《黄箓五老悼亡仪》

When Hunyuan—the primordial state before Heaven and Earth had taken form—had not yet differentiated, all things were contained within a single Qi (vital energy). After Taiji (Supreme Ultimate) differentiated, the Three Powers of Heaven, Earth, and humanity worked in concert, and the myriad things came into being from this; the root power of the Five Phases (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) abides at the center. Each of the five directions has its place, and each of the five Qi—the five vital energies that constitute Heaven, Earth, and all things—has its number. In Heaven the five stars shine down; on Earth the Five Sacred Peaks preside. The chart of the Nine Palaces is arrayed in ranks and files, and from it the emblems of the Two Modes (Yin-Yang) become manifest. The Five Elders, the exalted deities who govern the five directions, each keep their stations and arise together with the one Qi. Looking upward, they receive the charge of the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing), the highest deities of the Daoist tradition, and with the power of compassion they extend their protection through ten thousand generations, saving living beings and delivering the souls of the dead. Those who revere them may ascend to Heaven; those who hear their sacred names may have their karmic offenses extinguished.

Today a certain person has devoutly established a zhai (purification offering) to perform memorial rites for a certain person who has died. In life the deceased dwelt in the evil world of the Five Turbidities—a world filled with affliction and impurity—and did not understand that the Five Aggregates are empty, that the five factors constituting the person and experience have no enduring self-nature. The ears craved the five sounds, the tongue craved the five flavors, the eyes pursued the five colors without knowing how easily one is beguiled by them, and the body sank into the five desires, and so the deceased fell into dull confusion. The deceased did not understand that, once the course of the Five Phases has run its term, one may still, following the force of karma, fall into the evil destinies of the Five Sufferings. Now the sacred names of the exalted deities are proclaimed and the secretly transmitted scriptures are recited and expounded; as a shadow follows the form, repentance is offered for the deceased according to the five directions. The Daoist assembly taking part in the rite is respectfully invited to unite in compassion and devoutly repent on the deceased’s behalf.

The assembly raises incense and, following the rite, bows in reverence.

A gatha is intoned:

Offered universally to the boundless host of sages, incense smoke drifts through the ten directions: the countless holy assemblies of the many heavens, the deities of the sun, moon, and stars, the Mysterious Masters, the ancestral masters of the scriptures and registers, and the many exalted perfected ones of the celestial bureaus. May the sages bestow the power of great compassion and deliver this departed soul.

Offered universally to the boundless host of sages, incense smoke pierces the passes of the dark realm: the offices of Fengdu and of Mount Tai, the courts charged with examining the karmic offenses of departed souls, the gloomy prisons of every quarter, and the awesome spirits of the underworld. May the sages bestow the power of great compassion and deliver this departed spirit.

This offering is made universally to the boundless host of holy beings, and the smoke of incense drifts toward Fusang (the mythical divine tree said to stand in the east). May the divinities of the Four Rivers—the Jiang, the He, the Huai, and the Ji—and of the great sea, together with the spirits of thunder and lightning, the Master of Rain, and the dragon gods, and all the perfected immortals of the immortal mountains and secluded valleys of the Ten Continents and Three Islands and of the watery palaces, send down a vast power of compassion to deliver this departed soul.

In unison we recite, and with sincere hearts we take refuge and pay homage:

The Azure-Numinous Primordial Elder, Celestial Lord of the Nine Qi (vital energy) of the East (the celestial lord who governs the East and is associated with the De (Virtue/Power) of Wood)

With sincere hearts we take refuge in the Lord of the East, the Great Compassionate Worthy of the Peaceful Grove of Precious Blossoms. The Qi of Azure Yang answers the fragrant vitality sent forth by the De of Wood; the four lunar lodges Horn, Neck, Root, and Room mark the direction of the East. Gazing up at the compassionate countenance in the Palace of Azure Radiance, with sincere hearts we take refuge and pay homage to the Azure-Numinous Primordial Elder, Celestial Lord of the Nine Qi of the East.

With sincere hearts we take refuge in the Lord of the East, the Great Compassionate Worthy of the Peaceful Grove of Precious Blossoms. The De of Wood of Azure Yang sends forth fragrant vitality, and the four lunar lodges Horn, Neck, Root, and Room mark the direction of the East. Gazing up at the compassionate countenance in the Palace of Azure Radiance, all the heavens of the Realm of Form revere this supreme worthy.

The Youth of Precious Light comes forward bearing the talismanic mandate; the numinous banner gives forth light and uproots the sufferings of all beings. May he repent on behalf of the deceased and clear away the root sins accumulated through successive lives, so that the punishments of the Hell of Wind and Thunder are all removed. The boiling cauldron, the furnace coals, and the other instruments of hellish punishment are reduced to ash, and the Shen (spirit)-consciousness of the deceased no longer passes through these places of suffering. The Demon King of the Azure Heaven stands as guarantor and recommends the deceased, so that the deceased may roam freely in Huangjia Heaven. Burning incense, we look up and invite the Great Compassionate Worthy to lead the deceased to the land of peace and joy.

In unison we recite, and with sincere hearts we take refuge and pay homage:

The Cinnabar-Numinous Perfected Elder, Celestial Lord of the Three Qi of the South (the celestial lord who governs the South and is associated with the De of Fire)

With sincere hearts we take refuge in the Lord of the South, the Great Compassionate Worthy of Brahma-Treasure Flourishing Yang. The light of the De of Fire illuminates the Cinnabar Gang; the four lunar lodges Well, Ghost, Willow, and Star mark the direction of the South. Gazing up at the compassionate countenance in the Palace of Cinnabar Numinosity, all the heavens of the Formless Realm revere this supreme worthy.

The Youth of Cinnabar Numinosity comes forward bearing the talismanic mandate; the numinous banner gives forth gorgeous radiance and uproots the many sufferings. May he repent on behalf of the deceased and clear away the sins of the tongue, so that the punishments of the Hell of the Copper Pillar are all removed. The torment of molten copper and of swallowing fire is transformed into tihu (symbolizing sweet, delicious cream), and the Shen-consciousness of the deceased no longer passes through these places of suffering. The Demon King of the Crimson Heaven stands as guarantor and recommends the deceased, so that the deceased may wander free and at ease in Furong Heaven. Burning incense, we look up and invite the Great Compassionate Worthy to lead the departed soul to rebirth in a realm of joy.

In unison we recite, and with sincere hearts we take refuge and pay homage:

The White-Numinous Pure Elder, Celestial Lord of the Seven Qi of the West (the celestial lord who governs the West and is associated with the De of Metal)

With sincere hearts we take refuge in the Lord of the West, the Great Compassionate Worthy of the Golden Gate of the Seven Treasures. We look up and invite the Great Compassionate Worthy to lead the departed soul to rebirth in a realm of joy.

In unison we recite, and with sincere hearts we take refuge and pay homage.

I sincerely take refuge in the Sovereign of the West, the Great Compassionate Worthy within the Golden Gate of the Seven Treasures.

You are the Bright-Numen White Emperor, Lord of Great Yin. The four lunar lodges—Stomach, Hairy Head, Turtle Beak, and Three Stars—are the stations under your charge. Looking up to the compassionate sacred form in the Palace of the White Sovereign, the four Min Heavens (the celestial realms belonging to the West) all revere you as supreme.

The Lad of Fixed Light comes bearing the talismanic mandate, and the Numinous Banner of Jade Leaves (a ritual banner symbolizing salvation) dispels the sufferings of all beings. We pray that you repent, on behalf of the deceased, the karmic offenses created by the nose faculty (nasal perception and the sense of smell), and release them from the Adamantine Hell. Even amid the torment of being rent by knife-edges and slaughtered, they are wounded no more; the spirit-consciousness (Shen) of the deceased need not pass through this place of suffering.

The Demon King of the Solar Heaven recommends the deceased, enabling them to roam freely in the Changrong Heaven. Burning incense, we look up and invite the Great Compassionate Worthy, praying that you lead the deceased to a realm suited for rebirth.

I sincerely take refuge in the Sovereign of the North, the Great Compassionate Worthy of Dongyin Shuodan.

You are the Black-Numen Water Emperor, Lord of the Five Numina. The four lunar lodges—Encampment, Wall, Emptiness, and Rooftop—are the stations under your charge. Looking up to the compassionate sacred form in the Fivefold Palace, the Heavens of the Six Desires (the celestial realms in which sentient beings remain governed by desire) all revere you as supreme.

The Lad of Opening Light comes bearing the talismanic mandate, and the Numinous Banner of Settled Water uproots the sufferings of all beings. We pray that you repent, on behalf of the deceased, the karmic offenses created by the ear faculty (aural perception and the sense of hearing), and release them from the Dark-Cold Hell. Within the cold ice, warm vapor arises of itself; the spirit-consciousness of the deceased need not pass through this place of suffering.

The Demon King of the Dark Heaven recommends the deceased, enabling them to climb and roam at ease in the Yuanming Heaven. The Lad of Calamity-Incense comes bearing the talismanic mandate, and the Numinous Banner of Settled Water uproots the sufferings of all beings. We pray that you repent, on behalf of the deceased, the karmic offenses created by the ear faculty, and release them from the Dark-Cold Hell; within the cold ice, warm vapor arises of itself, and the spirit-consciousness of the deceased need not pass through this place of suffering. The Demon King of the Dark Heaven recommends the deceased, enabling them to climb and roam at ease in the Yuanming Heaven. Burning incense, we look up and invite the Great Compassionate Worthy, praying that you lead the deceased to the realm of the immortals.

I sincerely take refuge in the Sovereign of the Center, the Great Compassionate Worthy, the Yellow-Numen Sovereign Elder.

You are the sovereign who regulates the Qi of the Yellow Center (ordering the Qi of the Center). The Earth lodge and Diqiang are the stations under your charge. The Supreme Thearch of Jade Vacuity shines down with compassionate light, and the Celestial Worthy of the Cavern of Spirit (Dongshen) instructs suffering beings. The Lad of Wondrous Light arrives at command, waving the Numinous Banner of the Dancing Crane and uprooting the sufferings brought by karmic offenses.

We pray that you repent, on behalf of the deceased, the offenses of bodily karma (those created by bodily actions), and release them from the Hell of Universal Plunder.

Knife mountains and sword trees are transformed into peaceful woods, and the spirit-consciousness of the deceased no longer passes through these lands of suffering. The Demon King of the Yellow Heaven stands as guarantor and recommends the deceased, so that they may roam freely in the Daluo Heaven.

With incense burning, we look up and invite the Great Compassionate Worthy, praying that you will deliver the deceased and lead them to a realm of peace and ease. All assembled bow in sincerity to the Unsurpassed Orthodox True Heavenly Worthy of the Three Treasures (the Three Treasures referring to the Dao (the Way), the Jing (scripture/classic), and the Master).

All assembled repent in sincerity: the offenses wrought by body, speech, and mind are endless and inexhaustible. Now, before the Great Compassionate Worthy, they set forth their repentance with a single mind. The offenses of greed, anger, and delusion are endless and inexhaustible. All assembled bow in sincerity to the Unsurpassed Orthodox True Heavenly Worthy of the Three Treasures.

All assembled repent once more in sincerity: the offenses wrought by body, speech, and mind are endless and inexhaustible. Now, before the Great Compassionate Worthy, they set forth their repentance with a single mind. The offenses of greed, anger, and delusion, together with killing, sexual misconduct, and the like, are likewise endless and inexhaustible; now they repent of them all together in sincerity.

The repentance just set forth causes the ten thousand kinds of sinful karma to be extinguished. We respectfully take refuge in the Three Treasures on behalf of the departed soul. All assembled take refuge in sincerity in the Unsurpassed Dao and in the supreme Yuanshi Worthy of the Daluo Heaven, praying that the departed soul, together with all assembled, may be reborn in the realm of immortals. All assembled take refuge in sincerity in the Unsurpassed Jing—the classics written in dragon script and phoenix seal-characters—praying that the departed soul, together with all assembled, may be reborn in the realm of immortals. All assembled take refuge in sincerity in the Unsurpassed Master—the Great Master within the profound and wondrous Dharma gate—praying that the departed soul, together with all assembled, may be reborn in the realm of immortals.

All assembled take refuge in sincerity in the Three Treasures. By this supremely auspicious affinity, may the deceased’s ancestors of seven generations and kindred of nine generations, together with all assembled, be reborn in the realm of ultimate bliss. All assembled take refuge in sincerity in the Three Treasures. By this supremely auspicious affinity, may all beings dwelling in the Five Paths and the Three Mires (terms used in Daoism and Buddhism for the destinations of suffering within the cycle of rebirth), together with all assembled, be reborn in the realm of ultimate bliss.

The praises offered above have completed the veneration of the Five Elders of the Five Directions (the exalted deities who preside over the five directions). We now pray for the departed soul, that it may pass on to rebirth in the celestial realms. May the pure hun (ethereal soul) of the departed not be clouded by darkness, and may the purified po (corporeal soul) be clear and bright; may its guilt be removed from the black register of sins, and may its name of life be entered upon the Cinnabar Slips (the registers that record the names of immortals and perfected beings). May the departed return to the clear and still mind of its origin and be reborn in the heavens. We pray once more: may the pure hun remain undimmed and the purified po shine forth; may its name be struck from the register of sins and its name of life inscribed upon the Cinnabar Slips. May the departed return to clarity and stillness, awaken to its original nature, and attain carefree freedom.

May the departed ride upon azure mists toward every mysterious and wondrous realm; may it leave behind the conditions of death within the Nine Earths (the dark realms of the underworld) and realize the truth of life in the Three Heavens (the levels of the celestial realm as spoken of in Daoism). May it mount a crane and ride a cloud chariot to enter the sacred assembly of Daluo Heaven and, bearing precious banners and crimson standards (red ceremonial regalia), ascend the immortal steps of Langyuan. The dead are thereby enabled to rise to heaven, and the living too may receive blessing. From the place of ultimate perfection above down to the lands of the four directions below, may sentient beings possessed of awareness and insentient things alike together reach the other shore of the Dao (the Way).

Here ends the Yellow Register Ritual of the Five Elders for Mourning the Departed.