《灵宝净明天枢都司法院须知法文》

The Tianshu Dusi (the divine bureau in Daoism charged with celestial documents and the duties of inspection) is known as the transmitting official within the Tianmen Siyuan who conveys matters upward to the celestial court. It commands seventy-three bureaus together with seven registrar bureaus, collectively called the seventy-four bureaus, and is responsible for examining good and evil on both the Yin and Yang sides of the Three Realms (heaven, earth, and the human world). Texts and methods may involve parties above and below alike, especially the persons selected by the chief registrar and the seven registrars. When a concrete matter arises, one will of oneself know how it is to be handled; such cases are not set out one by one here. What matters is to guard them with caution and not lightly divulge the secrets of Heaven.

If one encounters a disciple of pure faith (a disciple who devoutly believes in Daoism) who shows even a slight wish to seek the Dao (the Way), one may take the opportunity to guide him, and this does not count as divulging a secret. Should one meet such a person and yet fail to exhort him, and give no answer when others inquire, one will incur the offense prescribed in the Mishou Guiqing Lüwen (a Daoist scripture of precepts). The code says: “Those who leak secrets or are negligent will receive a heavy reward; those who keep the teaching secret and do not transmit it will suffer a manifest punishment.” This is precisely the principle meant here.

At dawn, when the sun rises, face east, draw on one’s robe, and sit up. Visualize the sunlight shining upon the crown of the head, entering the chest through the crown gate (the cultivation aperture at the top of the head), and transforming into red Qi (vital energy). Then visualize the moon turning, so that white Qi issues from the chest, joins with the red Qi, and congeals into an elixir. The elixir is red within and yellow without, about the size of a pellet. Hold this elixir in the left hand, while the right hand forms a mudra (a specific gesture made with the fingers; the method of the mudra is not transmitted here). Then take a bit of “snow” from the Yongquan point and swallow it. If one feels it go straight to the Dantian (energy center) and senses heat in the Dantian, this is the response of which the method speaks.

Next, hold the breath and visualize the Queen Mother of the West. Take the “water of the Silver River” (a visualized image of the water of the Milky Way) and, with a jade basin seven inches wide and eight inches deep, wash the ears and wash the eyes, while both hands form mudras; these mudra methods, likewise, are not transmitted here.

Hold the breath and visualize the Grand Envoy of Lofty Illumination of the Nine Provinces on the right, the Primordial Sovereign on daily duty on the left, and the Numinous Treasure Illustrious King of the Way of Filial Piety riding the clouds above. With a willow branch, direct an incantation into the water of a jade basin, then drink the water. If it tastes as bitter as Chinese goldthread, the water is held to contain thunder Qi (leiqi, vital energy). According to the scripture, thunder Qi can reach into the heart; after it is swallowed, one feels a stream of qi issue from the mouth, which then transforms into a vision of thunder and lightning soaring aloft, while both hands form ritual seals. This method is not transmitted.

If, when one first begins practice, one sees all manner of dragon spirits, one must steady the mind and wait until one can meet them as composedly as familiar acquaintances. Then the Celestial Worthies will be as parents, and the generals and clerks as intimate friends, and attainment will come of itself. If one first grows alarmed and doubtful, the hun and po souls will scatter and grow unsettled.

Method of Investigation and Correction of the Chief Registrar of the Celestial Pivot

When officials of the world of the living or of the underworld enforce the law unjustly, one should at once record the matter and submit a memorial, first binding their spirits and specifying their crimes; when the business is finished, release them again. If the offense merits death, the term must not exceed one year.

When one encounters persons or demonic ghosts who harm those who practice the ten good deeds and keep to their station and the law, one sends thunder-fire to attack them. If these persons or demons have descendants, yet the line has died out and no one offers sacrifice, one must ascertain whether this is truly so and confirm whether they have taken rebirth and been transformed; if it is so, and the king’s law cannot reach them, one proceeds accordingly.

When immortal officials or ghosts and spirits violate Heaven’s law in submitting their memorials, one should report it at once and must not conceal it.

Fulu (Talismans and Registers) and Oral Formulas

The Thunder Talisman, the Spirit-Binding Talisman, the Jade Emperor Writ, the Spirit-Pursuing Talisman, and the essential formulas of the hours must all be transmitted by a teacher orally and from mind to mind, and must not be disclosed to unsuitable persons. If they are leaked, the calamity will implicate nine generations of ancestors and nine generations of descendants.

Silent Heart-Incantation of the Chief Registrar of the Celestial Pivot

The incantation says: Throat-and-Tongue Official of Celestial Pivot Inspection (the divine officer in the Celestial Pivot Chief Office charged with transmitting commands and inspecting affairs), I am an official of the first rank in the divine administration. I visualize the deities and ingest the light of the sun and moon; the Queen Mother bestows on me the nectar of the Silver River. The Bright King drinks the water in my jade basin, and once he has drunk, mind and Shen (spirit) of themselves grow calm and healthy. I ask the Inspection Kings of the various offices to remember my words, not to defy the summons, and without fail to come swiftly.

I visualize the deities and ingest the light of the sun and moon; the Queen Mother bestows on me the nectar of the Silver River. The Bright King drinks the water in my jade basin, and once he has drunk, mind and spirit of themselves grow calm and healthy. I ask the Inspection Kings of the various offices to remember my words, not to defy the summons, and to come quickly. Assist the law of Heaven, and do not be negligent or indulgent. Handle documents with caution and rigor, as if facing the stars and the frost, never daring to grow slack. If anyone violates the statutes or discusses them in private, I will memorialize your name to the Jade Emperor.

The Method of Transmitting Memorials by the Chief Recorder of the Celestial Pivot

The duty of the Chief Recorder of the Celestial Pivot is to transmit memorials. If the officeholder’s merit is already complete, he may be proposed for appointment as Left or Right Assistant to the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing). This should be attended to early by selecting from among those who are loyal, filial, upright in conduct, and possessed of the arts of the Dao (the Way), and their names should be memorialized within thirty years. If one can recommend a suitable candidate on another’s behalf, one may receive the blessed reward of ascent as a Perfected or of deliverance by the corpse: above, a noble title conferred by the celestial realm, and formal enrollment in the lineage of the immortals.