《靈寶無量度人上品妙經》Vol. 24

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning said: In the past, while in Haoging Xiaoxu—the clear, empty expanse of the heavens within the Tai Su Heaven—I descended through the void to shine upon the earth, receiving and proclaiming the Scripture of Primordial Beginning: Supreme and Boundless Scripture on Deliverance through Spirit, Transformation, and Qi.

Each time the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning proclaimed this scripture, he summoned the heavenly realms in the ten directions. At first, countless gods—including the Great Divine Beings of Heavenly Truth, the Supreme Sages and Exalted Worthies, and the Perfected Beings of Wondrous Practice—rode clouds of Qi to the ritual seat. They arrived from above in phoenix carriages and jade-wheeled chariots adorned with emerald clouds, with green canopies and colorful awnings. Their light shimmered as they descended from the heights. The radiance of the eight directions shone together, illuminating the vast expanse of space. This scene continued for three days and three nights. The jade registers of the heavens emitted precious light, illuminating the palaces of Xuandu and the towers and terraces of Yuangang. Their halls and buildings stood clearly visible; the towering Jie-ren, the great celestial mountains, and the revolving wheels of heaven gleamed brilliantly, casting their light across the entire land.

The mountains, rivers, and forests throughout the land became level and even, with no difference in height. All the earth turned to auspicious jade, with no place showing a different color. The Perfected Beings stood in attendance beside the ritual seat.

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning sat upright in the air above the Precious Palace of Spirit Transformation and the Myriad Qi, and began to expound the scripture.

When the first recitation ended, the Great Sages of the heavens praised him together. At that time, the men and women of the land understood that every kind of transformation arises from spirit and Qi. The celestial city, purple palace, jade-green pavilions, yellow halls, and the myriad sages and thousand Perfected Beings were all manifested bodies of spirit and the true realm formed through the transformation of Qi.

When the second recitation ended, a golden dragon breathed out clouds of Qi, and a thousand pillars appeared on the precious terrace. When the third ended, rosy light between the palaces scattered into strands and gathered in the air to form writing. When the fourth ended, a mighty sound gently shook the heavens, and sweet dew fell everywhere, nourishing and harmonizing all things. When the fifth ended, precious lotuses sprang from the earth, their ten thousand leaves gathered in radiant light. When the sixth ended, the Golden Palaces of Yujing sent forth divine light, illuminating the void. When the seventh ended, the myriad gods merged into one, able to appear in visible form or return to the formless. When the eighth ended, the transformations of spirit and Qi became so subtle that even the finest hair was connected with the whole. When the ninth ended, the hells dissolved, and the souls of the dead were able to be born again. When the tenth ended, the power of spirit’s transformations and Qi’s transformations reached into the deepest darkness.

At that time, all the men and women of the land wholeheartedly believed and received the teaching. They were all protected and delivered, and attained long life.

The scripture also says: At that time, after the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning had completed the first recitation, the Great Divine Being of the Limitless and Boundless Grade of Primordial Yang in the East …

The immeasurable Flame Radiance Great Deity of the south led countless beings through the air to hear the scripture for the second time. The immeasurable Lesser Yin Great Deity of the west led countless beings through the air to hear it for the third time. The immeasurable Great One Great Deity of the north led countless beings through the air to hear it for the fourth time.

The immeasurable Guardian and Stabilizer Great Deity of the northeast led countless beings through the air to hear the scripture for the fifth time; the immeasurable Life-Connecting Great Deity of the southeast led countless beings through the air to hear it for the sixth time; the immeasurable Deep and Abundant Great Deity of the southwest led countless beings through the air to hear it for the seventh time; the immeasurable Gate-Setting in Motion Great Deity of the northwest led countless beings through the air to hear it for the eighth time; the immeasurable Transformation-Ruling Great Deity above led countless beings through the air to hear it for the ninth time; and the immeasurable Transformation-Maintaining Great Deity below led countless beings through the air to hear it for the tenth time.

When the scripture had been recited ten times, the Great Deities from the ten directions, endowed with inexhaustible powers of transformation, all arrived together. The men and women throughout the land gazed up in reverent devotion. Even those who had not yet heard the scriptural teachings each came to understand the Three Realms and the ten directions.

The exalted perfected beings in the heavens—high-ranking immortals who had attained the Dao—as well as the palaces and towers in the sky, were all formed through wondrous transformation and the transmutation of Qi. Now, with their own eyes, they saw the Celestial Worthy, the True King, proclaim the truth and expound the Great Dao. His sacred countenance shone brilliantly, its radiance reaching throughout the heavens and the infinite worlds. In every land, the Celestial Worthy, the True King, proclaimed and spread the Great Teaching. From this, one can know that wondrous transformation is inexhaustible and the transmutation of Qi has no bounds.

Our present bodies and forms, our senses and the external world, and all actions, sounds, and images are likewise formed through wondrous transformation and the transmutation of Qi.

The countless beings who had come to hear the scripture were beyond counting. Their weight caused half the land to sink, and they could not be stopped. So the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning revealed the way of transformation through divine Qi. He rose from his wondrous seat, leapt into the empty sky, and ascended to a height level with Jie-ren—the towering heights that reach into the clouds. Standing upon flying clouds and drifting light, he was a thousand zhang above the ground. The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning received and welcomed the Heavenly Perfected Great Deities, the High Sages and Exalted Ones, the Perfected Ones of Wondrous Practice, and the immeasurable Great Deities from the ten directions, endowed with powers of transformation, along with countless beings…

Everyone enters together into the Floating Radiance—the scene of clouds drifting and soaring. The celestial beings look up and watch as they slowly enter from the empty expanse. Once inside, they vanish from sight. The land at once returns to level ground, no longer tilted or collapsing. The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning finishes preaching the scripture above the flying clouds and floating radiance. The assembled perfected immortals oversee and bear witness to the act of delivering beings, then transmit the scripture to me.

At this, everyone’s joy is beyond words. When the ritual is mostly complete, the heavens each return to their proper place. In an instant, all falls silent, without a sound. The celestial beings are fortunate to encounter this scripture and its teaching: they are delivered as one, their allotted lifespans preserved and kept from harm. The people throughout the land turn toward and revere the Great Dao, and the fixations in their hearts are all dispelled.

The wonders of the Great Dao are profound, far-reaching, and true; its transformations are boundless, its workings divine and numinous. When the human heart understands the Great Dao, it can unite with it and attain a state of emptiness, stillness, and clarity. People show one another compassion and may become family even without ties of blood. The state is at peace, the people are prosperous, everyone is joyful, and all under Heaven is at peace.

When this scripture was first transmitted to teach and transform a kingdom, all who had already sincerely turned toward the Dao and honored and revered it were able to be delivered and freed from worldly suffering.

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning said: “What this scripture speaks of consists entirely of the inner names and hidden tones of the wondrous transformations and Qi transformations of the lords and gods of the heavens. It also includes the inner names of the various True Kings and the secret names they use when transforming the myriad numinous beings. These are not ordinary words of the world. Only the High Sages, having cultivated themselves into perfected beings and brought their spirit and Qi into communion with the Mysterious, can fully understand them.

“Recite the scripture ten times, and the heavens will respond from afar, their spirit and Qi joining in harmony. In the blink of an eye, rivers, seas, and mountains may vanish or appear; the sun, moon, and stars may circle through their courses, now hidden, now manifest. These are the workings of divine transformation. When the myriad sages descend together, the hosts of demons are bound, and the baleful Qi of ghosts and monsters disperses. Through the movement of Qi, the dead can be brought back to life and bare bones made into human beings.

“Those who aspire to cultivate the Dao and recite the scripture ten times can bring forth the Five Emperors’ powers of divine transformation and Qi transformation, deprive the demons of the Three Realms of their strength, and destroy ghosts and evil spirits. They can also rescue those at the point of death whose breath has ceased, restoring them to life. The reason this is possible is that the foul Qi of those cultivating the Dao has not yet been cleared away, and their body and mind have not yet fully reached the true realm. Their power to summon and command the ten directions is not yet sufficient to govern the affairs of Heaven. But their De can subdue and command the earth deities and bind demonic spirits. Thus, they can only hold death at bay; they cannot yet bring the dead back to life.

“Reciting this scripture carelessly will bring calamity upon oneself. If you make offerings to it and honor it, your household will prosper and flourish from generation to generation, in accord with good fortune. No calamity will be able to assail you, and the gods will guard your doorways.

“This scripture is exalted and subtle, unique in the Jade Capital, and able to deliver beings far and wide. It is the root of the myriad ways. Its majesty and vastness are beyond measure, and its merit and virtue are beyond counting.”

The Dao says: When this scripture is recited ten times in succession, the spirits of the heavens will all descend together. Their divine energy will resonate and unite, and transformation will arise naturally. If the mind stirs and deliberately creates all manner of illusory phantoms, divine energy will be thrown into confusion and turned away from the Great Dao, making true generation and transformation impossible.

The disembodied souls of countless ancestors and the suffering spirits of the dead can all be delivered at once and ascend to the Vermilion Palace, a celestial palace in Daoist teaching. After nine years of instruction there, they will be reborn as noble people and delight in learning the Dao. When the merit of cultivating this scripture is complete, its wondrous transformations and Virtue are fulfilled, and their divine energy is transformed in turn, they can all become immortals, ascend to the Golden Towers in heaven, and feast and roam in Jade Capital, the celestial capital in Daoist teaching.

Those of the highest capacity who seek the Dao can cultivate and recite this scripture, refining their divine energy until they are delivered and ascend to the Southern Palace, a celestial palace. When people in the world recite this scripture, the spirits will not leave them, and true Qi will circulate within their bodies, extending their years and prolonging their lives. In the end, they can all attain the Dao of “corpse liberation.” Corpse liberation is a Daoist means of attaining the Dao: the soul and spirit temporarily leave the body without passing through hell, then the body is restored, allowing one to roam freely through the vast heavens.

This scripture is subtle and profound, and can deliver all beings without limit. All beings in heaven and on earth can thereby receive immeasurable blessings; the living and the dead alike benefit from it. Heaven treasures this scripture, and it must not be passed on casually to people in the world. Those who truly possess the Dao must show their sincerity with gold and jewels, and swear an oath to heaven before they may transmit it. If they carelessly reveal it or treat the scripture with disrespect, calamity will befall nine generations of their ancestors, who will serve for a long time under the command of ghost officials. The five imperial jade youths and jade maidens who attend this scripture number twenty-four each. They guard the text and protect those who receive it.

The Dao says: If one observes a fast and recites this scripture during the first lunar month, wondrous transformation will begin to unfold. Qi will transform the myriad things, making the inner landscape flourish and shine. Clouds of jade-colored Qi will gather into a city, able to deliver the spirits of the dead from former generations, free them from bondage in the underworld, and raise them to the Southern Palace.

If one observes a fast and recites this scripture during the seventh lunar month, wondrous transformation will reveal the substance of the Great Dao, and the inner landscape will become clear and pure. The divine infant, the inner spirit spoken of in cultivation, will return to its proper place, and the practitioner will become an immortal. The heavens will enter the practitioner’s name in the Yellow Register and White Documents, celestial records of the names of immortals, and remove it from the register of the dead, bringing the practitioner from death into life.

If one observes a fast and recites this scripture during the tenth lunar month, wondrous transformation will be hidden and subtle, Qi will transform in peace, and the inner landscape will accord with the realms of immortals, where one may feast and roam amid jade radiance. This practice can also bring stability to kings and emperors, securing the nation and prolonging its existence. Rulers will continue through the generations, receiving Heaven’s mandate and bringing peace to their lands, while the people praise the age of peace.

If one recites this scripture on the Eight Festivals, important observances in Daoism, wondrous transformation will follow the constant Way, and Qi will transform in accordance with the scripture, bringing harmony and ease to the inner landscape. The practitioner may become a Perfected One of the Nine Palaces. If one recites it on one’s birth day, wondrous transformation will turn the Qi of the Nine Palaces into the Nine Perfected Ones, who will naturally unite with one another and form an alliance with the Celestial Emperor. At that time, the soul and spirit will be clear and upright, the myriad forms of Qi will endure forever, and suffering will cease. The body will shine with light; spirits of the Three Realms will guard it, the Five Emperors will come to welcome it, and the myriad spirits will pay homage. The practitioner’s name will be entered in heaven’s registers. When merit is complete and Virtue fulfilled, the practitioner will ascend to Shangqing, a high celestial realm in Daoist teaching.

The Daoist scripture says: on the days of practice, one should bathe in fragrant water, observe a fast to purify the heart, and then enter the meditation chamber. Facing east, one clicks the teeth thirty-two times in order to reach the thirty-two heavens of the upper realm, and in one's heart bows in worship thirty-two times. Then, with eyes closed, one visualizes oneself seated upright amid clouds of blue, purple, and white qi (vital energy), dense and profound both within and without. The Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise (the divine beasts of the four directions), together with lions and white cranes, are arrayed to the left and right. The radiance of the sun and moon shines down, and the whole chamber is brightly illuminated. A circular halo of light arises behind the neck, its rays shining through the ten directions.

Next, one imagines that in the vastness of space the divine qi of Dongzhen (the Perfected Cavern, the revered deity of the Shangqing school) transforms into a cloud of purple light and drifts slowly down, covering the crown of the head of the Zhao (the practitioner's term for themselves), until the cloud fills the entire chamber. Within the cloud, myriad deities are solemnly arrayed, gazing as though they were the pupils of one's own eyes, facing the practitioner.

Then one visualizes white smoke being exhaled from one's nine orifices (the nine openings of the human body). The smoky cloud spirals to the right and wraps around the whole body. In a state of trance and primordial chaos, the purple clouds and white smoke spread across heaven and earth. After a long while, one senses a palace of green jade within the liver, and in the palace a divine being clothed in a robe of the Azure Dragon and splendid feathers. From its mouth it breathes out wind, which drives these clouds to circle to the left, about nine times nine, or eighty-one, turns. At this point one sees the myriad deities visualized in space merge into one with the hundred deities within the body. Their form is like that of an infant, dressed in embroidered silk, seated facing the practitioner and listening quietly as the practitioner recites the scripture. When the recitation is finished, this form returns into the practitioner's mouth and ascends to the Niwan (the center of the head, where the upper Dantian is located). By day it faces outward, and by night it faces inward. This is the way of the transformation of spirit and the metamorphosis of qi, and this, in broad outline, is how clearly it proceeds.

Then one recites the secret incantation:

"Supreme Mysterious Origin, Most High Lord of the Dao, I beseech you to summon forth from within my body the Three and Five Officers of Merit (the divine clerks of merit), the officials and envoys of the left and right, the Jade Youths who attend the incense, the Jade Maidens who transmit words, the Five Emperors' Duty Talismans, and the Incense Officials of the day, thirty-six of each, to present a memorial on my behalf: on this auspicious and joyous day, in this pure fasting hall, I have long kept the fast and practiced cultivation, and I recite the supreme scripture, the Limitless Salvation of Humanity (Wuliang Duren). May the words I have submitted ascend to the celestial court and be delivered directly to the desk of the Primordial Sovereign of the Thirty-Two Heavens (Yuanshi Tianzun), the most venerable. The incantation ends."

Finally, one draws in qi and swallows it thirty-two times, and, facing east, recites the Yuanshi Wuliang Duren Shangpin Miaojing (the Wondrous Scripture of the Upper Chapter on Limitless Salvation of the Primordial Beginning).

This chapter of the Lingbao Scripture of Dongxuan, revered by the Daoist high god Yuanshi, describes the transformations of spirit and the generation of life from Qi, as well as the mysteries of returning to the primordial unity at the highest level and saving all beings. A hundred kinds of demonic hindrance lie concealed within profound patterns of resonance. These principles separate and combine, changing in accord with nature.

The Way of nature penetrates the void and is originally formless; spirit and Qi alone are the true foundations. Spirit is not something vague and unfathomable, nor is Qi merely a diffuse, mistlike vapor. The wondrous principle of the Dao takes emptiness as its root: emptiness transforms into spirit, and the great void transforms into Qi. Spirit gives rise to the myriad spirits, and Qi gives rise to the myriad forms of Qi; the myriad spirits return to the One, and the myriad forms of Qi unite as one. Amid the transformations of all things, spirit is the activating pivot of the Dao, and Qi is the key to its operation. As the pivot activates and the key turns, transformations spread throughout the Three Realms: the Realm of Desire, the Realm of Form, and the Formless Realm.

Thus the Primordial Ancestor God manifests and transforms to bring forth the myriad perfected beings. Primordial Ancestral Qi generates the heavens, opening and illuminating the Three Luminaries—the sun, moon, stars, and other lights of the Daoist heavens. These are the foundations of heaven and earth. Above them there is no further source: only the Dao as their underlying reality.

Spirit transforms into red script, and Qi gives rise to jade writing. From these emerge the five kinds of script, which make a home for the spirits far and wide. Without this writing, there would be no light or manifestation, nothing could be established or brought to completion, and there could be no salvation or nurture. This is the highest heaven within the Great Brahma Heaven.

Transformation gives rise to immortal realms such as Yuluo Xiaotai and the Upper Capital on Jade Mountain, as well as the supreme Great Luo Heaven and the Jade Clarity realm. They are subtle and difficult to fathom, persisting through countless kalpas—vast spans of time—and seeming both to exist and not to exist. The Three Blossoms, the essences of Daoist cultivation such as Jing, Qi, and Shen, separate and combine in transformation, forming the vast and profound Wondrous Court, Golden Towers, and Jade Chambers. Their palaces stand in solemn array, pure and far-reaching; within the Divine Empyrean, primordial Brahma Qi flows throughout the ten directions.

In the ten directions dwell divine beings who govern the transformations of spirit and the generation of Qi. Among them are the Great Emperor of Longevity of the South Pole; the Great Divine Lord Sima, who saves the world; the Elder Lord Han, who cherishes life; and the revered gods of the South, who govern Fate, Records, the Prolonging of Life, the Augmenting of Years, and Deliverance from Calamity. They are charged with reviving withered bones and restoring the dead to life, carrying out immeasurable acts of salvation. Today, as the scriptures are collated and recorded, the spirits of all the heavens have come to attend before the hall.

In the east, the Limitless King of the Flying Heavens, Transcendent Mystery, and the Great Sage of Longevity preside over immeasurable salvation.

In the south, the Limitless King of the Flying Heavens, Ascending Flame, and the Great Sage of Longevity preside over immeasurable salvation.

In the west, the Limitless King of the Flying Heavens, Changing Radiance, and the Great Sage of Longevity preside over immeasurable salvation.

In the north, the Limitless King of the Flying Heavens, Generating Spirit, and the Great Sage of Longevity preside over immeasurable salvation.

In the northeast, the Limitless King of the Flying Heavens, Governing Transformation, and the Great Sage of Longevity preside over immeasurable salvation.

In the southeast, the Limitless King of the Flying Heavens, Master of Transformation, and the Great Sage of Longevity preside over immeasurable salvation.

In the southwest, the Limitless King of the Flying Heavens, Shifting Qi, and the Great Sage of Longevity preside over immeasurable salvation.

In the northwest, the Limitless King of the Flying Heavens, Changing Substance, and the Great Sage of Longevity preside over immeasurable salvation.

In the upper realm are the Wuji Feitian Zhiyou Divine Kings and the Great Sages of Long Life, who deliver beings without measure. In the lower realm are the Wuji Feitian Miaowu Divine Kings and the Great Sages of Long Life, who likewise deliver beings without measure.

The Perfected Flying Divine Kings of the ten directions, together with the boundless great deities who grant long life and deliver the world, ride in chariots adorned with jade rainbows and ten thousand treasures. Among them is the "Chariot of Wandering Mystery," strung with green jewels and bearing a thousand perfected beings. Canopies sway above the chariots and feathered banners whirl. The chariots are drawn by cinnabar phoenixes and nine-colored true dragons, and the riders hold tallies that summon spirits and gather qi (氣, vital energy) and that work endless transformations. The Three Primes (the Three Officials of the Upper, Middle, and Lower Primes) turn back the decrees of Heaven to protect the spiritual nature of all beings. Spirit banners lead the way while the divine host chants the Cavern Texts, and behind them a band plays its musical suites in perfect unison. Lions and white cranes sing out, their voices harmonious and far-carrying. The Five Elders (the deities of the five directions) clear the road ahead, and the host of immortals guard the chariot shafts on either side. Hundreds of millions of carriages and horses descend through the sky, pouring forth radiance and shifting their course as they come to deliver beings.

In attendance are the Chancellors of the Heavens, the Master Registrar Han of the Upper Palace of Nanchang, the Great Spirit of Supervising Births, the Celestial Director of Divine Transformation, the Four Zhangs of Luminous Command, and other spirit-beings formed of transformed qi. Each holds their post, bearing weapons and keeping the registers and Fulu (符箓, talismans and registers), and all gather before the Heavenly Emperor, as hundreds of billions of spirits and qi transform spontaneously. The offices of government are set on the left, and the officials of punishment stand beside them. According to those who are to be delivered, they strictly examine the heavens and proclaim their findings throughout the Three Realms.

As for the Wuji Land of Spirits, the Mansion of the Springs (the underworld), Luofeng of the Northern Capital (Fengdu, where ghosts and spirits dwell), the Three Officials and Nine Mansions, and the Twelve River Sources, the scripture declares the following. On behalf of seven generations of ancestors and kin across successive lives, illnesses are lifted, the registers of sin are erased, and the roots of evil are destroyed. They may no longer be detained, nor forced or gathered into the ranks of ghosts. By the talismanic decree of the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning, they ascend to the Mysterious Capital at the appointed hour. The guards of the Cold Pool of the Northern Capital protect their forms and souls, subdue demonic obstacles, and recommend them for their rank of deliverance. In the Southern Palace, the departed souls undergo refinement and deliverance, are transformed into immortals, and are perfected as divine persons. The transformations of shen (神, spirit) and qi are inexhaustible and have no end. The transformations of the Wuji Land of Spirits arise from the union of spirit and qi with emptiness, which accommodates everything. The ten directions all become one spirit, merged into unity, and all become one qi, flowing everywhere and transforming to produce bodily form. Those who receive such a body and are delivered endure through the kalpas, turn with the cycle of kalpas, and live as long as Heaven. They are free of the Three Paths (hell, hungry ghosts, and animals), the Five Sufferings, and the Eight Calamities, and they transcend the Three Realms to roam in carefree ease.

The Heavenly Emperor of the Shangqing Heaven dwells in the realm of the Cavern Wheel and formlessness, where he practices pure conduct.

The Eight Heavens of the east include, in order: the Shenbian Jiuzhen Heaven, whose Heavenly Emperor is named "Fanling Xuquan"; the Jiaoying Zhensheng Heaven, whose Heavenly Emperor is named "Jinglan Louxu"; the Quzhen Qiyuan Heaven, whose Heavenly Emperor is named "Hunqi Yinglong"; and the Lichen Canghua Heaven, whose Heavenly Emperor is named "Mingyaomang." These are the names of the heavens of the east and their Heavenly Emperors.

The Heavens of the East:

Heaven of Moving Affinity and Benevolence, whose Heavenly Emperor is named Gelong Jingying.

Heaven of Yuepan and Recording Spirits, whose Heavenly Emperor is named Shulan Qi.

Heaven of Emerald Palaces and Precious Radiance, whose Heavenly Emperor is named Feiying Yujia.

Heaven of Verdant Essence and Elegant Harmony, whose Heavenly Emperor is named Li Ru Migong.

The Eight Heavens of the South:

Heaven of Fragrant Subtlety and Blazing Radiance, whose Heavenly Emperor is named Seyun Tong.

Heaven of Sunlight and Blended Emptiness, whose Heavenly Emperor is named Baozhu Fuyuan.

Heaven of Southern Jade and Transformed Palaces, whose Heavenly Emperor is named Buyu Qingyan.

Heaven of Shining Radiance and Cinnabar Spirits, whose Heavenly Emperor is named Zu Jian Zunyou.

Heaven of Vermilion Brightness and Radiant Peace, whose Heavenly Emperor is named Boju Chongji.

Heaven of Peaceful Transformation and Spirit of Blessings, whose Heavenly Emperor is named Yaohua Fengling.

Heaven of Dragon Transformation and Auspicious Origins, whose Heavenly Emperor is named Kuodu Liang.

Heaven of Red Qi and Settled Beginnings, whose Heavenly Emperor is named Pingpi Chang.

The Eight Heavens of the West:

Heaven of the Cloud’s Utmost and Pure Spirits, whose Heavenly Emperor is named Zhengbao Xianming.

Heaven of Upright Transformation and Observant Practice, whose Heavenly Emperor is named Shibao Jichang.

Heaven of the Emperor’s Stillness and Harmonious Wellbeing, whose Heavenly Emperor is named Zishu Yuguang.

Heaven of Zhuluo and the Dao’s Investiture, whose Heavenly Emperor is named Chongsheng Zhenxu.

Heaven of Bright Clarity and the Tiger’s Treasure, whose Heavenly Emperor is named Xiangri Huijing.

Heaven of Thoughtful Measure and Untroubled Transcendence, whose Heavenly Emperor is named Zhuguo You.

Heaven of Great Jade and Preserved Being, whose Heavenly Emperor is named Daojian Chongsheng.

Heaven of Responding Feathers and Vast Renown, whose Heavenly Emperor is named Jina Lun.

The Eight Heavens of the North:

Heaven of Purple Measure and Still Clarity, whose Heavenly Emperor is named Chenbo Cigong.

Heaven of Summoning Souls and Dispelling Evil, whose Heavenly Emperor is named Weifang Jihou.

Heaven of Upright Discernment, High Mystery, Ritual, and Truth, whose Heavenly Emperor is named Daoji Lukai.

Heaven of Mysterious Talismans and Vacant Jurisdiction, whose Heavenly Emperor is named Miguan Fuling.

Heaven of Virtuous Fragrance, Rounded Radiance, Dew, and Spirits, whose Heavenly Emperor is named Chaoxuan Jihun.

Heaven of Sunlit Bells and Murky Blending, whose Heavenly Emperor is named Zengwei Zidu.

Heaven of Governed Transformation and Ordered Peace, whose Heavenly Emperor is named Jihao Sujue.

This passage lists the names of the heavenly realms in the four directions and the titles of the Heavenly Emperors assigned to each. “Heaven” refers to a celestial realm in the Daoist cosmology, while “Emperor” denotes the sacred rank that presides over that realm. The names and titles in the scripture are mostly proper names, used chiefly to identify each heaven and its deity. The original labels the northern section “The Eight Heavens of the North,” but lists only seven entries here.

In the Nine Chang Heavens, wisdom is dark and profound, penetrating the empty and still; the Emperor’s original light is faint and precedes all things.

Each of the thirty-two heavens has an Emperor and a secret name. Among the heavens, emptiness and stillness arise naturally, containing wondrous, numinous writings. There are also the hidden tones of the celestial realm, its exalted deities and spirits, great demons, and uncanny powers. Their divine spirits and Qi harmonize and transform one another, revealing the immeasurable mysteries of Shangqing. These principles are too profound to explain in full, yet they enable the divine immortals to appear throughout the world and save beings everywhere in heaven and on earth.

Today, all celebrate their deliverance as they pass through the barriers and wondrous transformations of the heavens. The assembled perfected deities pray that the three evil breaths be dispelled and the myriad spirits brought to life; that the fundamental bonds of the dusty world be severed, allowing all beings to ascend and pass through the Five Gates—the Daoist barriers of the underworld.

The names of all beings are entered in the registers of the Great Profound True King, who oversees and recommends them so they will not be barred at Heaven’s Gate. The Eastern Dipper governs the workings of Heaven’s mechanism; the Western Dipper governs the transformation of Qi; the Northern Dipper holds the mysterious pivot; the Southern Dipper governs the generation of spirits; and the Central Dipper unites all affairs, directing the wondrous transformations of all spirits. Below them, the Five Emperors govern heaven and earth: the Azure Emperor puts benevolence into practice, the White Emperor upholds righteousness, the Red Emperor governs ritual propriety, the Black Emperor bestows the wisdom that gives life, and the Yellow Emperor presides over trustworthiness. None of the gods may exceed their appointed roles.

The Azure Demon King seizes and settles the souls; the Red Demon King guards the original spirit and establishes wisdom; the White Demon King steadies the corporeal soul and sweeps away defilement; the Black Demon King subdues wicked Qi and restores what is right; and the Yellow Demon King commands all Qi. The gods and true demons of the five directions are lords of the myriad spirits. Riding upon Qi, they lead divine troops, bearing banners and tally tokens as they patrol the great emptiness and display their awe-inspiring power. Together with the heavens, they accomplish their work.

The heavenly rite of delivering people is solemn and majestic. By command, the Northern Feng God-King, who governs the ghosts and spirits of the underworld, sweeps away inauspicious forces everywhere and gathers in spirits and breaths, transforming them so they may ascend. Golden essence releases poisonous breath, and the Heavenly Horse gallops forth.

The divine generals surnamed Zhang from the four directions lead the troops; smoke spreads through the eight quarters. Should anyone dare to offend or obstruct the High Perfected, the divine troops first strike down the great evildoers with golden axes, then execute the ghostly kind. Wind and fire rage without cease: thousands upon thousands have their heads severed, tens of thousands their forms cut down. Demons may not intrude; ghosts may not wreak havoc. The Three Officials—the Officials of Heaven, Earth, and Water—and the divine powers of Northern Feng scrutinize the ghostly camps, leaving them nowhere to hide. Golden-Horse messengers carry the documents, proclaiming them to every boundless place; all the gods must obey. The Five Emperors of the Three Realms jointly submit their memorial to Shangqing.

The Origin of Heaven is profoundly remote, its generation and transformation without end. In the distant time of countless kalpas ago, within the chaos, there were no gods above and no Qi below.

When wind and marsh merge, the void reaches its utmost limit and transforms into a realm of mystery. From the mysterious comes Shen (spirit), which in turn depends on Qi (vital energy). True Qi transforms into Shen’s child, while Shen becomes the mother of Qi. When Shen and Qi unite as one, they can respond to the myriad transformations.

The transformations of all things are inexhaustible, like a diamond coursing through the firm wind of heaven. Wind moves and becomes Qi; Qi moves and becomes Shen; Shen’s activity then gives rise to perception. Brahma Qi (the primordial energy that constitutes heaven, earth, and all things) forms the body. Shen changes along with Qi, and the three realms of heaven and earth arise naturally from this. Yang Shen transforms into heaven, while Yin Qi becomes the springs below.

The Limitless is without color, and the springs lie in fathomless depths. Shen and Qi are subtle and difficult to fathom. Earth is hidden within heaven; above and below, nothing is obscure, and nothing is unseen. It has no body or image, and is boundless without end. Shen descends and Qi ascends; Jing (essence) and Qi flow and gather in the vast, empty expanse. At that time, the realm of Great Brahma stretches without limit, shrouded in darkness and without light.

The Crimson Illumination (an era symbolizing the creation of heaven and earth) opens the registers of the celestial realms. The movement of heaven and earth and the changes of the seasons unfold of themselves. The Celestial Worthy of the Primordial Beginning settles there as its guardian, expounding and promulgating five scriptures. The Red Writings in Jade Characters and the Dragon Texts of the Eight Powers (sacred writings of the Daoist heavens) protect and sustain the cycles of calamity. Shen and Qi endure without end; Brahma Qi permeates all things, opening and spreading the myriad laws. The guiding order of heaven and earth circulates and evolves, forming the thirty-two heavens.

The celestial wheel of the Formless Realm turns in cycles, reaching throughout the ten directions. Shen and Qi move everywhere, extending in all four directions, vast and boundless. They revolve between the Northern Dipper and the Ji constellation, turning back and forth to regulate the Five Phases (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water). The total Qi of the thirty-five divisions returns to the Eight Radiances of the Upper Origin and merges in mystery with the hidden, profound Qi. Qi enters layer upon layer of mysterious realms, where the Great Emperor of Supreme Sovereignty and the High Perfected appear.

The High Perfected themselves also arise through the transformations of Shen and Qi. They roam among radiance and rosy clouds, chanting the Cavern Chapters (sacred Daoist hymns). Golden Perfection shines brilliantly, its sounds resounding among the clouds; jade tones gather in Shen and Qi, while numinous winds draw together mist and rosy clouds. The Purple Void (a celestial realm filled with purple clouds) is clear, beautiful, and flourishing. Shen and Qi circle and transform, harmonizing Yin-Yang and assisting the immortals. A thousand auspicious harmonies gather, and the myriad things unite naturally to become Perfected. In the realm of perfection there is Shen, and within Shen there is Qi. Shen and Qi depend on radiance, intertwine with one another, and return again to their cycle of transformation as Qi and Shen.

In the Southern Pole Imperial Palace dwell the Great Lord of Long Life, the Young Lord Wu Ying, the Venerable Spirit Bai Yuan, the Great One in Charge of Destiny, Tao Kang, He Yan, and other deities. They govern talismanic decrees and registers of names, protect human life, and preserve its roots. They travel above to the Upper Clarity Heaven (a high celestial realm revered in Daoism), enter and leave splendid palaces, move among the Eight Radiances, and also descend into the most subtle and hidden places.

They also descend to guard the human body, dwelling in the Mudball (the upper Dantian in the head) and the Crimson Palace (the palace within the heart). They regulate the five Qi within the body and bring the hundred spirits into harmony. Through repeated circulation, the numinous energy is made to flow in a circuit and all Qi is brought into fullness, enabling one to approach the Dao of the immortals.

The Dao of the immortals makes cherishing life its foremost principle and saves all people. The upper realms open the eight gates, allowing Shen and Qi to ascend, transform, and travel without end, setting this wheel of the Dharma (a symbol of the circulation of the teaching and salvation) in motion. The sins and blessings, prohibitions and precepts, destinies and karmic ties of living beings are revealed through universal salvation. The souls of the dead are delivered, while the living receive renewed life and can ascend to the heavens.

Above the heavens, each realm has a gateway to renewed life. There one finds the Empty-Cavern Songs, sacred hymns of the celestial realms, and the numinous writings of the Perfected Kings, whose words can stand alongside those of the High Perfected.

First: The sound of the Mysterious Shen transforming and flying through the void.

The formless and nameless Dao stands alone in the expanse of space and governs the myriad gods. Its transformations are boundless; all things depend on it, and its wondrous workings flow freely and harmoniously.

The Dao generates Heaven and Earth and holds the source from which primordial chaos first emerged. It is vast beyond measure. Though no trace of it can be seen, it moves of itself and responds to all things. This is called “the Utmost Spirit.”

The perfected immortals of the Three Realms—the Desire Realm, the Form Realm, and the Formless Realm—and the cloud palaces of the various heavens all circulate within the Dao’s wondrous transformations. All of this arises from the Dao’s essence. The Dao is deep and hidden; only by attaining it can one understand its truth.

Chanting this far-reaching, mysterious song can bring one into the celestial realm within the mysterious domain. There lie the workings of creation, endowed with spiritual power that endures through cataclysmic ages. It joins with the pivot deep in the netherworld and turns the central mechanism, allowing the myriad forms of primordial Qi to endure. Guard this Qi and do not let it be cut off.

Chapter Two: Song of the True King Who Transforms through Mysterious Qi

Emptiness is true Qi, and true Qi is like emptiness. Let me explain: true Qi dwells with the Dao and is connected to it. All things grow by receiving it and decline when they lose it.

What enables all things to keep generating life without end? The answer is true Qi and spirit. The breath, bending and stretching, and activity of all the heavens, the gods, immortals, and sages—even beings of the Six Paths, every kind of fierce demon and spirit, and the palaces and offices between Heaven and Earth—are all brought about through the transformation of Qi. None can escape this law of movement.

If you guard Qi as the spirits do, you will not be overturned even after a thousand kalpas. Even if all three realms are destroyed, I will endure. When the movements of the Nine Heavens come to a halt, my spirit ascends to Taiwei, a lofty region of the heavens. Hand in hand, we roam the summit of Yujing, the celestial capital of the immortals. Bathed in sunlight, we arrive west of Jinhua. May I join in chanting the “Song of the Empty Cavern,” ride a dragon chariot, and cultivate jade-like sacred mushrooms.

Chapter Three: Song of the True King Who Transforms Spirit and Converts Qi

Leaning over the crossbar at the front of the carriage, I gaze east toward the mulberry trees and the distant heights of Daitai. Below stand towering long halls; the Sea of Kalpas rises in one rugged tier after another. Even sights far off, tens of millions of miles away, appear clearly beyond the reach of distance.

I marvel at this realm of the Great Dao: gathered up, it lies within the space of a square inch. Wondrous transformations arise through the conversion of Qi, as subtle, formed beings mingle and flow into one another. I guide my jade dragon chariot and race through the clouds beneath Taiqing, the Daoist heavens.

Countless figures clad in magnificent embroidered robes are not illusory creations of the mortal world. They are formed through wondrous transformations and the transmutation of Qi. Though they have passed through a thousand kalpas, they remain free of age and decline.

How laughable are you immortals who cultivate Grain Qi, devoting your strength to distinguishing green from yellow until your hair turns white, yet accomplishing nothing—and then blaming the Dao for bringing ill fortune. You have clouded your own original spirit and original Qi, and do not know the proper methods of cultivating the Dao. Now, by chanting this scripture of the Most High, you may freely pay homage to the True King.

This is a song chanted by the True King who dwells above the Three Realms, flying through the heavens. Every line of its sounds accords with the Cavern Chapters, a kind of Daoist scripture. Recite it a hundred times, and your name will be entered in the Southern Palace, one of the celestial offices. Recite it a thousand times, and the True King will protect and welcome you. Recite it ten thousand times, and your cultivation and merit will be complete: you will ascend through the vast heavens, transcend the Three Realms, and take your place among the immortal officials.

When anyone hears these numinous, wondrous sounds, the True King will honor their physical form and command the terrestrial spirits to guard and escort them. They will be released from the gates of the underworld, spared the Five Sufferings and Eight Calamities, and their ancestors for seven generations will rise, forever freed from the authority of the Earth Official. Their souls will be guided to Zhu Ling, the place where Daoist texts say souls are refined and released, to undergo refinement and receive life anew. This is called boundless universal salvation, extending without limit. This scripture is a secret text transmitted from the heavens and revered by all the celestial beings. Anyone who divulges it or treats it with disrespect will fall into hell, bringing calamity upon their ancestors for seven generations.

The Dao says: These two scriptural chapters are sounds secretly transmitted by the Heavenly Emperors and the Most Numinous True Kings. They contain the Dao of wondrous transformation and the transmutation of Qi. Profound and subtle, they are difficult to put into words; they are all the utterances of the Great Brahma, the true words of the heavens as understood in Daoism.

These words are neither ordinary speech used in the human world nor songs crafted for elegant meter. That is why they are called mysterious and difficult to investigate and understand. They are scriptures treasured by Heaven and kept in secret in the Scripture Repository east of the Jade Palace of the King of Shenyu and Yuqing. They are to be transmitted only when the great rites are destined to take place in a Renchen year. If a person of profound virtue brings gold and treasure as a pledge of sincere intent, and follows the ancient rites to swear an oath at the Jade Palace, only then may the scriptures be entrusted to them.

The Dao says: If spirit could not transform and Qi could not give rise to life, the workings of Heaven and Earth would close and cease, while the sun, moon, and five planets would wax or wane beyond their proper measure. When sages and spirits encounter hardship, or beginners in the Dao suffer illness or injury, fellow cultivators should join together in purification and fasting. They should offer incense six times a day and recite the scripture ten times. Blessings and De will then descend at once, dispelling every kind of ill omen. This immeasurable scripture can save all beings without limit.

The Dao says: Beginners in the Dao may have shallow cultivation, or their immortal attainment may not yet be complete. If their allotted life is due to end and their bodies pass through the Great Yin, the underworld, a perfected person among their fellow cultivators should offer incense and recite the scripture ten times on their behalf. Their spirit will transform and become immortal, and their Qi will give rise to life and become perfected; in this way, their corpse will be delivered. In accordance with the rites, their souls can then ascend directly to the Southern Palace. The term of life earned through their cultivation and practice will be reckoned, and they will receive life anew. They will no longer lose their way in the cycle of rebirth, and will ultimately attain the state of a spirit immortal.

The phrase “divine transformation and the transformation of Qi” means that Shen and Qi can bring about changes in the myriad things; it does not mean that Shen and Qi themselves are changing. Shen and Qi are firm, strong, and powerful, and cannot themselves be altered. The myriad things change because Shen and Qi cause them to do so, not because Shen and Qi themselves have changed.

If Shen and Qi are not in harmony, they cannot bring about change in the myriad things. Instead, they bring calamity upon them. Therefore, the scripture says: “The workings of Heaven and Earth are nearing their end; the stars are disordered and out of their courses; the sun and moon have lost their light; the seasons are out of order; Yin and Yang are out of balance. Floods, droughts, war, plague, and poison are rampant. The people are dying and suffering injury, and the lifespans of teachers and friends are drawing to a close. At such a time, all should observe purification, offer incense, and recite the scripture.”

Observing purification, keeping the precepts, and reciting the scripture bring immense merit. Above, they can dispel calamities from Heaven, protect and stabilize the sovereign; below, they can ward off poisons and free the people from disaster. The living and the dead alike can receive blessings. This merit and virtue are beyond measure, which is why it is called “the boundless deliverance of Heaven and humanity.”

The scripture also says: “Anyone who possesses this scripture and is willing to cultivate this merit for Heaven and Earth, the sovereign, and the people, when faced with a day of calamity, need only resolve to observe purification, burn incense, and recite the scripture ten times. Shen and Qi will then transform the ill omens into blessings and auspicious signs. The heavenly hosts will record that person’s name, and the myriad spirits will attend and protect them. Such a person may become a True King and a minister of the Jade Court. Zuo Hua will record their merits and faults without the slightest omission, and the True King of Jade Clarity will also recommend them. Only those who have attained the Dao can truly understand these most profound teachings.”

The Great Brahmic Hidden Words of the Eight Heavens, Sounding Without Limit—Composed by the Lord of the Dao

The Jade Chapter of the Primordial Beginning’s Numinous Writ, “Divine Transformation and the Transformation of Qi”

The following are the Brahmic hidden sounds of the Eight Heavens in the eastern, southern, and other directions. They are sacred utterances in the scripture, whose meaning cannot be explained directly in ordinary Chinese; the original text is retained here.

The Eight Heavens of the East

Ming cu shi yin　Wan zou di hui　A liu fan meng

Ti jue ci wai　Yan luo qiu wei　Dui jing ping shi

Jia na wo wen　Pi de you ji　Dong luo ci ni

Yuan xiang zi lian　Chen gang e xia　Li shu wei nian

Dang zhu yi qian　Meng qi yi jian　Ji chi bin tuo

Qi bu ru pian

The Eight Heavens of the South

Xiu zhi zhi man　Pian deng qiu dun　Yan jing tou mei

Ba dao geng ying　Miao ye pian lu　Cui ci liang bin

Tai ji xuan su　You nan jian yi　Mang si chi wei

Biao shi lan dui　Kang da qian yi　Bi yuan yi wai

Qu xian gong tu　Dan chang zhao sui　Zheng hua yu zuan

Dao hu mi chi

The Eight Heavens of the West

(The original text gives only the heading here and includes no further content.)

The sacred taboos are joined with the soft threads; their splendor spreads through the great thousandfold world, among the wondrous clans of Yi and Bing.

Heaven is fixed in Qian; the Lóu constellation is strung like a bow. The demon hall unfolds and rises; transformations roam through the mystery of Kun.

The patterns are set, and the Willow constellation is aligned. Above, the firmament is strong; thought returns to the origin. The spirit’s design is secret and still.

The registers of cinnabar are gathered and proclaimed. The essentials are briefly recorded and presented; the commands of Shang are preserved in their entirety.

The distant Kui constellation and Wolf Capital: at the farthest borders, the teaching spreads everywhere; the waves and horses are stored forever.

May Heaven be cherished and kept in its singularity.

The Eight Heavens of the North.

The Dragon, the Hollow, and the Swallow palaces; Dongting’s rushing depths; the pavilion grows still and transforms to the utmost.

The guests are arrayed in benevolence and vastness. Riding upon sages, they pass beyond brambles; they summon their company, joyful and valiant.

The great storehouse is remote and boundless. They pass through springs and reach the vault of the heavens; the Dao’s passage leads through the dark and luminous.

Strength, the Ding constellation, and rosy splendor; the wings and chambers of Ji; the tracks of Zhen—how many heroes!

Auspiciousness is vast, and the spirit’s covenant is clear. The earth is dignified, with ten thousand peaks; pure blessings make the worthy secure.

The humble open the way and devise the empty.

The scriptures above are the secret language of Brahma Heaven among the many heavens, containing sounds without limit. In ancient times, the characters were carved upon the Jade Balance of the Celestial Pivot at the Xiao Terrace. Through wondrous transformations and the movement of Qi, they brought order to the heavens. In the boundless worlds, none among the True Sovereigns of the Three Origins failed to follow this Dao, understand it, and cultivate it. In this way, the spirit and Qi could endure forever. Whether facing the formation and dissolution of heaven and earth in a great kalpa, or the changes of life and death in a lesser kalpa, one could be freed from them and regard them calmly, without fear.

Each of these characters is one zhang tall. The Celestial True Sovereign, a legendary perfected being of the heavens, once wrote this scripture and established it as the correct pronunciation. If someone understands its sounds and rhythms, observes purification, and recites it, the divine offices will send flying immortals and heavenly beings down to examine them and report their merit to the heavens.

The myriad gods gather to pay homage, while the earth spirits wait beside the gate. A True King of great merit recommends and vouches for the person, enabling them to complete their cultivation in the Divine Empyrean and travel freely through the Three Realms, ascending to the Golden Gate. These sounds open every passage, avert calamity wherever it may be, deliver beings wherever they may be, and bring merit to completion wherever they may be. They are the sounds of Heaven’s True Ones, arising naturally. Thus, reciting them moves flying immortals to descend and observe; the Lord on High chants from afar; the myriad gods come to pay homage; and the spirits of the Three Realms stand before the carriage. Demons bow their heads and grow subdued, while ghosts, specters, and spirits disperse of their own accord.

The scripture’s sound rings like jade chimes, spreading through the ten directions and bringing stillness and clarity to heaven and earth. Rivers and seas grow calm; clouds and mists disperse from the mountains; the myriad spirits are awed into submission, and the assembled immortals gather. In Heaven, there is no foul Qi; on earth, no uncanny dust or defilement. Profound wisdom becomes clear and pure, vast and mysterious.