang, of the Primordial Numinous Form. With wholehearted refuge and sincere, reverent homage, one honors the Celestial Worthy who universally bestows longevity and blessing and brings lasting peace and joy. With wholehearted refuge and sincere, reverent homage, one honors the Celestial Worthy Xianglin Baoxiang, of the Precious Form of the Fragrant Grove. With wholehearted refuge and sincere, reverent homage, one honors the Celestial Worthy Dabao Baoshen, of the Great Protecting Reward-Body. With wholehearted refuge and sincere, reverent homage, one honors the Celestial Worthy of vast wisdom and resplendent light. With wholehearted refuge and sincere, reverent homage, one honors the Celestial Worthy who answers the world with good conduct. With wholehearted refuge and sincere, reverent homage, one honors the Celestial Worthy of emptiness, purity, and stillness, who turns toward the good Dao. With wholehearted refuge and sincere, reverent homage, one honors the Celestial Worthy of great kindness and great compassion. With wholehearted refuge and sincere, reverent homage, one honors the Celestial Worthy Yueguangming, of Moonlight Brilliance.

With single-minded devotion, take refuge in and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy (Tianzun) of Myriad Blessings, Great Compassion, and the Good of Retribution (the Celestial Worthy who bestows blessings and compassion and manifests retribution according to good and evil conduct).

With single-minded devotion, take refuge in and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Vacuity and Goodness (the Celestial Worthy who embodies vacuity and good Virtue (De)).

With single-minded devotion, take refuge in and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Great Compassion.

With single-minded devotion, take refuge in and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Bright Moonlight.

With single-minded devotion, take refuge in and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Myriad Blessings and Great Compassion.

With single-minded devotion, take refuge in and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Great Compassion of the Six Methods (the compassionate Celestial Worthy who saves living beings through six methods of cultivation).

With single-minded devotion, take refuge in and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of the Mysterious and Wondrous Hall of Blessings.

With single-minded devotion, take refuge in and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of the Dharma Cloud and Universal Light.

With single-minded devotion, take refuge in and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Kindness, Goodness, Reverence, and Love.

With single-minded devotion, take refuge in and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Compassionate Reverence and Flowing Thought.

With single-minded devotion, take refuge in and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy, Dharma King of Universal Salvation.

With single-minded devotion, take refuge in and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Wondrous Truth Who Spreads the Teaching.

With single-minded devotion, take refuge in and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Universal Radiance and Great Deliverance.

With single-minded devotion, take refuge in and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Vast Radiance and Liberating Deliverance.

With single-minded devotion, take refuge in and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Far-Reaching Salvation and Majestic Virtue.

With single-minded devotion, take refuge in and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy, King of Universal Deliverance.

With single-minded devotion, take refuge in and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of the Precious True Form.

With single-minded devotion, take refuge in and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy Who Subdues and Dispels Demons.

With single-minded devotion, take refuge in and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of the Realm of Great Peace.

With single-minded devotion, take refuge in and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy Who Secures the Borders of the Realm.

With single-minded devotion, take refuge in and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Mysterious Penetration Who Responds to the True.

With single-minded devotion, take refuge in and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy Who Gathers the Luminous Scene in Peace.

With single-minded devotion, take refuge in and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of the Supreme Roseate Clouds and Bright Virtue.

With single-minded devotion, take refuge in and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Compassionate Forbearance Who Preserves Life.

With single-minded devotion, take refuge in and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Deliverance.

With single-minded devotion, take refuge in and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Mysterious Penetration Who Responds to the True.

With single-minded devotion, take refuge in and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy Who Gathers the Luminous Scene in Peace.

With single-minded devotion, take refuge in and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of the Supreme Roseate Clouds and Bright Virtue.

With single-minded devotion, take refuge in and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Compassionate Forbearance Who Preserves Life.

With single-minded devotion, take refuge in and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Deliverance, Liberation, and Extended Allotted Years (the Celestial Worthy who saves living beings and prolongs life).

With single-minded devotion, take refuge in and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Universally Illuminating Virtue.

With single-minded devotion, take refuge in and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Austere Stillness and Reverent Faith.

With single-minded devotion, take refuge in and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy Who Holds Light Within and Radiates Cavern Brilliance.

With single-minded devotion, take refuge in and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy Who Penetrates the Mystery and Enters Stillness.

With utmost sincerity I entrust my life, and with a devout heart I pay homage to the Celestial Worthy Who Illumines Hidden Stillness, the Celestial Worthy of Subtle Thought and Discerning Wisdom, the Celestial Worthy of the True Lineage and Radiant Wisdom, the Celestial Worthy of Mysterious Brightness and Universal Awakening, the Celestial Worthy Who Causes the Teaching of the Dao (the Way) to Flourish, the Celestial Worthy of the Azure Empyrean and the Song of Emptiness, the Celestial Worthy of All-Pervading Mysterious Stillness, the Celestial Worthy of the Numinous Valley Shen (spirit), and the Celestial Worthy of Blessed Victory and Everlasting Joy.

After I have worshipped the Celestial Worthies, I repent with utmost sincerity.

With utmost sincerity I entrust my life, and with a devout heart I pay homage to the Unsurpassed Celestial Worthy, repenting again and again the offense of theft. From measureless kalpas past down to this very day, we have often, through our own deeds or thoughts, stolen the belongings of others: some taken by cunning means, some seized by intimidation and coercion, some obtained in improper ways; and there have also been cases of borrowing things and never returning them, or of deceiving others, taking unfair advantage, and making no repayment.

Whatever does not belong to oneself—even flowers and fruit, grasses and trees, a single blade of grass or a single leaf—if the mind has once stirred with a thought of possession, it is all reckoned as theft. Even what is picked up on the road, come upon by chance in the wilds, blown in by the wind, or carried in a bird’s beak—whether carriages and horses, cloth and silk, rice and wheat, or the most minute of things, however much or little—if it is not one’s own, and one claims it as one’s own, hides it away, and has never openly confessed, it likewise belongs to theft.

Now that repentance has been made, we pray that the karmic offenses of lifetime after lifetime may be removed, and that pardon may be granted through ten thousand kalpas. We also pray that the fathers and mothers of seven generations of ancestors, the six classes of kin and dependents both past and present, and the descendants of later generations may all thrive and flourish, with grain and cloth in abundance, households peaceful and auspicious, and honor enduring from generation to generation. Today, with hearts full of shame, we repent of all this together.

At this time, the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning again addressed the Perfected Being of Taiji (Supreme Ultimate) of the upper direction and the assembled immortals, saying: “In the upper world of limitless Brahma-Qi (vital energy), transformed bodies appear as ninety-five numinous images of Celestial Worthies, each with a title of its own. Now one should, with a sincere heart, take refuge, believe, and reverently honor them.

With a sincere heart, take refuge, believe, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Great Compassion and Great Mercy of the Upper Direction. With a sincere heart, take refuge, believe, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of the Sea of Grace. With a sincere heart, take refuge, believe, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of the Auspicious Marks of the Jade-True Form. With a sincere heart, take refuge, believe, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy Who Spreads Transformation through the Precious Grove. With a sincere heart, take refuge, believe, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of the Flowing Blossoms of the Jade Treasure. With a sincere heart, take refuge, believe, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy Who Greatly Expands Wisdom. With a sincere heart, take refuge, believe, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy Who Protects the Worthy and Virtuous. With a sincere heart, take refuge, believe, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Vast Mercy and the Precious Flowing Blossoms. With a sincere heart, take refuge, believe, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy Who Greatly Expands Wisdom. With a sincere heart, take refuge, believe, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy Who Protects the Worthy and Virtuous. With a sincere heart, take refuge, believe, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Vast Mercy Who Instructs in the Dao (the Way). With a sincere heart, take refuge, believe, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy Who Reaches All Foreign Peoples Everywhere. With a sincere heart, take refuge, believe, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy Who Manifests Awesome Divine Power. With a sincere heart, take refuge, believe, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of the Transformed Dharma Body. With a sincere heart, take refuge, believe, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy Who Subdues Demons and Controls Transformations. With a sincere heart, take refuge, believe, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy Who Fully Penetrates the Life of Wisdom. With a sincere heart, take refuge, believe, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Pacing the Void and Transformation through Wisdom. With a sincere heart, take refuge, believe, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Vast Salvation and Deliverance. With a sincere heart, take refuge, believe, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy Who Provides Good Deliverance in Advance. With a sincere heart, take refuge, believe, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy Who Firmly Upholds the Prohibitions and Precepts. With a sincere heart, take refuge, believe, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Constant Fearlessness. With a sincere heart, take refuge, believe, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy Who Turns Back Spirits and Transforms Extinction. With a sincere heart, take refuge, believe, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of the Universal Salvation of Nanchang. With a sincere heart, take refuge, believe, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy Who Upholds and Regulates the Four Images. With a sincere heart, take refuge, believe, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Compassionate Nurture. With a sincere heart, take refuge, believe, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy Who Expounds the Dharma in the Fragrant Grove. With a sincere heart, take refuge, believe, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Pure Wisdom. With a sincere heart, take refuge, believe, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy Whose Golden Countenance Is Ever Beheld. With a sincere heart, take refuge, believe, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy Who Transforms the Myriad Things. With a sincere heart, take refuge, believe, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Concentration, Wisdom, and Mindfulness.”

With utmost sincerity I take refuge and reverently pay homage to the Celestial Worthy Who Guides to Everlasting Joy (Tianzun), the Celestial Worthy of Compassionate Thought and Jade Light, the Celestial Worthy Who Renews Life and Bestows Grace, the Celestial Worthy Who Transforms the Myriad Things, the Celestial Worthy of Concentration, Wisdom, and Mindfulness, the Celestial Worthy Who Guides to Everlasting Joy, the Celestial Worthy of Compassionate Thought and Jade Light, the Celestial Worthy Who Renews Life and Bestows Grace, the Celestial Worthy Who Accepts No Reward for Merit, the Celestial Worthy Who Descends in Transformation from the Mysterious Capital, the Celestial Worthy Who Practices the Dao (the Way) and Brings Transformation, the Celestial Worthy of Plain Garb and Majestic Radiance, the Celestial Worthy Who Grandly Orders the Myriad Phenomena, the Celestial Worthy, Heavenly King of Turning Back, the Celestial Worthy of Upright Dignity and Settled Form, the Celestial Worthy of Golden Countenance and Precious Radiance, the Celestial Worthy, Master Artisan of Wuwei (non-action), the Celestial Worthy Who Fully Knows Former Destinies, the Celestial Worthy Who Transforms Beings into the Gate of the Teaching, and the Celestial Worthy Who Scatters Merit and Spreads De (Virtue/Power).

With utmost sincerity I take refuge and reverently pay homage to the Celestial Worthy, Master Artisan of Wuwei, the Celestial Worthy Who Fully Knows Former Destinies, the Celestial Worthy Who Transforms Beings into the Gate of the Teaching, the Celestial Worthy Who Scatters Merit and Spreads De, the Celestial Worthy Who Reveals to Beings the Source of Life, the Celestial Worthy Who in Stillness Generates Harmonious Qi (vital energy), the Celestial Worthy of the Nine Numina Responding with Wisdom, the Celestial Worthy Who Sends Down Wondrous Qi, the Celestial Worthy of Perfect Light, Bright and All-Penetrating, the Celestial Worthy Who Contemplates Being and Non-Being with Penetrating Insight, the Celestial Worthy Who Embraces and Magnifies the Myriad Kinds, the Celestial Worthy Who Transmits and Displays the Sacred Teaching, the Celestial Worthy Who Illuminates All and Dispels Doubt, and the Celestial Worthy of Great Compassion and Great Mercy.

This passage of scripture repeatedly expresses devout refuge and worship through the phrase “with utmost mind I take refuge and faithfully pay homage,” after which it continues by listing the titles of the various Celestial Worthies. Once the repeated words of homage are set aside, the meaning is simply that one pays homage to these Celestial Worthies with utmost sincerity and reverence.

With a heart of utmost sincerity I take refuge in, believe in, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy Who Seeks Out Cries and Relieves Suffering (Tianzun; the venerable deity who hears the sufferings of all living beings and comes to their rescue), reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Fragrant Light Traversing the Realms (the venerable deity who illumines everywhere with fragrant light and reaches through all realms), reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Wisdom-Light Shining Everywhere (the venerable deity whose light of wisdom universally illuminates), reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Pure Sacred Sound That Opens and Transforms (the venerable deity who teaches and transforms living beings with the pure sounds of the teaching), reverently honor the Celestial Worthy Without Form or Marks, of August Dignity (the venerable deity who is without shape or appearance and yet majestic), and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Boundless Freedom (the venerable deity who is free and unobstructed, vast and without limit). I reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Pure Sacred Sound That Opens and Transforms, reverently honor the Celestial Worthy Without Form or Marks, of August Dignity, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Boundless Freedom. I reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Good Affinity (the venerable deity who guides living beings to form wholesome connections), reverently honor the Celestial Worthy Who Universally Manifests All Teachings (the venerable deity who manifests and penetrates the principles of the various teachings), reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Golden Blossom and Wondrous De (Virtue/Power; the venerable deity fully endowed with virtue as beautiful as golden blossoms), reverently honor the Celestial Worthy Complete in All Wisdom (the venerable deity who perfectly possesses every kind of wisdom), reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Immeasurable Radiant Form (the venerable deity who bears a form of limitless light), reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Flying Steps and Luminous Numen (the venerable deity who manifests with swift spiritual efficacy, bright and numinously responsive), reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Numinous Radiance Protecting Splendor (the venerable deity who with spiritual light upholds beauty and auspicious blessing), reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Red Blossom Shining upon the Sun (the venerable deity whose radiance, like red light, shines upon the disk of the sun), reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Sunlight Streaming Forth (the venerable deity who spreads brightness as sunlight does), and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Lustrous Jade and White Teeth (the venerable deity pure and bright as jade, with gleaming teeth clear and clean). I reverently honor the Celestial Worthy Who Prolongs Life and Presides over the Reckoning of Years (the venerable deity who governs the extension of life and the allotted span of years), reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Jade Gem and Flowing Liquid (the venerable deity associated with the image of jade liquor flowing and moistening), reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Layered Light Shining Afar (the venerable deity whose light lies in layers and illuminates what is distant), and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy Who Protects Life in Lasting Continuance (the venerable deity who safeguards life so that it long endures). I reverently honor the Celestial Worthy Who Prolongs Life and Presides over the Reckoning of Years, reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Jade Gem and Flowing Liquid, reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Layered Light Shining Afar, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy Who Protects Life in Lasting Continuance. I reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of the Divine Perfected of the Seven Luminaries (the divine perfected associated with the seven luminaries—the sun, the moon, and the five planets), reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of the Imperial Chart and Quiescent Wisdom (the venerable deity possessed of the mystery of the imperial chart and of pure, still wisdom), reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Precious Light and the Primordial Cavern (the venerable deity who possesses precious radiance and penetrates the mysterious realm of the primordial beginning), reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Celestial Scenes and Profound Subtlety (the venerable deity who commands the sights of the heavenly realms and the hidden, subtle mysteries), reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Long Life Who Oversees Destiny (the venerable deity who governs longevity and the destiny of life), and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of the Mysterious Heights and Jade Blossom (the venerable deity who dwells in a lofty realm of mystery and possesses the De of jade blossom).

“Zhixin guiming xinli” (“with the utmost mind, taking refuge with one’s life and offering faithful reverence”) is the expression used in worship within the Zhaijiao (purification ritual) to convey utmost sincere refuge and veneration. By repeatedly praising the titles of the various Celestial Worthies, this passage of the Jing (scripture/classic) expresses reverent homage to their De of protection, of teaching and transformation, and of the prolongation of life.

With utmost sincerity one takes refuge and offers reverent homage to the Celestial Worthy (Tianzun) of Wisdom Penetrating the Radiant Cavern, the Celestial Worthy of Jade Brightness and Mysterious Radiance, the Celestial Worthy of Equality and Cavernous Emptiness, the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Harmony, Love, and Reverence, the Celestial Worthy Jade Emperor of the Cinnabar Cavern, the Celestial Worthy Supreme Saint of Mysterious Subtlety, the Celestial Worthy of Great Penetration and Numinous Response, the Celestial Worthy of the Five Brightnesses and Penetrating Radiance, the Celestial Worthy of Wise Understanding of the Constant Dao (the Way), the Celestial Worthy of the Nine Radiances and the Divine Ultimate, the Celestial Worthy of the Ten Blossoms Exalted on High, the Celestial Worthy of Unsurpassed Jade Vacuity, the Celestial Worthy of Purple Vacuity and Great Simplicity, the Celestial Worthy of Great Wisdom and Luminous Understanding, the Celestial Worthy of Great Wisdom and Radiant Light, the Celestial Worthy Who Can Spread the Supreme Teaching, the Celestial Worthy of the Nine Radiances Shining Everywhere, and the Celestial Worthy of Deliverance from the Sea of Suffering. Here, in accordance with the rite, homage is paid to these Celestial Worthies; some of the titles appear more than once in the scripture.

After the rites of homage, one repents with utmost sincerity.

With utmost sincerity I take refuge in, believe in, and reverently honor the Unsurpassed Celestial Worthy, and again and again I repent the sin of sexual misconduct. From measureless kalpas past down to this very day, our parents, brothers, and kindred, together with we ourselves—who in times past and in the present have given up one body and received another, taking birth in place after place—have constantly been entangled by sexual misconduct, unable to remain pure, and have often engaged in acts of lust. We have given rise to thoughts of desire toward Celestial Worthies, toward the Jing (scripture/classic) and the methods, toward ritual masters, and toward faithful men and women, and we have likewise given rise to thoughts of desire toward clothing, black and yellow woven colored silks, flowers and fruits, oxen and horses, and mountains and forests. Offenses of this kind are measureless and without bound, and today, in wholehearted sincerity, we repent them all together.

At this time the Celestial Worthy of the Primordial Beginning further addressed the Perfected of Jade Vacuity of the lower direction and the various images of the immortals, saying: “In the world of limitless Brahma Qi (vital energy) in the lower direction, there are ninety-seven Celestial Worthies who manifest under the names and titles of the numinous images of Celestial Worthies. Now one ought, with utmost sincerity, to take refuge in them, believe in them, and reverently honor them:

With utmost sincerity take refuge in, believe in, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of the Lower Direction Who Returns the Corpse and Raises the Dead,

With utmost sincerity take refuge in, believe in, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Great Vacuity and Condensed Stillness,

With utmost sincerity take refuge in, believe in, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Majestic Virtue of the Dragon-Han Era,

With utmost sincerity take refuge in, believe in, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Radiant Light and the Three Luminaries,

With utmost sincerity take refuge in, believe in, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Precious Compassion,

With utmost sincerity take refuge in, believe in, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of the Great Thousand Who Comes in Response,

With utmost sincerity take refuge in, believe in, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Numinous Origin and Wondrous Extremity,

With utmost sincerity take refuge in, believe in, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Lasting Joy Who Saves the World,

With utmost sincerity take refuge in, believe in, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy Who Guides Transformation in Primordial Stillness,

With utmost sincerity take refuge in, believe in, and reverently honor the Unsurpassed Celestial Worthy of Taiji (Supreme Ultimate),

With utmost sincerity take refuge in, believe in, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of the Ultimate of the Myriad Wonders,

With utmost sincerity take refuge in, believe in, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy of Lasting Joy Who Saves the World,

With utmost sincerity take refuge in, believe in, and reverently honor the Celestial Worthy Who Guides Transformation in Primordial Stillness,

With utmost sincerity take refuge in, believe in, and reverently honor the Unsurpassed Celestial Worthy of Taiji.”

With a heart of utmost sincerity I take refuge in, place my faith in, and reverently venerate the Celestial Worthy of the Myriad Wonders and Empty Stillness (Tianzun), who embodies the subtle profundity of all methods and the principle of emptiness and quiescence; the Celestial Worthy of Great Faith and Wisdom, who embodies steadfast conviction and wisdom; the Celestial Worthy of World-Transcending Wisdom, who embodies wisdom that rises above the mundane; the Celestial Worthy of the Radiance of Wisdom; the Celestial Worthy Who Sets Causes and Conditions in Motion; the Celestial Worthy of Myriadfold Light; the Celestial Worthy of Measureless Dharma; the Great Medicine King Celestial Worthy, who heals the bodies and minds of all living beings; the Most Exalted Celestial Worthy; the Celestial Worthy Who Aspires to Diligent Progress in the Dharma, who exhorts practitioners to cultivate with vigor; the Celestial Worthy of Wisdom’s Bright Illumination; the Celestial Worthy of Luminous Purity and Supreme Splendor; the Celestial Worthy of Mysterious Brightness and Pure Conduct; the Celestial Worthy of Great Brightness Who Saves Living Beings, who delivers all beings; the Celestial Worthy of Precious Clouds and Wondrous Fruition; the Celestial Worthy of the Mysterious Tradition Who Delivers the Immortals; the Celestial Worthy of the Jade Mound and the Treasures of the Dharma; the Celestial Worthy of Mysterious Numinous Cavern Transformation; the Celestial Worthy Who Attains Freedom; the Celestial Worthy Who Bestows the Joy of the Dharma; the Celestial Worthy of Skillful Salvation Without Omission, who rescues living beings and lets none be left behind; the Celestial Worthy Who Manifests Mysterious Meaning; the Celestial Worthy of Sovereign Supreme Bliss; the Celestial Worthy of Wholesome Increase; the Celestial Worthy of Dignified and Wondrous Form; the Celestial Worthy King of Wondrous Fragrance; the Celestial Worthy of Lofty Excellence and Compassionate Causes; the Celestial Worthy of Benevolent Radiance; and the Celestial Worthy of Supreme Wisdom-Light.

“Zhixin guiming xinli” is a liturgical formula expressing utmost sincere refuge, faith, and reverence; here the names and virtuous powers of the Celestial Worthies are praised one after another.

With a heart of utmost sincerity I take refuge in and reverently pay homage to the Celestial Worthy (Tianzun) of Vast and Expansive Form, the Celestial Worthy Who Sends Down Radiance and Transforms Through the Ages, the Celestial Worthy of the Lamp of Skillful Manifestation, the Celestial Worthy of Pure Virtue (De) and Māra, the Celestial Worthy of the Brilliance of Wisdom, the Celestial Worthy of the Wondrous Primordial Soul, the Celestial Worthy King of Merit and Virtue, the Celestial Worthy of Plume-Guarded Splendor, the Celestial Worthy Whose Wisdom Surpasses in Virtue, the Celestial Worthy of Right Discernment and Kindness, the Celestial Worthy of Joyful Bright Illumination, the Celestial Worthy Who Cherishes Clarity and Stillness, the Celestial Worthy of the Light of the Sun and Moon, the Celestial Worthy Who Protects and Ferries Living Beings, the Celestial Worthy King Who Guards the Seas, the Celestial Worthy Who Ever Preserves the Secret Treasury, the Celestial Worthy King Who Scatters Fragrant Flowers, the Celestial Worthy of the Radiance of the Sun and Moon, the Celestial Worthy of Immeasurable Compassion, the Celestial Worthy Who Ever Abides in the Void, the Celestial Worthy of Concentrated and Everlasting Quiet Stillness, the Celestial Worthy of Surpassing Bearing and the Light of Wisdom, the Celestial Worthy Who Ever Shatters Obstruction and Delusion, the Celestial Worthy of Sorrowless Virtue, and the Celestial Worthy Free from Attachment and Reverence.

“Utmost mind, refuge of one’s life, faith, and homage” means to take refuge, to hold faith, and to pay reverence with a heart of utmost sincerity. The repeated listing of the titles of the Celestial Worthies in the text is the praising of each one in turn within the rite of worship, and the expression of reverent devotion.

I wholeheartedly turn toward and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy of Great Mercy and Great Compassion (Tianzun), the Celestial Worthy of Great Mercy and Great Beneficence, the Celestial Worthy of Impartial Deliverance from Suffering, the Celestial Worthy of Transformative Birth Who Saves from Suffering, the Celestial Worthy of Compassionate Forbearance Who Saves from Suffering, the Celestial Worthy of the Three Luminaries in Cavernous Serenity, the Celestial Worthy of the Upper Realm of Jade Dawn, the Celestial Worthy Who Penetrates the True and Attains the Dao, the Mysterious Celestial Worthy of Fusang, the Celestial Worthy Who Ascends into the Mysterious and Flies Aloft, the Celestial Worthy of the Garden of Flowing Radiance, the Celestial Worthy of the Five Clouds and Seven Luminaries, the Celestial Worthy of Clouds of Beneficent Shade, the Celestial Worthy of Lunar Efflorescence and Brightness, the Celestial Worthy of the Curved Dawn Mirror, the Celestial Worthy of the Cyan Flowing Pearl, the Celestial Worthy of the Realm of Numinous Blossoms, the Celestial Worthy Who Mysteriously Flies and Traverses, the Celestial Worthy of the Lower Phosphors of Taiwei (Grand Tenuity), the Celestial Worthy of Golden Radiance and Luminous Transformation, the Celestial Worthy of Cinnabar Blossoms in Clear Reflection, the Celestial Worthy of the Cinnabar-Cloud Phosphors, the Celestial Worthy Who Holds the Brightness of the Sun, the Celestial Worthy Who Illumines the Three Phosphors, the Celestial Worthy of the Void, the Pure, and the Numinous, and the Celestial Worthy Who Prolongs Life and Protects the Life-Mandate.

The phrase “with utmost mind, entrust one’s life, believe, and pay homage” (zhixin guiming xinli) means to take refuge, to hold faith, and to offer reverence with a heart of complete sincerity. Some titles of the Celestial Worthies recur in the scripture; the meaning of the homage is the same.

With utmost sincerity and reverence, we take refuge in, place our faith in, and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy Who Prolongs Life and Protects Destiny (the honored deity who hereafter extends longevity and safeguards life); with utmost sincerity and reverence, we take refuge in, place our faith in, and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy of Solar Radiance; with utmost sincerity and reverence, we take refuge in, place our faith in, and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy of Numinous Radiant Form; with utmost sincerity and reverence, we take refuge in, place our faith in, and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy of the Yellow-Pure Elder; with utmost sincerity and reverence, we take refuge in, place our faith in, and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy Whose Streaming Light Illumines the Four Directions; with utmost sincerity and reverence, we take refuge in, place our faith in, and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy Who Upholds the Cavern Dharma-Wheel; with utmost sincerity and reverence, we take refuge in, place our faith in, and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy of the Great Brahma Capital; and with utmost sincerity and reverence, we take refuge in, place our faith in, and pay homage to the Celestial Worthy of Jade Birth and Mystery.

After paying homage, we repent with utmost sincerity.

At this time, the Most High Lord Lao (a venerated deity of Daoism) broadly instructs the Unsurpassed Celestial Worthies that one ought repeatedly to repent of offenses such as licentious desire. The causes of these offenses cannot be set forth one by one. Some separate other people’s mothers and children, and destroy others’ affection and mutual cherishing. Some act without distinguishing beauty from ugliness or close kin from distant relations. Some coerce men and women, disturbing the harmonious union of Yin and Yang (yinyang). There are also those who expose their bodies and offend the Three Luminaries—the sun, the moon, and the stars—who harm and humiliate people of differing stations, whose ears greedily listen to licentious sounds, whose eyes greedily gaze upon erotic things, whose noses greedily smell fragrances, whose mouths greedily seek fine flavors, and whose bodies greedily cling to fine, smooth sensations of touch. Offenses of this kind are endless and accumulate, knotted within body and mind. Today all pray with hearts of utmost sincerity and repent of these offenses together. The assembly snaps their fingers and bows in homage, together forming good affinities; each attains a lifespan of a thousand years, and all alike receive blessings and rejoice. They pay homage once more and practice in accordance with the teaching.