《太上洞渊三昧神箓斋十方忏仪》

We respectfully perform, for the ritual sponsor So-and-so and others, the “Great Zhai (purification rite) of the Divine Spells of Dongyuan Samadhi.” Through walking the Way in ritual and offering worship, together with confession and prayer, we seek to dispel calamity and cure illness, drive away misfortune, and pray for blessing and protection. We earnestly beseech the Most High to extend compassionate care, and the deities of the various heavens to show pity and to nurture and protect us, and to command the presiding gods of the ten directions, the Great Brahma Heavenly Kings, the ghost-slaying officers and troops, and the calamity-dispelling strongmen to come together to the altar and ritual arena.

We pray that the deities, on behalf of the ritual sponsor, expel demons, ghosts, and strange spirits, and swiftly cut off the disasters brought by the demonic hosts of Gou Yingzi and others; that they protect and uphold the ritual sponsor, so that the hundred illnesses are healed and calamities of every kind disperse, life is prolonged, and office and emolument advanced; that the ancestors of the nine mystic generations may attain deliverance, and the forebears of seven generations rest in peace and ease. May the whole household be safe, the old and young of the family all healthy and flourishing, every wish fulfilled, and all receive the grace of the Great Dao (the Way).

The spell says:

Azure Elder Lord of the East, you are styled the numen Goumang. May you roam the great void, your azure light illuminating the Jade Capital. The Great Dao presides over the Three Heavens, and the host of true deities commands the troops and generals who subdue demons. The eight tones of the Daoist teaching spread throughout the lands of the ten directions, and the cloud chariots of the nine dragons come to receive us. By holding the purification rite and establishing merit, even the long, dark night is made bright. When the dharma drums of the orthodox Way resound, all evil influences are destroyed and overthrown. The Demon Kings come forward to bow in homage and dare no longer attempt to harm living beings. Benevolent deities guard the gates, and the strongmen, together with the host of spirits, keep joint watch. May the Qi (vital energy) of the Dao spread widely, so that the kin of the household all find peace; may pestilence and poisonous harm be entirely eliminated, and the common people all enjoy long life. May everyone together exalt the Great Dao and roam together in the City of the Purple Phoenix.

We respectfully establish, for the ritual patron So-and-so and others, the “Great Zhai of the Divine Spells of Dongyuan Samadhi” (a Zhaijiao (purification ritual) performed according to the Divine Spells of Dongyuan Samadhi), conducting the rites of practicing the Way, worship, and repentance in order to heal calamities and illness and to pray for blessings and protection. We especially pray that the Great Saints broadly extend their compassion and that the many perfected immortals descend to bestow their protection; that celestial soldiers, divine generals, and the Red-Slaying celestial troops be dispatched to subdue and drive out demonic pestilence and to destroy the calamities and illnesses brought by the Nine Sons of the Jiao clan and others of their kind. May every fierce disaster and misfortune be gathered in and restrained, and may poisonous vapors and deviant Jing (essence) also be cleared away, each withdrawing to its original quarter. May the illnesses of the ritual patrons and the others be cured and their ethereal and corporeal souls be at peace, their lifespans lengthened and their offices and emoluments advanced; may deceased forebears be released from the sufferings of the dark underworld; may the whole family be safe and in good health, and may all, whether high or low in station, enjoy auspicious fortune as they wish. May what everyone seeks be realized, as they look up and receive the grace of the mysterious and wondrous Great Dao (the Way).

The incantation says:

The Fiery Emperor Lord of the South (the divine lord of the South honored in Daoism) has a mighty name renowned throughout the eight directions. Riding a flying chariot and driving a cloud carriage, he tours the ten directions and the Three Heavens. Jade maidens ride the cloud heights and sing aloud, and golden light illuminates the Cinnabar Mound. Today the Dharma wheel is turned (proclaiming and practicing the teachings of the Great Dao), and pure, wondrous Brahma-sounds resound through the mountains of the nine regions. The celestial demons command their demon troops; as soon as the wind rises, demonic afflictions subside of themselves. The three luminaries—sun, moon, and stars—shine in brilliant splendor; every kind of evil spirit is cut down and destroyed, sinking into the Ninefold Darkness. Should anyone dare to offend, the strongmen strike off his head. The sons of the sovereigns of the various heavens slay ghostly evils, so that ghostly Qi (vital energy) cannot spread. If any act with violent wickedness, their bodies are boiled in scalding broth. Tens of thousands of evil ghosts are beheaded, and not a single one is left. The zhai rite is performed in order to gather in and restrain demonic Jing, and the wangliang (ghost-monsters of the mountains and rivers) are likewise subdued in turn. The Great Dao is majestic and solemn, and a divine wind sweeps away wicked demons. Ghostly plagues are wholly extinguished, and from this time the common people no longer suffer calamity and sorrow.

The West…

The original text breaks off at “the West,” and the sense of the sentence is not yet complete.

We, respectfully, on behalf of the sponsor of this retreat, Mr. So-and-so and others (So-and-so stands in for the sponsor's name), hold the "Great Retreat of the Divine Mantra of the Three Mysteries of Dongyuan" (a Zhaijiao (purification ritual) centered on the Divine Mantra of the Three Mysteries of Dongyuan). Through processional walking and scripture chanting performed according to the rite, together with acts of prostration and repentance, we pray for the healing of illness, the removal of misfortune, the calming of calamity, and the expulsion of malign forces.

We reverently invite the Venerable Spirits of the Five Emperors and the host of Lesser Yin sages (Daoist deities) to extend their boundless compassion and look upon our earnest petition. May the deities dispatch the great armies of the Nine Heavens and the Red Slaying Warriors to subdue and clear away the Xinling spirits, the red-crow demons, the spirits of life and death, the ghosts of the graves, the Wunu Liuzi, and other malign kinds. We pray, too, that calamity be cut off, and that plague and miasma be driven out. May spiritual fluid (sacred dew) be sent down to flow into the Three Fields (the three places in the body where Qi (vital energy), Jing (essence), and Shen (spirit) are cultivated). May the Four Great Elements (the four basic components of the human body) be made light, healthy, and strong, and life be prolonged. May rank and emolument endure, promotion come smoothly, and high office be reached early. May our departed ancestors also ascend together, entering a realm of purity and peace. If these wishes are fulfilled, we shall have received the grace of the Great Dao (the Way).

Mantra:

In the west there is a spirit of Boshou, named Gouni. The Three Radiances (the sun, moon, and stars) illuminate the mysterious Great Void, and their light reaches in every direction. The sounds of the eight directions rise together with the thirty-two kinds of resonance, and all manner of baleful qi disperses of itself. Today we establish a field of blessings (the accumulation of merit through good deeds and the cultivation of the Dao), and the divine mantra is used to subdue the ghostly kinds. Lamps are lit, and their brightness shines far, so that the long night is suddenly made clear. The wind stills and the rain ceases; demons are slain and the wicked brought under control. If any ghost or evil spirit dares to offend, it will be bound and sent to the borders of hell. Golden blades cut across and through, and iron staves strike in a flurry. Walking the Dao can remove a hundred evils, and burning incense can extinguish a thousand disasters. When a Daoist is single-minded, diligent, and steadily accumulates good deeds, even a dead body can be revived. All kinds of malign influences fear the true Way, and even hidden evils dare not disobey. Follow the Great Dao handed down by the Master, and the qi of the Dao will return of itself. The foolish cannot study it, but the wise follow it and never depart. They begrudge neither wealth nor body, and what they treasure is practice according to the teaching, rising through the void in flight.

The North

We, respectfully, on behalf of the sponsor of this retreat, Mr. So-and-so and others, hold the Great Retreat of the Divine Mantra of the Three Mysteries of Dongyuan. Through the recitation of scriptures and processional walking according to the rite, we pray for the healing of illness and calamity, the bestowal of blessings, and the expulsion of demons and malign forces. We reverently petition the Lords of the Five Qi (deities who govern the qi of the five directions).

At this point the original text is followed by the two characters for "North," and the scripture that comes after them is not provided.

We respectfully hold, on behalf of the sponsor of the ritual, Mr./Ms. So-and-so and household, the Great Purification Ritual of the Divine Incantation of the Three Mysteries of Dongyuan (a Daoist purification ritual, zhai). We chant the scriptures and walk the Dao in order to remedy calamities and illness, to pray for blessings and protection, and to drive away evil spirits. We reverently invite the Divine Lords of the Five Qi (Qi, vital energy) and the True Sage of the North to send down their decree, commanding Song Wenchang and the other deities, the Wind-and-Rain Generals, and the Great Kings of the Four Heavens to join forces in subduing and clearing away the Great Demon of Azure Truth, Fudan Lianzi, together with the ghosts and spirits who haunt doorways, wells, and stoves, such as Cheng Bo, A Lun, and Ding Ning Zidu. May every evil influence be wholly eliminated, and may the household be made pure within and without. May the illnesses of the sponsor and household be healed, their bodies grow strong, their spirits (Shen) be settled, and their blessings and longevity increase. May the lingering souls of the departed, the deceased loved ones, be cleansed and ascend. May the whole family be safe and healthy, and all undertakings prosper. May what is sought be granted, and may we gratefully receive the grace of the Profound Mystery.

Incantation:

In the north lies the realm of Yudan, and its presiding deity is called Xuanming. The four seasons turn in their course, and the Five Qi shine clearly between Heaven and Earth. All evil and defilement are swept away, and Heaven and Earth are clear and open. The Supreme One is majestic beyond compare, and fierce ghosts dare not arise again. Whoever dares to defy this order shall be seized and handed over to the celestial soldiers. Thousands upon thousands of fierce ghosts are beheaded, and tens of thousands of evil things are cut down and destroyed in form. Yanluo cuts away demons and sorcerers, and the Northern Dipper annihilates monsters and spirits. The divine wind sweeps away all ill omens, and no malevolent spirit dares to linger. The grace of the Highest Sage spreads far and wide, and all things flourish together.

Center

We respectfully hold, on behalf of the sponsor of the ritual, Mr./Ms. So-and-so and household, the Dongyuan… [Note: the original text here appears to contain a misplaced slip or a lacuna.] The original then repeats the lines "The Northern Dipper annihilates monsters and spirits, the divine wind sweeps away all ill omens, and no malevolent spirit dares to linger. The grace of the Highest Sage spreads far and wide, and all things flourish together," and afterward leaves only the two characters for "Center."

We respectfully establish the Grand Retreat of the Divine Mantra of Dongyuan Samadhi (a Daoist Zhaijiao [purification ritual] that invokes blessings and averts calamity through chanting, prostrations, and similar rites) on behalf of the host of the retreat, so-and-so, and others. Through the ritual procession and the repentance liturgy, we pray for the healing of illness and affliction and for the expulsion of demons and plague. May the powerful guardians of the ten directions, of Heaven and Earth, and of the Thirty-Six Heavens together protect the host, eliminate malevolent spirits and baleful calamities, and subdue and destroy the ghosts of misfortune brought on by Li Zi'ao of Yunzhong, who died far from home. May the same fate befall the ghosts of the six domestic animals who have taken other forms, the hundred-charm ghosts of the five woods, the ghosts of barbarians, Rong, old Qiang, and captives, and every kind of spirit and monster of the mountains, waters, and fire, as well as the "Archer Lord" spirits, until all are wiped out.

May the host's thousand kinds of transgression all be pardoned, may calamities and illnesses dissolve unseen, may decline and danger pass, may fortune and emolument be long preserved, and may official rank rise without end. May the Seven Ancestors and Nine Mysteries (a general term for ancestors of all generations) all ascend to the fruition of the profound and wondrous Dao. May everything come to pass as sought, and may we receive with reverence the deep grace of Heaven.

Mantra:

The deity of the Center, Wu-Ji (the spirit governing the central direction), is led by the Yellow Emperor, who presides over all affairs. The Three Qin gather in the eight directions, and Gouchen (a celestial star deity of Daoism) shines across the heavens. The light of Heaven burns bright, and the dark night is suddenly thrown open. The grace of the great Dao reaches all things, and hundreds of millions of beings come to take refuge. Today a grand retreat is held, and no evil dares act rashly. When the wind stills, the leaves do not stir, and virtue stands lofty and towering. How could ghosts and plagues not be afraid? Hundreds of millions of malevolent ghosts are cut down without remainder.

When the common people suffer from illness and hardship, they need only invite the divine mantra retreat, and the sick will be healed, while the ghostly qi collapses and scatters of its own accord. The heavens gather in the demonic spirits, and the host of True Ones cut down evil. The Supreme One (Taishang) has personally issued a decree: if you do not obey, whom can you blame after death? If you can follow the teachings of the Daoist faith, you should cease evil and do good, and no longer commit acts contrary to the true Way.

Northeast

We respectfully establish the Grand Retreat of Praise for the Mantra of Dongyuan Samadhi on behalf of the host of the retreat, so-and-so, and others. By reciting the scriptures (jing) and performing the ritual procession and prostrations, we pray for the removal of calamity, the healing of illness, and the welcoming of blessings and grace. May the Spirit Youths of the Five Directions be dispatched to subdue and cut down the Five Essences (malevolent spirits that cause trouble), as well as the various illnesses and every calamity caused by Qi Chui Jia Yuan and the Yellow Slave brothers. May the ghost soldiers be gathered in and the malevolent spirits driven out, so that illness is cured and the body made well, life is prolonged, and rank and emolument rise. May the whole household, above and below, receive joy and good fortune, and may the noble and the lowly, the old and the young, all be at peace together. May the Seven Ancestors ascend in purity and the Nine Mysteries be released. May everything come to pass as sought, and may we receive with reverence the deep grace of Heaven.

The deity of the northeast, the Gen quarter, oversees restraint and regulation in the underworld. He carries out the commands of the Most High (the revered deity of Daoism) and distinguishes good from evil. What is perverse and delusive must not encroach upon the orthodox Dao (the Way); those who violate it are to suffer execution and punishment. The supreme sages protect the people, and those who transgress will receive severe punishment. The Dongyuan method takes purity and solemn austerity as its foundation, and the rules of Sanmei are strict, upright, and tightly ordered. Divine incantations are used to destroy evil demons, and the demons all disperse in their wake. When baleful affairs are removed, calamity comes to rest; ghosts and monsters are cut down, so that good and evil each stand clearly distinguished.

Divine troops spread throughout the world, and numinous winds sweep the earth. A hundred kinds of blessing rise from the four directions, while a thousand calamities and the Qi (vital energy) of yin evil recede. Neither public nor private affairs are any longer obstructed; both the living and the dead receive aid.

Southeast

We, your servants, respectfully hold for the patron of the retreat, So-and-so, and others the Great Retreat of the Dongyuan Sanmei Divine Incantations. Through practicing the Dao, worship and prostration, confession and prayer, we pray that the red troops and minor officers, together with the True Cavalry of the Most High (divine officers and divine soldiers under the Most High), be dispatched to seize and remove the afflictions and illnesses brought by Bailong Wangjian and others, and to drive away the related hosts, so that disaster is cut off altogether. We pray that the patron of the retreat clear the foul stagnation in the Six Receptacles (the collective term for the internal viscera), so that the channels, vessels, and joints flow freely and are moistened; that illness be eliminated, and decline and misfortune cease; that rank and emolument be preserved, and lifespan extended. We pray that souls in the darkness be delivered and people of the present world be supported. May what is sought be granted as wished, in reliance upon profound and mysterious grace.

The spirits of the southeast, the Xun direction (one of the directional positions of the Bagua, the Eight Trigrams), spread nets, and the Earth Gate and its households likewise set defenses, so that the nets extend throughout the world and the hundred ghosts cannot pass. We pray that the Five Marchmounts be at peace, that the four seas raise no wind or waves, and that the myriad evils dare not stir recklessly; by command, all demonic evil is prohibited and restrained. If demons dare to draw near, they are to be slain and delivered to Luluo (here the name of a deity or divine general), so that head and body are shattered and the physical form destroyed. We pray that the people be protected and suffering relieved, so that calamity and misfortune withdraw of themselves. The Three Officials (deities in Daoism who govern Heaven, Earth, and Water) all obey the majestic commands and carry them out according to the Nüqing Code (a statute of Daoist liturgy, Keyi).

Southwest

We reverently conduct, for the retreat patron So-and-so and others, the Great Retreat of the Divine Incantations of Cavern-Abyss Samadhi, a Daoist Zhaijiao (purification ritual). Through walking the Dao (the Way), worship and prostration, recitation of the Jing (scripture/classic), and repentance, we pray that calamities be dispelled and illness removed. We ask that the Lords of the Nine Heavens and the Mighty Warriors of the Three Primes be dispatched to subdue the demons and deviant spirits throughout the world that bring haunting harm, together with the great ghosts entrenched among mountains and forests, water and fire, and wind and soil, and such specters as Youlian Wenqingzi, commanding them to withdraw a thousand li and to keep far away in other places.

We pray that the retreat patron’s past faults be pardoned and the various illnesses now at hand be relieved, so that the hun and po souls are clear and lucid and the Qi (vital energy) moves freely and at ease, and adverse fortune disperses; that the Four Great Elements constituting the human body—earth, water, fire, and wind—be sound and harmonized, and that the Six Receptacles, the general name for the viscera of the body, be open and well moistened. May ghostly Qi be washed clean away and demonic Jing (essence) be rooted out, so that one’s share of blessings and one’s lifespan increase, and official emolument and standing long endure. May all be as we pray, and may we reverently receive the grace of Heaven above.

The incantation says:

The southwest is Kunmu, the deity who symbolizes the great earth. By divine majesty she subdues deviant demons and restrains the ghosts between Heaven and Earth, not permitting pestilence and poisonous harm to rage unchecked. Should any refuse to submit, a golden blade severs their bodily form. Today the Great Retreat is held in order to deliver the dead and to settle the living. The three lights of sun, moon, and stars shine together, and the Ninefold Murk, the deep places of the underworld, is likewise opened and made bright. Radiance shines throughout the ten directions, and the hundred ghosts have nowhere to hide. If anyone’s illness has long gone unhealed, the sickness-evil is gathered in and delivered over to the Seven Stars, the seven stars of the Northern Dipper. A divine wind sweeps away the baleful and the deviant, and wickedness of itself subsides. This is the clear decree and instruction of Laojun, the Most High Lord Lao, and it must be obeyed at once.

Northwest

We reverently conduct, for the retreat patron So-and-so and others, the Great Retreat of the Divine Incantations of Cavern-Abyss Samadhi, walking the Dao in worship and prostration and calling to mind the divine True Ones, praying for grace and for blessing and protection. We ask that brave and sturdy soldiers, generals, and mighty warriors be dispatched to drive out the calamitous and baleful evils led by Wang Feng and Bai Qi, destroying them in due time and granting them no leniency.

We pray that the retreat patron’s Shen (spirit) and hun soul be settled and the po and Qi be calm and secure, as if a numinous medicine were poured into the heart, so that illness heals day by day, lifespan is extended, official emolument and standing long endure, and the patron may soon enter the illustrious ranks of the immortals. We pray that the Seven Ancestors and the Nine Mysteries—the ancestors of successive generations and the former spirits of their lineage—together ascend into a realm of wondrous peace and joy. May all be as we pray, and may we reverently receive the grace of Heaven above.

The Qian position (the northwest in the Bagua, the Eight Trigrams) is the seat of the Heavenly Father, whose divine light penetrates everywhere. The Sage Emperor, moved by compassion for the people who suffer at the hands of countless demons, wove a heavenly net and spread it across the ten directions to catch the plague demons, leaving them nowhere to hide. He then slew them one by one and cast them into a boiling cauldron, so that all would be destroyed and none could escape again.

Today we hold this Zhaijiao (purification ritual) and establish merit, hoping that blessings will spread and calamities will dissolve. May the sick be healed, and may those not yet ill remain in good health. May every dwelling be pure and peaceful, and every trace of demonic energy vanish. May the heavenly spirits protect us together, and may the whole family live in harmony and good fortune.

The Upper Realm

We respectfully establish, on behalf of the retreat patron, so-and-so and household, the Great Retreat of the Divine Incantation of the Samadhi of the Cavern Abyss. Through prayers that avert illness and dispel disaster, we practice the Dao (the Way) and accumulate merit. May Heaven dispatch the Yellow Blossom Warriors, the Zhengyi (Orthodox Unity) Emissaries, and others to expel the Nü Penzi and the Red-Headed Great Demon, and to seize the malevolent spirits so that they are destroyed in good time. May the patron's misfortunes scatter like rain, and may obstacles and ill fate disperse like clouds and mist. May the six viscera (the internal organs of the body) be at peace and the hundred passes (the orifices and junctures of the body) flow freely. May life be lengthened and rank and emolument remain long secure. May the Seven Ancestors (seven generations of forebears) ascend, and may the Nine Mysteries (a general term for ancestors) receive blessings and joy. May all that is sought be granted, as we gratefully receive the profound grace of Heaven.

Incantation:

The Heavenly Emperors of the upper realm pass in and out of the gate of the Daluo Heaven, sheltering and nurturing the people of the world and prolonging the years of the age of calamity. How could evil forces not be destroyed? They spread their poison and harm people, slaughtering the populace until death and sickness fill the world and cries of grief reach the heavens. Thus Heaven sends down a mighty host that hurls flames and eradicates every plague. With the power of the Three and Five, it cuts off the paths of evil, and with the power of the Seven Stars, it seals the gates of the demons. The evil spirits are veiled, bound, and sent into the prisons of Heaven, so that the myriad people may be preserved.

The Lower Realm

We respectfully establish, on behalf of the retreat patron, so-and-so and household, the Great Retreat of the Divine Incantation of the Samadhi of the Cavern Abyss. We perform the rites and offer repentance, taking refuge in all the venerable deities. May mighty divine generals be sent to hurl flames and eradicate every plague, to cut off the paths of evil and seal the gates of the demons, and to veil and bind the evil spirits and send them into the prisons of Heaven, so that the myriad people may be preserved.

We, your ministers, respectfully establish for the ritual patrons, So-and-so and the others, the “Great Zhai of the Divine Incantations of Cavern-Abyss Samādhi” (Dongyuan Sanmei Shenzhou Dazhai), a large-scale Zhaijiao (purification ritual) performed according to the Divine Incantations of Cavern-Abyss Samādhi. We practice the Dao (the Way), offer worship, repent of offenses, and take refuge in prayer before the venerable Shen (spirits). We pray that the Inspector of Evil of Great Brilliance and the Envoy Who Turns Back Baleful Sha—divine generals charged with inspecting malign spirits and driving off violent influences—be dispatched, each leading iron-armored cavalry, to seize wicked sprites and monsters. We pray that the patrons’ illnesses be lightened and removed, that their spirits be at peace and their hun and po souls settled; that calamities and adverse fortunes be washed away and dispersed, and their lifespans extended; that they long receive favor and emolument and soon rise to high office. May all that is sought be fulfilled, as we look up to and receive this mysterious grace.

The incantation says:

The earth deities below, the spirits of the land, are divinely efficacious and govern every region of the Nine Provinces. They make the Four Seas clear and peaceful and keep the Five Sacred Peaks settled. They restrain and subdue evil demons and monstrous spirits, and do not allow them to inflict their various poisons. The Supreme Sages protect the people and therefore send down the edict of Covenanted Authority, a solemn divine command. Should any malign spirit defy the order, it shall be seized and delivered to the Celestial Marchmount for judgment. Iron hooks shall catch the demons’ eyes, and golden blades shall sever their hands and feet. The divine incantation destroys every kind of malign spirit and brings their kind to an end. The myriad people, grateful for the grace of the Dao, no longer grieve or weep. Spared the calamities of years of danger and taboo, they shall at last welcome peace and joy in the world.