《太上说青玄雷令法行因地妙经》

With reverence we respectfully invoke the Qingxuan Earth-Thunder Command—the divine earth-thunder mandate of Daoist thunder rites—together with the Bing-Ding Shen (spirits), who symbolize the upright Qi (vital energy) of lasting life and correspond to the Bing and Ding stems of the Fire phase.

If one only stills the mind and turns toward them, the spirits arrive in an instant and manifest their awe-inspiring presence: red hair, a blue-green face, golden armor, and a robe of fire, radiant and dazzling. When people pray, the spirits reveal their true forms in answer to the prayer.

General Benling, whose appellation is Zhaowu, commands wind and thunder and leads the troops and officers. He assists in the rites, rescues the people, and promotes good works; receiving Heaven’s mandate, he carries out teaching and transformation, and he harbors vast compassion. He gathers blessings, removes calamities, and drives out epidemics; he expels malign influences, upholds the orthodox Dao (the Way), and sweeps away the Qi of demons and deviance. His merits and wondrous fruits are beyond all praise. The assembly bows in homage, takes refuge, and worships with sincere hearts.

At this time, on the fifteenth day of the third month in the first year of Tianbao, the Most High Lord Lao, in the Palace of Great Clarity within the Realm of Great Clarity, ascended the Cloud-Blossom Throne of the Nine Qi—a jeweled seat of cloud-blossoms formed from nine kinds of primordial Qi. The great celestial emperors, the Utmost Perfected of the Ten Directions (exalted deities who have attained the Dao through cultivation), the many constellations, and innumerable hosts of immortals arrived one after another from the hazy clouds and auroras. Riding the wind and flying wheels, with banners and ceremonial regalia streaming, auspicious light shone in every direction; luan birds and phoenixes called, and immortal music sounded together. They came through the void to listen as the Most High expounded the wondrous Dao. The assembly turned in delight and gazed upward in reverence.

At that time, in the ritual assembly there was a Perfected named Miaoxing. His meritorious practice transcended the Three Realms, and his cultivation was fulfilled throughout the heavens. He stepped forward from the throng, saluted with the audience tablet in hand, and, kneeling at length, reported: “Your servant has seen that in the lower realm, in the inland regions of Geng and Xin and the lands of Shu, calamities follow one upon another, epidemics spread, grasses and trees lie waste, and the people suffer great numbers of dead and wounded. For this reason, I and all living beings have remained deeply anxious, hoping to rely upon your compassionate light so that aid may be broadly bestowed.”

The Lord Lao (Taishang Laojun, the Most High Lord Lao) said to the Perfected One of Wondrous Practice (Miaoxing Zhenren): “Very good, very good. Return to your seat, and I will explain this to you.”

At that time calamities came one after another, epidemics spread in every direction, grasses and trees withered and failed, and the common people died in great numbers. For this reason I, no differently from all living beings, was endlessly anxious, and wished to draw on the light of compassion to bring widespread rescue to the people of the world.

The Lord Lao again said to the Perfected One of Wondrous Practice: “Very good, very good. Return to your seat, and I will explain this to you. It is because the Qi (vital energy) of Metal Heaven—the autumnal Metal Qi within the conceptions of the Five Phases (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water) and the four seasons—has met with the exhaustion of its allotted measure. This has thrown Yin and Yang (Yin-Yang) out of balance, congested the Qi of the mountains and rivers, and closed off the land, so that disaster and pestilence run rampant and both the people and the myriad beings suffer harm. I have sent forth a portion of divine light and issued decrees, so that the world may return to purity and stillness.”

Everyone rejoiced and offered praise without ceasing. Among the divine beings commanded by the Celestial Master (Tianshi) seated below, there was a divine general called the “Director of the Peaks and Waterways” (Yuedu Lingzhang, the divine office in charge of the affairs of the Five Sacred Peaks and the Four Waterways). He knelt and reported: “The Lord of the Teaching need not weary his compassionate power. I have jurisdiction over the earth spirits of Taidai (Mount Tai) among the Five Sacred Peaks. Under my command is the presiding Marshal Wen (Wen Yuanshuai), who can carry out transformation on Heaven’s behalf, assist in the ritual services, rescue the common people, and lead the thunder troops to quell these disasters.”

The Perfected One of Wondrous Practice stepped out of the ranks and asked the Celestial Master: “May I ask what origins this divine general has? What method did he cultivate in his earthly life, so that he mastered the mechanisms of military command and is able to crush and subdue calamity?”

The Celestial Master replied: “This divine general is the Jing (essence) of Bing and Ding and the Shen (spirit) of the Emperor of Fire. In the first year of the Yanping era of the Han, on the third day of the third month, he took on a body and was born into a family of eminent Confucian scholars in Pingyang. His holy mother, sleeping during the day, dreamed that she swallowed the light of the sun; when she awoke she was pregnant, and she carried the child for thirteen months. In the first year of the Yongchu era, a dingwei year, at the wu hour on the third day of the third month, he was born at home. The child was imposing in appearance and clear and bright in bearing; he had the manner of an immortal and the bone structure of a cultivator of the Dao (the Way). On his left side were twenty-four celestial talismans, and on both hands the two characters ‘Bing’ and ‘Ding’ showed faintly.

“He was numinous and extraordinary from birth, and as he grew he was intelligent and lucid. He always preserved his innate true nature, continued in visualization and cultivation, kept an upright heart, honored the Great Dao, accumulated good deeds, and rescued others. Because his wholesome conditions and merit were fulfilled, the Three Officials recommended him and the Five Thunders examined his achievements, and in the end a memorial was submitted to the Supreme Thearch.

“In the sixth year of the Yongjian era, a xinwei year, on the first ding day at the wu hour, he received the Jade Emperor’s command. Divine beings in golden armor and envoys in embroidered robes presented the military tally of Vast Heaven, and bestowed on him a golden ring, a jade warrant, a cloud tablet, and celestial writs, appointing him commander of the troops of the Peak Administration and making him the foremost of the myriad spirits of the Five Sacred Peaks. From then on he entered and left the celestial court to present affairs, unrestricted by the Gate of Heaven. After receiving the command he long garrisoned the Peak Administration. His living image was set up on the left side of the hall, and the next day he transformed and departed in that place.

“This spirit manifests his power and responds through transformation. He commands soldiers and generals to assist in the ritual services, restrains and exterminates sorcerous mediums, demons, and monsters, delivers the dead and relieves the living, drives out pestilence, performs every kind of good deed, and broadly benefits the common people. His merit toward the world is beyond all reckoning.”

When the Perfected One of Wondrous Practice had heard this account, he rejoiced and leapt with delight, praising him again and again. At this moment the Perfected One began to pose his questions.

The Most High Lord Lao, a revered deity of Daoism, again told the Celestial Master (Tianshi): “You should quickly dispatch this divine general for me and pacify this place.”

The Celestial Master knelt, received the command, and withdrew. The Most High sent an envoy bearing a talisman to summon the earth deity Lord Wen, a divine general who governs the locality. When he appeared, he stood nine chi tall, with red hair and a blue-green face, golden eyes, fangs bared, and a mouth like a fire basin. A purple cloth was bound about his head; he wore a patterned robe cinched with a sash, black high boots on his feet, and a sharp treasure sword in his hand, and he rode a black horse swift as the chasing wind. He commanded the armies and horses of Vast Heaven, the thunder troops, and the soldiers of the mountains and peaks. Surrounded by banners and pennants, he was led forward. He paid reverent homage to the Most High and listened carefully for the command to be proclaimed.

After accepting the Most High’s order, Lord Wen set out at once. He fully displayed his divine might, commanded the subordinates to his left and right, and hastened straight to Western Shu. Within ten days he quelled the epidemic and rooted out the forces of deviant ways. From children to the elderly, from women to men, and from near to far, the people throughout the region were able to live in peace and pursue their livelihoods.

Thereupon this divine general paced the Gang, stepping the stars of the Gang according to ritual footwork, stood in the position of Dui among the Eight Trigrams (Bagua), pointed toward the palace of Zhen, activated an incantation, and said:

The deity of the Li Palace (the southern Fire position among the directions of the Bagua, the Eight Trigrams) is formed by the transformation of the Jing (essence) and Qi (vital energy) of the De (Virtue/Power) of Fire. The orthodox Qi of Bing and Ding burns fierce and bright, giving form to a mighty Yang Shen (spirit). He manifests his bodily form at the Eastern Marchmount, commands the soldiers and generals of the Celestial Emperor, drives thunder and lightning and rolls up clouds and mist, delivers the people from suffering, and slays malign spirits and goblin sprites. Every kind of calamity is swept away, and auspicious blessings descend one after another; the host of spirits trembles into submission, and the myriad gods all come to revere him. Whenever anyone summons him, he appears in answer to the call. Local deities such as the City God and the commanders of the soil altars likewise protect the peace of the locality for a long time. I act upon Heaven’s mandate, and wind and fire will not cease.

When the Marshal had finished reciting this incantation, he gathered his troops and returned to thank the Celestial Master (Tianshi). He said, “Earlier, obeying the Celestial Master’s command and relying on compassionate ritual power, I swept away the pestilence of the land of Shu, and all is now pure and clear. I secretly transmit to the people of the world the numinous talisman of command and the comprehensive seal of the Five Marchmounts, named ‘Qingxuan Dilei’ (Azure-Mystery Earth Thunder). I vow to protect perfected persons and ritual masters who uphold the teaching and practice the Dao (the Way), and, acting under orders, to cure illness, expel pestilence, cut off evil, and return people to the orthodox Dao.” With that he took his leave and withdrew.

Thereupon the Celestial Master praised the matter, went to court to pay homage to Lord Lao, set forth these merits, and said that this Jing (scripture) should be transmitted in the world so as to bring relief to all living beings. Wherever this scripture is present, divine spirits should extend their protection, so that misfortune and disorder do not arise. Those who have succeeded in cultivating the Dao and who practice according to the text of the scripture can proclaim the orthodox teaching, revive the orthodox Dao, bring peace to the state, and give ease to the people.

If one meets with pestilence or disease, or with drought and flood coming one after another, if birds and rats bring uncanny prodigies or snakes and insects work mischief, one need only turn one’s heart to uphold this scripture, and calamity will recede and misfortune will be dispelled in secret. If one meets the disaster of war, danger in childbirth, calamities of water, fire, or bandits, harassment by demons and ghosts, or spells worked by deviant shamans, one need only burn incense, recite the scripture, and pray with a sincere heart; then one will receive the protection of divine majesty, spiritual power will arrive in due time, households will flourish, and the people will be at peace. If one can bow down and worship this scripture, its merit is inconceivable.

When the Celestial Worthy had finished speaking this scripture, the immortal hosts of all the heavens praised it with one voice. All rejoiced greatly, received it in faith, and put it into practice.