《靈寶無量度人上品妙經》Vol. 23

The Dao says: Long ago, in the Palace of Supreme Ultimate (Taiji), violet light surged upward and songs rang out. The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning (Yuanshi Tianzun) proclaimed the Scripture on Deliverance from Humanity in the Great-Pervasion Spirit Land, summoning the true spirits and opening the Way of the highest, immeasurable rank.

Just as the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning was about to proclaim this scripture, he recited it ten times all around, summoning the perfected beings in the ten directions. First came countless holy beings: the great gods of heavenly reality, the highest sages and exalted worthies, and the perfected beings of wondrous practice. They rode through the air in cloud chariots and feather-adorned carriages. Violet smoke rose straight into the skies; rainbow-hued banners and rosy-cloud canopies shone together, making the morning light seem especially bright. Five-colored radiance spread everywhere, illuminating the nine heavens. For seven days and seven nights, the heavens and earth, the sun, moon, and stars, the seas and mountains, and the grotto-heavens and palace precincts all opened wide. Spirit light shone in every direction, revealing a clear and radiant scene. The mountains, rivers, and forests of one realm became level and open.

There was no longer any distinction between high and low in heaven and earth. The entire land became a scene made of the seven treasures and other rare and wondrous jewels, displaying ten splendid colors. The perfected beings stood in attendance beside the seat.

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning sat upright in a marvelous, spirit-born throne that floated in the air, had taken shape from the heavenly spirit grotto, and could transform in countless ways. He began to expound the scripture.

When the first recitation was complete, the great saints of heavenly reality all praised it at once. At that moment, the men and women of one realm all honored Dao and De (Virtue/Power), and came to understand their own nature.

When the second recitation was complete, wondrous transformations appeared. With the third, clouded understanding opened to the mysteries. With the fourth, beautiful sounds rang through the empty sky, and refined, balanced tones came together as music. With the fifth, spirit writings in the grotto void shone brightly in the eight directions. With the sixth, the highest perfected beings and sages sent their teachings down to the human world. With the seventh, the scriptures and methods of the Three Caverns (Dongzhen, Dongxuan, and Dongshen) were put into practice everywhere. With the eighth, spirits of the hidden and visible worlds responded to each thought and were moved by each intention, bringing down good fortune and leading people to do good and accumulate virtue. With the ninth, demonic obstacles and trials subsided and were dispelled, and the Five Emperors recommended people for the Way and immortal life. With the tenth, the hundred spirits gathered into form, and the ten thousand kinds of primordial Qi rose together.

At that moment, all the men and women of this realm wholeheartedly turned toward the Dao. They received protection and deliverance, and attained long life.

The Dao says: At this time, when the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning completed the first recitation, the great gods of the immeasurable rank of primordial Dao in the boundless East, along with countless other gods, came through the air. When he completed the second, the great gods of the immeasurable rank of luminous assembly in the boundless South, along with countless other gods, came through the air. When he completed the third, the great gods of the immeasurable rank of vast purity in the boundless West, along with countless other gods, came through the air. When he completed the fourth, the great gods of the immeasurable rank of stillness and renewal in the boundless North, along with countless other gods, came through the air. When he completed the fifth, the great gods of the immeasurable rank of ten thousand transformations in the boundless Northeast, along with countless other gods… came through the air. The original text ends here; the following content has not been provided.

(“The scriptures and methods of the Three Caverns” refers to the traditional Daoist classification of scriptures into three categories. “Primordial Qi” refers to the fundamental vital energy that forms all things in heaven and earth. The scripture’s repeated recitations and summons to the perfected beings of the ten directions depict a religious ritual and its sacred responses.)

(Continuing from the preceding account of the deities arriving from every direction.) When the scripture had been expounded for the sixth time, the Great God of Radiant Light, together with countless deities, came through the air from the Boundless Heaven of the southeast. When it had been expounded for the seventh time, the Great God of Flowery Truth and countless deities came through the air from the Boundless Heaven of the southwest. At the eighth recitation, the Great God of Mysterious Emptiness and countless deities came through the air from the Boundless Heaven of the northwest. At the ninth, the Great God of the Purple Ultimate and countless deities came through the air from the Boundless Heaven above. At the tenth, the Great God of the Cavernous Sovereign and countless deities came through the air from the Boundless Heaven below.

When the ten recitations were complete, the Great Celestial Perfected Ones from the Boundless Heavens in all ten directions arrived together. Men and women throughout the country turned their hearts toward them. People came in such numbers, gathering like clouds and mist, that they could not be counted. The crowd was so dense that half the land sank beneath them, and nothing could stop it.

Then Yuanshi—the Daoist deity Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning—transformed a precious mountain, shaped like Mount Kunlun. Inside it were grotto chambers, with jade gates open on all four sides, suspended in the air a thousand zhang above the ground. Yuanshi led the Great Celestial Perfected Ones, the Highest Sages and Exalted Lords, the Perfected Ones of Wondrous Practice, and the True Great Gods and countless deities from the Boundless Heavens in all ten directions into the precious mountain. The people of Heaven looked up and watched as they entered through the jade gates in an unbroken stream. Once inside, they vanished from sight. When the crowd dispersed, the ground became level again and no longer sloped or sank.

Yuanshi then completed his exposition of the scripture inside the precious mountain. The Perfected Ones took charge of overseeing and delivering beings, and transmitted the scripture to me. The joy and celebration at that moment were beyond words. When the ritual proceedings were largely complete, the deities of the heavens each returned to their appointed places. In an instant, all around fell silent, and not a sound could be heard.

At that time, the people of Heaven were fortunate to encounter this scriptural teaching. All received deliverance and could live long lives, free from illness and injury. The people throughout the country turned toward it with reverence. Their hearts were awakened: they were neither corrupt nor benighted, neither foolish nor negligent and undisciplined; they did not pursue greed or desire, nor indulge in deluded thoughts. Their innate nature connected with the Dao, and body and mind accorded with the most authentic Way. With loving-kindness and benevolence as their foundation, customs became pure and honest, the country was at peace, the people were prosperous, and all gladly enjoyed a time of peace.

When the scriptural teaching first began to be transmitted in a country, all who held sincere hearts and honored it with reverence could attain deliverance.

When the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning spoke of the scripture, he said that some of its contents are the inner names and secret sounds of the emperors of the heavens. They are also forbidden words in the Divine Empyrean, the Daoist heavenly realm, and hidden names in the Jade Cavern. They are not part of everyday worldly speech. Only the highest sages, who have perfected themselves into perfected beings, understood the mysterious principles, and explored the subtlest truths, can fully understand these passages. If the scripture is recited ten times, the heavens will answer from afar and the myriad emperors will bow in respect. Rivers and seas will grow calm, and perfected beings from the heavens will descend into the courtyard to summon the spirits. The Three Heavens, a Daoist term for a level of the heavenly realm, will halt their carriages, and the Jade Pivot, a symbol of the axis of celestial movement, will cease to turn. The officials will take their places in ordered ranks, holding treasured charts of red jade and guarding the Black Emperor’s hidden writings.

Reciting the scripture can revive corpses, bring the dead back to life, and restore living bodies to white bones. Those of advanced cultivation may even become high immortals through it. When students of the Dao recite it ten times, the Five Emperors will come to inspect them, the Three Officials—the deities who govern Heaven, Earth, and Water—will pardon their offenses, the roots of earthly bondage will be severed, and demonic obstacles will be unable to intrude. Even those at the point of death, whose breath has ceased, may be saved and brought back to life through it.

This is possible because the foul Qi within students of the Dao has not yet been fully purged, and their bodies have not yet fully opened to the true Dao. Though they may use the scripture to command the powers of the four directions and cultivate De strong enough to withstand the edicts of Heaven, earth spirits, and demons, they can only keep people from dying; they cannot yet bring them back to life. Reciting this passage carelessly will instead invite disaster. Those who offer worship to the scripture and treat it with reverence will see their households prosper and their descendants flourish. They will be in harmony with benevolent forces, untouched by the myriad calamities, while the spirits guard their doors. This scripture is supremely honored and mysterious, unique in the Jade Capital, the Daoist celestial city. It can deliver countless beings and is the root of the myriad Dao. Its vast De is beyond words.

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning also said that whenever someone recites this scripture ten times, the true spirits will descend, the deities will be summoned, and all the heavens will gather. The divine officials of the seas and mountains, together with the deities who govern Yin-Yang, will come to protect and deliver the cultivator, and report the cultivator’s name to the heavenly court. After nine years of cultivation, one will attain the Dao and long life, receive a jade document, and join the ranks of the Celestial Emperor’s attendants. Once one’s merit is complete, one may ascend to the Golden Palace and feast and roam in the Jade Capital.

Those advanced in cultivation who recite and practice this scripture can summon the true spirits, unite and transform the hundred deities, penetrate the deepest mysteries, transcend the ordinary world, refine their bodies, and soar aloft. Even worldly people who have yet to grasp its profound essentials may, through focused and diligent recitation, connect with the true spirits and draw in numinous Qi. By nourishing the body with this subtle energy, they may cast off illness and extend their lives. Ultimately, they may also cultivate the Dao of corpse liberation, a Daoist method of transcendence in which the soul temporarily leaves the body without passing through the underworld, then resumes bodily form and roams through the vast heavens.

This scripture is subtle and vast, and can deliver all beings without limit. Through it, all celestial and human beings may receive blessings and happiness, and be granted grace throughout life and death. It is a scripture kept in Heaven’s treasury and is not passed on to worldly people. Those devoted to the Dao should repay the one who transmits it with gold, silver, and precious treasures…

This scripture may be transmitted only after an oath has been made in the heart. If it is carelessly revealed or treated with disrespect, calamity will befall nine generations of one’s ancestors, and one will remain for a long time in the service of ghost officials. The Jade youths and maidens who attend this scripture number thirty-two of each kind. The spirits who guard the text will protect those who receive it.

The Dao says: If one observes an extended fast and recites this scripture in the first month, one can summon the perfected beings above the Most High, invite the spirits of the Three Realms, and receive their protection through the hidden world and down to oneself. Accumulated calamities will disperse, evil karma and offenses will be erased, and one will be able to ascend to the Jade Palace and pay court to the Morning Emperor. If one observes an extended fast and recites this scripture in the seventh month, one can summon the perfected beings within the Great One, invite the spirits of the Nine Palaces to protect and guide oneself, and have one’s hidden name and merits inscribed on a blue register. If one observes an extended fast and recites this scripture in the tenth month, one can summon the perfected beings beneath the Most High and invite the spirits of the Cavern Terrace to safeguard the nation’s territory, its altars of state, and its people. The four seasons will then be in harmony, wind and rain will come in due measure, crops will flourish, and peace will endure.

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—can summon the perfected spirits of the eight directions, the mysterious void, the sun, moon, and stars. Calamities and inauspicious influences will be dispelled, and auspicious blessings will arrive. Reciting it on one’s natal day, the day associated with one’s zodiac sign or destiny, can summon the perfected spirits of Heaven and Earth, Yin-Yang, and the Five Phases (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water). They will harmonize one’s body and spirit, guard the body’s apertures, the Nine Palaces and Niwan at the crown of the head, and the bones. The body will grow strong and the complexion radiant, allowing one to live long and, in the end, pay court to the Lord Emperor.

The Dao says: Before conducting a Daoist ritual, one should bathe with fragrant water and, after fasting, enter the chamber. Facing east, click the teeth thirty-two times to communicate upward with the thirty-two heavens, then bow thirty-two times. Close the eyes and meditate, imagining oneself seated amid clouds of blue, yellow, and white, with profound stillness within and without. On either side stand the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise, lions, and white cranes; the radiance of the sun and moon illuminates the entire chamber.

Then visualize a round light appearing above the head, its radiance shining in all ten directions, the scene clear and distinct. Silently recite this secret invocation:

“Supreme Lord of the Dao, Primordial Mystery, please summon the Three-Five Meritorious Officers within my body, the attendant messengers on my left and right, the Jade youth who attends the incense, the Jade maiden who conveys messages, the official talisman-bearers of the Five Emperors, and the incense officials on duty. Have them convey the words I present today. Today is an auspicious day. In this pure fasting hall, I observe an extended fast and cultivate through this supreme scripture, the Scripture of Limitless Deliverance. May the matter I present rise to the highest realm and be delivered directly before the most honored throne of the Supreme Emperor of the Primordial Beginning in the supreme thirty-second heaven.”

After reciting the invocation, guide the breath thirty-two times while facing east, then recite the Supreme Scripture of Wondrous Perfection, the Upper Chapter of the Primordial Beginning’s Limitless Deliverance.

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning (Yuanshi Tianzun), the supreme deity honored in Daoism, bestowed this sublime chapter for summoning the True Spirits within the Lingbao Scripture of the Cavern of Mystery (Dongxuan), one of the Daoist scriptural collections. Its subtle verses turn beings back from the wheel of existence, resonate with nature, and work wondrously and efficaciously. The scripture accords with Heaven and Earth, profound and far-reaching; it governs the myriad heavens, connects the Three Paths, and brings all things to life.

It is a vital key to understanding the mysteries of the Dao and a guiding principle that gathers the Great Dao. Only those with steadfast resolve and cultivated virtue can grasp and convey its numinous script. The divine text gathers primordial Qi, the fundamental energy from which Heaven, Earth, and all things are formed, and resonates with the Great Dao amid the unseen realm. It reaches upward to the Jade Palace in Heaven, extends throughout boundless grotto-heavens, and circulates through the vast Brahma realms of Miro.

In the deep, boundless expanse lie immortal realms such as the Purple Tenuity Palace, the Jade Halls, Turtle Terrace, and Langfeng. They govern the pivot of the Heavenly Dao. Through successive cycles of calamity and renewal, they uphold the fundamental laws of Heaven and Earth. Within them reside the vital energies of primordial chaos and profound mysteries. Their hidden radiance shines forth; myriad forms flourish, and numinous splendors of five colors gather. The Dharma Wheel of the Great Luo, which governs the vast heavens, commands the ten directions and receives and bears the Qi of the Celestial Emperor.

In the rite of summoning the True Spirits are deities who dispel sins and calamities, immortal lords who grant long life and extended years, the Three Profound Great Deities who stabilize one’s allotted lifespan, the Elders of the Five Emperors and Numinous Spirits, the sovereigns of the Yin-Yang Dingjia primal roots, and the honored deity Taiyi. The gods turn back their radiance to observe and illuminate, carrying out boundless deeds to deliver beings. At this moment, sincere devotion evokes a response, and the myriad saints descend into the hall.

The Divine King of Perfect Luminosity of the East without Limit, the Divine King of Numinous Transformation of the South without Limit, the Divine King of Manifest Response of the West without Limit, and the Divine King of Hidden Wisdom of the North without Limit, along with the Divine Kings of Wondrous Wisdom in the northeast, Penetrating Illumination in the southeast, Hidden Light in the southwest, and Precious Splendor in the northwest, and the Divine Kings of the Precious Immortal Above and Deliverance Below, are all great sages of long life who carry out the boundless mission of delivering beings.

The Divine Kings who summon the true beings and call forth spirits from the ten directions, together with the immeasurable Great Gods who grant long life and deliver beings from the world, all ride upon the Three-Substance clouds—splendid clouds formed from three kinds of vital essence. They drive swift rosy-cloud chariots and radiant jade chariots, attended by guards and ceremonial escorts on either side. The warding beasts that repel evil and divine tigers clear the way, bearing the ceremonial staff that summons the true beings to descend and the banners that call forth spirits. Bells and drums ring out before them, while immortal music and songs accompanied by flutes follow behind. The voices of the luminous dragons and blue-green phoenixes answer one another. A thousand perfected beings gallop forth, and all phenomena revolve in their wake. The celestial immortals’ troops and horses array themselves like clouds, numbering in the hundreds of millions. They shine with radiance, answer the summons, and manifest as they descend.

The High Ministers of the Divine Empyrean, together with the immortal officers of the two Jade Assistance Terraces who hold the hidden mysteries of the heavens under the Supreme Ultimate, bear talismanic commands and oversee the registers of names. They report to the August Emperor of Morning Mystery and True Reality. The Emperor puts his teachings into effect and issues commands to the worlds of the Three Origins and Eight Extremities, as well as to grotto dwellings, springs and sources, layered rivers, the Nine Ramparts, the six palaces of Fengdu, the Southern Gate, the Northern Sea, and the one hundred and twenty bureaus. Officials in each bureau are responsible for inspecting the ranks of immortals.

Those who study the true Dao need only hold their resolve with deep sincerity and keep their thoughts pure and concentrated. They will then communicate with the wondrous realm, accord with its hidden mysteries, and receive revelations and responses according to their conduct. Should anyone dare to commit transgressions, the Upper Chamber of the Jade Capital will issue a command: by means of the Lingfei Shangqing Six Jia and Huoluo Five talismans, summon Wuying on the left and clasp Baiyuan on the right. Thus the body and bones may be preserved and refined, life made as long as Heaven’s, and one forever freed from the Three Paths, Five Sufferings, and Eight Difficulties, transcending the Three Realms to roam at ease in the realm of Shangqing. The heavens of Shangqing are the realm where the Heavenly Emperor gathers primordial Qi, beyond color and form.

The Eight Heavens of the East

Heaven of Deep Clarity and Utmost Response; its Heavenly Emperor is named Shun Qi Yunlong.

Heaven of the Nine Births and the Discourse on Transformation; its Heavenly Emperor is named He Yutingwen.

Heaven of Bana Haogong; its Heavenly Emperor is named Luo Dingxing.

Heaven of the Boundary Ravines and Governed Cultivation; its Heavenly Emperor is named Liao Jiyoufei.

Heaven of the Bright Horn Moving at the Center; its Heavenly Emperor is named Si Guan Zhengyi.

Heaven of Immeasurable Diligence and Virtue, Fully Manifest; its Heavenly Emperor is named Zhuo Lanmingqi.

Heaven of Full Measure and Self-Benefit; its Heavenly Emperor is named Yun Xisheng.

Heaven of Youthful Integrity and Responsive Bearing; its Heavenly Emperor is named Hu Tehuazhao.

The Eight Heavens of the South

Heaven of Fengpo and Hidden Patterns; its Heavenly Emperor is named Quanbian Zhuying.

Heaven of the Cinnabar Palace and Simple Chambers; its Heavenly Emperor is named Zhu Yueluo.

Heaven of the Pivot, Vastness, and the Passage of Jade; its Heavenly Emperor is named Yao Tongzhen.

Heaven of Deliverance to Immortality and Auspicious Extension; its Heavenly Emperor is named Zhenlai Bingfu.

The Transforming Age, Long-Life Flower Heaven—its Heavenly Emperor bears the secret title “Mystery Without Bounds.”

The Wandering Dragon, Cloud-Splendor Heaven—its Heavenly Emperor bears the secret title “Courier Pursuing the Myriad Spirits.”

The Womb-Simplicity, Compassionate Guard Heaven—its Heavenly Emperor bears the secret title “Holding Qi, Abundant in Descendants.”

The Precious Register, Settled Name Heaven—its Heavenly Emperor bears the secret title “Attaining Truth and Harmony.”

The Eight Heavens of the West

The Spirit-Encampment, Talisman-Receiving Heaven—its Heavenly Emperor bears the secret title “Old Radiance, Star Flourishing.”

The Spirit-Summoning, Swift Chariot Heaven—its Heavenly Emperor bears the secret title “Stone Radiance, Lord of Ritual.”

The Dao-Seal, Oath to the Mysterious Heaven—its Heavenly Emperor bears the secret title “Technique and Law, Sealed for Use.”

The True-Transformation, Jade-Spirit Heaven—its Heavenly Emperor bears the secret title “Summoning the Infant, Count of Health.”

The Bright-Spirit, Ministerial Heaven—its Heavenly Emperor bears the secret title “Harmony, Chief, Mountain, Jade.”

The Great Tenuity, Seven Offices Heaven—its Heavenly Emperor bears the secret title “Blessing, Hope, Plum, Ancestor.”

The Flowing-Essence, Great-Peace Heaven—its Heavenly Emperor bears the secret title “Attaining Thought, Ninefold Life.”

The Piercing-Yang, Dipper-Patrolling, Spirit-Inspecting Heaven—its Heavenly Emperor bears the secret title “Upright Chariot, Tilted Radiance.”

The Eight Heavens of the North

The Star-Foundation, Clear-Height, Great-Mixture Heaven—its Heavenly Emperor bears the secret title “Jade Bow, Bringing Forth Truth.”

The Dao-Certifying, Emptiness-Revealing, Void-Receiving Heaven—its Heavenly Emperor bears the secret title “Fan Tang Bin.”

The Thunder-Dancing, Radiance-Unfurling, Mysterious-Response Heaven—its Heavenly Emperor bears the secret title “Warm Compassion, Bright Banner.”

The Cavern-Color, Purple-Essence Heaven—its Heavenly Emperor bears the secret title “Summoning Spirits, Examining Immortals.”

The Yang-Cultivation, Pearl-Opening Heaven—its Heavenly Emperor bears the secret title “Count Shu, No Return.”

The Scribe-Riding, Letter-Trusting Heaven—its Heavenly Emperor bears the secret title “Beneficent Surge, Ruling the Regions.”

The Most High, Merit-Reviewing Heaven—its Heavenly Emperor bears the secret title “Universal Brilliance, Primordial King.”

The Immortal Bureau, Merit-Censuring, King-Recording Heaven—its Heavenly Emperor bears the secret title “Long Life, Capital Foundation, Flourishing.”

The thirty-two heavens and the secret titles of their thirty-two Heavenly Emperors are listed above. These titles are hidden taboos of the celestial realm, and they also contain secret sounds within the various heavens, joined together to form verses of natural, numinous subtlety. They symbolize the highest revered deities, spirits dancing in the heavens, great demons flying through the air, and spirit officials who govern the movement of Qi. Their divine power extends in all directions and traverses the six reaches of space, transforming and carrying out the mysteries of the Great Clarity and the Mysterious Height. The vast and profound principles within them are difficult to describe fully. Reciting these titles can summon and bring down numinous beings and perfected ones, universally saving the people of Heaven and all living beings.

Today, living beings are born through resonance, undergo refinement and deliverance, and endure the trials of the various heavens, ultimately perfecting their bodies and jade…

After wearing and practicing the Red Book (a Daoist scripture or talisman text), one’s merits are recorded. The Mysterious Office in the Purple Palace, the celestial agency responsible for examining conduct and achievement, reviews one’s deeds. Those whose names are entered in the Upper Palace have their merits reported by the Eastern Dipper; the Western Dipper grants them seals and talismans; the Northern Dipper presents their name registers; the Southern Dipper transforms them into light; and the Central Dipper oversees the workings of all affairs in the four directions.

The Azure Emperor governs the force of life. The White Emperor recommends those who are to become immortals. The Red Emperor administers the laws, the Black Emperor bestows rewards, and the Yellow Emperor upholds justice and commands authority. The True Lord of the Azure Heaven establishes laws and clarifies the calendar; the True Lord of the Cinnabar Heaven governs the Dragon’s radiance and inspection; the True Lord of the White Heaven subdues evil and rebellion; the True Lord of the Black Heaven spreads mysterious grace; and the True Lord of the Yellow Heaven guards and pacifies the four directions.

The supremely true rulers of the five celestial regions command the sources of the myriad Dao. They move through the Great Void, govern the assembled immortals, and examine charts, registers, and records of names. Dwelling high in the Upper Mystery, they travel through the hidden realms of the eight directions and guard the gates of Heaven. They preside over the Azure River, the Green Sea, the Jade Tower, and the Jasper Mountain, issuing commands, spreading their teachings, and transmitting proclamations to the farthest reaches. The Primordial Emperor is charged with clearing away calamities and evil; the might of Heaven shakes the four directions. The Celestial Elder holds talismans to inspect and dispel ill omens, sweeping away every evil and restoring the proper order of the Heavenly Dao. None who offend or disrupt the constant order of Heaven are spared: they are investigated and sent to the netherworld for judgment. Wind and fire strike together, destroying hosts of demons and malign spirits. Those who study the Dao are delivered and saved, all beings are aided, and demonic obstacles and trials are brought to an end, until all can at last ascend.

The scripture also prays that the dead may be delivered, and that seven generations of ancestors may forever escape the darkness of sinking into the netherworld, no longer lingering in suffering. May they be sent to Zhu Ling for refinement, and may the proclamation be announced to Northern Feng, the northern realm of the dead, so that all spirits come to heed the command and the Three Offices and Nine Courts submit their reports, rank by rank, to the Jade Capital, the celestial city.

The Heavenly-Origin Great Register transforms within the mysterious, empty expanse. Its vital energy coils and flows, rising and descending, sinking and floating: below, it surges through dark and obstructed places; above, it illuminates the Great Nonbeing, the vast formless void. A numinous wind sweeps across the heavens, opening the celestial realm and setting the heavenly charts in motion. Heaven, the human world, and the netherworld stretch wide and deep; mysterious radiance flows without limit, and even the Great Calamity leaves no trace or form. As primordial chaos first opens, primordial Qi becomes the two modes of Yin and Yang, which rise and interact. The myriad things hang suspended within the chaos, sustained and transformed by the natural Dao; they can also bear mountains and summon dragons.

The years stretch on without end as vital energy circulates, at times separating and at times joining, encompassing all the heavens. Yuchang pacifies and stabilizes the five directions, while the Red Writ, a sacred Daoist script, brings forth the myriad things through its wondrous power. From it are established the thirty-nine scriptures, with the Celestial Emperor as their master and the Dao Lord as their honored source. They transform Yin and Yang, govern the myriad spirits, subdue the hosts of demons, and uphold the great method that sustains and turns Heaven and Earth. Their teachings and commands spread through the celestial realms of the eight directions; Jing and Qi flow, and the light of Heaven shines clear. The celestial blossoms are remote and mysterious. The mysterious Qi of the Supreme Sovereign joins with the pivot of the True Dao; flying radiance shines upon the Purple Clarity, and brilliant essence lights up the clouds. Bright clouds scatter through the sky. The Great Perfected dances, unfurling the Jade Writ, while numinous smoke repeatedly refines the Mysterious Capital. All beings return to the right path and assist in spreading the teachings. Heaven, Earth, and humanity—the Three Powers—are complete; all affairs are brought to fulfillment. Merging with the Great Dao, one becomes a perfected being, reaches the supremely numinous realm of truth, and becomes worthy of reverence from the myriad emperors.

I dwell within Yuanluo as a transformed body that I have brought forth. After the countless eons of the Longhan era, I established a boundless realm. The light of the Elixir shines brilliantly, and from it all things are born.

I soar upward through the tribulation realm of Purple Void, amid the towering Xiaotai, the Jade Palaces, and splendid halls. I summon the true spirits to descend and save all beings; I clear away filth and obstruction, opening the hundred channels throughout the body. The wind turns seven times, setting the breath in motion. Thus the immortal Way endures, saving all people.

I open the Eight Gates above, setting in motion the Dharma Wheel that courses through the heavens. I examine and assess deeds, sins and blessings, and karmic ties, saving the ancestors of seven generations and all the dead in the netherworld. I set them free to wander through the utmost realms of the ten directions and ascend to the nine heavens. Above the nine heavens, each realm has its own spreading celestial music. Among it is a verse of mysterious emptiness and spiritual communion, alongside the sacred writings of the assembled sages. Its words join together the Way of the High Perfected, the Daoist term for perfected divine beings.

First: The Sound of Communion Between Heaven and Humanity

The wondrous power of transformation and nurture is vast without limit. It spreads and congeals into true essence, thereby opening the heavens and nurturing the spirits. In the boundless Three Realms dwell countless heavenly beings. Evil thoughts cause people to sink into lower realms; only by mastering the Way of communion can one ascend to lofty purity. Filth and turbidity make people sink, preventing them from accomplishing the work of the Dao. If you do not receive the Dongyuan Chapter, how can you cross the mysterious ford?

Desire arises from the things the heart clings to. The study of the immortal Way brings many hardships and trials, but these burdens will eventually fade away. When karmic retribution is exhausted, the body too will turn to dust. Once awakened, one can roam free forever, enduring through countless eons. A sincere heart can reach the Violet Heavens, and deep contemplation can arrive at Jade Capital. The spirit ascends and merges with the Great Void, joining with the mysterious realm and the netherworld.

Second: The Chapter of the Immortal King’s Descent

Jade Writings fill the azure heavens, and the Immortal King descends upon Mysterious Summit. He takes in and swallows the essence of the sun and moon, soaring straight to the Palace of the Jade Emperor. Free to roam beyond the Three Realms, he suddenly mounts a circling spirit wind.

Within it, the Dao’s young spirit is nurtured and kept safe; it dwells within the Plain of Boyuan. Wearing a golden headcloth and green feathers, it rises in a radiant glow, riding purple clouds. The Immortal King summons his fellow celestial officials, and together they bow to the divine being Di Yi.

Looking down upon the Land of Limitless, the Immortal King sees the mortal world in ceaseless turmoil. The Cinnabar Register gathers in the great demons, while the yellow banner reviews the cloud armies. The secret blue immortal registers shine in their splendor, saving all who cultivate the true Way. Mysterious talismans are bestowed upon the Three Realms, and the ten thousand kinds of primordial Qi return to the immortal Way. The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning gathers all the gods.

When the radiance shines upon the place where I dwell, my ancestors of seven generations can escape the darkness of the long night. The wandering souls can pass through the five barriers, meet with you and me for a long time, leave behind worldly ties, and ascend to the realm of the immortals.

Part Three: The Primordial Sovereign Summons the Numinous and the Perfected

Above the Three Heavens lies the realm of Dongling Qingwei, where mysterious visions rise in solemn grandeur. Within spirit palaces that have endured countless kalpas, the Supreme Deity sets in motion the fundamental workings of creation and transformation, governs the myriad beings, and gathers the ten thousand kinds of primordial Qi into one. There, in the vast and towering Great Brahma realm, the High Spirit of Great Simplicity shines with clear, vivid cinnabar radiance. The Yin and Yang of Heaven and Earth open wide and become clear; the assembled gods receive the commands and teachings, taking their places among the ranks of the Perfected Immortals.

The gods who fly through the heavens spread and transmit the Dao’s teachings, carrying them throughout the Springs Terrace, the underworld. The Eight Majestic Jade Writs guard the Five Sacred Peaks, keeping them firm and upright through hundreds of millions of kalpas. If people can awaken to the Dao through subtle resonance and spiritual insight, practice the true Dao, and advance their work toward immortality, the myriad sages will naturally descend to them.

Why let worldly desires obscure your resolve to cultivate the Perfected? Why not dwell in the mountains and forests, cultivate the Dao, and nurture your true nature?

These two chapters are the true sounds of flying immortals, transmitted above the Three Realms and amid the open sky. Their tones accord with the Cavern Chapters. Recite them a hundred times, and your resonance and communion will become boundless; recite them a thousand times, and you will summon the numinous and the Perfected to descend; recite them ten thousand times, and your Dao-work will be complete. The Dark Sages will then come to help you transcend the Three Realms and ascend to the rank of an Immortal Minister.

When the numinous sounds are heard, the demons are awed by their power. The earth spirits receive commands to protect the way, escorting those who depart and welcoming those who arrive. The souls of the dead can be drawn out through the gates of hell and freed from the Five Sufferings and Eight Calamities; their ancestors of seven generations can also rise, forever escaping the control of the ghost officials. Their souls cross Zhu Ling, the place where Daoists say souls are refined, undergo refinement and deliverance, and are reborn. This is called boundless universal deliverance and the saving of the infinite. The text of this scripture is a secret treasure of Heaven.

The heavens all revere this text. Whoever reveals it or treats it lightly will fall into hell, bringing disaster upon their ancestors of seven generations.

The Dao says: The two chapters above are secret words preserved by the Celestial Emperors and the Perfected Immortal Kings. They belong to the Great Brahma language, not to the ordinary speech of the human world. They have neither the rhythms of worldly writings nor the ornate, intricate style of literary prose; therefore, they are called mysterious and profound, beyond exhaustive investigation. Heaven treasures this text and keeps it hidden in the Eastern Florescence Treasure Repository of the Jade Purity King’s Palace in Divine Empyrean. In accordance with the Mysterious Regulations—the Daoist rules for secret transmission and initiation—it is passed down at the appointed time. A perfected person who cultivates the Dao may offer gold and jade as tokens and sincerity as proof, and, following the established procedure, swear an oath before the Jade Purity covenant. Only then may the text be transmitted.

The Wondrous Scripture of Highest Rank on the Limitless Salvation of Humanity through the Numinous Treasure teaches that when true Qi—the Daoist vital energy of the numinous—descends, calamities subside; when spirits are summoned, misfortunes can be dispelled. The mysterious power can be invoked to bring peace to the state and harmony to the family.

When a cycle of tribulation reaches its final decline, the sun, moon, and stars lose their proper courses, and spirits and humans alike fall into distress, all should join together in purification, including those who have made little progress in cultivation, those who are ill, and fellow cultivators who share the same aspirations. They should burn incense and recite the scripture six times a day. After reciting it ten times in succession, the exalted sages will descend and dispel every ill omen. This limitless wondrous text can save all beings without exception.

The scripture says that for those who have made little progress in cultivation, or whose rank in the immortal Way is not yet complete, the body may pass through the realm of Taiyin (the underworld) when their allotted lifespan comes to an end. As they approach death, a fellow initiate who has attained the Way may burn incense, recite the scripture ten times, and summon the youths of the Five Spirits to refine and deliver the body using the essence of its first breath. In accordance with the prescribed rites, the soul can ascend directly to the Southern Palace. Its date is then determined according to its merits in cultivation, enabling it to be reborn and enter the cycle of reincarnation without losing its way, and ultimately to attain immortality.

The scripture further says that when the cosmic cycles of Heaven and Earth are nearing their end, the stars fall out of order, the sun and moon lose their light, Yin and Yang become unbalanced, and omens of disaster appear across the realm—with people dying and teachers and friends passing away—all should purify themselves, burn incense, and recite the scripture. The Eight Heavenly Lords, who oversee the affairs of the eight celestial directions, will each dispatch flying immortals to subdue and destroy the baleful forces that bring disaster. The state will be at peace and its people safe, while those who have already passed away will also ascend.

The merit of purification and scripture recitation is immense: it can dispel disasters in Heaven and protect the emperor above, and drive out poisons and save the people below. Each person communicates with the numinous according to their own deeds. This is why it is called “the limitless, universal salvation of Heaven and humanity.”

Anyone who possesses this scripture and is willing to perform this meritorious practice for Heaven and Earth, the emperor, and the people will have their name recorded by the numinous when they resolve to purify themselves, burn incense, and recite the scripture ten times. The myriad holy beings will also come to protect them. Those among fellow cultivators who have attained the Way may become officials in the Jade Palaces of the Emperors. The offices of Heaven record everyone’s merits and faults without the slightest error, while the ministers and nobles of the Divine Empyrean recommend those who cultivate the Way. Only those who have truly attained the Way can fully understand these supreme teachings.

The Great Brahma’s Hidden Words among the Heavens, Sounds of the Limitless — composed by the Lord of the Way

Middle Section: The Primordial Beginning Descends in True Form and Summons the Spirits

The Eight Heavens of the East

What follows are the “Great Brahma’s Hidden Words” of the Eight Heavens of the East—sacred sounds used in Daoist scriptures to summon spirits and communicate with the divine. The original presents them as syllables, which are generally not translated as ordinary words:

Zhenlin Doulu, Diaojiao Lixu, Diming Suke, Jingzhao Huayu, Bingchun Ciwen, Lüqing Zimo, Mieshu Zhipu, Zhenghe Minju, Changji Chulin, Duiyi Yuanfu, Zhaogou Shibi, Zhenlu Zhangxu, Jiahuazuozhou, Zhuanchen Yanshi, Yaotai Yiwang.

Purple Heaven Divisions

The Eight Heavens of the South

The Dao is concealed within crimson radiance. The true source is analyzed and Yang Qi is spread abroad; the foundations have already penetrated deeply and become clear and gentle.

A bell ornament like glass lies hidden, while the traces that appear are unreal. In the clouds, tranquil writings are borne aloft.

The occasion for sacrifice has been obtained, yet it is like seizing primordial vitality in a dream. Spiritual energy pours in, and the luan bird is at peace.

Within ten days, an envoy governs the storehouse. There is no need to remain idle to attain deliverance. Great harmony is brought to order, and courage shines brightly.

Scarlet splendor illuminates the Heavenly Emperor, and a vast, pure realm opens before us. Looking up to wisdom, one has no doubts, and all principles return together to permanence.

The Eight Heavens of the West

A command like precious jade is suddenly handed down, while a deep waterside bars decline. Relinquish the role of aide in the secluded chamber; once affairs are settled, one may return.

Praise the mystery without exhausting it; by means of secret methods, guide and turn things around. Suddenly sing of the karmic ties of Kunlun; even the ruins of Zhu become steps toward goodness.

Noble and splendid, one gathers in one’s acuity. With hands joined, one welcomes the revered master, and the Gate of Tuoluo opens. The path of light is clear and visible; one patrols the mountains and guards the high terrace.

The supreme guardian proceeds in due order, clad in splendid robes of blue-green. The perfected person in the mountains meets Yilang; the flower of the Dao surpasses the ordinary.

The Eight Heavens of the North

The Juehou, a legendary divine beast or general, investigates treachery, commands troops, and keeps the primordial ring. The Lu clan rises; gazing toward streams and valleys, it counts demonic affairs and records them for surveillance.

Radiant literary splendor commands Yin-Yang, while liquid Qi flows from the mountain’s edge. The fire that sees through secrets transforms into a cloud wheel of chaos.

They meet at the Valley of Yi, arrayed like pieces on a board across the vault of heaven. Darkness and harmonious Qi respond to the heart’s feelings, and the Purple Perfected descends in radiance.

Principles extend across a distant, desolate shore, while darkness spreads along the far-reaching borders. The star patterns cast themselves into the hollows, crossing one another; in an instant, they shift lightly away.

The Dao says: In these heavenly realms, secret words of the Great Brahma—the pure realm that is the source of the cosmos—are passed down. They are sounds without measure, once carved into ancient writing.

This scripture is written in the Jade Terrace Hall of Qingcheng Palace. It governs the summoning and descent of the exalted perfected beings of Heaven and Earth, together with the mysterious spirits of the hidden and manifest realms. It aids the Great Dao that brings forth and nurtures all things, and proclaims the immortal teachings of the Three Realms. Each character in the scripture is a zhang in height.

The Heavenly Perfected Sovereign (Tianzhen Huangren), an immortal in Daoist lore, once wrote this scripture as a model of correct pronunciation. If someone understands its sounds and meanings, observes purification, and recites it, the heavens will command the King of Immortals who transforms through primordial Qi to descend and observe that person, record their deeds and spiritual merits, and report them to the heavens. The myriad spirits will come to pay homage, the earth deities will stand at the door, and the Great Merit Demon King will recommend the person, enabling them to ascend. When their cultivation of the Dao is complete, they will be able to travel through the Three Realms and enter the Golden Gate.

These sounds can ward off evil, avert calamity, deliver and transform beings, and bring attainment wherever they reach. They are the natural sounds of the Heavenly Perfected. Reciting this scripture can therefore enable a person to ascend. The heavenly spirits descend to behold them, the Supreme Lord answers from afar with song, the myriad spirits come to pay homage, and the divine beings of the Three Realms attend their carriage. Demons bow their heads, and ghosts and monsters vanish of their own accord. As the sonorous recitation rises, the ten directions fall into solemn purity; rivers and seas grow still and silent, mists disperse among the mountains, all spirits tremble and submit, and the gathered immortals answer the summons. No foul Qi clouds the heavens, and no demonic dust or impurity mars the earth. Deep wisdom opens into clarity, vast and mysterious, without limit.

This is the talismanic decree through which the exalted King of Immortals bestows the true scripture.