《靈寶無量度人上品妙經》Vol. 32

The Wondrous Scripture of Infinite Salvation, the Highest Grade, spoken by the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning, one of Daoism’s highest deities.

This is a foundational chapter of Primordial Beginning’s Cavern-Mystery Lingbao tradition. It describes how the Five Phases follow their natural course, how all things truly come into being, and how living beings are delivered from suffering. Its hidden rhythms and principles of separation, union, and transformation all arise from nature.

At the beginning of Heaven and Earth, all was vast and boundless, dark and still, with no trace of form in the emptiness. In the furthest depths, wondrous true Qi (vital energy) came into being. Spirit and Qi each kept half their share and rose together; Yin and Yang began to divide from one another. The black and white Qi formed the myriad things and became the exalted rulers of Heaven. Qi at the center belonged to Earth, while Qi in the four directions lay hidden and unrevealed. The Red Bright Qi unfolded the cosmic design, and the Five Stars appeared.

The Five Stars shone brightly, each in its appointed place. This is the profound and wondrous realm of the Dao. The true Earth within the great void guards De (Virtue/Power) and calls itself the father and mother who protect the myriad things. Jia and Ji are the roots of Earth. When Yin and Yang Qi joined, Earth took shape.

Earth gave rise to Yi and Geng Qi, and Earth’s Qi thereby nurtured Metal. Metal’s De and divine power became manifest, carrying on Heaven’s foundation. Metal’s liquid essence transformed into Water, with Bing as ruler and Xin as minister. Water flows downward; Metal and Earth respond to one another and bring forth life. Goumang, the spirit of spring, breathed out green Qi. Fresh shoots rose from the plants and trees, and clouds formed in their wake.

The clouds rose back to Shangqing, the upper realm of pure spiritual energy in Daoist cosmology. Gui belongs to the Yin soul, and Wu to the Yang soul. The sun and moon nurture all things, while red vital essence rises like smoke. When the smoke settles, form and Qi join. Qi returns to its original reality, and all things undergo wondrous transformation.

Transformation has no fixed gateway. What has no gateway returns to emptiness, and emptiness returns to Earth. The Nine Returns and Seven Reversals, Daoist terms for the cycles by which essence and Qi circulate back to their source, are the foundation of the Supreme Dao. This is the way of the Five Phases. When their sequence is harmonized, all things can flow freely. When Yang Qi moves in its proper course, there is good fortune; when Yin Qi moves against it, there is calamity. The harmonious ordering of the Five Phases is what allows the Heavenly Emperor to flourish and the myriad heavens to gather their essence.

After the passage of great calamities, Heaven and Earth find peace. The Five Phases restrain and regulate one another. When their Qi becomes blocked and stagnates, their balance of strength and weakness is lost. Without understanding their wondrous principles, one cannot grasp the truth within them. Earth dwells at the center and governs the Five Phases.

During the Five Calamities, Qi grows powerful. Wood overcomes Earth, not to claim victory, but in the hope that Wood may grow freely. When Wood Qi becomes excessive, Metal attacks it. When Metal gains the advantage, Fire circulates to bring it into balance. When Fire blazes fiercely, Water moderates it. All this is the mutual regulation and harmonization of the Five Phases. The shallow-minded and ignorant people of the world do not understand that Heaven’s Dao prizes balance at the center. To remain even and well-adjusted is the De of the Heavenly Emperor. To follow the way of harmony without going astray is wondrous beyond wonder. The supreme treasure comes from following the natural course: even gravel can be transformed into fine jade.

Thus came into being the Jade Terrace, Jade Gate, Golden Tower, Emerald City, Yuluo Xiaotai, Jade Mountain’s Upper Capital, and the unsurpassed Great Luo Jade Clarity realm. They seem to exist and not to exist, appearing in response to thought. Boundless Brahma Qi fills these realms. Though they have no shape or image, within them are the rulers of the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing), the perfected immortals of the Nine Elders’ Immortal Capital, the Great Gods Huangyuan and Jiusu, the Lord Baiyuan Haokong, the spirits of the Great Mystery’s Fivefold Power and Hidden Subtlety, the Elder of the Nine Immortals of Qinghua, the Lord of the Red Writ and Purple Script, and the Venerable God of the Great Emperor, who brings myriad blessings, harmonious governance, transformation, long life, deliverance, and relief from calamity. Today they are checking and recording the registers of living beings, and have descended before the hall.

The Wood True Spirit King, the Eastern Limitless Azure Emperor—the emperor of the eastern Wood Qi—is a great sage who grants people long life and guides all beings to salvation.

The Fire True Spirit King, the Southern Limitless Vermilion Emperor—the emperor of the southern Fire Qi—likewise grants people long life and guides all beings to salvation. The same is true of the Metal True Spirit King, the Western Limitless White Emperor, emperor of the western Metal Qi, and the Water True Spirit King, the Northern Limitless Black Emperor, emperor of the northern Water Qi.

The other great sages who grant people long life and guide all beings to salvation are the Mysterious Maiden Spirit King, Great Emperor of the Northeast Limitless; the Red Child Spirit King, Great Emperor of the Southeast Limitless; the Earth True Spirit King, Yellow Emperor of the Southwest Limitless; the Heavenly Matron Spirit King, Great Emperor of the Northwest Limitless; the Mysterious Father Spirit King, True Emperor of the Upper Limitless; and the Dao Mother Spirit King, Primordial Emperor of the Lower Limitless.

The true flying spirit kings of the Ten Directions—the four cardinal directions, four intermediate directions, and above and below—and countless other great gods who grant long life and deliver beings from the world all ride together in chariots of flowing purple clouds and numinous essence. They travel in the carriages of the Great Tenuity’s golden radiance and the Five True Ones, transformed and merged into the Limitless. Their auspicious mounts include white qilin, vermilion phoenixes, azure luan birds, and yellow beasts, with celestial immortals attending them. Seventy million people bear paired pearls and wear moon-bright crowns of white feathers and dark stems. Their crowns and sashes are adorned with the Nine Qi and the Three Luminaries, symbols of the radiance of heaven, earth, and the stars. They perform the Nine Songs in yang tones and sing the Eight Su in yin tones, their voices rising and falling melodiously. The Five Elders lead the procession, while the immortals guard the chariot poles. Myriad chariots and cavalry arrive through the sky.

The gods gather in their radiance and turn their chariots back, following the principles by which Heaven and Earth govern and bring forth life. The ministers of the heavens, Han Si of the Upper Palace of Nanchang, the great gods who oversee registers and inspect the lives of beings, the Five Emperors’ commanders, and the Primordial Lords who respond to the birth of life all carry registers and records of those to be delivered. They come together before the sovereign, each attending to those whom they are destined to save, in accordance with Heaven’s ordained course.

They harmonize the primordial Qi, eliminate disorder and cruelty, and bring the Qi of the Five Phases—Water, Fire, Wood, Metal, and Earth—into balance so that the phases do not overcome or harm one another and all things may be preserved. Heaven, humanity, ghosts, and spirits all follow the Great Dao, cultivate themselves, and transform into immortals. Ministers and children should place loyalty and filial devotion first. Loyalty reaches the Jade Emperor; filial devotion resonates with the Great Mysterious. Yin and Yang are thereby brought into harmony. The Three Officials—the Officials of Heaven, Earth, and Water—report this, and both humans and spirits rejoice.

The registers include countless names, even those of beings in the most remote Northern Mountains, at the source of the rivers, and in the underworld. Suffering souls among the dead, too, may be promoted at the appointed time. By following the Great Dao, one gains the vitality to cultivate the immortal way or be reborn as a human. Delivered in this life, one endures through every lifetime. As the cycles of tribulation turn, one’s lifespan becomes equal to Heaven’s; one escapes forever the Three Paths, Five Sufferings, and Eight Hardships, transcends the Three Realms, and roams freely in the Upper Clarity, the pure immortal realm of Daoism.

The Heavenly Emperors of all the heavens practice pure cultivation in the “Realm of Jade Truth and Formlessness.”

Eight Heavens of the East

Heaven of Setting Wisdom Right and Dispelling Evil — Heavenly Emperor Jade Awakening, Moon-Gazer

Heaven of Cavernous Rosy Clouds and Stillness — Heavenly Emperor Ugliness Mirror, Origin of the Kalpa

Heaven of Manifest Uprightness and Primordial Pervasion — Heavenly Emperor Who Cuts Away Delusion and Discerns Truth

Heaven of Reflective Efficacy and Clear Pool — Heavenly Emperor Diligent in Suffering, Desolate

Heaven of Flourishing Scenery and Benevolent Rule — Heavenly Emperor Auspicious Righteousness, Peace

Heaven of Treading Upward in Radiant Harmony — Heavenly Emperor Long Arm, Upright Foundation

Heaven of Venerable Praise and Constant Flame — Heavenly Emperor Who Orders Truth, Subtle Dawn

Heaven of Jade Truth and Lofty Sainthood — Heavenly Emperor Utmost Dao, Primordial Stillness

Eight Heavens of the South

Heaven of Blazing Stillness and Deep Reflection — Heavenly Emperor Hu Youchen

Heaven of the Divine Realm’s Central Pivot — Heavenly Emperor Goulong Shicun

Heaven of Expounding Principle and Subtle Mystery — Heavenly Emperor Shiyue Zhenglin

Heaven of Fire’s Passage and Transformation Throughout — Heavenly Emperor Chosen Wonder, Sincere Support

Heaven of Demonic Rule and Wanling — Heavenly Emperor Zhaoqin Donghao

Heaven of Ease, Lou, Chong, and Qu — Heavenly Emperor Qianglu Haosu

Heaven of Red Seizure and Outstanding Splendor — Heavenly Emperor Qidong Yanming

Heaven of the Supreme Ultimate and the Compliant Sovereign — Heavenly Emperor Wuxuan Dongxuan

Eight Heavens of the West

Heaven of Vengeful Plans and Abundant Nurture — Heavenly Emperor Shantuo Ximing

Heaven of Beholding Radiance and True Wonder — Heavenly Emperor Zuozhuang Tang

Heaven of Brahma’s Passage and Luminous Jade — Heavenly Emperor Zongyao Dunkang

Heaven of Embracing Uprightness and the Dipper’s Pivot — Heavenly Emperor Who Slays and Destroys Demons and Evil

Heaven of Discernment, Subduing, and Peaceful Dao — Heavenly Emperor Sikang, Overseer of Life

Heaven of Pure Radiance and Cavernous Emptiness — Heavenly Emperor Huishi, Minister of Compassion

Heaven of Splendid Capital and Shining Light — Heavenly Emperor Jishu Loulun

Heaven of Essential Mystery and Great Brightness — Heavenly Emperor Xiaojue Shenhuan

Eight Heavens of the North

Heaven of the Divine Palace’s Public Talisman — Heavenly Emperor Suyin Cheng

Heaven of Brahma’s Writ and the Purple Emperor — Heavenly Emperor Yueping Yanshen

Here the heavens and their Heavenly Emperor titles are listed separately for the East, South, West, and North. The names of the heavens and emperors in the scripture are proper names within the Daoist cosmological system. This passage records only two northern heavens; the original text ends here.

The Dragon-You Heaven that governs the Grotto-Heavens, ruled by the Celestial Emperor titled Fiery Dawn, Blazing Heat; the Heaven of Transcendent Peace and Pure Cultivation, ruled by the Celestial Emperor titled Jade Purity, True Splendor; the Heaven of Harmonious Unity and Wondrous Truth, ruled by the Celestial Emperor titled Embracing Light, Violet Radiance; the Heaven of Mysterious Luster and Ordered Rites, ruled by the Celestial Emperor titled Receiving the Dao in Due Season; the Heaven of Vast Blessings and Passage through Darkness, ruled by the Celestial Emperor titled Remote Melody, Mysterious Isle; and the Heaven of Clear Han River and Floating Grotto, ruled by the Celestial Emperor titled Central Pole, Hidden Subtlety.

Each of the thirty-two heavens has thirty-two Celestial Emperors, as well as secret names for the various heavens. These are the wondrous patterns of writing through which the heavens’ empty, natural workings are revealed.

Following the Dao enables the five stars (the five planets) to move without being out of season, stopping, or disappearing from view. When the Dao’s Qi is violated, causing the stars to move backward or clash with one another, their Qi must be driven back onto its proper course. When the upright Qi of Yin and Yang joins and nourishes all things, all things flourish alongside the Celestial Emperors. They are spared premature death and injury, allowing fine fruits and essences to grow. Across the world there are 19,421 kinds of grains, fruits, vegetables, and livestock, which arise in response to the Qi of the Five Phases. Those who eat them may prolong their lives and remain free of illness, and may even naturally cultivate themselves into immortals.

The words and phrases of this scripture hold hidden meanings. Those who know them do not speak of them lightly; only those who grasp the true Dao can recognize the profound principles within. This is what the Jade Book reveals, and the secret cadence of the heavens. When there is no longer restraint and rivalry, warfare and conflict, or any violation or disruption of the stars’ proper courses between Heaven and Earth, harmony and order can prevail and blessings can be drawn near. The Celestial Emperor rules for ten thousand years, using upright Qi to dispel demons, strange phenomena, and calamities, so that these misfortunes may be ended forever.

The sounds, honored ones, spirits, demons, and numinous beings of Shunzhi all cause the two luminaries of Yin and Yang and the Six Directions—that is, Heaven, Earth, and the four quarters—to move along their proper courses. The Qi of Shangqing Ziwei spreads throughout; the Yaogao star and the other stars take their ordered positions, and the Qi of Great Harmony fills and balances the cosmos. Metal and Wood join in shared Qi, Water and Fire return to unity, and the Virtue of Earth joins them. Killing, harm, rage, and strife all ultimately return to peace by following the proper Dao.

The Dao’s boundless and profound principles cannot be fully set forth. The divine perfected beings universally deliver the people of Heaven and all living beings; today they rejoice and celebrate those who have received deliverance. Through the various heavens, they petition for the eradication of Qi that is stagnant, hidden, retrograde, rebellious, or corrosive; they cut off the roots of demons and evil, so that the Way of the Five Constants may flow freely and true Qi may permeate the Great Mystery.

The Five Emperors turn the celestial pivot and arrange the celestial bodies’ lines of latitude and longitude: the Heavenly Gate belongs to the Eastern Dipper and governs the prolonging of life; the Western Dipper brings Qi into harmony; the Northern Dipper governs the nurturing of the fetus; the Southern Dipper governs the movement of vital force; and the Central Dipper governs the reception of bodily form. In this way, blessings from the Three Realms gather together. The Azure Emperor delights in Metal, the White Emperor corresponds to Wood, the Red Emperor moves Water, the Black Emperor assists Fire, and the Yellow Emperor dwells in the empty position; the Five Phases…

Those who follow the Dao of Heaven and assist those who practice the Way must eliminate all who dare to do evil or defy its order. The True King of the Azure Heaven of Wind and Fire, who governs the Qi of wind and fire, rules over ghosts and monsters of the Wood phase. The True King of the Red Heaven cuts down fiends and rebels of the Fire phase; the True King of the White Heaven puts an end to demons of the Metal phase; the True King of the Black Heaven destroys monsters of the Water phase; and the True King of the Yellow Heaven subdues calamities of the Earth phase. The True Kings of the Five Emperors are the lords of all the gods. When they travel, drums and music accompany them. They command the divine troops, direct the ceremonial retinue and drumbeat, and patrol the vast reaches of space. Their majesty shines brightly, and together with the heavens they accomplish their work. Heaven transforms and saves living beings, while sternly restraining the baleful and fierce Qi of demons. When Wood Qi falls into disorder, Earth restrains Water; when Water Qi is exhausted, it conceals and contains the essence of Fire; Fire refines Metal, and Metal in turn overcomes Earth. The Five Phases interweave and restrain one another; when their balance is lost, calamity follows.

The Five Emperors hold the talismanic mandates, while the five planets ride dragon chariots. They move along the subtle order of the cosmic framework, harmonizing the breath and keeping each of the Five Phases to its regular course, so that none harms another. Thus Heaven and humanity can work together in accord with the Dao; all things flourish and shine, and naturally endure. The changes of the four seasons are clear and harmonious, the workings of Heaven and Earth proceed as they should, the Yin-Yang and the six Qi are full, and the movement of the myriad Qi is free of error. The transformations of the sacred Way have no end. All the gods obey it, and the Five Emperors of the three realms together report to the Shangqing realm.

Throughout the eras of Longhan and Yankang, names for periods of cosmic tribulation in Daoist tradition, the true Dao remains constant and unchanging. It is indistinct and formless, at first revealing no trace. The primordial Qi extends without limit, its blended breath shining forth. The red and black Qi lie hidden and gestate within it; the five Qi then emerge, and the four directions take their places. East and west stand opposed, their forces colliding and restraining one another; some are yielding, others firm.

Metal and Wood struggle, while dragon and tiger leap. Yin Qi suppresses Yang Qi, and Yang Qi presses upon Yin Qi; they seize and overpower one another without rest, damaging both Qi and Shen. The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning puts the Great Dao into effect, while the revered lords of the five planets each keep to their duties. To follow Yang Qi is good; to turn against the right path brings harm and calamity, wounding what is true and authentic. The Way of truth and authenticity governs the pivot of all things. From the center of the pole it commands the spirits and governs through teaching in accordance with principle. As its teaching unfolds, the Jade Capital, the celestial palace in Daoist tradition, shines brilliantly; the Mystic Terrace and the Azure Vault, names for the heavens, extend above and below. In darkness and in light, in what has neither form nor shadow, there is nowhere the Dao does not reach, and no boundary to its scope.

In the era of Chiming, a name for a cosmic cycle in Daoist tradition, the charts and records were set in order, and Heaven and Earth moved through their ordained cycles. The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning stabilized Heaven and Earth and left behind jade-like scriptures and talismanic writings. Clouds flowed and phoenixes flew. Primordial Qi is the root of the Great Dao; it protects and governs the cycles of tribulation, ensuring that Heaven endures. Primordial Qi, vast as Brahma’s heaven, spreads throughout the cosmic net and sets forth the laws of all things. The primordial framework flows and moves through the thirty-two heavens, circles the formless celestial realm, and extends throughout the ten directions. It follows the Dipper and Winnowing Basket constellations and regulates the Five Constants. The total Qi of the thirty-five divisions returns to the Upper Origin: this is movement in accord with the Dao. It does not violate the laws of the gods, but uses the cosmic framework to regulate the movement and advance and retreat of Qi.

In all that is done, one should follow the impulse of life and bring things into harmony, so that their movement does not go astray. By following the Great Dao and joining with it, one attains a Qi of harmony that is deep and far-reaching. The scenes of the eight directions converge in subtlety, and the breath enters the realm of the profound. Within that profundity, the Great Emperor of the Primordial Realm and the exalted perfected beings drift above the Jade Chart, a diagram symbolizing the movements of the heavens, spreading their teachings…

This passage describes essential content from the Lingbao school's Daoist scriptures, revealing the profound method of harmonizing Yin-Yang and delivering sentient beings through the power of the Five Directional True Lords (deities governing the Five Phases' energies).

The opening reference to the "Five Vermilion Texts" (Chishu wupian) denotes five mystical talismans (fulu) written in cinnabar, possessing the power to sever inauspicious energies. These talismans function like warp and weft threads, organizing the Three Realms (Desire Realm, Form Realm, and Formless Realm) and opening pathways to blessed realms for all beings. The virtue (De) of the Celestial Emperor manifests in the Purple Tenuity Enclosure (Ziwei yuan, the heavenly imperial abode), where celestial palaces wreathed in auspicious clouds shine with golden radiance from solar halls and serene jade dwellings.

The text then enumerates key deities: the Great Lord of Longevity (Changshang dajun, sovereign of immortality), Wuying (Wood Phase emperor), Baiyuan (Metal Phase divinity), Taiyi (Earth Phase ruler), Siming (Fire Phase venerable), and Taokang Heyan (Water Phase progenitor). These deities hold talismans safeguarding life's foundation. Moving freely within the Shangqing Realm (one of the Three Pure Ones' realms), they perceive the subtlest Eight Radiances (bajing, eight vital bodily points) while anchoring the Muddy Pellet Palace (niwan, crown point) and Crimson Palace (heart cavity), harmonizing the Five Viscera's Qi to restore all spiritual forces to their proper stations.

The scripture particularly emphasizes the core principle that "the Dao of immortality values life" (xiandao guisheng), teaching that universal salvation (wuliang duren) leads to the Mysterious Gate. The "Tenfold Spirit-Returning" (shizhuan huiling) cultivation method describes circulating Qi through ten transformative cycles to return all energies to their source, ultimately achieving immortality.

The latter section presents poetic teachings from the Five Star True Lords (planetary deities corresponding to the Five Phases). The first poem by the Lord of Purple Tenuity (central Northern Dipper deity) reveals the Dao's natural presence in boundless emptiness (taixu), where Yin-Yang energies rise and descend in ceaseless vitality. When practitioners comprehend the mutual generation and restraint of the Five Phases (particularly Earth Phase's pivotal role as the central pivot), they avoid disasters caused by elemental imbalances.

The second poem explains methods for harmonizing the Five Qi (wuqi, energies of the Five Viscera). Forced suppression causes stagnation; only through gentle equilibrium can natural transformation occur. These numinous sounds (lingyin, sacred incantations) enable adepts to master the Five Phases' energies, attaining carefree transcendence.

In the east, golden light appears, and a jeweled dragon surges amid fierce flames. In the west, divine beings bestow Fulu (talismans and registers bearing divine power).

Thunder sounds over the southern mountain. Yellow banners flap in the wind, while the gods surround and protect Taiwei, the celestial palace. The ritual proceeds without error, and true Qi (vital energy cultivated in practice) gathers. Riding in a richly embroidered carriage, drawn by a vehicle adorned with langgan jade, I hold a golden bridle and a jade whip. Where shall I journey? I shall travel throughout the eight directions of the heavens.

In serving one’s ruler and honoring one’s father, loyalty and filial devotion must come first. Here lies the mystery of the Dao. Its secret teachings must not be passed on lightly. Above, they aid the imperial court; below, they transform the world through De (Virtue/Power). My Dao is upright and manifest, its radiance shining across the nine heavens. It brings forth the growth of all things and makes Heaven and Earth harmonious and fertile. The workings of creation are not difficult: one need only follow the Dao of Heaven and scatter primordial Qi, letting it circulate without end.

All things reproduce and flourish, each making use of the primordial Qi it inherently possesses. Light reaches through Heaven and Earth, above and below; the ten thousand kinds of breath return together to the immortal Dao. Within, it protects the Three Realms; beyond, it reaches the remote realms of the eight directions. Heaven follows the Dao and becomes clear; Earth follows the Dao and grows peaceful; humanity follows the Dao and forms the embryo of the elixir, the embryo nurtured through Neidan (internal alchemy). The layered gates of Heaven stand shut. Once cultivation is complete, one can transcend life and death, see all things through, and commune with the spirits; one’s powers transform and change, entering the void and riding nine dragons. Auspicious radiance spreads everywhere. The Five Elders, celestial rulers or star spirits of the five directions, confer a mandate, accompanied by jade books and red talismanic seals. On the left, the divine attendant Hu童 gives a long cry; on the right, the deity Taizhen offers support. The numinous forces of Metal, Fire, and Wind circulate. Following the secret path, the myriad emperors all praise and honor it in unison. The Five Phases return to unity, and being returns to nonbeing.

The Third of the Five Planets, the True Lord Shunzhi, speaks in “The Great Radiance Song on the Ordering of the Cycles”:

The celestial enclosure of Tianshi is arranged in layer upon layer, with each star shining in its own place. I hold a jade book inscribed with great red characters. These words are engraved upon the Gate of Precious Light. In the northern Jade Immortal Lodge, the star realm stretches for ten thousand miles, its immortal people thronging in carriages and on horseback. There stands the dwelling of the emperor, its crimson palaces veiled in purple mist. Clouds fill my residence, and their radiance shimmers across its halls.

The two lights of Yin-Yang reflect one another. Pearls glimmer on the trees of jade, like those of a celestial grove. They move slowly, and their five-colored radiance appears of itself. Slowing, halting, standing still, and moving in reverse—each has its proper time. They follow the virtue of the Dao and proceed in harmony, without contention.

By aligning oneself with the Way of Heaven in serving the Heavenly Emperor, one’s actions fit together as precisely as a tally—proof of a perfect match. To align oneself with the Way of Heaven is to align oneself with Heaven itself.

Attaining the Dao happens naturally. When one follows the Way of Heaven, all things can grow and transform, and its wondrous efficacy continues without end.

Breath and Qi accord with the Great Void, the vast and tranquil primordial realm, forming precious talismanic inscriptions: the “Five Jade Texts.”

The imperial chariot circles as it travels. The Celestial Chariot is in the east, where the teachings of benevolence spread everywhere.

The great meaning of the scripture is revealed in the west, and portents such as comets correspond to the celestial patterns. Governing the world by following the Great Dao, one encounters the unfathomable depths of wondrous creation.

I dwell upon the highest throne, radiant and clearly oriented. Neither good nor evil escapes notice, and virtue is treasured. To follow the Great Dao is the virtue of a sage.

All regions under Heaven take this as their guiding principle. If one fails to follow Heaven’s course, one becomes one of the “Five Robbers”—forces that harm the workings of Heaven and Earth and the growth and nurture of all things.

The Great Dao is almost without form, remote and profound. It contains the original Jing and Qi, giving rise to all things without end.

The tracks of the Chi Dragon are carved into fine jade. Clouds arise and transform into purple essence. Swallow the jade essence and behold the Three Pure Essences, the three clear vital energies described in Daoism. Transformation comes and goes with swift, inscrutable subtlety; the Divine Mother and Mysterious Father appear, while the light of the sun and moon grows dim and indistinct.

These are the supreme and wondrous sounds played by the True Lords of the Five Stars, who dwell above the Three Realms and fly through the heavens, as they bring the Five Phases into order. Recite these sounds and join them with the Cavern Chapters, the scriptures of the celestial grottoes. After a hundred recitations, your name will be entered in the Southern Palace; after a thousand, the Five Emperors will escort and welcome you. After ten thousand recitations, your Dao practice will be complete: you will ascend through the vast heavens, transcend the Three Realms, and take your place among the Immortal Elders.

Whoever hears these numinous sounds will be revered by all the gods. The Earth Deities will be commanded to guard, escort, and welcome that person, freeing them from the gates of hell. The Five Sufferings and Eight Hardships will be dispelled, and the Seven Generations of ancestors will ascend, forever leaving the offices of the ghosts. Their souls will be conveyed to Zhu Ling, the place of refinement and deliverance in Daoism, where they will be tempered and reborn. This is called boundless universal deliverance, saving all without limit.

This scripture, kept secret in Heaven, is revered by all the heavens. Whoever divulges it or treats it with contempt will fall into hell, bringing calamity upon seven generations of ancestors.

The Dao says: The two chapters above contain the most wondrous and secret words of the Heavenly Emperors of the various heavens and the True Primordial Lords of the Five Directions. They are all words of the Great Brahma, not the ordinary language of the world… (The original ends here.)

After the memorial has been submitted and a reply received, the envoys Duren, Dushun, Gangji, and the others will carry out the command to spread the scripture, ensuring that it circulates properly, stays clear of every kind of calamity, and brings harmonious Qi and abundant blessings. The profound mysteries of this scripture cannot be fully explored. It is a classic treasured by Heaven and kept in secret within the Upper Palace of Purple Tenuity in the Mysterious Capital, a Daoist immortal realm. According to the Mysterious Regulations, it is transmitted only once every forty thousand kalpas. If someone who has attained the Dao sincerely prepares gold and treasure as tokens of faith, observes the ancient rites, and makes a covenant sworn before Heaven for ten days, only then may they receive this scripture.

The Dao says: When the Five Phases (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) move in proper order, all things have their own support. When the Yin-Yang energies are in harmony, the Three Realms—the heavens, the human world, and the underworld—are at peace. Celestial beings and humans alike can live long lives, free from premature death, injury, and calamity. But when the transformation of Qi falls into disorder and the stars move erratically, the energies of punishment and killing suppress and contend with one another without cease. Then the workings of Heaven and Earth move toward decline and an end, while the sun, moon, and five planets undergo changes of waning and waxing. Even the most holy divine beings experience rises and falls; those who have only made shallow progress in cultivation may fall ill or suffer injury. This happens because the Qi of the Five Phases does not follow the proper patterns of the Dao. Celestial beings and humans grow resentful and angry, and no longer live in harmony; humans and ghosts alike become fierce and inauspicious.

Whenever calamities of this kind arise, all those affected should unite in fasting and purification, offer incense and bow in worship at six times during the day, and recite the scripture ten times. Then blessings and De will descend, dispelling every kind of ill omen. This immeasurable scripture can save all beings without limit.

The Dao says: When a person’s lifespan is nearing its end, or they encounter a time of misfortune, they often meet the clashing of water and fire. When their allotted span is exhausted, their breath ceases and life comes to an end. This is caused by the Five Phases punishing and overcoming one another as they converge at a place of extinction. People do not know that although the body decays, the True Shen, the original master within, is not destroyed; nor does the subtle essence of the Dao ever perish.

When the Five Phases move in reverse order, Heaven and Earth move toward their end. Some cultivators have made only shallow progress and have not yet attained an immortal rank, yet their allotted span is due to end and their bodies must pass through Great Yin, the realm of death and the underworld. At the time of death, fellow cultivators who have attained the Dao may offer incense and recite the scripture ten times, following the prescribed rites to deliver the deceased’s body and spirit. Then the person’s soul and Shen can ascend directly to the Southern Palace in the celestial realm. Their days will be reckoned according to the merit of their cultivation, and they will be granted rebirth. When they enter the cycle of reincarnation, they will not be deluded, and in the end they will become divine immortals.

The Dao says: When the five planets encroach upon one another or move irregularly, they are failing to follow the course of Heaven. This brings calamities above, disasters on Earth below, and troubles among people in between. When the workings of Heaven and Earth near their end, the stars fall out of position, the sun and moon move irregularly, the seasons become disordered, and Yin and Yang fall out of balance. All these signs show that Heaven and Earth are no longer following the Dao.

Earthquakes and landslides, floods and dried-up springs, wild animals attacking people, and locusts and rats destroying crops; overflowing rivers, collapsing mountains, and eruptions of wind and fire that cause people to be crushed or drowned, buildings to collapse, and the earth to split—these are all caused by Earth Qi falling into disorder and failing to accord with the earth. Calamities within a nation, the outbreak of war, the spread of disease, and the deaths and injuries of the people; after teachers and friends have died, ghosts emerging to cause trouble—these are all caused by human affairs falling into disorder and failing to accord with humanity. When the Five Phases fall out of order, all things can no longer be at peace.

If we wish all things to follow the natural Way and bring peace to all under Heaven, everyone should undertake purification rites (Daoist fasting and prayer conducted according to ritual) and openly uphold the Orthodox Way. Set the true texts of the Five Directions (Daoist talismanic scripts representing the five directions) on the ritual altar, present offerings, and make a report to the Heavenly Emperors of the Five Directions; then burn incense and recite the scripture.

The merit of purification and scripture recitation is great: above, it can dispel heavenly calamities and protect and bring stability to the emperor; below, it can drive away harm and save the people. All beings, living and dead, can receive its blessings. This merit and virtue are beyond measure, and so it is called “Deliverance Without Measure for Heaven and Humanity.”

The Dao says: Anyone who upholds and recites this scripture, performing these meritorious deeds for Heaven, Earth, the emperor, and the people, and who, on the day calamity strikes, resolves to undertake purification, burn incense, and recite the scripture ten times, will have their name recorded by all the heavens, while the myriad spirits guard them. If this person continues to cultivate, they may hope to become an attendant of the Golden Palace of the Sage and Illustrious Sovereign (the celestial court). The heavens record people’s good and bad deeds, leaving nothing out, however small; the True King in Heaven will also protect and recommend you.

Only those who cultivate the Dao and attain the Dao can truly understand these profound principles.

The Great Brahmā’s Hidden Words of the Heavens, Sounds Without Measure, Composed by the Lord of the Dao

Jade Chapters on the Orderly Governance of the Five Phases in the Primordial Spirit Writ

The following are the “Great Brahmā’s Hidden Words” of the Eight Heavens of the East and the Eight Heavens of the South. These phrases are sacred secret words in Daoist scriptures, meant to be chanted; they cannot be translated literally as ordinary prose, so the original text is retained.

Eight Heavens of the East

神屡易图　玉遇山回　子王七觉

辅波僊深　旦烈静卒　江梗呼迎

寳烟披泽　始栗备身　阅硕彊偃

辨卑罗蜜　鲁辇息家　处檀移心

魔咏枝河　究屈张平　兰球珠忽

离龙梵阴

Eight Heavens of the South

太玄混微　斗著转华　移盈曲禄

报该无涯　念荡董颐　救明演徙

极深光总　九摇契远　露戟韩司

洎诜招西　飞玉投检　瓊筹泛芽

丹明希沈　长几嶧讹　骞传良涤

房覩迎陀

Eight Heavens of the West

The preceding phrases belong to the “Great Brahmā Hidden Language,” sacred sounds in Daoist scriptures, rather than sentences whose meaning is expressed in the usual literal way. The scripture says that these sounds contain immeasurable tones and are inscribed in purple ink on the Gate of the Jade Pivot.

The characters for the first, second, and third days of the Eight Heavens of the East are written neatly in cinnabar script on the Heavenly Divisions and Degrees, in the central pavilion atop the Dragon Terrace and Jade Mountain. The characters concerning the celestial realm of the South are used to harmonize the Five Phases, keeping Qi from being damaged or thrown into disorder. The writings of the Three Blossoms, Great Mystery, and Azure Firmament are carved in the courtyard of the Department of Works at the Palace of the Central Dipper.

The fifth and seventh characters of the third day of the West, and the first and eighth characters of the fourth day, are used to cut off demons and evil influences, dispel harm, and keep the celestial courses moving in their proper order. These characters are placed before the Yellow Way. The scripture goes on to say that writing them prevents Water and Fire from overcoming one another, brings harmony to righteous Qi, and enables the imperial Way to attain the Supreme Pole, bringing good fortune and prosperity. They are also written into the slips of the Great Primordial Register, the Daoist documents that record the names of immortals. Recorded with a brush, they are placed above Dragon Mother Mountain, the Drum-Ringing Tower, the Jade Gate of True Spirits, and Qiao Capital, northeast of the Dipper and Winnowing Basket.

The third character of the second day of the North, and the first, fourth, and seventh characters of the eighth day, are used to sever the Qi formed when the Five Phases fall out of order, the star chariots stray from their proper courses, and the stars become misaligned. They bring the Five Phases into harmony and bestow blessings upon the human and celestial realms. The scripture’s final passage appears to be incomplete.

This is the text revered and observed by the myriad gods. Each character is one zhang wide and one zhang high, square in shape like a seal, with light streaming down from its four corners. The Celestial Perfected Sovereign (Tianzhen Huangren), an immortal in Daoist legend, once wrote these characters and spread them through the Eight Heavens and the ten directions above and below, as the orthodox voice between Heaven and Earth. If someone understands this voice and can purify themselves and recite it, the heavens will send flying celestial spirit kings to inspect their practice, record their merits, and report them to the heavens. The myriad gods will come to pay homage, the earth spirits will wait beside the door, and the demon kings of great merit will recommend them, allowing them to join the ranks of the highest perfected beings. When their cultivation is complete, they can travel through the Three Realms and ascend to the Golden Gate.

This voice arises within the void, formed from the Qi of Great Harmony, vast and indistinct; it is the pure and orthodox sound between Heaven and Earth. When the Five Phases fall out of balance, harm and punishment encroach upon one another, the movement of Qi becomes disordered, the seasons lose their proper order, and calamities befall the people, one strikes ritual instruments to sound this voice and thereby avert disaster. Then sweet dew descends from Heaven, divine fungi grow on Earth, golden treasures appear, and auspicious signs emerge. The voice naturally has the power to ward off evil, avert calamity, deliver beings from distress, and bring things to completion. It is the natural sound of the Celestial Perfected.

Thus, reciting it can summon flying celestials to descend and inspect. The Lord on High answers from afar, the myriad gods come to pay homage, and the spirits of the Three Realms stand in attendance beside the Son of Heaven’s carriage. All evil spirits bow their heads and prostrate themselves; ghosts and monsters vanish of their own accord. As its jade-like sound rings out, the ten directions fall into solemn stillness, rivers and seas grow calm, and the mists among the mountains disperse.

All spirits are awestruck and submit, and the host of immortals is summoned to gather. No polluted Qi remains in Heaven, and no demonic dust or impurity remains on Earth. Its mysterious wisdom is deep, vast, and clear, at once expansive and profound.