《靈寶無量度人上品妙經》Vol. 12

The Chapter on the Transformation and Generation of Yin-Yang

The Taishang Daojun (Supreme Lord of the Dao) said: Long ago, in the Land of Great Goodness and Radiant Light, where purple dawn flows with brilliance, within the Heaven of Supreme Simplicity and Imperial Ultimate (a lofty celestial realm in Daoist cosmology), I received the Supreme Chapter of Immeasurable Yin-Yang Transformation and Generation from the Celestial Venerable of Primordial Beginning (Yuanshi Tianzun). When the Celestial Venerable was about to expound this scripture (Jing), he first circled and turned ten times in order to summon the spirits of the ten directions, and only then did the deities arrive one after another before his seat.

Great Perfected Deities, High Sages and Venerables, and Perfected Ones of wondrous practice, innumerable multitudes of spirits, came riding auspicious clouds through the air. Jade-green clouds gathered their radiance, and purple and golden light shone upon one another. Jade-like flowers drifted down on every side, and the music of heaven sounded of itself. Perfected chariots adorned with cinnabar jade and precious carriages decorated with golden blossoms were covered and shaded by brocade mist, their colors dazzling and vivid. Clouds of the Three Simplicities (auspicious clouds of purple, yellow, and white) crowded around the wheels, and the Nine Perfected (the many Perfected Ones) drove their carriages side by side. Sun and moon shone upon each other for seven days and seven nights, the Five Stars were clear and bright, auspicious mists rose, and the forests grew lush and lovely.

Throughout the land, the mountains, rivers, and trees became level and even, with no distinction between high and low. The earth was moist and gleamed a deep bluish red. Flying rosy clouds wreathed palaces that resembled flower blossoms, and the Perfected Ones stood in attendance beside the seat. The Celestial Venerable sat in profound serenity, borne upon a five-colored lion floating in the air, and began to expound the scripture.

At the first recitation, the great sages of all the heavens praised it as good with one voice. At that moment, every man and woman in the land was awakened in mind, and life no longer ended prematurely; each lived out their allotted years.

At the second recitation, Yin and Yang joined in De (Virtue), and a wondrous sweet nectar (a spirit liquid like an elixir wine) arose and blended with harmonious Qi.

At the third recitation, flying immortals walked upon the air, and the spirits of the numinous Perfected spread out their Fulu (talismans and registers, the secret writs and credentials of the Daoist tradition).

At the fourth recitation, divine dragons rose up, and all baleful Yin and evil Qi were wiped away.

At the fifth recitation, smoke rose from the green chambers (the meditation rooms of Daoist practitioners), and the spirit windows were lit through with bright light.

At the sixth recitation, the curled young sprouts of plants and the cracked husks of seeds all unfurled and burst into growth, and Yang Qi was full and warm.

At the seventh recitation, the Dao of generation was universally fulfilled, and every form and bearing was complete.

At the eighth recitation, numinous light descended to shelter all, and even the hidden, winding places beneath the springs received its grace.

At the ninth recitation, the myriad kinds of beings in all the heavens and all the earths came into being.

At the tenth recitation, the Perfected Ones presided over the oath of covenant and revealed the great Dharma.

At that moment, every man and woman in the land turned their hearts wholly toward the Dao, all were protected and delivered, and all attained long life.

The Taishang Daojun said further: At the first recitation by the Celestial Venerable of Primordial Beginning, the Great Spirit of Primordial Transformation of the Eastern Realm of Limitless and Immeasurable Grade came floating through the air with innumerable divine attendants. At the second recitation, the Great Spirit of the Crimson Crystal of the Southern Realm of Limitless and Immeasurable Grade came floating through the air with innumerable divine attendants. At the third recitation, the Great Spirit of Plain Majesty of the Western Realm of Limitless and Immeasurable Grade came floating through the air with innumerable divine attendants. At the fourth recitation, the Great Spirit of Dense Subtlety of the Northern Realm of Limitless and Immeasurable Grade likewise came to the assembly with innumerable divine attendants.

(The scripture repeatedly describes the assembled gods of the heavens coming to hear it.) On the fifth recitation, the Great God Who Stabilizes the Pole, together with countless divine beings from the immeasurable ranks of the Northeast, came soaring through the sky to hear the scripture. On the sixth, the Great God of the Wind Wheel and countless divine beings from the immeasurable ranks of the Southeast came soaring through the sky. On the seventh, the Great God of the Great Empyrean and countless divine beings from the immeasurable ranks of the Southwest came soaring through the sky. On the eighth, the Great God of Vast Motion and countless divine beings from the immeasurable ranks of the Northwest came soaring through the sky. On the ninth, the Great God of Lofty Mystery and countless divine beings from the immeasurable ranks above came soaring through the sky. On the tenth, the Great God Who Holds Completion and countless divine beings from the immeasurable ranks below came soaring through the sky.

When all ten recitations had been delivered, the True Gods from the immeasurable heavens of the ten directions arrived together. The men and women of the kingdom looked on with sincere reverence, holding precious standards—ornate banners—and flower canopies, parasols adorned with blossoms. Countless cloud chariots and wind-borne steeds gathered from every direction. The gods gazed upward, waiting for the Heavenly Worthy to expound the wondrous Great Law of Yin-Yang transformation and generation. Countless divine beings assembled, gold and jade welled up from the land, and sweet dew fell like rain, spreading through the air.

At that moment, the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning sent forth light from between his brows, bright as the sun and moon. It had nine sharp rays and ten layers of radiance, was about the size of a pellet, and hung nine feet from his face, darting up and down as its light streamed in every direction. In an instant, its brilliance filled the heavens, earth, and worlds of the ten directions, and all things merged into a single field of light. The assembled sages of heaven and humanity gazed intently, their eyes fixed upon it. The sunlike and moonlike rays reflected one another and formed a pearl of wondrous color. All who saw it marveled.

Within the pearl appeared celestial characters, jade books and true diagrams, as well as precious dragon and phoenix emblems and the forms of tortoises and serpents. These images and texts spread out in broad, spacious layers. In the pearl’s radiance also appeared tier upon tier of terraces and towers, lofty pavilions, phoenix platforms and qilin halls, and trees like jade covered in blossoms. Their colors were dazzling, and the whole scene glowed with harmonious brilliance, as though suspended high in the blue sky a hundred yards above the ground.

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning led the Heavenly True Great Gods, the High Sages and Exalted Venerables, the Perfected of Wondrous Practice, and the supremely true Great Gods who govern Yin-Yang transformation and generation in the immeasurable realms of the ten directions, together with countless divine beings, into the sacred pearl.

The people of the heavens looked up and saw light and shadow faintly entering through the opening of the divine pearl. Once they had entered the pearl, its opening could no longer be found. The ground, which had been scattered across this realm, returned to an even surface and no longer tilted or collapsed.

Inside the divine pearl’s treasure hall, the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning asked the Lords of Heaven to govern Yin-Yang, nurture the myriad things, and bring them into being. Seated in the hall were the Celestial Worthies of the heavens, the True Sovereigns of the eight directions, the Five Elder Emperors, the Great Lords of Long Life, the Eastern Pole’s Purple Dawn Lord of the Upper Palace, the Azure Florescence Emperor; the Primal Emperor of Qi of the Golden Court of Bright Truth; the Jade Perfected of Southern Dawn and Vast Spirit; the Northern Dark Water Emperor; the Jade Florescence Spirit Consort of Central Yellow and Great Truth; the Mother of Qi of Great Mystery; and the High Imperial Worthy, Primal Mother of the Ninefold Spirit, Great Subtlety, Yin-Yang, and the Transformation and Generation of the Ten Thousand Ways, along with many other spirits and deities.

The worlds of the ten directions appeared reflected all around, as if seen through crystal. Light and Qi mingled in the dark, empty expanse. The gathered gods began to sing, their voices winding and harmonious, drifting over all things like a gentle breeze. Thus, the myriad things gradually came into being.

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning looked around at the assembly of immortals, then gazed upon this wondrous and extraordinary scene. All the heavens bowed to him. Dragons soared and tigers leapt, their transformations appearing as five round forms of purple-gold light. The Celestial Worthy then caressed the mountains and waters that flowed like clouds, donned a cloak of interwoven emerald-green silk, the kind worn by immortals, and leaned on an exquisitely carved armrest inlaid with pearls and jade and shining with golden light. He proclaimed to the assembled Perfected:

“These great celestial script characters are the foundation of Yin-Yang. They are also the formless, elusive gateway and the source of wondrous transformation. From them, Qi—the primal energy that underlies all things—is born. The two forces of Yin and Yang have no fixed names of their own. They respond to and act upon each other, allowing transformation to flow: there is rising and sinking, following and opposing, firmness and softness, inside and outside, Yin and Yang, dragon and tiger. Yin and Yang contain and join with one another, gathering Jing, and so the myriad things are born.

“The Great Void gives rise to the Great Nonbeing; the Great Nonbeing gives rise to the Great Cavern; the Great Cavern gives rise to the Great Emptiness; the Great Emptiness gives rise to the Great Desolation. The Great Desolation is a realm beyond the empty, mysterious, and limitless. There, Yin and Yang interweave and transform, giving rise to the two forms of Heaven and Earth. The two forms then give rise to the Three Powers…”

The Dao gives rise to transformation, from which all things come forth, and the Three Realms (the Desire Realm, the Form Realm, and the Formless Realm) take shape. Immortals and perfected beings are assigned their places. In the Golden Palaces and Jade Capitals stand a million halls; mountains rise high, and rivers and seas run clear. Such is the vast intention behind the Primordial Celestial Worthy’s creation of Heaven, Earth, and all things. The Lords of Heaven, high perfected beings, sovereign rulers, immortal sages, and worthy people all arise from this source. Even the spirits and demon marshals of the Nine Offices, the Northern Feng (the underworld in the north), the Gates of the Springs, and the depths beneath the Nine Earths follow this same principle.

As for people who cultivate themselves and ascend to become immortals, transforming from ordinary people into sages and attaining the ranks of the perfected, this too follows the way Yin and Yang establish Heaven and Earth. In accord with the patterns of Yin and Yang and the Dragon and Tiger—terms in Daoist Neidan that symbolize, among other things, Yin and Yang energies—one regulates Shen and Qi through complementary ascending and descending practices. One refines the body into Qi, refines Qi until it unites with Shen, and then refines Shen until it returns to the Origin. When one’s being unites with the formless and with the Dao, one can become a high perfected being. The true spirit flies and transforms, penetrating deeply into the realm of nature. It comes into being through transformation, shares one body with the Dao, and endures through countless kalpas and eons, day and night without cease. Those who never come to understand this will continue to revolve through the many forms of karmic retribution and endure the consequences of suffering. This is all because they do not understand the subtle principles by which Yin and Yang generate life, or the foundations of Heaven and Earth’s transformations.

There is also a method of gathering the essences of Yin and Yang: water and fire rise and descend, the sun is on the left and the moon on the right, and both return at the center to the Great Nonbeing. Through repeated circulation and condensation, they form “Purple Radiance.” Those who can ingest it will unite with the light of the sun and moon and ascend to pay court in the Highest Clarity, the pure and empty realm of the immortals. This too is the Way of perfect harmony, through which Yin and Yang generate life and manifest outwardly. This Way is mysterious and hidden. It is recorded in detail on golden tablets and jade registers, sealed away in the Jade Clarity Palace of the High King of Truth at the Jade Capital of the Mysterious Metropolis, and in the treasured archives of the Eastern Florescence.

After a long succession of kalpas, when the time came to save people, the Primordial Celestial Worthy finished expounding this scripture within the divine pearl. The assembled perfected beings oversaw the rite and entrusted the scripture to me. The joy and celebration of that moment cannot be described. The ritual was largely complete, and the divine beings of the heavens returned at once to their proper places. In an instant, all fell silent, without a sound. At that time, all who encountered this scripture among the heavenly people were universally saved. They understood and realized the principles of transformation and generation, and their lives became as long as Heaven itself. All the people under Heaven turned together toward the Dao. They were able to see the Dao’s source and its power to generate life, and to understand the principles of transformation. From this came Shen, Qi, and Jing, as well as activity and all things. Their bodies shone with jade light, and their voices reached the spirit realm. All beings loved one another; even those of different bones became kin. The state was at peace, the people were prosperous, and all rejoiced in an age of peace.

Once the scripture began to spread, everyone in a country who turned their heart toward the Dao, honored it, and worshipfully paid respect could be saved.

The contents of the Dao Jing are the inner names and secret tones used by the gods of the heavens. They are also the hidden names of the perfected kings, whose transformations give rise to Yin and Yang, and of the highest sages and exalted beings, as well as the secret names of the many gods and numinous officials. They are not words used in everyday life.

The highest sages have already become perfected beings. They understand the mysteries and have explored the most hidden subtleties, so they can fully grasp the scripture’s passages and phrases. After they recite it ten times, the heavens answer from afar, and the myriad emperors pay their respects. Auspicious signs surge through the celestial realm like waves; purple clouds gather, the sun and moon shine brightly, and the Xuanji—the Northern Dipper region that symbolizes the movement of the celestial bodies—turns and sparkles. Demons are bound, and the baleful energy of ghosts and spirits dissipates. The dead return to life, and even white bones can become whole human bodies.

Those who aspire to cultivate the Dao and recite the scripture ten times will be attended and protected by the Five Emperors, while the Three Realms bow together. Demonic spirits lose their powers, and the malign force of ghosts and evil influences fades away. Even those on the verge of death, whose breath has stopped, can be rescued and brought back to life. This is because the scripture explains how Yin and Yang give rise to life. It teaches people to seek out life’s roots, reconnect what has been severed, repair what has been damaged, and regain the source of life and destiny. Take the Dao as father, De as mother, Shen as teacher, and life as master. Impure energies disperse everywhere, and the body gradually reaches the realm of truth. Those who recite the scripture can summon and subdue the demonic spirits and earth deities of the ten directions, and bind demons and evil spirits.

Yet those who only seek to escape death without cultivating cannot thereby regain life. Reciting this chapter carelessly will instead bring calamity upon oneself. Those who revere and honor this scripture will see their household prosper and their descendants flourish, and will form wholesome connections. Calamities will not come near, and the gods will guard their doors. This scripture is precious and wondrous, unmatched in the Jade Capital, the palace of the Daoist heavens. It can deliver all beings, is the foundation of the myriad ways, and is so vast that its benevolence cannot be measured.

The Dao says: Whoever recites this scripture ten times will be visited by all the heavens. The suffering spirits among the ancestors of countless generations will also be delivered at once and ascend to the Vermilion Palace, where they will receive instruction for nine years. Afterward, they will be reborn as nobles and delight in studying the scriptures. When their merit is complete, they can become immortals, fly up to the Golden Palace, the residence of the Celestial Emperor, and wander and feast in the Jade Capital.

Practitioners of the highest capacity who cultivate and recite this scripture can be delivered at once and ascend to the Southern Palace. When people in the world receive and recite it, Yin and Yang come into harmony, vitality enters the body, life is prolonged, and body and mind grow peaceful. They can then cultivate the Way of Corpse Liberation, in which the practitioner leaves behind the body as the spirit departs and becomes immortal: the spirit briefly leaves the body, passes beyond the underworld, then restores its form and roams through the vast reaches of space.

This scripture is subtle and profound, and can deliver an inexhaustible multitude of beings. All beings in heaven and on earth can receive boundless blessings from it, and both the living and the dead can benefit. Heaven holds it precious and does not transmit it to worldly people, but entrusts it only to those who truly possess the Dao.

If gold, silver, and other treasures are offered as gifts to show one’s devotion, and this scripture is transmitted only after an oath is sworn before Heaven, it must not be disclosed carelessly or treated with disrespect. Otherwise, calamity will reach seven generations of one’s ancestors. Under orders from the underworld officials, twenty-four Jade Boys and twenty-four Jade Maidens who serve the scripture will be sent to guard its divine writings and protect the body of the person who receives it.

The scripture says: If one observes a fast and recites this scripture during the first month, one can aid Heaven and Earth in bringing all things to life at the proper time. Withered forests and dried-up tree trunks can flourish again; even white bones and decayed remains can be nourished by the harmonious Qi of Heaven and Earth. The harmony of Heaven spreads Jing (essence), while true fluid nourishes from within. The Red Writ orders the depths of the Great Mystery; the Life Talismans summon back the hundred spirits, releasing the souls of the dead from past lives from service in the underworld, so that they may be saved and ascend to the Southern Palace.

If one observes a fast and recites this scripture during the seventh month, the perfected beings of Heaven will descend to keep watch, and the myriad treasures will appear. Yin turns into Yang; solid forms are transformed; the skin gathers the essences of five colors, and the elixir soul gives off a numinous light. Through refinement, the bones become green jade, the marrow becomes gold, and the sinews and vessels become jade. One may thus attain the body of an immortal. The heavens will inscribe one’s name in the Yellow Registers and White Tablets—celestial books recording merits, faults, and the names of the living and the dead—strike it from the register of the dead, and enter it in the register of the living.

If one observes a fast and recites this scripture during the tenth month, the Mysterious One comes first, the True One follows, and the Great One dwells in the center. Yin and Yang unite, and in a state between waking and dreaming one reaches a wondrous condition, merging with the undivided Great Simplicity. The Dao renews its workings day by day, enabling kings, emperors, rulers and ministers, fathers and sons to each remain in their proper place. The realm is at peace, its fortune endures, and its generations continue without end. A ruler who recites the scripture regularly can bring peace to the land under his care, and the people will praise the era of peace.

If one recites this scripture on the Eight Festival Days, important times in the Daoist calendar associated with changes in Yin, Yang, and the seasonal energies, the spirits of the Eight Radiances will gather. Original Qi will blend; Yang Qi will extend and Yin Qi receive, enabling the body to embody true nature. The flow of Qi will circulate and return in an endless cycle. The Golden Writ will record one’s name, and the Eight Gates and Nine Chambers will appear in response to one’s thoughts. One may ascend through the air and become a Perfected Being of the Nine Palaces.

If one recites this scripture on one’s natal day, the true embryo will begin to grow, and the root of life will return to the Great True. Yin and Yang will follow the Dao, and heavenly blessings will descend of their own accord. The hun and po souls will be stabilized, and the myriad forms of original Qi will gather. One may become an immortal, free from calamities and with a long life. One’s name will be entered in the celestial register of origins; even the great demons will report it to the heavens, and the myriad spirits will come to pay homage. When one’s merit is complete, one may ascend to the Great Mystery.

The scripture also says: On days when Daoist rites are performed, first bathe with fragrant water and observe a fast. Then enter a quiet chamber and face east. Knock the teeth together thirty-two times, sending the sound up to the Thirty-Two Heavens. Bow to Heaven thirty-two times, then close the eyes and meditate. Sitting upright, visualize yourself surrounded by clouds of blue, yellow, and white Qi, with deep darkness within and without. The Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise, lions, and white cranes stand in rows on either side. The sun and moon shine, filling the chamber with clear light. A round radiance appears above your head, its light illuminating the four directions. After completing these visualizations, silently recite the incantation:

The Supreme Lord of the Dao, the Highest One of the Mysterious Origin (a revered Daoist deity), summons the Three-Five Merit Officers within my person (divine officials who deliver documents), the left and right official messengers, the deity who attends to incense, the jade youths and maidens who convey messages, the Five Emperors’ talisman officers, and the incense officials assigned to each day—thirty-six of each—to report together: Today is an auspicious and joyful day.

For a long time I have kept the fast and practiced cultivation in the quiet fasting hall. I recite this scripture and pray that immeasurable beings may be saved. May what I pray for ascend to the heavenly court and reach the presence of the Supreme Primordial Lord, highest among the thirty-two heavens. (The ritual ends here.)

Draw in the Qi thirty-two times, then face east and recite the scripture.

The Wondrous Scripture of Supreme Primordial, Boundless Salvation

This Lingbao scripture of the Dongxuan Cavern, transmitted by the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning, speaks of the transformations of Yin-Yang, the generation of the myriad things, and the mysteries of saving beings throughout the ten directions. Its subtle and hidden rhythms are woven into the chaos of the primordial void and arise naturally. They have endured through countless kalpas, beyond what words can fully describe.

The Qi of Yin-Yang gathers essence, envelops the clouds and skies, and courses through the primordial Qi, forming the vast spectacle of heaven and earth. When movement reaches its extreme, it transforms into heat; when stillness reaches its extreme, it becomes spring water. Yang Qi exhales, while Yin Qi blows inward. Their interaction brings transformation and gives rise to the myriad things. The dragon roars in the mountains, and the tiger plunges into the abyss; the dragon then emerges from the fire. Through repeated transformation, life comes forth without end.

The mysterious primordial Qi appears from nothingness; in perfect stillness, it takes form. The Qi of the Five Phases begins to open up heaven and earth, and Metal Qi condenses to form the celestial realm. Jade palaces and jeweled towers are joined to nine verdant mountains. Within them stands a divine office that governs the spirits and examines the myriad immortals. The essence of jade gathers into light and transforms into precious cloud-patterned texts. The myriad things assume sixty-four forms, which branch into eight thousand transformations.

The Qi of Yin-Yang mingles and gives birth to crimson numinous writing. Without patterned writing, there can be no mystery or radiance, nor can forms be established; without it, the myriad things cannot transform and ascend. This is the most sublime heaven within the Great Brahma Heaven. The myriad things appear and disappear amid the indistinct and hidden. The True Dao drives their transformations, and people may grasp its mystery through them. Through transformation, bodies become those of immortals. The immortals’ nobility lies in long life, with the vital Qi of life continuing without end.

The phoenix Qi of the Nine Heavens issues from Mount Dayou, descending to guard a hundred passes and deep valleys. The one hundred and twenty palaces of Taiyuan surround and protect Taixuan, while vast, pure Brahma Qi circulates through the ten directions.

Among them are the deity who saves people from death, the Great Lord of Long Life of the South Pole, the Emperor Lord of Peace and Protection of the Eastern Grove, the Great Divine Officer Sima who saves the world, the Elder Lord Han who cherishes life, and the Southern Director of Destiny, the Director of Records, and other deities. There are also revered deities who prolong life, increase one’s allotted years, and avert calamities; they can revive the remains and restore the dead to life. Today the rite of examining the registers is held, and the divine beings of the heavens descend to the heavenly court.

The Boundless King of Divine Law of the East, Great Sage of Long Life, saves beings without measure.

The Boundless King of Responsive Divinity of the South, Great Sage of Long Life, saves beings without measure.

The Boundless King of Harmonized Qi of the West, Great Sage of Long Life, saves beings without measure.

The God Kings of Infinite Mystery and Unity in the north; Infinite Yang Pattern in the northeast; Infinite Yin Realm in the southeast; Infinite True Nature in the southwest; Infinite Intent Transformation in the northwest; Infinite Miraculous Response above; and Infinite True Essence below are all great sages of long life, endowed with immeasurable divine power to deliver people.

The God Kings who govern the transformation and generation of Yin and Yang throughout the ten directions, together with the immeasurable great gods who grant long life and deliver beings from the world, ride together in the Jade-Patterned Purple Cloud Chariot, a purple celestial carriage adorned with the patterns and colors of the immortal realms. Radiance courses across the chariot; its flying-feather canopy shines like reflected light. Green clouds glow around it, pearly brilliance gathers in layer upon layer, and pale clouds hang over its cinnabar-colored carriage. The chariot wheels through the air, their rims like rainbows, drawn by divine phoenixes and white tigers. Divine generals bear the Ten Flowered Banners and raise the Demon-Commanding Scepter, a symbol of authority over the demonic host. Brocade-like cloud banners shine brilliantly, while purple-jade pennants stream in the wind. Celestial dragons and numinous beasts roar and sing in unison. The Primordial Emperor clears the way ahead, and the god of Wondrous Practice guards the chariot pole. Millions of carriages and thousands upon thousands of mounted attendants come floating through the sky.

The gods draw in their radiance, turn their chariots, and inspect the perfected and deliver living beings. The Celestial Emperor of Taiwei and the Utmost Perfect Ones of the Jade Tower arrive at the center. The Dao Lord Huanglao Elements, a revered Daoist deity, gathers and governs the Cavern Chapters—the scriptural texts and ritual registers of the Three Caverns, Dongzhen, Dongxuan, and Dongshen. They come together before the Imperial Lord to refine and transform, and report to the heavens the circumstances and karmic ties of living beings.

The heavens then examine beings’ feelings and awareness, their karmic ties, and the changes of the Five Phases and the Three Origins—the forces of the three realms overseen by the celestial, terrestrial, and aquatic officials. They also consult the Nine Offices, the administrative bureaus of heaven, to review beings of every kind, both sacred and ordinary. Next they conduct examinations in places such as the divine regions of the Three Realms and the Limitless, and search throughout the domains of Taidan, Yuxia, Zidu, Yanguang, Yujing, Jinma, Shijing, Zhongfang, Tianjin, Ditai, Mingguan, Fusang, Jiaoguan, and Zhuoluo.

The gods jointly examine Yin and Yang and compile the Jade Register, the celestial roster, so that the righteous Way may shine forth. They set the two Qi in motion, joining and circulating them to nourish the myriad things and open the source of transformation and generation. Living beings thereby awaken spiritual awareness and return to the Three Treasures of Jing, Qi, and Shen. The Three Palaces, where essence, vital energy, and spirit reside in the body, circulate and operate, and radiance arises within the Jade Tower. Practitioners can thereby attain the state of immortals, and their blessings extend to their descendants. They can also deliver their nine generations of ancestors and seven lines of forebears, dispel illness, erase their names from the Black Register of sins and calamities, and wipe away their offenses so they no longer remain in the underworld. Thus the gate of the underworld is swiftly opened, and by the command of the Void Emperor, they ascend at the appointed time. The attendants in the Cold Pool of the Northern Capital also protect their bodies and souls, transforming them into the harmonious Qi of Yang.

From this, the Yin soul takes on form, and form and hun and po unite with the Dao. They ascend to Zhuling, the place where Daoists say departed souls are delivered and refined, and roam freely, attaining liberation. They rise and transform into the “people of the seed”—immortal beings who enter the realms of the immortals and endure forever—and all living beings rejoice and celebrate. They endure through the cycles of fate, as causes and conditions flow and turn, and live as long as Heaven. They forever pass beyond the calamities of great demons’ interference and trials, transcend the Three Realms, and roam freely.

The Upper Clarity Heaven is a high celestial realm spoken of in Daoism. It is the heaven of Upper Clarity. The Celestial Emperor dwells in the realm of hidden mystery, without form or color, where he practices the Dao.

The Eight Heavens of the East (divided according to the sequence by which Yin and Yang transform and generate: beginning in the northwest, appearing at the Zi position, emerging in the northeast, arising in the east, reaching completion in the southeast, and meeting in the south; taking form at the Li position and ending in the west, with the heavens divided according to the sun’s course):

• Heaven of Jade Splendor and Primal Brilliance; its Celestial Emperor is Sidu Yuanyuan.
• Heaven of Empty Extremity and Transformative Deliverance; its Celestial Emperor is Liu Tiguansheng.
• Heaven of Ten Thousand Tranquilities and Renewed Radiance; its Celestial Emperor is Zhenguang Lijian.
• Heaven of Mysterious Cycles and Luminous Harmony; its Celestial Emperor is Xumi Yuanqiu.
• Heaven of Auspicious Assembly and Deep Brilliance; its Celestial Emperor is Yue Chengbiantu.
• Heaven of Whirling Winds and Reverent Stillness; its Celestial Emperor is Piaoyan Tinglong.
• Heaven of Great Change and Cavernous Floating; its Celestial Emperor is Chou Yizi.
• Heaven of Jade Light and Fullness and Emptiness; its Celestial Emperor is Zhen Xuansheng.

The Eight Heavens of the South:

• Heaven of Flame Brilliance and Named Radiance; its Celestial Emperor is Yue Yuan Tu.
• Heaven of Phoenix Qi and Cinnabar Splendor; its Celestial Emperor is Zhiqian Fangchao.
• Heaven of Vermilion Spirit and Scarlet Radiance; its Celestial Emperor is Tai Wulai.
• Heaven of Purple Plain and Ordered Prohibition; its Celestial Emperor is Longjia Yanjie.
• Heaven of Spirit Radiance and Immortal Accord; its Celestial Emperor is Yuan Libaochang.
• Heaven of Transformative Response and Morning Devotion; its Celestial Emperor is Fanyang Shangxuan.
• Heaven of Endeavor, Strategy, and Union with the True; its Celestial Emperor is Yulingbiao.
• Heaven of Repeated Li and Cavernous Yang; its Celestial Emperor is Jin Zongjiuxu.

The Eight Heavens of the West:

• Heaven of Cloud Scenery and True Benefit; its Celestial Emperor is Zudang Yuanming.
• Heaven of Flowing Radiance and Pure Truth; its Celestial Emperor is Baomeng Shoutian.
• Heaven of Great Florescence and Auspicious Radiance; its Celestial Emperor is Miaoluo Yongshen.
• Heaven of the Ultimate Beginning and Ancestral Opening; its Celestial Emperor is Fuhui Zhengqi.

The Heaven of the Nine Offices of Metal Radiance is ruled by an emperor named Bianbo Shiying; the Heaven of Vast Capital and Precious Light is ruled by an emperor named Lingyuan Changtong.

The Heaven of Great Brightness and Transformation is ruled by an emperor named Santu Yuan; the Heaven of Bright Liang and Primordial Essence is ruled by an emperor named Yingshen Yuan.

In the north are eight heavens: the Heaven Above the Jade Grove is ruled by an emperor named Yi Xuanbenying; the Heaven of Contained Radiance and Great Truth is ruled by an emperor named Yan Guyongqi; the Heaven of the Dragon’s Jowl and Longevity is ruled by an emperor named Gui Qi Zudao; the Heaven of Flowing Light and Jade Clarity is ruled by an emperor named Zun Taiyechu; the Heaven of Wondrous Utmost and All-Round Transformation is ruled by an emperor named Hao Yi Taiwu; the Heaven of the Purple Canopy and Radiant Separation is ruled by an emperor named Tai Ding Huiguang; the Heaven of Mysterious Congealing and Divine Excellence is ruled by an emperor named Du Ji Yuangong; the Heaven of Deep Brightness and Clear Emptiness is ruled by an emperor named Jing Tian Zhonghuang.

Each of the thirty-two heavens has an imperial ruler, as well as hidden names and titles. The concealed names, taboos, and sounds of these heavenly realms, along with the honored ones, gods, demons, and numinous immortals within them, are wondrous spiritual texts, empty and natural, whose depths cannot be fully fathomed. The Nine Yang and Ten Yin interact and transform, forming the basis from which all things are generated and renewed. Their mysteries are boundless and cannot be described in full. These divine and wondrous teachings are proclaimed to save all beings throughout the heavens and the human world.

Yin Qi and Yang Qi unite within the womb, closely bound together and protected by Shen Qi. Shen is the root of the heart, and the heart acts through intention; the heart and intention accord with the Dao, though this can only be named by convention. If this natural principle is not understood, Shen Qi will change and scatter. By keeping it, one can transform Shen Qi into an elixir—the subtle energy formed through internal cultivation—and the elixir into Qi, the vital energy of life spoken of in Daoism. Primordial Qi then returns to its root, and its mysterious transformations continue without end.

Yin Qi spreads nourishment and moisture, while Yang Qi radiates brilliance. Practitioners refine and nourish Jing and Qi, preserve their Shen and spirit, and keep their souls firm and enduring. They unite with the radiance of the sun and moon, ascend, and roam in all directions. Stagnant and knotted Qi is released and returns to the wondrous root of the Nine Origins. The mysterious realm opens, and all ultimately returns to the original state before chaos was divided.

During the great calamity of chaos, the Three Orders—different levels of cosmic order—operate together. The Demon Kings, charged with oversight and command, ensure that the gates of Heaven remain unobstructed.

The Eastern Dipper governs Yang essence, the Western Dipper governs Yin fluids, the Northern Dipper responds to fetal Qi, the Southern Dipper grants life, and the Central Dipper circulates and harmonizes the Qi of the Five Phases (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water). The Azure Emperor enacts the ordinances, the White Emperor bestows benevolence, the Red Emperor nurtures and refines, the Black Emperor transforms and brings forth the myriad things, and the Yellow Emperor upholds the Great Dao. All the gods carry out their own duties without overstepping their bounds or disrupting the order.

The Azure Heaven Demon King is named Dragon Radiance, Mysterious Pattern; the Red Heaven Demon King, Cinnabar Spirit, Responsive Effulgence; the White Heaven Demon King, Bright Splendor, Jade Luster; the Black Heaven Demon King, Spirit Gate, Unimpeded Clarity; and the Yellow Heaven Demon King, Vermilion Infant, Hidden Moon. The Five Emperors’ Great Demons are the lords of the myriad gods. They fly through the Three Realms and command the immortal troops. Waving their banners, beating drums, and holding their ritual staffs, they patrol the vast, boundless expanse of space. The deep, dark breath of the Yin quarter surges and swirls with divine winds; the Qi of the Nine Yangs transforms and nurtures the myriad things, while the sun, moon, and stars shine overhead. Across realms of every scale, the immortal sages and perfected lords possess unfathomable powers and boundless transformations. Fierce horses, venomous dragons, spears, and sky-reaching jade pestles wield their might to shatter mountain peaks. True talismans become blazing fires, consuming demons and evil creatures.

They set out before the Nine Heavens and form disciplined ranks in the Northern Capital, slaying countless ghosts and specters so that Yin and Yang remain undisturbed and each follows the transformations through which it comes into being. The Three Mysterious Realms and Nine Palaces—the wondrous celestial courts between Heaven and Earth—are also brought to peace, kept from scattering into disorder.

They present jade tablets to the heavenly court, while golden horses fly forth carrying their documents. Their proclamations reach throughout the boundless realms, summoning the myriad kinds of primordial Qi to gather as one. Thus the Five Emperors of the Three Realms greatly strengthen the fundamental pivot that sets Heaven and Earth in motion.

The deep and secluded celestial capital is tranquil and clear, its divine radiance veiled. The sacred course of purifying practice extends in every direction, and clouds gather to form a capital city. Green mountains float in the air, while the Great Granary rises high before the courtyard. Smoke curls and wind stirs; Yulei, the guardian who protects doorways and drives off evil spirits, converges with the myriad gods and the primordial Qi of the Emperors. True Qi fills the place.

Though the myriad things comprise hundreds and thousands of kinds, they all originate from the One. Once divided, they take on different forms, such as Wangying and others. The Yin Way carries out its vast work of transformation, while the Yang souls wield authority. Through nine transformations and ten unions, the Golden Towers are joined, and sunlight pours from green windows. The wondrous laws and commands govern the immortals and perfected beings.

Water transforms into the form of Taiyi, appearing to contain a lotus flower. The great god born from this transformation is named Jade Essence Extended. Clad in brocade and wearing a jade crown, this deity presides over the myriad heavens. This great god, too, came into being through the transformations of Yin and Yang.

The Five Talismans—five kinds of mysterious Fulu (talismans and registers)—and the Precious Jade Books are the foundation through which the Highest Dao brings forth Heaven and Earth. The sun and moon revolve in their courses; amid the Nine Qi of space is the Jade Abyss, clear as a mirror. Within it, the stars and Dipper constellations are reflected; around it, Heaven and Earth turn. Above and below, there is no dark or hidden place, nor any realm that is formless, invisible, boundless, or unknowable.

The vast, chaotic breath of Brahma Heaven stretches without limit and has no light. The breath of Crimson Brightness opens the way to salvation, setting the workings of Heaven and Earth in circulation, as they move of themselves. The boundless primordial Qi of the Beginningless Origin is like clouds and mist. It gathers in the void and takes shape as writing: precious seal-script, Golden Chapters, Red Writings and Jade Talismans, and the Mysterious Texts of the Eight Radiances. They protect and govern the cycles of calamity, preserving Heaven for ages. Brahma breath spreads throughout the cosmos, bringing forth all things; the fundamental laws of Heaven and Earth circulate and extend through the Thirty-Two Heavens.

Qi (vital energy) circulates through the realm without form or color, traveling throughout the ten directions and revolving around the Northern Dipper and the Ji lunar mansion. It harmonizes the Qi of the Five Constants, gathers the total Qi in thirty-five parts, and returns to the Upper Origin.

The Qi of the Eight Radiances joins in a deep and hidden union. It enters a profound and mysterious realm and transforms into the Mother of Spirits, who uses Yin Qi to direct Yang Qi. The waxing and waning of Yin and Yang nurture the myriad things, enabling movement and stillness, greatness and smallness, each to find its proper measure. A blocked and stagnant state turns into free-flowing peace, and Earth’s Qi accords with the Way of Heaven.

Yin-Yang Qi enters from left to right and proceeds from rear to front: this is the pivot of the movement of the Highest Dao. Nothing obstructs it in the vastness of space. The Qi of the True One gives birth to the myriad things in emptiness; it is the source from which they arise. When change reaches its limit, it transforms; when transformation reaches its limit, it returns to mystery. Within this mystery is the Great Sovereign, Supreme Radiance, Flying and Entwined, a name of an immortal perfected being. Vermilion clouds dance through the sky, their chanting answering the music of a banquet. Golden true light shines brilliantly, flowing through the Cloud Palace. Jade writings summon primordial Qi, and the mysterious wind scatters the mists.

In the Grand Empyrean, numinous vitality flourishes. Flying immortals who assist in teaching arise naturally from the union of hundreds and thousands of kinds of Qi. Among the perfected beings there is also a spirit called the Great Lord of Long Life. The spirits of the Yellow Elder of the Cavern Chamber, the Green Florescence Emperor, the Jade Consorts to the left and right, and the Venerable Spirit of the Great One each perform their appointed duties. The spirit who governs destiny dwells in the heart, while Taokang sets Jing (essence) and Qi in motion. Between the membranes of the brain are red talismanic characters, mingled with yellow Qi and the Original Truth.

The red-black talismanic characters conceal the spirit of life. This spirit governs Fulu (talismans and registers) and protects a person’s life, securing its very foundation.

These spirits travel above through the Jade Void, the immortal realm spoken of in Daoism, and enter and leave the Yellow Court, where the body’s spirits and Qi reside. They reach the hidden realms in all eight directions and move through the tiniest spaces. Below, they guard the Muddy Pellet Palace, the spirit chamber in the head, and the Crimson Palace, the spirit chamber in the heart. In the center, they regulate the five Qi, bringing the hundred spirits into harmony. Repeating this course ten times brings the ten thousand kinds of breath into numinous harmony, and the assembled immortals gather together. The immortal Way treasures life above all; its deliverance of people is boundless.

The scripture opens the eight gates and turns the Flying-Heaven Dharma Wheel, the Daoist wheel symbolizing the movements and deliverance of the celestial realm. It explains guilt and blessing, prohibitions and precepts, past lives and karmic conditions, and widely welcomes the souls of the dead and the living. It enables the spirits of the dead to be delivered and the living to receive new life. If a person’s body is granted life, they may be heard among the heavens. Above the heavens, each has a Gate of Life, and within them is the chapter on the transformations that unite with the Great Void. The secret writings and phrases concealed by the Demon Kings, too, are included among the High Perfected.

The First Hidden Method of the Demon King of the Desire Realm: Extending Life Through Yin-Yang Transformation

The Qi of the Great One is empty, still, and without form. It abides alone in peace; when stillness reaches its utmost, movement arises.

Yin and Yang then bring forth and nurture. Yang is like fire, Yin like water; they circulate in turn, flowing throughout and filling all things.

The Qi of Great Harmony blends within them, awakening the vitality of ten thousand kinds of breath together. Their hidden connection gives rise to subtle responses.

Vapor rises in the Yellow Chamber and leads to the Gate of White Clouds; within it, breath wells up like a spring.

From one, one obtains the other; from the other, one again obtains the one. Breath flows back and forth without end.

When the mind and spirit are settled, breath comes to rest. Red Qi enters black Qi, and black Qi returns to red.

At times one maintains the firm strength of Yang; at times one maintains the yielding softness of Yin, allowing one’s nature and temperament to be transformed.

Long life means to continue for a long time.

The Second Demon King of the Realm of Form: “The Hidden Instructions on Yin-Yang Giving Birth to Immortals”

At the beginning, Heaven and Earth were formless and chaotic, without color, and the great void was dark. The two forces of Yin and Yang mingled and swallowed one another, suddenly forming chaotic Qi. Primordial Qi (the precelestial vital energy spoken of in Daoism) converged and circulated. After more than nine trillion cycles, subtle, settled Qi gathered, and the spirits came into being.

The essential Qi of the heavens shone brilliantly, stretching for a thousand li around. Mysterious talismanic patterns appeared within it, twisting and turning like dragons and phoenixes; through their transformations, the Three Spirits (the numinous Qi or divine beings spoken of in Daoism) arose.

Within Jade Capital’s Mysterious Mountain lay the Nine True Phoenix Qi. The golden well was clear and deep, its spring water flowing in a steady, abundant stream. The Vermilion Palace (the red celestial palace) and the ten thousand tiers of Heaven all arose from the same source. Return to the root and cast away what is superficial, and you can ascend to the realm of immortals.

If you grasp the essence of these teachings, absorb and swallow the rosy clouds (a symbolic form of radiant essence Qi in cultivation), letting your essence and Qi spread among langgan (jade-like precious stones), jade fungus, and cinnabar. These mysterious methods cannot be glimpsed until their subtlety is attained. The sun and moon move as though riding in a dragon chariot.

The Third Demon King of the Formless Realm: “The Hidden Instructions on Yin-Yang Giving Birth to Heaven and Earth”

Once the Realm of Desire and the Realm of Form have vanished, the Formless Realm appears before you. It is indistinct and empty, yet holds within it ten thousand tiers of Heaven. To visualize the formless realm, your mind must be sincere and pure; summon the spirits with your thoughts, and they will come.

The Five Celestial Luminaries (the Qi of the stars in three categories or in the five directions) race across the sky. The essences of the sun and moon gather, their light shines forth, and the root is born. In the palace of the spirit within the space of an inch, Jade Perfected Beings are arrayed. The heart’s fire transforms into the Nine Suns, refining the bones into gold: upward, it reaches the supreme realm; downward, it penetrates the source. The instructions for regulating the fire must be carried out swiftly, as flying dragons circle through the eight directions.

Yin and Yang each move on their own, yet also give birth to one another, hidden from view. Heaven and Earth are like a great cauldron, with water and fire held apart within it. People do not know where life begins, nor can they see the gateway to the Great Dao. Life arises through resonance and delight; Shen and Qi gather to the utmost refinement, and auspicious sweet dew descends in profusion, nourishing and regulating all beings.

Thus the Three Realms are settled, and the vast expanse of Heaven and Earth blends into one. The cultivator rides a dragon upward through the clouds, adorned with feathered finery and a canopy, and dressed in a blue robe.

This is the sacred music sung by the Demon Kings beyond the Three Realms, within the void. Recite it one hundred times, and your name will be recorded in the Southern Palace. Recite it one thousand times, and the Demon Kings will protect you, escorting and welcoming you. Recite it ten thousand times, and your cultivation will be complete: you will ascend through the heavens, transcend the Three Realms, and take your place among the celestial officials.

All who hear this sacred scripture will be honored in body by the Demon Kings. By command, they will restrain the earth spirits and dispatch attendants to escort and welcome them. They will lead people away from the gates of hell and from the Five Sufferings and Eight Calamities, raise up their ancestors for seven generations, and keep them forever from the realm of ghost officials. A person’s hun and po souls will be carried through Zhuling, the place of refinement and deliverance in Daoist legend, where they will undergo refinement and receive life anew. This is called boundless universal salvation, without end. This scripture is a secret treasure of Heaven, revered by all the heavens. Whoever reveals it or treats it lightly will fall into hell, bringing calamity upon their ancestors for seven generations.

The Dao says: The two chapters above are sacred hidden writings, kept secret by the Lords of Heaven and the supremely numinous Demon Kings. They contain the mysteries of Yin-Yang transformation: how Heaven and Earth come into being, and how the union of Yin and Yang brings forth and forms the myriad things. Whoever understands their essential meaning can prolong life, cultivate themselves into an immortal, and live forever without dying.

On the grandest scale, these scriptures are the laws by which the Three Venerable Ones, worshiped in Daoism as the highest divine beings, govern Heaven and Earth and nurture primordial chaos. On the middle scale, they set Yin and Yang in motion and drive the transformations of creation, bringing its workings into accord with the De of Heaven. On the smallest scale, they harmonize the Yin-Yang forces of dragon and tiger and bring the myriad spirits together; they turn the wind and raise purple clouds of mist, bringing harmony to every joint and limb of the body. By secretly applying the transformations of the Five Phases and Yin-Yang, one ultimately attains the Dao. All of this belongs to the speech of the Great Brahma—the extraordinary language of the celestial realm—not to the common speech of the world.

These scriptures do not follow rhyme or seek ornate melodies and wording, and so they are called mysterious and difficult to understand. They are precious writings treasured by Heaven and kept secret in the Upper Palace of Purple Tenuity in the Mysterious Capital, a celestial palace in Daoist belief. Under the Mysterious Statutes, the laws and precepts of Heaven, they are transmitted only once every forty thousand kalpas. If someone who has attained the Dao brings gold and treasure, makes a sincere vow, and, following the established rites, swears an oath before the Ten Heavens, the scriptures may then be transmitted to them.

The Dao says: This scripture was spoken by the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning, who expounded the way Yin and Yang bring forth life. Those who recite it accumulate De and flourishing blessings, and will not perish. The scripture contains the hidden workings of Yin and Yang and the principle by which vital energy brings good fortune. It can dispel calamity and naturally bring people auspiciousness.

When the cycles of Heaven and Earth reach a time of decline and ending, or when the sun, moon, and five planets wax, wane, or move out of their proper courses, the holy spirits, too, undergo cycles of flourishing and decline. Novices are harmed, and all who encounter such calamities and share in the same adverse fortunes should unite in observing a ritual fast, burning incense six times each day and reciting the scripture ten times. In this way they will soon gain blessings and De, and dispel every kind of ill omen. This boundless scripture can save all living beings everywhere, without end.

The Dao Lord said: Some who practice the Dao have only begun to learn it, and their rank among the immortals is not yet complete. If their lifespan is about to end and their physical form is near death, a fellow disciple who has attained the Dao may burn incense and recite the scripture ten times on their behalf. By following the proper rites, the disciple can deliver the person’s corpse beyond this world. The two officials of Yin and Yang, divine officers who govern the generation and transformation of Yin and Yang, will bring about the person’s rebirth and generate spirit-energy. The Five Organs will regain their vitality, and the person’s complexion will become fair and rosy again. Their spirit and soul will rise directly to the Southern Palace, where the immortals dwell. Then, according to the merit they accumulated through their practice, the days will be counted until they are reborn. Their passage through the cycle of rebirth will not be cut off, and in time they may become an immortal.

The Dao Lord said: Within the Great Dao of primordial chaos is a divine wind that governs the growth and transformation of all things. It opens and closes, stirring with the seasons like a bellows. Yin-Yang Qi flows back and forth within it; spirit-energy mingles, and the forces of hardness and softness congeal into essence. All things then come into being naturally. Though all things continually grow, they do not know where their generation and transformation begin, nor can they see its limits. Recite this scripture, and the spirits of life will descend; primordial Qi will then be cleansed and set in motion, allowing Heaven and Earth to turn.

When Heaven’s cycle nears its end, the stars move in disarray, the sun and moon become irregular, the seasons lose their order, and Yin and Yang fall out of balance. The state suffers poor harvests, war and unrest spread, epidemics break out, and the people endure premature death and injury. Whenever a teacher, friend, or family member is nearing the end of their life, one should undertake purification, burn incense, and recite the scripture. To observe a great purification and recite this scripture brings immense merit: above, it can dispel calamities from Heaven and protect and stabilize the emperor; below, it can remove poisons and save the people, giving all beings support amid life and death. Such blessings and merit cannot be measured. That is why it is said to deliver both heavenly and human beings far and wide.

The Dao Lord said: Anyone who keeps this scripture and cultivates its merit for Heaven and Earth, the emperor, and the people—whoever resolves to undertake purification, burn incense, and recite it ten times on the day a calamity strikes—will have their name recorded by all the heavens and be protected by the myriad spirits. Such a person may attain the Dao and become an attendant of the sage ruler in the Golden Palace, the palace of Heaven. The heavens record people’s good and bad deeds, omitting nothing, however small; the heavenly Demon King will also recommend and protect you. Those who have attained the Dao should fully understand these supreme truths.

The Great Brahma’s Hidden Words among the heavens—the secret divine language of the celestial realm—contain sounds without limit and were composed by the Dao Lord.

The Middle Section of the Numinous Writ of Primordial Beginning

The Eight Heavens of the East

Guyuanzidan, Xuanyuziming, Minkemilu, Hongchiyueming, Wayinqiyang, Sansufeijing, Beilingouwen, Wurongyunzhen, Yufengjinquan, Shenyelingqing, Zhonghebibao, Yuangenshengao, Julangyinxue, Haozhenfenjiao, Huagada yuan, Huashengbao’ao.

The Eight Heavens of the South

Using esoteric expressions such as “Geng mingles with the heart-fluid,” “the Dragon’s billows conceal fine rays,” and “bright dawn clouds moisten lead,” the text depicts Yin-Yang transformation between Heaven and Earth, the movement of vital energy, and the gathering and transformation of Jing and Qi in cultivation. These lines use the symbolic language of Daoist transmission, and their precise meanings cannot all be established word for word.

The Eight Heavens of the West

This passage depicts the spiritual energy and divine power of the western heavens. Red spiritual light shines like a wheel of fire, interlacing with the stars; the Qi within the vessel turns blue, as Yin and Yang energies regulate one another. Its awe-inspiring force shakes the netherworld. The energies of firmness and softness come together, bringing forth the pure and beautiful forms of all things. Purple flames rise in vapor, dawn light shines, and vitality begins to stir and transform among the constellations. Clear, luminous spiritual energy illuminates the four directions, transforming material forms and revealing ritual manifestations. The energies of Heaven and Earth set things in motion; precious light spreads like clouds and takes shape as an immortal realm.

The Eight Heavens of the North

The northern heavens appear vast, deep, and remote. True Qi covers the heavenly capital, while spiritual energy flows without cease. The powers between Heaven and Earth sustain the workings of the cosmos, so that life thrives even in darkness. This realm is both silent and profound, yet traces of Perfected Immortals passing to and fro can be found there. All things are preserved and nurtured, and the mysterious heavens stretch without limit. Though ancient times and distant realms are subtle and far removed, Dragon Spirits still appear and vanish there. Ultimately, all returns to the Jade Kun Palace, the abode of immortals and Perfected Ones.

Daoist scriptures say that the “Great Brahma Hidden Speech” of these heavens—the sacred sounds transmitted in the celestial realm—consists of immeasurable wondrous sounds. Ancient scriptures were kept secret in the Upper Palace of Ziwei, the celestial palace where the Heavenly Emperor resides. They explain the generative transformation of Yin and Yang, wondrous change, the fundamental workings that establish the Three Realms, and the profound meaning of the Great Dao.

The characters of the scripture take shape as five-colored clouds swirl about them. Their borders are of purple gold, and their chapters are written on brocade patterned with dragons; each character is one zhang wide and long. In ancient times, the Celestial Perfected Emperor recorded these characters as the orthodox sounds.

If someone understands these sounds and recites them after observing purification, the heavens will send Flying Celestial Spirit Kings down to inspect them, record their merit, and report it to the heavens. The myriad spirits will come to pay their respects, the Earth Deities will attend at the gate, and the Great Meritorious Demon King will recommend them, enabling them to ascend as a High Perfected One. When their Dao practice is complete, they will be able to roam through the Three Realms and enter the Golden Gate.

These sounds can drive away evil and avert disaster, offer prayers for protection and relief from calamity, deliver beings from suffering, and help people attain fulfillment.

These are sounds that truly arise of themselves. Reciting this scripture draws flying immortals down to the lower realm, while the God of Heaven in distant places joins in harmony. The myriad gods come to pay homage, and the spirits of the Three Realms attend the divine carriage. All evil forces bow their heads in submission; ghosts, demons, and spirits disperse of their own accord. The clear tones of ritual instruments ring out, and the ten directions grow solemn and pure. Rivers and seas fall still, and the mists among the mountains dissipate. All spirits are awed into submission, and the gathered immortals answer the summons. The sky is free of foul Qi, and the earth of evil influences and defilement. The underworld and the realm of wisdom alike become clear and bright: this is a state of profound mystery.