《三洞赞颂灵章》

Praise of the Numinous Chants of the Three Caverns, Volume One

Hymn to the Benevolent Decree of Jade Clarity

I respectfully bow before the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning, who dwells in Jade Clarity, the subtle heavens where Daoist deities reside. I also bow before the Emperor of the Golden Palace of Emptiness, a revered deity who dwells in the Golden Palace and embodies the great Dao of emptiness. You encompass the transformations of Heaven and Earth and set the changes of Yin-Yang in motion. When the great Dao runs its course, all unfolds naturally and without obstruction.

You created Heaven, Earth, and all things. Auspicious light in five colors appears everywhere, bringing wisdom. Your grace in guiding living beings is immeasurable and beyond comprehension. I wish to rely on this auspicious light and pray for deliverance from danger. I take refuge in the revered deity of the Eastern Pole Palace and in the revered deity who rescues beings from suffering in the ten directions.

Your radiant light shines throughout the three thousand worlds, and your wisdom reaches the five gates of suffering, the realms where living beings endure hardship. With your vast divine power and compassionate heart, you continually relieve suffering, deliver the souls of the dead, and guide the lost away from evil paths and back to the right way. The Dharma bridge that delivers living beings is vast beyond bounds and endures forever.

Hymn of the Mysterious Invocation at the Flower Canopy and the True Gathering of Qi

The deep and subtle Palace of Buds, a fabled abode of immortals, is where the immortals dwell. The great Dao runs through the vital pivots and numinous realms, complete and clear as white light. Flying roots spread into leaves, while branches cast shade beneath their emerald canopy.

With your vast divine power and compassionate heart, you continually relieve suffering, deliver the souls of the dead, and guide the lost away from evil paths and back to the right way. The Dharma bridge that delivers living beings is vast beyond bounds and endures forever.

The profound and wondrous Rui Palace is the immortal abode where the Immortals dwell. The Dao runs through the vital pivot and the numinous beings; its perfectly radiant scene is pure white and flawless. The roots of the Immortals unfurl, their branches and leaves spread in profusion, and emerald boughs shade all around. The subtle Primordial Qi transforms into three kinds of radiance, penetrating the hidden depths. Yu Ling and Yao Shu are paradisal realms where perfected beings reside; clouds and luminous vistas surge forth, open and radiant. In the Niwan Palace, the upper Dantian in the head, Three and Five converge and gather like a lingzhi mushroom. They form a precious pearl that protects the spirit and keeps the Qi dynamic abundant and lively.

Rising smoke and wondrous clouds drive away calamity and misfortune. When cultivation succeeds, one can ascend to become an Immortal and escape adversity. The Qi of Great Mystery and Great Harmony dwells in the Right Palace, where the Perfected Person of Purple Clarity governs through the Dao. The heart is empty, still, and serene, resting in its own peace. One renews youth and guides oneself toward the Mysterious Garden, a celestial realm. Knowing the masculine yet holding to the feminine, one follows the subtle workings endowed by nature; Heaven and Earth revolve in alternation, settling the central seat of sovereignty. Flying Mystery Spirit Qi joins with Azure Mystery Qi, nurturing the numinous medicine and breathing in and out fragrant Qi to harmonize Yin and Yang at Zi and Wu. Cultivation nourishes the numinous root so that it never withers. The myriad spirits come to pay court, and the beings of the many Yin realms all bear witness.

Clear immortal music, like jade frost, pours into the withered and lifeless body, restoring it. When circulating Qi, one should remain calm and composed so that the work extends throughout. Subduing the Dragon and Tiger, symbols of Yin and Yang Qi contending within the body, one rides a chariot swift as the wind and roams through the mysterious immortal palace; faint celestial music flows without cease. With Yellow Blossoms and Vermilion Nectar, the numinous liquid of the Immortals, one washes and moistens Yang essence, so that the Qi of the myriad paths no longer runs dry. The myriad spirits come to pay court, and the beings of the many Yin realms all bear witness. Clear immortal music, like jade frost, pours into the withered and lifeless body, restoring it. When circulating Qi, one should remain calm and composed so that the work extends throughout. Subduing the Dragon and Tiger, one rides a chariot swift as the wind and roams through the mysterious immortal palace; faint celestial music flows without cease. With Yellow Blossoms and Vermilion Nectar, one washes and moistens Yang essence, and the Qi of the myriad paths can then help the assembled Immortals ascend.

The Dao flows through the blue-black heavens, gathering into a pure white auspicious Qi. The perfected beings who ascend within the Lingbao tradition—the Daoist system of revered deities and scriptures—bring forth Jing as wondrous as fine jade. It causes the souls to grow and flourish, and the body to return to its true form, gleaming like golden light. The Five Viscera give rise to radiance, gathering into a scene of emerald green. The three Dantians, the body’s centers for cultivating Jing, Qi, and Shen, shine with abundant brilliance, illuminating splendid peaks. Jewel-like light and the dark-yellow Qi gather in solemn stillness.

It guides the sun and moon in their courses and sets the celestial bodies in motion. The nine Qi, the nine primordial energies, stir the breath of spring and awaken life in the earth. It gathers harmonious Qi within, exhales a flower-like radiance, and illuminates golden lotuses. The black dragon exhales a pearl, displaying its colorful wings. Luan birds cry and phoenixes soar to welcome honored guests; a fierce tiger roars across the silent mountain crags, while beautiful music resounds.

It perceives the Three Realms, and all the hundred openings are clear. The six celestial latitudes and seven meridians, the star paths and the ordered lines of the heavens, accord with Heaven and Earth. Numinous light darts through a transformed scene, driving away the scorching baleful Qi. The Dongjing constellation and the waters of the Celestial River pour into the deep streams. Nine dragons surge and leap into the treasure garden. A complete, radiant brilliance shines brightly, as all the spirits raise their heads together to greet it.

Gather the flying rosy clouds and chew the jade-like numinous roots. Immortals and perfected beings come into being everywhere, and all things multiply through them. A thousand kinds of disaster are dispelled and baleful forces destroyed. The dark abode is thereby illuminated—what evil spirit could still intrude? Purple radiance enters the Blue-Black Palace; lightning races, thunder surges, and crimson clouds draw together. In the Cloud Terrace and the azure sky, pearls the size of millet appear, guiding the light and allowing the Dark and Luminous Qi to flow freely.

Keep the Left Court in mind, the name of a Daoist divine office, and grasp the subtle principles. Repeatedly harmonize Yin-Yang, thereby attaining a revered Daoist rank.

Hymn to the Lord of the Nine Qi of Azure Numinous Light

In the east, Donghua releases a numinous phoenix; in the west, the Western Palace sends forth music as exquisite as jade. Three Qi gather in the realm of stillness, and a center arises within the Great Void. A numinous book unfurls seven lines of precious writing, appearing among the verdant trees of the radiant grove. The phoenix’s auspicious blessing echoes with the music of Heaven, sounding in accord with the seasons for six periods each day.

Above is the Child Who Measures Out Life; at night, his radiance penetrates the darkness. Through ten thousand kalpas, his form remains whole and pure; his mystery is so profound that he is hard to find. With long practice, one can extend the years of life without death, rising and falling in step with the movements of Heaven and Earth. The sun and moon illuminate the soul, while the paths of the celestial bodies point southeast. The forms of the nine stars appear, and precious flowers grow at the Five Centers, the five bodily centers associated with cultivation.

There is a spirit that endures naturally, uncarved and everlasting, that joins with me and the cinnabar of the elixir. The Qi of the Red Script, which records names in the registers, and the wondrous principles of the Jade Formula appear of themselves. Once one’s name is entered in green in the Vermilion Palace, demons and spirits can no longer harm one.

Crimson clouds are reflected in the jade-blue void, while numinous winds sweep through Taiwei Heaven, the palace region of the celestial realm. The boundless Six Qi, the six primordial energies that compose all things between Heaven and Earth, descend, and hidden, subtle numinous light appears within them. I ride the shadow of the midday sun, driving my chariot and horses in accord with the Dao’s workings. The vermilion attendant, a youth who serves beside the immortals, wears a robe of numinous night and refines the lingering glow of sunset in the realm of Dongyang. Jade seals, precious Daoist talismans, extend a brief lifespan, while spirit songs awaken the numinous awareness of the Five Spirits, deities within the human body or the celestial realm.

Amid the endless waves, wondrous sights have no end; with a single thought, one may enter the Ninefold Expanse, the boundless cosmos. Through billions of kalpas, I still ride the shadow of the midday sun, driving my chariot and horses in accord with the Dao’s workings. The vermilion attendant wears a robe of numinous night and refines the lingering glow of sunset in the realm of Dongyang. Jade seals extend a brief lifespan, while spirit songs awaken the numinous awareness of the Five Spirits. Amid the endless waves, wondrous sights have no end; with a single thought, one may enter the Ninefold Expanse.

Through billions of kalpas, I transcend the appointed span in the netherworld, and my glorious lifespan never wanes. The flying immortals cross barrier after barrier; the Southern Palace, the celestial bureau that governs lifespan and death, comes into view, and ominous portents dissolve. Zhu Ling, a southern paradise or celestial palace, sets down names in the Crimson Register, the rolls of immortals and those who have received salvation. With the spirits complete, the body is able to ascend. The seven generations of ancestors rise to Heaven, their blessings and virtue immeasurable. The souls that turn through the hollow expanse are released through the Gate of the Nine Mysteries, the portal to the netherworld or ancestral realm. Night’s scene is clothed in the morning sun, and I return lightly, borne by the turning of time.

Hymn to the Lord of the Seven Qi of Hao Ling

From the Kun Terrace, a platform in the immortals’ realm, clear immortal music rings out; Jade Qi, the pure primordial energy of the celestial realm, reaches the seven depths of the underworld. Precious scriptural passages extend into the Great Void, the boundless emptiness, drawing perfected beings into the realm of the formless. Brocade-like clouds mingle with emerald hues and vermilion sunlight; the full radiance rises with the moon. All natural primordial energies blend together, opening a clear, distant passage to the nine remote regions.

The Six Wisdoms accord with pure ascetic practice, and the Five Spirits possess exalted numinous nature. The Crimson Chamber, the practitioner’s inner elixir chamber or divine abode, shines with red light and never wanes through ten thousand kalpas. The ever-enduring Lord of Nurturing Life, a deity who protects life, joins with the Qi of Taiyi and Huangning. The registers and talismans that preserve life refine and nourish the soul in the Court of Golden Radiance. They guide the soul to return to the Qi of immortality, where it is born anew, borne lightly by the turning of time.

The Seven Mysteries, the seven generations of ancestors, enter the Southern Palace, and their withered remains regain vitality. They ascend to the immortal realm of Everlasting Joy and wander among the clouds, soaring high in brightly adorned carriages. They roam freely beyond the Great Luo Heaven, the highest heaven in Daoism, where none of the Three Realms—the Realm of Desire, the Realm of Form, and the Formless Realm—can hold them in contempt.

The scripture then reiterates: with life-preserving registers and talismans, the soul is refined in the Court of Golden Radiance and guided to return to the Qi of immortality, there to be born anew with the turning of time. The seven generations of ancestors enter the Southern Palace, their withered remains flourish again, and they ascend to Everlasting Joy, soaring in brightly adorned carriages. They roam freely beyond the Great Luo Heaven, liberated from the constraints of the Three Realms.

Hymn to the Lord of the Five Qi of Xuan Ling

Swiftly performing the steps of the Dipper and treading the void, I enter the pure realm of the north and summon the true spirits and the gods of the Upper Origin. Riding the rosy clouds, I gaze toward the Mysterious Terrace. All around me, immortal flowers bloom and transform into clouds like embroidered brocade. In the clouds are young gatherers of lingzhi, clad in feathered robes, their sleeves fluttering in the wind. They chant aloud the Register of Nine Fates, which records long life, and proclaim the red writings inscribed on the Golden Register, the Daoist golden roll of names. The immortal realms in the ten directions are distant and splendid; the immortals drift past in a procession that guides souls onward. Green canopies of jeweled splendor wheel in the wind, while amid the red clouds of the crimson skies, the immortals surround a palace adorned with jade.

The immortals make a road for me to the Supreme Sovereign, the revered deity of the highest heaven. They open the Gate of Nine Nights and remove my transgressions from the register of names, so that I may pass through the Vermilion Mound Gate, the southern immortal realm where the dead are delivered, and enjoy life for countless eons. May my spirit dwell in the Crimson Palace, and may the red child, the inner vital energy or original spirit, illuminate the Mysterious Pass. Receiving the breath of immortality, may precious souls arise of their own accord. May my ancestors of seven generations be delivered together to the Southern Palace and enjoy blessings and auspiciousness, generation after generation.

Chapter on the Azure Mystery: Gathering the True and Guiding the Soul

In the Jade Capital, all the myriad teachings return to the revered Great Luo deity. Countless wondrous immortal hymns proclaim innumerable words of mystery. Azure mists and crimson clouds lead the Daoist assembly and the immortals; jade gates and golden halls display the sacred scriptures. The High Perfected settle the soul and spirit, then roam through the skies. May my ancestors of seven generations be delivered to the Southern Palace and enjoy blessings and auspiciousness, generation after generation.

Chapter on the Azure Mystery: Gathering the True and Guiding the Soul

In the Jade Capital, all the myriad teachings return to the revered Great Luo deity. Countless wondrous immortal hymns proclaim innumerable words of mystery. Azure mists and crimson clouds lead the Daoist assembly and the immortals; jade gates and golden halls display the sacred scriptures. The High Perfected settle the soul and spirit, allowing them to roam through the skies. Divine beings from the eight directions hasten to carry the soul and spirit to boundless immortal realms. Amid the abundant, radiant myriad energies of the Origin, the gods speak with voices like infants crying, and their breath gathers into patterned hues. The pure heavens tremble, and the Way of the Void appears; the light of the Law is calm and clear, and compassionate clouds spread everywhere.

May the soul and spirit transcend the dark road, leave the Northern Fengdu, the Daoist underworld of the north, enter the golden registers of the upper realm, and regain their numinous clarity. May the blazing pools of fire grow cool, and every keen blade lose its edge. Disperse the realms formed by karma and reveal the Dharma Body; summon the nature of transgression and bring it before the ritual altar. The Heavenly Worthy delivers living beings without limit; through this, the myriad regions of heaven and earth fulfill their true Origin. No one is beyond transformation and deliverance: living beings may transcend the Three Realms and assist the Great Way of the Mysterious Void.

Summoned by the heart, they return as the heart desires. Messengers from the immortal realm send word in the sound of sacred hymns, sweet as a spring of water. At the sound, the whole body, through every limb and bone, is freed from feverish distress. The Vermilion Mound opens its gates to deliver the soul and spirit, raising them to the Mysterious Realm. The transcendent Great Way is grounded in compassion; high or low, noble or humble, all may swiftly receive its guidance. May the cool immortal realm of Huaxia guide your soul and spirit, so that you roam freely and walk alone through the Violet Void Heaven.

Chapter of the Golden Perfected

The celestial demons yield and submit. Messengers from the immortal realm send word in the sound of sacred hymns, sweet as a spring of water. At the sound, the whole body, through every limb and bone, is freed from feverish distress. The Vermilion Mound opens its gates to deliver the soul and spirit, raising them to the Mysterious Realm. The transcendent Great Way is grounded in compassion; high or low, noble or humble, all may swiftly receive its guidance. May the cool immortal realm of Huaxia guide your soul and spirit, so that you roam freely and walk alone through the Violet Void Heaven.

The celestial demons rise on the wind, filling the gods in the divine court with alarm. They turn into rumors and songs, changing at will and hiding their names and traces. The mortal world roils with noise and disorder, and foul vapors block the Great Dao. Clouds gather and form ranks in the vermilion sky; the Northern Emperor, sovereign of the north, summons the divine troops. The heavenly drum resounds, and the gods know that the mysterious workings of Heaven have summoned them. The perfected immortals of the upper realm ride flying chariots swiftly into the cloud fortress, urgently checking the Northern Emperor’s registers and discerning and capturing the gathered demons.

Huoluo, a Daoist deity, spreads the heavenly net and displays his might, casting out the flowing bell. The Golden Perfected Ones guard the empty firmament, while jade radiance illuminates the darkness in all eight directions. Golden talismans secure the upper palace, and divine spirits slay the celestial demons. They cut away every evil and baleful influence, granting all beings long life, like that of the spirit tortoise. Carrying out the mandate of the Nine Heavens, the gods cry out their commands, and all answer the summons. They call upon the true spirits and gain access to the Three Caverns (Dongzhen, Dongxuan, and Dongshen); reciting scriptures and bestowing blessings, they make the sunlight clear and bright. The eight directions look up to the mysterious clouds and rosy hues, while the sevenfold turning interweaves the heavenly scriptures. The perfected deity Donghe Diyi carries out deliverance, freeing the ancestors of seven generations; he removes the roots of the Five Sufferings, revives the souls of the dead, and grants them blessings and honor.

Golden light brightens the quiet hall, where divine candles appear of themselves. Fragrant flowers scatter through the jade palace, and their smoke rises straight to the Jade Capital. The Celestial Emperor sends the Retinue of the Wandering Immortals, while the Three Origins send down green carriages. The immortal chariots swiftly soar across the Nine Heavens, bound for my Jade Emperor’s court.

The immortal Xuanye shakes his cloud sleeves and flies through the air, his joy boundless, his voice ringing through the Jade Capital. The Celestial Emperor sends the Retinue of the Wandering Immortals, and the Three Origins send down green carriages. The immortal chariots swiftly soar across the Nine Heavens, bound for my Jade Emperor’s court.

I step onto the Seven-Treasure Grove and stroll at ease along the long road through the heavens. Far away on Jade Capital Mountain, the jeweled terraces and flying bridges gleam. I look up at the golden palace towers and down at the white-jade couches. There dwells the Yellow Elder Lord, a Daoist deity, as purple clouds turn through the celestial patterns. He sits serenely, holding the Register of the Living, and writes the name of Huayang with a green brush. Through countless kalpas there is no end; he transcends the mortal world and enters the land of deathlessness.

The great road among the clouds reflects a brilliant scene, and purple mushrooms grow in the immortal fields. Divine winds sweep across the heights, their clear, resonant sounds stirring the heart. The Three Radiances cover the heavens in all eight directions, while pure primordial Qi envelops the deep and mysterious realm. Cultivating the Great Dao, one unites with the vast emptiness; calling upon the true spirits, one rises above the clouds. In chanting, joy shines forth with radiant clarity; Langfeng reflects upon Kun Pool. Below are the Summoners of Immortals, who, through a thousand kalpas, still roam in cloud robes. They know no aging, travel throughout the heavens, and dwell amid clouds and rosy mists in the farthest reaches of the ten directions.

Beneath purple canopies, divine beings wave their banners; rosy clouds illuminate the Clear Tenuity Heaven, radiant with splendor. There, plants flourish, and Mount Langfeng shines beside Kunlun’s immortal lake. In this immortal realm dwell the Summoned Immortals. Though they have passed through ten million kalpas, they still wear robes of cloud and wander freely. They do not grow old. Roaming through myriad heavens, they dwell among the clouds and rosy mists of the celestial realms in all ten directions.

Beneath purple canopies, divine beings wave their banners; rosy clouds illuminate the Clear Tenuity Heaven, radiant with splendor. Yuyi, the spirit of the sun, lights the Pole of Cinnabar, while Jie Lin, the spirit of the moon, casts a mysterious, shadowy glow. Divine winds circle the Three Su Heavens, and the Nine Elders of the Immortals raise their cloud banners high. They travel among the layered heavens, rising and descending, looking up and down as they feast and celebrate, enjoying a realm of spiritual wonder and stillness. Accompanied by the morning light, they go to pay court to the Jade Guest. On a high terrace in the Western Flower Immortal Realm, immortals stand in ordered ranks. The Fangzhu Palace is deep and beautiful; the Azure Youth, a child of the immortal realm, walks along cloud steps. They turn and dance, singing the song of the Cinnabar Phoenix. In radiant light, they partake of food, then ascend on clouds.

They feast beside the Jade Pool in the west, then roam eastward to the crossing at Penglai. In an instant, they pass through the long ages in which the sea becomes fields, arriving at Yang Valley, where the sun rises, to greet the dawn’s red sun. Dragon banners skim past a thousand forests, while jeweled canopies circle the Nine Perfected Ones. Flowing bells shimmer with the yellow radiance of the center. The immortals hold tally tokens and drive away demons and baleful influences. Myriad immortals clap and laugh, singing a boundless, far-reaching song. They gaze up at Great Nonbeing—the empty, formless realm—and wish to share the long life of the Supreme Immortal.

The Exalted Immortal Emperor Yi, whose title is recorded in the Golden Books, reveals the wondrous principle of the union of female and male. Practitioners rise on high, attuning themselves to the Eight Purities, the Daoist realm of clear emptiness, and bringing together the powers of a hundred spirits. The Two Elders and the two Immortal Kings possess matching registers of the Five numinous powers, talismans and names associated with the forces of the five directions. Divine light illumines the Golden Tower, and the clouds gather in deep, mysterious layers. This is the Great Cavern method, in which the Nine Perfected Ones walk through the wondrous emptiness of the mysterious realm. They blend Golden Saliva and Jade Fluid, swallowing the numinous dew, sweet as that of a jade tree. The immortals of the Lofty Luo Heaven pay court to the Supreme One, wave their sleeves, and sing the song of the celestial wind.

Riding the vapors and keeping company with rosy clouds, they travel in chariots, singing through a vast and tranquil realm. To the north they climb to the Palace of Vast Cold; in the Mysterious Essence Immortal Realm, their jade faces are pure and white. With flying steps they mount the Celestial River, play the cloud zithers, and strike the heavenly drums. Riding dragon chariots drawn by tigers, they pay homage to the sun rising at Fusang. At dusk they rest beneath the shade of the jeweled trees. They gather the immortals and command the Nine Mysterious Realms. They roam freely through celestial halls in the vastness of space, circling and wandering as the vermilion wheels turn—the red wheels that symbolize the courses of the sun and moon. After receiving the immortal scriptures, they ascend to the Southern Cinnabar Heaven and sing long songs for ten thousand million years.

At dawn I ascend the Palace of Great Subtlety in the heavens; at dusk I rest on the Terrace of Constant Yang. The heavenly wind brings coolness as I ride among auspicious clouds of five colors. Stars are arrayed like pearls in the blue Celestial River, their gentle light spreading across the Nine Heavens. In a vast and secluded realm, I ride bright clouds beneath the rounded firmament and hold a banquet before jade steps.

The divine tiger subdues the assembled demons, its numinous might shining high and bright. Golden Immortals patrol the cloud encampments, while jade chambers illuminate the steps leading to the numinous realm. The immortal land of Cinnabar Mound is vast and harmonious; the abilities of the Immortals are truly wondrous.

Riding the rosy clouds, I hold a banquet in the Purple Clarity Heaven, where cloud banners set off the red-clouded sky. From afar, I gaze toward the Jade Terrace, while the music of the heavens sounds long and distant. A pure breeze stirs the Qian tree, and divine light illuminates the jade towers. I raise my head and draw in the essence of the Mysterious Pearl; golden books shine among tier upon tier of immortal isles. The heavens in all directions surround the Four Heavenly Emperors, while Immortals in feathered robes travel to and fro in cloud chariots. Phoenix-shaped canopies are arrayed in the eight directions, and jade blossoms from the Lang trees dance on the wind. Rosy clouds encircle the divine capital; a thousand years seem like a single day.

At dawn, the Immortal music resounds like the ringing of jade. Immortals cross the nine distant heavens, moving through the air as if through light mist. A glance to the left summons Wu Ying; a look to the right is met with a bow of welcome from Bai Yuan. Divine light rides the energies of the Mysterious and the Plain. The Yellow Elder bends low to survey the fields of sacred fungi. The auspicious beast Jiguang drives a flying chariot, while the Immortals roam freely, riding their flowing conveyances. The High Emperor pays a visit to the Palace of the Purple Tenuity Star, then wanders lucidly through the myriad heavens. The four seasons never fade; after countless kalpas, all remains enduring and undiminished. The utmost true Dao requires no seeking outside oneself; the Immortals lead the Immortal Lingjing along with them.

At dawn, the Immortal music resounds like the ringing of jade. Immortals cross the nine distant heavens, moving through the air as if through light mist. A glance to the left summons Wu Ying; a look to the right is met with a bow of welcome from Bai Yuan. Divine light rides the energies of the Mysterious and the Plain. The Yellow Elder bends low to survey the fields of sacred fungi. The auspicious beast Jiguang drives a flying chariot, while the Immortals roam freely, riding their flowing conveyances. The High Emperor pays a visit to the Palace of the Purple Tenuity Star, then wanders lucidly through the myriad heavens. The four seasons never fade; after countless kalpas, all remains enduring and undiminished. The utmost true Dao requires no seeking outside oneself; the Immortals lead the Immortal Lingjing along with them.

Song of the Azure Emperor

I bow twice toward the east in homage to the Jade Emperor, Lord of the Azure Realm, who governs the east and the spring season. The numinous wind stirs the powers that bring heaven and earth to life, nurturing all things and spreading the primordial Qi of spring. Cloud dragons draw the chariot, while jade guards surround the precious carriage. Even withered plants and trees receive nourishment; this vast benevolence leaves nothing untouched. The myriad Immortals sing the praises of the Great Dao and gently admonish the people of heaven and all living beings: if the mind is deluded and stubbornly refuses to awaken, one should humbly accept Heaven’s benevolent grace.

Song of the White Emperor

The Six Jia divine generals guard the Golden Gate, and the Seven Luminaries—the sun, moon, and five planets—protect the numinous altar. A flying bell hurls forth flames that become a fearsome force; the divine sword coils like a giant dragon. The lofty true spirit of the White Emperor of the West has laws clearly set forth here. Who would dare offend him? He restrains and subdues the hosts of demons and evil spirits; the fierce heavenly wind makes them tremble and flee. Once the forces of calamity and evil have subsided, the myriad heavens soon return to peace. The Immortal companions receive his protection, bow their heads in celebration, and sing with joy.

Song of the Red Emperor

The Great Radiance (Taijing), the luminous realm of Heaven, opens its jade gates, and the cavern hall reveals its golden steps. Sacred trees of the immortal realm shade the steps paved with fine jade, while red phoenixes alight on jade trees. The treasure chambers are splendid, and the Bright Pendants (Mingdang) are where the gods dwell. The assembly flies in procession, touches foreheads in greeting, and celebrates with joyful songs.

Song of the Red Emperor

The Great Radiance opens its jade gates, and the cavern hall reveals its golden steps. Sacred trees shade the jade steps, while red phoenixes alight on jade trees. The treasure chambers are splendid, and the Bright Pendants are where the gods dwell. The assembly flies in procession. The cloud road opens wide, and they raise their eyes to behold the True Capital, where the immortals dwell. The sun shines long and bright, and night never falls; layer upon layer of clouds surrounds the blue immortal dwellings. The Most High (Taishang), the supreme Daoist deity, orders the seals to be opened, while bamboo slips and documents are laid out on the desk.

Song of the Black Emperor

Formless and without substance, yet governing all things: this is the profound and unfathomable will of the Lord on High. The Great Dao does not reveal itself lightly, nor does it act without cause; within it lie the subtle principles of creation and transformation. I fear that your desires have not yet been fully severed, and that dark thoughts may suddenly take root again. Then you will drift through the boundless waves of the cycle of rebirth, lost and wandering along the road of suffering. You must remain cautious and keep your vows for the long term; once you sink, you will fall beyond recovery. If you do not maintain clarity, stillness, and harmony, you will descend into the realm of ghosts, where the disasters and punishments you endure will be unbearable.

Song of the Yellow Emperor

All the heavens join in supporting the Central Court, while the power of command rises from the root of the Jade Pool, the foundation of Heaven. The wondrous pivot runs through countless eons, piercing all with its clarity and opening the gates in the four directions. The Great Expanse unites with the True Spirit of the Primordial Chaos, who commands the spirits of the stars. Without the movement of the Emperor’s Dao, the myriad things could not function; through the Dao’s arts and laws, they find what sustains them. In wrath, its severity is like the killing frost of autumn; in gentleness, its warmth is like the spring sun. It holds the fundamental order by which all things come into being, and looks up to receive and honor boundless grace.

Song of the Yellow Emperor

All the heavens join in supporting the Central Court, while the power of command rises from the root of the Jade Pool. The wondrous pivot runs through countless eons, piercing all with its clarity and opening the gates in the four directions. The Great Expanse unites with the True Spirit of the Primordial Chaos, who commands the spirits of the stars. Without the movement of the Emperor’s Dao, the myriad things could not function; through the Dao’s arts and laws, they find what sustains them. In wrath, its severity is like the killing frost of autumn; in gentleness, its warmth is like the spring sun. It holds the fundamental order by which all things come into being, and looks up to receive and honor boundless grace.

Hymn to the Azure Emperor for Dispelling Demons

The Luminous Cavern, the bright realm governed by the Azure Emperor of the East, nurtures the vital essence of the Origin. Azure Radiance, the blue divine energy of the East, opens into vast light. It sends nourishing Qi to the Nine Heavens, where it first brings forth and appoints Wuying, a spirit. It supports Yang, enabling it to flow freely and govern its course; at the Cinnabar Grove, it gathers the assembled perfected ones. Light first shines above the layered cloud heavens, as bright rosy clouds surge in overlapping waves and illuminate the four quarters. Sacred radiance weaves in brilliant patterns, protecting and nourishing body and soul. It blends and transforms the myriad things, joining them with the mysterious visions; through benevolence and grace, it dispels the demons. After the hymn has been cultivated and recited ten thousand times, the Daoist achievement has risen beyond the ordinary, and its merit should be reported to the Highest Clarity, the exalted celestial realm honored by Daoism.

Hymn to the Red Emperor for Dispelling Demons

Three kinds of primordial Qi gather in the Spirit Gate, the palace where immortals dwell. In the clear and empty expanse, the Jade Cinnabar shines with radiance. In the Vermilion Mound, realm of the southern deity of Fire, the Emperor and perfected ones dwell; splendid clouds soar, and light flows around them. Through benevolence and grace, they dispel the demons. After the hymn has been cultivated and recited ten thousand times, the Daoist achievement has risen beyond the ordinary, and its merit should be reported to the Highest Clarity.

Hymn to the Red Emperor Who Disperses Demons

The three kinds of primordial Qi (vital energy), the fundamental breath of Heaven and Earth, envelop the sacred palace. The realm of clarity, openness, and stillness shines with the radiance of jade-like cinnabar. At the Vermilion Mound, abode of the southern divinities, dwells the True Lord Red Emperor. He rides a crimson cloud chariot among the colored clouds. He governs the myriad realms and presides over the workings of transformation through countless ages. Holding a register in his hand, he reviews bamboo books and talismanic records, and proclaims the divine chapters of the Cavern scriptures. He untangles people’s troubles and dispels the roots of calamity, using golden light to destroy baleful, wicked, and treacherous forces. Set your resolve on cultivating this Dao, and no demonic obstacle or trial can trouble you. He can also protect all beings as they pass through the calamities of the netherworld, allowing them to enjoy stillness and peace for a long time.

Hymn to the White Emperor Who Disperses Demons

The numinous Qi of the West moves through seven degrees, and radiance flourishes in the deep, mysterious realm. White Origin, the perfected divinity of the West, sustains my spirit and Qi; the August Perfected rides the rosy clouds. The light of the Three Essences shines pure and bright, illuminating the four directions and dispelling the hundred evils. Gather in sound so that the highest Qi may endure; nourish the three Dantian (energy centers) with golden essence. Refine essence and Qi, and secure the body, whose substance is like jade; precious light reflects its splendid radiance. Demonic essences should fade away, and cultivators will no longer be burdened by sinking into ruin, even at the ends of the earth. Then, riding a swift rein, they will journey to a lofty, tranquil immortal lodge and travel alongside the immortals of the Most High.

Hymn to the Black Emperor Who Disperses Demons

In the northern realm of mystery, the numinous Qi of the Three Auspicious Plants rises in a gentle haze, and the Most High Purple Emperor dwells there. He gathers and governs primordial Qi, rules the deep realm, and sets in place the wondrous order of creation. Below, he commands the essences of the Xu and Wei lunar lodges and cherishes and nurtures the chamber of the Celestial Origin. The spirits of Great Mystery manifest with numinous power, circling and guarding all the body’s hundred joints. Demonic obstacles and trials vanish in an instant; baleful calamities never again intrude. The Great Dao protects one’s innate nature, so that lifespan is not diminished or worn away. Through ten thousand tribulations, one may still enjoy quiet and harmony; at last, one ascends to Heaven by cloud in broad daylight and meets the perfected immortals.

Hymn to the Yellow Emperor Who Disperses Demons

All things mingle and transform, returning to emptiness, stillness, and mystery; the Primordial Sovereign gathers and commands the spirits of the emperors. The True Elder closes the Yellow Palace, while the Four Regents, the four perfected divinities who assist the Celestial Emperor, harmonize the mysterious order together. In the heights of the Great, Expansive Round Radiance, he cultivates alongside Lord Jian. Gather the fluids and strengthen the hundred bones; jade-like radiance surrounds the embryo immortal, the perfected being nurtured within the body. Dawn light illuminates the Bright Scene, and demonic obstacles naturally lose their form. The myriad Dao protect the body and mind from harm, restoring youth and vigor. The Five Convergences unite as one Qi, and one rides the clouds upward, surpassing the heavenly capital among the clouds.

Precious Hymn of the Jade Register of the Primordial Blue of Longhan

The nine suns turn back, bringing forth wondrous primordial Qi; the Three Luminaries, the lights of the sun, moon, and stars, spread the essence of the Origin. Numinous talismans appear amid blue clouds, and flowers blaze in the green woods. The Jade Clarity Palace stretches far into the distance, while the immortal realm of Penglai lies broad and remote. The true and wondrous power of creation flows without obstruction, and the divine wind nourishes the growth of all things.

Precious Hymn of the Jade Register of the Cinnabar Radiance of Chiming

Amid the great calamity, the workings of the divine powers unfold, and dragon-shaped divine script appears among scarlet clouds. The Eight Awe-Inspiring Powers race like lightning, while the Nine Phoenixes break through evil forces. The Palace of the Elixir Emperor performs rites of liberation and transformation, and the assembled spirits ascend to where the Primordial Beginning is enthroned. The flames of radiance shine on without end, and wondrous blessings gather in the morning glow.

Hymn to the Precious Jade Almanac of the Central Spirit of the High Sovereign

Lightning-like might surges, and the Nine Phoenixes break through evil forces. The Palace of the Elixir Emperor performs rites of liberation and transformation, and the assembled spirits ascend to where the Primordial Beginning is enthroned. Radiance shines on without end, and wondrous blessings gather in the morning glow.

Hymn to the Precious Jade Almanac of the Central Spirit of the High Sovereign

From the turbid, yellow Qi arises the primordial Qi, the original breath from which Heaven, Earth, and all things are formed. In response to change, it condenses into a real form. Those of lofty De uphold gentleness and accord, sheltering their radiance as they reach into the deep and mysterious realm. They establish the central foundation, governing the farthest reaches of the nine directions; they hold fast to the source and command the Three Mornings—the sun, moon, and stars. Their splendor shines across the heavens, and flying rays illuminate the jade spirit.

Hymn to the Precious Jade Almanac of the Plain Spirit of Yan’kang

The August Elder stores away wondrous essence; golden Jing gleams with the might of the stars. The Six Heavens, associated in Daoist writings with calamity and malign influences, are all destroyed, and ten thousand treasures reappear in the hidden depths. Clear Qi rises to the lofty palace, its cool radiance gentle and bright. Kongtong, the realm of immortals, is adorned with jade and ascends in splendor to the ninth heaven.

Hymn to the Precious Jade Almanac of the Mysterious Supreme of Kaihuang

The Five Qi accord with the mystery of the Primordial Beginning, and the heavens merge within a vast and profound realm. The essence of the morning star takes flight as black wings, while the Jade Maidens scatter blue flowers. The purple celestial register seals away Heaven’s treasures; its mysterious radiance fills the imperial court with solemnity. The assembled demons submit to the supreme teaching, and the myriad nations find peace.

Hymn to the Precious Jade Almanac of the Mysterious Supreme of Kaihuang

The Five Qi accord with the mystery of the Primordial Beginning, and the heavens merge within a vast and profound realm. The essence of the morning star takes flight as black wings, while the Jade Maidens scatter blue flowers. The purple celestial register seals away Heaven’s treasures; its mysterious radiance fills the imperial court with solemnity. The assembled demons submit to the supreme teaching, and the myriad nations find peace.

Numinous Writ of the Empty Cavern

Flying Mysterious Purple Qi—the soaring, wondrous purple cloud-energy—gathers into the numinous root, governing the order of Heaven and Earth and presiding over the myriad spirits in the realm of Jade Emptiness. Cloud-energy accumulates in the sky and congeals into natural forms; above it rise layer upon layer, twelve tiers in all. Lofty jade towers reflect the colored clouds; flowing vital essence circles purple palaces and golden carriages. Splendid halls shine with intermingled light, surrounded on every side by the heights of the sky. Within them dwell the nine numinous immortals, blue-green and golden in hue.

The Sovereign of Elixirs and True Mother is titled Essence-Extender. Flying Azure Feathered Xie [the original is damaged here, and the words are difficult to decipher]… The Five-Colored Fate Demons face the August Sovereign. They administer the registers of talismans and guard the gate of life; they absorb the essence of the sun and moon and drink from sweet springs. Li Luo releases radiance and refines and nourishes the five souls, making the inner self full and the outer Qi abundant, so that the Crimson Palace—the inner residence of the body’s spirits and Qi—also rejoices.

Golden light gleams, and the body is upright and complete. At the beginning of the month, enter the golden, undifferentiated realm. Only those who understand this formula will face the Northern Origin, the spirit represented by the stars of the north, on the tenth day of the fifth month. Then the canopy will appear, commanding the immortal lords; purple Qi will circle back to the left and connect with the Northern Dipper. After the cycle of four sevens—four periods of seven days, or twenty-eight days—enter the Golden Gate. This is when the Sovereign of Elixirs examines the assembled immortals.

Understand this secret formula and practice it diligently. Recite it often in secret, hold it quietly in the mind, and do so in stages. When you attune to the wondrous visions, you will obtain the essential teaching. For three years, practice with care to preserve your life for the long term. After nine years, you can ride through the air in feathered robes, clad in phoenix garments, and rise lightly to Dragon Mountain. In an instant, bow before the Nine Numinous Ones and pay court to Jade Morn; you will become a Great Perfected of the Numinous Treasure.

Hymn of the Eastern Lord Jade Morn.

Layer upon layer, palace halls rise like a lotus, where the sacred Emperor Yi Perfected Lord manifests. The numinous, wondrous void reflects the sun and moon; mysterious awakening lights the darkened ford. The Jade Pass turns the workings of Heaven, while sacred primal Qi opens the capital to light. Divine generals brandish their banners and chant aloud the celestial music of the Cavern Heavens; the Heavenly Lord governs the workings of transformation. The Immortal Officer of Golden Splendor oversees the registers of immortals, wearing a numinous belt of lush fragrance and dwelling in the Dragon Mountain Palace. Rare and wondrous sights shine brightly as perfected immortals feast and delight themselves on the high city terrace. Soft mists drift apart, becoming marvelous clouds that cultivate my Jing and Qi and nourish my form.

Flying immortals observe the succession of cosmic kalpas and praise the scripture of the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning. The Supreme Ultimate sets in place a blue jade key; morning light shines everywhere, bringing forth the myriad things. Clear radiance answers the palaces and temples of Heaven, bringing ease and harmony to the heart and mind and preserving the Jade Infant, the primordial spirit spoken of in internal cultivation. August Heaven nurtures all living beings; the divine carriage turns back, delivering the souls of seven generations of ancestors. The vast teaching spreads, upholding the fundamental framework of Heaven and Earth. Auspicious clouds veil the lofty sky, where a Perfected One presides in a purple immortal pavilion. Xuanyi, a Daoist deity, purifies the mysterious precincts, dispels calamities, and drives away evil and baleful spirits. The Great Dao accords with Primordial Unity; spirit and Qi congeal in the Muddy Pellet, the inner cultivation palace in the head. Three-colored clouds rise over the numinous mound, their interwoven hues illuminating peaks like jade.

Seven and nine unite to establish the highest order, pervading and sustaining the fundamental framework of Heaven and Earth. Auspicious clouds veil the lofty sky, where a Perfected One presides in a purple pavilion; Xuanyi purifies the mysterious precincts, dispelling calamities and driving away evil and baleful forces. The Great Dao accords with Primordial Unity; spirit and Qi congeal in the Muddy Pellet, while three-colored clouds rise over the numinous mound, their interwoven hues illuminating peaks like lustrous jade. The numerical patterns of seven and nine are applied together, while the numbers three and five join in a single work. Together they harmonize the virtue of balanced Qi, transforming and refining, and surpass the foremost lineage of immortals.

A hymn of praise by the Jade Dawn Lord of the South.

Its radiance shines bright as sunlight; its blazing splendor is like jade refined and polished, revealing a gentle luster. The Brahmic Qi, hidden within the void, is deep and remote; the realm of empty clarity illuminates wondrous merit. The light of the Nine Florescences breaks through darkness, and life-sustaining fluids reach even the farthest corners of the four directions. Within the Yellow Chamber, the morning scene dwells in peace, ceaselessly sustaining long life. The graceful Moon Consort rises aloft, freeing the myriad realms from the cycle of tribulation.

Within the Mysterious Cavern, the jade writing appears and vanishes; in the era of Longhan, its light shines like crystal. Divine script commands the Six Heavens, inspecting and subduing the hosts of demons and spirits. The trials of evil forces cannot disturb me; my name is inscribed in Shangqing, the heaven where the Daoist perfected ones dwell. I am delivered from the tribulations of the Five Sufferings and roam freely among the wondrous, towering peaks. The ascending spirits open a great destiny, gazing clearly upon the layered Nine Clouds. I rise toward the south, refining and nourishing my soul, turning the Flowery Canopy as I wander in Qian Forest.

Clouds and mists spread across the framework surrounding the void; after ten transformations, the Heavenly Gate turns with them. The great demons all come to submit, entering the immortal realm to pay homage at Purple Tenuity, the palace of the Heavenly Emperor. The waters of Dragon Abyss flow into the Eastern Well, while Yellow Florescence nourishes my true nature. The Great Luo Heaven releases colorless light, delivering living beings in stillness unto infinity. Vermilion Numen joins with the most refined Qi, and the Qi of Great Harmony rises into the Hall of Blessing. The Mysterious Terrace reflects the realm of Yu Xiao; I recite the Cavern Scripture and follow the way of Western Numen. The Divine Lord proclaims the wondrous laws, enabling people to return to the unspoiled simplicity of an infant and become one with nature.

This is a hymn in praise of the Jade Dawn Lord of the West.

The light of the Cavern of the Spirit shines upon the palaces in heaven; the sovereign who has received salvation shows compassion to all living beings. The spirit child cultivates through the trials of fire, while in the blessed land flows the bridge by which living beings are delivered. Amid the Great Desert, the radiance of the Dao shines forth; perfected beings fly upon auspicious clouds. The god of High Clarity bestows the creative power of Primordial Beginning, cleansing defilement and dispersing demonic energy. Lead me, please, onto the jade-blue carriage and up through the subtle gate. Let radiance shine across the vast, boundless immortal realm and reveal the true world in the depths of the nine heavens. The power of creation turns the hidden, profound gateways and strengthens the numinous root, subtle and unfathomable.

The god of High Clarity bestows the creative power of Primordial Beginning, cleansing defilement and dispersing demonic energy. Lead me, please, onto the jade-blue carriage and up through the subtle gate. Let radiance shine across the vast, boundless immortal realm and reveal the true world in the depths of the nine heavens. The power of creation turns the hidden, profound gateways and strengthens the numinous root, subtle and unfathomable. The splendor of Emperor Jing is beautiful in layer upon layer; he inspects and delivers the souls of immortals. In the cave of Xiao Renbai Yuanzi, the emperors are led in and seated as guests. The Heavenly King in the Center of Heaven, the First Emperor, dwells in the celestial realm; the courtyard of the void and Primordial Beginning is silent. Yuchen proclaims the vast Daoist teachings, spreads blessings, and washes away the dust from me. In lofty pavilions, the Cavern Scripture is chanted, subduing demons and binding ghosts. The ancestral gods who transform and nurture the myriad things proclaim, one by one, the laws of the ninefold realm. A Qiu races forth, cutting down evil with a plain blade; that evil spirit is restrained according to the covenant. The Great Holy Spirit of Miro restores people to life and raises them to the banquet of bliss. Transcend transformation, return to truth in accord with the time, erase the name from the register of the dead, and dwell forever in harmony and joy. The immortal palace, like carved jade, rises in majestic splendor, its woods luxuriant, clouds winding about it, its radiance soaring upward. Yun Ya bows to the Three Lights and hopes to enjoy here a long life of billions of years.

Hymn to the Northern Jade Morning Lord

The supreme deity who inaugurated the teachings raises people up to the celestial realm and gathers the mysterious Qi—the primordial life force in Daoist teaching. The vital essence of Yanghua Zhenyi and the Qi of Great Harmony give rise to subtle wisdom. The Nine Spirits guard Kunlun in the west and turn the pivot of creation, so that all things find their proper place. Ride the phoenix carriage up to heaven and enjoy a long life of billions of years.

Hymn to the Northern Jade Morning Lord

The supreme divine being who gives rise to the myriad things gathers mysterious Qi in the lofty heavens. The land of Yanghua gathers pure essence and Qi, while the Qi of Great Harmony gives birth to wondrous wisdom. The Nine Spirits guard the region of Western Kun, securing the vital workings through which creation unfolds. A phoenix chariot bears the immortals aloft on feathered wheels, carrying them across the perilous crossing of this great tribulation. Clouds encircle the perfect, radiant heavens, where the Celestial Lord is born. In the Feathered Forest Palace, the Celestial Lord receives his talismanic mandate and is clothed in the radiant glow of numinous beauty. Mysterious Dao writings fly down from the sky, guiding people upward so they may transcend the mundane world.

The heavens govern the stars in all eight directions and open a path to deliver the departed souls of the Nine Depths. The Orchid Palace is linked to the Purple Tenuity Palace; in accordance with the ranks of the heavens, one ascends to the Palace of Vermilion Mound. In the Southern Palace dwells a wondrous youth, who refines and nourishes my body with radiant, tinkling light. Blue clouds lift a green carriage, and all bow in congratulation to the exalted one. Numinous winds stir, and clear, pure sounds echo through the grotto-heavens. By cultivating this Dao, one may gain endless longevity. The Nine Immortals bestow the registers of destiny—talismanic records of the ranks and spiritual duties of the immortals—thereby dissolving the roots of past karma. The ordinances of the Heavenly Dao rise high and merge with the void; people are thereby opened to profound understanding and return to a state without name or form. The Qi of primordial chaos courses through every limb and bone; clouds and mists swirl and join with purple clouds. Blessings extend to seven generations of descendants, while the roots of calamity are cut off. Cast off your bonds and escape the net of the mundane world; ride side by side with fellow cultivators and become a carefree guest among the immortals. In an instant, ascend the Dragon Terrace and pay homage before the Jade Emperor.

The “Praise of the Seven Perfected” in the section “Praises for Ritual Use,” in the middle volume of The Numinous Chants and Hymns of the Three Caverns, says:

The Most High—the Dao, supreme and without limit—is the root of mystery and emptiness. Those who proclaim the Great Dao revere its scriptures. In the span of a bow and a glance, cultivators of the Dao have already become immortals; through countless kalpas, their lifespans remain without limit. The sages’ De (Virtue) is lofty and vast. In stillness and Wuwei (non-action), they accord with the Dao of non-origination. The scenes of the heavens form palaces within the void; immortals ride through emptiness, coming and going of themselves. Sun and moon shine with brilliant light, and peace and joy have no end.

Those who seek immortality should cast off worldly distractions and keep their thoughts steadily focused. Confused thoughts unsettle the spirit; when the spirit grows agitated, all manner of afflictions follow. Still these scattered thoughts and let the mind and spirit settle into quiet emptiness, and one can enter the realm of still, empty silence. Seek the teachings of the scriptures with the urgency of the hungry and thirsty seeking food and drink; hold firm to your resolve, steadfast as metal and stone. Only then can you preserve yourself, take the path of the flying immortals, and gain deliverance through the Five-Spirit talismans and registers—documents and talismans associated with the Five Spirits that enable passage beyond the world.

The six perfections—the six practices for saving sentient beings—helped me, and so I was able to escape the Three Nets, the bonds and snares spoken of in Daoism. I observed pure fasting and paid reverence to the Great Simplicity, the primal Dao revered in Daoism. Through breathing practices, I nurtured the cloud sprouts within me, the vital energies that arise inside the body. Thus I became free to wander among the Golden Towers of the immortal realm and made the Jade Capital, the celestial city where the Heavenly Emperor dwells, my home. The Seven Treasures arise of themselves, and all sit upon lotus blossoms. Looking up, we chew the immortal fruits of the Mysterious Capital; looking down, we eat melons and fruits from the hollow realm. The immortals’ faces shine like the red sun. Why concern ourselves with how many kalpas the years contain? The ritual drum summons the immortals, and the bell calls forth the great demons.

Spirit winds brush the wondrous flowers, making them bloom in lush splendor. The gods of heavenly purity play the cloud zithers, while the perfected immortals perform on spirit lutes. Together, they sing refined hymns in praise of the Three Heavens, spreading wisdom through the Jade Flower Grove. In this way, seven generations of ancestors ascend to the Hall of Blessing, following the wondrous music into the immortal realm. If the blessings accumulated in past lives are insufficient, this scripture will remain distant and hard to encounter. If one’s faith in the Great Dao is not firm, the wish to ascend will instead end in a fall. Whether the Supreme Dao of Wuwei can be spread depends on whether you follow it in your heart.

Study of the Dao begins with steadfast, undivided faith. Serve your master as you would a beloved family member. Take in the light of the sun and moon, dwell with their pure radiance, and practice diligently so that you renew yourself each day. Not everyone can be saved, but at least strive not to sink into ruin yourself. A great vow brings deep blessings, and subtle De (Virtue) is surely worthy of trust. If you secretly accumulate offenses, your karmic burden will grow heavy; when retribution comes, it will be as hard to escape as the cycle of rebirth.

The study of the Dao is indeed arduous. From morning until night, cultivate your field of blessings by accumulating De. Building blessings is like planting a tree: only through gradual growth can it eventually rise into a mountain. If you devote yourself to longing for the wondrous Great Dao, you can ascend lightly into the clear heavens. Cultivating the Dao of Wuwei allows you to form deep bonds of goodness. The Supreme One’s most profound and hidden scripture is called the “Chapter of Wisdom.” To uproot suffering requires human cultivation; to transcend the ordinary world, one must realize the true Dao. The immortals’ spiritual grace is rarely seen in this world. When the time is right, it appears like a lotus in the depths.

Every person’s actions have their roots, and are connected to the merit accumulated in previous lives. Cultivate virtue early, and put your vows into practice. Good and evil depend on one another and affect each other; the transformations of fortune and misfortune, blessing and calamity, are inexhaustible in their subtlety. The wise honor the teachings of the Dao, yet understand that they must not cling to “the Dao” or to the myriad things. This is great wisdom. Thus they ascend to the Palace of Taiji and become Taiji Elders, revered deities of Daoism. Canopies join above them, jade pendants accompany them, and they ride in chariots drawn by nine dragons. They hold aloft golden radiance and the scriptures of the Three Caverns (Dongzhen, Dongxuan, and Dongshen), offer incense, and draw near to the immortal youths. They chant and sing, their voices reaching the Mysterious Capital, the Daoist realm of immortals, while jade pendants strike jade chimes.

They rise upright into the Highest Clarity, the supreme heaven of Daoism, pass beyond the sun and moon, and soar into the clouds. Upholding the teachings of the Dao, they roam at ease through the mysterious realms. Ten thousand kalpas seem like a single night, and a thousand autumns like a morning. Towering immortal realms are shrouded in clouds and rosy mists; they reach out to grasp branches in the jeweled forest. Incense smoke rises of itself. They ascend the mysterious steps without needing to leap. The spirit banners unfurl in due course, and scattered thoughts dissolve with them. They dispel discriminating thoughts and promote a state of undivided wholeness; with a heart of Wuwei (non-action), they sing songs of the Dao in stillness and purity.

Hymn for Opening the Altar

The empty expanse is deep and far-reaching, without form or image. It extends without end and responds to the most numinous. With a reverent heart, one can receive Heaven’s grace; with irreverence and disrespect, one invites demonic forces. Fortune and misfortune shift with the times, while favorable and adverse turns arise from causes and conditions. The Dao does not prize pearls and jade; the spirits respond only to utmost sincerity. With a heartfelt and earnest spirit, pray with all your strength, exhausting the deepest and most subtle sincerity. Then you will naturally connect with the Great Dao and bring the true spirits to descend. Offer incense as you state your wishes, and bow your head to pray for good fortune. The Celestial Worthy abides always in stillness and quietude; turn your thoughts inward and bow toward the distant, silent realm.

Hymn for Closing the Altar

The Great Void contains all things; this is indeed the way of the supreme Dao. With a heartfelt and earnest spirit, pray with all your strength, exhausting the deepest and most subtle sincerity. Then you will naturally connect with the Great Dao and bring the true spirits to descend. Offer incense as you state your wishes, and bow your head to pray for good fortune. The Celestial Worthy abides always in stillness and quietude; turn your thoughts inward and bow toward the distant, silent realm.

The vastness of space embraces all things, while the utmost Dao is profound and subtle, without form. It receives and carries forth harmonious Qi, allowing the mysterious breath of life and the primal energy of Heaven and Earth, as understood in Daoism, to flow freely. Through sympathetic resonance, it also conveys the feelings held in people’s hearts. In an instant, it reaches the farthest quarters in every direction, yet seems also to descend among the myriad spirits. People respectfully offer pure and sincere intentions, demonstrating their loyalty through wholehearted devotion. In the distance, a luan bird seems to arrive bearing a splendid canopy, while far away one gazes up at banners adorned with colorful phoenixes. Palaces wreathed in mist and rosy clouds rise high and deep; terraces bathed in radiant clouds ascend tier upon tier. A jade-adorned carriage emerges from the edge of the sky, and golden dragons enter the Great Clarity, the pure celestial realm of Daoism. Sweet dew descends upon the human world, while auspicious blessings spread even through the netherworld.

Hymn for Inviting the Mystery Master

The liturgies, precepts, and petitions of Zhaijiao rites are set out in strict order; with utmost sincerity, the hundred gods are honored. Written words are presented to express earnest prayers, and the altar is purified for the Jiao offering, in gratitude to High Heaven. We look upward with reverence, hoping the spirits will descend in cloud-borne carriages. In quiet sincerity, we pray and invite the Highest Perfected Ones, an honorific for exalted Daoist divine beings, to come. The Mystery Master, an honorific for a Daoist ritual master, is the head of the many teachings. With reverence, we invite him to descend into the human world.

Hymn for Inviting the Celestial Master

The Most High, an honorific for a Daoist deity, transmitted the Fulu—talismans and registers used in Daoist rites to pray for protection, summon spirits, and perform other ritual acts—first imparting them in connection with events at Heming Mountain. Through accumulated merit, the Celestial Master’s name was inscribed above in the jade registers that record the ranks of immortals and perfected beings; he took his place among the immortals and served the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing), Daoism’s highest deities. We respectfully present our petitions and ask him to convey them onward; their requests accord with the wishes of ordinary people. When establishing a purification rite, one should invite him with reverence, hoping the Celestial Master will look kindly upon our sincerity.

Hymn for Inviting the Purification Rite Supervisor

The honored title of the immortal Perfected One remains known in the human world, and the immortal’s rank is among the Highest Clarity, one of the Daoist heavens. Three thousand merits have been brought to completion, and eight hundred good deeds were accomplished long ago. Through bowing and confession, we cultivate and seek true blessings; we invite the immortal to supervise the purification rite and bear witness. Tonight we invite the Perfected One to descend in a cloud-borne carriage and bestow auspiciousness and blessings upon all beings.

Hymn for Inviting the Celestial Official

The mysterious Great Dao reveals the true teaching; establishing a purification rite is a way to cultivate a field of blessings. We set up the altar and pay homage to the High Sages; through the Jiao offering, we gather the exalted immortals. With focused attention, we pray for our petitions to reach Heaven; gathering our spirit, we seek resonance with the heavens. The Celestial Official, a divine officer who oversees affairs in the heavens, descends to the purification altar in a precious carriage with a splendid ceremonial retinue.

Hymn for Inviting the Terrestrial Official

We respectfully lay out our heartfelt wishes and carefully gaze upward toward the Purple Void, the abode of immortals and Perfected Ones in Daoist belief. We pray that the wishes of people in the dusty world may be conveyed and reach the Earth Sovereign, a deity who governs the land and its domains. We beseech him to grant unseen, genuine protection, to come from afar into the human world, and to issue a writ of pardon. The Terrestrial Official, a divine officer who oversees the earthly realm and the pardoning of sins, descends and at once arrives in a carriage encircled by five-colored auspicious clouds.

Hymn for Inviting the Aquatic Official

The Aquatic Official, a divine officer who oversees the waters and the relief of calamities and pardon of sins, reveals the true Dao through skillful means and establishes sacred liturgies out of compassion. As we establish the ritual assembly, we remain humble and focused, harmonize our breath and Qi, and pray for a writ of pardon to be issued. The Terrestrial Official descends and at once arrives in a carriage encircled by five-colored auspicious clouds.

Through skillful instruction, the true Way is opened; with a compassionate heart, the rites of the sages are established. Humbly taking part in the wondrous Zhaijiao purification assembly, we harmonize the breath and chant sacred hymns. In silence, we pray for protection from the distant, hidden realms, and with sincere hearts reach the Great Luo Heaven, the highest celestial realm in Daoism. The Water Official, deity who governs the waters, arrives in a dragon chariot; auspicious clouds, bright as brocade, rise above the vast waves.

Hymn Inviting the Five Emperors

The Five Emperors hold honored ranks in the immortal realms, overseeing and correcting the karmic consequences of good and evil. Auspicious light shines upon heaven and earth; their grace rescues beings sunk in suffering. All openly confess their failings and pray for the protection of the true gods, quieting their minds to commune with the sages. Both the living and the dead may find peace and enjoy boundless blessings.

Hymn Inviting the Scripture Master

Enter the quiet chamber, where one stills the mind and cultivates the Dao before performing the Zhaijiao rites, and undertake the Yellow Register Retreat, a Daoist ritual for delivering the dead, praying for blessings, and warding off calamity. Compose the bearing and welcome the High Immortals. Memorials are first presented to the heavenly court, and petitions, too, must be respectfully submitted. The precious talismans and registers are transmitted by the Scripture Master, and the solemn dignity of the rite is inherited from the celestial realms. We pray that the Scripture Master will descend and petition the assembled Immortals and Perfected Ones to attend.

Hymn Inviting the Register Master

We respectfully pray for pure blessings as all gather to perform the solemn purification rite. The altar rites are to be carried out tonight, followed by the unfolding of the Dao-practice ceremony. Even after prayers have been made, petitions must still be presented. Turning the heart toward the Dao opens the Dao-eye, the wisdom that sees into its principles. We pray that the Register Master will descend, with the Immortals’ ceremonial retinue coming down from the Jade Terrace.

Hymn Inviting the Ordination Master

With utmost sincerity, we pray for the scriptures and precepts and reverently summon the hundred gods. Holding incense, we pray to the Most Holy; upholding the precepts, we welcome the Immortals and Perfected Ones. Pure, elegant chants begin at dawn, and through the night we remain intent in meditation. We pray that the Ordination Master will descend and protect all who take part in the purification rite.

Hymn Sending Off the Mysterious Master

The Supreme Emperor commands the Perfected Immortals to perform the purification rite at the Yellow Register altar. The spirits of the heavens descend, and incense is burned as sins are confessed. The rites of prayer, gratitude, and practice are complete; the purification ceremony has reached its end. Vast blessings remain among humankind, and the Mysterious Master returns to the Nine Heavens.

Hymn Sending Off the Celestial Master

The purification rite has been solemnly completed, and memorials and registers are sent to the Nine Heavens. Sincere hearts commune with the spirits, granting the whole family long life. The celestial spirits who govern the registers of names stand guard, while the petitions and memorials are delivered to the heavenly court. The ancestors thereby receive deliverance, and their descendants will in turn be blessed and prosper. The Lord of the Three Heavens who Supports the Teaching protects the Daoist teachings. The rite is concluded, and the merit reported in the memorial is complete.

Hymn Sending Off the Ritual Supervisor

The ritual platform, where Daoist purification rites are performed, is solemnly arrayed with ritual seats; all depends on the Heavenly Officials descending to inspect it. They investigate faults and record good deeds, and even the perfected immortals hold them in reverence. When the rite is over, the Heavenly Officials will guide their chariots into the distant, ethereal clouds of five colors. May the living receive protection through this, and may the souls of the dead find deliverance.

Hymn for Sending Off the Heavenly Officials and Praising the Patriarch

We respectfully send off the Heavenly Officials and praise the Patriarch. The purification rite is complete, and its merit is fulfilled.

Hymn for Sending Off the Inspector of the Purification Rite

The ritual platform is solemnly arrayed with ritual seats; all depends on the Heavenly Officials descending to inspect it. They investigate faults and record good deeds, and even the perfected immortals hold them in reverence. When the rite is over, the Heavenly Officials will guide their chariots into the distant, ethereal clouds of five colors. May the living receive protection through this, and may the souls of the dead find deliverance.

Hymn for Sending Off the Heavenly Officials

The purification rite has been performed according to refined principles, and the clear liturgy has washed away the roots of sin. We look up to the vault of Heaven and honor the highest good, sincerely voicing our prayers. Having received the people’s devotion and supplications, we are granted boundless grace and pardon. The Heavenly Officials will return to the Jade Palace, riding their precious chariots through the Golden Gate.

Hymn for Sending Off the Earth Official

The assembly to worship the Heavenly Worthy of Primordial Beginning has ended, and the karmic bonds of the Three Paths of Suffering—hell, hungry ghosts, and animals—have been resolved. True grace spreads across the Five Sacred Peaks, and sincere prayers ascend to the Three Heavens. The ritual seats are cleared, the rite comes to a close, and the ritual platform is dismantled as the assembled immortals are sent off. The Earth Official returns to the Palace of the Sacred Peak, ascending away on auspicious clouds of five colors.

Hymn for Sending Off the Water Official

The recitation of the wondrous scriptures is complete, and the immortals return to Heaven. Divine light descends to dissolve sudden calamities; sweet dew brings pure, harmonious, and auspicious energy. The Water Official, under command, guides a chariot drawn by a black dragon far back to the Palace of Great Treasure. Then, returning to the grotto palace, he bestows endless blessings and prosperity upon all.

Hymn for Sending Off the Five Emperors

The immortals’ procession arrives from the edge of Heaven, and the revered emperors of the five directions descend to the ritual platform. They clear away baleful influences; their feathered banners stir in the wind, while phoenixes draw their chariots to rest at the pure ritual grounds. As the purification rite nears completion, the ceremony is concluded, and the emperors return to Heaven in their carriages. Their grace reaches all things; surely it is more than a response to the incense people burn in reverence.

Hymn for Sending Off the Scripture Master

Though the scriptures and teachings are subtle and profound, people can put them into practice through the Scripture Master’s instruction. All who do good and cultivate De (Virtue) should pay the Scripture Master respect often. By following the course of one’s allotted time, practice can readily bear fruit; if one grows neglectful, later regrets will be impossible to undo. If one remains mindful and devoted to practice, then, through cultivation morning and evening, one may attain the Dao and ascend as an immortal.

Hymn for Sending Off the Register Master

The Dao places great importance on purification and fasting; ritual service to the Dao is its customary practice. Without cultivation and observance, how could one reach the immortal realm where the Celestial Emperor resides? Those with immortal bones can take their place among the ranks of immortals, and the purple palace of heaven opens of its own accord. Xuanwu (the northern stellar deity and guardian spirit) arranges the divine retinue, and a golden hall appears before the eyes.

Hymn for Sending Off the Ordination Master

Jade Capital Mountain (an immortal mountain in heaven) stretches away into the distance; how lofty and magnificent is the Mystical Metropolis (the celestial capital of the Daoist tradition). Bright radiance appears through the long, unending night, as the perfected person (one who has attained the Dao) rides the Steps Through the Void (a ritual dance symbolizing passage through the air). The Great Dao must be carried forward by people; when the heart is utterly sincere, the spirits naturally return. Cultivate Xuanwu and arrange the divine retinue: a golden hall appears before the eyes.

Hymn for Sending Off the Ordination Master

Jade Capital Mountain stretches away into the distance; how lofty and magnificent is the Mystical Metropolis. Bright radiance appears through the long, unending night, as the perfected person rides the Steps Through the Void. The Great Dao must be carried forward by people; when the heart is utterly sincere, the spirits naturally return. After the purification and fasting, and the ritual service to the Dao, bow to the Three Masters (the three revered teachers who transmit the Daoist teachings) and take your leave.

Hymn to the Bright Lamp

The sun of Zhengyi (Orthodox Unity, an important Daoist lineage) rises, and red smoke streams upward. The Luminous Youths (a kind of guardian spirit) number twelve. Their radiance shines across the world and upon us as well. All manner of evil spirits scatter, and tens of thousands of ghosts are driven away. The light is clear and penetrating, able to reach the perfected spirits.

The Most High (a revered Daoist deity) spreads light in all ten directions; the splendid lamps convey sincere devotion. The heavens are illuminated, and the earth in every quarter grows bright. My body, too, is suffused with light, and radiance arises within my five organs. The brilliant scene faces the Great Void (the vast celestial realm), while my distant longing reaches Jade Capital.

The essence of the Cinnabar Elixir (inner vital essence) rests in the Great Origin (primordial energy); the subtle Yang energy resounds through the air. Let go of attachment to the body and uproot the source of suffering. Focus the mind on contemplating the deep, subtle Way of the Most True. Blossoms of light fall but bear no fruit; in the end, all causes and conditions return to formlessness and namelessness. May my body be like this too, following change and dwelling within the flowing radiance.

Night light reveals the splendor of Cinnabar Yang, shining far across the void. The heavens appear bright, and all dark energies at once disperse. My mind and spirit become alert; I constantly nurture wisdom and insight. Freely I follow the movement of the Great Dao; let transformation and passing follow the timing of Heaven. With my whole body I enter the hollow realm, using the night lamp to illuminate the dry, flowing essence.

Hymn for Extinguishing the Lamp

Dark Yin energy veils the light, while the ever-burning lamp continues to shine. The sun has already grown bright; in the sky… The heavens appear bright, and all dark energies at once disperse. My mind and spirit become alert; I constantly nurture wisdom and insight. Freely I follow the movement of the Great Dao; let transformation and passing follow the timing of Heaven. With my whole body I enter the hollow realm, using the night lamp to illuminate the dry, flowing essence.

Hymn for Extinguishing the Lamp

Dark Yin energy veils the light, while the ever-burning lamp continues to shine. The sun has already grown bright, and the shadowy lands in all eight directions have become clear. The lamp’s flame returns to the Great Yin (the Yin source in Daoist thought), while its radiance depends on the light of the sun. The true spirits of the sun and moon unite as one for me.

Wisdom gives rise to the foundations of keeping the precepts, and cultivating the true Dao takes the precepts as its principal guide. The Three Treasures—the Dao, the scriptures, and the masters—flourish through them, and the exalted immortals revere them. Boarding this vessel bound for immortality, one can cross in an instant to a vast, boundless realm. When the precepts are proclaimed, all the heavens come to bow.

The source of wisdom arises from emptiness, its radiance shining in all ten directions. It gathers the void and stands amid the deep, lofty reaches of heaven; the heavens receive its wondrous breath. Its mysteries are beyond thought, its efficacy reaches through hidden depths, subtle yet real. In the end, one clings neither to being nor nonbeing; within nonbeing, nothing is beyond its embrace.

Wisdom constantly turns its gaze inward: this is the first task of learning the Dao. Let the mind unfold with ease and follow its natural course, so that the spirit returns to its own source. The Celestial Worthies ever offer their protection, and even the demon kings swear to guard the practitioner. Cultivate a radiant body, as indestructible as a diamond, and one may transcend the world and attain the rank of a Supreme Immortal.

The Dao takes selflessness as its guiding principle, and all things can become fields in which to cultivate merit. There is no fixed standard for accomplishing good deeds; each person may act according to their original vow. Meet all beings with an open heart and focused attention, treating everyone equally. The Great Sage honors the true teaching and bestows grace widely, like rain falling everywhere. It covers all from above and gathers into a deep abyss below. The sea becomes the king of the hundred rivers because it accepts waters from every direction, even giving up its own dragon scales. To endure ten thousand tribulations while preserving wisdom and its power—how could this concern only the span of a single life? Keep the precepts without faltering, and across generation after generation you will form wholesome bonds. With sincere devotion, contemplate the Mahayana, the vast and profound teaching, and in time you will realize the truth of the Dao.

With great compassion, the Celestial Worthy proclaims the precepts to save all beings. Its majestic virtue reaches both the underworld and the visible world, and wholesome fruits find resonance with the true spirits. The heavens come to bow, while the demons bind themselves of their own accord. Those from past lives are freed from the Eight Difficulties—the obstacles to cultivation and hearing the Dao—and those in this life are blessed with long life. As the merit of purification and the cultivation of blessings draws to a close, all present offer their reverent hearts together. The sacred sound of scripture recitation drifts among the clouds; wafting incense and curling smoke mingle in fragrance. Jade phoenixes ride vermilion carriages, and golden dragons pull blue-green chariots. The living and the dead alike find peace, and both household and state enjoy tranquility.

Those who study the Dao should cultivate themselves diligently, gather their thoughts, and act with wholehearted sincerity. Burn incense and take refuge in the Most High, the Daoist honorific for the supreme sacred power, letting true Qi—the original breath of life and cultivation—blend with the fragrance of the incense. May the Most High open the way to boundless forgiveness and free seven generations of ancestors from the suffering of the underworld.

The Dao first emphasizes equality in saving and liberating all. Through diligent practice of the Daoist teachings and methods, one may ascend to the Golden Courts, the palaces of the immortal realm. A grand bridge of the sacred teachings is therefore established to save all beings throughout the world. Cultivators repay the kindness accumulated in former lives, and a transcendent Daoist heart arises within them. In the end, their bodies ascend to the immortal capital, and even their ancestors of seven generations are liberated.

Hymn for Presenting the Register

The methods of the Most High (Taishang), an honorific title for the supreme deity in Daoism, are profound and subtle. Registers and documents bearing names, information about life and death, and other details can save beings in the human and heavenly realms. The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning issues the sacred command; those who receive a register may then, at the appointed time, gain the opportunity to ascend to immortality. Registers are transmitted to save beings sunk in hardship and distress, enabling everyone to cultivate on their own. Once one’s name is inscribed on a golden register tablet, one may freely attend upon the Jade Emperor.

Hymn for Delivering the Register

In the age of Red Radiance, wondrous charts and registers were first revealed, and auspicious Qi reached through the upper realm’s empty expanse. The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning proclaimed sacred texts, and the ten books of flying immortals were disseminated in turn, opening the means to deliver ancestors from the Nine Depths, the deepest regions of the netherworld. Recite them again and again, ten thousand times, and you will naturally abide in the Dao. On Jade Mound, the jade forests flourish; it can become a blessed dwelling between life and death. Without the Yellow Register tablet, a document for delivering the dead used in Yellow Register purification rituals, how could the source of suffering be removed? Bow in order and recite the sacred texts, and the Five Spirits, the spirits of the five directions invoked in Daoist ritual, will turn back to protect and bless you.

Hymn for Burning the Petition

Beings often encounter obstacles and calamities, and the Great Dao truly takes pity on them. Daoism establishes rites and teachings for deliverance, so that all beings may repent of their offenses. Their sins extend throughout the courts of the netherworld, and the faults they have incurred have also reached the heavenly realm. They must therefore confess their offenses openly and pray for the protection of the divine and perfected ones. With focused sincerity, they may reach the sages and worthies. May they devoutly pay homage to the Three Treasures (the Dao, the scriptures, and the teachers), ascend soon to the heavens, and enjoy long life. Burn the petition so that it may reach the upper realm, and submit the names to the Jade Emperor.

Hymn for Burning the Memorial

The grace of the sages takes form in rites and teachings. By performing Zhaijiao, Daoist purification and sacrificial rites, one may pray for lasting blessings and longevity. Burn the petition so that it may reach the upper realm, and submit the names to the Jade Emperor.

The grace of the sages takes form in rites and teachings. By performing Zhaijiao, one may pray for lasting blessings and longevity. Through rites for extending life, present a jade tablet to petition on behalf of the living, and submit a golden memorial to the heavenly court. May the charges recorded in the Northern Office, the government of the netherworld, be erased, and may the names of the living be entered in Nanchang, the place where Daoism locates the register of the living. May those alive in this world be joyful, and may the departed be reborn in a blessed land.

Hymn for Welcoming the Perfected Ones

The Celestial Worthy arrives riding a heavenly dragon, with a million immortals in attendance. Clouds rise and drift as though roaming freely; the Celestial Worthy’s jade voice becomes the sound of drums and flutes. Solemn floral adornments and wish-fulfilling jewels appear, and the sage’s transforming power is beyond comprehension. May the Celestial Worthy descend to the Jade Altar, the ritual platform, and bestow blessings upon all beings.

Hymn for Sending Off the Perfected Ones

Five-colored auspicious clouds surround the immortals’ carriage as it rises into the air, accompanied by the immortals’ Nine-Chapter Hymn. In an instant, it has soared far into the celestial realm. Incense smoke coils above the Zhaijiao altar. Mysterious blessings extend throughout the cosmos, and good fortune descends upon mountains and rivers everywhere. I gaze toward the road leading to the realm of immortals, where they roam freely and ascend to the Great Luo Heaven, the highest heaven in Daoism.

Hymn for Sending Off the Directing Talisman

I respectfully summon the Directing Talisman Messenger, who conveys the divine commands of talismans. You can secretly communicate between the netherworld and the human realm. Riding clouds and mist, you carry memorials and documents swiftly upward in submission, traveling far across the Three Realms—usually understood as heaven, the human world, and the netherworld. The Purple Clarity Golden Gate is deep and remote, and the palaces of the Mysterious Capital’s Water Office lie within it. The memorial is delivered in an instant. I wait reverently, upright and composed, for the True God to descend.

Hymn of Universal Offering

We make offerings universally to the boundless holy immortals, while incense smoke drifts in the ten directions. May the holy immortals ride upon a platform of seven treasures and cast their light upon the turbid and wicked world of the Five Turbidities, a defiled and chaotic world in Buddhist and Daoist teachings. May they wield their divine power to save beings in the human and celestial realms, so that all may ascend the bridge of the True Teaching, realize the Dao of Wuwei (non-action) together, and practice diligently without ever turning back.

Hymn to the Northern Emperor

We praise the Heavenly Worthy of Primordial Beginning, the supreme deity revered in Daoism, who cares for all beings like a loving father.

Hymn of Universal Offering

We make offerings universally to the boundless holy immortals, while incense smoke drifts in the ten directions. May the holy immortals ride upon a platform of seven treasures and cast their light upon the turbid and wicked world of the Five Turbidities, a defiled and chaotic world in Buddhist and Daoist teachings. May they wield their divine power to save beings in the human and celestial realms, so that all may ascend the bridge of the True Teaching, realize the Dao of Wuwei (non-action) together, and practice diligently without ever turning back.

Hymn to the Northern Emperor

We praise the Heavenly Worthy of Primordial Beginning, the loving father and mother of all beings. From the Purple Tenuity Palace, the dwelling of the Celestial Emperor, he pours forth light to illuminate the gates of the Ninefold Darkness, the depths of the netherworld. His radiance also shines upon the lofty Qiu Han Court, brightening the cold, vast waters. Before the blazing prisons of fire, he sends down an abundant rain of the Law. With great compassion and wisdom, complete and unobstructed, he is ever ready to relieve the suffering of beings. He delivers the souls who suffer in the long night; therefore, I now bow to him in reverence.

Hymn to China

Through diligent practice, upholding purification and fasting, reciting the scriptures, and restraining the six feelings—the six desires and sensations of human beings—one can rise through the air, shine with radiance, and ascend to the Jade Clarity Heaven, one of the Three Pure Ones’ realms. Devote yourself to purification and fasting, regulate the breath through inhalation and exhalation, and cultivate the Five Spirits, the deities corresponding to the body’s five organs. Inner virtue surpasses the gods of the heavens and ultimately transforms into an immortal body that revolves without end, becoming a High Immortal.

Hymn on Learning the Dao

Those who learn the Dao should put the practice of cultivation first. Uphold the precepts, rein in your emotions, and set your heart straight. When the upright Qi of emptiness, stillness, and harmony abides within, immortals and holy beings will naturally respond and draw near. If you do not believe in the teachings of the Dao, why live in the mountain forests to cultivate the Way?

Hymn to the Taiji Perfected One

Miraculous clouds shine in the layered heights of the sky, while the Brahma Net gathers amid the blue firmament. The Heavenly Worthy of Primordial Beginning rides in a carriage drawn by nine dragons, and the August Immortal, a Daoist divine title, holds the green ruo…

Shen (spirit) radiance shines forth amid layer upon layer of empty space. Brahmā Qi (vital energy) is arrayed across the deep blue sky. The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning rides in a carriage drawn by nine dragons, while the August Immortal—a perfected being from Daoist legend—attends nearby in a blue carriage. Spiritual radiance gathers the myriad perfected immortals, and jewel-like lights illuminate the clear heavens. Thus the Lingbao Chapters are revealed, through which people receive blessings and De (Virtue/Power). The Way of the Cavern of Mystery lies hidden in lofty, distant depths; jade-toned sounds drift with music among the clouds. The Dao is vast and boundless, beyond the reach of thought, like waves surging across a sea of Dao. Though the teachings are like a slender stream, they nourish and sustain, allowing fine shoots of grain to grow. Through them, the hungry and poor are relieved, instruction flourishes, and the court is protected. May the emperor and nobles enjoy a life of countless years, may peace prevail throughout the realm, and may the weapons of war be laid to rest. I bow my head and gaze toward Jade Dawn, the realm where Daoist deities dwell; there, only wondrous radiance shines out in golden rays.

Though the Great Dao has no intentions, it can be sought with a sincere heart. The compassionate immortal’s carriage travels through the void, looking back upon the sea veiled in mist. The pure realm lies beyond the Three Realms, where immortals roam freely through Jade Capital, the celestial city of the immortals. Without a mysterious endowment and affinity, who could grasp the hidden principles? The Celestial River is clear and bright; in a moment of looking up and down, body and mind return to emptiness, stillness, and gentleness. The souls of seven generations of ancestors are delivered, while the cultivator returns to the root and restores the true, following the rises and falls of life and death. If one gathers the spirit and keeps to the Dao in the unseen depths, there is no need to fear the calamities brought by Yang Nine, a year of disaster. At the sight of such comings and meetings, one often pauses. Forgetting selfish desires instead preserves one’s true self, and in the end one becomes a companion to the true immortals.

In a moment of looking up and down, body and mind return to emptiness, stillness, and gentleness. The souls of seven generations of ancestors are delivered, while the cultivator returns to the root and restores the true, following the rises and falls of life and death. If one gathers the spirit and keeps to the Dao in the unseen depths, there is no need to fear the calamities brought by Yang Nine. At the sight of such comings and meetings, one often pauses. Forgetting selfish desires instead preserves one’s true self, and in the end one becomes a companion to the true immortals.

The meaning of the wondrous Dao realm is profound and inexhaustible; the clear Celestial River shimmers with rippling light. The world’s changes follow one another in cycles, while the scholar tree, a symbol of longevity, keeps its branches and trunk ever green. Quiet the heart and contemplate the utmost truth, follow the transformations, and leave turmoil behind. The principle of resonance is always interconnected, and consciousness moves back and forth in response. A tranquil, untroubled wander knows no bounds; even intricate thoughts can reach the celestial realm of the Nine Rosy Clouds. The soaring roots spread forth mysterious branches and leaves; principle returns to its origin, with no other mystery. As long as one regularly recites the Jade Chapters, their wondrous sound can reach the distant heavens. When the great calamity of the Jia-Shen year arrives, one can spread one’s wings and fly to the dwelling of the Queen Mother of the West. With an endless lifespan forever at one’s disposal, why care how many kalpas have passed?

Hymn for Delivering Lives through the Golden Register and Rescuing the Guilty from the Ninefold Darkness

I bow my head in reverence to the Supreme Great Dao and wholeheartedly take refuge in the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning. The master of utmost truth and wondrous response opens and teaches the Gate of Flying Mystery. Subtle precepts bring harmony to the Five Spirits, while golden scriptures admonish the myriad gods. Lifespans are examined and fixed, names entered into the registers, and suffering souls delivered by means of spiritual talismans. Riding the clouds, one pays audience to the Jade Emperor and joins the immortals and perfected beings of the mysterious Dao realm as a companion.

Hymn for Dispelling Resentment and Rescuing from Sin

The Great Lord of the Dao constantly bestows vast merit. You are like a ferryboat, helping living beings cross the sea of life and death and escape Luofeng, the netherworld realm spoken of in Daoism. From then on, they will no longer suffer retribution for their misdeeds, and their merit and blessings will reach even the underworld. The Dao’s wondrous mysteries are beyond measure, and no praise could ever fully express them.

Hymn on Merit and Rebirth

Cool sweet dew moistens body and mind; the flavor of the Dharma is profound beyond thought. Its fragrance reaches the Seven Perfected Ones, and how could there be any doubt in the netherworld? Those who receive this offering of Dharma food may ascend to heaven and reach Ziwei, the honored palace in the celestial realm. The Field of Blessings, where good deeds accumulate merit, is lofty and solemn; offerings and almsgiving purify the heart. All conditioned acts can become good deeds that sustain life and dispel calamity for others. May you be freed from the suffering of the Three Paths—the hells, hungry ghosts, and animals—and receive blessings and joy for the Nine Generations, your ancestors and descendants. When the offering is received, all the heavens will praise together.

Hymn on Merit and Rebirth

Cool sweet dew moistens body and mind; the flavor of the Dharma is profound beyond thought. Its fragrance reaches the Seven Perfected Ones, and how could there be any doubt in the netherworld? Those who receive this offering of Dharma food may ascend to heaven and reach Ziwei. The Field of Blessings is lofty and solemn; offerings and almsgiving purify the heart. All conditioned acts can become good deeds that sustain life and dispel calamity for others. May you be freed from the suffering of the Three Paths and receive blessings and joy for the Nine Generations. When the offering is received, all the heavens will praise together.

The cold courtyard of the netherworld is filled with sorrow and suffering. One should turn back and pay homage to the Primordial Emperor, the supreme deity honored in Daoism. Recite the Nüqing Lingbao Talisman and Register, and uphold the Scripture of the True Emperor of Zhongshan. In a single thought, one ascends to Taiqing; with another, one returns to Great Nonbeing, the realm of stillness and emptiness. May merit be dedicated to the Nine Depths, so that the departed gradually attain rebirth in the celestial realm of Ziwei.

Hymn on the Perfected of Great Origin Receiving and Transmitting the Dongxuan Scripture

The Eight Paths converge in the Nameless Source, the formless and nameless Dao; riding the tides of time, one surveys the tangled net of the world. Dissolving the obstacles of worldly splendor, one loosens one’s robes and enters the way of those who follow the Dao. Riding the mists, in an instant one arrives with the Perfected Ones at a wondrous, numinous hall. From afar, one gazes upon jade towers in the open sky; the mysterious rhythms turn into songs like the cries of phoenixes. Traveling the fitting path, one meets no obstruction; wondrous music dances with the billowing clouds. Virtue rises as high as the Jade Capital in the celestial realm, and deserves to be praised.

Practitioners from the eight directions gather in the Dao and, riding the currents of time, observe the turmoil of the world. They rise above the dusty mortal realm, loosen their robes, and return to the Daoist gate. They soar aloft amid clouds of mist; in the blink of an eye, they arrive with perfected beings in the immortal realm where the spirits dwell. Looking up, they see jade towers suspended in the void and hear wondrous heavenly music transformed into songs like the cries of phoenixes. They walk the Great Dao without hindrance, while divine music echoes among the clouds. By cultivating De (Virtue/Power) until it matches that of the immortals, they may attain distinction in Yujing, the celestial capital. Why remain attached to the many things of the world?

In the left hand they hold a jade canopy. Riding the Qi of flying dawn, they step upon the Seven Origins, symbolized by the stars of the Big Dipper. The sun, moon, and stars shine with purple radiance. They gaze upward and make contact with Mingzhen, the clear and true Dao. They transform and soar; in an instant, wondrous scenes appear in every direction. The numinous writings are vast and boundless; one should study the scriptures of the Highest Clarity with diligence and focus. Why linger at the crossroads, allowing your will to lose its single-mindedness? Dark, accumulated afflictions may rob a person of the chance to grasp the hidden mysteries; before they know it, the years have passed.

Wondrous waves stir the vast sea, while the great passage carries all currents forward. Riding the light of the sun, moon, and stars, they gaze into the emptiness of the Six Directions and long to roam with the perfected beings. No one answers their beautiful songs, and no one joins in the clear, resonant music of the immortals. Riding a jade chariot with wheels of cloud, who among the people of the mortal world could compare?

Hymn of the Perfected One of Taiji

The Lord of the Great Dao, the Most High, manifests and transmits the Lingbao Chapters. Their principles are profound and mysterious, beyond words, as though within the mystery there were a still deeper mystery. Naturally, the worlds in all ten directions look up to the supreme immortals. The Scripture of the Cavern of Emptiness is vast and profound; seated peacefully within it, one may pay court to the gods of the heavens.

The supreme treasure of the scriptures is kept in the Purple Tenuity Palace, the celestial court, and also stored among famous mountains throughout the land. The texts are written in dragon and phoenix designs, brilliant in their splendor, yet treasured without revealing their radiance. The Dao of the Most High is truly mysterious: it acts through Wuwei (non-action) and always follows the natural course. Whether a ruler or a commoner, what is most precious is worthy virtue.

Those who accumulated blessings and good fortune in a former life had already risen above others. Masters pass the teachings from one to another; the precious tokens of the teaching endure through kalpas and are kept in famous mountains throughout the land. Extend compassion widely and save all living beings, thereby accumulating great blessings for yourself. Those who make offerings to the Great Dao will surely attain the Dao; those who revere and uphold it will in time become perfected beings. The Great Dao makes no distinction between you and me; the teaching should be transmitted to those who are truly virtuous and have attained the Dao.

Hymn of the Perfected One of the Mysterious Unity

The many wondrous principles flow from the scriptures of the Dongzhen Cavern, shining brilliantly and illuminating the Great Clarity, the lofty, pure realm described in Daoism. Those who uphold these scriptures are called immortals. They can embody the original Dao and live forever. At ease, they wander through the wondrous emptiness, where palaces appear one after another. The Seven-Treasure Trees gleam with vivid colors, and the radiance of the sun and moon shines brightly. Dragons and qilin race among one another; phoenixes soar and sing. The Most High, an honorific for the supreme deity or the Dao, governs the Purple Terrace, while the perfected beings recite the Cavern scriptures. Those offering incense pinch it between their fingers and bow, walking slowly around the palace walls. After circling three times, they return to the high seat, and the King of the Dao answers their call. When a ruler proclaims the supreme Dao, peace spreads throughout the realm.

Hymn to the Two Perfected Ones of the Mysterious One

The Dao of emptiness always follows its own nature. Only when one strains to name it is it called the “Great Dao.” Vast and profound, it has no boundaries; the many mysteries return to the Numinous Treasure. Close your eyes and contemplate the utmost true Dao; focus your thoughts, and the Ten Elders will descend. Through cultivation, one ascends to immortality and transcends worldly affairs, keeping one’s appearance forever radiant and beautiful. When thirsty, drink the sweet dew of the Jade Pool; when hungry, eat the golden-flowered herb. Purify the world, save people from the Eight Obstacles to the Dao, and help them escape every kind of suffering.

Hymn to the Third Perfected One of the Mysterious One

The Numinous Treasure scriptures are wondrous beyond words: they are scriptures transmitted by the Most High in accordance with nature. Those who uphold them can attain the Dao and become perfected beings who descend into the world. Entrusted with proclaiming Daoism, they are truly exceptional people who transcend the ordinary. Once their mission is complete, they ascend to become immortals and govern palaces on the Mysterious Terrace, a lofty platform in the Daoist realms of immortals. At times they descend to Mount Kunlun and rest at ease on Penglai, the legendary immortal island in the sea.

Hymn to Celestial Master Zhang

The Numinous Treasure scriptures and the Great Cavern scripture are both supreme, utmost-true kings among Daoist scriptures. Among them, only the “Five Thousand Words,” that is, the Dao De Jing, surpasses the ordinary; it is of unsurpassed subtlety, and no scripture can compare with it. Those who practice it can become flying immortals, dwell in the wondrous emptiness, and govern the immortal realms. They serve and guard the lofty terrace where the Most High resides, and wander freely through the Purple Tenuity Palace, a celestial palace. A myriad kalpas pass like a flash of lightning; they endure for ages without end. The Dao Eye—the ability to perceive the Dao and understand all things—is fully realized, opening into complete understanding and joining with the profound, mysterious principle. Nothing dark or hidden escapes their knowledge; seated in stillness, they can see the Ten Directions, meaning every direction: the four cardinal points, the four intermediate points, above, and below.

Regard the cultivation of the Dao as a lifelong companion, and the scriptures as precious gems. Uphold the precepts and restrain the desires of the six senses; keep the Great Dao in mind and cast aside every form of greed. Make the mind calm and detached, settle the upright Qi, and let the spirit be clear and still. Then even the heavenly demons will respect and protect you, and you will enjoy great blessings for generations.

When the state flourishes, the scriptures and the Daoist teachings flourish with it. Heaven and humanity share this aspiration, and people can then transcend the ordinary and enter the Mahayana, the great path of cultivation. Nurture blessings and virtue with a good heart, as though opening a field of merit. Let the Daoist teachings endure and prosper, and the Dharma Wheel—the symbol of the circulation of the teachings and their instruction of living beings—turn without cease. Your ancestors for seven generations may be born in heaven, and you yourself may ascend to immortality in broad daylight.

The Great Dao is profound and wondrous. Whatever the mind turns toward can accord with it. Cultivate the body and vital essence, enter the realm of the immortals and perfected beings, and ultimately attain an indestructible Diamond Body. Transcend the hardships of the Three Realms—the Desire Realm, the Form Realm, and the Formless Realm—and escape the five torments of the hells. All returns to the Supreme One’s scripture. Quiet the mind, contemplate it, and bow in reverence.

Hymn on Expounding the Dao

Heaven’s Dao follows the seasons, and the transformations of Yin-Yang are wondrous beyond measure. If you can discern their key, you will understand that at times one must relinquish oneself. The awakened walk the proper path; the deluded have yet to grasp the true Dao.

Hymn on Expounding the Teachings

All things between Heaven and Earth undergo the changes of Yin-Yang and the four seasons, waxing and waning and acting upon one another. What matters is following the patterns of Heaven’s Dao. The sages’ achievements are wondrous and unfathomable; only those with virtue and understanding can comprehend them. Guard yourself, do not squander your life, and judge carefully what is appropriate.

Hymn on Expounding the Arts

Cut off the desire for profit, focus on a single root, and reflect on it again and again. If you blindly follow the tricks of changing external things, death and calamity will be close at hand. Take joy in withdrawing from turmoil and dwelling in stillness; affection and love can sometimes bring harm. The calamities and good fortune between Heaven and Earth must be met in accordance with the seasons and understood through clear discernment. Only then can calamity be turned into blessing.

Verses on the Scripture of Clarity and Stillness

The Five Primordials—the five original stages before Heaven and Earth took shape—abide at the beginning. In emptiness, the Dao exists of itself. Primordial Unity, the undivided state in which Heaven and Earth have yet to separate and the primal Qi remains whole, is the fundamental source: upright and pure. Its subtle essence accords with the profound teaching. Daoism expounds its teachings and sets forth the supreme principle, using parables to explain the constant Dao. From this come the cultivation of the virtue of clarity and stillness, the spreading of its instruction, and the composition of scriptural chapters.

The Great Dao is hidden from view, its true essence blended within depths of mystery. Heaven and Earth—the Two Modes of Yin and Yang—begin to divide, revealing the signs of Heaven and Earth; the primal Qi moves without ceasing. The Great Dao covers and supports all things, and is indeed beyond measure. In peace, it generates and nurtures all things. Like a craftsman shaping vessels, the Great Dao transforms all things; even the smallest creatures contain a spiritual nature.

The sun and moon move through the empty sky, shining with impartial light. They draw on the power of Heaven to shine for ages; their light falls on all things, allowing everything to appear. All things with form receive their illumination, while even what has no feelings joins in this shared scene. Yin and Yang embody the Dao at all times, moving without pause through the boundless Great Void.

The wondrous Dao is indeed hard to name in words, yet it embraces and gives life to all things. It moves with the seasons, filling the veins of the earth. All things follow their nature and receive the clear Qi bestowed by Heaven. Gentle breaths of Qi blow through and nourish them; Yin and Yang blend in harmony, bringing about the transformations and growth of all things. Though all things follow the principle of perfect interconnection, in the end they return to one whole. High or low, they are all equal and at ease.

The Dao has no image or trace and is difficult to name, like the time before chaos was divided. Before Heaven and Earth had begun to form, how could there have been rain, clouds, or wind? When the embryo of chaos opened, the forms of all things emerged from obscurity. Creation then unfolded into its many divisions, and the principles of endless change came into being.

Clear and turbid Qi, Yin Qi and Yang Qi, flow through Heaven and Earth, blending in harmony beyond description. They respond to one another and bring about change of their own accord, ultimately joining again with the principle of perfect interconnection. All things receive their nourishment, as the Three Primordial Energies—the three kinds of primordial Qi or sources described in Daoism—work together. Heaven and Earth unite and settle into harmony, and all things ultimately converge in a state of true emptiness.

When Heaven and Earth first divided, the two modes of Yin and Yang were established; human beings, the most spiritually endowed of all creatures, became the most honored. The Three Powers of Heaven, Earth, and Humanity order the cosmos, while the two Qi of Yin and Yang bring Heaven and Earth into being. All things contain true Qi, the innate, original energy of life, whose source lies in the gateway of true nature. Firmness and softness work together and complement one another. Who can truly perceive and hold to the Dao?

When the root descends and penetrates the true substance, returning to the source, one can see why the branches came into being. In spring, Yang Qi unfolds, bringing luxuriant growth to plants and trees; in autumn, it governs their withering and decline. The Taiji, the fundamental state from which all things arise and change, gives rise to form and transformation. Pure, harmonious Qi continually renews all things. The pivot of the cosmos drives the turning of the Great Transformation, its wondrous workings seeming to command the movement of all things.

The principle of stillness and clarity is profound. Who can fully investigate it? By contemplating emptiness and stillness, one can cast aside the many external things; by letting go of attachment to forms, one can clear the heart-mind. Wisdom shines like the bright moon over the Red River of Heaven, while compassion spreads like clouds over green mountain ridges. When the heart-mind is still and one does not act rashly, one can respond to things with clear awareness.

When people realize constant stillness and clarity, they can understand the source and the sacred workings of the mysterious Dao. In the beginning there was no defilement or obstruction; within perfect stillness, light lay concealed. All manner of realms were silently held within it, appearing…

When people realize constant clarity and stillness, they can understand the subtle, sacred workings at the source of all things. At the beginning of the universe, there was no defilement or obstruction. All sounds were silent, and radiance lay hidden, unseen. Without sound or trace, it held vast worlds within itself, deep and unfathomable, reaching to Ziwei, the celestial palace of the stars. After the Three Origins (the upper, middle, and lower origins in Daoist thought) rise and descend in their cycles, all things in Heaven and Earth will eventually return to the Dao.

The heart is where the spirit resides; only when the heart is still can the spirit be settled. Greed, anger, and delusion arise easily, while discipline, meditation, and wisdom are difficult to discern. The key to cultivating the Dao is to hold to the central path and persist in keeping the heart at ease and still. When craving no longer arises, the six desires subside, and the realm of the Dharma—the sphere manifested by all phenomena—naturally opens within the heart.

If you can cast off every kind of passion and desire and clear the heart, you can behold all things with subtle insight. To unite with the Dao and return to truth is not to cling to particular things; to return to stillness is to lay aside all distinctions. Sky meets water at the horizon, where all is quiet in the distance; mountains rise high, cold beneath the moon. When the heart and its surroundings are perfectly integrated, wisdom opens through, like a Golden Elixir refined inside a vessel, the essence symbolized in Daoist Neidan practice.

Right mindfulness is impartial and balanced, empty, still, and Wuwei (non-action), in harmony with the natural Dao. When the sense fields encountered by the six faculties—eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind—fall quiet, the three poisons of greed, anger, and delusion can be cured. The subtle Dao transcends the kalpa of emptiness, the cycle in which Heaven and Earth perish and all things return to void, allowing the whole spirit to reach Heaven. In the hidden depths, the Mysterious Female, the profound gateway through which the Dao brings forth all things, naturally continues without end.

Losing the path and forgetting one’s original home both come from failing to understand one’s own numinous light. A restless, agitated heart is easily stirred by the world outside; what one has long grown used to is hardest to forget. How easily can the heart be rid of the stain of passion and desire? Perverse thoughts only throw it into greater turmoil. But turn back, awaken, and look within, and you will see the Empty King, a name in Buddhist and Daoist contexts for the truth of emptiness and stillness.

Awaken and see the troubles of the dusty world for what they are, and the clear eye of the Dao will open. Form and sound are not in themselves obstacles to cultivation, but attachment to what one sees and hears must be released. When the spirit is still, a thousand afflictions can fade away; when the heart is empty and still, countless worries subside. As a gentle breeze passes through the Jade Gate, a wondrous sound naturally arises.

Observe the many forms of things, and you will find that none has a fixed, unchanging substance: their nature is empty. All things contain the true realm of the Dharma, and their essential nature accords with the vast emptiness of space. When the clouds are still, moonlight appears; the clear pool reflects a bright expanse, stretched out like white silk. This principle has already been made clear—why seek some other special path?

Observe all things through stillness and luminous awareness: how could the nature of beings with spirit differ? The state of uniting with the Dao and returning to truth cannot be seen with the eyes, nor can it leave traces for others to imitate. Those who truly understand sit upright in the hall, calm and self-sufficient; there is nothing to seek beyond the Dharma. Once even the distinctions of “the mysterious and more mysterious” have dissolved, body and mind may move freely and at ease through the eight directions of Heaven and Earth.

Fully realize the state of true emptiness—a state beyond all distinctions and attachments—and turn back to contemplate. You will then see that nothing exists independently. All things merge into one, like a vast, boundless wilderness: clear and still, with their fundamental nature returning to emptiness. In seeing all things through, sound ultimately falls silent; in reaching complete openness, one’s nature is naturally free. The distinction between inner and outer also disappears. This is not some state of returning to the beginning.

Once you understand completely, the mind no longer clings to anything. It does not cling even to “nothingness,” and in the end there is no need to establish “nothingness of nothingness.” Why labor to clear away deluded thoughts? There is no need to distinguish the coarse from the refined, or the high from the low. When conditions fall silent, there is no scope for all manner of action; returning to what is true, one lets things follow their nature and makes no further changes. This subtle state is hard to express in words, and no one can impose a standard for it.

All things are empty from the outset. Only when one does not cling even to “nothingness” does one’s practice accord with that of the sages. Clear and still, there is no distinction between inner and outer; quiet and soundless, there is no longer any distinction between east and west. Where mind and its surroundings are both forgotten, forms and boundaries such as round and square dissolve as well. Profound and remote, it transcends the transformations of nature, and nothing lies beyond its reach.

For now, take stillness as the basis of practice, and also remove the roots of desire. When external conditions are forgotten in this way, deluded thoughts cease, and true calm naturally shines forth. Only by attuning oneself to the teaching of non-arising—the principle of not clinging to birth and death—does one understand that the heart always holds an undying vitality like that of spring. Alone, one stands beyond Heaven and Earth, settling wherever one pleases, free and at ease.

Firmly penetrate what is truly constant, and the spirit’s radiance becomes immeasurable. It illuminates the chamber of the Three Poisons—greed, anger, and delusion—and pierces the Five Bright Halls, palaces of inner contemplation in Daoist practice. Like a jeweled moon appearing in a clear sky, it dispels the clouds of confusion. A fresh breeze carries its message; facing all things, one lets them unfold naturally.

Through ages upon ages, the complete Dao remains secure; within it there is neither darkness nor light. The Valley Spirit, the deep and inexhaustible source of transformation, abides in stillness, and the sea of the teachings rests clear and calm. With right mindfulness, set out on the path of return to the real; quiet the mind and travel the mysterious way. Be forever free of the bonds of life and death, and move at ease through the Three Realms: the Realm of Desire, the Realm of Form, and the Realm of Formlessness.

Fully understand the principle of stillness, and reputation and traces fall silent as well; penetrate deeply into the subtle truth. True emptiness is not something to be acquired, and the true nature of reality needs no deliberate construction. Let eating, drinking, and daily life follow their natural course; let one’s bearing and conduct be free and composed. Suddenly dispel conjecture and distinctions, and peacefully preserve the body and mind so that they remain whole and complete.

This is meant to guide all beings to awaken and resolve their delusions, so that they may let go of every kind of pursuit. Then they can suddenly transcend the fruit free from outflows—the state of cultivation without afflictions or faults. How could there still be room to cling to some particular cause? How could the mind of choosing and rejecting sway the heart any longer? Ties of cause and condition would also be severed. If one lets go completely in a single moment, the sacred Way can be transmitted.

Why do people of superior capacity not contend with others? Because they cultivate diligently and hold fast to their aspirations. They dwell in the true Dao, their minds calm and unworldly. They nurture their nature and withdraw to a secluded realm of mystery. Looking up and down, they observe the principles of Heaven; whether in hardship or success, they understand the profound depths of the Great Way. How lamentable that those who have not yet understood the Way vie to discuss its principles, only to cloud their own minds.

To teach others through virtue is not to seek repayment; when one bestows kindness generously, why boast of it? Those of great talent and virtue conceal their brilliance and keep a low profile, allowing their nature to become clear and pure as solid ice. In silence, they accord with the lofty Dao of Heaven and penetrate the vast and all-encompassing Supreme Way. How could they be like the ignorant, clinging to distinctions and forcing themselves to speak of their own abilities?

All beings often turn away from the Great Way and seek outward, their thoughts upside down. Delusions arise from this, obscuring their true spiritual nature. Nothing is lacking to begin with, so why force oneself to cling to cultivation? If one can brush away the clouds of delusion in an instant, the silver moon will shine upon the Jade Tower, a symbol of an inner realm of clarity and stillness.

Planning and scheming readily give rise to deluded thoughts, and straying from one’s true nature unsettles the spirit. These thoughts all arise because the heart harbors desire, clings to external things, and gives rise to greed and anger. The fire of ignorance—the afflictions of delusion—continually gathers in the heart, adding further grime to its troubles. From then on, one creates karma and receives its results, sinking through the Six Realms, the six destinations of beings caught in samsara.

Deluded thoughts give rise to anger and desire, while greed and ignorance become obstacles. Sorrow binds the heart for a long time, and afflictions remain entwined around it. Thus people lose the true Dao and commit all manner of faults. If they turn the light inward and reflect on themselves, they can recognize its mystery.

Afflictions arise from thoughts, yet when have people ever noticed their own minds? They endure suffering and humiliation in bewilderment, their minds and spirits in turmoil; how could they be willing to stop and reflect? They squander their lives in vain, unaware that the years have brought them to this very day. Thus they lose the true Dao, while deluded thoughts continue to trouble their spirits.

If people can understand the principles of Heaven and Earth, they can receive nourishment from the Dao’s Qi, the vital energy of the Dao. By concealing the root and securing the foundation, they can dispel the disturbances of the Po and let the Hun and Shen return to peace. To understand the path to long life, one must open the Gate of Prolonged Vision, a state of cultivation in which life is nurtured over time and the spirit is gathered through inward contemplation. When one fully preserves one’s natural authenticity, the spirit arises of its own accord, attaining a dignity as supreme as that of the Dharma King.

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning transcends the realm of emptiness, where the three primordial energies converge at the Gate of Heaven. Purple radiance illuminates the vast sky, while bright light from the four directions nourishes the wondrous spiritual root. Mysterious transformations arise from the Jade Terrace in the east; three powers of passage open the western immortal realm of Kunlun. Clear, brilliant light reflects across the nine heavens, pure and lucid; five-colored radiance coils like brocade clouds. Amid the Li Luo, divine lamps shine, and the seven stars of the Northern Celestial Origin send forth their light. The immortals drift into the Upper Clarity Heaven, respectfully encircling the divine Emperor Yi. In the heights, solemn celestial writings appear, as feather-robed youths come and go in procession. Fragrance flows, originally without form or color, permeating the place where the myriad immortals gather. To the left, it turns through three cycles of calamity; to the right, it conveys the passages that lead throughout the myriad heavens. Cloud blossoms hang like tassels, adorned with jade clouds, while eight phoenixes wheel and dance in the sky. The seasons turn without pause; the blue and white energies were distinct from the earliest times. When the count of nine times nine is complete, the cycle of calamity changes; every three cycles, a long age passes. Heaven and Earth must one day meet their end, and obstruction and upheaval ultimately return to the celestial banner. Through penetrating insight into the Zhengyi teachings, the celestial decree is solemnly proclaimed: the old order of the Six Heavens has come to an end.

In an age of Great Peace, all returns to empty clarity, and the people serve and assist the sage ruler of the latter age. A numinous wind rises from the western gate; brocade clouds rise over the Jade Terrace in the east. The Yin and Yang energies illuminate the Jade Isle, while flowing fragrance ascends on a thin wisp of smoke. Five-colored radiance solemnly proclaims the celestial decree that brings the old order of the Six Heavens to an end.

In an age of Great Peace, all returns to empty clarity, and the people serve and assist the sage ruler of the latter age. A numinous wind rises from the western gate; brocade clouds rise over the Jade Terrace in the east. The Yin and Yang energies illuminate the Jade Isle, while flowing fragrance ascends on a thin wisp of smoke. Five-colored radiance scatters like the wind, and in an instant illuminates the Ninefold Clarity Heaven. Qian Forest reflects the vermilion sunlight, and Yellow Blossoms rise with the moon. In the forest are youths gathering mushrooms of immortality, clad in feathered robes and wearing flying-green ornaments. Fierce winds and sunlight sweep across the peaks of myriad ranges, while the immortals freely ride green carriages on their feasts and excursions. They oversee the transport of the Nine Emptinesses, setting the course of Heaven in motion along unfathomable paths. To the left, they transmit the decrees of the Three Heavens; to the right, they command the celestial troops of the Six Heavens. They inspect the movement of the energies and return them to the void; the measures of Heaven turn and shift with the cycles of calamity. Calamity follows its own cycles: who can fathom its decline and flourishing? Great floods drown the order of the clouds, leaving no intact trace in Heaven, Earth, or the four directions. White corpses float in the endless current, and lone souls drift away with them. Only at the threshold where life and death meet do people lament and come to understand the clarity of the true teaching. Those who have advanced deeply in the Dao should strive ever harder, binding radiant blossoms into a jade-like register of names. How fortunate are the immortals who carry white tablets, keeping one another company and sharing in the Great Peace.

Penetrate the Gate of Heaven and set the celestial order in motion; the energies of the Five Phases propel three subtle transformations. The purple gateway releases jade tablets, and the golden gateway receives the radiance of the divine beings. Only when the eight directions converge does one come to understand the clarity of the true teaching. Those who have advanced deeply in the Dao should strive ever harder, binding radiant blossoms into a jade-like register of names. How fortunate are the immortals who carry white tablets, keeping one another company and sharing in the Great Peace.

The gates of heaven set the celestial order in motion, while the Qi of the Five Phases flows through three subtle realms. A purple portal releases precious jade tablets, and a golden gate of heaven receives the radiance of the divine. Sacred writings from the eight directions converge, and True Wind blends with them, suddenly brightening layer upon layer of darkness. Beyond the Ninefold Pure Heavens, the distant sky is clear and open, and the morning light circles back. Three colors return to emptiness; the seasons answer the order of the Jade Capital. The River Lord has already set down his writing brush, as the Qi of the Five Phases quietly shifts and turns. After countless kalpas, when one’s allotted fate reaches its end, one rides the Qi back to its source. Demons fill the celestial realm, and every kind of baleful force vies to display its power. People endure the blows of calamity; corpses pile up, a sorrowful sight. How wondrous this numinous writing of the True Teaching: though it has passed through tribulations, its radiance has never faded. When the appointed time arrives, all will come to welcome one another; the covenant is at the Gate of the Nine Heavens. May we together await an age of peace, then release the body and depart, as if we could ascend without wings.

How ethereal the wondrous sounds of the Three Caverns, clear and tranquil, far-reaching and pure as the ring of a bell. Pursue their sound, and it seems both present and absent; set their wondrous workings in motion, and their form remains unseen. Their resonance reaches the ten directions, yet when heard, it is soundless.

The Great Dao must be widely proclaimed, allowing the mind and spirit to roam and return to the Great Void. Pay homage in the ten directions, ride the Nine Dragons upward to transcend the world; rise lightly beyond the Three Realms, and from there ascend to the heights among the clouds.

My teacher is the supreme lord of the heavens, the sovereign above all others. Looking beyond the world’s edge, one can faintly glimpse halls wreathed in purple flames. The palaces of the Mysterious Metropolis rise in grandeur; all that can be seen are the dwellings of immortals.

The Great Cavern Scripture of Truth comes from the Great Dragon. By cultivating it, one may rise lightly beyond the Three Realms and thereby ascend from the clouds to the heights.

My teacher is the supreme lord of the heavens, the sovereign above all others. Looking beyond the world’s edge, one can faintly glimpse halls wreathed in purple flames. The palaces of the Mysterious Metropolis rise in grandeur; all that can be seen are the dwellings of immortals.

The Great Cavern Scripture of Truth is a Great Vehicle teaching. Its contents are profound and subtle, wondrous beyond measure. All the immortal and perfected beings and holy assemblies of the ten directions and three ages, once they have practiced it and attained their goal, can reach the Heaven of Primordial Blue.

The Three Caverns, the three vehicles of practice at different levels, contain principles so broad and deep they cannot be exhausted. The wondrous words of the Empty Sovereign, the highest Daoist deity, are pure and flawless. All scriptures and myriad teachings ultimately return to their ancestral source; understand and realize their principles, and one can ascend beyond the bounds of the Great Tribulation.

Emperors, ministers, nobles, regional governors and officials of every rank, as well as ordinary people, may all practice the Great Cavern Scripture of Truth. Whatever their station, even amid wealth and splendor, they can ultimately investigate its true and mysterious principles.

Though Buddhism and Daoism follow different paths, the Confucian gentleman, too, values ritual and poetry. People from every quarter may recite and uphold the Great Cavern Scripture of Truth. The principles it reveals transcend the ages before and after the world’s creation, returning to the emptiness that precedes Heaven and Earth.

Those who follow the Quanzhen school and ordinary people need not fruitlessly seek among the myriad methods. If they recite and uphold the Great Cavern Immortal Scripture ten thousand times, the Old Master, the Empty Sovereign, will naturally recognize those whose true nature accords with the Dao.

Civil officials, military commanders, and all manner of functionaries, as well as courtesans and ordinary people, may recite the Great Cavern Scripture (Dadong Jing) as they please. In this way, they can dispel the roots of karmic offenses and come to wander in the company of the gods.

The true meaning of the Great Cavern Scripture differs from that of other scriptures. Cultivating it can lead one to ascend to immortality and enter sagehood, and to pay homage to the Mysterious Real Ones—the wondrous, true gods. Even after passing through countless kalpas and undergoing rebirth in the mortal world, one can fully realize the unsurpassed realm of the Void Sovereign, a revered deity in Daoism.

How lamentable that those who are ignorant and have not understood the Way cannot know of the Millet Pearl hidden in Fuli, the celestial realm of Daoist legend—a metaphor for the Dao, subtle and precious. The Great Cavern Scripture delivers all beings and returns them to the Way of Primordial Unity. Through it, even ordinary people can reach the Mysterious Capital, the immortal realm of Daoist legend.

If one wishes to cultivate the Way and attain its highest realm, what could compare with reciting and studying a few passages of the Great Cavern Scripture? Give full attention to the heart, fulfill one’s nature, and cultivate oneself; by comprehending its teachings, one can ascend to the Great You Court, an immortal realm in Daoist legend.

Because my disciples have carved and printed this scripture, I have written a hymn in its praise. The scripture’s merit is immense and inexhaustible, while the wondrous Dao of the Void Sovereign is formless by nature.

Hymn to the Primordial Sovereign, the Celestial Emperor

It first issued from the sound “Cang Hu Tan Chi,” then formed into cloud seal script, the script used for Daoist talismanic writings, to deliver celestial and human beings. The Great Dark Dao Father, a revered Daoist deity, personally sought and received this Dao; only afterward did people of the world come to hear of the Great Cavern Scripture.

When ordinary people of the world study and understand the true Dao, the road to the immortal realms is long and truly hard to find. If they wish to know a swift and sure path, they should recite the Great Cavern Scripture aloud and keep it in their hearts.

If one’s ancestors and former lives accumulated little good karma, then blessings, prosperity, and descendants in this life may also be lacking. Rather than pray for one’s wishes to come true, why not diligently read the Great Cavern Scripture?

The sun and moon lose their radiance, and disasters follow one another; the stars stray from their courses and throw the heavens into disorder. To dispel celestial calamities and bring peace to the people, those who have succeeded in cultivating the Dao should together proclaim the Great Cavern Scripture.

Drought rages, and rain is as precious as gold; infestations, locusts, and floods persist, leaving crops in poor condition. To pray for a good harvest and spare the people from famine, the scripture should be widely taught, with people encouraged to pray and recite it.

Craftspeople, merchants, farmers, and those in every other occupation often fail to notice, in their pursuit of gain, that karmic retribution has already followed them. Even amid their busy lives, they should set aside some time to recite and study the Wenchang Great Cavern Scripture, a version of the Great Cavern Scripture associated with the Wenchang tradition.

The treasury is well supplied, warfare has ceased, and the realm is at peace. The people praise the Way of good governance and hope the country will enjoy lasting peace. To serve the state, one should diligently recite the Great Cavern Scripture.

The deities of the community shrines and the many spirits seek promotion but cannot find a way to attain it. Reciting the scripture can enter their names in the register of good deeds and increase their power. At dusk, one should listen to the Great Cavern Scripture being recited.

The souls of relatives, clan members, and parents have lingered in the underworld for a long time, unable to ascend. If one wishes to deliver them but has no means to do so, one should observe purification and diligently recite the Great Cavern Scripture.

Lawsuits and summonses concerning graves entangle the descendants and bring censure from the celestial court. Such calamities are passed down from generation to generation. To dispel them, one should recite the Great Transcendence, a scripture used to deliver departed souls. If one wishes to deliver the dead but has no means to do so, one should observe purification and diligently recite the Great Cavern Scripture.

Lawsuits and summonses concerning graves entangle the descendants and bring censure from the celestial court; the calamities pass from one generation to the next. To dispel them, one should recite the Great Cavern Scripture.

If construction on a house or grave involves digging and disturbing the earth, thereby offending malign spirits, the household will suffer many calamities. To bring them to an end, one should recite the Great Cavern Scripture.

The plague spirits of the year command the Five Plague Spirits and travel through the towns and villages of every region, harming the people. To protect neighbors and clan members and prevent the disease from spreading, everyone should maintain strict cleanliness and recite the Great Cavern Scripture together.

If one has long been afflicted by the misfortunes of the month and disasters of the year, and has fallen ill, yet medicine, divination, and prayers to the spirits bring no relief, one may feel there is nowhere to turn. At such a time, one should take refuge in the Great Dao and recite the Great Cavern Scripture.

The souls of the six kinds of aggrieved dead—those bound to the deceased by grievance or kinship—languish in darkness in the underworld. They should all be delivered through ritual refinement so they may ascend to the heavens, and the Great Cavern Scripture should be recited often.

In the six realms, enemies have formed deep hatreds and take revenge on one another, with no end in sight. If one wishes them to release their grievances and live together in harmony again, the only way is for them to hear the Great Cavern Scripture.

At times, people quarrel over wealth or give way to anger, and in a moment of indignation call upon the spirits as witnesses. This gives rise to a lawsuit among ghosts and spirits, with no knowing when it will be settled. The root of resolving such grievances lies in reciting the Great Cavern Scripture.

Illness and death follow one another without respite; lawsuits, disasters, and theft also bring unending trouble, while wealth and possessions melt away like snow and ice. To pray for protection, one should recite the Great Cavern Scripture.

Wood and stone spirits, foxes, monkeys, dogs, and other demons can hurl bricks, set fires, and take human form. They throw their weight around and demand improper offerings. To destroy such demons, one should recite the Great Cavern Scripture.

Those who live near forests and tombs … find their wealth and possessions melting away like snow and ice. To pray for protection, one should recite the Great Cavern Scripture.

Tree and stone spirits, foxes, monkeys, dogs, and other uncanny beings hurl bricks and set fires, then transform themselves into human shapes. They throw their weight around and lure people into making improper sacrifices and offerings to them. To put an end to these harms, one should study the Great Cavern Scripture.

Those who live in forests or remote places are often harmed by insects, snakes, wolves, and tigers. When they hear strange sounds, they should take shelter promptly to avoid danger. In daily life, whether settling down or sitting and lying, they should be mindful to recite the Great Cavern Scripture.

A scholar may find his mind blocked, and even a prodigy may become slow-witted. To receive divine aid when composing with the brush, one should recite the Great Cavern Scripture often.

The human body is like an illusion or a bubble, gone in an instant. One should cultivate the Qi (vital energy), Jing (essence), and Shen (spirit) within the body, care for one’s physical form, and practice the true Dao. If one preserves both body and life, one may endure as long as Heaven. One should deeply contemplate and study the Wenchang Great Cavern Scripture.

Do not rely on a large family fortune or the possession of ten thousand pieces of gold. If the Heavenly Registrar, who oversees the registers of celestial rank and fortune, withdraws your blessings and emoluments, your household’s prosperity can easily collapse. At times, it is especially fitting to accumulate merit—for example, by donating your own money to print and circulate the Great Cavern Scripture.

With wholehearted sincerity reaching Shangqing (the revered celestial realm in Daoism), one can communicate with the divine and receive transmission from the Three Spirits. The attainment of a Celestial Worthy’s fruition in this life comes from diligently studying the Great Cavern Scripture.

I urge you again and again: the meaning of the Great Cavern Scripture is mysterious and profound, beyond the reach of words. Its merit is boundless and beyond measure. I admonish all ordinary people not to treat it lightly.

The Heavenly King Yuanshi proclaims the wondrous Great Vehicle teaching. Only those with an affinity for it can encounter this revered scripture. If they practice and recite it diligently throughout their lives, they may join together as members of the Wenchang Dao Assembly.

Hymn on Opening and Guiding the Dharma Wheel

I set forth eight admonitions that must not be taken lightly.

The Heavenly King Yuanshi proclaims the wondrous Great Vehicle teaching. Only those with an affinity for it can encounter this revered scripture. If they practice and recite it diligently throughout their lives, they may join together as members of the Wenchang Dao Assembly.

Hymn on Opening and Guiding the Dharma Wheel

I open the gates in the eight directions, and within them stands a city of jade. In the city, trees of precious jewels grow naturally, without roots or stems. Golden branches cross and intertwine, their light and shadows reflecting the Supreme Clarity (Shangqing), the pure and tranquil celestial realm spoken of in Daoism. Here the Dharma Wheel turns to guide people across, enabling them to reach the true Dao and commune with the divine. Above, there is no place its light does not reach; below, there is no corner it fails to illuminate.

I saw a Daoist who recited the scriptures morning and evening and kept fasts for a long time. He lived in a secluded mountain place and never slackened, day or night. He ate cypress seeds and drank clear water. He personally paid homage to his master and received the teachings, never relaxing his efforts for a moment. He practiced alone among mountain cliffs and caves, spent nights by himself, and traveled long distances on foot. He kept company with deer and took shelter beneath the trees. Wild beasts crouched beside him, while birds cried mournfully overhead. Wind and clouds turned bleak and cold, and dead trees shed their leaves. Mountain streams froze over, snow covered the courtyard, and the bitter cold pierced his skin, yet his resolve grew all the firmer.

He lived in seclusion in the mountains and forests for a long time, enduring every hardship. When exhausted, he dared not slacken; when utterly worn down, he dared not rest. He sought the Great Dao through many twists and turns, and at last moved the Celestial Emperor. Then sacred documents inscribed in cinnabar and green characters appeared, listing mysterious titles. Immortals clad in feathered robes and brocade skirts, with flying azure ornaments, descended in solemn array. Fire bells shone brightly. Riding a cinnabar carriage the color of rosy clouds and three plain flying carriages—the conveyances of immortals—they entered my eight gates. Only then did I understand that life and death are determined by the accumulation of cultivation. The plight of living beings is truly lamentable.

Hymn on the Practice of Deliverance

Once the Dharma Wheel is set turning, it can lead people toward deliverance from the cycle of life and death. Where one goes after death changes according to one’s vows and deeds. As the foundations of cultivation accumulate, understanding and its fitting rewards follow; misfortune and good fortune also take turns arising. Ordinary people seek only to know their past lives, while those who understand the Dao hope not to be reborn in the next. If the merit gained in a former life is not yet complete, blessings in this life will come later. With the encouragement of those who came before, one continues cultivating in this life; when merit has fully accumulated, the body can naturally ascend.

The immortals of the ten directions who attained the Dao in past lives passed through many kalpas before reaching subtle realization. Yet I see that those who truly seek to learn the Great Dao often fail to understand their masters’ intentions. Cultivate diligently and honor the treasured master, and the master will protect you, while your good fortune and De grow deep. To slight one’s master is to lose one’s own most precious treasure, and the merit accumulated before will be squandered. Heed the instruction and cultivate genuine practice, and the Three Masters—the teachers who transmit the teachings and protect one’s cultivation—will guide you through the mysterious gate. If you can realize the truth of the Great Dao, the Dharma Wheel will open of itself in a sudden flash. Do not assume that everything is empty merely because all seems silent and still before your eyes. In the unseen realm, there are truths profound and subtle, difficult to perceive.

Verses on the Root of Life Not Yet Exhausted

Turning the Dharma Wheel can free the spirit from the stillness of emptiness and lift it beyond the cycle of birth and death. Sin and blessing each have their hidden pathways. If one can realize the true essence of the Dao, the Dharma Wheel will open of its own accord. Do not assume that all is silent and still here: deep in the netherworld, subtle principles continue to operate.

Verses on the Unspent Root of Life

Turning the Dharma Wheel can free the spirit from the stillness of emptiness and lift it beyond the cycle of birth and death. Sin and blessing each bring their corresponding consequences; good and ill fortune do not descend without cause. Whether one attains the Dao depends on one’s own conduct and also on the foundation accumulated in past lives. Evil deeds bring harsh punishment, causing one to wander through the realm of the Five Sufferings. Heaven and earth may seem vast and enduring, yet the hidden, mysterious powers of judgment see all things clearly.

I often observe you people and see you studying under masters and receiving my scriptures and teachings. Yet after receiving them, you betray your master, [the text here is corrupt and incomplete, so its original meaning is difficult to determine]. When hardship comes, you do not reflect on yourselves; instead, you complain at every turn. Thus the divine offices of the Six Departments, which oversee these matters, record your faults with their brushes. After death, you will have to bear the burden of knife mountains and endure suffering. Wandering among the Three Paths—the hell, hungry ghost, and animal realms—what concern will you have then for your bodies or names? You may even be transformed into one of the six domestic animals, bewildered and longing to return to the netherworld.

The Dharma Wheel turns according to its constant course and does not stop for anyone’s coming or going. Alas, there is no escaping the consequences of fortune and calamity; when retribution comes, wealth cannot buy a new life. Thinking of how you do not understand the causes and consequences that shape destiny, I have written these verses to express my sorrow.

Verses on Contemplating the Spirit’s Transformation

The wondrous Dao opens a path of communication and transforms my spirit, vast and all-pervading, with immeasurable merit. When cultivation of the Dao is complete, one may pass through the cosmic cycles of Heaven and Earth; the Dharma Wheel transforms layer upon layer, reaching the ninefold heavens. One rises beyond the cycle of birth and death, while each affinity and retribution has its own source. Who can awaken to the causes and consequences of past and future? The passage of body and spirit has neither beginning nor end.

By accumulating goodness and blessings, one lays the foundation for merit and virtue; one can also pull free from the peaks of the Five Perils, leave the Three Evil Paths, and enter the realm of emptiness in serenity and purity. With the intention of delivering boundless beings, one’s thoughts settle and one becomes attuned to the spirits. The Dharma Wheel turns in the Three Ritual Grounds, enabling practitioners to attain the rank of a high immortal. May I stride with the enduring steps of the great Chun tree and drift upward into the Palace of Taiji.

Hymn on Destiny and Karmic Affinities

By refraining from killing living beings, one can extend one’s life, remain free from illness and suffering, receive blessings in the heavenly realms, and live in a secure body with support. By refraining from theft, one preserves one’s integrity and dignity, and wealth naturally accumulates. One can also live in a palace built of the seven treasures and enjoy its comforts. By refraining from sexual misconduct, one’s life will not fall into disorder and one’s body will remain clean. In a future life, one will have a dignified appearance and virtuous character, and be naturally intelligent.

By refraining from deceit, one’s breath will be fragrant and one’s words honest and trustworthy. One’s speech can illuminate the Great Dao, and one can bring undertakings to fruition. By abstaining completely from alcohol, one will not let drink cause mishaps. One will often hope to behold scenes of abundant flowers and fruit, and will also be served by heavenly beings. When one’s life ends, one will ascend to heaven, where twenty-five spirits will welcome one; the gods will descend of their own accord, and one’s whole body will shine with radiant light.

Through giving, one can receive great blessings, and wealth will come naturally. In a future life, one will often hold an honored position and enjoy happiness for generations. By upholding the precepts, one will remain generous and respectful in heart and serve the Nine Revered Deities, honored in Daoism. With sincere devotion and single-mindedness, one will do no evil and preserve the body and extend one’s life. By enduring insult and yielding humbly, one will not give voice to anger. Even when insulted, one will bear it patiently and answer without harsh words; blessings, prosperity, and longevity will then grow naturally.

By diligent effort without slackening, and by constantly keeping the Great Dao in mind, one can realize the true Dao. When one’s actions accord with the Dao, one will become a heavenly being after death. By holding the true Dao in mind without wavering, remaining loyal and trustworthy, and speaking no falsehoods, one will face few hardships in a future life if one honors those who embody the Dao and De. Those who practice these six good deeds can be reborn as human beings, with dignified features, and will naturally become people of distinction.

Those who are stingy and greedy, unwilling to give, or who steal in secret … will become heavenly beings when their lives end. By holding the true Dao in mind without wavering, remaining loyal and trustworthy, and speaking no falsehoods, one will face few hardships in a future life if one honors those who embody the Dao and De. Those who practice these six good deeds can be reborn as human beings, with dignified features, and will naturally become people of distinction.

Those who are greedy and miserly, unwilling to give alms; who steal property and fail to support their parents; who hoard their possessions and pursue only fame and profit; and who refuse to help the elderly and poor will face retribution. Even when their wives, children, and servants are cold and hungry, they do nothing. They spend their days sitting guard over their wealth. After death, they become hungry ghosts, never satisfied, enduring great suffering with their bodies covered in sores. They beg everywhere, but no one gives to them, and their family line is utterly ruined.

Those who spread rumors and sow discord in life will suffer cruel punishments after death, their bodies grievously mutilated. Boiling copper is poured into their mouths, and their tongues are pulled out until they stretch halfway down their bodies. The molten metal is then forced into their stomachs, burning and ulcerating their intestines. Those who do not think to do good while alive will fall into suffering after death. Those who do evil with viciousness, despising and bullying others, will be judged and punished for tens of thousands of years. When their punishment ends, they will be reborn among the lowly. If they remain vicious and murderous, stealing and throwing their weight around, they will suffer bodily mutilation and fall again into hell, enduring calamities through countless kalpas.

Those who are always thinking of stealing, and refuse to repay their debts; who delight in killing animals and hunting, act against the righteous Way, and corrupt customs; who are untrustworthy in their dealings and fly into a rage when others say even a few words; who cannot recognize their own offenses, favor deviant paths, and do not believe in the righteous Way will be reborn after death as oxen, sheep, donkeys, horses, and other livestock. They will bear heavy loads year after year, live amid filth and stench, and suffer beatings through countless kalpas.

Those who commit incestuous and rebellious offenses within their family will be struck dead by thunder and lightning. After death, they will fall into hell, hung upside down and scorched by fire. Those who spread rumors and slander the true Way will suffer greatly in their next life: boiling copper will be poured into their mouths, and they will endure constant hunger and bitter cold.

Always keep a generous heart, giving without reluctance and aiding people far and wide so that they may live in peace. Such a person can enjoy the blessings of an honored and unworldly life in this world, and people will witness his ascent to immortality. By making offerings to virtuous cultivators of the Dao and persisting in fasting, one may behold the true spirits. With a quiet mind, recite silently and without slackening, and seven generations of one’s ancestors can ascend to heaven. Endure humiliation without anger, and in the next life you will be upright and kind. Study the Dao and virtue diligently, and you will become a person worthy of respect. Treat others with gentleness and humility, yielding to them; aid those in urgent need and rescue those in danger, and you will live longer and be honored with ascent to heaven. Reverently uphold the Lingbao Precepts (Daoist commandments), understand and practice the Nine Palaces Way (a Daoist method of cultivation), and devote yourself wholeheartedly to the Way of Emptiness; then your lifespan may endure as long as Heaven and Earth.

Some ignorant people treat their parents arrogantly and show them no respect. In the next life, they will become lowly people. They see precious things yet fail to show reverence, and they offend their elders. They act without compassion or filial devotion; in the next life, they will become servants, dependent on others for food and clothing, driven and beaten day and night, suffering constantly and difficult to deliver after death. Those who indulge themselves and crave lust, even disbelieving in spirits, will be hungry and cold in the next life, and meet hardship at every turn. Those who incur debts but curse their creditors, or revile their ancestors when poverty and suffering befall them, will be reborn as cattle or sheep in the next life, driven by others and made to endure hardship.

Have firm faith in the Way of Long Life and always cherish compassion and pity. Eat a vegetarian diet to purify body and mind, and after death you will ascend to the heavenly realm. Reverently honor and uphold the Three Treasures (the Dao, the scriptures, and the teachers), and treat your parents without arrogance. Be wholly sincere; do not deceive or curse. Such a person is loyal and filial. Guard your speech and do not speak falsely; keep your thoughts kind and consider others in all you do. Urge people to turn away from wrongdoing, and remember the Daoist teachings without violating them. Give support to the poor and aid those in danger. These merits are precious: they can add to one’s years and prolong one’s life, bringing lifelong peace and happiness. Make friends and practice righteousness widely, honoring one another as you would your parents. Put an end to evil conduct and spread virtue; move the spirits through filial devotion to parents and affection for one’s brothers.

Those who lie, cheat, and often speak falsehoods have no true sincerity in their hearts. Their thoughts contradict their words, and they therefore often suffer disgrace. Those who turn from the righteous Way and delight in slandering others will fall into hell after death, where they will suffer the agony of molten copper being poured into their mouths, remaining for a long time in darkness and torment.

Those who indulge in drink, enjoy cursing others, and do not believe in ghosts and spirits will have their tongues hooked by iron hooks after death, suffering pains beyond description. Even if they are later reborn as human beings, their breath will stink, making others recoil from them. Their words will often bring them all kinds of calamity, and they will endure hardship for a long time. Those who harbor evil thoughts will often meet with adversity. Wherever they go, they may suffer punishment and fall without cause into misfortune, enduring all manner of pain. After death, they will return to hell and later be reborn as animals, passing through many kinds of poisonous suffering and spending their lives in sorrow, distress, and humiliation.

Reverently honor the Three Virtues, spread the teachings, and urge people to do good. May you meet immortals and worthies, and may perfected beings—those who have succeeded in cultivating the Dao—often come to you. May you draw near to all the worthy and become no different from them. May the self-attachment in my heart subside and become pure; may I diligently study the hundred precepts of the Daoist tradition. Study and cultivate diligently day and night, until your wisdom is esteemed by the beings of Heaven and humanity. Yin Sheng carried out the teachings in the West, guiding people everywhere to recognize the true Dao. Love the immortals and perfected beings with unwavering devotion, never letting your thoughts stray. First, aspire to rise through the air and travel, ascending to commune with the subtle and mysterious realms. Accumulate good deeds—the more, the better. Give kindness and aid generously, without holding back. When your merit and virtue move the immortals and perfected beings, they will naturally bestow the elixir upon you.

Praise Offered to Heaven by Master Chongmiao

The Supreme Emperor issues his decree; may the sovereign’s years be long. The imperial descendants flourish, beautiful as golden branches and fragrant as jade leaves. The Five Planets follow their proper courses, and the Seven Luminaries—the sun, moon, and five planets—shine forth. The radiance of Heaven is splendid, revealing the sacred vision of the Empty Cavern’s Numinous Chapter.

The Supreme Emperor issues his decree; may the sovereign’s years be long. The imperial descendants flourish, beautiful as golden branches and fragrant as jade leaves. The Five Planets follow their proper courses, and the Seven Luminaries shine forth. The radiance of Heaven is splendid, revealing the sacred vision of the Empty Cavern’s Numinous Chapter. May blessings protect the sage sovereign, and may the fortunes of the realm endure without end. May Heaven be clear and Earth at peace, and may all quarters of the world be bathed in light.

The Holy Mother of the Western Spirit, a Daoist goddess, wears precious jade with dignity. Amid the Luan Terrace and Phoenix Pavilion, she quietly attends upon the imperial carriage. A rainbow light pierces the stars, while moonlight illuminates the Great Void. She keeps the palace precincts tranquil and pure, and guards the Heavenly Palace forever.

The wise and virtuous are born in response to Heaven’s mandate and come before the Supreme One to offer praise. They dwell in palaces adorned with dragons and phoenixes, their names entered in the registers of immortals, and become members of the immortal company. They burn incense in gratitude for Heaven’s protection and chant the “Hymn of the Subtle and Mysterious” (Xiyi Pian), a Daoist sacred text. In every generation they receive a hundred blessings, rank among the Clear Tenuity Heaven (Qingwei Tian), one of the high heavens in Daoist belief, and dwell forever in a realm of freedom and ease, long enjoying the blessings bestowed by Heaven.

Heaven brings forth wise and discerning people to praise a flourishing age. Their character is upright and pure, as clear and austere as a ridge of ice, as lofty and striking as jade, and their bearing is graceful as that of the phoenix and luan bird. They help harmonize the workings of Heaven and Earth and devote themselves to supporting an age of peace. The songs of farmers ring across the fields, and warfare ceases in all four directions. The Five Blessings descend for ages, and auspicious signs bestowed by Heaven gather without end.

The Daoist numinous writings shine with majesty, their wondrous sounds resounding through the nine heavens. The utmost truth of the Dao opens its precious hidden treasury and transmits the “Hymn of the Subtle and Mysterious.” Its treasured verses have been passed down to the present, and its numinous scriptures lift the ancestors beyond suffering. They deliver the spirits of the dead from the long night and raise them to Vermilion Mound Heaven (Zhuling Tian), the heaven where, according to Daoist belief, the dead are delivered. The faithful devoutly uphold the scriptures, bowing in worship and offering thanks before the Void Emperor (Xuhuang), a revered Daoist deity.

The Jade Emperor proclaims a celestial decree, releasing spirits throughout the dark realms and relieving every kind of suffering, so that the Five Paths of rebirth, the five destinations of beings in the cycle of rebirth, are made accessible. Fengdu, the Daoist underworld, no longer pursues guilty souls for retribution, allowing them to ascend in audience to Vermilion Mound Palace. All beings awaken to the utmost Dao and thereafter enjoy limitless blessings and happiness forever.

The Primal Venerable of Jade Capital (Yujing Yuanshi Zun), a revered deity who generates all things and governs their transformations, uses numinous scriptures to inform the Three Officials (Sanguan), the deities of Heaven, Earth, and Water, and opens the Ninefold Abyssal Court (Jiuyou Fu), the deep and shadowy underworld. For the guilty souls in Fengdu who suffer the torments of boiling cauldrons and other punishments, the Venerable, with compassion, sends down a rain of sacred law to wash away their sins and deliver them all.

The faithful devote themselves to worshipping the Supreme Ultimate (Taiji), both a Daoist deity and the highest state. The Jade Emperor bestows abundant grace. A celestial talismanic decree reaches the underworld and opens the way to deliver the spirits trapped in the long night; the seven generations of ancestors in the Nether Capital (Youdu) are also freed, and a numinous talisman conveys the decree to the Three Officials. The immortals come together to guide the spirits of the dead, bringing them to audience in Vermilion Mound Heaven. There they are forever freed from the source of sin and long enjoy the blessings of the natural order.

The Great Sage of the Golden Palace is the guide of all living beings between Heaven and Earth. Through the power of compassion, he scatters sweet dew everywhere, washing away the dust and delusion in the hearts of living beings. He widely proclaims the chapters on emptiness, enabling all beings to realize “Xiyi” (the Dao’s realm, beyond the grasp of form and sound). He rescues those trapped in the Eight Hardships (eight kinds of difficulty in spiritual practice and life), freeing them from the mire of the Five Turbidities (five defilements of the troubled world) and helping them cross the sea of suffering formed by the Six Poisons (afflictions such as greed, anger, and delusion), so they may forever leave greed, anger, and delusion behind. The immortals together guide living beings, allowing them to ascend freely to Taiwei (the heavenly realm).

The Jade Emperor bestows spiritual responsiveness and blessings, which Heaven proclaims to all living beings. He rescues those suffering in the Nine Depths (the deepest reaches of the netherworld) and widely proclaims the Three Caverns scriptures (the three collections of Daoist scriptures). The names of living beings are entered in the Southern Cinnabar Office (the heavenly bureau in charge of salvation); their souls ascend beyond the Northern Cold Court (a frigid place in the netherworld), forever escaping the Cauldron of Boiling Oil Hell and walking directly out of the City of Ice Pools. The immortals together save them, allowing them to ascend freely to Taiqing (the heavenly realm).

My revered master is the deity who saves the suffering in Heaven, and often manifests throughout the ten directions. With his awe inspiring radiance, he brings forth great compassion and saves immeasurable numbers of suffering beings. In the netherworld’s office, sunk in darkness as deep as nine nights, he makes everything bright, bringing light and salvation to the souls of the dead as they ascend freely to Taiqing.

My revered master is the deity who saves the suffering in Heaven, and often manifests throughout the ten directions. With his awe inspiring radiance, he brings forth great compassion and saves immeasurable numbers of suffering beings. In the netherworld’s office, sunk in darkness as deep as nine nights, he makes everything bright and brings light to the souls of the dead. Even the ox headed jailers become immortals, and every fallen soul is freed.

The four eyed elder earth deity (a local earth spirit with four eyes) praises: The mysterious primordial Qi (the fundamental energy of the Dao) is truly wondrous. It proclaims the Dao’s teachings and guides people across the perilous ford of delusion. Beyond form, there is no fixed form; within truth, one must seek the highest truth. Whether one is deluded or awakened depends on whether the mind awakens. When the mind is clear and pure, the Dao’s teachings manifest their power. The spirit has no fixed law; divine understanding arises from the mind. If my mind is single and whole, the divine spirit moves in accord with it.

The highest principle cannot be spoken; the highest Dao needs no words. Whatever has form is not absolute truth. The response of the divine must accord with one’s own mind. To reach the mystery within mystery, one should become still and contemplate the heart. When nothing within or without obstructs, one can see deeply and reach a state of mind without thoughts or attachments. When the mind no longer clings to names and forms, it naturally ascends to the realm of the immortals. Hold fast to the Primordial Unity and cultivate the true Dao; the divine must accord with one’s own mind. To reach the mystery within mystery, become still and contemplate the heart; with no obstruction within or without, see deeply, free of thought and attachment. When the mind leaves names and forms behind, it naturally ascends to the realm of the immortals. Hold fast to the Primordial Unity, realize the true Dao, and ascend freely to Taiqing.

Hymn to the True Scripture of the Blood Lake.

I bow before the supreme Dao of emptiness, the highest Great Way beyond all forms, and pay homage to the Great Compassionate One, the revered deity who compassionately delivers beings from suffering. The sacred light is boundless, shining into the darkest places; compassionate clouds spread everywhere, bringing down the rain of the Dharma. The souls of the dead in the Avīci Hells, including Xiashi and Mingling, and in the underworld’s realms of suffering, including the Blood Lake, Blood Sea, and Blood Pool Basin, all receive deliverance. Through the great amnesty of the Jade Registers, a Daoist rite of pardon and salvation for the dead, sinful souls are freed and forever escape the suffering of sinking into misery through ten thousand kalpas. At the Office of Vermilion Mound, where Daoists refine and deliver the souls of the dead, they refine their forms, restore their lives, and ultimately awaken to the Dao, becoming perfected and entering the Mysterious Gate. This merit is vast beyond comprehension; forever may the Great Compassionate One be the merciful father of all beings.

Verses from the Wondrous Scripture of the Mind Seal for Delivering Souls from Sin

The Great Dao is clear and vast, while its fundamental principle is deep and unfathomable. The Dao came into being before Heaven and Earth; it runs through past and present, moving and transforming. The Dao has no form, yet it can purify body and mind. One should be free of greed and desire, anger and indulgence; one should not cling to distinguishing right from wrong or repeatedly ponder outer appearances and inner circumstances. When body and mind are pure, afflictions cannot intrude. The Dao has neither arising nor passing away; it is profoundly still and impossible to fathom. When the mind is clear and empty, one understands that thoughts have no fixed substance. Naturally, one then joins with the Dao and earns the reverence of all the sages. In this way, one may ascend to the Golden Palace in Heaven and roam the celestial realm of Qianlin, freeing seven generations of ancestors from suffering and forever leaving the netherworld behind. To accomplish this is to accord with the mind seal, awaken to the Dao, and unite with the Real. One should keep this in mind from moment to moment and persevere without letting worldly distractions arise.

Lingering Chapters of Praise from the Three Caverns, Volume Two