《靈寶無量度人上品妙經》Vol. 22

Chapter on Summoning Spirits by Flying Shen

The Daoist scripture says: In ancient times, the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning preached the Scripture of Boundless Supreme Excellence on Saving Humanity by Flying Shen and Summoning Spirits in the Beginning-Cyan Heaven, one of the heavens in Daoist cosmology. The Beginning-Cyan Heaven was radiant, pure, and clear through to its depths, and the numinous, luminous Qi filled Fufu Palace. Before beginning his teaching, the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning recited the scripture ten times, from beginning to end, to summon the gods of the ten directions.

Then the Holy Lord Yuchen, Daoist Master of the Three Heavens of Brahma Qi and Numinous Sound in the Purple-Clear Immortal Realm, together with the August Lords of the heavens and the High Perfected of the Golden Towers, led countless immortals through the air to attend. They rode flying clouds, vermilion skies, green carriages, and jade wheels. Feathered canopies spread overhead, while flowing essence and jade light mingled and shone. Their five-colored radiance blazed brightly, illuminating the vast reaches of space.

For three days and three nights, the sun, moon, and stars of the heavens, along with the Jade Balance and Revolving Armillary Sphere—the instruments used in ancient times to observe the heavens, and also names for the movements of celestial bodies—stood still. The divine wind ceased; clouds gathered over the mountains and seas; auspicious peace surrounded the four quarters, and purple mist filled the air. No drifting clouds veiled the sky, and the Qi of the four directions was clear and bright. The land, mountains, rivers, and forests throughout the realm became level and even, with no high or low places; the whole earth turned to green jade, without any other color.

The immortals stood in attendance beside the seat. The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning sat upright on a radiant, green-jade throne in the Green Firmament, and began to preach the scripture.

When he had recited the scripture once, the August Lords of the heavens bowed their heads and praised it, saying that the teaching of the Orthodox Way was beginning to appear, and that everyone in the world could see its wondrous principles.

When he had recited it a second time, the ten thousand heavens of the Three Realms turned toward this teaching in admiration and praise, and people thereby attained longevity.

At the third recitation, the Five Phases ceased their cycles of generation and extinction.

At the fourth, the outer world became pure and still, and the mind, too, grew clear and awakened.

At the fifth, the path to life opened, and the gate to death closed at once.

At the sixth, the movement of Qi became harmonious, and the four seasons blended into one.

At the seventh, joy within life and death became inexhaustible.

At the eighth, those who understood the wondrous teaching were able to ascend to the realm of the immortals.

At the ninth, birds, beasts, grasses, and trees could all live out their natural spans, unharmed by untimely death.

At the tenth, the hidden souls and stagnant spirits that had long been sunk in the hells were all released.

At that time, men and women throughout the realm all wholeheartedly believed and accepted the teaching. Everyone received its protection and deliverance, and attained longevity.

The Daoist scripture also says: At that time, when the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning preached the scripture for the first time, the ten Heavenly Emperor Lords of the Luminous Radiance Heaven in the east led their attendant officials, divine soldiers, and countless gods through the air to attend.

When he preached it for the second time, the ten Heavenly Emperor Lords of the Red Radiance Heaven in the south led their attendant officials, divine soldiers, and countless gods through the air to attend.

When he preached it for the third time, the ten Heavenly Emperor Lords of the Pure Radiance Heaven in the west led their attendant officials, divine soldiers, and countless gods through the air to attend.

Countless celestial beings arrived here from the sky. When the scripture was recited for the fourth time, the Emperor of the Ten Heavens of Dark Clarity in the north descended with his attendants and divine troops. At the fifth recitation, the Emperor of the Ten Heavens of Grotto Clarity in the northeast descended with his attendants and divine troops; at the sixth, the Emperor of the Ten Heavens of Radiant Clarity in the southeast; at the seventh, the Emperor of the Ten Heavens of Separation Clarity in the southwest; at the eighth, the Emperor of the Ten Heavens of numinous Clarity in the northwest; and at the ninth, the Emperor of the Ten Thousand Heavens of Universal Clarity above. At the tenth recitation, the rulers of the overlapping mountain valleys and grotto-heavens below, along with divine troops, ghost officials, and countless other beings, also rose into the sky and arrived here.

When the scripture had been recited ten times, the great gods of the boundless celestial realms in all ten directions descended together. The living beings of an entire kingdom bowed devoutly to welcome them. The arrivals came in such numbers that they surged like waves on the sea and burst forth like underground springs. The crowd pressed together so densely that half the kingdom’s land sank downward; nothing could stop it.

At that moment, the Celestial Worthy of the Primordial Beginning sent light from between his brows, illuminating the four quarters. He manifested many forms and entered into the light, each one appearing as a sacred image of the Celestial Worthy of the Primordial Beginning. Then the light returned to the space between his brows and gathered into a round pearl, as large as Heaven and Earth, illuminating them both. The pearl took on a visible form and transformed of its own accord, as if the entire celestial realm of empty space had been drawn inside it. The beings of Heaven and the human world looked up and saw countless Celestial Worthies of the Primordial Beginning and Emperors of the Ten Thousand Heavens entering one after another through the pearl’s opening. Once inside, they vanished from sight.

The people of the kingdom gradually dispersed, and the ground returned to level; it no longer tilted or sank. The Celestial Worthy of the Primordial Beginning completed his sermon on this shining pearl. The perfected officials watched over and protected the ritual, then transmitted this account to me. The joy of that moment defies words. When the ritual had largely concluded, the heavens each returned to their proper place. In an instant, everything fell silent, without a sound. At that time, the celestial beings encountered…

All who encounter this scripture and its teachings and receive heavenly grace can be saved and preserve their allotted years, without suffering an early death or injury. Those who devote themselves in faith should all practice goodness. Let a kind heart endure without ceasing, never allowing it to die out, decay, be harmed, or fall apart. Do not speak empty or showy words, and let no evil speech leave your mouth. Be loving toward one another; even without blood ties, you can become family. The nation will be stable, the people prosperous, everyone joyful, and peace will prevail throughout the world.

When this Taiping Jing first began to circulate and teach a nation, all who had already embraced sincere devotion and honored and revered the Great Dao could be delivered.

The scripture says: The texts spoken by the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning, a revered Daoist deity, are all secret, esoteric writings transmitted by the Three Radiant Emperors, revered Daoist deities. They are also the hidden names used by the Great Emperor Yuchen when transforming his form and summoning perfected spirits. They are not ordinary words of the human world. The High Sages, exalted immortals who have attained the Dao, can send forth their spirits to summon divine beings, penetrate the mysterious, and explore the hidden depths; therefore, they can fully grasp the scripture’s passages and phrases. Recite this scripture ten times, and the myriad heavens will bow in reverence; the Three Realms will also come to hear the teaching.

Rivers and seas will fall silent, clouds will settle over the mountains, the sun and moon will halt their radiance, and the Jade Pivot—the hub of celestial motion, here referring to the movements of the heavens—will cease to turn. Yin-Yang will harmonize, and day and night alike will become bright. Demons will be bound, ghosts and monsters destroyed, the dead restored to life, and white bones transformed into living people. When a student of the Dao recites the scripture ten times, the Five Emperors will attend at their side, the Three Realms will bow to them, ghost officials will restrain ghosts and monsters, and demonic spirits will receive the scripture’s deliverance. Even those on the verge of death, with their breath gone, can regain life.

Therefore, if a beginner in the Dao has not yet cleansed the body of bloodstains and foul influences, the spirit and Qi cannot flow freely. If body and mind are not yet pure and the physical form has not yet penetrated the true Dao, they cannot subdue the ten directions. Their authority is insufficient to command the decrees of Heaven, and their virtue cannot subdue the earthly spirits or restrain demonic beings. If they treat the scripture as nothing more than elegant words, fail to investigate its subtleties, and recite it carelessly, they will bring calamity upon themselves—perhaps even upon their nine generations of ancestors.

Make offerings to and honor this scripture, and the household will prosper, flourishing from generation to generation, until one ultimately becomes a perfected immortal. No calamity can intrude, and the spirits will guard the household’s gates. This scripture is exalted and mysterious, unmatched in all the Jade Capital, the celestial metropolis of Daoist tradition.

“Delivering people without limit” is the root of the myriad Daoist teachings. Its way is majestic and vast, and its grace is beyond measure.

According to the scripture, whoever recites it ten times will bring all the heavens down together. Their ancestors from countless generations, along with relatives linked to them by blood and family registers, will also be delivered at once and ascend to the Vermilion Palace, the Daoist palace of the immortals. After nine years of instruction there, they will be reborn as perfected beings. If they continue to delight in studying the scriptures, then, when their merit is complete, they will all become immortals, ascend to the Golden Palace in heaven, and feast and roam in Jade Capital, the Daoist celestial city.

Those of the highest capacity who practice and recite this scripture can make their spirit and Qi fully complete and ascend to the Southern Palace. Those of middling capacity who receive and recite it can also be delivered at once and become immortals. Those of the lowest capacity who understand it can bring the Qi of the Five Phases into balance, and govern their own comings and goings, no longer sinking into the realms under the jurisdiction of the ghost officials. If they are later reborn and receive this scripture again, they too can ascend and roam through the vastness of space.

This subtle scripture can deliver all heavenly beings and human beings without end, granting them its blessings and gathering them into the immeasurable Great Dao.

This scripture concerns life and death and is bestowed through Heaven’s grace. It is a scripture treasured by Heaven. It is not passed on to worldly people, but kept forever in the Jade Repository, Heaven’s library of scriptures. It may be transmitted only after an oath before Heaven, during the flourishing of a cosmic cycle that comes once every thirty-six thousand years. If it is carelessly revealed or treated with disrespect, calamity will befall the ancestors of nine generations and bring disaster upon the family line. The spirit officials, divine soldiers, and attendant officers will serve and guard this scripture for a long time. The divine officials of the Five Emperors, the Vermilion Spirit Golden Youths, and the Azure-Waisted Jade Maidens—thirty-six of each—are charged with protecting the scripture and those who receive it.

According to the scripture, observing a strict fast and reciting it in the first lunar month can send the soul ascending through the nine heavens to unite with the Dao and realize the Real. Observing a strict fast and reciting it in the seventh lunar month keeps the spirit clear, enables one to enter and leave the hidden depths and perceive what is obscure, and preserves long life forever. Observing a strict fast and reciting it in the tenth lunar month makes the body and mind, within and without, clear and transparent. Breath can disperse and return; the spirit can travel at will; and gathering, dispersing, and transformation all come under one’s control. In this way, one can move and deliver oneself, realize the True Void, and bring peace to the place where one resides. This is called Great Peace.

Reciting this scripture on the Eight Seasonal Nodes, the eight important festivals of the Daoist calendar, can make one an immortal of the Southern Palace. Reciting it on one’s natal day can carry one beyond the Three Realms and into the Golden Gate, free from further suffering. The body will shine with light; the spirits of the Three Realms will stand guard; the Five Emperors will come to welcome one; and the myriad spirits will gather to pay homage. One’s name will be entered in the heavenly registers, and, when one’s merit is complete, one will ascend to Shangqing, the higher celestial realm of Daoism.

According to the scripture, on days when Daoist rites are performed, one should bathe in fragrant water and fast before entering a quiet chamber. Face east and click the teeth thirty-two times, so that one’s prayer may reach the thirty-two heavens. Then bow inwardly thirty-two times, close the eyes, meditate in silence, and sit upright in the pure Yang of the Nine Heavens…

Amid the radiant Qi of the five colors, all within and without is deep, vast, and shadowy. The Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise—the divine beasts of the four directions—appear, with lions and white cranes arranged on either side. The light of the sun and moon illuminates Heaven and Earth. Forms transform in myriad ways and travel through the ten directions. All these visions are clear and distinct. Then recite the esoteric spell:

Supreme Mysterious Origin, Most High Dao Lord, summon forth the Three-Five Merit Officers from within my body—the divine clerks who convey documents and communicate with the gods—as well as the official messengers on my left and right, the jade youths who attend the incense, the jade maidens who convey messages, the Five Emperors’ Direct Talisman Messengers, who serve the Heavenly Emperors of the five directions, and the incense officials assigned to this day, thirty-six of each. Let them hear and report my prayers.

Today is an auspicious and joyful day. In this pure ritual hall, I observe the long fast and cultivate the Dao as I recite the Scripture on Deliverance of All Beings without Measure. May what I pray for ascend to the Heavenly Court and be presented directly before the throne of the Supreme Primordial Emperor, honored ruler of the thirty-two heavens above. (The bowing is complete.)

Breathe in Qi from the east thirty-two times, then recite the scripture.

The Wondrous Scripture of the Supreme Primordial, Infinite Deliverance, of the Highest Rank

The Primordial Cavern-Mystery, Flying Spirits and Summoning Divine Beings, is the opening chapter of this wondrous scripture of the highest rank. Through its myriad transformations, it delivers living beings. Its hidden rhymes shift and transform, emerging naturally from the void before entering the realm of nothingness and chaos. Red characters appear within the chaos.

The Supreme True Primordial Ancestor brought forth divine beings at the beginning of the kalpa, opening and illuminating the myriad kinds of life. This is the root of the Dao. Above the Dao there is no other source or ancestor; the Dao alone is its own substance. It pervades Heaven and Earth and gives rise to divine beings. Though it has no characters, it shines everywhere; though it has no characters, it is manifest everywhere; though it has no characters, it can establish, accomplish, deliver, and generate all things. This is Heaven within the Great Brahmā Heaven.

The Purple Jade Floating Terrace, the Brahmā Capital in the Azure Empyrean, the Primordial Venerable of Taiji, and the Jade Clarity of the Great Luo all abide in a state of undivided unity. The Qi of the six directions of Heaven and Earth shifts and transforms. Over the long course of kalpas, the myriad spirits are subtle and difficult to fathom, seeming both to exist and not to exist. The Three Realms of Cavernous Radiance, the Six Celestial Lords, the Great Court, the Bud Halls, the Infant Chambers, and the Purple Tenuity Divine Mansion are all names for celestial palaces and sacred abodes.

Brahmā Qi pervades the ten directions. Among its beings are the Lord of Long Life of the Southern Pole, the Lord who Flies as a Spirit and Summons Divine Beings, the Great God of Natural Transformation, the Spirit Lord who Reaches Through Heaven and Earth, and the God who Transforms Qi into Myriad Forms. These subtle and wondrous venerable gods travel through the vast heavens. They can restore life to withered bones and raise the dead, delivering living beings far and wide. Today, the gods who inspect and record the heavens come before the throne.

In the east, the Great Sage of Infinite Long Life, who Flies as a Spirit and Summons Divine Beings, delivers living beings far and wide.

In the south, the Great Sage of Infinite Long Life, who Flies as a Spirit and Summons Divine Beings, delivers living beings far and wide.

In the west, the Great Sage of Infinite Long Life, who Flies as a Spirit and Summons Divine Beings, delivers living beings far and wide.

In the north, the Great Sage of Infinite Long Life, who Flies as a Spirit and Summons Divine Beings, delivers living beings far and wide.

In the ten directions—east, southeast, southwest, northwest, above, below, and the rest—there are the Great Sages and countless mighty gods: Boundless Flying Spirits, who summon the gods within the realm of the Boundless, protect and preserve long life, and deliver living beings from suffering.

These gods ride together in cloud chariots beneath canopies, adorned with feathers of five-colored kingfisher plumage, and in jeweled chariots with dragon heads. They are drawn by numinous phoenixes, with kingfisher-colored luan birds as outriders. A thousand Perfected Ones transform numinous scepters and gather the myriad forms of primordial Qi. Divine banners lead the way; divine tigers roar to clear the path, while azure dragons follow behind with resounding cries. The evil-averting Heavenly Deer and great beasts whose voices sound like thunder call out in turn, illuminating and protecting the Seven Luminaries—the sun, moon, and five planets.

A thousand Perfected Ones open the gates and support the chariot shafts. Myriad celestial immortals descend from the sky and respectfully welcome the sacred procession. They bow and present tokens, devote themselves to prostrations, and listen reverently with upturned faces to the numinous sounds. The Chief Minister who governs all affairs, the Fire Official of Southern Mound, the Immortal Scribes who oversee the scriptures, and the mighty gods who supervise the registers all carry scriptures and rosters. Together they appear before the Emperor Lord, carefully checking the registers of the heavens according to those each is to deliver from suffering, and proclaiming his decree throughout the Three Realms.

In the numinous homeland of the Boundless, within the Bright Jade Pavilion, the Jade Chambers, the ornate halls, and the Numinous Palace of Taiyi—the dwelling of the god Taiyi—the Nine Qi Brahma Heavens, a heavenly realm formed from nine kinds of primordial Qi, can remove the registers of sin for one’s ancestors, parents, and kin from all past kalpas. Their karmic offenses in the underworld dissolve and vanish, and they are no longer detained. The gods conform to the talismanic mandates of the Dao and carry out the decrees of the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning. They ascend at the appointed hour, review the registers in the Vermilion Palace, refine the body and soul, and are recommended for deliverance by numinous spirits.

After being refined and delivered, the dead souls of the Southern Palace can become immortals and regain human form. Thereafter they endure through every kalpa; as the cycles of kalpas turn, they share the life span of Heaven. They are forever freed from the Three Paths, the Five Sufferings, and the Eight Calamities, transcend the Three Realms, and roam at ease above the Highest Clarity.

The Eight Heavens of the East:

The names of the eight heavens of the East, in order, are: Heaven of Vast Radiance and Transformed Splendor, Heaven of Supreme Spirit and Clear Wisdom, Heaven of Feathered Dance and Shimmering Dawn, and Heaven of Calling Change and Harmonious Purity. The corresponding imperial titles are, in order: Fan Guang Mei Zhi, Wei Ru Jia Fei, Da Ju Ling Shi, and Fu Zhi Lou Ji.

The names of the eight heavens of the South, in order, are: Heaven of Yang and Li in Great Flourishing, Heaven of Forested Enclosure and Utmost Jade, Heaven of Nine Transformations and Eastern Pattern, Heaven of Ningdan and Correct Measure, Heaven of Radiant凝ensation and Enriching All Things, Heaven of Harmony and Brightness and Auspicious Sound, Heaven of Great Stability and Enacting Change, and Heaven of Loving Life and Nurturing Growth. The corresponding imperial titles are, in order: Sheng Yu Xuan Sheng, Rong Chun Ying Guang, Yong Zhong Wei Guang, Mo Mian Na Fang, Hu Zha Yun Chang, Fu Fu Sheng Kang, Zhen Qi He Xiang, and Wen Hui Ling Chang.

The names of the eight heavens of the West, in order, are: Heaven of Bright Scenery and Present Fragrance, Heaven of Evenly Spreading Jade Purity, Heaven of Drifting Shadows and Brahma, Heaven of Stabilized Vision and Utmost Subtlety, Heaven of Correct Beginning and Flowering Light, Heaven of Everlasting Extremity and Majestic Court, Heaven of Supreme Floating and Blue Obscurity, and Heaven of Thunder, Scattering, and Enacted Governance. The corresponding imperial titles are, in order: Ji Wu Piao Sheng, Yong Ai Xing Yuan, Long Fei Jiao Yi, Zhuang Jing Xuan Ji, Miao Rui Sheng Fei, Jing Sheng Hu Li, Zheng Wei Yuan Wei, and Fu Gang Xi Gui.

The names of the eight heavens of the North, in order, are: Heaven of Deep Silence and Mysterious Transformation, Heaven of Wise Enclosure and Fulfilled Principle, Heaven of Brahma Bliss and Freedom from Desire, Heaven of Harmony with All Existence, Heaven of Emptiness and Vast Expanse, Heaven of Primal Pervasion and Dharma Title, and Heaven of Literary Brilliance and Wondrous Movement. The corresponding imperial titles are, in order: Meng Mu Xie Hun, Xing Yuan Jin Chong, Ken Chi Miao Tong, Bian Yu Yuan Hong, Yuan Shang Lai Sheng, Xiu Rao Yun Jing, and Yuan Shi Cheng Bing.

Here, “heaven” refers to a level of the celestial realm in the Daoist cosmology, while “emperor” refers to the divine title of the ruler of that realm. The scripture lists the names of the heavens and their imperial titles by direction; these names and titles are mostly specialized sacred designations, and the original gives no further explanation. At the end, the North lists seven pairs of heaven names and imperial titles, although the heading says “eight heavens.”

In the Upper Heaven of the Seven Luminaries, which governs the sun, moon, and five planets, the sovereign’s grace is passed down to his clan, revealing the truth of the Dao.

The Jade Clarity secrets of the thirty-two heavens and their thirty-two celestial emperors, together with the profound and hidden Brahmā-sounds of the Nine Heavens of Highest Clarity, are all wondrous principles that arise naturally. Among the myriad heavens are celestial patterns like fine jade and the dragon-script jade talismans of the celestial realm. The divine workings of Heaven, the numinous demons of the Nine Heavens, and the hidden names of Great Clarity are all contained in the treasured registers. These talismanic writings and divine names change without limit; they can send forth spirits and summon numinous beings. They are treasures beyond measure, spreading the divine and the perfected to save all beings in Heaven and on Earth.

Today we gladly celebrate the person who has received deliverance. He has passed through the barriers of the heavens, prayed for the eradication of the Three Evils and the severing of the roots of the Earth, flown beyond the Five Gates, barriers in the Daoist cosmos, and been entered among the ranks of Great Mystery. The Demon Kings oversee and recommend him, so that the gates of Heaven will not bar his passage.

The Eastern Dipper governs the sprouting of life; the Western Dipper dispels calamities; the Northern Dipper prolongs the span of life; the Southern Dipper increases prosperity; and the Central Dipper transforms people’s bodily forms and commands all numinous beings. The Azure Emperor sends forth spirits, the White Emperor gathers souls, the Red Emperor streams with light, the Black Emperor summons spirits, and the Yellow Emperor causes the myriad gods to rise within and unite as bright radiance.

The Demon King of the Azure Heaven reverently carries out the talismanic commands and spreads the divine message. The Demon King of the Red Heaven records merits and faults and metes out punishment. The Demon King of the White Heaven cuts down ill omens. The Demon King of the Black Heaven wields immense power. The Demon King of the Yellow Heaven upholds the laws and guards the true Dao. The Five Emperors’ Great Demons are the ancestors of the myriad gods. They fly through the Three Realms, command divine troops, bear banners, ceremonial regalia, and tally tokens, and patrol the vast reaches of space. They proclaim their divine might, and all the heavens praise their achievements. They carry out the numinous writings by which Heaven saves people and spreads its teachings, and, by command of the True Dao, issue their decrees.

They summon numinous officials and the mighty gods of the eight directions, pacify the four quarters, and open the myriad Qi, the primal energy of the cosmos. Generals with brocade-marked foreheads lead the way; divine soldiers in blue armor carry banners and staffs, hurl fire weapons, and set the flying bells in motion, their power reaching ten thousand miles.

Whoever in the eight directions dares to offend or obstruct the perfected ones is struck down by golden axes in front and punished by great halberds behind. Evil and filth are swept away; wind and fire rage without pause. Thousands upon thousands sever their heads, and tens of thousands destroy their forms. Demons cannot intrude, and ghosts cannot wreak havoc. The Three Officials of Heaven, Earth, and Water check the registers of names, while divine offices examine souls, leaving evil spirits nowhere to hide. Golden Horse couriers carry the documents, proclaiming them throughout the boundless realms. All the gods come to receive commands, and the Five Emperors of the Three Realms submit their petitions together.

The Cavern of Mystery of Highest Clarity spans the kalpas of ages past, while Jade Perfection, a title for a revered Daoist deity and the heaven where he dwells, opens the kalpa-worlds. Heaven and Earth, the two forms of cosmic polarity, are carved into shape, and Chaos first divides. Above, there is no realm of forms; below, there are no roots of form. The Dao is mysterious, subtle, and still; numinous winds move of themselves throughout Heaven and Earth.

The Great Dao forgets nothing and considers nothing. It has no beginning and no source; it has no form and is burdened by nothing. It fills the Six Directions completely and shines through the Ten Directions. At the first kalpa of the Dragon-Han age, the ancient primordial age described in Daoist cosmology, it transmitted the teachings and brought living beings to understanding. In the year of Renchen, it opened the way to deliverance and nurtured all things.

Close the “gates of death” of all beings—the gateways of death and decline—and seal the source of the womb’s origin. Let the breath cease and the numinous energy disperse. Then clear the spirit and open the body and mind, so that all the gods gather at the Court of the Spirit, the place within the body regarded as the dwelling of the gods. Rise upward to the Great Void and descend to the Dark Pass, the gateway to the netherworld, until the whole body becomes one, unharmed within and without.

The spirit moves with Qi, changing without fixed form: it can unite as one or transform into ten thousand bodies. This is no ordinary breathing; it is the movement of the divine spirit. The spirit roams the Three Realms, while Qi fills the ten directions. Gathering and dispersal are governed by the master within my own body. Intent is the spirit’s commander, and the spirit in turn governs intent. When the mind-spirit joins with the divine spirits, one can send forth the spirit and summon numinous beings, entering the path of the immortals.

Gaze levelly upon the exalted Perfected Ones and enter the Golden Casket of Taiji’s primordial chaos, a symbol of the profound and mysterious realm. The Jade Writ opens the way to subtle principles. Through stillness in meditation, one can reach the Eight Visions, scenes within the body or in the heavens described in Daoist teaching, while flying radiance illuminates countless places. When the mind and nature are settled and the spirit and Qi are quiet, one can ride the returning wind and purple clouds. The Dao encompasses all things; spiritual arts subdue ten thousand demons. In harmony with the Dao, one naturally becomes a Perfected One. In the realm of the Perfected, one becomes an exalted deity such as the Great Lord of Long Life or the Jade Spirit Lord. One flies and transforms, roams the empty expanse, and governs inner cultivation.

Let the body receive true Qi and gather numinous energy, preserving life and keeping its root secure forever. The divine spirits enter and leave Shangqing, the exalted heavenly realm honored in Daoism, extending throughout the eight directions and dimensions and across the Three Realms. They master the transformations of ten thousand spirits and hold authority over the Three Palaces, the bodily or heavenly palaces described in Daoist teaching. Answering invocations, they communicate with the Nine Sources and unite the ten thousand spirits. Through successive transformations, they complete the immortal’s numinous Qi and attain the immortal Way.

The immortal Way is hidden and mysterious, turning with the times to deliver all beings. Open the Gate of Heaven, send forth the spirit and summon numinous beings, and ascend beyond to the Jade Palace. Through kalpas without end, receive universal instruction and transformation, until the physical body is admitted among the Perfected Ones. Refine the form in the Great Void and forever leave behind the ties of the mundane world. Rise to the Nine Heavens and travel throughout the Three Terraces, palaces of the Daoist heavens. Refine the corpse within the Yellow Court, the inner realm of the body described in Daoist cultivation, and ascend to Great Clarity. Above Great Clarity stands this Gate of the Immortals. Within it are the ritual methods for sending forth the spirit and summoning numinous beings: a numinous text of the kings of the Perfected, whose words accord with the exalted Perfected Ones.

Chapter One: The Divine Empyrean Jade Palace’s Chapter on Sending Forth the Spirit

The transformations of the divine spirits are subtle and mysterious, without end. When Qi and spirit unite, the Perfected One enters the Gate of the Immortals. The spirit governs the body, and Qi commands the spirit. When spirit and Qi both attain the mysterious realm, one can take part in the exalted Perfected Ones’ work of command, fly to the farthest reaches in all eight directions, and summon the ten thousand spirits.

Only the Dao can accompany one and grant insight into the hidden world. The returning wind stirs the light of the sun and moon, and from it the heavens and earth give birth to life. Reciting this chapter can dispel calamities; understanding its principles brings awakening to the Dao and realization as a Perfected One. The wondrous principle of the realm of the Perfected lies in returning to the source and securing the root of life.

Exalted deities such as the Great Demon of Taiyi and the Primordial Lady of the Upper Minister remain hidden from view, yet endure through countless kalpas.

Chapter Two: Song of the Purple Tenuity Jade Palace for Summoning Numinous Beings in the Cavern of Truth

Within the Court of Shen (spirit) lies the Great Luo Heaven, the supreme heavenly realm in Daoist teaching. The sacred sound takes “eleven” as its guiding principle. It abides constantly in stillness, yet once set in motion, it can bring people to awakening. This method is secretly preserved in the Purple Origin Capital and is transmitted only when times are prosperous.

Violet smoke curls through the splendid halls, while the sacred terrace expounds profound scriptural teachings. These teachings open the way to all things and encompass the empty expanse in all six directions. The Great Dao is silent and formless; after attaining the Dao, one can return to one’s original nature. Sever the root of birth and death, and the gate of death will close. Shen consciousness then flies into the Great Clarity Heaven, transcends the road of birth and death through millions of kalpas, leaves forever the palace where the northern ghosts and spirits dwell, crosses beyond the Three Realms, and rides the Dao to roam the vast heavens.

Ascend into the realm of Wuwei (non-action), and become one with the immortals and perfected beings. Once you have realized true emptiness, the destinies of past lives become clear and connected. The spirits soar across the eight directions, passing through millions of kalpas without end. The wondrous principle opens into the true Dao, vast and mysterious. Plumb the root and return to the source; as you come and go, ride the numinous wind.

Song of Hidden Names of the Celestial Worthy of the Third Scenery Firmament, Cavern Spirit

The Jade Dawn is subtly profound; the Great Dao is hidden, yet ever present. The most true has no form and takes the Great Dao as its own being. It sets the spirits in motion and summons the numinous officials, encompassing Heaven and Earth. Inwardly full, outwardly empty and still, it joins the Yang radiance with the Yin essence. Fuli is dark and still; the body enters a deep, distant realm, transforms naturally, and roams in contemplation of the great void.

Above the great void, it joins with the nine levels of Heaven. Thus the five limbs are made whole and the hundred spirits are at peace. When you come and go, your shadow follows; follow the shadow, and you will see the true Dao. The true within the true is this realm of true emptiness. Realize it, and you can attain the Dao; keep to it, and you can endure forever.

If you cannot realize the true Dao, you will sink forever into Northern Luofeng, the northern underworld, and suffer the pain of birth and death. You will wander through the six destinies, the six paths of rebirth, with no way left to become an immortal.

This is the song sung by the Spirit King in the Jade Numinous Realm above the Nine Heavens. Every line and sound accords with the jade pitch standards. Recite it devoutly one hundred times, and you can be delivered to the Southern Palace; recite it one thousand times, and your name can be entered among the High Perfected; recite it ten thousand times, and your Dao practice will be complete. You will ascend to Jade Clarity, transcending the Three Realms.

When one’s cultivation reaches a certain level, one may be entered in the registers of the immortals and be heard by the divine spirits. The divine voice—the sacred sound—fills the Demon King with awe and moves the earth deities to obey its commands, coming to guard, escort, and welcome. In this way, the dead can leave the gates of hell and be spared the Five Sufferings and Eight Calamities. Their ancestors of seven generations may ascend and leave the Northern Palace, the realm of the dead, forever. The souls of the departed are sent to Vermilion Mound, the divine realm where the dead are refined and delivered; after this refinement, they are reborn. This is what is called “universal deliverance without measure and salvation without end.”

This scripture is a text kept secret in Heaven and revered by all the heavens. Whoever reveals it or treats it with disrespect will fall into hell, and the resulting calamities will also afflict their ancestors of seven generations.

The Dao says: The two chapters above are both divine utterances secretly preserved by the Jade Emperor of Yuchen and the Divine King of the Nine Heavens. They are words of the Great Brahma, sacred language from the highest heavens, not expressions used in the ordinary world. They have neither rhyme nor literary ornament, nor any elaborate melody. That is why they are called profound, difficult to understand, and hard to investigate: they are scriptures treasured by Heaven.

This scripture is secretly kept in restricted places within the Jade Palace of the Divine Empyrean, in its jeweled halls and scripture chambers. According to the Mystical Regulations, it may be transmitted only when the cycle of thirty-six thousand years has arrived. If someone has truly attained the Dao, understands its inner treasures, and is sincere in heart, they may receive it—but only after taking an oath of allegiance before the Three Heavenly Worthies in accordance with established practice.

The Dao says: The workings of Heaven and Earth have times of ending and decline; the sun, moon, and five planets wax and wane. Even the most holy divine beings have times of rest and hardship, and beginners in the Dao may suffer illness and injury. When such calamities arise, fellow cultivators should employ their spirit and cultivate their breath, receiving instruction and deliverance from the divine powers. By reciting the scripture ten times to summon the spirits, they can attain new life again. This immeasurable scripture can deliver beings without end.

The Dao says: Beginners in the Dao have not yet cultivated deeply. Sometimes they have not attained the rank of an immortal, and their spirit and Qi are still insufficient; they cannot use the art of flying summons to meet calamities. If they die, their souls will pass through the Great Yin, the realm of the dead. At that time, fellow cultivators who have attained the Dao should burn incense, recite the scripture, and transmit its teachings for them, bringing awakening to the divine spirits and delivering the body of the deceased according to the rites. Then the soul and spirit can ascend directly to the Southern Palace, the heavenly realm where immortals dwell. The time of their rebirth is then determined according to the merit of their cultivation during life. In their successive rebirths, they will not lose their way, and in the end they will become immortals.

The Dao says: When the workings of Heaven and Earth are nearing their end, one should undertake purification rites, burn incense, and recite the scripture. One should do the same when the stars move out of order and the sun and moon grow dim in unnatural ways; likewise when the seasons lose their proper sequence and Yin-Yang falls out of balance. When a ruler suffers calamity and war breaks out on every side, one should undertake purification rites, burn incense, and recite the scripture. When a fellow cultivator dies, one should do the same. And when epidemics spread and people are injured or killed, one should also undertake purification rites, burn incense, and recite the scripture.

The merit of purification and reciting the scripture is immense: above, it can dispel disasters in Heaven and protect and bring peace to the emperor; below, it can drive away poisons and deliver the people, allowing both the living and the dead to receive … (The original breaks off at the character “receive,” leaving the sentence unfinished.)

Through the merit and blessing of this scripture, the rewards are so great that they cannot be measured; hence it is called “immeasurable.” It can save and deliver all beings, both heavenly and human.

The Dao says: Anyone who possesses this scripture and can put its teachings into practice for the sake of Heaven and Earth, the emperor, and the people may ascend and travel in spirit to the Jade Palace, the residence of the Heavenly Emperor, and summon divine immortals. On days when calamity threatens, one should resolve to observe a fast, burn incense, and recite the scripture ten times. The heavens will record one’s name, and the gods will protect one. Through this practice, one may ultimately become a Perfected One, someone who has succeeded in cultivating the Dao, and serve among the ministers of the Sage Sovereign’s Golden Palace in the heavens.

The heavens record people’s merits and faults, omitting nothing, however slight. Even the demon kings of Heaven will recommend you. Only those who cultivate the Dao and attain it can truly understand these profound principles.

The Hidden Words of the Flying Spirits and Summoned Immortals in the Heavens, the Immeasurable Sound, composed by the Dao Lord.

The Middle Section of the Primordial Origin’s Numinous Writ

What follows are the hidden words for the eight heavens in each of the four directions: east, south, west, and north. These are secret words for summoning spirits and communicating with the numinous. Used mainly in Daoist recitation rituals, they are not connected sentences in the usual sense, so the original text is retained.

Eight Heavens of the East

Yangya miaoben, xianli jufu, yifei kongke

Hualu wandu, jingji tuizhe, jingyao dongxu

Qingyi linyuan, yuzhao xuanzhu, zhucheng aihe

Fenbi huashu, feiguang jiyi, fubian beishu

Taiyi lingfang, fuyang biju, huifan shenmo

Yunzhuan lingqu

Eight Heavens of the South

Guangdong chixia, cangwu huojing, zhijing hongxi

Longhu jiangsheng, shizhan chubu, jionghe lüying

Ri ju yun yuan, chanfa qibing, yufu lihuang

Ding pi jinxing, qi dong juji, fu miao dongqing

Zhi xian disi, shu zhuan yunding, bu fu yijian

Xiang gong zhenling

Eight Heavens of the West

Jinguang liuzhi, xu yu dali, huan su yaojing

Konghua dongxi, hui yu zhengyun, fange ceshi

Zhu xian bian’e, guishi heshi, jiaoyan zhoulüo

Fang jian yingti, bingwei jianpu, shengning shenyi

Hu fu hece, pindu mouhui, ju mian huangquan

Fu che heli

Eight Heavens of the North

Yuanjing fuluo, fuli youshuang, julu yuanxuan

Xuanmo xunchang, danwan quqi, xiezhan fuchang

Withdraw and summon the demon souls, restoring them to their proper places and bringing order back to them. Still the breath of Huadou—a coded phrase in the scripture—and let its disorderly melodies fade, so they no longer harm anyone. Spread instruction everywhere and cast light upon the capital, bringing it peace and prosperity. Quiet turmoil, protect all beings, and seek out dark places so that light may return. The work of salvation has no end; through it, all beings can become Celestial Immortals.

The Dao says: These “limitless sounds of the Great Brahma’s hidden words,” which come from Yuchen Heaven in the Daoist celestial realms, are written in jade script, vermilion books, dragon characters, and cloud seals. They are kept in secret inside a golden casket in the inner palace’s splendid hall, where their radiance reaches a hundred fathoms high and they contain the numinous Qi of five colors. The True King of the Jade Clarity of the Divine Empyrean and the Azure Flower Emperor of Fusang both understand these sounds and have transcribed them into writing. If someone recites them after fasting and purification, the heavens will send Flying Celestial Spirit Kings to descend and observe that person, then report their diligent practice and merit to the heavens. The Earth Spirits will guard the doors, and the Jade Clarity Demon-Subduing Spirit King will recommend them to the Higher Immortals. Those whose Dao cultivation is complete can ascend through the Three Realms and summon spirits and the assembled perfected ones.

These sounds can transform all things, reach everywhere, save all beings, and bring everything to fulfillment. They are the natural sounds of Heaven’s true beings. Thus, reciting them moves the Flying Celestial Spirit Kings to descend and observe; the Supreme Emperor sings in response from afar, the heavens come to pay homage, and the spirits of the Three Realms attend at one’s side. Demons bow their heads, the myriad spirits offer protection, harmonious Qi flows throughout, and auspicious mist fills the air. The spirits settle into tranquil stillness as the sound of jade chimes resounds. The ten directions grow solemn and pure; rivers and seas fall silent, smoke and vapor vanish from the mountains, and the myriad spirits are awed into submission. The assembled immortals are summoned to gather. No foul Qi clouds the heavens, no disasters or dust afflict the earth, and even the underworld receives the light of wisdom and becomes utterly clear.

This describes a vast and wondrous realm, deep beyond depth.