《靈寶無量度人上品妙經》Vol. 31

“The Chapter on Longevity and Long Life”

The scripture says: In the past, within the Beginning Blue Heaven, one of the heavens described by Daoism, there was a celestial realm called the Vermilion Radiance, Jade Brilliance, Grotto of Truth, Transformed Earth Heaven. At the edge of the heavens stood the Great Dark and Joyful Heaven, known as the “Heaven of Long Life.” There dwelt the Emperor Lord of Great Longevity. He resided in the Vermilion Jade Palace and the Crimson Cloud Jade Hall, surrounded by purple clouds and fragrant yellow mist. In his treasure chambers, mountains and rivers, woods and trees, drifting mists and rosy clouds, wind and dew all shimmered with the radiance of clear rainbows and crimson clouds. His immortal officials, divine functionaries, assistants, and record-keepers numbered in the hundreds of millions.

To the east, this celestial realm was joined to the Eastern Meng Palace and the Purple Pole Heaven, as well as the Platform of Bright Truth and the Hall of Rare Jade. To the west, it was joined to the Palace of Harmonizing with the Celestial Sovereign and the Radiant Scenery Heaven, as well as the Platform of Numinous Treasure and the Hall of Great Harmony. Clouds of the Nine Lights of Pure Subtlety descended from above to support and cover the realm, while lofty vapors of sea-glow and jade-green jasper gathered to form a seat. The place was spacious and bright, and among the heavens it was called the “Land of Utmost Bliss.”

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning, a revered Daoist deity, was about to expound this scripture and reveal the great method for attaining longevity and long life. Seated on a five-colored lion throne in the Beginning Blue Heaven, he gazed across the distance toward the Great Dark and Joyful Heaven, on the horizon of the Jade Brilliance Heaven, where the Emperor Lord of Great Longevity dwelt. The Emperor Lord was an elder of the lineage of the Supreme Emperor of Primordial Beginning, and his blessings and De were complete. The Celestial Worthy therefore entrusted him with this mission, commanding him to preach the scripture to the beings of the ten directions and to all living creatures, and to reveal the essentials of long life and the transformation from ordinary person to sage.

The Emperor Lord of Great Longevity silently understood the Celestial Worthy’s profound and hidden intention. He then rose and ordered the attendant celestial officials, scripture-serving officials, incense officials, jade boys and girls, and all their departments, together with the immeasurable hosts of heaven and the assembled immortals, to proceed to the Vermilion Radiance, Dark Grotto, Hall of Southern Prolonged Peace.

The immortals gathered before the Jade-Stacked Seat of the Supreme Great Dharma. The Child of Numinous Vermilion Elixir climbed the Tower of Supporting Hope and sounded the Spotted Dragon Thunder Drum. The Jade Maiden of Yan Cave climbed the Tower of Twin Lights in Clear Emptiness and struck the Divine Golden Bell of the Nine Cuts of the Yellow Court. The holy assembly came together, and all heaven celebrated. The Emperor Lord of Great Longevity was about to expound the wondrous teaching. He circled the assembly ten times to summon living beings from the ten directions. Just as he was about to ascend the seat, countless beings—including divine perfected ones of heaven, supreme sages and exalted worthies, and perfected adepts of wondrous practice—rode upon…

From the void, wondrous breaths and flowing rays of light arise spontaneously, surging straight into the clouds and illuminating the eight directions to form a perfect celestial vision. The scene shines brilliantly: banners, canopies, and carriages appear, and the nine colors of light blend together, transforming into countless forms. The figures of a thousand kinds of perfected spirits shine in one another’s radiance. Dragons and phoenixes reveal their iridescent light, while mountains and waters take shape. All things change without obstruction; their appearing and disappearing follow no fixed pattern.

Palaces, terraces, gardens, music, and various ritual instruments all come into view. The assembled host hold aloft banners and carry tally tokens, symbols of ceremonial rank and authority. Riding amid cloudlike mists, they arrive in a radiant Dao realm beneath the clear light of dawn.

The perfected beings stand in attendance. The Lord Emperor of Long Life, a revered deity who governs longevity, sits upright in the void upon a red lotus throne of crimson essence. The throne undergoes nine transformations and seven changes. When the Emperor expounds the scripture once, purple celestial light shines back, revealing the talismanic script of the heavens. When he expounds it twice, the Jade Capital sends forth crystalline radiance, transforming into a billion different scenes. When he expounds it three times, the Dao realm becomes transparent in the void, and people are able to see the Source. When he expounds it four times, the spirits reveal their true forms, and all beings attain long life. When he expounds it five times, the Jade Emperor opens a precious case and reveals a sacred talisman, prolonging life. When he expounds it six times, the wind sighs through the forest of jade trees, as though it were becoming a formless Brahma realm. When he expounds it seven times, the numinous waters grow clear, and the dark blue sea becomes the same color as the sky. When he expounds it eight times, the radiance of the sun and moon mingles, while red clouds drift by, fragrant with perfume. When he expounds it nine times, the course of the Dao continues without end, and the years of Heaven are long. When he expounds it ten times, sacred mushrooms gather into a traylike cluster, and sweet dew falls throughout the air.

At that time, men and women throughout the land all wholeheartedly trust and accept the teaching. All receive its protection and salvation, and all attain long life.

The scripture says: When the Lord Emperor of Long Life expounds the scripture once, the countless ranks of Great Gods of Long Life from the boundless Eastern Realm, accompanied by their innumerable retinues, ride through the air and arrive. When he expounds it twice, the countless ranks of Great Gods of Long Life from the boundless Southern Realm, with their innumerable retinues, ride through the air and arrive. When he expounds it three times, the countless ranks of Great Gods of Long Life from the boundless Western Realm, with their innumerable retinues, ride through the air and arrive. When he expounds it four times, the countless ranks of Great Gods of Long Life from the boundless Northern Realm, with their innumerable retinues, ride through the air and arrive. When he expounds it five times, the countless ranks of Great Gods of Long Life from the boundless Northeastern Realm, with their innumerable retinues, ride through the air and arrive. When he expounds it six times, the countless ranks of Great Gods of Long Life from the boundless Southeastern Realm, with their innumerable retinues, ride through the air and arrive. When he expounds it seven times, the countless ranks of Great Gods of Long Life from the boundless Southwestern Realm, with their innumerable retinues, ride through the air and arrive…

The Great Deity of Longevity and countless divine beings floated through the air from a distant place. When the scripture was recited for the eighth time, the limitless Great Deity of Longevity and countless divine beings arrived from the northwest. At the ninth recitation, the divine beings above came; at the tenth, those below arrived.

When the ten recitations were complete, the limitless Great Deities of Longevity from the ten directions arrived all at once. The men and women of the whole kingdom turned their hearts toward them in reverence. Those who came were as numerous as clouds rising among ten thousand mountains and waves surging through a thousand rivers. The divine host’s presence thundered like a sea in upheaval, filling the heavens and layering over the land around the capital, impossible to hold back.

Then the Great Emperor of Longevity raised his hand toward the south, and a hundred billion rays of precious light appeared in the sky. Within each ray was a world. In every world stood hundreds or thousands of pavilions: some nestled against mountains and waters, half-hidden among trees; others stood on high ground, in cities, beside streams, or in open country.

People saw the immortals fly through the air and walk upon empty space, while water and fire burst forth together. Some rode dragons and drove chariots as they traveled through the divine realm; others rode phoenixes and ascended into the clouds, suddenly soaring far away. The people gathered around them, gazing up at the divine beings and longing to hear their teaching. They hoped in this way to be delivered in this life, behold the Way of longevity, escape the net of worldly law, rise into the realm of the true sages, understand the principles of the Great Vehicle, and completely forget the habits acquired after birth.

The Great Emperor of Longevity led the divine beings of Heaven, the highest sages and exalted lords, the perfected beings of Purple Void, and the limitless deities of enduring life and long vision from the ten directions, all ascending together to the divine realm. The heavenly and human beings looked up and gave themselves over in reverence. Thus they saw clearly the root of the Dao: it does not change and cannot perish; it is the primordial One Qi, the original vital energy described in Daoist teachings. Whoever obtains it can endure through endless kalpas.

Turn inward to contemplate the five parts of the body, and outward to behold the myriad forms. The light of the sun and moon shines together without end. The root of what is called longevity lies in the Dao, and the Dao itself has never been subject to birth or death.

When life can endure without perishing, the realm one can perceive becomes deep and boundless. To fully perceive the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing), the highest divine realm in Daoism, one must seek liberation from birth and death: death can be transformed into life, and by gazing for a long time into the formless realm, one can give form to the Way of the Limitless. Gather the spirit, quiet the breath, and silently observe nature. Then one will understand that within birth and death there is no true, unchanging birth or death. People fall into the cycle of birth and death and cannot escape it only because they cling to things through delusion. This is because they have not observed for long enough. When one can sustain one’s contemplation, the mind and spirit become settled. When they are settled, what one perceives is real, and the realm of the Dao appears naturally. The eighty-one heavens, too, become clear as day, as if laid out in the palm of one’s hand.

Living beings cannot live long and see far because forces such as punishment, restriction, ruin, and extinction damage their Qi. When the mind confuses being with nonbeing and truth with illusion, and clings to birth and death, the body changes along with it. If the mind unites with the Dao, and the Dao merges mysteriously with the divine, one can preserve the spirit and forget distracting thoughts, allowing the Dao to endure. The Great Tenuity Jade Talisman, a Daoist Fulu, can prolong life and harmonize the body, preventing harm to Qi. The Nine Immortals’ Mysterious Register, also a Daoist Fulu, can make contemplation sustained and complete. When contemplation is complete, one can see the Dao. When the Dao appears, it remains with the person in both body and spirit. The Precious Talisman of Long Life keeps a person’s Dao nature from changing.

Forget distracting thoughts and preserve the original spirit: then wondrous transformations have no fixed limit. In the worlds of the ten directions and the wondrous, empty realm of the Eight Luminaries, those who attain the Dao can live long and contemplate enduringly, as a natural consequence. Though the myriad phenomena rise and fall, they all pass away in time. Only the realm of the Great Emperor of Long Life is immeasurable and boundless; his Dharma body is infinite, his grace and efficacy inexhaustible, and his transformations unfold in an instant.

When the Great Emperor of Long Life appears, he is as near as one’s eyebrows and eyelashes. If the heavenly beings of every kind can understand this great teaching of the Dao, they can ride clouds and dragons, traveling through the empty realm. The vastness of space in the ten directions seems no larger than a grain of millet. The perfected immortals teach people in ways suited to the moment, as well as through truths that accord with the Great Dao. They enable people to transcend the ordinary and attain the Jade Clarity Heaven, one of Daoism’s highest heavens, reaching the ultimate state of the Realized Ones.

When the scripture had been delivered, the assembled perfected immortals received its transformative teaching and bore witness to it. Their joy and celebration at that time were beyond words. Once the ritual was largely complete, the divine beings of the heavens each returned to their proper place. In an instant, all around fell silent, and no sound remained.

At that time, all the heavenly beings who encountered the scriptures and teachings were saved. They attained long life and far-reaching vision, dwelling together with the Dao. The people of every land turned their hearts toward it in reverence and together settled in a state beyond the cycle of birth and death: there was no birth or death, youth or old age, illness, decline, suffering, or extinction. There was no contrived action or delusion, speech did not stray from what was balanced and right, and no evil words passed from anyone’s mouth. All shared a loving heart; even people of different surnames were as close as kin. The states were at peace, the people prosperous, and all rejoiced in a life of peace and stability. When the scriptures and teachings first spread and transformed a land, anyone with sincere devotion who honored and revered the Great Dao could be saved and rise beyond the secular world.

The Daoist scripture says: What the Great Emperor of Long Life speaks in the scripture consists entirely of the inner names and hidden sounds of the heavenly emperors. They are also the Great Emperor of Long Life’s inner name and the secret names of the spirits, not words used in everyday life. These names are known only to the accomplished High Sages…

The perfected person who has attained the Dao penetrates its mysteries and probes its hidden subtleties, fully grasping the meaning of the scripture. When it is recited ten times, the heavens sing in response from afar, and the myriad Celestial Emperors bow in reverence. The Three Luminaries—the sun, moon, and stars, as celestial lights in Daoist thought—move in their proper courses, and the Five Phases flow in harmony without overcoming one another. The Qi of the Dao, its primordial vital energy, grows naturally, allowing life to endure without decline. Through prolonged contemplation, one becomes deep and still like rivers and seas, lofty and substantial like mountains; even the sun and moon bestow their vital essence.

The Celestial Pivot shines brilliantly. Demons are bound, and ghosts, monsters, and malign spirits are destroyed. Those who practice the Dao through Wuwei (non-action) can preserve their lives and remain free from ruin.

When a practitioner devoted to the Dao recites the scripture ten times, the Five Emperors stand guard, the Three Realms bow before them, and numinous Qi comes to their aid; nothing is beyond accomplishment. Even someone suffering from a grave, chronic illness and close to death may use Qi to recover their vitality. This is the true power of the Dao, by which life naturally continues. Those whose Shen and Qi have been cut off may, through it, live again.

This happens because the practitioner resonates with and accords with the Great Dao, remaining constantly in harmony with life and attuned to Dongzhen, the profound and true Dao. They can summon and subdue the powers of the celestial realms in the ten directions, allowing heavenly light to enter the body. Through prolonged contemplation of the Jade Capital, the celestial palace, and silent reverence for the Supreme Emperor, they gather in and subdue demonic essences. As Qi circulates and the body and mind undergo transformation, the Dao of life is renewed ever more deeply, and the roots of the Seven Emotions, the Six Desires, and deluded thoughts are severed forever. Through long practice, the Five Viscera and the whole body become like a bright mirror. The hundred spirits reveal their forms and impart essential formulas for cultivation. Riding alongside the spirits in their carriage, the practitioner enters and serves beside the imperial procession.

To recite this scripture carelessly brings calamity upon the body. Those who make offerings to it and honor it will bring prosperity to their household and flourishing across generations, with good bonds continuing from one generation to the next. Every kind of calamity will be kept at bay, and the spirits will guard the household gates. This scripture is exalted and subtle, unique in the Jade Capital. It can save beings far and wide and is the root of the myriad paths. Its greatness and breadth, and the blessings it bestows, are beyond full description.

The scripture says that whenever it is recited ten times, all the heavens will descend together to inspect and confirm the reciter’s name in the register of the living. They will ensure that the reciter no longer falls into great evil or suffers the burden of offenses in the underworld. So long as one upholds the Dao and keeps the heart upright, the spirits will come to guard the body. The body will attain longevity and endure for a long time, even through the years of the later world.

Those who have never heard the Great Dao experience daily shifts in anger and joy. Water and Fire overcome one another, while Metal and Wood become entangled; true Water can no longer nourish life or restrain the heat. Only when Water rises and Fire descends is the Great Dao attained and the way to ascending to immortality made possible. When the heart is calm, Fire descends and lies hidden in the Great Abyss, the deep interior. When anger surges within, Fire burns the body and spreads in every direction. By understanding the principles of longevity and entering the mysterious realm, one can move through water as freely as across its surface and handle pearls with ease. One can also dwell beneath the Nine Springs without being harmed by scorching flames; even after being tempered by Fire, a body as hard as adamant remains firm for a long time. The methods for using Water and Fire can be transmitted only by sages.

There is also a true Earth, called “Nature.” Nature itself has no awareness, yet it enables all things to grow.

The deep and elusive Dao-body moves between activity and stillness without interruption. Heaven, Earth, and the Three Realms all arise from the natural Dao; the natural Dao becomes Earth, and Earth in turn changes without end. All things emerge from the vast and distant source of nature, continuing to generate life without pause and enduring as long as the Dao. If practitioners can contemplate the Nine Palaces within themselves and draw on the powers of such spirits as Wuying, Baiyuan, and Huanglao, joining their own spirit and vital essence, they can understand the Way to long life. The Great Emperor uses five chapters of cloud writings and jade books to gather in the breath, enabling people to ascend to immortality. Those in the world who uphold and recite this scripture can extend their years and, in the end, attain the Dao through corpse liberation—the Daoist release from the body through which one attains the Way.

Once cultivation is complete, the body transforms and ascends to the Mysterious Realm; the adept breathes the fierce winds and rides the Six Dragons. Nanhe bestows a warrant of investiture, and the Azure Emperor grants an immortal youth. This scripture is subtle and wondrous, and saves all beings without limit; through it, every celestial and human being can receive blessings and good fortune. The Three Realms are graced by it. This is a scripture cherished by Heaven and must not be passed casually to people in the world. A true adept must prepare gold, silk, and precious objects, then make a sincere oath before Heaven before receiving the transmission. If someone carelessly reveals it or treats the scripture and its rites with disrespect, calamity will befall their nine generations of ancestors, who will be forced to serve the ghost officials for a long time. The Five Emperors’ jade youths and jade maidens who attend this scripture number twenty-four of each. They guard the text and protect those who receive it.

The Daoist Patriarch said: In the first month, observe a long fast, recite this scripture, wear the Taiwei Jade Talisman, and summon the True Lord of Eastern Florescence. When the fast is complete, blue Qi descends into the body and generates the Qi of Wood and Fire, granting long life and clear vision beyond the limits of postnatal lifespan. In the seventh month, observe a long fast, recite the scripture, wear the Nine Immortals’ Mysterious Register, and summon the Western Numinous Mother. The yang-colored Qi under her care descends into the body and generates the Qi of Metal and Earth, granting long life and clear vision. In the tenth month, observe a long fast, recite the scripture, wear the Jade Emperor’s Treasure Talisman of Long Life, and summon Ge Xian, Lord of the Three Qi of the North. His Qi descends into the body and generates the Qi of Water and Wood, granting long life and an endless lifespan.

On the days of the Eight Seasonal Nodes—Beginning of Spring, Spring Equinox, Beginning of Summer, Summer Solstice, Beginning of Autumn, Autumn Equinox, Beginning of Winter, and Winter Solstice—recite the scripture, wear the Great Lord’s Seal of Long Life and Clear Vision, and summon Wuyou, Lord of the Central Yellow Emperor. His Qi descends into the body and generates the Qi of Fire and Earth, granting long life. The practitioner’s spirits appear before the Jade Perfected; their souls and spirit become clear and upright, and the various Qi remain within them for a long time. They suffer no more distress, and their bodies shine with light. The spirits of the Three Realms guard them, the Five Emperors come to welcome them, and all the gods pay homage together. The practitioner’s name is entered in the registers of Heaven, and, when their merit is complete, they ascend in flight to Shangqing, the higher celestial realm in Daoism.

On days when performing Daoist practices, first bathe with fragrant water and observe a vegetarian fast. Then enter a quiet chamber, face east, and click the teeth together thirty-two times to communicate upward with the Thirty-Two Heavens. Next, bow thirty-two times. With eyes closed, sit in quiet contemplation and visualize yourself seated upright amid clouds of blue, yellow, and white Qi, with everything within and around you deep and indistinct. The Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise, lions, and white cranes stand in rows on either side. The sun and moon illuminate the chamber, their radiance spreading in every direction, while a round halo appears above your head. Visualize each of these scenes clearly and distinctly.

Then silently recite the incantation:

“Supreme Mysterious Origin, Most High Lord of the Dao, summon forth from within my body the Three-Five Meritorious Officers, the attendants to my left and right, the Jade Youth who attends the incense, the Jade Maiden who conveys messages, the Five Emperors’ Direct Talismans, and the Incense Officials on duty today, thirty-six of each. Let them transmit and report the words I speak: Today is an auspicious and joyful day. I practice within a pure, ritually purified chamber and recite and study the Scripture of Limitless Salvation. May the matter I present ascend and reach directly the Most High Primordial Emperor, the Supreme One before the Thirty-Two Heavens.”

When you have finished, inhale thirty-two times. Face east and recite the scripture.

Its title is the Supreme Wondrous Scripture of Primordial Beginning’s Limitless Salvation.

What follows concerns talismans associated with the “Jade Talisman of the Great Tenuity,” the “Mysterious Register of the Nine Immortals,” and the “Jade Emperor’s Precious Talisman of Long Life.” It sets out methods for making talismans corresponding to one’s destiny element among the Five Phases:

A person whose destiny element is Earth makes a Wood Qi talisman to overcome the force that harms them, enabling them to live long and remain in view of the Dao.

A person whose destiny element is Metal makes a Fire Qi talisman to overcome the force that harms them, enabling them to live long and remain in view of the Dao.

A person whose destiny element is Water makes an Earth Qi talisman to overcome the force that harms them, enabling them to live long and remain in view of the Dao.

A person whose destiny element is Wood makes a Metal Qi talisman to overcome the force that harms them, enabling them to live long and remain in view of the Dao.

A person whose destiny element is Fire makes a Water Qi talisman to overcome the force that harms them, enabling them to live long and remain in view of the Dao.

This is the “章 of the Great Lord’s Long Life.”

Write the talismans listed above in blue ink on red foil. Facing east, burn them, then mix the ashes with clear water and drink them. Choose a day that accords with your destiny element and is suitable for praying for long life; avoid days that clash with or overcome it. “Opening” or “Establishing” days are suitable. In spring, choose a Jia-Yin day; in summer, a Bing-Wu day; in autumn, a Xin-You day; and in winter, a Ren-Zi day. These are the most auspicious.

If the talisman is to be worn or ingested, write it in cinnabar on blue foil. Use cinnabar ink when preparing a talisman for ingestion. After observing a ninety-day fast, wear or ingest it; it is said to summon immortals and bring long life, with marked efficacy. Write the talismans in a private chamber, and tell no one.

The Great Emperor of Longevity (a revered Daoist deity) used golden elixirs and phoenix-adorned tablets, sealed with the Jade Emperor's longevity insignia, to conceal these scriptures within the Nine Cavern Treasure Chambers of the Southern Harmony and Luminous Emperor A. These texts were destined to remain hidden until the cosmic kalpa's end, only then emerging to guide those with immortal destiny and extraordinary bone structure. Should anyone obtain these jade scriptures yet fail to comprehend their cultivation secrets, they would at best become a "corpse-liberated immortal" (a lower immortal rank), and must avoid all impurities when handling the texts lest celestial punishment follow.

This scripture transmits the Lingbao (Numinous Treasure) longevity method taught by the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning (Daoism's supreme deity), containing the mystical rhythms of the Southern Pole immortal realm. It describes the primordial Qi (vital energy) of the nascent universe evolving within the vast void, forming endless celestial landscapes. Jade-hued auroras condensed into immortal mountains, while radiant true light shimmered brilliantly. Crimson cliffs and emerald peaks manifested nine-colored auspicious glows, housing three-tiered palace complexes. Towering nine-curved celestial palaces stood above abyssal springs (immortal waters), with divine winds swirling between jade windows and golden towers as the Supreme Harmony Qi coalesced into cloud-patterned texts.

Within this immortal realm: dragon-scale and phoenix motifs flowed dynamically, numinous blossoms cascaded, and primal essence materialized as divine beings. These deities operated without fixed form, their Qi interconnected like unbroken cords, vast and subtle as if half-real. Mysterious energy permeated the heavens, while stamen-like palaces rose majestically. Solar pools nurtured infant-shaped immortal embryos, with pure essence circulating unseen. Masters of this method attain longevity by mastering the revolutions of the Northern Dipper (Xuanji). Celestial pearls (stars) descended sweet dew; between opening and closing cloud-nets, purple Qi transformed to azure. Three True Immortals (high-ranking officials) oversee practitioners' internal and external conduct, their divine light illuminating billions of worlds. Nine cycles of jade-green radiance signify yang energy crystallizing into elixirs, while the Yellow Father (earth deity of the Five Phases) guards souls in crimson ritual robes. Prolonged practice reveals millennia of cosmic cycles. Golden-locked jade passes are defended by divine tigers, as the True Mother (female immortal) offers incense petitions to the celestial court.

Pure Brahma Qi circulates through ten directions, carrying immortal beings who deliver mortals from death—including the Southern Pole Emperor of Longevity, the Great Minister Sima who Guides Worlds, Life-Honoring Han Jun (the legendary immortal Han Zhong), and the Southern Life-Registry deities who prolong lifespans and avert calamities.

The scripture concludes: Today the celestial court examines immortal records. From all boundless realms, the Kings of Vital Breath, Spirit, Essence Fluids, Dao Methods, and Transformation—all manifest as Great Sages of Longevity to universally deliver beings. The East governs vitality, the South commands spirit, the West oversees essence fluids, the North presides over Dao methods, and the Northeast directs transformations—each possessing immeasurable power to guide humanity.

In the boundless realm of the southeast, a divine king is born who governs physical form and substance. In the boundless realm of the southwest, a divine king is born who governs consciousness. In the boundless realm of the northwest, a divine king is born who wields wondrous, mysterious powers. In the boundless realm above, a divine king is born who governs stillness. In the boundless realm below, a divine king is born who governs response. All are Great Sages of Long Life, able to deliver people without limit.

The Perfect Divine Kings of the Ten Directions—the four quarters, the eight directions, and above and below—never die. They endure through the ages, save and deliver the people of the world, and possess immeasurable merit. Together they ride a carriage formed from the patterns of the four quarters and the light of the eight directions, drawn by a chariot infused with the Three Qi and Nine Lights. Bright clouds and rosy mists form its canopy, adorned with twin rainbow wheels and a seven-section ceremonial standard. They command divine tigers and dragons with blue-black manes. Golden cranes cry out ahead, while jade pipes play behind, their notes in harmony.

Vermilion phoenixes and azure luan birds sing together. The Five Elders of the Five Directions lead the way, while the immortals guard the carriage. Countless carriages and thousands of mounted attendants descend through the air. The ministers of the heavens, the Great God Han Si, recorder and overseer of life in the Upper Palace of Nanchang, and other deities who govern records of merit and transgression, life and death, arrive together before the Celestial Emperor. Holding talismanic commands and registers, they carefully examine the heavens according to each person’s circumstances.

They make their announcement throughout the Three Realms, the boundless divine realm, and the Three Offices and Nine Palaces of places such as the Court of Winding Springs and the Northern Capital of Luofeng, the legendary seat of the underworld, as well as the twelve river sources. They register the different kinds of beings, record their good deeds and merit, and bestow Daoist teachings.

Those who cultivate the Dao receive true Qi and wear Daoist registers, the credentials of Daoist status and office. They can then aspire to the mysterious Dao and attain long life and enduring vision. Their hearts respond to goodness and De; their awareness enters the realm of Great Mystery. Within inner contemplation, the Purple Lad, a deity visualized in internal cultivation, reveals the true realm before them, allowing them to see into the boundless. Immortality comes naturally: while seated, they can foresee good and ill fortune and reach the heaven beyond heaven.

They pass through great tribulations without error and return to the source of the myriad Qi. Their nature and mind unite with luminous emptiness, and they ride clouds and mist. When the time set by the talismanic command of the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning arrives, they ascend in rank. They return to the purity of an infant, gather in true Qi, and transform their bodies into immortals. A hundred years in the human world are no more than a moment. The spirits subdue demonic obstacles and recommend cultivators for admission to the ranks of immortals, sending them to the Southern Palace.

After receiving jade talismans and undergoing refinement and deliverance, they transform from immortals and become Perfected Ones. Delivered in this life, they endure through every generation. As the cycles of tribulation turn, they live as long as Heaven. They forever escape the Three Paths, Five Sufferings, and Eight Difficulties, transcend the Three Realms, and roam at ease in the Heaven of Highest Clarity. Above that heaven lies the realm of the Celestial Emperor’s Jade Perfected, the realm beyond form and the realm of Brahmic practice.

The Eight Heavens of the East

In the Heaven of the Far-Reaching and Distinctly Bright Dao, the Celestial Emperor is P斗 Yuan Zhen.

In the Heaven of the Radiant Vast Abyss, the Celestial Emperor is Lou Qian Zhidu.

The Heavenly Emperor of Virtue Illuminating the Clear, Splendid Heaven is Emperor Jian Zhu Dumo; the Heavenly Emperor of the Prosperity Blessing the Highest Ancestor Heaven is Emperor Niu Yushenqiao; the Heavenly Emperor of the Bright Boundary Foreseeing Light Heaven is Emperor Bao Qiuming; the Heavenly Emperor of Refining and Deliverance, Free of Desire Heaven is Emperor Jue Durong; the Heavenly Emperor of Dawn Light Prolonging Blessings Heaven is Emperor Yu Du Achuang; the Heavenly Emperor of Clear Emptiness, Hidden Perfection Heaven is Emperor Jiuqu Shangying.

The eight heavens of the south:

The Heavenly Emperor of Great Subtlety, Radiant and Pervading Heaven is Emperor Gou Chang Yixian; the Heavenly Emperor of the Great Sovereign’s Profound Splendor Heaven is Emperor Dong Wuming Shi; the Heavenly Emperor of Auspicious Clouds, Phoenix Truth Heaven is Emperor Chi Jin Moyuan; the Heavenly Emperor of Brahma’s Transformation, Fiery Emptiness Heaven is Emperor Eqi Zuqiang; the Heavenly Emperor of Revealed Truth, Responsive Transformation Heaven is Emperor Ying Liu Duxian; the Heavenly Emperor of Transcendent Mystery, Purple Palace Heaven is Emperor Zhong Kangxia; the Heavenly Emperor of Broad Life, Wondrous Spirit Heaven is Emperor Li Guangsu; the Heavenly Emperor of Cinnabar Jade, Threefold Florescence Heaven is Emperor You Lang Miyin.

The eight heavens of the west:

The Heavenly Emperor of Bright Truth, Cauldron-Penetrating Heaven is Emperor Hong Yigangxu; the Heavenly Emperor of Enduring Continuance, Turning and Flying Heaven is Emperor Shuai Lu Dengxu; the Heavenly Emperor of Plain Splendor, Celebrated Longevity Heaven is Emperor Yue Ji Tongqu; the Heavenly Emperor of Vast Orchids, Peaceful Heaven is Emperor Yue Han Qianfu; the Heavenly Emperor of Pervading Spirit, Hidden Grotto Heaven is Emperor Qiu Chang Beiliao; the Heavenly Emperor of Great Mystery, Lush Dawn Heaven is Emperor Dou Qin Bafang; the Heavenly Emperor of Jade Radiance, Bright and Far-Reaching Heaven is Emperor Yi Xuanchong; the Heavenly Emperor of Joined Radiance, Nine Subtlety Heaven is Emperor Duan Zhu Wang.

The eight heavens of the north:

The Heavenly Emperor of Han’s Universal Oversight Heaven is Emperor Shen Yi Zhao Mo; the Heavenly Emperor of the Grotto Chamber, Radiant Spirit Heaven is Emperor Yue Bu Nan; the Heavenly Emperor of the Supreme Ultimate, Mysterious Capital Heaven is Emperor Zhengzhi Zonggong; the Heavenly Emperor of Great Stillness, Mysterious Clarity Heaven is Emperor Changsheng Piming; the Heavenly Emperor of High Emptiness, Brahma Treasure Heaven is Emperor Zou Chu Jingqi.

This passage lists the names of the heavenly realms in each direction and the corresponding titles of their Heavenly Emperors. “Heavenly Emperor” refers to the revered deity who governs that realm. The original passage lists only five heavens in the north; the following material does not appear in this scripture passage.

The Dragon-Floating Feather-Canopy Heaven (the name of a celestial realm), whose emperor is titled Youdan Dusun; the Spirit-Transformation Embracing the Abyss Heaven (the name of a celestial realm), whose emperor is titled Liu Xuanye Xiang; and the Pivot-Light Ninefold Splendor Heaven (the name of a celestial realm), whose emperor is titled Yanyou Bailin.

The thirty-two heavens, their thirty-two Heavenly Emperors, and the secret names and titles of the various heavens are all contained in this numinous chapter of empty openness and spontaneity. The secret tones of the heavens are the sounds of the southern celestial realm. The Venerable One of the Southern Heights, the deity of the Southern Heights, the Great Lord of the Southern Heights, and the numinous beings of the Southern Heights sing together in harmony.

These divine beings prolong human life for billions of years and make the spirit’s inner eye penetrate all things, seeing clearly for a long time. Through them, the way of long life is revealed: one transforms and ascends into Shangqing, the Daoist realm of the highest heavens.

The boundless mysteries are too profound to describe in full. The divine immortals bestow their grace and save all beings, human and celestial alike. Today, those who rejoice in receiving deliverance celebrate their passage through the heavenly barriers. The heavens pray for the path of death to be abolished, so that people may renew their lives and attain longevity, fly beyond the Five Gates, enter the Dipper lodges, ascend into the mysterious realm, and behold the limitless.

Far above the Jade Heaven rise countless tiers of jade towers and a thousand golden gates. There dwells the Great Lord of Southern Pole Longevity, wearing a jeweled crown and green robes, riding a vermilion chariot, and wearing dark shoes. He holds a tally of life and adds years to the lives of people in the world. The Eastern Dipper measures the soul’s span; the Western Dipper governs the spirit of the po-soul; the Northern Dipper refines true Qi; the Southern Dipper nurtures the original Shen; and the Central Dipper, the Canopy, shelters the Nine Origins below.

The Azure Emperor protects the hun-soul; the White Emperor attends to the po-soul; the Red Emperor nourishes Qi; the Black Emperor circulates the blood; and the Yellow Emperor dwells at the center, commanding the myriad spirits. The Primordial King of the Azure Heaven protects the true nature with jade writings; the Primordial King of the Red Heaven gathers and nurtures Jing and Qi with cinnabar talismans; the Primordial King of the White Heaven administers the spirit of life with golden registers; the Primordial King of the Black Heaven protects the body with mysterious charts; and the Primordial King of the Yellow Heaven, together with the Five Elders, oversees the realm of the Real.

The Five Primordial Kings of Heaven are the ancestors of the myriad spirits. When they travel, their full retinues accompany them; they command the immortal troops and roam through space. The Heavenly Emperor reviews and seals away the jade register of long life. Within brocade curtains woven of clouds, the assembled immortals dance as bells ring out. A lofty hall of jade-green rises into the sky, encircled by nine flying dragons, and grants the people of the world the method of long life. The spirit with perfectly shaped, square pupils sits and surveys millions of miles, discerning the hidden and subtle and communicating in secret. He bestows a title upon those who receive deliverance, granting them a jade disk to hold and the exalted rank of a True Duke.

The spirit who fashions the mystery sweeps away all inauspicious forces. Monstrous beasts spew poisonous vapor; Gao Diao deploys weapons in all four directions. Blades of war are arrayed in front; Zhenwu carries a banner, the Heavenly Wolf hurls flames, and the mighty sword rises, casting up clouds of dust. Whoever dares to offend or obstruct the Highest Real Ones is punished with the celestial-pick execution: the Azure Tongue is cut off at the front, the Dark Heaven punished behind, and demons and evils cut down. The Flame Emperor devours Jing and Qi. The Three Officials arrive in swift chariots, while the forces of Northern Feng cannot hide. The fierce steeds campaign in all eight directions and proclaim the news throughout the boundless realm. All the myriad spirits must obey and report to the Three Realms and the Five Emperors in Shangqing.

When the primordial Qi first divided, the Five Venerable Ones—revered gods symbolizing the five directions and the Five Phases—were charged with governing the spirits. The Three Primal Forces—the original energies of Heaven, Earth, and Water—then shifted and transformed, giving rise to the true body. From its mouth, the true body breathed forth purple Qi, which coiled around the Root of Heaven, the source from which Heaven and Earth came into being. From this arose five talismans, and through them all things took form. The talismans became the Root of Heaven, then in an instant transformed into reality. In the palace where the Jade Emperor dwells, the three lights of the sun, moon, and stars shone brightly and reflected back, while the grotto realms in every direction between Heaven and Earth were clear and open.

Dark and blue spiritual vapors surged from the palace. Jade-like cream and yellow syrup congealed into tier upon tier of red-clouded golden terraces, while green mountains rose in layer upon layer. Below, the Sea of Chaos churned, its vast waves deep and dark. The Azure Dragon had nine heads, and the Fire Emperor seven bodies. They stretched for a hundred miles, winding sinuously, their mouths breathing smoke and their eyes flashing light. The sun and moon were their eyes; their breath raced like clouds. Their scales were hard and black. They guarded the world and protected its people, bearing the spirits of the underworld on their backs. This is the true appearance of the Dao.

Fierce winds joined with hard stone, gathering Yang energy to form the sky. Above and below, in every shadowed or far-reaching place, in realms without form or shadow, all was boundless and without end.

Chaos was vast, filled with spreading Brahma Qi, so immense that no light could be seen. Red-bright Qi rose in the east, and the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning (Yuanshi Tianzun), a revered Daoist deity, nurtured the divine infant. At the southern mausoleum of the Bing direction, vermilion radiance shone over the Crimson Court. There dwelt a Great Emperor known as the Lord of Long Life, born with Heaven and shining as brightly as Heaven. He wore a robe patterned with phoenixes and a skirt of many colors, with blue clouds as his headcloth. Seated in a grotto palace, he safeguarded all beings and ensured their enduring peace. He reflected light from the lofty tower, his breath linked to the Jade Capital. The Northern Dipper covered him, while the Great One (Taiyi), a revered Daoist deity, nourished his essence and Qi.

He gazed into the depths and suddenly beheld divine writings: the Five Chapters, the Eight Su, the Divine Tiger, the Tortoise Inscription, and other scriptures. Primordial Qi flowed and transformed into the thirty-two heavens, circling through the realm without color and reaching in every direction. It then turned in succession, passing through the Horn constellation and cycling through the Five Phases. Thirty-five divisions of Qi gathered in the Upper Origin. The eight hidden lights joined together, and the Qi entered the realm of the mystery within the mystery. Amid this subtle wonder, talismans were bestowed, granting those who received initiation long life. In an instant, the cycles of tribulation changed; one who preserved the body for a long time could endure for ten thousand years.

The Great Sovereign of the Great Beginning, the High Emperor, the Perfected Ones, and other revered gods rode streams of light through the clouds, chanting the Grotto Scriptures. Golden radiance wheeled and surged, its thunderous sound filling the clouds. Perfect light gathered in the primordial Qi, making the Eight Seas clear and pure. In the Precious Abyss, numinous vitality flourished, and brilliant splendor appeared abundantly in the capital. A thousand harmonies and ten thousand forms blended together; naturally, the true realm was cultivated to perfection.

Within the true realm dwell the gods: the Great Lord of Long Life, the Lordling Without Excellence, the Venerable Spirit White Origin, the Great One in charge of destiny, Taokang, and Heyan. They hold talismans and guard the roots of life. They roam the Upper Clarity realm, entering and leaving its splendid palaces, reaching throughout the hidden realms in all eight directions and into the tiniest places.

They also descend to guard the human body. Within the Mud Ball—the upper Dantian in the head—and the Crimson Palace, located in the heart, they regulate the five Qi and bring the hundred spirits into harmony. Through layer upon layer of circulation, they turn back the numinous Qi, causing the myriad primal energies to return together to the immortal Dao.

“Immortal Dao prizes life, saves people without measure, remains with life forever, and gazes into the utmost depths” means: the Immortal Dao cherishes life and uses immeasurable methods to guide living beings, so that people may remain with vitality for a long time and perceive realms that are deep and difficult to see. It opens the eight gates above, setting the wheel of heavenly law in motion; it universally transmits teachings on sin and merit, precepts, and the causes and conditions of destiny. Through the Dao’s transformation, living beings are guided and saved, and the body attains long life. The Dao is heard above in the heavens. Above the heavens, each realm has a gate of life. There are chapters of empty-cavern songs there, and the verses of the various immortals and spirits can all be joined with those of the High Perfected.

Chapter One: The Flying-Through-the-Sky Hymn of the Immortal, the Perfected Lord Nanhe, Who Grants Long Life

I ride forth in a flying carriage, traveling far to the remote lands of the eight directions. Winds rise within the empty cavern, carrying the distant, clear tones of jade. The phoenix carriage ascends high, passing over mountains and circling rivers.

The palace is built of purple gold, with six dragons coiled around its base. Within it dwells a great lord, whose form is like gold and jade. He sits upright upon purple clouds, dressed in crimson robes, as though they were cut and woven from a rainbow.

The great lord looks down upon living beings and records their good deeds and merits. The way of the underworld connects with the way of transformation and nurture; long life has no end. He shines upon the heavenly realms of the ten directions, rising through the air on mist. He holds the Golden Perfected at his left and supports a Jade Youth at his right. As he recites this Cavern Chapter, the spirit and soul ascend to the ninth heaven.

Chapter Two: The Chapter of the “Jade Talisman of Luminous Radiance” by the Perfected Consort of Long Vision

She wears luminous pearls and dragon-shaped hair ornaments, with blue-green fabric adorning her crown. Her brocade skirt flows like drifting clouds, and she rides in a splendid, fragrant carriage. The Southern Palace has nine gates, through which the sun and moon appear and disappear. At the appointed time she rides with six divine beasts. The golden luan birds and jade carriage that draw her are radiant and stately. At dusk, she gazes into the distance at Dragon Mountain, the fields of lingzhi, and the ridges veiled in rosy light.

Heavenly officials hold aloft registers; divine messengers stand in ranks to petition on behalf of living beings, recording them in the registers of life. Pure Qi gathers richly, nurturing light and radiance. The paired pearls accord with the measures of the four directions; in this vast vista, nothing obscures the view.

The Dao Lord of Limitless—the revered deity of Daoism—bestows the precious name of Empty Truth. Brahma Qi, the pure and subtle primordial energy, circulates and flows; the jade talisman changes form, endowing living beings with divine Qi. The Azure Emperor gathers the soul, while crimson light holds radiance within it; the mighty spirits of the eight directions shine in brilliance. Drink the jade nectar and liquid, and the dragon’s head bows as the tiger’s head rises. The divine beings grant living beings secret instructions and formulas; in the morning breeze, the brocade glimmers.

Chapter Three: The Song of the Divine Mother Taiwei in the Palace of the Great Emperor of Long Life

The source text ends here with the title; the song itself has not yet appeared.

Six stars shine brightly, illuminating the Celestial Dipper among the stars of the Northern Dipper, while palace halls float amid purple clouds and mist.

The jade ridge crest, adorned with jade, reflects the blue heavens. The Lord Emperor wears a red ceremonial robe and holds a jade tablet and a dragon sword.

The Three Hun and Seven Po, the soul aspects of the human body in Daoist teaching, gather among the stars Jing, Gui, Kui, and Piao. The Celestial Infant is radiant and beautiful, its cry echoing through billowing clouds. It exhales red talismanic script, whose light coils around the heights of the sky.

The Ladies of the Six Perfected dwell within brocade canopies, wearing golden arrow cases. Their forms move swiftly, like wind passing through Zhu Mausoleum, a name for an immortal realm; their backs are like phoenixes, their waists like luan birds. They drink the essence of the moon and take in the vital energy of the sun, then consume green frost blossoms and immortal ointment like langgan jade.

Mystic fungi grow by the thousands, and crimson peaches of immortality hang in abundant clusters. The Perfected teach people the Way of long life, enabling them to endure in life and roam at ease. They bow to the morning light and drink sweet liquor like nectar from the immortals. At last, they shed their mortal forms and transform, becoming jade-like essence, and sing of the majestic vigor of the wondrous Dao.

This is the song of flight through the heavens above the Three Realms, within Qiongming Heaven; every word and sound accords with the Dongzhang. Recite it a hundred times, and your name will be entered in the Southern Palace. Recite it a thousand times, and the Heavenly Emperor will protect and welcome you. Recite it ten thousand times, and when your Dao practice is complete, you can ascend through the vast sky, transcend the Three Realms, and take your place among the Immortal Lords.

Those who hear this wondrous music of the immortals will have their bodies honored by the Immortal Kings, who will command the earthly spirits to guard and escort them. Flowing-Fire Jade Eyes, a divine radiance like streaming fire and jade, will naturally enter the body, making its light shine like pupils and illuminating the myriad spirits. Through this, practitioners attain long life and form the Dao Embryo, the immortal being gestating within the practitioner. They nourish and refine it with dragon Qi, make an alliance with the Perfected of the South Pole, personally pay homage to the Yellow Emperor and Laozi, and receive divine writings directly from them. This is called boundless universal salvation, rescuing beings without end.

All the heavens revere this secret scripture from above. Anyone who divulges it or treats it lightly will fall into hell, bringing calamity upon seven generations of ancestors.

The Dao says: The two chapters above are both secret songs of the Great Emperor of Long Life and the Divine King of Long Life. They belong to the words of the Great Brahma, the sacred language of the heavenly realm, and are not ordinary speech from the human world. Their wording does not seek the polished beauty of worldly rhyme; instead, it contains the great method of long life and far-reaching vision, of enduring forever without extinction. The chapters are therefore profound and mysterious, and cannot be fully explored. They are scriptures treasured by Heaven and kept in secret within the Upper Palace of Purple Tenuity in the Mystic Capital. According to the Mystic Ordinances, they are transmitted only once every forty thousand kalpas. If a person who has attained the Dao brings golden treasure, sincerely establishes an oath in accordance with the old procedure, and makes a solemn pledge after ten days, the scripture may then be entrusted to them.

The Dao teaches: The workings of Heaven and Earth have times of decline and ending; the sun, moon, and five planets have times of waning and fullness. Even the most perfected spiritual beings may encounter periods of stagnation and hardship, and beginners on the Dao may suffer illness or injury. Those who wish to extend their years, prolong their lives, and pass through calamities and changes of fortune should pray and bow to the Great Emperor of Longevity and the Divine King of the Southern Pole, revered deities in Daoism. They will enter the supplicants’ names in jade registers and inscribe them in golden registers, freeing them from the suffering of the Three Paths, the three states of hardship described in Daoism, and helping them transcend the Eight Difficulties, the eight obstacles encountered on the path to realization. Whenever people face such calamities, their fellow practitioners should join together to perform a purification rite, burn incense and pay homage at the six periods of the day and night, and recite the scripture ten times. In this way, blessings and De will descend and dispel every kind of misfortune.

This boundless text offers universal salvation to limitless beings.

The Dao teaches: Those who study the great method of long life and enduring vision, of prolonged existence and an undiminished spirit, may bring their minds into accord with nature, remain still and silent, embrace the Dao, and merge with the transformations of creation. They may sincerely direct their thoughts toward Jade Purity, a high celestial realm in Daoism, yet remain entangled in worldly troubles, with their blessings and opportunities not yet ripe. Some undergo a transformation in which they shed their old bodies and are reborn, their five viscera renewed; others lodge their Shen in the Nine Palaces and refine their bodies until they transform and ascend. There are also those who have studied the Dao only briefly and attained little, whose merit for the ranks of immortals is not yet complete, but whose allotted lifespan has reached its end and whose bodies must pass through the Great Yin, the netherworld realm in Daoism. Though they have not yet mastered the complete method of long life and enduring vision, and their bodily merit may seem deficient, their minds have already penetrated Wuwei (non-action), and their original Shen is already everlasting; only their flesh and bones remain unrefined.

When these people approach death, perfected beings among their fellow practitioners should burn incense and recite the scripture ten times. In accordance with ritual procedure, they should enter the deceased’s name in the Register for Deliverance, a list of the dead who are to be saved. This will enable them to ascend directly to the Southern Palace, a celestial court in Daoism, where they will be granted the path of renewed life. The days will then be calculated according to the merit they earned through their studies and practice. They will pass through successive rebirths without losing their way, and in the end become immortals.

The Dao teaches: The precepts governing the method of long life and enduring vision are extremely strict. Some preserve their original nature, accord with nature, and silently align themselves with the subtle Dao. Some follow a master to seek the teachings and thereby attain longevity. Some quietly accumulate great virtue, extending their merit to all spirits; the celestial officials record this, allowing them to endure. Others turn their gaze inward to their spiritual awareness, seeing with penetrating clarity and discovering the root of the Great Dao. They observe Heaven and Earth from below and look far into the past, until past and future seem close at hand.

Their karmic ties from former lives, their good deeds and achievements, and their unpaid debts of karma appear close at hand and clearly visible. They accompany the transformations of creation and control their own comings and goings through life and death. They can stretch a single day into an eon, or compress an eon into a single day; condense a thousand years of springtime into one morning, or shorten ten thousand eons of night into a single night. The duration of long life and enduring vision can be expanded or contracted at will. This cannot be achieved simply by studying the Dao, cultivating oneself, and reciting scriptures.

Some people are born with exceptional gifts and uncommon qualities. There are immortals in Heaven, pines and cypresses on Earth, and long-lived elders among humanity: all arise naturally from spiritual endowment. They attain the Dao as soon as they hear of it and become long-lived as soon as they hear of it. They do not obtain this through the doctrines and principles of religious teachings; they possess an innate, original nature of their own.

One who stands distinctively beyond the ways of the world. When the workings of Heaven and Earth are nearing their end, the sun, moon, and stars lose their regular courses, the four seasons fall out of harmony, disasters strike the realm, warfare and calamity persist, epidemics spread, or a teacher or friend passes away, one should also observe a purification fast, offer incense in worship, and recite this scripture.

The merit of fasting and reciting scripture is immensely profound. Above, it can dispel natural disasters and protect and stabilize the ruler; below, it can ward off poisons and harms, sparing multitudes of people from calamity. People can rely on its blessings in both life and death. This merit is beyond measure, which is why it is called “the immeasurable salvation of Heaven and humanity.”

The Dao says: Whoever possesses this scripture and is willing to cultivate these merits for Heaven and Earth, the ruler, and the people, need only resolve to observe a purification fast, burn incense, and recite the scripture ten times when disaster strikes. The heavens will record that person’s name, and the gods will protect them. Such a person may even become a minister in the Golden Palace of a sage ruler. The heavens record people’s merits and faults without the slightest omission; the True King of Heaven will also recommend and protect you. Only those who attain the Dao can fully understand these ultimate truths.

The Hidden Divine Words of the Heavens and Great Brahma Heaven—The Sound of Immeasurability

Compiled by the Lord of the Dao.

The Jade Chapters of the Numinous Book of the Great Emperor of Longevity

What follows sets out the sacred hidden words of the eight heavens in each of the east, south, and west. These passages are celestial secret words in Daoist scriptures, not classical prose that can ordinarily be translated line by line. The original text is therefore retained:

The Eight Heavens of the East

明柯遜湻　静微樂㥫　幾研莬棊

純精杳紛　韜祕幽諱　交渾冶崙

氣徹內返　神嬰自存　職熾嶼崵

偶銜丕容　吟宂潛納　寶粹温通

屈流地海　頂遘繪同　玉霐延和

仙鍊輔沖

The Eight Heavens of the South

玻回霞液　凝降崿樓　玄黃滋化

曲窊漕濛　奎室虛光　三宸皎昌

青白英元　黃眞火堂　冏照東華

飲瀹粲張　扶思舉龍　軨車控翔

熒庚揇壇　玄井護昆　網射激明

靈魔渾然

The Eight Heavens of the West

庭雲鬱披　鋌瓊感機　左池汩鳴

結英懽尸　灌引天淵　復運太微

眇私山玄　恍命薰怡　陰斗弼軀

異爽挾和　赤章綠典　道廓應施

These passages form a hidden script made of boundless celestial sounds. The original is difficult to explain word for word; in broad terms, it depicts the transformation of the primal Qi of Heaven and Earth, the changes of all things, and the many offices of the northern heavens, the underworld bureaucracy, and the spirits.

The scripture says that these Great Brahma secret words—the hidden sounds of the celestial realm—contain immeasurable tones. According to old editions, they comprise nine chapters. The Venerable of the Nine Qi, a spirit who governs primal Qi, used red divine beasts and flowing cinnabar liquid as symbols, inscribed the scripture, and presented it to the green-ringed jade in the Southern Bright Hall of the Great Emperor of Long Life. Characters appeared in the air, each a zhang in length, engraved in Metal Qi and shining brilliantly. Woven from purple, cinnabar, dark, and other colors, the characters rose in vapor that spread throughout the Heaven of the Upper Origin.

This scripture was inscribed, worn, recited, studied, and passed down from generation to generation. It is a supreme and wondrous secret; it must be treated with care and never revealed casually. The Celestial Perfected Sovereign, a legendary spirit who recorded the scriptures of Heaven, once wrote these characters as the correct sounds. If someone understands these sounds and recites them after purification, the heavens will send a Flying Celestial Spirit King to observe them, record their merits, and report them to the celestial courts. The myriad spirits will come to pay homage, the earth spirits will stand guard outside the gate, and even the demon king of great merit will recommend them, enabling them to become an immortal of the highest rank. Once their Dao practice is complete, they can travel through the Three Realms and ascend through the Golden Gate.

These celestial sounds can ward off evil, avert disaster, deliver beings from suffering, and bring merit to fulfillment wherever they are uttered. They are sounds that arise naturally from the Celestial Perfected. Thus, reciting them summons a Flying Celestial Spirit King to observe. The Highest Deity sings in response from afar, the myriad spirits come to pay homage, and the gods of the Three Realms attend at one’s side. Every kind of evil spirit bows and withdraws; ghosts and demons vanish of their own accord. The sound of the scripture rings like precious jade, purifying the ten directions. Rivers and seas grow calm, mist clears from the mountains, the myriad spirits submit, and the immortals gather. Then no impure Qi remains in Heaven, no demonic dust or vapor on Earth; the underworld and wisdom alike become clear and transparent, vast without limit and profound beyond measure.

The final section, “The Chapter on the Harmonious Ordering of the Five Phases,” describes the Five Phases moving in harmony and maintaining an orderly, settled balance.

The Dao teaches: Long ago, at the auspicious land of Jiuhua Baoguang in the Great Radiant Heaven of Yuxu, the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning transmitted the Wondrous Teaching on Guiding the Five Phases in Their Proper Course for Deliverance. Before speaking this scripture, the Celestial Worthy first circumambulated the teaching platform ten times in reverence, summoned the gods of the ten directions to attend, and then took his seat.

The Great Divine Ones of Heavenly Truth, the High Sages and Venerable Worthies, the Perfected Ones of Wondrous Practice, the True Lords of the Five Stars of Highest Clarity, and countless other beings all came riding through the air. Radiance in five colors shone in layer upon layer, while auspicious clouds gathered all around. Chariots of red jade and purple jade, along with carriages bearing golden wheels, moved through the sky. Their canopies were like the sun, and feather fans trailed rosy clouds. Golden Immortals stood guard, their rainbow lights interweaving; jade horses rose amid mist and rosy clouds, illuminating the blue heavens. For three days and three nights, the seven stars of the Northern Dipper shone with numinous light, the stars of the Five Dippers each returned to their proper places, and the movement of the heavens seemed to pause. The mountains stood secure and the Way of Heaven was made clear. Brilliant gardens blazed with colored light, while lofty towers and terraces stood in rows to welcome the assembled gods. Between the wind-borne Golden Towers and the Jade Capital, no distinction of height remained. Precious jade steps spread across the ground, gleaming like fine jade, and the Perfected Ones stood in attendance, one after another.

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning sat upright on a throne of floating jade and ice, surrounded by clouds in five colors. The throne reflected countless treasures. With him were the Dao Lords of the Central Heaven’s Purple Enclosure: Canghua, the Lord of Life and Virtue and Ten Thousand Longevities; Danhua, the Lord of Yang Virtue and Ten Thousand Blessings; Haohua, the Lord of Correct Virtue and Ten Thousand Good Deeds; Xuanhua, the Lord of Unity and Ten Thousand Beings; Dahua, the Lord of Sacred Virtue and Ten Thousand Harmonies; and the True Origin Dao Lords of the Five Directions.

After Primordial Beginning opened Heaven and Earth, the Five Qi divided and transformed. The Dao Ancestor shares a single source with all, yet the mother of Qi endowed each with a different nature. The Celestial Worthy was about to expound how the Five Phases follow their proper order, generate and transform, and nurture the myriad beings of the Three Realms. When the scripture had been recited once, the great sages of all the heavens praised it together. At that time, the men and women of the whole realm followed teachings of harmony and accord; nothing overcame or harmed anything else.

When the scripture had been recited a second time, the Qi of the four seasons came into harmony, and the seasons kept their proper course. At the third recitation, Yin and Yang were balanced, and all things flourished for a long time. At the fourth, primordial Qi flowed evenly, and people did not grow weak or weary. At the fifth, Yin and Yang turned in harmony, and illness ceased to arise. At the sixth, all beings fulfilled their natures, and the world was at peace. At the seventh, the Five Stars shone brightly together, and the celestial bodies moved in proper order. At the eighth, sweet dew appeared in the air, and numinous mushrooms grew lush and beautiful. At the ninth, heavenly light descended upon the human world, making even dark and hidden places clear and bright. At the tenth, the whole realm received the Dao’s teaching, and all under Heaven submitted.

At that time, all the men and women of the realm sincerely believed and accepted the teaching. They received its protection and deliverance, and attained long life.

The Dao also teaches: At that time, when the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning recited the scripture for the first time, in the Eastern Boundlessness, there was no…

…among the immeasurable ranks, the Nine Qi of Azure Radiance from the east arrived, accompanied by countless great true sages, who came through the air. When the scripture was recited a second time, the Three Qi of Vermilion Radiance from the south, from the immeasurable ranks, arrived, and great true sages came through the air. At the third recitation, the Seven Qi of Bright Radiance from the west, from the immeasurable ranks, arrived; at the fourth, the Five Qi of Dark Radiance from the north, from the immeasurable ranks, arrived. With each recitation, great true sages from the corresponding direction came through the air.

At the fifth recitation, the Brahma Qi of Pure Radiance from the northeast, from the immeasurable ranks, arrived; at the sixth, the Brahma Qi of Jade Radiance from the southeast; at the seventh, the Brahma Qi of Great Radiance from the southwest; at the eighth, the Brahma Qi of Precious Radiance from the northwest; at the ninth, the One Qi of Purple Radiance from above; and at the tenth, the Twelve Qi of Yellow Radiance from below. All the great true sages came through the air.

When the ten recitations were complete, the utmost true great sages from the immeasurable realms of the ten directions arrived together. The men and women of a certain kingdom came forward in sincere reverence and devotion, standing by and gathering all around, eager to listen with joy. The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning, one of Daoism’s revered deities, summoned the Five Primordial Lords and expounded methods for harmonizing the Five Phases, bringing all things into timely order, and attaining long life. These methods would keep all things from suffering premature death or injury, free them forever from punishments and calamities, and bring universal celebration and peace from one generation to the next.

Then the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning transformed his form and revealed a celestial throne. The throne rose high and stretched wide like the Xiao Terrace. Its layers of emerald radiance extended for countless tens of thousands of zhang. The Celestial Worthy’s sacred body towered in solemn majesty, gleaming like a jeweled mountain. The flowering woods of the ten directions joined to form a canopy of shade. Golden light shone brilliantly, illuminating boundless space.

The Celestial Worthy led the celestial immortals, exalted sages and high lords, perfected beings of wondrous practice—a Daoist honorific for those who cultivate the Way—the Five Primordial Lords, the utmost true great sages from the immeasurable realms of the ten directions, and countless living beings, all together onto the profound throne. The celestial beings and gods looked up in awe and saw each celestial immortal dwelling in their own heavenly realm, where there were jade balustrades, ornate coffered ceilings, golden palaces, and corridors adorned with langgan stone.

All the sounds of the scriptures and teachings that were to be taught gathered together. To the countless beings who heard them, they seemed to come from a single mind, their thoughts attuned to one another, while the sounds of the teaching continued without interruption. They listened together, and no one resisted or opposed it. The subtle meanings of the scriptures flowed forth like a spring, and each being could understand them.

The Qi of the Five Phases—Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth—flowed together in harmony and balance, with no inherent injury or restraint among them. Even when changes arose through mutual overcoming, reversal, or stagnation, they could be properly regulated and brought back to balance. The Qi of the Five Phases blended and united; its rising and descending followed an orderly course, and each phase fulfilled its De. With the five Qi in harmony, the Three Realms became peaceful, and both people and all things were settled.

Every living body is formed when the Three Origins—the three fundamental currents of Qi that make up life—join to produce Jing, while the Five Phases condense into form. The Five Phases moved smoothly, without opposing one another. Harmonious Qi nourished Shen, allowing life to become empty, still, and filled with the Dao, condensed like pearls and jade, the size of a pellet and shining brightly. Such a scene also appeared throughout the great void.

At that time, because the Five Phases were in harmony, the heavenly beings and all living beings could cut off the path to death, and evil deeds ceased. The grudges and great karmic burdens accumulated over many lifetimes were stilled at once. The many sufferings of the hells vanished; raging fire and molten copper turned into blue lotuses, and the Northern Capital of the Ninefold Darkness, the legendary realm of the dead, became a land of peace and joy. When the Five Phases were in harmony, all things could come forth and transform. The numinous immortals of the Three Realms and all living beings no longer incurred guilt. The heavens chanted from afar, and the myriad spirits bowed in reverence. The whole kingdom was like hanging ice and jade, or a precious pearl: clear within and without, with not the slightest obstruction or trace of dust.

The Primordial Heavenly Worthy finished preaching the scripture in the realm revealed upon the dark seat. The perfected ones watched over and protected this act of salvation, and transmitted the scripture to me. The joy and celebration of that moment defy description. The heavens each returned to their proper places, and in an instant all around fell silent.

At that time, the heavenly beings and all living beings were fortunate to encounter this scripture and teaching. They were universally saved, their natural lifespans preserved, and they suffered no sudden calamity. The whole kingdom turned its heart toward the Dao in reverence and longing. Everyone followed the principles of accord with the heart, the Dao, De, goodness, the teachings, truth, clarity, life, Shen, and transformation. Their words did not conflict, and no evil sounds came from their mouths. All shared compassion, and even those of different surnames treated one another as family. The country was at peace, the people were prosperous, and they joyfully enjoyed a tranquil age.

When this scripture first began to be transmitted, everyone in a kingdom who sincerely honored and revered the Great Dao could be saved from the suffering of the mundane world.

The Dao says: What the Primordial Heavenly Worthy speaks of in the scripture consists entirely of the inner names used by the heavenly emperors—the secret titles passed down in the heavens—as well as hidden expressions for the profound principles of the dark Dao: following the blessings of harmony, the Five Phases overcoming one another, and the preservation of all things.

The Five-Primordial Lord is the revered deity who governs the primal Qi of the Five Phases. “Inner taboo names” refers to the hidden names of deities, while “the intermingling of the five Qi” describes the five kinds of primal Qi blending and moving together. These names are not words used in ordinary life. Only sages and perfected ones who have attained the Dao, understand the mysteries, and perceive what is subtle and hidden can fully grasp their meaning.

If this scripture is recited ten times, the heavens will move according to the cosmic order, and all things will flourish. The waters of the Celestial River will flow smoothly, the movement of Qi will no longer be obstructed, mountains will stand firm and the seas will be calm. The Six Heavens—the levels of the celestial realm described in Daoism—will move in clarity; the sun, moon, and stars will shine in their proper places; and the Dao of the nine directions will return to unity. Demons, ghosts, and spirits will all submit to the Great Dao, enabling people to attain the Dao. Even white bones and corpses will follow the order of Heaven and regain vitality.

If a practitioner recites the scripture ten times, the vital essences of the Five Phases will gather and form an infant shape in the Dantian (energy center), a state symbolizing the concentration of vital essence in Neidan (internal alchemy) practice. Such a person will suffer no harm and will live as long as Heaven. This is because reciting the scripture enables the practitioner to summon the Five Stars, bringing their movements into harmony with one another. The six internal organs will become peaceful, and impure Qi will disperse. When the mind and spirit commune with the true Dao, the ten directions can each be brought into order. Celestial deities and human beings alike will take refuge in the Great Dao, and calamities will not arise. The earth deities will be brought under control and demonic spirits restrained, allowing people to escape death, prolong life, and preserve their bodies.

Those who recite and uphold this chapter will receive protection. If they enshrine deities in their homes, revere them, and offer them worship, their households will prosper, their descendants will flourish, and they will form good karmic ties. No kind of calamity will trouble them, for deities will guard their doors. This scripture is exalted and mysterious, holding a unique and supreme place in the Jade Capital, the celestial city of the immortals in Daoism. It has saved countless people and is the root of the myriad Dao. Its vast example and De (Virtue/Power) are beyond complete description.

The Lord said: “Whenever this scripture is recited ten times, all the heavens will descend together, and the True Lords of the Five Stars and the Great Deities of the Five Directions will also descend to the place where it is recited. The sun, moon, and stars are connected to the destinies of human beings. When their movements become irregular—for example, when they clash, move in reverse, or are obscured—they bring calamities, causing people in the world to suffer ill fortune and making events unfold contrary to reason. When this happens, one should observe purification and recite the scripture. Then the Five Stars will resume their proper courses, the Five Phases will each return to their proper order, and the calamities will be dispelled.

“The disembodied souls and suffering spirits of ancestors from countless generations can also be delivered through this practice and ascend to the Vermilion Palace, a celestial palace in Daoism. After nine years of instruction there, they can regain life and become honored beings. As for those who diligently study and revere the scriptures, their merit…”

Those whose virtue is complete can all become immortals, ascend to the Golden Towers—the palaces of heaven—and feast in the Jade Capital, the celestial city of the immortals.

Those who cultivate the Dao at the highest level practice and recite this scripture. The Five Phases—Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water—then circulate freely and turn in an orderly cycle. The Three Palaces, the three places or inner chambers associated with cultivation in the human body, become full and complete. One can naturally attain the Dao and become a perfected being, receive deliverance, and ascend to the Southern Palace.

When people in the world uphold and recite this scripture, the celestial bodies pass in their proper order through the twelve palaces without disorder. The solar terms shift on schedule, and the seasons and climates circulate in harmony, so the body suffers no calamity. True Qi gathers within, and neither malign influences nor epidemics can invade; thus life is prolonged. In time, one can also attain the path of corpse liberation: the soul temporarily leaves the body, passes beyond the need to enter hell, then restores its form and roams through the expanse of space.

This scripture is subtle and profound, and offers universal deliverance to countless beings. Both celestial beings and people in the human world receive blessings and good fortune through it. Its immeasurable merit protects the living and the dead. Heaven holds this scripture precious, and it must not be passed on to ordinary people in later generations. A person of true virtue must present gold, silk, and other treasures, and make a sincere oath, before it may be transmitted. If it is disclosed carelessly or treated with disrespect, calamity will befall nine generations of one’s ancestors, and the transmitter will be consigned for a long time to service under ghost officials.

Ghost officials serve this scripture. There are twenty-four Jade Youths and Jade Maidens for each of the Five Emperors; they guard the text and protect those who receive it.

The Dao says: If one observes a prolonged fast in the first lunar month and recites this scripture, the Five Phases will circulate smoothly. The energy of spring will then arise, and all things will grow and flourish. Beings born from wombs, eggs, transformation, and moisture will all take form without injury, and naturally attain communion with the spirits. The souls of the dead from earlier ages, too, can escape the custody of hell and be delivered, ascending to the Southern Palace.

If one observes a prolonged fast in the seventh lunar month and recites this scripture, the Five Phases will circulate smoothly. The energy of autumn will then bring all kinds of beings to maturity, nurture firm outer shells, and bring peace to all things. A cultivator can draw the energy of the Golden Perfected—golden immortals and perfected beings in Daoist belief—into the bones and attain an immortal body. The heavens will record the cultivator’s name in the Yellow Registers and White Slips, celestial records of merit, transgressions, life, and death; they will erase the name from the register of the dead and grant the cultivator rebirth.

If one observes a prolonged fast in the tenth lunar month and recites this scripture, the Five Phases will circulate smoothly. The energy of winter will grow strong and gather; all things will return to their roots, Yang energy will lie hidden, the Great One will return to its place, and the Dao’s lineage will flourish. The Five Planets will converge, sacred virtue will renew itself day by day, and the seas in all four directions will be calm. The Six Qi—the six kinds of energy that move between Heaven and Earth—will be harmonized; officials and people will live in health and joy; the country will enjoy lasting peace; and lifespans will endure without decline, like Heaven, Earth, the sun, and the moon. Warfare will cease, epidemics will pass, the age will be clear and peaceful, and virtuous governance will prevail.

Kings, emperors, rulers and ministers, fathers and sons can thereby bring stability to the country and preserve its fortunes for generations without end. Rulers will keep their domains peaceful from one generation to the next, and the people will praise the peace.

If one recites this scripture on any of the Eight Seasonal Nodes—Beginning of Spring, Spring Equinox, Beginning of Summer, Summer Solstice, Beginning of Autumn, Autumn Equinox, Beginning of Winter, or Winter Solstice—the Five Phases will circulate smoothly. In all ten directions, true Qi will move in concert; the seasons will change in natural harmony; and whatever one undertakes will be accomplished. Inner cultivation will also reach completion, and one will ultimately become a Perfected One of the Nine Palaces. On the day of one’s birth sign, reciting this scripture…

When the Five Phases described in the scripture flow smoothly and are in harmony, calamities will not occur. Nor will misfortunes such as the Three Punishments, the Six Harms, loss and depletion, injury, or alarm afflict you. The radiance of the stars will shine upon you, and the immortal path will naturally become manifest. Your hun and shen will be clear and upright, and the myriad breaths will endure. You will suffer no distress; your body will be luminous, the guardians of the Three Realms will accompany and protect you, and the Five Emperors will come to welcome you. All the gods will come to pay homage, and your name will be entered in the celestial registers. When your merit and virtue are complete, you will ascend to the realm of Highest Clarity.

The Dao says: On every day when you perform the rite of practicing the Dao, bathe with fragrant water and observe purification and fasting. Then enter the chamber, face east, and click your teeth thirty-two times—a Daoist ritual gesture for concentrating on the spirits within and communicating with the gods—so that your intention rises to the Thirty-Two Heavens. Then bow thirty-two times. Close your eyes and meditate, visualizing yourself seated upright amid clouds of blue, yellow, and white Qi, with clouds filling the chamber and its surroundings in dim obscurity. The Five Planets are above your head, their radiant Qi winding around you. The Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise, lions, and white cranes stand in ordered ranks on either side. The sun and moon illuminate the chamber, filling it with clear light. A round radiance forms above your head and shines in all ten directions. When the visualization is clear, silently recite this invocation:

“Supreme Lord of the Dao, the Mysterious Origin, summon from within my body the Three-and-Five Meritorious Officers—the divine officials who convey documents and communicate with the gods—as well as the officials and messengers on my left and right, the jade boys who attend to incense, the jade maidens who convey messages, the Five Emperors’ talisman officials, and the incense officials on duty today, thirty-six of each. Have them report that today is an auspicious day: I am observing a long fast and cultivating this scripture in a purified fasting hall. May the matter I submit reach the celestial realm and be delivered directly before the throne of the Supreme Primordial Emperor, the Most High Sovereign of the Thirty-Two Heavens.” When the invocation is complete,

draw in Qi toward the east thirty-two times, then face east and recite the scripture.