《靈寶無量度人上品妙經》Vol. 26

The Perfected Heavenly Sovereign said: This scripture is a sacred treasure, proclaimed by a ruler on behalf of the Emptiness Sovereign and therefore once presented to the Primordial Heavenly Sovereign. The Primordial Heavenly Sovereign bestowed it upon the Perfected One Who Protects Life through the Primordial Transformation of Taiji. The Perfected One mentioned in the preface was a minister of the High Perfected Lord of Dao in Yuyu Heaven, and so the text is also called “Words of the Dao.”

The Wondrous Scripture of Limitless Deliverance, the Supreme Chapter of the Primordial Beginning

This is a Dongxuan Lingbao scripture of the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning. It inherits the source and elucidates the original substance, unites the primordial Qi, and belongs to the wondrous supreme class of the Void. It is a profound treasure for delivering people through the Imperial Ultimate. It accords with the natural order and corresponds to the jade writings.

Amid the transformations of Longkang, true nature is peaceful, secure, profound, and boundless. Empty forms emerge from nothingness, distant and dim; from them all things grow, while pervasive, upright Qi establishes the myriad heavens. When chaos first opened, primordial Qi divided into the myriad things, some rising and others descending, each containing and interweaving with the others.

After the two lights opened, the Emperor One joined with the immortals and Perfected Ones. The Dark and Empty High Sovereign transformed the wondrous Dao; pure, lofty, and luminous Qi flourished, setting creation and transformation in motion and giving birth to spirits. This was the source of change. The Jade Ultimate Primordial Sovereign dwells in the Violet Firmament, directing the laws and order. Radiant as crystal jade, the revolving wheel of Heaven sustains the order of Heaven and Earth. Vermilion light shines upon Shangqing through countless kalpas.

Within the Great Abundance’s Yellow Chamber, the Later Sage established a grand ritual assembly. Three divine Perfected Ones govern from the Palace of Transformation, looking down upon Kunqiu. The Jade Terrace and Langfeng rise high; the assembled gods dwell in the Celestial Capital and rule the ten directions.

In the ten directions are spirits who uphold the great law of the Dark Origin; sovereigns who govern the transformations of the celestial signs; great gods who circle the waters and dance through the sky; the Perfected One of Subtle Practice, harmonious and balanced in Taiwei; and the high Perfected Ones Female One, Jade Register, and Curved Plain, who dwell in the Phoenix Terrace and Vermilion Palace. Together they make the Orthodox Way clear and enable boundless beings to be delivered. Today they unite the primordial Qi and gather before the hall.

In the eastern direction, the Limitless Eight-Splendors Spirit King, the Great Sage of Long Life, delivers boundless beings.

In the southern direction, the Limitless Bright-Light Spirit King, the Great Sage of Long Life, delivers boundless beings.

In the western direction, the Limitless Demon-Subduing Spirit King, the Great Sage of Long Life, delivers boundless beings.

In the northern direction, the Limitless Jeweled-Pearl Spirit King, the Great Sage of Long Life, delivers boundless beings.

In the northeastern direction, the Limitless Cloud-Palace Spirit King, the Great Sage of Long Life, delivers boundless beings.

In the southeastern direction, the Limitless Transformation Spirit King, the Great Sage of Long Life, delivers boundless beings.

In the southwestern direction, the Limitless Spirit-Flying Spirit King, the Great Sage of Long Life, delivers boundless beings.

In the northwestern direction, the Limitless Three-Purity Spirit King, the Great Sage of Long Life, delivers boundless beings.

Above, the Limitless Jade-Void Spirit King, the Great Sage of Long Life, delivers boundless beings.

Below, the Limitless Separation-and-Union Spirit King, the Great Sage of Long Life, delivers boundless beings.

The Spirit Kings of the Ten Directions, whose true bodies are empty and bright, and the immeasurably great gods who opened Heaven and coursed Qi through it, arrived together in radiant phoenix chariots and jade-adorned carriages. The chariots bore canopies and cinnabar-red bodies, with divine tigers and fierce beasts guarding them at their sides. Mottled qilin carried the Seven Perfected’s sacred axes, ceremonial implements for the Three Plain Red Banners. The banners went ahead to clear the way, bearing the treasured seal of Dongyang. Behind them, spirit-summoning pennants stood guard.

The gathered immortals of Taiji flew through the sky and came treading on emptiness. Five assisting gods opened the road, while the Three Officials—the gods who govern Heaven, Earth, and Water—guarded the carriage shafts. Countless carriages and ten thousand riders descended from the sky, gathered in their radiance, and returned in their chariots.

The gods who oversee the Perfected and deliver the living, the Jade Aides of Taiwei, the August Sovereign of Zichen, the Elder of Original Yang, the Great God of Profound Wonder, and others, together held the life-register talismans that govern life and transformation, and came to the imperial court. They responded to the teachings, summoned and gathered the myriad spirits, and proclaimed them widely throughout the Three Realms, the Six Extremities, and the Eight Dark Regions. Their rosy light spread across Guanghan’s mountains, the cinnabar gates of Heaven, and sacred places such as the spirit-knot of Fangzhu and the cavern springs of Yanggu. Their radiance reached the Dragon Stables of the Great Kalpa, Chengchi, and the Jade Towers of Guicheng, illuminating the pivots of the stars’ movements.

The divine offices of the Three Primordial Palaces, the Heavenly Statutes, the Nine Palaces, and the Twenty-Seven Courts registered names according to merit, governed the processes of life and transformation, and examined the true radiance in Luofeng, the divine court that rules the netherworld. This true radiance spread forth, drawing down guilty souls and ending the service of ghost officials and the toll of karmic retribution. It dissolved resentments and reconciled those at odds. All beings endure through the cycles of destiny and turn through the rounds of karmic conditions, eventually ascending to Zhuling, the immortal realm spoken of in Daoism. There they forever leave behind the suffering of desire and attachment, roam freely in the high sky, and receive the transforming refinement of Taixiao.

In the Heaven of Taixiao, the Heavenly Emperor beholds the pure practice that awakens to the formless realm.

Eight Heavens of the East

• Heaven of Fulfilled Desire and Accomplishment; its Heavenly Emperor dwells at Yangwei Zhen.
• Heaven of Receiving Qian and Ascending by Day; its Heavenly Emperor is Bian Chongzhi Qun.
• Heaven of Flourishing Splendor in All Places; its Heavenly Emperor is Yao Liangming.
• Heaven of Casting Off Error and Rejecting Delusion; its Heavenly Emperor is Shi Wanfufu.
• Heaven of Transforming into Uprightness and Profound Brightness; its Heavenly Emperor is Ji Zhen Geng.
• Heaven of Luyao’s Boundless Bridle; its Heavenly Emperor is Hu Zhuan Ximing.
• Heaven of Ultimate Truth and Settled Jade; its Heavenly Emperor is Zhang Pihua Ju.
• Heaven of Inviting the Profound and Summoning Clouds; its Heavenly Emperor is Ye Changyao Xu.

Eight Heavens of the South

• Heaven of Settled Benefit and Wantu; its Heavenly Emperor is Jing Changzu Ming.
• Heaven of Han Si, Lord of Life; its Heavenly Emperor is Meng Yuanping.
• Heaven of the Jade View and Gathering of the Yi; its Heavenly Emperor is Zhao Lingji Xu.
• Heaven of Universal Joy and Vermilion Surge; its Heavenly Emperor is Que Duanyou Qu.

In the eight heavens of the east and south are the following celestial realms and their Heavenly Emperors:

Cheyanglin Lower Heaven, whose Heavenly Emperor is named Duyao Luyin; Pinghuan Yuli Heaven, whose Heavenly Emperor is named Qicheng Zhuanfu; Taihuang Yuqiao Heaven, whose Heavenly Emperor is named Kong Zunsheng; and Lanying Zuohou Heaven, whose Heavenly Emperor is named Dong Jueling.

The eight western heavens:

Tong Suiyanmiao Heaven, whose Heavenly Emperor is named Tubin Liang; Ju Xuan Xiedu Heaven, whose Heavenly Emperor is named Chou Zhoujiuwang; Chizhen Zhaoxian Heaven, whose Heavenly Emperor is named Huo Ti Chujī; Biaoguang Xiansi Heaven, whose Heavenly Emperor is named Jing Mingshanshi; Liangzong Dixuan Heaven, whose Heavenly Emperor is named Zhao Yi Bing Tang; Kuifu Dajian Heaven, whose Heavenly Emperor is named Yulian Yanlun; Kongju Yaole Heaven, whose Heavenly Emperor is named Yuelou Fuguang; and Zaifan Ashi Heaven, whose Heavenly Emperor is named Yinti Buyan.

The eight northern heavens:

Dongjing Guangang Heaven, whose Heavenly Emperor is named Beihua Cumi; Youhua Taixu Heaven, whose Heavenly Emperor is named Zhuang Jie Duru; Jieren Jianghe Heaven, whose Heavenly Emperor is named Douyong Ciyun; Xu fang Zhengyue Heaven, whose Heavenly Emperor is named Longjing Ma〔𤤠〕; Tongxiao Cihuang Heaven, whose Heavenly Emperor is named Yugong Qianzun; Jizhang Yingjia Heaven, whose Heavenly Emperor is named Dongshen Bawei; Zonghui Fuhua Heaven, whose Heavenly Emperor is named Huang Zhu Jingbiao; and Huize Longhua Heaven, whose Heavenly Emperor is named Xie Deng Yichang.

These thirty-two heavens and their thirty-two Heavenly Emperors all have secret titles and names. The hidden sounds of these celestial realms are the voices of heaven, and the voices of heaven’s supreme beings, spirits, great demons, and sacred powers.

The Nine Radiances and Ten Crystals roam and feast in Yudan Heaven; the wondrous sacred registers are kept high in concealment on Secret Capital Mountain. Mysterious waves surge and swell, setting the Celestial Passes in motion and directing their course.

Today, the paired wheels of the sun and moon come together—a fortunate occasion for a sacred assembly. We pray that the obstacles of the past be cleared away, and that the true spirits descend with the Mysterious Elixir, the wondrous divine elixir spoken of in Daoism, so that every evil may vanish forever. May the immortals transform their forms and ascend to become immortals, watched over and recommended by the gods of the upper realm, and rise together to the Celestial Emperor’s Pavilion, where the Heavenly Emperor dwells.

The Wood Star proclaims its might; the Fire Star carries out its decrees; the Metal Star oversees inspection; the Water Star obeys its commands; and the Earth Star governs the four directions and holds all talismanic mandates in its grasp. Jumang presides over growth, Rishou over gathering and contraction, Xuanming over closure and concealment, and Zhurong over circulation. Houtu occupies the center and directs the great rites of governance. Qingling Shilao established the Way of Heaven and brought forth its teachings; Danling Zhenlao reviewed and determined the rules and regulations.

Haoling Huanglao presides over punishment and killing; Yuling Xuanlao widely bestows sacred grace; and Xuanling Yuanlao sits in command at the Golden Palace. The Five Elder Emperors are the refuge of the myriad gods. They travel through the Three Realms, hold authority over the orthodox workings of Heaven, and tour the celestial palace of Taiwei with standards and insignia in hand. Their exalted titles are proclaimed, and their teachings and commands are widely carried out. Heaven punishes and destroys evil, sweeping it away in a sudden, thorough purge and crushing demons and malign spirits. The Heavenly Emperor receives the decree and subdues and destroys fierce demons. Stones flash in mutual brilliance; raging fire surges and crashes toward the south, subduing goblins and grotesque beings, driving off wind, cold, and night clouds, and purging dark and hidden chambers.

All who dare harbor rebellion and disorder, or resist and obstruct the High Perfected, the Daoist term for perfected immortals of the highest rank, will be shown the prescribed punishments by the great officers of Heaven. Suffering blades descend like streams of sand, pursuing without pause; wind-blades bind and escort their captives. The demon troops are swept away, and every kind of evil spirit is brought back to the righteous path, so that the imperial Way may flourish for ages. Memorials and registers ascend to the Great Luo Heaven; may we join Heaven in establishing merit.

Purple Palace, radiant with yang light: the nine qi of the Phoenix Calendar, the celestial calendar, move in their ordered courses and are proclaimed throughout the ten directions. The immeasurable numinous powers record names in accordance with the regulations. The Three Primes, the upper, middle, and lower primes of Daoist teaching, protect and bring peace to the Cinnabar Radiance.

A mighty proclamation announces transformation and change. The weapons of calamity sweep across Mount Kunlun, and rosy clouds scatter the mists. Above, the eight extremities open; below, the nine abysses are arrayed. The wind turns the net that spans the heavens and brings the heavens into being. Heaven and earth lie in a state of dark, undivided obscurity, a vast primordial chaos in which nothing has yet separated; the Mysterious Ultimate has no form. The great framework and laws sound forth in the distant, boundless void. The Red Image and Yellow Regions, symbols of the directions and workings between Heaven and earth, pass through the cycle of calamity. All follows its natural course; primordial Qi flows forth and shines upon the clouds and skies.

The upper section’s Golden Registers and Briefs, golden lists and documents used in Daoist purification rituals, together with the jade writings of the Eight Radiances, summon the multitude of demons and preserve the root of Heaven, allowing righteous Qi to rise and coalesce. The Primordial Harmony of the Pure Capital unfolds into the Phoenix Perfected; jade books gather and preserve the hidden mysteries. The Broad Circulation of the Xiao Terrace is empty and transcendent; the Eight Assemblies of the Purple Tenuity gather the primal essences. Pearl-bound volumes of yang radiance summon the spirits. Countless flying immortals assemble with one another in the Great Purity, their breath united with the Highest Mystery. The Jade Perfected within the Mystery and the High Emperor of the Supreme Ultimate spread forth cavernous radiance and chant in the Hall of Illumination. The three tiers of Heaven’s gates rise lush and splendid; the crimson chambers shine brilliantly. Jade writings give rise to breath, and cinnabar characters send forth light, clear and bright unto eternity.

May the world be brought to peace, its people live long and in good health, and all things come into harmony; thus, perfected beings come into being naturally. Among them are divine spirits: the Great Lords of the Three Heavens, the Jade Void Emperor, the Master Huang-Lao, the Master of Long Life, and the Eminent Venerables of the Great Cavern. They hold talismans and oversee registers, protecting and saving the people of the heavens.

They ascend to dwell in Xuyan Heaven and feast amid the emptiness and spaciousness of Yujing, the celestial capital. They also descend to guard the Divine Continent and the sacred mountains of the Five Peaks. The six formless powers respond to one another, revolving through the celestial gates without slackening or excess. The Three Florescences proclaim the words of the Dao; the Imperial Way opens the Gate of Life, saving beings far and wide and enabling them to ascend to the Eight Directions of the Net-like Heavens, move through the celestial realm, and spread throughout the Nine Lights. The most holy realms celebrate together; demons, evil forces, deceit, and treachery are brought to an end forever. The orthodox Way is widely proclaimed and put into practice, transforming all things. Memorials are presented in ordered ranks to the Three Heavens, where each opens its own Gate of Life. Recite the “Hymn of Opening Illumination and Uniting the Body,” which joins the passages of breath and spirit; its words bring together the Way of the High Perfected.

The First Wonder: The Sound of Broadly Transforming Life-Breath

When Yin and Yang first divided into the Two Principles, the celestial gates were opened. The realm of the Dao is vast and boundless. The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning dwells on high, while the breath of Jade Firmament stretches across the sky and moves through the four directions of emptiness.

Within the Precious Terrace of Yuluo, dragon writings lie deeply concealed. At the heights of Tiger Mountain and the sea islands, celestial registers are opened. The Highest Mystery sends down numinous breath, and all beings receive their true talismanic mandate. The pure breaths of the eight directions circulate in turn, as divine spirits soar and roam. The Great Cavern of Shangqing and the thirty-nine Imperial Books are scriptures in which the Dao Lord transmits words of the Dao. Crimson clouds veil the Pure Capital. Now that the Imperial Way has been realized, the true writings should be spread far and wide, so that all who cultivate the immortal Way may be saved and their souls ascend to the realm of Great Nonbeing.

The Second Wonder: The Chapter on Embodying Illumination and Realizing the Dao

In the boundless and mysterious Great Luotian stands the White Jade Capital, its halls adorned with precious jade rising high into the Great Void. The Venerable Spirit Emperor of Emptiness sits enthroned above; the Three Breaths encircle Xiaotai, and divine spirits stand in ranks between the celestial gates.

The Great Emperor holds the tiger tally and summons the Primordial Emperor Lord below. Beings of every kind receive the true body of the Dao and manifest in transformations suited to their respective realms. The celestial demons, too, are each assigned offices in the Mysterious Court, while red banners patrol the northern encampments.

The Great Sage takes pity on beings sunk in suffering. Therefore, he sent down the mysterious scriptures to the Highest Clarity, spreading far and wide the compassion of the Primordial Cavern, and expounding the true scriptures for you. May you diligently advance in the cultivation of the immortal Way, until at last you all realize the fruit of the Dao.

Its light shines across the dark night sky, enabling suffering souls to ascend beyond their pain. The bonds of grievance that tie them to one another are severed forever, and the bitterness between enemies is put to rest.

The Third Song: “The Song of the Great Interweaving of Qi”

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning brought the myriad heavens into being. The vital energy between Heaven and Earth appears in three colors: blue, yellow, and white. The light, pure energy rises and transforms into the lofty, clear heavens; the heavy energy sinks and becomes the turbid earth. Between Heaven and Earth are balanced energy, as well as deviant and upright energy. From these, all things come into being, and human beings are born.

Human desires damage the original Qi within us. To sink into passion and desire is like falling into a river, often with no way to escape. By aligning oneself with the Great Dao, one can join the ranks of the immortals. When one’s cultivation and merit are complete, one can return to the heavenly palace where the Imperial Lord resides. Those who commit sins fall into the cycle of rebirth; those who act on deviant and deluded thoughts sink into the netherworld and its hells.

Who could imagine that, in the vast reaches of space, the Three Officials, great emperors who govern the realms of Heaven, Earth, and Water, wield the brush of creation and possess the majestic authority to command all living beings? The Nine Palaces mark the laws of the heavens. All who dwell in paradise may enjoy lasting peace in Nanchang Palace. Once you have realized the wondrous Great Dao, how could you sink again? You should receive the Heavenly Treasure teachings I impart and hasten to cultivate the practices that lead to long life.

This is the song of the Immortal King above the Three Realms, soaring through the air. The sound of each song accords with the Cavern Chapters. Recite them one hundred times, and this is called “Crossing to the Southern Palace.” Recite them one thousand times, and the Demon Kings will protect and welcome you. Recite them ten thousand times, and your cultivation will be complete: you will soar into space, deliver beings beyond the Three Realms, and attain the rank of an immortal.

When the wondrous celestial sounds are heard, the Demon Kings respectfully submit to their power, while the earth spirits escort and protect the dead. Departed souls are drawn away from the gates of the underworld and freed from the Five Sufferings and Eight Calamities. Seven generations of ancestors can ascend, forever leaving the jurisdiction of the ghost officials. After their souls pass through refinement at Zhul Ling Palace, they can be refined anew and reborn. This is called boundless universal salvation, without end. These scriptures are treasures kept secret in Heaven and revered by all the heavens. Whoever reveals or treats them lightly will fall into hell, bringing misfortune upon seven generations of ancestors.

The Dao says: The two chapters above are the secret celestial sounds of the Lords of Heaven and the most numinous Demon Kings. They are also the words of the Great Brahma—the fundamental true words of the heavenly realm—and are not ordinary speech. They explain the source of life and trace the transformations of Qi. They teach in accordance with differing capacities and the laws of Heaven, and apply the Way impartially, in response to the circumstances of the people. The Way of Heaven is supremely just: it examines the conduct of rulers and acts in accordance with Daoist methods, adapting to changing circumstances. These teachings penetrate the hidden principles of the mysterious sages, beyond the understanding of ordinary people. They are therefore called wondrous and profound, difficult to investigate fully.

These scriptures are precious treasures held in Heaven, secretly stored in the Scripture Treasury east of the Jade Pure King’s palace in the Divine Empyrean. According to the precepts, they must await thirty-seven thousand years, until the movements of Heaven align, before they may be transmitted below. If a person who has attained the Dao brings gold and jewels and swears an oath with utmost sincerity, following the ancient rites to make a covenant with Heaven for ten days, the scriptures may then be transmitted to them.

The Dao says: Reciting this scripture can transform an ordinary mortal body into that of a perfected being. It washes away defiling Qi, lets heavenly radiance enter the heart and bones, and brings forth jade fluid—the spiritual nectar of Daoist teaching. In this way, one may attain the rank of a numinous immortal and forever escape the causes of death. All paths open through it, and every aspiration can be fulfilled. Above, it can preserve the constant order of Heaven and harmonize the movements of the sun, moon, and five planets. Among humanity, it can bring people’s breath into balance and keep illness at bay. Below, it can subdue evil spirits and have the hundred gods protect the body.

When reciting the scripture, one should always observe fasting and keep the mind focused: practice ritual purification at six periods of the day, burn incense ten times, and recite the text in turn. Blessings and De will then descend, dispelling every kind of misfortune. This immeasurable text can universally save beings without end.

The Dao says: Some beginners have made little progress in cultivation and have not yet completed their rank among the immortals, while their allotted years have already run out and their bodies are about to pass through Great Yin, a stage associated in Daoist usage with death and the underworld. After such a person dies, virtuous fellow cultivators should burn incense and recite the scripture ten times, then perform the rites to deliver the deceased. The Most High will make the remains bright and pure, transforming the body until it is like soft gold. The Spirit of Destiny will permeate the person’s Qi, turning it into jade fluid; refine the hun and po souls; destroy the corpse form; restore the Nine Palaces to their numinous brightness; and send the soul-spirit directly up to the Southern Palace.

The number of days granted will be reckoned according to the person’s merits in cultivating the Dao. They will then gain renewed life, pass through the cycles of rebirth without losing their way, and ultimately become an immortal.

The Dao says: When the cycles of Heaven and Earth near their end, the stars fall into disorder, the sun and moon grow dim and erratic, the seasons stray from their proper sequence, Yin-Yang falls out of balance, or a nation faces calamity, the signs of war appear, epidemics spread, and people die or are injured, even teachers and fellow cultivators may pass away. All such calamities are the outcomes of accumulated karma taking visible form, and are also linked to the response of De. Every kind of Qi has its own cause. This is the Dao’s natural course and Heaven’s decree. In these circumstances, one should observe ritual purification, burn incense, and recite the scripture.

The merit of fasting and recitation is great: above, it can avert heavenly disasters and preserve the peace of the ruler; below, it can ward off poisonous harm, allowing both the living and the dead among the people to benefit from this blessing and De. This blessing is beyond measure, and so it is called “the immeasurable deliverance of Heaven and humanity.”

The Dao says: Anyone who possesses this scripture and can perform these meritorious acts for Heaven and Earth, the sovereign, and the people should, on the day calamity strikes, resolve to observe ritual purification, burn incense, and recite the scripture ten times. The heavens will record their name, and the myriad gods will protect them. Such a person may become a perfected being of De, or even a sage ruler and an official in the Golden Palace. The heavens record people’s good and evil deeds without the slightest error; the demons of Heaven, too, will recommend you. Only those who have attained the Dao can truly understand these words of ultimate truth.

The Great Brahma’s Hidden Words and Immeasurable Sounds Amid the Heavens was compiled by the Perfected One of the Supreme Ultimate.

The Supreme One’s Numinous Chapter on Clarifying the Body and Permeating Qi

The Eight Heavens of the East:

Hengjian Jitu, Yanming Mingyu, Gouhua Pinmao, Landi Xuanwu, Chanruo Jidao, Minyan Kunmou.

These are the names of the heavenly hidden words listed in the scripture. Their characters should not be forced into ordinary word meanings.

These passages belong to the “Hidden Words of the Great Brahma” in the Scripture of Salvation, a body of secret writing used in Daoist scriptures to express sacred intentions. They are not ordinary prose, so they cannot be translated word for word into fluent everyday language. The scripture first lists the hidden words for the heavens by direction: the eight heavens of the south, the eight heavens of the west, and the eight heavens of the north.

The scripture says that these hidden words are the immeasurable sounds of the heavens, and that in ancient times each written character was a zhang wide. The Celestial Perfected Sovereign, the August One (a sacred figure in Daoist legend), once went to the Abode of Cypress Grove and stood before Futi Xuan. Following the arrangement of the five directions, he revealed the Imperial Lords and perfected immortals. They chanted the sounds of emptiness and refined them with fire and spring water. After nine kalpas, the characters became bright and clear, and were inscribed on the jade screen of the Phoenix Pavilion in the Supreme Ultimate. Golden light emerged from the characters and illuminated all the heavens. Those who cultivate the Way and wear these characters may ascend to immortality lifetime after lifetime, riding dragon chariots into the realm of the immortals.

Divine beings often attend the Heavenly Emperor. He burns a cinnabar scripture—a talismanic text inscribed with Daoist methods—and then has people drink celestial nectar and jade liquid. This drives away every illness, prolongs life, and can even grant a lifespan as long as the Nine Heavens.

In ancient times, the Nine Heavens recorded this scripture and established it as the correct pronunciation. Whoever understands its sounds and recites them according to the prescribed method can reach the Great Dao and attain good fortune and success. After observing purification, one who recites this scripture will be watched by the flying celestial divine kings sent down from all the heavens. They record the reciter’s merit and diligence and report them to the heavens. The myriad gods come to pay homage; earth spirits wait by the door; and the Great Merit Demon King recommends the reciter, enabling him to become an Upper Perfected One, a realized being who has attained the Dao. When his cultivation is complete, he can travel throughout the Three Realms and ascend to the Golden Gate.

The sounds of this scripture can ward off all things, dispel all calamities, deliver all beings, and bring everything to completion. They can transform the mortal body, summon numinous Qi, and ultimately preserve the practitioner and enable ascent to immortality. These are the sounds of the natural and perfected Dao. Thus, when they are recited, the flying celestials descend to observe; the Supreme Emperor answers from afar in song; the myriad gods come to pay homage; the gods of the Three Realms attend nearby; demons bow their heads; and ghosts and spirits vanish of their own accord.

The exquisite sounds of the recitation resound in the ten directions, and all quarters grow solemn and pure. Rivers and seas fall silent; mists disperse among the mountains; all numinous beings are awed into submission; and the assembled immortals are summoned. No defiling Qi remains in the heavens, and no demonic dust hangs over the earth. The netherworld and the realm of wisdom alike become clear and transparent, vast yet mysterious.

Section on the Purple Radiance and Cinnabar Spirit

The Daoist scripture says: In ancient times, in the Great Cinnabar Heaven, crimson-hued celestial music arose, and the Mysterious Land of Supreme Mystery received the Limitless Supreme Scripture for Deliverance through Purple Radiance and the Cinnabar Spirit, transmitted by the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning. As the Celestial Worthy was about to expound this scripture, he first circumambulated the place ten times to summon the gods of the ten directions, and only then ascended the seat to teach the Dao.

The great divine beings of the perfected heavens, the highest sages and perfected ones, the realized ones of wondrous practice, the great divine beings of Purple Radiance and the Cinnabar Spirit, and countless other beings all arrived through the air. Flying rosy clouds appeared above the firmament; the jeweled chariots and precious wheels of the immortals descended, shaded by jade canopies. Crimson clouds spread across the sky, and the rich radiance of five colors illuminated the vast heavens.

This spectacle continued for seven days and seven nights. The numinous gateways of the heavens, the solar palaces, and the lunar mansions blazed with light, their brilliance gathering and shining forth. The tiered jade palaces and celestial cities were clear and bright; the paths of the stars revolved; the Lords of the Five Dipper constellations released their radiance; and winds dispersed throughout the Nine Regions. The blue walls of the heavens interwove, the jeweled wheels reflected the light, the horizon opened wide, and clouds and rosy mists danced through the sky.

Throughout the entire kingdom, the land, river valleys, forests, and marshes became level and even, with no high or low places remaining. The ground was transformed into the appearance of purple jade, with no other colors anywhere. The perfected beings stood attending beside the seat, while the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning sat upright in midair. Beneath him appeared a nine-colored jeweled lotus, sending forth cinnabar radiance.

From the seat of Feiqiong—an immortal’s name, here referring to her place of honor—the scripture was expounded once, and the great sages of all the heavens praised it together. At that moment, the Dao nature of all the men and women in the kingdom was awakened, and they understood the subtle and mysterious principle.

When the scripture was expounded a second time, the divine abode—the dwelling place of spirits—poured forth a precious, springlike nectar. The third time, the subtle laws were revealed, spreading finely through the bodies and minds of all present. The fourth time, the paired lights—the sun, moon, and other luminous forms—turned toward the Dao of Primordial Beginning, and the Jade Passes, the body’s gateways in cultivation, came together. The fifth time, the wondrous transformations were perceived, and all things came into being naturally. The sixth time, harmonious Qi descended and encircled them, bringing them to the state of perfected immortals. The seventh time, the numinous merit reached far back to their ancestors, delivering them as well. The eighth time, the radiance from the Celestial Worthy’s body rose to the Great Luo Heaven and then descended to the Ninefold Darkness, ending the suffering of those in the long night and bringing the interrogations of the guilty in the cold palaces to a close. The ninth time, ghost officials and examining clerks were promoted and admitted to the ranks of immortals. The tenth time, all beings beneath the Three Realms saw the Way of Purple Light and Elixir Numen.

At that moment, all the men and women in the kingdom devoted themselves in faith. They were protected and delivered, and attained long life.

The scripture says: At that moment, the Primordial Heavenly Worthy expounded the scripture once, and the Great Spirit Qingyuan, of the immeasurable ranks in the east, arrived through the air with his countless attendants. When it was expounded a second time, the Great Spirit Tandan, of the immeasurable ranks in the south, arrived through the air with his countless attendants. The third time, the Great Spirit Haosu, of the immeasurable ranks in the west, arrived through the air with his countless attendants. The fourth time, the Great Spirit Xuanguang, of the immeasurable ranks in the north, arrived through the air with his countless attendants. The fifth time, the Great Spirit Zhenling, of the immeasurable ranks in the northeast, arrived through the air with his countless attendants. The sixth time, the Great Spirit Liubiao, of the immeasurable ranks in the southeast, arrived through the air with his countless attendants. The seventh time, the Great Spirit Shenjin, of the immeasurable ranks in the southwest, arrived through the air with his countless attendants. The eighth time, the Great Spirit Tianyuan, of the immeasurable ranks in the northwest, arrived through the air with his countless attendants. The ninth time, the Great Spirit Yuanluo, of the immeasurable ranks above, arrived through the air with his countless attendants. The tenth time, the Great Spirit Chongmiao, of the immeasurable ranks below, arrived through the air with his countless attendants.

When the ten recitations were complete, the Great Spirits of Purple Light and Elixir Numen from the immeasurable realms in the ten directions arrived together. The men and women of the kingdom devoted themselves in reverence and said to one another, “We have just heard this scripture…”

The practitioner then comprehends how the True Qi of the divine elixir moves. Through refining and nurturing it until it merges with their own being, they attain a state of lucid clarity and subtle accord with the Dao (the Way).

Afterward, those who attained the rank of Immortal Perfected Ones came in numbers like stars, dense mists, drifting clouds, and fine dust—countless beyond measure. So many gathered that half the land of a single kingdom could not bear their weight: the ground tilted and began to sink, and nothing could stop it. Then the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning suspended a precious pearl in the empty sky. It was no larger than a grain of millet and hung five zhang above the ground. The Celestial Worthy led the Heavenly Perfected Great Gods, the Supreme Sages and High Venerables, the Perfected Ones of Wondrous Practice, and the countless beings of the ten directions without limit—including the Great Gods of Purple Radiance and Elixir Spirits—into the pearl together. The heavenly and human beings looked up and saw everyone entering through its opening. Once they had gone inside, no one knew where they were. At once, the crowds in the kingdom dispersed, the ground became level again, and it no longer tilted or sank.

The Celestial Worthy then finished expounding the scripture within the pearl. The assembled Perfected Immortals supervised and bore witness to the work of salvation, and then transmitted this scripture to me. The joy and celebration of that moment defy description; the ritual proceedings described in the scripture were, in general, complete by this point.

Each of the heavens returned to its proper place. In an instant, all was silent, and no sound remained. At that time, heavenly beings and people of the world, through encountering this scripture and its teachings, were broadly saved and their natural lifespans preserved, without suffering harm. The people throughout the kingdom turned their hearts toward reverence. All drew near to the Dao of Ultimate Truth and nurtured Qi (vital energy), Shen (spirit), the Origin, Jing (essence), will, wonder, wisdom, form, life, and innate nature. Their bodies shone with radiance, and the cultivation of the sacred elixir was complete. People loved one another; even those of different surnames treated one another as family. The kingdom was at peace, the people prosperous, joyful, and content, and all under Heaven was tranquil.

The scripture began to spread through one kingdom. All who were sincere and committed in upholding it, and who worshipped it with reverence, could be saved and transcend worldly life and death.

The Daoist scripture says that the words and phrases used by the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning when expounding it were all the inner secret names and hidden sounds of the emperors of the heavens. They also included the concealed names of the Supreme Perfected Ones and sages of past generations. Those who recite and chant these scriptures receive the radiance of Purple Light and the protection of the Elixir Spirits for their souls; the meaning of the text remains incomplete from the phrase “Elixir Feeding and Nourishing” onward.

The sacred words that bring the Great One down are not ordinary speech. The High Sages have already attained the state of perfected beings, penetrated the mysteries, and explored the hidden depths; they can fully comprehend the passages and phrases of the scripture. When they recite it ten times, the heavens sing in response from afar, and the myriad emperors bow in homage. The gods gather their radiance and ascend into the realm of mystery; the Elixir Spirits bear clouds of Qi, the sun and moon attend them, and the stars stand in ranks at their sides. Demons are bound, ghosts and monsters are destroyed, the dead return to life, and bare bones become living people.

Those who practice this Way and recite it ten times will be guarded by the Five Emperors, while the Three Realms pay them homage. Demonic spirits lose their powers, and ghosts and monsters are destroyed. Even those at the point of death, whose breath has stopped, can be saved and brought back to life. This is because practitioners still carry impure Qi, and their bodies have not yet fully reached the true realm. They have not yet gained the power to command the ten directions and awe the ordinances of Heaven, nor can they yet use their De to command the earth spirits or bind demonic forces. Thus, they can only awaken the light of the Elixir and save the body; they cannot yet truly bring the dead back to life. To recite this chapter carelessly is instead to bring disaster upon oneself.

Those who make offerings to and honor this scripture will see their households prosper and flourish for generations. By cultivating ties with good deeds, they will be untouched by the ten thousand calamities, and the gods will guard their doorways. This scripture is supremely precious and mysterious, unique in the Jade Capital, the Daoist celestial realm. It can save people without limit; it is the root of the myriad Ways, its teachings are vast, and its grace beyond measure.

The scripture says: Whenever someone recites it ten times, all the heavens will gather, the inner light of the Elixir will appear of itself, and purple radiance will shield the body. The troubled souls of ancestors from every generation will at once be delivered and ascend to the Vermilion Palace in Heaven. After nine years of instruction there, they will be reborn as eminent people who delight in study and practice. When practitioners’ deeds are complete and their De fulfilled, they can all become immortals and receive the Jade Elixir from the Great One. They will thereby attain long life, ascend to the Golden Palace, and feast in the Jade Capital.

Those of advanced practice who study and recite this scripture will find their awakened nature bright and clear, while their original life force returns to the divine and perfected. The Jade Elixir will silently unite with them and purple radiance will rise; they will then be delivered at once and ascend to the Southern Palace. When people in the world receive and recite this scripture, Elixir fluids will arise naturally and flow into the Fetal Spirit, the spirit that governs fetal breath and life, thereby prolonging their years. In time, they may also master the Way of Corpse Liberation: their soul and spirit will temporarily leave the body, bypass the underworld, and take form again, traveling through the vast sky.

This scripture is subtle beyond measure and saves all without limit. All beings in Heaven and on Earth can receive boundless blessings; the living and the dead alike benefit from its grace. It is a scripture treasured by Heaven and must not be passed on to the unworthy. A true adept must prepare offerings such as gold and silk to show sincerity, and swear an oath before Heaven before receiving the transmission. To reveal it carelessly or treat it with disrespect will bring calamity upon nine generations of ancestors, condemning them to long service under the officials of the underworld. Thirty-two Jade Boys and thirty-two Jade Maidens serve the Five Emperors and protect this scripture and those who receive it.

The Dao Lord said: Fast for an extended period in the first month and recite this scripture. The Purple Light and Cinnabar Spirit—the numinous light and divine power described in the scripture—can then free departed souls from the suffering of the netherworld. After nine transformations, the souls of the dead from seven generations may attain the state of perfected beings, becoming worthy recipients of the highest deliverance. They may also escape service in the underworld and ascend to the Southern Palace.

Fast for an extended period in the seventh month and recite this scripture. The Purple Light and Cinnabar Spirit can then bring the true Dao into oneself, enabling one to bend and stretch freely and to cultivate an immortal body. The heavens will enter one’s name in the Yellow Registers and White Slips, the registers of the names of immortals and perfected beings in Daoism, freeing one from death and granting new life.

Fast for an extended period in the tenth month and recite this scripture. The Purple Light and Cinnabar Spirit, together with Taiyi, a revered deity in Daoism, will bestow talismanic writings and grant a Jade Elixir to protect the true Dao. This can bring peace to kings and rulers, to ministers and their sovereigns, and to fathers and sons; protect the state; and ensure the longevity of the realm and the continuity of its generations. It can also bring stability to the lands governed by the ruler and allow the people to enjoy peace.

Recite this scripture on the days of the Eight Festivals, the eight seasonal observances held in special regard in Daoism. The Purple Light and Cinnabar Spirit will open the eight gates of the furnace and reveal the nine palaces of the cauldron, under Taiyi’s direction. The practitioner may become a Perfected Being of the Nine Palaces.

Recite this scripture on your life-birth day, the day corresponding to your birth, and the Purple Light and Cinnabar Spirit will help you understand your original life-destiny and thereby attain the state of a perfected being. Your hun-soul and spirit will become clear and upright, and the various energies will endure forever; you will suffer no more distress. Your body will shine with light, guarded by attendants from the Three Realms and welcomed by the Five Emperors, while the myriad spirits come to pay homage. Your name will be entered in the celestial registers. When your merit is complete, you will ascend to Shangqing.

The Dao Lord said: On days when Daoist rites are performed, bathe in fragrant water, observe the fast, and enter a quiet chamber. Facing east, click your teeth thirty-two times to bring your intention up to the Thirty-Two Heavens, then perform thirty-two bows. Close your eyes and quietly imagine yourself seated amid clouds of purple, red, and yellow Qi. Inside and outside the chamber, all is dim and indistinct. The Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise, lions, and white cranes stand in rows to your left and right. Above your head is purple light. Within it is Taiyi’s Jade Elixir, shining red like the sun, round and the size of a pellet, cradled in divine clouds. Its radiance, like that of the sun and moon, illuminates the chamber and shines clearly in every direction. When the visualization is clear, silently recite the secret invocation:

“Supreme Lord of the Dao, Mysterious Origin, Most High Dao Lord, summon forth the Three-Five Merit Officers within my body; the envoys on my left and right; the Jade Youths who attend to incense; the Jade Maidens who convey words; the Five Emperors’ appointed talisman officers; and the incense officials on duty today, thirty-two of each. Have them convey and report the matter I speak of. Today is auspicious. In this pure fasting chamber, I cultivate this supreme scripture for delivering beings, boundless in its saving power. May the matter for which I pray be submitted and conveyed directly to the Most High Supreme Emperor of Primordial Beginning, seated before the honored throne of the Thirty-Two Heavens.”

When you have finished, draw in Qi thirty-two times, then face east and recite the scripture.