《太上灵宝玉匮明真斋忏方仪》

The assembled disciples wholeheartedly take refuge in the boundless and limitless Taishang Lingbao Tianzun of the ten directions, together with the Heavenly Lords of the Ten Extremes, the great saints who have already attained the Dao, the lords of supreme perfection and the sages, and the immortals and numinous officials of every place throughout the ten directions. After paying their respects to all of these beings, each one devoutly confesses and seeks forgiveness for past transgressions.

We reverently listen and hear: The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning carries out his teaching, opening the celestial realms of the ten directions to protect the people of the world. The Great Sage proclaims compassion, surveys the portals of the eight directions, and relieves suffering. Therefore the worthies of the upper realm inquire into the workings of karmic retribution, and the Feitian (flying celestials, deities of the heavenly realms) set forth the laws by which retribution is received. The documents of sin and blessing having already been made clear, the purpose of repentance and prayer for blessings is thereby established. We look to a vast power of blessing, and by means of it seek to deliver the souls of the dead in the dark underworld.

I now reverently carry out the sacred decree and carefully follow the Zhaijiao Keyi (purification ritual and liturgy—the procedures for Daoist retreats, prayers, and other rites). I prepare the offerings, including patterned silks of the ten directions (fabrics used in sacrificial rites), incense, flowers, oil, and lamps and candles. We now hold, for a certain person, the Great Retreat of the Jade Casket of the Ninefold Darkness Illuminating the True, continuing through a number of days and nights. We unfurl the dark registers of ninefold radiance (the dark-colored talismanic sets used in Daoist ritual) and respectfully invite the True Writs of the Eight Assemblies (Daoist scriptures). We entrust our lives to the Unsurpassed Supreme Numinous Treasure Celestial Worthies of the Ten Directions, the Celestial Lords of the Ten Extremes, and the gods, immortals, and numinous officials of the ten directions.

On behalf of a certain person, we repent. From a hundred million kalpas ago until this day, the faults committed and the unintentional errors are measureless and boundless. We now establish the retreat rite, repent, and acknowledge these offenses, praying that every one of them be removed. We earnestly ask the deities to refine and transform the souls in Zhuling (the place of soul-refinement spoken of in Daoism) and to purify spirit-consciousness in Danhuo (the immortal realm spoken of in Daoism); to let the departed ascend to the Prefecture of Cavernous Yang, mount the court of Taiji (the Supreme Ultimate), attend the luminous attendants and the Sovereign of the Void, forever enter the ranks of immortals and perfected beings, honor the ancestors and former sages, and revere the exalted spirits of the altars of soil and grain. May they wear robes of rosy clouds and crowns of cloud, and roam the immortal realms of Shaoguang and Taiwei.

May the fortune of the state flourish and the imperial enterprise stand firm. May the emperor shine as the sun and moon, and may his lifespan equal that of Mount Song and Mount Heng. May all within the palace, the crown prince, and the princes ever dwell in blessed lands and long enjoy heaven-bestowed fortune and emolument. May the high ministers, assisting officials, and the millions of common people together enter the land of benevolence, virtue, and long life, and jointly realize an age of great peace. May the living have body and mind in harmony and the five Qi (vital energy) in balance. Whether animal or plant, formed or formless, may all alike ascend to the realm of blessing. After attaining the Dao (the Way), may they rise into the formless realm and unite in perfection with the Dao.

East

We now burn incense, returning body, returning Shen (spirit), and returning life, and we reverently carry out the teaching transmitted by the sacred decree. May the living have body and mind in harmony and the five Qi in balance. Whether animal or plant, formed or formless, may all alike ascend to the realm of blessing. After attaining the Dao, may they rise into the formless realm and unite in perfection with the Dao.

East

All who revere the Dao today specially burn incense, turning body, Shen (spirit), and life wholly toward the Great Dao (the Way). Reverently carrying out the sacred decree, and following the ritual procedures of the Yugui Jiuyou Mingzhen Kepin (Jade Casket Statutes of the Ninefold Darkness for Illuminating the Perfected), they perform a great Zhaijiao (purification ritual) for the deliverance of departed souls, burning incense and practicing the Way. We repent and seek pardon: from countless kalpas past down to this day, the faults and errors committed are measureless and without bound.

In strict accordance with the statutes of the Nüqing Upper Palace (the divine office that keeps the registers of sins and grants salvation), we offer a bolt of silk patterned in azure and entrust our lives to the Limitless Supreme Lingbao Tianzun of the East (the Celestial Worthy of Numinous Treasure, a revered deity of Lingbao Daoism), to the host of great saints who have already attained the Dao, to the lords of utmost perfection and the sages, and to the divine immortals and numinous officers of the East. We pray for the deliverance of the roots of sin accumulated through countless kalpas. May the divine offices of the Three Realms that govern allotted lifespans, together with the Nüqing Upper Palace, expunge the registers of sin, open the passes of the underworld, and enable the departed to leave the darkness, enter the light, ascend to the heavenly halls, advance toward the fruit of the Dao, and be forever enrolled among the true immortals. May the sacred transmission of the Dao long endure, the mandate of Heaven stretch far and unbroken, and all regions share in blessing; may the registers of sin throughout the four quarters be wholly cleared, the passes of the underworld be opened, and the departed enter the light, ascend to heaven, realize the fruit of the Dao, and remain forever among the true immortals. May the holy Dao long abide, heavenly longevity extend without end, the whole world share in blessing, and the four seas be at peace. Having attained the Dao, may they ascend into the realm of the formless and unite with the Great Dao as the True.

The South

All who revere the Dao today specially burn incense, turning body, spirit, and life wholly toward the Great Dao. Reverently carrying out the sacred decree, and following the ritual procedures of the Yugui Jiuyou Mingzhen Kepin, they perform a great Zhaijiao for the deliverance of departed souls, burning incense and practicing the Way. We repent and seek pardon: from countless kalpas past down to this day, the faults and errors committed are measureless and without bound.

In strict accordance with the statutes of the Nüqing Yang Palace (the divine office that keeps the registers of sins and grants salvation), we offer a bolt of silk patterned in crimson and entrust our lives to the Limitless Supreme Lingbao Tianzun of the South, to the host of great saints who have already attained the Dao, to the lords of utmost perfection and the sages, and to the divine immortals and numinous officers of the South. We pray for the deliverance of the roots of sin accumulated through countless kalpas. May the divine offices of the Three Realms that govern allotted lifespans, together with the Nüqing Yang Palace, expunge the registers of sin, open the passes of the underworld, and enable the departed to leave the darkness, enter the light, ascend to the heavenly halls, refine the Divine Elixir, and gain entry into the Vermilion Palace (the palace where the sacred beings of the South dwell). May the sovereign enjoy boundless longevity, the fortune of the realm long endure, the four seas be settled, and all under heaven be at peace. Having attained the Dao, may they ascend into the realm of the formless and unite with the Great Dao as the True.

We of this assembly now burn incense with sincere hearts, offering our bodies, our spirits (Shen), and our lives, and we reverently obey the sacred decree. In accordance with the Yu Kui Jiu You Ming Zhen Ke Pin—the liturgical norms for the retreat that delivers the souls of the dead in the underworld—we hold the great retreat of deliverance, burning incense and practicing the Dao (the Way). We repent and acknowledge our offenses, wishing that, after passing through countless hundreds of millions of kalpas, we may ascend into the formless realm and unite with the Great Dao to become perfected in the True.

The West

We of this assembly now burn incense with sincere hearts, offering our bodies, our spirits, and our lives, and we reverently obey the sacred decree. In accordance with the Yu Kui Jiu You Ming Zhen Ke Pin, we hold the great retreat of deliverance, burning incense and practicing the Dao. We repent and acknowledge our offenses: from countless hundreds of millions of kalpas past down to this day, the faults and errors we have committed are measureless and without bound. In accordance with the rites of the yin officials of the Right Palace of Nüqing—one of the divine offices of the Daoist underworld—we present a bolt of white silk and entrust our lives to the Limitless Supreme Heavenly Worthy of the Numinous Treasure of the West, together with the host of great saints who have already attained the Dao, the sage lords of ultimate perfection, the immortals of the West, and all the numinous officials. May they deliver the roots of sin accumulated over countless hundreds of millions of kalpas.

May the presiding officers of the Three Realms and the yin officials of the Right Palace of Nüqing expunge the registers of sin and open the passes of the underworld, so that the dead may be delivered; may their bodies enter the light, ascend to the heavens, and reach the palace towers of the Numinous Treasure in the West, arriving at the solemn and resplendent jasper palaces. May their lives be long and their sacred years without end; may living beings in every quarter receive blessing, and may both the underworld and the human world be graced with favor. May they, having attained the Dao, ascend into the formless realm and unite with the Great Dao to become perfected in the True.

The North

We now reverently burn incense and offer up our bodies, our Shen (spirit), and our lives, respectfully obeying the sacred command. In accordance with the ritual procedures of the Jade Casket Scripture of the Luminous Truth of the Ninefold Darkness (Yugui Jiuyou Mingzhen Kepin), we hold the Great Zhai of Deliverance (a purification rite beseeching liberation for the deceased), burning incense and performing the rites of the Dao (the Way). We repent and confess our faults: from such-and-such hundreds of millions of kalpas down to this day, the intentional acts and transgressions we have committed are beyond counting and beyond telling.

In accordance with the Fire Official of the Solar Palace of Nüqing (the divine officer in Daoism who keeps the relevant registers of sin and oversees the liberation of the dead), we offer mysterious incense. We offer our bodies, our Shen, and our lives, respectfully obeying the sacred command, and, following the ritual procedures of the Jade Casket Scripture of the Luminous Truth of the Ninefold Darkness, we hold the Great Zhai of Deliverance, burning incense and performing the rites of the Dao. Once more we repent and confess our faults: from such-and-such hundreds of millions of kalpas down to this day, the intentional acts and transgressions we have committed are beyond counting and beyond telling.

In accordance with the Fire Official of the Solar Palace of Nüqing, we offer a length of dark, patterned silk, and we commit our lives to the Limitless Supreme Lingbao Celestial Worthy of the North, together with the great saints who have already attained the Dao, the lords of ultimate perfection, the sages, the immortals of the North, and all the numinous officers. We pray that the roots of sin accumulated since such-and-such hundreds of millions of kalpas be uprooted, and we ask the divine bureaus of the Three Realms that govern the reckoning of lifespan, together with the Fire Official of the Solar Palace of Nüqing, to strike out the registers of sin, open the gates of the dark underworld, and enable the deceased to leave the gloom, enter the light, and ascend to the celestial realm, to wash body and mind in the Jade Pool and ascend to the palace of the Golden Portal.

May the blessings and fortune of the state long endure, and the sovereign’s lifespan extend without end; may all quarters of the world follow moral instruction and dwell together in harmony, returning to Great Unity. After attaining the Dao, may they ascend into the formless realm and unite with the Dao in true reality.

Northeast

We, the assembled, now burn incense with sincere hearts, offering up body, Shen (spirit), and nature and life, and reverently obey the sacred decree. In accordance with the Yugui Jiuyou Mingzhen Kepin (the ritual norms for delivering the souls of the dark underworld), we hold the Great Retreat of Deliverance (a purification retreat for blessing and liberating the deceased), burning incense and practicing the Dao (the Way). We repent of the faults committed from countless kalpas down to this day; these faults are measureless and boundless.

Carefully following the rite of the Prohibiting Officials of the Left Palace of Nüqing (divine officers who keep the registers of sins in the underworld), we offer one bolt of yellow patterned silk and take refuge in the Limitless Supreme Numinous Treasure Celestial Worthy of the Northeast, in the Great Sages and the Lords and Sages of Utmost Perfection who have already attained the Dao, and in the immortals and the various numinous officers of the Northeast, praying that the roots of sin accumulated by so-and-so through countless kalpas be eradicated. May the Reckoning Officers of the Three Realms (divine offices that govern lifespan, sin, and blessing throughout the Three Realms) and the Prohibiting Officials of the Left Palace of Nüqing strike off the registers of sin and open the passes of the dark underworld, so that the deceased may leave darkness and enter light, ascend to the heavenly halls, forever be enrolled among the ranks of immortals and perfected beings, and roam and rest at ease in the Nine Clarities (the heavenly realms). May blessings continue, the sacred dynasty long endure, and the emperor’s lifespan equal that of Heaven; may all under Heaven be unified, with carriage tracks and systems of writing made uniform. After the Dao is attained, may there be ascent into the formless realm and union in truth with the Dao.

The Southeast.

We now reverently burn incense and devote body, Shen (spirit), and life. Respectfully obeying the sacred decree, and in accordance with the regulations of the Yukui Jiuyou Mingzhen Kepin, the Jade Casket Code of the Luminous Perfected of the Nine Darknesses, we perform the great zhai ritual (purification rite) for the deliverance of departed souls, burning incense and carrying out the rites of the Dao (the Way). We repent the faults committed from a certain hundred million kalpas ago down to this day; the sins are measureless and without bound.

In careful reliance on the Central Palace of Nüqing (the divine office that keeps the registers of sin and grants pardon and remission), we offer one bolt of yellow-patterned silk and entrust our lives to the Limitless Most High Celestial Worthy of the Numinous Treasure of the Southeast, to the great sages and the lords and holy ones of ultimate perfection who have already attained the Dao, and to the immortals and hosts of spirits of the Southeast, earnestly begging that the roots of sin accumulated over a certain hundred million kalpas be uprooted. May the Reckoners of the Three Realms (the divine office that keeps the ledgers of lifespan and of merit and transgression throughout the Three Realms) and the Central Palace of Nüqing strike out the registers of sin, open the passes of the dark underworld, and bring the departed into the light and up into the celestial realms, so that they may roam the precincts of stone gate-towers and bronze steps and ascend to the palace of the charioteer of the Great Sun. May blessings flourish and sacred longevity endure; may sun, moon, and stars shine bright, and may all the lands under heaven be at peace.

The palace of the attainment of the Dao: strike out the registers of sin, open the passes of the dark underworld, and bring the departed into the light and up into the celestial realms, so that they may roam the precincts of stone gate-towers and bronze steps and ascend to the palace of the charioteer of the Great Sun. May blessings flourish and sacred longevity endure; may sun, moon, and stars shine bright, and may all the lands under heaven be at peace. After the Dao has been attained, may they ascend into the realm of the formless and become one with the Great Dao.

The Southwest.

We, the assembled ministerial subjects, now burn incense and take refuge in body, Shen (spirit), and life. Reverently carrying out the sacred decree, and in accordance with the regulations of the Jade Casket Code of the Ninefold Darkness and Illuminating Perfection (Yugui Jiuyou Mingzhen Kepin), we perform the great Zhai (purification ritual) for the deliverance of departed souls, burning incense and practicing the Dao (the Way). On behalf of a certain person, we sincerely repent of every fault committed from hundreds of millions of kalpas past down to this very day; these faults are immeasurable and boundless.

In careful accordance with the Right Officer of the Lower Palace of Nüqing (the office, within the divine hierarchy of Nüqing, that administers the affairs of the Lower Palace), we offer one bolt of yellow-patterned silk and commit our lives to the Boundless Most High Celestial Worthy of the Numinous Treasure (Wuji Taishang Lingbao Tianzun) of the Southwest, together with the host of great saints who have already attained the Dao, the lords of Ultimate Perfection and the sages, and the immortals and numinous officers of the Southwest, asking them to uproot the roots of transgression that a certain person has accumulated over hundreds of millions of kalpas. We pray that the divine offices in charge of the registers of the Three Realms, together with the Right Officer of the Lower Palace of Nüqing, delete the registers of guilt, open the passes of the dark underworld, and bring this person out of the gloom into the light, up into the halls of heaven, and at last into the realm of the true immortals, to roam and feast at ease in the Nine Clarities (Jiuqing; the lofty celestial realms of which Daoism speaks). May blessings and fortune long endure, and sacred longevity be prolonged. May heaven and earth be clear and bright, and the myriad nations at peace. After the Dao is attained, there is ascent into the formless realm and union in perfection with the Dao.

The Northwest

We, the assembled ministerial subjects, now burn incense and take refuge in body, Shen, and life. Reverently carrying out the sacred decree, and in accordance with the regulations of the Jade Casket Code of the Ninefold Darkness and Illuminating Perfection, we perform the great Zhai for the deliverance of departed souls, burning incense and practicing the Dao. On behalf of a certain person, we sincerely repent of every fault committed from hundreds of millions of kalpas past down to this very day; these faults are immeasurable and boundless.

In careful accordance with the Water Officer of the Palace of Great Yin (Taiyin) under Nüqing (the office, within the divine hierarchy of Nüqing, that administers the affairs of the water bureau of the Palace of Great Yin), we offer one bolt of yellow-patterned silk and commit our lives to the Boundless Most High Celestial Worthy of the Numinous Treasure of the Northwest, together with the host of great saints who have already attained the Dao, the lords of Ultimate Perfection and the sages, and the immortals and numinous officers of the Northwest, asking them to uproot the roots of transgression that a certain person has accumulated over hundreds of millions of kalpas. We pray that the divine offices in charge of the registers of the Three Realms, together with the Water Officer of the Palace of Great Yin under Nüqing, delete the registers of guilt, open the passes of the dark underworld, and bring this person out of the gloom into the light, up into the halls of heaven, rising beyond to the rank of the true immortals, to attend upon Yuchen (a revered deity in Daoism). May this flow of blessing pass on to children and descendants, and may sacred longevity be prolonged; may all under heaven receive this grace, and the myriad nations be tranquil. After the Dao is attained, there is ascent into the formless realm and union in perfection with the Dao.

Today the assembly burns incense and offers service especially for Yuchen—an honorific in Daoism for the exalted deities of the celestial realms—so that blessings may pass to later generations and the sage may enjoy long life. May all under heaven receive blessing and protection, and may every land be at peace. After attaining the Dao (the Way), one ascends into the formless realm and becomes one with the Dao.

The Upper Direction

Today the assembly burns incense especially for the upper direction, offering body, spiritual consciousness, and life, and reverently carries out the sacred command. In accordance with the Yugui Jiuyou Mingzhen Kepin—the Keyi (liturgy) set out in the scriptures of Daoist Zhaijiao (purification ritual)—we perform the great rite of deliverance for departed souls, burning incense and practicing the Dao. We repent and acknowledge our faults: from remote ages of countless millions of kalpas down to this day, the offenses committed have been without end.

Following the Nüqing Shangguan Dujin Official—the divine office in Daoism that oversees prohibitions and the registers of sin—we present one length of blue-patterned silk and entrust our lives to the Limitless Supreme Lingbao Tianzun of the upper direction, to the host of great sages who have already attained the Dao, to the lords of ultimate truth and the sages, to the celestial sovereigns of the sun, moon, stars, and constellations, and to the immortals and spirit officials of the upper reaches of the limitless world. We pray that they uproot the roots of someone’s sins accumulated over countless millions of kalpas.

May the deities who reckon destinies in the Three Realms—the Realm of Desire, the Realm of Form, and the Formless Realm—together with the Nüqing Shangguan Dujin Official, delete the registers of sin, so that this body may enter the light and ascend to the heavenly halls; clad in garments of colored clouds and wearing feathered ornaments, may one have one’s rank confirmed, ascend the realm of the immortals, pass beyond the Three Realms, and wander freely in the heavens of Shangqing. May heaven and earth be peaceful and bright, and the sun, moon, and stars shine in splendor; may wind and cloud move in their proper seasons, and the six Qi (vital energy)—the six kinds of Qi that constitute the working of heaven and earth—be without error. May the fortune of the state flourish and endure, the sage’s life be lengthened, and all under heaven be bathed in mysterious grace.

After attaining the Dao, one ascends into the formless realm and becomes one with the Dao.

The Lower Direction

We now reverently burn incense, returning the body, returning the Shen (spirit), and returning our lives, and we respectfully receive the sacred decree. In accordance with the regulations of the Yuzhi Jiuyou Pengzhen Kepin (the Jade-Established Liturgical Section on Befriending the Perfected in the Ninefold Darkness), we hold the Great Zhai of Deliverance (a purification ritual praying for the salvation of the deceased), burning incense and practicing the Dao (the Way).

We repent on behalf of a certain person: from countless kalpas ago down to this day, the faults he has committed are measureless and boundless. In reliance upon the Four Officers of the Lower Palace of Nüqing (the divine officials in Daoism who keep the registers of the underworld and the records of sin and blessing), we offer one bolt of azure-patterned silk and entrust our lives to the Supreme Lingbao Tianzun of the Limitless Realm Above, together with the host of great saints who have already attained the Dao, the lords and sages of ultimate perfection, the High Sovereigns of the Nine Lands, the Four Directors and the Five Emperors, the Twelve Immortal Lords, the Perfected of the Nine Palaces, and the immortals and numinous officers of the famous mountains, grotto residences, sacred peaks, and waterways.

We pray that the gods uproot the roots of sin that this person has accumulated through successive kalpas. May the Fate-Reckoners of the Three Realms and the Four Officers of the Lower Palace of Nüqing strike out his registers of sin, open the passes of the dark underworld, and grant him deliverance. May his person manifest radiance and ascend into the blessed lands, roaming at ease before the Golden Portal and wandering freely through all the heavens. May blessings perpetuate the foundation of the imperial house, the sacred lifespan be without end, the mountains and rivers endure for long ages, the four seas remain at peace, the myriad states submit and be transformed, and all under heaven enjoy great peace. May he, after attaining the Dao, rise into the formless realm and unite with the Great Dao, becoming perfected.