《万灵灯仪》

Following the ritual, the Qibai (opening announcement, the liturgical text that informs the deities at the start of a rite) is performed.

Between Heaven and Earth, the most spiritually endowed being is the human; and the one whose conduct is upright and whose virtue (De) is highest is the deity. Spirits can manifest their efficacy and also reveal their sacred virtue, and so they are worthy of reverence. At times they pass into the realm of shadows, and at times they ascend to the heights or descend into the human world. All things receive the grace of Heaven and Earth's creative transformation, yet few know the reason behind this ceaseless working.

Some deities bestowed kindness upon the people and so left a lasting name and received sacrifices; others established great merit for the state and so were granted honorific titles and had shrines built in their honor. These principles are clear and trustworthy, though the mystery within them is hard to put into words. We respectfully consider that the deity N. is majestic in bearing and resplendent in power, able to protect the state and save the people, to benefit humankind and aid all beings. When people make a petition, the deity answers; when people pray sincerely, the deity responds. All within the four seas look up to this deity, and the multitude of beings hold the deity in admiration. Temples are built in the deity's honor everywhere, and every household paints the deity's image. Now, N., with reverent devotion and sincere offerings, has respectfully set up an altar in accordance with the Keyi (liturgy; the norms governing Daoist ritual), prepared incense, candles, and lamps, and humbly invites the deity to descend. May the vast grace of the deity's creative transformation draw near, and may deep blessings be sent down; may the deity accept this earnest homage and take note of the intention behind this good work. All prostrate themselves in refuge and offer sincere praise.

We, your subjects, with one mind take refuge in the deity N.

We humbly pray that the deity will graciously descend, accept this earnest homage, and take note of the intention behind this good work. All prostrate themselves in refuge and offer sincere praise.

We, your subjects, with one mind take refuge in the deity N.

In the way of the spirits, only virtue allows one to draw near. Calamity and fortune, in the end, are brought about by people's own actions. Even though the deity is compassionate and able to respond to human petitions, the transformations of Heaven and Earth show no favoritism; yet the rewarding of good and punishing of wrong is always just, and it also gives people the chance to mend their ways, turn toward goodness, and change their circumstances. If one recognizes one's faults and corrects what is improper, divine protection will return.

Now, N. has cleansed the mind of its thoughts and cast out stray worries, turning toward the Dao (the Way) and returning to what is true. Having prepared the lamp offerings, N. takes refuge with a single heart. May the deity be kind and gentle, and may the creative transformation be pure and harmonious, so that N. may pass through scorching summers and bitter winters, and be freed from the afflictions of intrusion and harm; may N. live in peace and work in contentment, and receive blessings of the most auspicious smoothness. All prostrate themselves in refuge and offer sincere praise.

The Way of the divine spirits (Shen) has been revered from antiquity to the present. The spirits are majestic and illustrious; when people make their petitions, the spirits protect them and respond. They assist Heaven and Earth in their movements and can transform and soar. We offer our reverence with sincere hearts, and whatever we pray for meets with a response. May the spirits dispel calamity and bestow blessings, bringing peace to people and their dwellings. With single-minded devotion we take refuge, praying that we may attain long life.

We, the assembled, sincerely take refuge in the spirit [name].

The spirit upholds the correct Way (Dao) and accords with the will of Heaven, and so receives offerings from the ten directions. By establishing virtue (De) and achieving merit, the spirit was enfeoffed as a marquis over a vast domain. The spirit ever holds loyalty in its heart to protect the state, and also administers punishments as a warning to the world. Dignified, the spirit dwells on high in the shrine, and is solemnly venerated in the ancestral temples of the court. May the spirit bestow abundant blessings and make its merit all the more resplendent.

Now [name], having received the spirit's protection and looked up in reverence to its profound grace, has swept the dwelling clean and prepared pure incense and lamps, and sincerely takes refuge. With reverence we pray that the spirit's renown spread throughout Heaven and Earth, and that its benevolent virtue, which nourishes all things, be made manifest; that its awesome power safeguard the state and extend its bright and illustrious virtue. May the spirit always aid people through good deeds, abandoning no one, and bestow its utmost kindness upon all things, forsaking nothing. We pray that the spirit keep household and state smooth and prosperous, and grant the home great auspiciousness.

Bowing our heads in refuge, we offer our devout praise:

Widely bestowing merit and virtue, the spirit devises means of teaching and transformation for the benefit of all. Employing every kind of skillful means, the spirit dwells in majesty within the shrine. The spirit's protection of the people follows its own Way, and its power is revealed in governing the world. May the spirit dispel calamity and send down blessings, bringing peace to the family and kin.

We, the assembled, sincerely take refuge in the spirit [name].

Living within the true Way (Dao) of Heaven and Earth, we sincerely revere the divine and take refuge in the spirits. The spirits observe the earnest hearts of human beings and send forth numinous light to illuminate and protect them. Because the spirits are compassionate and cherish life, they help people extend their years and pass through calamity; because they are merciful toward all beings, they dissolve misfortune and remove disaster. Now, [name], devoutly following the Daoist scriptures (Jing) and reverently observing the immortals' liturgy (Keyi), the ritual procedures of the Daoist purification rites (Zhaijiao), has prepared incense and lamps as offerings and set out the sacred and solemn images of the deities, giving wholehearted devotion. We respectfully pray that the spirits will deliver all beings universally, that the Dao of Heaven will bestow its grace equally, that the good heart which spreads compassion and brings blessings to the many will be exalted, and that the fortune of longevity and well-being will be granted. We bow our heads in refuge and sing in reverent praise:

You are both a divine being and a sage, possessed of martial might and also of civil virtue. Your achievements are resplendent, and you govern human lifespans and the true Way. You bring blessings to the people, help them pass through calamity, and dispel their hardships. Your grace extends over every household, and your virtue (De) is bestowed equally upon all. Whenever people pray with solemnity and reverence, they receive a response like an echo in a mountain valley. You remove misfortune and send down blessings, so that goodness reaches every family.

All of us, with one heart, take refuge in [name of deity].

Your divine seat stands high in the heavens, and your heart is kind and responsive. You oversee the affairs of the lower realm and carry out the commands of Heaven. To all who pray to you, you surely grant a response, so that their petitions are made known. We respectfully rely on your protection, that goodness and blessing may descend upon our households.

All of us, with one heart, take refuge in [name of deity].

Your divine seat stands high in the heavens, and your heart is kind and responsive. You oversee the affairs of the lower realm and carry out the commands of Heaven. To all who pray to you, you surely grant a response. We rely on your benevolence, which covers and bears up all things as Heaven and Earth do, and we beseech you to bestow vast and boundless grace. Now [name], prostrating with the five limbs touching the ground and laying out this heartfelt plea, gives wholehearted devotion, having prepared pure offerings and arranged incense and lamps, and sincerely takes refuge in [name of deity]. We respectfully pray that your virtuous grace will reach in every direction and your kindness be inexhaustible; that you will preserve abundant and flourishing blessings and shelter all beings; that fortune, emolument, and longevity will thrive and increase; and that the roots of blessing will be continually nourished and made lasting and secure. We bow our heads in refuge and sing in reverent praise:

You are wise, perceptive, upright, and impartial, sacred and majestically powerful. Above, you assist the mandate of Heaven; below, you drive out demons and evil. You protect all beings and cause their works to flourish. Whatever is asked of you is answered, and your great virtue is without limit or boundary. You remove misfortune and send down blessings, and your grace extends to all the people.

All of us, with one heart, take refuge in [name of deity].

Heaven gives birth to and nurtures the myriad things, and all things depend on the power of nurture and cultivation in order to grow. The many affairs of the human world likewise rely on the protection of the most divine beings. That a person may have food, clothing, and warmth is entirely owing to the transforming care of the assembled Sages and Perfected. We feel deep gratitude for this subtle and profound kindness, and so we should do many good deeds in order to receive their blessings.

Therefore, with reverent hearts, we respectfully invite the supremely venerable and supremely holy deities to descend. We lay bare our sincere hearts before the deities, offering our thanks in answer to our everyday prayers. Now, that this person has food, clothing, and warmth is also entirely owing to the transforming care of the assembled Sages and Perfected. Deeply grateful for this mysterious kindness, we should do many good deeds in order to receive their blessings. Thus, with single-minded reverence, we respectfully invite the supremely venerable and supremely holy deities, expressing our sincerity before them in answer to our everyday wishes.

Now this person, carefully following the Keyi (liturgy; the prescribed norms of Daoist ritual), has prepared incense and lamps and devotes their whole mind to taking refuge in the deities. We respectfully ask the deities to lend their unseen support and to bestow their sacred grace widely: may the household be pure, auspicious, and peaceful through all four seasons; may old and young be at ease year after year; may blessings, emolument, and longevity increase; and may good thoughts and good deeds flourish without cease. We bow our heads in reverent devotion and offer sincere praise:

Supremely exalted and supremely holy deities, your virtue is pure and abundant, and your fragrance spreads far and wide. Receiving the command of the Celestial Emperor, you guard the myriad people of the world; you drive out malevolent spirits, uphold what is upright and correct what is perverse, and bring salvation to all beings. You keep the four seasons running smoothly and protect the harvests of each year; you dispel calamity and send down blessings, so that all within and beyond the household receive your kindness.

When the recitation of the scripture is complete, a Huixiang ceremony (dedication of merit) is performed, in which the merit gained from the recitation is dedicated back to the relevant persons and to all beings.