《靈寶無量度人上品妙經》Vol. 27

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning (Yuanshi Tianzun), a revered Daoist deity, saves all beings through boundless compassion. This scripture belongs to the “Upper Grade” of the Lingbao scriptures. Its chapter is titled “The Wondrous First Chapter of the Upper Grade, the Hidden Rhythm of the Nine Transformations for Delivering People through Purple Light and Cinnabar Spirit.”

The Jade Cinnabar comes into being naturally, blending within Dongxuan, the profound and mysterious realm of the Dao, where it shines with a clear, crimson radiance. The Highest Perfected Ones arise from it; through it, Heaven and Earth are brought into being, and the myriad spirits are nurtured and transformed. In the Mysterious Palace of Great Being, its light shines everywhere, opening the Nine Abysses and reaching through to the roots of Heaven. The Great One (Taiyi), the Daoist divinity or principle embodying the origin of the cosmos, moves in hidden subtlety, and from it the wondrous Qi of all things comes forth.

The cinnabar-red radiance gleams brightly, shining in fullness and illuminating all. It reaches outward into the emptiness of the four directions and embraces the Jade Infant, a name for a Daoist immortal or spirit. During the great cosmic kalpa of Primordial Beginning, the Five Planets take form, an occurrence regarded as a numinous auspice.

The realm of the Purple Pole is lofty and pure, its mountains solemn. The Supreme Mysterious Capital, a celestial palace, connects above to the Round Radiant Jade Palace. The spirits of the flying immortals move amid its vast banquet hall, while the pure and beautiful Jade Blossoms descend upon the imperial seat. The Qi of Primordial Beginning opens the vitality of all things. The Hall of Light in the Grand Tenuity and the Azure-Cloud Jade City guard the four directions, linking the hidden Qi of the eight directions. Below, they reach the constellations and descend upon the wondrous host of stars.

The majestic Supreme Emperor sits at ease within the Jade Enclosure. Among those present are the Perfected Ones of the Great Purple-Yang Pattern, the Lord of Flying Light at the Mysterious Pole, the Primordial Lady of Cinnabar Blossoms and Auspicious Talismans, the Perfected One of Numinous Insight and Supreme Wonder, and the Nine Subtle and Eightfold Way August Elders—revered gods who open Heaven, transform Qi, and govern life and nurture—along with the Cinnabar Spirits and other divine Perfected Ones.

The supreme celestial divinities govern the Pole of Heaven and deliver all beings. They uphold Heaven and Earth; together, the assembled sages open the way to life, proclaim the great teachings, rescue beings from calamity, and guide them back to the right path.

Today, the gods descend to receive ritual refinement and gather before the hall. In Daoist ritual, “refining the myriad gods as they descend” means inviting the deities to come down and receive offerings, prayers, and ritual invocations.

In the east, south, west, and north; in the northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest; above and below, in each direction are the Great Sages of Long Life, Kings of the Boundless Purple-Light Cinnabar Spirits, who universally deliver all beings.

The Supreme True Purple Radiance Elixir Spirits and Kings of the Ten Directions, along with the immeasurably great gods who grant long life and deliver beings from the world, all arrive riding flying clouds of purple light. They travel in precious chariots of crimson clouds and divine carriages of green jade. The carriages have square canopies and round wheels, and are drawn by white tigers, green phoenixes, and crimson luan birds. The Eight Primordial Spirit Emblems and bright, whirling feather banners are arranged in front. The Three Heavens’ grand procession clears the way, while ten thousand troops of Vermilion Yang follow to guard them.

The Jade Perfected Ones of Yudan walk through the air. Three Celestial Masters (Tianshi) clear their path, nine immortals hold up the carriage shafts, and countless chariots and horses come soaring through the sky. They gather in their radiance, turn their carriages around, bestow elixirs, and deliver living beings. The chancellor who commands the immortal officials, the Nine Jade Assistants of the Primordial Palace of Taiji, the Great Divine Lord of the August Elder, and others arrive together before the imperial palace, carrying tablets and documents. They respectfully review the teachings, liturgies, and rituals, then proclaim them throughout the netherworld.

Brahma energy—the sacred breath meant here—circulates among the Five Phases (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water). It flies wherever petitions are presented, opening and guiding the heavens, and making its message known throughout the immortal realms of Shenzhou and lands of spiritual wonder.

These places include grotto heavens and blessed lands; seas, mountains, rivers, and their sources; the offices of the Three Primordial Ones; transformed cities of the Nine Abysses; passes and central gateways; and such immortal realms as Langfeng, Kunlun, the Jade Towers, the Three Perfected Ones, the Mysterious Radiance Imperial Terrace, Jie Ren, and Miro.

The Great Scripture’s Jade Wheel Primordial Emperor issues an edict, commanding the immortals to ascend at the appointed time and open the way to deliver their ancestors, so that suffering souls may be saved. Their souls roam freely and attain release, rising with the light into the ranks of the immortals. After their substance is refined by jade radiance and their forms are cleansed by pure light, they can ascend to the Heaven of Flowing Fire, transform into immortal bodies, merge with the light, and endure forever in the Great Empyrean, moving with Heaven and Earth. Through the turning of karmic conditions, they remain undiminished for age after age, forever cut off from decline and calamity and overcoming the harms of adversity. They ascend beyond to Jade Void, receive transformation and nurture, pass through the realm of darkness, cross the threshold of life and death, and fly up to the Heaven of Crimson Enclosure. There, in the colorless grotto of elixir where the Heavenly Emperor dwells, they cultivate the Brahma way.

“Refining the substance with jade radiance” and “cleansing the form with pure light” describe souls being purified and transformed by divine light as they ascend to immortality. “Opening the way to deliver” refers to saving the souls of the dead through Daoist ritual.

Eight Heavens of the East

Heaven of the Bannered Chambers and Simple Palace — Heavenly Emperor Bowsong Sancang

Heaven of Celebrated Virtue and Manifested Signs — Heavenly Emperor Zhengche Yanliang

Heaven of Employing the Spirit and Concealing the Mystery — Heavenly Emperor Qi’an Kongchong

Heaven of Seeking the Mysterious and Hearing the Pure — Heavenly Emperor Shichi Ming

Heaven of Benefiting Yang and Opening Radiance — Heavenly Emperor Zhaoxian Tuxiu

Heaven of Victorious Harmony and Inquiring into the Ancestral Lineage — Heavenly Emperor Shuhong Yundu

Heaven of Descending Radiance and Utmost Light — Heavenly Emperor Guidong Yixian

Heaven of Honored Counsel and Pure Comportment — Heavenly Emperor Liangbu Yangji

Eight Heavens of the South

Heaven of Continuing the Scriptures, Guiding, and Aiding — Heavenly Emperor Jingfu Lexiang

(The original text ends here.)

This passage lists the names of heavenly realms and the titles of the Lords who correspond to each realm. Here, “heaven” refers to the celestial realms in the Daoist cosmology, and “emperor” refers to the Lord who dwells in the corresponding realm. Most of these titles are proper names and should not be interpreted character by character as ordinary phrases.

The preceding group of heavenly realms

Fire Cavern, Eminent and Flourishing Heaven, whose Lord is titled “Commanded One Who Quells Demons”;

Radiant Spirit, Controller of Bing Heaven, whose Lord is titled “Flowering Soul, Recorder of the Numinous”;

Singularly Still, Transformed and Submerged Heaven, whose Lord is titled “Certain Initiator, Patterned Loft”;

Pure Sage, Vast and Bright Heaven, whose Lord is titled “Seeking Passage, Awaiting Assembly”;

Ultimate Yang, Distant and Numinous Heaven, whose Lord is titled “Commander, Preserver, Humble Radiance”;

Pure Cultivation, Utmost Response Heaven, whose Lord is titled “Omen, Function, Without Division”;

Profound Darkness, Universal Abode Heaven, whose Lord is titled “Southern Party, Formula, Returning.”

The Eight Heavens of the West

Radiant and Vast, Compassionate and Restful Heaven, whose Lord is titled “Mengji Huqiu”;

Numinous Radiance, Supreme Spirit Heaven, whose Lord is titled “Zhuanduo Linzhu”;

Jade-Green Petals, Jeweled Jade Heaven, whose Lord is titled “Duomiao Tianbing”;

Fixed Register, Vermilion Palace Heaven, whose Lord is titled “Hutang Migong”;

Tiger Emblem, Examining Records Heaven, whose Lord is titled “A Han Lü Quan”;

Great Nonbeing, True Origin Heaven, whose Lord is titled “Chuneng Sheqi”;

Recorded Sovereign, Silent Root Heaven, whose Lord is titled “Yuezong Xiwan”;

Level Yu, Early-Waking Fields Heaven, whose Lord is titled “Ziyuan Jingban.”

The Eight Heavens of the North

Mysterious Dawn, Flourishing Transformation Heaven, whose Lord is titled “Diligent King”;

True Ultimate, Peaceful and Humble Heaven, whose Lord is titled “Li Wen Yigong”;

Spirit Prepared, Resting in You Heaven, whose Lord is titled “Release Qian, Second Opening”;

Dao Awakening, Roaming Spirit Heaven, whose Lord is titled “Establishing the Mysterious, Pond Lun”;

Jade Void, Han River Rosy Clouds, Keeper of the True Heaven, whose Lord is titled “Attaining, Not Repaying, Auspiciousness”;

Empyrean Ruins, Imperial Cycle, Purple Radiance Heaven, whose Lord is titled “Brief Abyss, Words, Gao”;

Cultured Reverence, Wise Members Heaven, whose Lord is titled “Ge Tu Xuan”;

Flourishing Capital, Ten Thousand Blossoms, Refined Ancestor Heaven, whose Lord is titled “Mao Jia Long Zhou.”

This section chiefly lists the heavenly realms and their Lords by direction. It is a genealogical-style catalogue of the Daoist celestial hierarchy; the specific meanings of these proper names cannot be determined from this passage alone.

The Thirty-Two Heavens each have thirty-two celestial emperors, and each emperor has a secret name. Together, these names form a wondrous and numinous text of the heavens, vast and natural. “Taiyi” holds a hidden rhythm that transforms into the sound of the Elixir Spirit. The revered Elixir Spirit, the Spirit of Purple Radiance, the Orthodox Lord of the Purple Radiance Jade Enclosure, and other deities set the Six Qi in motion, flying and transforming above the Nine Pure Heavens. Their divine wonders are immeasurable: they scatter the Three Blossoms and universally save and deliver both celestial beings and all living creatures.

Taiyi nurtures the people through Jade Elixir. Everyone has an original allotment of life, bestowed in truth by the Elixir Spirit. Its radiance is brilliant; entering the body, it enables a person to attain their true nature. Through long ages of tribulation, it endures as though in unbroken daylight, while living beings revolve through cycles of birth, death, and transformation.

Wulun, a divine name or honorific in the scripture, bestows a celestial book. From the Jade Terrace, he summons the True Spirits and commands the gods. Today, we gladly celebrate receiving deliverance and passing through trials. The myriad heavens together petition for the destruction of every kind of evil karma and the severing of evil at its roots. They set the Qi of the Five Phases (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) flying and circulating, raising it above the Great Darkness. The celestial offices inspect the registers of names and record merit.

The Immortal Officials and True Kings oversee the deliverance of the world. The Eastern Dipper protects life; the Western Dipper sends down spirits; the Southern Dipper registers lifespans; the Northern Dipper transforms Jing (essence) and Qi (vital energy); and the Central Dipper harmonizes the various Qi. The Azure Emperor brings all things to grow in season; the White Emperor governs Metal Qi; the Red Emperor commands the light of Fire; the Black Emperor rules generation; and the Yellow Emperor establishes the center and sets the foundation straight. As the upright Qi converges, it gives rise to precious elixirs. The Qi of the Nine Paths of the Elixir gathers and congeals into blue clouds. The Spirit Kings appear in the five directions: the Azure Cloud Spirit King Juechu; the Red Cloud Spirit King Mengdu Changqi; the White Cloud Spirit King Yuguang Lingchen; the Black Cloud Spirit King Zifei Mihui; and the Yellow Cloud Spirit King Jintan Lingxi. The Spirit Kings of the five directions are the root of the myriad Qi. They assist the celestial Elixir Spirit in traveling through the Nine Palaces, holding ceremonial staffs and tallies as they journey about, teaching and transforming.

In the high heavens, purple radiance shines brilliantly. All the sages together perform meritorious deeds, and Heaven saves living beings, opening the way to deliverance. The Spirit King of Northern Feng receives the command to sweep away ill omens: the Azure Dragon holds its place on the left, the White Tiger rears on the right, the Vermilion Bird clears the way ahead, and the Dark Warrior guards the rear. The Four Symbols encircle and form Elixir talismans and Cavern Treatises. The divine generals hurl fire bells and strike in all directions. Any demons or ghosts that invade the Yellow Chamber—the dwelling place of immortals or the realm of inner cultivation—are cut down with dark battle-axes. Celestial officers carry out the punishments, destroying monsters until their bodies and spirits disperse. Wind and fire surge up, countless heads are severed, and tens of millions are slain. Demons are unable to withstand the ordeal, ghosts cannot wreak havoc, and no evil spirits can take root. The Three Origins and Nine Offices rigorously inspect the celestial barracks, allowing no negligence or abuse. The gods swiftly send up memorials reporting what has happened, and proclaim it throughout the Three Realms, the netherworlds in every region, and the Nine Palaces. The Dark Master presents the record of merit to the Supreme Clarity.

The talismans of Supreme Clarity, the Great Register—a celestial collection of talismans and ritual registers—and the True Writings of the Most High gather the wondrous Qi of the sun, moon, and stars. Formed through the great tribulations of the ages, they possess a vast foundation like the dark peaks of Kunlun and the radiance of “the brightness of the great liquid.” From them arise mysterious transformations: flames blaze fiercely, Metal Qi rises, and red and white hues appear.

Once the Original Spirit (the human being’s original spiritual essence) has appeared, dense Original Qi fills the expanse of heaven, making the sky clear and boundless as it covers the Nine Depths, the deepest reaches of the netherworld. The Sovereign of the Great One (Taiyi), the supreme and unified source, dwells in the realm of the Cinnabar Spirit. Its Qi reaches upward to heaven and downward to earth; it is neither a visible form nor a thing of the abyss. As the wind Qi moves into the place of utmost Yin, the source of divine illumination stirs within emptiness and stillness.

The source of divine illumination joins with the Great Dao, establishing countless layers of heaven. Above and below, scenes rise and sink, shifting and changing. The light of the Original Beginning stretches without end, while the Jade Ultimate—the highest celestial realm—has neither form nor appearance. Amid undivided chaos, the Mysterious Cinnabar of the Great One (a divine elixir condensed from the Qi of the Great One) turns.

In the era of the Red Radiance Sovereign (a celestial age described in Daoist scriptures), golden splendor shines brightly, spreading throughout the vast Celestial Capital. When the Precious Jade Chapters of the Original Beginning (treasured scriptures transmitted by the Celestial Worthy of the Original Beginning) join with the Red Writs and Precious Talismans (sacred Daoist writings and Fulu), they enable people to unite their Qi and become immortals, bring peace to the nine directions, and extend their years. Brahma Qi (sacred energy of the celestial realm) surges and flows, encircling and interweaving with itself.

Purple light disperses and becomes the warp and weft. The Primordial Wind circulates and transforms, forming thirty-six gateways that move through the Great Void and weave everywhere to form the foundation of life. The pivot that binds the workings of heaven and earth turns; the celestial ordinances revolve, and the flying wheel moves. Sixty-nine kinds of Qi gather and govern the Three Origins (different levels of primordial energy, such as those of heaven, earth, and humanity) and the Two Luminaries (the sun and moon). They accord with the celestial mandates of the netherworld, and their Qi descends to the Mysterious Spring, a deep and wondrous source.

Within the Mysterious Spring, the Imperial Dao of the Most True realm is vast and lofty. The Eight Powers and Ten Thousand Radiances spread without end, guarding and stabilizing heaven and earth. The Seven Passes and Four Dimensions—the gates and directions of the cosmos—stand firm and endure, level with heaven.

Clouds gather thickly in the Crimson Empyrean, their radiance shining without wavering. The Sovereign One, the Three Emperors, and the Qi of the Great Cavern circle and return. The Wind Master, Shi Yuying, the Thousand-Scenery Mysterious Youth, and other spirits move in concert. A thousand currents converge and ten thousand forms harmonize, and the True Person is cultivated naturally. Within the True Person there are spirits, dwelling as the honored lords of the myriad realms.

The Purple Radiance True Person is the highest spirit of the Cinnabar Heaven. The Great Emperor of Longevity, the Jade Lord of Azure Florescence, Taiyi Wuyou, the Director of Fate, and the spirits Wuying, Baiyuan, and Chizi subdue the Po (corporeal soul) and restrain the Hun (ethereal soul). Taokang and Heyan disperse Qi and nourish Jing, oversee registers and set the inner gateways in motion, protecting and guiding the people of heaven. They travel above through the Clear Tenuity Heaven and dwell within the realm of Luminous Jade.

The Great Scripture Hall of the Precious Cavern of the Supreme Ultimate—the celestial palace and repository of scriptures in Daoist teaching—guards the interior of the human body. It regulates the six viscera and five palaces (the body’s organs and the abodes of its spirits), governs the hundred spirits, and unites body, mind, and Qi, enabling ascension.

The ten verses of the “Cavern Chapter” (hymns from the scriptures of the celestial caverns) say:

Those who cultivate together with Original Qi can become immortals; the essential thing in cultivating the Dao is to refine the True Cinnabar. Purple Radiance guides people across, the divine furnace turns, the eight gates open, and the three wheels of the heavens revolve.

The precepts are set forth, and the causes and conditions of cultivation in past lives are explained. All people can receive opening and deliverance, and escape immeasurable suffering.

Having received life in this world, one can preserve the body and rise with the whole being. Ascend to the Jade Enclosure, the celestial jade gate, so that all beings may each attain their wishes.

The merit of the Cinnabar Spirit is vast; even the hosts of demons sing its praises. These are verses from the Ninefold Florescence Hidden Chapters, secret celestial scriptures transmitted by the High Perfected.

Chapter One: The Sound of the Purple Radiance Cinnabar Spirit Soaring Through the Void

In the heavenly valley, the spirit spring

turns true light into crimson clouds;

flying rosy mists draw in the radiance.

Cloud Qi fills the Nine Abysses,

circles Kunlun,

and gathers myriad scenes into an immortal realm.

It rises into the purple void.

Qi flows into and through itself, refining and intertwining;

wondrous existence and emptiness merge.

Lower the breath and form the Mysterious Elixir. As the Mysterious Elixir transforms and brings forth life, it opens the true gate of the Limitless. Nine rays of divine light shine upon Mount Feng, revealing the true accomplishment. Open the way for seven generations of ancestors, so that they may receive the radiant splendor and ascend to the dawn immortals’ realm in flying jade chariots. Golden radiance transforms their bodies as they roam the lofty reaches of the eight directions, forever transcending the abodes of the immortals, their blessings flowing without end.

Second: Chapter of the Purple Radiance, Elixir Spirit, and Immortal King

Jade clouds rise between the walls of Heaven’s constellations, nurturing infant spirits with the Qi of the Nine Harmonies. The Elixir Inscription guides people to the higher Way. Pearllike brilliance wells up in the Celestial Pivot, the dwelling of the Heavenly Emperor; the Great Treasure of Taihua transforms into the Jade Capital, the city of the immortals. The teachings of the Mysterious Origin Ancestor shine forth in splendor. Within the human body abides the image of the Primordial Beginning, concealing the utmost essence. Essence and Qi transform, blending in mysterious harmony and raising people to the Realm of the August Ning.

The true Qi of the Primordial Beginning opens the source of life and establishes its foundation. Blue-green jade, swirling waters, and crystal jade are washed and arrayed, then coalesce into a jade-like radiance. Stars race across the Crimson Heaven. The three luminaries—the sun, moon, and stars—circulate and revolve, with fire bells spinning alongside them. The Emperor’s Qi is vast and boundless; the city of kalpas towers high. The two primal forces of Yin and Yang unite in resonance, while the Great Simplicity, the original undifferentiated Qi, forms the body. Heaven and Earth are settled everywhere and will not collapse, even after countless kalpas.

Third: Song of the Purple Radiance, Elixir Spirit, and True King

The Golden Gate opens the wondrous spirit portal, and true light shines throughout the heavens. Countless immortals gather in the Heavenly Emperor’s palace; bells ring as drifting smoke curls through the air. Sing once, and the myriad spirits are summoned; sing again, and the assembled perfected immortals descend.

The boundless expanse of Heaven and Earth becomes a circular realm in the eight directions, while pearl towers rise high in the jeweled immortal court. The Most High governs the myriad spirits. The Primordial Beginning commands Bohua to hasten to the realm of purple dawn radiance. The Way of Long Life gives rise to the true sprout, a symbol of the vital energy or spiritual bud cultivated through practice. Mysterious teachings are hidden within the Mysterious Peak, and clouds and rosy mists circle through the azure sky. The divine perfected sit upright amid the Nine Heavens; nine tiers of gates stand in rows at Tianyong. The sun and moon are arrayed on either side, while layers of clouds gather below.

Purple radiance transforms into the Elixir Spirit, and immortals dance in dragon-patterned jade chariots. The Jade Pure Emperor appears spontaneously. Qiongyue respectfully invites the Primordial Venerable to proclaim the Way of the Jade Elixir and the Heavenly Text of the Great One, transmitted by the deity Taiyi.

May all beings in the realms of the heavens awaken to the wondrous Dao and become people who live by the Way. May this great Dharma bridge be established, so that the right Way endures forever.

These are the sounds sung by the True King of the Void above the Three Realms; they resonate with the Dongzhang. Recite them a hundred times, and your name may reach the Southern Palace. Recite them a thousand times, and the True King will protect and welcome you. Recite them ten thousand times, and the Daoist teachings will be perfected: you will ascend through the Great Void, transcend the Three Realms, and take your place among the immortal officials. If someone hears these numinous sounds, the True King will honor that person and command the earth spirits to guard and escort them, helping them escape the gates of hell and avoid the five sufferings and eight calamities. Their ancestors for seven generations will also ascend, forever leaving the Northern Yin, their souls carried to Zhuling, where the dead are refined and delivered into renewed life. This is called universal salvation without measure or end.

This scripture is a secret text kept by Heaven and revered by all the heavens. Anyone who divulges it or treats it with contempt will fall into hell, bringing calamity upon their ancestors for seven generations.

The Dao says: The two chapters above are secret sounds preserved by the Heavenly Emperors and the Purple Radiance and Vermilion Spirit. Those who can understand the Jade Elixir of the Great One—the inner alchemical method of the Great One’s Dao—and nourish and protect it as the root of their life force, keeping it from being obscured or corrupted by Yin impurity and falsehood, can return to the source within. Purple radiance illumines the heart, enabling one to perceive things in advance. What is called a “provisional name” is merely a designation placed in the heart; it is neither the heart itself, nor Shen, the Elixir, or the numinous. Once the Mysterious Pass, the gateway to the wondrous, is freed from constraint, understanding brings attainment of the Dao. After attaining the Dao, the heart itself is the Dao, and Shen, the Elixir, and the numinous all accord with it. There is then no hindrance in coming and going between life and death. In the heavenly palaces above, one follows one’s nature and wanders in freedom and joy. Such a person is called a Perfected One, or an immortal. The ascension of one’s ancestors for seven generations and their lasting freedom are words of the Great Brahma, the source of the Great Dao, not ordinary worldly speech. Its words have no pleasing meter, and its melodies no ornate embellishment; therefore it is called mysterious and difficult to understand. This is a scripture treasured by Heaven and kept in the eastern chamber of the treasure house in the palace of the High God of Jade Clarity in the Divine Empyrean. By established ordinance, it is to be transmitted below only once every thirty-seven thousand years, when the time is ripe. Only after a true adept has offered gold and jewels as tokens of trust, shown sincerity, and sworn an oath before the Ten Heavens according to ancient ordinance may the scripture be entrusted to them.

The Dao says: The workings of Heaven and Earth have times of decline and ending; the Sun, Moon, and five planets wax and wane. Even the holiest divine beings may meet with adverse fortune. If beginners encounter calamities such as illness or injury, all fellow practitioners facing such troubles should join together to perform a purification retreat, observe the required rites, burn incense six times daily, and recite the scripture ten times in succession. Then blessings and De will quickly descend, dispelling every ill omen. This immeasurable scripture can save all beings without end.

The Dao Lord said: Some people take up the study of the Dao late, have made little progress in cultivation, or have not yet completed the merit recorded in the registers of the immortals. When their allotted time comes and their bodies are about to die, fellow practitioners who have attained the Dao may burn incense and recite scriptures for them as the souls of the deceased pass through the Great Yin (the underworld). After reciting the scripture ten times, they can perform the rite to deliver the deceased. If the rite is carried out according to the method, the Taiyi spirit in the Niwan Palace—the dwelling place of the spirit in the head—whose hidden name is “Chongming” and whose celestial characters are “Youliao,” will keep the deceased from scattering the essence of the Jade Elixir within his body. He will restore him to life, and his soul and spirit will ascend directly to the Southern Palace. Then, according to the merit he accumulated through cultivating the Dao in life, the number of days will be calculated so that he may be reborn. Passing through successive cycles without losing his way, he will eventually become an immortal.

The Dao Lord said: The cycles of Heaven and Earth are nearing their end; the stars move in disorder, the sun and moon lose their light, the seasons fall out of sequence, and Yin-Yang loses its balance. Disasters strike within the borders of the realm, poisonous epidemics spread, and the people suffer death and injury. When teachers and friends are nearing the end of their lives, and fellow practitioners too are struck by calamity, all should observe purification rites, burn incense, and recite scriptures. The merit of observing purification rites and precepts, and reciting scriptures, is immense: above, it can dispel calamities in Heaven and protect and bring stability to the emperor; below, it can drive away poisonous afflictions and spare the people from disaster. Both the living and the dead can receive its blessings. This merit is beyond measure, and so it is called “universal deliverance of Heaven and humanity without limit.”

The Dao Lord said: Whoever possesses this scripture and performs these meritorious deeds for Heaven and Earth, the emperor, and the people should resolve to observe purification rites and burn incense on the day calamity strikes, and recite the scripture ten times. All the heavens will enter their name in their registers, and the gods will protect them. They may hope to become one who has attained the Dao and a minister in the Golden Palace of the Sage Lords, the celestial palace. The heavens record people’s merits and faults, leaving out nothing, however small. The True Kings of Heaven will also recommend and protect you. Only those who have attained the Dao can truly understand these profound principles.

The Great Brahmā’s Hidden Words and Boundless Sounds among the Heavens—Composed by the Dao Lord

Jade Text of the Primordial Beginning, Purple Radiance, and Elixir Spirit

The Eight Heavens of the East

乙罗刹宾　虔敬长跪　秘藏隐没

高牙辇绥　持仗刚毅　瑶真元岐

洞岳敕玉　琅卿简瓖　幽流互曾

越田正催　颇惟泽柄　推察冥稽

赵品逸铎　梁辞变机　郝完赐钩

洪延伯龟

The Eight Heavens of the South

品慈盈菌　戛和凌京　燕翳洛巅

祝勿幻平　离皇远寅　欹轮夷恒

旦奏屏约　车涂石扃　道辩驿别

熙都索明　庆备河湄　奚梅赵真

“The Great Brahmā’s Hidden Words and Boundless Sounds among the Heavens” and the following “Jade Text of the Primordial Beginning, Purple Radiance, and Elixir Spirit” are celestial hidden words and symbolic writing found in Daoist scriptures. The original divisions have been preserved above; they cannot be translated with certainty as ordinary prose.

Remember Yi Mengbi, Wu Ling Jiao Bing, Chi Zhan Hutuo, and Mo Qiu Mochun.

The Eight Heavens of the West

Jiao Feiqiong Ge, Li Benri Ji, Lun Zhu Mingxi; Yan Min Cijun, Chang Yi Bingfu, Yan Pi Jiangxun; Mi Lu Hu Mo, Yu Tang Yimen, Cha Luo Zhengfan; Yi Bi Cuochun, Qin Pou Yaobi, Biao Fan Jiao Bing; Chan Di Weimei, Dou Niu Shengxing, Jun Zhi Yangwei; Yun Zuo Changcheng.

The Eight Heavens of the North

Guan Shi Shichang, Lian Jiang Yixiao, Bi Duan Yougen; Xia Ji Bianhao, Yuan Qu Chibing, Ji Xue Mingdao; Zheng Shuang Jintao, Qi Nan Weishang, Jian Zuo Huadi; Jing Yan Qiuxing, Ding Qiang Bafang, Zu Ying Youqing; Lü Ming Shiyi, Jiao Ang Buting, Dui Lin Qiyu; Jue Shu Liaoling.

The scripture says: In these heavenly realms are immeasurable “Great Brahma hidden words”—profound, secret sounds of heaven that cannot be explained in ordinary language. In ancient times, the scripture was inscribed on the left door of the Golden Gate in the Purple Radiance, Cinnabar Spirit Pavilion of the Palace of the Jade Purity King of the Lofty Empyrean. There it was used to seal an oath with the assembled Perfected Ones. It was also transmitted to the Palace of the Eastern Pole for those who had already become Perfected, so that they might understand the wondrous Dao. Each character was ten zhang tall. The Celestial Perfected Emperor and the High Perfected Dao Lord once recorded these characters to establish their correct pronunciation.

If someone knows these sounds and can observe purification and recite them, the heavens will send Flying Celestial Spirit Kings to descend and examine that person. They will record the person’s merits and diligent practice and report them to the heavens. The myriad spirits will come to pay homage, the earth deities will stand beside the gate, and the Great Merit Perfected King will recommend the person, enabling them to ascend. Once their cultivation and deeds are complete, they will be able to travel among the Three Realms and rise through the Golden Gate.

These sounds can dispel evil and impurity everywhere, ward off calamities, and deliver living beings; there is nothing they cannot accomplish. They are the natural sounds of the Celestial Perfected. Thus, reciting them causes the great demons to descend and observe, the Supreme Emperor to respond from afar in song, and the myriad spirits to come in homage and attend. The host of demons bows its head, and ghosts and monsters disperse of their own accord. The clear resonance of the recitation spreads, and the Ten Directions fall into solemn stillness. Rivers and seas grow silent; the mists vanish from mountains and peaks. The myriad numinous beings are awed into submission, and the gathered immortals are summoned to attend. In heaven there are no dark clouds or foul vapors; on earth there is no demonic evil or dust of defilement. The hidden realms and the realm of wisdom alike become wholly clear and luminous, vast and wondrously profound.

Note: The phrases listed above under “The Eight Heavens of the West” and “The Eight Heavens of the North” are the hidden Brahma sounds mentioned in the scripture. They are intended primarily for recitation, rather than being ordinary phrases, and therefore cannot be translated character by character into plain language with definite meanings.