《靈寶無量度人上品妙經》Vol. 17

The Supreme Scripture of Mysterious Excellence for Delivering People, Boundless and Without Limit, by the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning

This is a classic of the Cavern Mystery Lingbao tradition, transmitted by the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning. It says that the Azure Yang Qi of the Fusang tree gathers and transforms into the highest-grade Qi, becoming the source from which living beings are delivered. The subtle rhythms and principles contained within it are revealed in this way.

In the proper course of nature, the wondrous gateway of the Eastern Azure Perfected gives rise to nine divine rays. They illuminate the jade-green heavens and open the Gate of Bright Yang. In the Great No-Above Kalpa, eight numinous realms take shape, and the Azure Palace is established. The Fusang tree rises a hundred million fathoms high; horned dragons circle back and forth, while flood dragons and chi dragons entwine and cross one another.

The vital essence of Azure Yang rises and becomes the Year Star (Jupiter), illuminating the vast heavens. Below, it becomes the foundation of the celestial realm and takes form as the Azure Florescence Palace of Jade in the Fangzhu. No ancestor stands above it; it endures eternally together with the Great Dao. The True Qi within the jade walls divides into precious writings to bring stability to the East. Its mysterious transformations reveal the Qi of pure benevolence, gathering radiance and condensing into numinous fungi, jade marrow, and golden sinews. Azure talismans unfurl, and wondrous characters spread everywhere and take root. There is no writing that cannot be transmitted, understood, established, honored, nurtured, or made to flourish. This is the celestial palace of supreme mystery.

The palace is called Qiongbao Yuluo. It stands atop Dragon Peak and Firm Summit, high above beneath the boundless, perfectly radiant vault of heaven. The distant City of Transformation settles and anchors the Great Void; the Realm of Azure Florescence then reveals its wondrous transformations. Nine divine dragons encircle the Golden Gate and Yellow Chamber. Pure and luminous divine realms extend everywhere, with the Dao Qi of the Divine Empyrean flowing through them.

Dao Qi fills the celestial capital. There dwell spirits who oversee the delivery of people and the affairs of immortality: Lord Fangzhu Azure Lad, the Lord of Longevity of the South Pole, and the Thearch of Azure Florescence of the Eastern Pole. There is also the Great God Sima, who gathers rosy clouds and draws in their radiance to deliver people from the world and save them, and Lord Han the Elder, whose compassion for life is profound. Other august spirits govern lifespans and registers, extend life and add years, and dispel calamities. The gods can restore life to remains and raise the dead; they deliver living beings far and wide. Today they inspect and verify the records, and the divine spirits of all the heavens have come before the hall.

The Eastern Boundless Flying-Heaven Azure Talisman Spirit King, Great Sage of Longevity, is charged with delivering people without limit;

The Southern Boundless Flying-Heaven Azure Qi Spirit King, Great Sage of Longevity, is charged with delivering people without limit;

The Western Boundless Flying-Heaven Azure Fire Spirit King, Great Sage of Longevity, is charged with delivering people without limit;

The Northern Boundless Flying-Heaven Azure Essence Spirit King, Great Sage of Longevity, is charged with delivering people without limit;

The Northeastern Boundless Flying-Heaven Azure Void Spirit King, Great Sage of Longevity, is charged with delivering people without limit;

The Southeastern Boundless Flying-Heaven Azure Yang Spirit King, Great Sage of Longevity, is charged with delivering people without limit;

The Southwestern Boundless Flying-Heaven Azure Fortune Spirit King, Great Sage of Longevity, is charged with delivering people without limit.

These Spirit Kings each guard their assigned direction and fulfill their duty to deliver living beings far and wide and protect life.

The Great Sage King of the Azure Emperor Gods of Boundless Flight in the Northwest, who grants life and delivers beings in immeasurable numbers.

The Great Sage King of the Azure Radiance Gods of Boundless Flight above, who grants life and delivers beings in immeasurable numbers.

The Great Sage King of the Azure Sprout Gods of Boundless Flight below, who grants life and delivers beings in immeasurable numbers.

The Perfect Gods of Boundless Flight in the ten directions—all directions, including the four quarters, above, and below—and the immeasurable Great Gods who grant life and deliver the world travel together in flying light chariots of azure, in carriages of dark green jade and blue-green stone. Their chariots bear green canopies and black wheels, and are drawn by cinnabar phoenixes and nine-headed azure dragons. They raise banners of flowing rosy clouds and pennants that bring life to all spirits. Ahead, they perform the Cavern Chapters in unison; behind, they chant jade songs in harmonious voices. White phoenixes and qilin join in their long calls and songs. The Azure Spirit Gods clear the way, while the Gods of the Year Stars guard the chariot shafts. Millions of chariots and thousands of troops on horseback descend through the air. They gather in their radiance, turn back their carriages, oversee the True Way, and save living beings. The Emperor of the Divine Palace of Yanggu, Chancellor of the Eastern Pole and Great God in charge of the Mysterious One and the Nine Qi, guides them down. Azure radiance shines into the darkness of the eight directions; blue-green clouds scatter and fly, and the energies of the Three and Five circulate in sequence. Golden light rises from the bones of living beings, its brilliance reflecting back upon jade blossoms.

The Azure Emperor receives the Celestial Writ, assigns the ranks of the immortals, determines the grades of living beings, and distinguishes the various kinds of spirits. Holding registers and records, they come together to the Mysterious Court, where they rigorously assess each being’s appropriate deliverance in the Pure Capital, the celestial abode of the immortals. They proclaim throughout the ten directions: whether in the distant heights, the deep caverns, the realms of transformation, the spirit dwellings of the Northern Gate, Langfeng, Kunqiu, the Jade Terrace, the Imperial Ruins, or in the Cold Pool and places of confinement in the long night, ancestors and family members are to be rescued and delivered. Their evil roots are to be cut away, the souls of the dead are not to be detained, and they are to be enabled to ascend. The talismanic commands of the Azure Palace fly forth without pause.

The sacred mountain Yuluo opens its gates of protection, sheltering body and soul. The Great Demon oversees the grades of beings to be delivered. At Zhuling, the place where the souls of the dead are refined and delivered, their Qi is transmuted, and their decayed bodies are transformed into human form. The living appear in person to receive deliverance and endure through generation after generation. As all beings turn with the cycles of the kalpas, they share the longevity of Heaven and are forever freed from the Three Calamities, Eight Hardships, Nine Unnatural Deaths, and Five Sufferings. They transcend the Three Realms and roam at ease in the Nine Heavens of Purity. There, the Heavenly Emperor protects their peace. This is the realm beyond form, a place of pure cultivation.

The Eight Heavens of the East

Heaven of Cultivating the Square and Upright, Adorned with Flowers — Lord Emperor Ji Yiting

Heaven of Azure Radiance, Following the Guiding Principles — Lord Emperor Minhua Shenjue

Heaven of Woven Truth, Illuminating the Caverns — Lord Emperor Shancu Yuewen

Heaven of Flourishing Lineage, Radiant Master — Lord Emperor Yaofu Yuwa

Heaven of Discerning the Constant and Establishing Positions — Lord Emperor Hongxian Ziren

Liji Huanyu Heaven, whose emperor’s title is “Huwei Nan”;

Muji Cuisheng Heaven, whose emperor’s title is “Gongji Xianfang”;

Guangfeng Zhihua Heaven, whose emperor’s title is “Menglin Jiuzhong.”

The Eight Heavens of the South

Qingyan Chonggu Heaven, whose emperor’s title is “Xinshi Baifan”;

Lü Zhen Yingluo Heaven, whose emperor’s title is “Binning Daoxuan”;

Zongli Gaoming Heaven, whose emperor’s title is “Xuanyou Xujia”;

Riqi Zhaoqi Heaven, whose emperor’s title is “Taiyi Ziting”;

Yehua Zegen Heaven, whose emperor’s title is “Yunpu Lüying”;

Changjing Weihe Heaven, whose emperor’s title is “Yaoling Jiyuan”;

Dongkong Weiyang Heaven, whose emperor’s title is “Feiri Luxian”;

Qinggong Qisheng Heaven, whose emperor’s title is “Shisheng Yuju.”

The Eight Heavens of the West

Dingxi Fuchen Heaven, whose emperor’s title is “Guangkong Jizhen”;

Qusang Shuqiong Heaven, whose emperor’s title is “Yingding Taijiao”;

Qunli Jisuo Heaven, whose emperor’s title is “Qimo Youning”;

Xuanchu Zhengmo Heaven, whose emperor’s title is “Zhihuan Zhanshen”;

Yunli Kailin Heaven, whose emperor’s title is “Shiwei Kangjia”;

Suqi Zhilü Heaven, whose emperor’s title is “Zhaoke Sifei”;

Xiqing Yubin Heaven, whose emperor’s title is “Ciliu Jiang”;

Daoyuan Shengshan Heaven, whose emperor’s title is “Taijian Yong.”

The Eight Heavens of the North

Qianchi Yanzi Heaven, whose emperor’s title is “Jueyi Shaopi”;

Xunque Duishen Heaven, whose emperor’s title is “Miao Zhi Luyi”;

Molo Tuotuo Heaven, whose emperor’s title is “Huhua Yiguang”;

Fengying Zongjian Heaven, whose emperor’s title is “Shulu Youpeng”;

Zhilu Jiangzhen Heaven, whose emperor’s title is “Sudu Shanti”;

Haodu Zuoli Baofu Heaven, whose emperor’s title is “Buyou Yunfei”;

Haijing Yunyiyuyi Heaven, whose emperor’s title is “Dongyi Mingchi”;

Renling Liusi Heaven, whose emperor’s title is “Kao’an Guishen.”

This passage lists the names of heavenly realms and the imperial titles revered in each. “The Eight Heavens of the South,” “the Eight Heavens of the West,” and “the Eight Heavens of the North” refer to tiers of the celestial realm arranged by direction. Qi (vital energy) is a Daoist term for the energy that constitutes all things and flows between Heaven and Earth. Most of the imperial titles are proper names whose meanings and pronunciations are difficult to establish with confidence, so the original characters are retained without speculation.

The thirty-two heavens and their thirty-two Heavenly Emperors each have titles and sacred names that are not passed on publicly. These secret names are contained within the wondrous, numinous chapters of the empty and natural realm. The hidden tones of the heavens sound forth as the voice of Azure Yang. The sovereign, spirit, radiance, and numinous energy of Azure Yang all arise through the intermingling and transformation of the Nine Qi (nine kinds of primordial energy) and the Ten Blossoms. The boundless mysteries of Shangqing, one of the heavenly realms in Daoism, are profound and unfathomable; when proclaimed, they can deliver all beings, both heavenly and human.

Today we joyfully celebrate the rite of receiving the Dao. Having passed through the heavens, the Nine Emperors of the Wood Immortals rely on Fusang, the divine tree of the East. Through wondrous numinous power, they gather primordial energy and condense it into Azure Yang. The vital essence of Azure Yang transforms into flying light, radiates a blue-green glow, and rises high to illuminate the vast, encircling sky. Myriad streams of primordial energy take this as their path. Benevolent virtue blesses the lower realms, brings good fortune to the sage ruler, and spreads throughout the world, transforming and nourishing all beings. Immortals, spirits, and dragon deities all respond to it. The highest divinities are gentle and compassionate, generous and forgiving; their subtle virtue shines forth clearly.

Those who cultivate the supreme Dao respond to numinous energy and yearn for, and experience, the heavenly Jing and Shen. Divine light flows downward, making the body’s bones like jade and the face radiant. Having received the Golden Register, the investiture bestowed by Heaven, one may ascend to the Divine Empyrean and don ritual robes embroidered with sacred emblems. The spirits remove suffering and relieve distress, renew blessings, and protect the people. They are invoked to dispel the Three Evils, whether evil karma or harmful conditions, and sever the roots of submergence.

Fusang puts forth blossoms, its branches coiling as blue-green jade flowers fall from them. Its myriad leaves grow layer upon layer like deep green clouds. The purple radiance of Lingbao and the nine rays of Danling coil through the void, blazing with light. The mind and spirit turn toward the stars of the East, where green chariots and dragon-bannered processions come into view. Azure Qi stretches taut like a bowstring, drawing in mysterious radiance to cleanse the marrow and temper the spirit.

Practitioners surge upward in flight as jade liquid circulates. They pass through the Nine Gates, and the Eight Gates swing wide open. The True Kings oversee and recommend them, reporting each in turn to the Primordial Perfected. The Dipper mansions of the East send down Yang energy; those of the West release radiance. The Northern Dipper sends down the energy of mysterious water, the Southern Dipper’s light soars above, and the Central Dipper augments life and gathers all numinous beings under its command. The light of Azure Florescence opens in radiance, and pure, bright splendor unfurls. Nature and the Elixir begin to flourish, guarding the mysterious fluid and preserving life. Yellow essence courses through them, and teachings are proclaimed everywhere.

The Great Emperor dwells in the three realms of Azure Silk, bringing stability to the primordial cosmos. The High Perfected, those who have attained the Dao, each have their own office. The Green Qi and the Red Origin Perfected of the East refine jade and vermilion radiance. The Plain Origin Perfected spreads pure, bright fragrance; the Mysterious Origin Perfected guards the twin gates and directs the governing order; and the Central Origin Perfected sits in the Hall of Light. The Five Origins’ Supreme Spirits and the Perfected of the High Radiance contain fragrant blossoms and uphold sweet dew. Their branches and trunks intertwine, and twin stems grow together. Flying dragons rise high; descending phoenixes leap upward, reaching straight to the stars.

They command the numinous demons of every division and are the source of the myriad spirits. They fly through the Three Paths, the different levels of the heavens, and direct the immortal troops. They wave banners, beat drums, and mark the rhythm as they roam the Nine Heavens of Purity. Their majesty is splendid, and they proclaim their titles throughout the heavens.

They unite their efforts to ascend to heaven and transform the people, while strictly governing the affairs of Luofeng, the legendary underworld. The True King acts on command, sweeping away demons and evil throughout the land. Bohua descends, his crystalline radiance mingling with the light of dragons. He bears a keen blade; the clouds of Taidan stream forth, and his power transforms without limit.

The divine generals hurl flames, sending smoke and dust billowing for ten thousand miles. Golden bells clash, and jade halberds—made of jade or symbolically fashioned—hang high above. Whenever anyone dares to offend them or tries to stand in their way, the High Immortal strikes them down first with the Dark Battle-Axe, followed by the divine troops, who punish them. They cut down and destroy the demons, cleansing them completely and leaving none behind. Thousands upon thousands of demons are beheaded; tens of millions of evil forms are cut away. No demon can intrude, and neither ghosts nor goblins have anywhere to cause trouble.

The Three Offices and Nine Bureaus, divine authorities that oversee heaven, earth, water, and related affairs, keep watch over and register the ghost camps; no ghost can hide. Jade horses are presented in turn and proclamations sent throughout the four quarters. All beings obey the command, and the Five Emperors of the Three Realms proclaim it together: this decree comes from Shangqing, the exalted celestial realm revered in Daoism.

The Jade Register of the Primordial Cavern, a celestial almanac recording the cycles of cosmic tribulation, says: In Fusang, far to the east, when heaven and earth had not yet opened and the Five Tribulations were first divided, the Qi of Azure Yang began to arise, and Yang Radiance appeared. There the governing principles of the Three Origins—heaven, earth, and humanity, or the three primordial energies—were first established. Life came into being, and the pivot of the Immortal Way was set in place.

Heaven and earth trembled, and awareness emerged. Through the long aeons of Longhan, Yankang, and others, amid the chaos of countless tribulations, Azure Qi appeared as color, while Yang Qi sank to form the abyss. Wind became the spirit of Wood; the energy of marshes became the Wood Origin. Wind and marshes flowed through the void, while metal and stone congealed to form the heavens.

Above and below, creation unfolds in the hidden depths. Yang light is vast and boundless, yet has no name. Within the primordial chaos, before heaven and earth were divided and before anything had taken form, the Great Dao extended beyond all limits, shrouded in darkness.

Red radiance opened the celestial chart and set the cycles of tribulation in motion; Azure Radiance stood firm as guardian. The Green Edict, Jade Chapters, Red Writings, Jade Characters, and Nine-Qi Dragon Scripts—names for Daoist scriptures and talismanic writing—together protected and regulated the cycles of tribulation, sustaining heaven through the ages. Primordial Brahma Qi spread everywhere, and from it the myriad forms unfolded.

The Qi of Wood’s True Essence spread and extended, reaching the heavens in all four directions. The governing principles of heaven and earth turned and held fast, moving in endless cycles. The constellations Jiao, Li, Ji, Can, Dou, Che, and Xiang were arrayed to either side, assisting the operation and transformation of the celestial canon; the Five Emperors dwelt in the Jade City.

The Blue Emperor dwells in the east and governs the Qi of Blue Yang. The profound Qi of the Eight Visions of the Upper Origin blends together and enters the wondrous realm. The Great Sovereign, Jade Supreme Immortal True Ones ride on clouds and walk through the empty sky. Looking down upon the mulberry groves, many True Ones gather together for a banquet in the Emperor’s court.

After enduring calamities across vast ages, the Qi of Blue Yang sinks into the boundless expanse, then chants the Cavern Chapters amid the purple heavens. Its golden, true light is clear and radiant, echoing through the cloud palaces and transforming into wondrous sound.

The Qi of Blue Yang transforms and harmonizes all things; returning winds revolve through the Great Void. Subtle and profound, it supports the Mysterious Void. The Qi of Blue Yang enters the liver. In the midst of the Jade Mountain of the Green Tower lives a young boy. Dressed in brocade and wearing an ornate crown, he holds the Heavenly Key—a jade key or instrument from heaven—and blows forth Qi, opening all the body’s hundred gates and connecting with the realms around him.

A breath like orchids and an essence like white pearls gather layer upon layer, flowing through the body’s Three Fields—the upper, middle, and lower Dantian. The Three Fields pulse like bellows, harmonizing Jing and Qi until they visibly form the Elixir. Myriad currents of Qi converge, and the True One comes naturally into being. Within the True One is the Qi of Blue Yang, and within its Yang Qi dwell divine spirits: the Great Lord of Long Life, the Young Lord of Radiant Origin, the Venerable Spirit of Vast Crystal, as well as the Lords of Fate of Fangzhu and Heyan of Yanggu. They wield talismanic seals and registers, safeguarding the foundation of human life.

The Qi of Blue Yang travels upward through the Nine Heavens of Purity, entering and leaving the Jade Chambers where the Immortals and True Ones dwell. It spreads throughout the Eight Passes, reaching even the subtlest places. Descending, it guards the human body, regulating the Five Qi within the Jade Tower and Crimson Palace—the palaces within the body—and bringing the hundred spirits into harmony. Through successive transformations, the numinous Qi circles back and joins with Qi, making immortality possible. The Way of the Immortals cherishes life. The Azure Rampart that Saves Humanity opens the Nine Gates and, with a great wheel of blue light, governs the affairs of heaven. Below, it examines the ghosts and spirits and governs the causes and conditions of sin and blessing among humanity, so that all beings may receive deliverance. Souls of the dead are brought back to life and given life anew, and this is reported to the heavens above.

Above the heavens, each realm has its own Gate of Life. Within these gates are green mulberry leaves among the clouds, from which the song of the Blue Yang Void naturally flows. These are the verses of the Numinous King: their language is sublime and joins with the Way of the True Ones.

Chapter One: The Sound of the Jade Sea and Fusang Soaring Through the Void

The Jade Capital is linked to the Emerald Capital, descending to the green depths below; myriad rays of rosy light spread in every direction.

The Qi of Blue Yang reaches through the Ninefold Mysterious Realm, where cold waves surge and overflow. The vast, mist-shrouded Fusang sacred trees grow side by side, rising thousands of fathoms high.

The divine wind forms their governing order, and their leaves reflect the blue sky. Hidden within the trees are dragon-patterned scripture chapters. Their songs form rhythms in the air as branches sway and phoenixes fly.

Primordial Origin’s refined Qi twists and intertwines; jade ornaments hang among the green leaves, and the forest is dense as clouds. In the forest dwells a High True One, wearing a tall jeweled crown and a feathered robe embroidered with interlacing dragons.

His title is the Great Emperor, the revered spirit of Fusang. Wuying and Bohua are the spirits who attend him.

The divine spirit of the Nine Souls of the Dragon Embryo presides over instruction, enabling those who aspire to the Dao to learn. It also refines and transforms the Five Forms—the five kinds of bodily form or composition—bringing about countless changes. The Dao Qi of the eight directions raises its banners. This is the supreme law I follow, and my name is recorded within Fangzhu, the legendary divine mountain or sacred realm.

Chapter Two: The Chapter of the True King of Azure Yang and Precious Radiance

The branches of the Fusang tree join together, its twin trunks leaning against one another. Its boughs and trunk reach high into the clouds, like a flying dragon rising upward; surging waves roll, and thunder follows. Its roots coil and wind, while its branches and trunk twist and stretch for a thousand li.

The Great Spirit of the Azure Palace, the Primordial Venerable Taiyi, Bixia Yulei, and the Elder of Mysterious Appearances are all honored deities of the divine realm. The Three Realms admire their De, and the nine lands—the regions of the world—receive their blessings.

The True Spirit in the mulberry grove bears the Qi-name Azure Yang. It ascends into the divine heavens and gathers spiritual radiance within a purple palace. Its precious radiance shines forth in greatness; its cinnabar light pours over the land of transformation, illuminating countless myriads of heavenly realms below, its majesty without limit. It gives birth to many holy spirits, lifts them up and delivers them through the Yan’kang age of tribulation, draws divine clouds upward, and links the constant principles between Heaven and Earth.

Those who comprehend these principles can attain the Dao of life; those who recognize it can communicate with the spirits. When the “Azure Yang Chapter” is chanted, the spirits of the Nine Heavens descend in their cloud chariots.

Chapter Three: Song of the Eastern Pole, Azure Florescence Emperor

In the southeast rises a precious mountain, upon which stands the Palace of the True King. Its foundations coil and spread, rising beyond the Great Void and looking down over the Nine Heavens. Within the palace are many spirit officials and divine ministers, who discern and govern the ancestral lineages of countless heavenly realms.

Yuansi assists the Supreme Emperor and oversees instruction, bringing the True Dao to prominence. He surveys the worlds spread throughout Heaven and Earth, riding a flying dragon chariot on his journeys. The heavenly realms of the Ten Directions uphold the creation of the Primordial Beginning, while the Great Demons examine merit and fault. He subdues and restrains the troops of the Six Heavens, so that the Dao’s teachings may flourish for ages.

He sends memorials flying upward, seeking an edict from the Jade Emperor; with Mysterious Talismans, he pardons guilty souls in Luofeng, the netherworld of ghosts. Out of great compassion, he pities those who dwell in the Long Night and frees them from the Five Sufferings. Since he and I were formed from the same primordial Qi, he can feast and wander at ease in Chiming, the Daoist realm of radiance. His transformations have no bounds, and he delivers the people of all the heavens.

Why do people cling only to fleeting pleasures, letting their desires exhaust the mind and spirit? If they do not study the Dao of the Highest True Ones, the years will pass, leaving them with nothing but sorrow and hardship. I now compose this song for that reason; its pure, elegant music moves the Immortals and True Ones in the wondrous realm.

Above the Three Realms—the Realm of Desire, the Realm of Form, and the Formless Realm—and amid the open sky, the True Kings sing. Their songs correspond to the “Cavern Chapters.” Reciting them a hundred times earns one a place in the registers of the Southern Palace; reciting them a thousand times brings the True Kings to escort and welcome one. After ten thousand recitations, one’s cultivation is complete: one may ascend through the vast heavens, transcend the Three Realms, and take one’s place among the Immortal Lords.

When the wondrous sound of these immortals is heard, the True Kings summon and dispatch the spirits, commanding the earth deities—the gods of the land—to guard and escort the person. They draw the person up from the Earth Gate, the entrance to the netherworld, freeing them from the Five Sufferings and Eight Calamities. Their ancestors for seven generations are raised up and forever leave the Mountain of Darkness; their hun and po souls are delivered to Zhu Ling, the Daoist place of refinement and deliverance, where they undergo refinement and are reborn. This is called boundless salvation, without end. If this celestial secret text is revealed or treated with disrespect, one will fall into hell, bringing calamity upon seven generations of ancestors.

The Dao says: These two chapters are the secret songs of the emperors of the heavens and the most numinous True Kings. They are made manifest on Mount Fusang. The immortal realm of Fusang is vast and remote. Each side of the mountain stretches ten thousand li. It lies east of the Azure Sea, nine hundred thousand li from China; its heights reach the Five Palaces of Divine Empyrean, a journey of hundreds of millions of li. In the mountain are the Great Emperor Fusang, the Supreme True King; the Dao Lord, the Green Youth of Mount Fangzhu; and a secondary palace of the Eastern Pole’s Celestial Worthy of Green Radiance.

A giant mulberry tree grows on the mountain, with a yellow heart and red outer bark. Eating its flowers can grant long life; its sap is like jade syrup, and drinking it can extend one’s life by a thousand kalpas. Refine it into an elixir and take it, and one becomes a High True Immortal, advanced in cultivation. The mulberry tree’s roots absorb the jade essence of Jade Capital and Mount Kunlun, which gathers within the tree and produces jade beneath it. This jade in its unformed state resembles the tuckahoe that grows around the roots of earthly pine trees; tuckahoe takes a thousand years to mature.

Beneath the Fusang tree lies jade in its uncut form, lustrous, smooth, and exceptionally beautiful. It can subdue phoenixes, making them perch above and below it. Jade also forms within it; before it hardens into shape, it gathers as a flowing liquid. Drink this liquid and one becomes a child, with a lifespan equal to that of Heaven and Earth. On the Fusang tree also dwell numinous chickens, phoenixes, and nine-colored birds. Each morning...

The divine spirits rise above the Ruomu tree, and the Golden Crow flies to the Fusang tree. The sun then rises from Yanggu. At the top of the Fusang tree is a kind of Qi called “Blue Yang.” Rising upward, it becomes Jupiter, whose light shines across three hundred thousand li and whose diameter is one hundred li. Jupiter completes one circuit of the heavens every twelve years. It appears once every three hundred and ninety-nine days, then withdraws from view. Over eighty-three years, it appears seventy-six times and completes seven circuits of the heavens. Among the stars are an emperor, empresses, consorts, and officials, with the Wood Emperor as their chief.

Those who cultivate this Daoist method must practice the Mystery Elixir, Great Unity method and breathe in and out Blue Qi. The Celestial Worthy of Great Unity bestows a Blue Talisman on the practitioner. The Young Lord Wuying, the Elder of Blue Essence and Dragon Mist, and the Perfected One of Majestic Covenant transmit the Eastern True Writ to them. Riding Blue Yang, they ascend eastward. Its sounds and teachings are subtle and profound, all in the language of the Great Brahma—the exalted speech of the heavenly realm—not the ordinary words of this world. These utterances have neither rhyme nor ornament, and do not seek elaborate turns of phrase; for this reason, they are called mysterious and difficult to fathom fully. This is a scripture treasured by Heaven and kept secret in the Mystery Capital.

This scripture is held in the Eastern Scripture Chamber of the Jade Palace of the Jade Clarity of the High and Exalted Divine Empyrean. According to established regulations, thirty-seven thousand years must pass before the time comes for it to be transmitted to the lower world. If a truly realized person comes with sincere intent and brings gold and jade, then, following the established rites and making a covenant before the Ten Heavens, they may receive the scripture.

The scripture says: Blue Yang is a power that bestows blessings and nurtures life; all things in the world that have form depend on it. The workings of Heaven and Earth include the turn from decline to renewal, while the sun, moon, and Five Planets wax and wane. Even the most holy divine beings experience both adversity and good fortune. Those whose study of the Dao is still shallow are all the more liable to suffer illness and calamity. Whenever such misfortunes occur, fellow practitioners should fast together, burn incense at six times during the day, and recite the scripture ten times. In this way, blessings and De will descend and dispel every kind of ill omen. This immeasurable scripture can save all beings without limit.

The scripture also says: If someone has studied the Dao only a short time, has made little progress, or has yet to complete their cultivation of the ranks of the immortals, and their allotted years are ending and their body is dying, then at the time of their passing, fellow practitioners who have realized the Dao should burn incense and recite the scripture ten times, performing the rites to deliver their remains. Then the Emperor of Eastern Culmen, Azure Radiance, will bestow a talisman of penetrating light and summon Blue Yang Qi, bringing it into the Palace of Wuying. The vital Qi of Supreme Mystery and Blue Essence will then be infused into the practitioner’s Liver Palace, sealing the gate of death. The Wood Emperor will circulate within the body, while the Elder Containing Radiance opens the Chamber of Purple Orchids for the practitioner, unlocks the Casket of Blue Pearls, and gives them the secret scripture. The practitioner’s Jing-spirit recites and upholds the text, and their hun and Shen ascend directly to the Southern Palace. Their days are then allotted according to the merit of their lifelong cultivation of the Dao, enabling them to live again without losing their way through successive rebirths. In the end, they will become an immortal.

The Dao (the term used in Daoist scriptures for the highest fundamental principle) says: When the workings of Heaven and Earth are nearing their end, the stars fall out of their proper order, the sun and moon lose their light, the seasons lose their regular sequence, Yin-Yang falls out of balance, disasters and portents appear throughout the land, floods and fires strike, and epidemics and poisonous afflictions spread. As a result, people are killed or injured, teachers and friends pass away, and even the good suffer unexpected calamities. Whenever such circumstances arise, one should fast, burn incense, and recite the scriptures.

The merit of fasting and reciting the scriptures is immense: above, it can dispel natural disasters and protect the emperor; below, it can ward off harmful poisons and free the people from calamity. The living and the dead alike can receive its blessings and protection. This merit and virtue cannot be measured, and so it is called “immeasurable”: it saves all beings, both heavenly and human.

The Dao says: Anyone who possesses this scripture and can cultivate this merit on behalf of Heaven and Earth, the emperor, and the people—if, on days when disaster strikes, they resolve to fast, burn incense, and recite the scripture ten times—the heavens will record their name, and the myriad spirits will protect them. In the future, such a person may become a minister beside the sage ruler, serving in the Golden Tower, the palace of Heaven. The heavens record people’s merits and faults, omitting nothing, however slight. The True King in Heaven will also recommend you. Only those who have attained the Dao can truly see into these words of ultimate truth.

The Great Brahmā’s Hidden Writings of the Heavens, the Immeasurable Sound, composed by the Dao Lord.

Jade Chapters of the Azure Yang of Fusang in the Primordial Beginning’s Numinous Writings

The Eight Heavens of the East

The following are the hidden writings of the Eight Heavens of the East, preserved as in the original:

翟軒嵋羅　　傾音謨光　　厯紀𢘍響

迎贖邱𤣥　　濟淙𣣱累　　固淵蔽芒

憫恊華迹　　曜度氐房　　奇魚立嬪

制儀䝉剛　　海鄒夜潭　　舒毗琳琅

扁幾合無　　遘盈東祥　　矧測雉兌

兟胡并唐

The Eight Heavens of the South

The following are the hidden writings of the Eight Heavens of the South, preserved as in the original:

戰熾兜郢　　陀騰炯瞻　　戚孺臧殷

命魔設官　　極臺勑吏　　走驛告嚴

陽居始都　　究萌部端　　猛聚定棘

鹿温冥牢　　景補皇位　　靜部尤常

烈卑柄重　　吉祺信諭　　茂期諶于

昆熙夷光

The Eight Heavens of the West

The following are the hidden writings of the Eight Heavens of the West, preserved as in the original:

瑟那志靈　　褥逹侯度　　頂磋蔚京

陸省備助　　菴乙布𤡺　　求銖閱正

狼文薢嶇　　途營譔兵　　厭騰釋璘

Bǎochóu Yǐncāng, Wànyàn Shīlún, Chífǔ Juéshī; Bēndòu Yìnlǐ, Shùmíng Guānlán, Yōuhé Dǒushén; Jīnmíng Zhùshēn.

The Eight Heavens of the North:

Fúxī Xiáliáng, Juégé Zhìqiáng, Yàoxué Sùjì; Bàodì Zémén, Lǘfú Zǐdīng, Yèshè Zhuīnǐ; Tuōzhà Yùnnǔ, Pǒshā Yànchēng, Fù’ěr Quányǎn; Jiāoqí Fúgāng, Jìngxìn Tóngfǎ, Wǎngcí Jīkàng; Dúyán Lóngpóu, Jìluó Zhuózhuàn, Yèyú Zhèngfán; Shíléi Hàoqīng.

The scripture says: The “Great Brahma hidden words” of these celestial realms are sounds without measure. The ancient scripture was engraved on a jade platform beside the palace of the Azure Blossom Emperor. The Azure Yang Grotto shines brilliantly; the Wood Way flourishes, benevolence and blessings spread far and wide, and long life and peace are bestowed. Its wondrous spiritual grace reaches distant places: it nurtures all things on Earth, while its kindness and De extend through the heavens. The scripture also says that people wander through the celestial realms, arrive at the mysterious realm of emptiness, and ultimately return to the Three Origins, the three primal sources in Daoist thought. Good fortune and nobility arise from the beginning; the Dao bestows its gifts on all beings through mystery.

These writings are expansive, far-reaching celestial True Writings. In ancient times, the Celestial Perfected Sovereign had written them as the correct sounds. If someone understands their sounds and meanings, observes ritual purification, and recites them, the heavens will send Flying Celestial Spirit Kings down to inspect that person, record their merits, and report them to the heavens. The myriad spirits will come to pay homage, the Earth Deities will attend at the gate, and the Great Accomplished True King will recommend this person, enabling them to attain the conditions for realizing the Dao. In the end, they will be able to travel through the Three Realms and ascend to the Golden Gate.

These sounds dispel and ward off everything, transform and deliver all beings, and bring all things to completion. They are sounds of the Celestial Perfected, arising naturally. Thus, reciting them can bring the Spirit Kings down to inspect, while the Supreme Emperor answers in song from afar. The myriad spirits come to pay homage, and the divine beings of the Three Realms stand beside the carriage. All hostile forces bow their heads and withdraw; ghosts and monsters vanish of their own accord. The resonant, jade-like chant spreads out, and the ten directions grow still and pure. Rivers and seas become calm and silent, the mists over mountains dissipate, the myriad spirits are awed into submission, and the assembled Immortals are summoned to appear.

There is no defiling Qi in the heavens, and no demonic dust or impurity on Earth. The realms of the hidden and the wise alike are clear and penetrating, boundless in breadth and profound in mystery.

The Grade of Pure Radiance and Shining Spirit.

The Daoist scripture says: In ancient times, the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning, the supreme deity revered in Daoism, expounded scripture in the Primordial Grotto Heaven. Auspicious clouds sent forth immortal music, and the vast emptiness took form as the earth. As the Celestial Worthy proclaimed the upper-grade text of the Scripture on Deliverance, he circled the preaching platform ten times and summoned the immortals of the ten directions—all directions and the heavens beyond—to assemble.

Then came the Great Gods of Heavenly Truth, the Most High and Venerable Sages, the Perfected Ones of Wondrous Practice, the Jade Consort of Western Florescence, the True Kings of the Four Poles, the Primordial Lady of Yellow Silk, along with flying celestial attendants and mounted officers, immortal officials and rulers, and countless other deities. They came riding through the air on white clouds and green iridescence, borne in feather-adorned carriages. Their canopies shone alongside morning pearls, their lights interwoven, and clouds of five colors billowed around them. In the vast sky, the solar palace, lunar court, star towers, and lofty halls all appeared. The Northern Dipper stopped turning, the Three Paths grew still, fierce winds ceased, and the clouds lifted from Mount Kunlun. The earth raised up the Five Auspicious Emblems, and the sky opened its Eight Gates. Mountains, rivers, cities, and forests all became level and orderly, without high or low. The earth took on the appearance of fine jade, and every place shared the same hue. The assembled immortals stood in attendance beside the seats, while the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning sat upon a jeweled lotus of ten thousand petals, suspended in the void.

Each time the Celestial Worthy completed a recitation of the scripture, it brought a corresponding effect.

When the first recitation was complete, the Great Sages of all the heavens praised him together. The men and women of the kingdom raised their heads to listen to the sound of the scripture; their minds were stirred, and they began to awaken. When the second recitation was complete, the inner spirits became clear and pure. When the third was complete, they silently understood the mysterious principle. When the fourth was complete, true Qi infused their bodies, and every illness was cured. When the fifth was complete, body and mind aligned with the right Dao, and all evils dispersed. When the sixth was complete, the true writings of the Thirty-Two Heavens appeared. When the seventh was complete, the Three Caverns’ precious scriptures—the Daoist classification of sacred texts—became clearly visible in the Jade Realms of the Nine Heavens and the Mysterious Palaces of the Four Poles. When the eighth was complete, every sound encircling the earth and filling the vast sky converged into the grand order of the Teaching. When the ninth was complete, wondrous light of nine colors illuminated the dark places and granted universal pardon to the suffering souls condemned in the Northern Feng, the realm of the dead. When the tenth was complete, beings of every kind in the ten directions followed their inborn nature and attained freedom and ease.

At that time, all the men and women of the kingdom wholeheartedly accepted the teaching. They received protection and deliverance, and attained longevity.

The scripture also says: At that time, when the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning completed his first recitation, the Great God of the Infinite and Immeasurable Grade of the Eastern Direction, Hua Lin, came through the air with countless divine attendants. At the second recitation, the Great God of the Infinite and Immeasurable Grade of the Southern Direction, Chi Wen, came with countless divine attendants…

…The gods and immortals came from the sky. When the scripture had been recited for the third time, the Great God of Imperial Talisman, of the West’s Limitless and Immeasurable Rank, arrived through the air with his countless attendants. At the fourth recitation, the Great God of Primordial Radiance, of the North’s Limitless and Immeasurable Rank, came with his countless attendants. At the fifth, the Great God of Azure Essence, of the Northeast’s Limitless and Immeasurable Rank, arrived with his countless attendants. At the sixth, the Great God of the Round Pearl, of the Southeast’s Limitless and Immeasurable Rank, came with his countless attendants. At the seventh, the Great God of Vast Rosy Clouds, of the Southwest’s Limitless and Immeasurable Rank, arrived with his countless attendants. At the eighth, the Great God of Golden Radiance, of the Northwest’s Limitless and Immeasurable Rank, came with his countless attendants. At the ninth, the Great God of Purple Empyrean, of the Upper Realm’s Limitless and Immeasurable Rank, arrived with his countless attendants. At the tenth, the Great God of Numinous Capital, of the Lower Realm’s Limitless and Immeasurable Rank, came with his countless attendants.

When the scripture had been recited ten times, the great gods of the Ten Directions’ Limitless Heavens all arrived at once. The men and women of the whole kingdom sincerely turned toward the Dao and listened joyfully as the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning explained the method called “Plain Radiance Shining Spirit,” a practice described in the scripture.

Outwardly, this method can bring forth Heaven and Earth and condense primordial chaos into form. Inwardly, it can bring forth the myriad things and transform them into mountains and rivers. All of this arises from the nature of the formless true metal of the Five Phases: it is empty, luminous, still, and unified in power, firm and indestructible. Human beings arise from it, as do the gods and the faculty of perception. Human feelings of sorrow and joy have their basis in the uncarved, robust nature of “Plain Radiance” and in the essence of “Shining Spirit,” which clearly perceives all things; from these, concrete things take shape.

Things differ in hardness and fragility, yet share the same origin. People differ as sages and ordinary folk, yet their nature is one. Though we possess this true, metal-like nature, it has not yet been tempered. Now that we have encountered the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning, we can use the fire of this method to refine and purify the spirit-metal, casting it into a ritual implement so that the power of the Dao may undergo limitless transformations.

After speaking these words, everyone joyfully bowed again and circled the teaching seat. Later arrivals came in numbers like fine rain and dense mist; countless beings crowded into the kingdom of Ze, so many that half the land sank beneath their weight, and nothing could stop them. The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning then suspended a precious pearl, no larger than a millet grain, in the mysterious void, seven zhang above the ground. The original text breaks off here.

At the beginning, the Celestial Perfected, the Great Sage, the High Perfected, the Perfected of Wondrous Practice, the supremely perfect Great Spirits of Plain Radiance and Shining Numen from the limitless ten directions, and countless living beings all entered the precious pearl together. The people in the heavens looked up and saw them streaming through the pearl’s opening. Once inside, no one knew where they were. The crowds in the land dispersed, and the ground became level again, no longer tilted or collapsed. The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning finished expounding the scripture inside the precious pearl, while the assembled Perfected Spirits jointly watched over and protected this rite of deliverance.

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning transmitted the scripture to me. The joy I felt then was beyond words. The rite was nearly complete, and the heavens each returned to their proper place. In an instant, everything around us fell silent; not a sound remained. At that time, the heavenly beings were fortunate to encounter this scripture and its teachings. They were saved as a whole, each preserved their natural lifespan, and none suffered harm. Everyone throughout the land turned toward reverence and devotion, and understood the subtlety of the Dao: their hearts held no attachment or obstruction, no delusion or entanglement, no greed or hatred, no suffering or distress, and no decay or loss. Their thoughts and actions followed the right path, and their words accorded with the laws of Heaven.

The people were united in compassion. Even those from different clans could become as close as one family. The land was safe and prosperous, and peace endured for a long time.

This scripture was first proclaimed in a certain kingdom. All who had long held sincere hearts and revered and honored the Great Dao could be delivered and transcend worldly birth and death.

What the scripture speaks of are the titles and hidden sounds used within the heavens by the Heavenly Emperors, the secret names of the True Kings of Heaven that are not publicly spoken, and the concealed names of the hundred spirits. These teachings reveal the mysteries of the Great Dao. The Great Dao is formless. It came into being before Heaven and Earth and the Five Phases, and dwells together with all things within the One Qi—the primordial energy that gives rise to Heaven, Earth, and all things. Through long eons, when Heaven and Earth had not yet separated, spirits already existed within the Qi. Among them were divine metal and Plain Radiance and Shining Numen; outwardly they formed the heavens, and inwardly they became the True Spirits. They are strong and enduring, never subject to destruction, and from them all things come into being. Whoever understands these principles can endure for a long time. These are not words used in ordinary life; only the High Sages and Perfected Ones who have realized the Great Dao can fully understand the meaning of these passages.

Recite this scripture ten times, and the heavens will sing in response from afar; the myriad Emperors will also offer rites of mutual respect, while rivers and seas fall silent and mountains…

The golden wheel of clouds halts the sun’s shadow, and the jade stars cease their motion. Across the boundless heavens, all things come and go, flying through space. The Gate of Life, the gate of vital force, is gentle, yet can become supremely firm. The void seems empty, yet can become the deepest storehouse, concealing all things. It is so vast that nothing can enclose it, so broad that nothing can measure it. Golden radiance and pure light shine in every direction; numinous brilliance is everywhere. It is both solid and enduring, yet able to flow and move: this is the realm attained by those who have realized the Dao.

Demons are bound, and the evil Qi of ghosts, monsters, and spirits dissipates. Corpses can be turned around and the dead brought back to life; even white bones can become human forms. If a person of the highest learning recites this scripture ten times, they may be examined at the Golden Gate, entered in the register of perfected immortals, and attended by the Dark One and the Five Emperors. The beings of the Three Realms will bow their heads in reverence. Demonic spirits lose their power, ghosts and evil beings vanish, and those near death, whose breath has failed, may be rescued and restored to life.

This is so because the foul Qi within a practitioner has not yet been fully dispelled, and the body has not yet become permeated by the true Dao. The Qi of the divine perfected beings, like gold, has not yet grown firm; it melts when exposed to fire. The pure light has not yet been cleansed, so its numinous radiance remains dim and unclear. The power to summon and subdue forces in the ten directions has not yet been established, nor is there yet sufficient authority to command the heavens or De to make the earth deities submit. Thus, one can only keep people from dying, not bring them back to life. If practitioners recite this chapter carelessly and without reverence, disaster will befall them.

If they make offerings to this scripture and honor it, their household will prosper and flourish for generations, remaining bound to good fortune. No calamity will touch it, and the gods and spirits will guard its gates. This scripture is exalted and mysterious, unique in the Jade Capital. It saves countless people and is the foundation of the myriad Dao. Its scope is vast, and its merit cannot be measured.

The scripture says: Whoever recites it ten times will keep the Pure Spirit’s Divine Gold—the symbol of the practitioner’s purified and steadfast divine nature—from dispersing. The light of supreme numinosity will shine upon the soul and preserve it forever, and the gates of the underworld will open of their own accord. The gods and spirits of the heavens will all descend. The departed souls of ancestors from countless generations, along with the suffering dead, will be rescued at once and ascend to the Vermilion Palace, a heavenly palace. There, they will undergo nine years of instruction, receive life anew, become nobles, and take joy in studying the scriptures. When their merit is complete, they will all become immortals, ascend to the Golden Palace in heaven, and feast amid the Jade Capital.

Practitioners of the highest order who cultivate and recite this scripture can bring the Pure Spirit into harmony with their innate nature. Their body, emptied and still, will reach a wondrous state; they will attain a body of gold and, having realized the Dao, dwell in Highest Clarity, the lofty heavenly realm of Daoism.

All living beings can be saved through this scripture and ascend to the Southern Palace, a heavenly palace in Daoist belief. People who recite the scripture, maintain “True Unity”—a practice of single-mindedly guarding the spirit—and care for themselves can make their merit secure, immune to destruction in a fire calamity, and prolong their lives. After death, they can also attain deliverance through the method of “corpse liberation.” In Daoist belief, corpse liberation means that a practitioner sheds the mortal body and the spirit temporarily leaves it in order to ascend: the soul and spirit briefly vanish from sight, bypass the underworld, and then regain bodily form, roaming through the vast heavens.

This scripture is subtle and mysterious, and can save all beings without limit. Every being in heaven and on earth can receive its blessings and immeasurable good fortune; both the living and the dead benefit from it. Heaven cherishes this scripture, so it must not be passed on casually to later generations. A true adept must prepare gold, silk, and other valuables, then swear an earnest oath to Heaven before transmitting it. Anyone who carelessly reveals or neglects the scripture will bring disaster upon nine generations of ancestors, who will be made to serve under underworld officials for a long time. The Five Emperors’ Jade Youths and Jade Maidens who attend this scripture number twenty-four each. They guard the text and protect those who receive it.

Daoist scriptures say that maintaining a strict fast and reciting this scripture in the first month of the year causes the Qi of the five internal organs to sprout like Wood in spring. It restores vitality to a body worn down by age and decline, setting it on the path to longevity. It can also save the souls of the deceased, freeing them from service in the underworld and raising them to the Southern Palace.

Maintaining a strict fast and reciting this scripture in the seventh month can make the radiance of one’s presence shine, fill one with golden saliva, and conceal divine power within the body. It strengthens every passage throughout the body and deepens the spirit pool, allowing the practitioner to become an immortal. Their name is entered in the registers of the heavens and removed from the rolls of the dead, to be placed among the living.

Maintaining a strict fast and reciting this scripture in the tenth month can bring Water Qi and Metal Qi together to form a sacred embryo. Even the smallest things between Heaven and Earth contain principles of the utmost subtlety and mystery. By practicing in accordance with the scripture, one can transform, ascend, and become an immortal. The scripture also protects the state: it brings stability to kings, emperors, rulers and ministers, fathers and sons; it ensures the long life of the state and the continuation of its generations. When a ruler brings stability to a region, the people call the realm peaceful under his rule.

Reciting this scripture on the Eight Seasonal Nodes—the beginning of spring, spring equinox, beginning of summer, summer solstice, beginning of autumn, autumn equinox, beginning of winter, and winter solstice—causes the Qi of Water, Fire, Earth, and Wood to converge within Metal. It makes the spirit and Qi firm and enduring, enabling the practitioner to become a perfected immortal of the Nine Palaces.

Reciting this scripture on one’s birth day in the sexagenary cycle brings the deity Taiyi down. Divine beings such as Sujing and Yaoling call to the practitioner. The Three Hun Souls and Seven Po are ready to serve; the soul and spirit become clear and upright, and the myriad kinds of primordial Qi endure. The practitioner is freed from suffering and distress, and light appears upon their body. Deities of the Three Realms come to protect them; the Five Emperors send spirits to welcome them, and the myriad gods come to pay homage. Their name is entered in the heavenly registers. Once their cultivation is complete and their De is fulfilled, they can ascend to Shangqing, one of the highest Daoist heavens.

On every day when a ritual of practicing the Dao is performed, bathe with fragrant water and observe the fast. Then enter the room, face east, click the teeth together thirty-two times to communicate with the thirty-two heavens—the thirty-two celestial levels described in Daoism—and bow inwardly thirty-two times.

Close your eyes and quietly visualize yourself seated upright amid clouds of blue, yellow, and white Qi. Within and around you, all is dim and hazy. Divine beings such as the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise, along with lions and white cranes, are arrayed on either side of your body. The Qi of Pure Radiance and Luminous Spirits, described in the scripture as the radiant Qi of the gods, shines like the clear light of the moon above your head. The sun and moon cast their light in every direction, illuminating the room. A circular radiance forms above your neck, its beams shining across the ten directions. Make the visualization clear and distinct. Then silently recite the secret incantation:

“Supreme Lord of the Dao, Mysterious Origin, please summon the Three-Five Merit Officers within my body, the officials and messengers on my left and right, the attendant Jade Youth who carries incense, the Jade Maiden who conveys messages, the Five Emperors’ appointed talisman-bearers, and the incense officials on duty today—thirty-two of each—to convey what I wish to report.

Today is auspicious. In the pure and quiet fasting hall, I observe the fast and practice the Dao, reciting the Scripture of Limitless Salvation. May what I report ascend to the heavenly court and be presented directly before the Supreme Emperor Yuanshi of the Supreme Thirty-Two Heavens.”

After reciting, guide the breath eastward thirty-two times, then face east and recite the scripture.