《靈寶無量度人上品妙經》Vol. 37

Black registers and yellow documents are used to dispel demons, flying corpses, and wandering spirits, to cut them down and subdue them so they are no longer bound. The documents are sent to Mount Tai and announced throughout the Three Realms, the boundless realm of the gods, the Office of Winding Springs, the Northern Capital of Luofeng, the Three Offices and Nine Bureaus, and the sources of the Twelve Rivers. This is to request the release of ancestors, fathers and mothers, and relatives through generations from the entanglements they have suffered over successive lifetimes. Illness is to be dispelled, records of sins erased, and evil roots destroyed. The departed must not be detained or forced to join the ranks of ghosts. By command of the primordial talismans, the departed are ordered to ascend at the appointed time.

The attendants and guards of the Northern Capital’s Cold Pool protect the body and soul. The Seven Stars dispel calamity and deliver the dead; the dead souls of the Southern Palace undergo refinement and become immortals. Those who received deliverance while alive can endure the kalpas and remain forever. Even as they move through the cycles of the kalpas, they may live as long as Heaven and be forever freed from the Three Paths, the Five Sufferings, and the Eight Hardships. They transcend the Three Realms and roam at ease in Shangqing. The heavens of Shangqing and the colorless realm of the Jade Perfected, the Heavenly Emperor, are pure and majestic.

The Celestial Perfected Emperor said: “The true method by which the Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper dispel calamity was proclaimed by the Great Emperor of the North Pole on behalf of the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning.” This method was transmitted to the Perfected One of Numina and Might in the Purple Chamber of the Cloud Palace. The Perfected One of Numina and Might holds a high rank among the perfected. The sequence of the scripture is called “Dao Words,” and its principles, too, have their proper place.

The Thirty-Two Heavens form thirty-two spokes; the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions form the wheel; the Seven Stars form the carriage body; the Sun and Moon, the two luminaries, form the axle; and the North Pole is the hub that gathers in and governs the four directions. The Thirty-Two Heavens are joined to one another and rest on firm foundations. They are also ordered east, south, west, and north. Each heaven has its own color and extends downward through the Nine Palaces. Separately, they are called the Nine Perfected; together, they form the Great Cavern. Practitioners should understand this meaning.

Eight Heavens of the East

Kanghua Jinming Heaven — Heavenly Emperor Ledan Neisheng

Xizhi Chengguang Heaven — Heavenly Emperor Wutu Lizong

Quyan Zhengxu Heaven — Heavenly Emperor Wanbo Qi

Kongchang Fanwu Heaven — Heavenly Emperor Miaozhu Hanlu

Xiezhen Sizhen Heaven — Heavenly Emperor Gangdu Xunyu

Zhuji Wanshi Heaven — Heavenly Emperor Jiaoyi Puzhao

Xiwei Mengsu Heaven — Heavenly Emperor Adan Tichang

Zuyuan Qingshu Heaven — Heavenly Emperor Yaoping Miqiang

Seven-Star True Lords’ Calamity-Dispelling Divine Talisman: Used in places afflicted by demons and calamities.

Eight Eastern Talisman-Bearing Officers

Eight Heavens of the South

Haodu Huoxiang Heaven — Heavenly Emperor Zhao Tianxianchang

(The original text breaks off here; some terms for talismans and registers, divine names, and names of heavens are proper nouns and have been retained in their original form.)

In the East are eight tiers of heaven:

The Heaven of Zhisī Zimiaotian, whose Celestial Emperor is named Yaozong Chongguang; the Heaven of Zhangqi Shanhua, whose Celestial Emperor is named Qianhe Yusha; the Heaven of Ditu Shangyan, whose Celestial Emperor is named Dingguansheng; the Heaven of Zhulan Taixian, whose Celestial Emperor is named Quezhen Qudong; the Heaven of Liaofang Dunwei, whose Celestial Emperor is named Feiqi Qi Wuyin; the Heaven of Shanqiao Zhenxing, whose Celestial Emperor is named Huangxuan Yuenan; and the Heaven of Bianyue Huyun, whose Celestial Emperor is named Loujing Ruichang.

The Life-Protecting Seven-Star Spirit Talisman, associated with the Seven Stars, should be placed at the center of the main hall of a house. It is overseen by eight talisman officers of the South.

In the West are eight tiers of heaven:

The Heaven of Chaoping Yanyan, whose Celestial Emperor is named Fuyi Yanshan; the Heaven of Changlian Baikong, whose Celestial Emperor is named Shoulu Zhuji; the Heaven of Luqi Jingzhang, whose Celestial Emperor is named Quliang Hexi; the Heaven of Zhuohua Zousu, whose Celestial Emperor is named Moyu Qingdi; the Heaven of Lianji Dingyuan, whose Celestial Emperor is named Heyou Jisun; the Heaven of Dashi Shunyang, whose Celestial Emperor is named Yunyan Qingbiao; the Heaven of Zhengyuan Ganhua, whose Celestial Emperor is named Qiulan Yipeng; and the Heaven of Suming Yaozi, whose Celestial Emperor is named Gengyan Fuhuan.

The Ghost-Quelling Seven-Star Spirit Talisman should be placed in a temple or shrine, a site for worshipping deities and local spirits. It is overseen by eight talisman officers of the West.

In the North are eight tiers of heaven:

The Heaven of Huangyuan Jingji, whose Celestial Emperor is named Yuanjing Shiguan; the Heaven of Shunming Zonghua, whose Celestial Emperor is named Haoyu Shen; the Heaven of Lixian Xuandu, whose Celestial Emperor is named Bianzi Yicong; the Heaven of Liaofu Youci, whose Celestial Emperor is named Longfu Yu; the Heaven of Linghua Fanguang, whose Celestial Emperor is named Luntong Yuxiu; the Heaven of Xuantian Yuming, whose Celestial Emperor is named Hunyü Jiuzhen; the Heaven of Liucheng Yaoling, whose Celestial Emperor is named Baozhen Mo; and the Heaven of Doumang Zhengan, whose Celestial Emperor is named Zongqiu Guang.

The Disease-Dispelling Seven-Star Spirit Talisman is used to treat various illnesses and is overseen by eight talisman officers of the North.

The above Seven Star Demon-Subduing Talismans come in four forms. They may be swallowed, worn, posted, or burned to ash. They are written in cinnabar ink and mixed with fragrant water, and may be used by both men and women.

The thirty-two heavens, the thirty-two Celestial Emperors, the secret names and taboo names of the various heavens, and the numinous writings of the heavens, naturally formed in the void.

The sounds of the Seven Stars, their honored presence, their spirits, the great demons of the Seven Stars, and their numinous powers: the nine unite and the ten respond, bringing about endless transformations. Their mysteries are profound and far-reaching, too vast to explain in full. Above, they extend to the eighty-four thousand stars, great and small; below, they reach the Nine Celestial Regions of the River of Heaven.

Zizhen, the Heavenly Wolf, has the form of a wondrous, mysterious beast and is a revered deity of awe-inspiring power and prohibition. This is the true form of the seven stars of the Northern Pole. If you can recognize it, demonic and corrupting forces will be unable to invade the Gate of Ghosts. It sweeps away evil spirits, commands the Primordial Dipper, soars and transforms, emanates Qi without limit, and communicates with the spirits. It has a blue body, three topknots, yellow eyes, and a dark complexion, with eighteen horns and twelve flying wheels. At times it transforms into a woman wearing embroidered robes and a scarlet skirt; at times, into an old man with a purple sash and dark headscarf; and at times, into a red snake, a giant serpent, or a tortoise. It breathes fire and smoke, and shakes a bell to conjure clouds. The Seven Stars existed even before Heaven and Earth were born.

The Holy Mother, Emperor of the Vast and Mysterious Darkness, brought forth the essence of the Seven Stars of Kunlun, and that essence transformed into seven perfected deities. They wear jade caps, blue robes, and gold ornaments. Their talismanic script is formed from primal Qi, and bears the Emperor’s mysterious characters. The Eastern Dipper opens life in the Azure Vault and travels on clouds of smoke. The Western Dipper, Bright Radiance, shines as it flies through the heavens. The Northern Dipper, Mysterious Brilliance, transforms into a true immortal; its gaze surpasses the sun, and it holds the Celestial Pass in its hand. The Southern Dipper, Red Essence, rides a dragon and holds a banner; it governs the registers and records, and commands boundless forces. The Central Dipper, Imperial Qi, wears a jeweled crown with lotuses hanging from it, and is clad in a dragon robe.

They wear five talismanic texts and lead the Celestial Dipper. The myriad spirits must not offend them: the Azure Heaven Demon King, Binchi Yuancheng; the Red Heaven Demon King, Linzhi Fangsheng; the White Heaven Demon King, Wenzhu Yuying; the Black Heaven Demon King, Huangdao Xuanming; and the Yellow Heaven Demon King, Hehun Yuanjing. The Five Emperors’ Great Demons are the ancestors of the myriad spirits. When they travel, drums and music accompany them. They command the ghost troops, direct the banners, pennants, drums, and ceremonial staffs, and patrol the expanse of space.

They call themselves Radiant and Illustrious, their merit and virtue equal to those of the heavens. In Heaven, they guide and transform living beings; with awe-inspiring power, they command the Northern Feng, the underworld of the north. The Seven Stars and Seven Killers sweep away inauspicious forces everywhere: the dark tortoise summons Qi, the red serpent spreads its coils, the giant spirit strikes the bell, and the divine consort offers incense. The Commander of the Azure Tongue and the Green-Toothed Spirit King were formed through the transformations of the Seven Stars, their radiant power blazing forth. Black Qi veils the sky, sea winds rage, and streaming fires burn fiercely.

The Lightning Maiden, goddess of thunder and lightning, turns back the jade pendants. Dragon banners stretch across the sky as thunder shakes the heavens and brilliant light blazes forth. Demons are split open at the skull, while bands of evil spirits lie low and hide. The Three Officials, who govern Heaven, Earth, and Water, and the Northern Feng, the ghostly realm of the north, scrutinize the ghostly camps, leaving spirits nowhere to hide. Golden Horse courier envoys carry documents and proclaim them everywhere, to the farthest reaches. All the myriad deities listen; the Five Emperors of the Three Realms, the three realms and five directional heavens of Daoist belief, are named in a memorial and report to the Clear Vault of Heaven.

The vast Jade Capital, a celestial realm of the Daoist heavens, is deep and immense, without limit. Primordial Qi condenses into clouds, while the jeweled purple luminous wheel shines in the great void. The root of Heaven stands firm, its channels joined to wind and marsh. Dragons emerge from the void; Yin and Yang unite and move, transforming and soaring. Within the Great Luminous Dark Armor, the protective armor of the deities, twelve Primordial Spirits coil.

Azure Radiance bears the Divine Abyss, with the sun and moon revolving beside it. Many jeweled blades and the Three Mysteries, the three wondrous paths spoken of in Daoism, converge and transform; their bright radiance shines forth. The thirty-five divisions and twenty-eight lunar lodges form the shape of Heaven, as the celestial circuit turns and the constellations revolve: Di, Fang, Shen, and Wei circle around; Jiao, Kang, Mao, and Wei fly across the sky. Amid crimson clouds, a luminous ring of cloud netting surrounds the imperial palace. Kui, Gui, Xi, Xing, Bi, Liu, and Piao, seven star deities associated with the Dipper, transform and appear as Great Divine Kings. Tianpeng, a Daoist guardian deity, commands myriads upon myriads of fiery troops. The Eighteen-Eyed Elder beats a drum and gives a long cry as black Qi surges. Great Lightning, Azure Dragon, the Strong Wind, Divine Tiger, and the Southern Cinnabar Jade Youth all take action together, wielding their blades to cut down the host of demons and destroy the ghosts.

Above and below Heaven, there is no place of darkness, no form or trace, and no limit or end. Vast, undifferentiated Brahma Qi fills the empty expanse. The Seven Primordial Stars, the Dipper’s seven stars and their divine powers, radiate awesome light and extinguish ill fortune. The sun, moon, and stars shine together. Taiyi, a revered Daoist deity, presents a memorial, and the Jade Emperor looks down upon the lower world. Yellow banners summon the deities; Brahma Qi in the void condenses into form as jeweled talismanic script, engraved upon golden tablets.

The nine primordial Yang spirits blend together, and auspicious signs appear of themselves. Between the Dark Terrace and Purple Hall, Brahma Qi spreads and gathers in ordered ranks. From it, the myriad forms unfold, distributed, moving, and flowing through the thirty-two heavens. The stars pass through the celestial regions and constellations, turning back toward the Northern Dark Heaven, where the seven stars shine brightly. Gathering in all the Qi of the Primordial Beginning, the Eight Luminaries unite in the depths of darkness; Qi enters the realm beyond the mysterious. The Dipper and the exalted Northern Pole gleam as they meet together at Gouchen, a star deity and palace of the celestial court, in the Taiwei Palace.

The Golden Perfected hold the documents and submit them to the Celestial Emperor. The Jade Voice summons primordial Qi; the deities transform and release their radiance. Clear, empty Qi swells with brilliance and revolves through the ten directions. A thousand kinds of harmony and ten thousand kinds of union naturally condense into perfection. Deities dwell in the realm of perfection: the Great Lord of the Primordial Dipper, the Primordial Luo Emperor Yi, the Yellow-Text Flying Immortal, Taiyi Controller of Life, Tao Kang, and He Yan. These Great Deities are all divine beings transformed from the seven stars.

The seven deities reside within the human body, where they can dispel evil spirits and refine and nourish one’s true nature. Heaven has the Three Terraces, a group of three celestial star officials, and the human being has three souls. Heaven has seven stars, and the human being has seven Po souls. The three souls govern Yang, and the seven Po souls govern Yin. The Three Terraces…

The six stars, “Vacuous Essence” and “Six Purities,” converge and give rise to the celestial corpse, the earthly corpse, and the human corpse—together, the Six Spirits. They summon true spirits to descend, dispel the baleful energy of demons and heresies, govern talismanic mandates and registers of names, and protect the root of life.

They travel above through the Highest Clarity Heaven, moving in and out among the flowery chambers. They extend throughout the dark realms in all eight directions and enter even the most subtle places. Below, they guard the human body, dwelling in the Great Cavern’s Mudball Palace, the spirit abode in the head, and the Crimson Palace, where the spirit of the heart resides. Mysterious Qi blends and the myriad spirits gather. Through ten transformations, numinous Qi circulates, and the myriad energies ascend together to immortality. The immortal Way cherishes life and, with boundless compassion, guides all beings to liberation.

The Seven Stars move on high, setting the Flying-Heaven Dharma Wheel in motion. In accordance with sin and merit, prohibitions and precepts, and the karmic conditions of past lives, they open the gate of salvation to all. They ferry the souls of the dead across and grant the living new life. All who are reborn can ascend to the heavens. Above the heavens, each has its own gate of life; there, too, verses of empty cavernous songs are handed down.

The verses of the Seven Stars’ numinous scroll bring together the Way of the High Perfected—immortals of exalted rank.

First: The Sound of the Seven Stars’ Youths Flying Through the Air

The Primordial Dipper—the Northern Dipper—moves its handle and reveals the vast true stars, shining like the sun and swift as lightning.

They destroy and subdue the armies of demons, govern the primal transformations of Heaven and Earth, and guard the Gate of Heaven. They stand foremost in the Purple Tenuity Palace, the star palace where the Celestial Emperor resides. They cast flames that melt metal and stone, wheeling and arraying themselves across the nine directions.

These are the true spirits of the Northern Pole. They set the Yin-Yang of Heaven and Earth in motion and command all numinous beings. Thirty-six youths, wearing jade crowns adorned with pearl tassels, oversee the examination of books and registers and govern the generation of all things.

Their awe-inspiring radiance knows no bounds; demons and strange beings hide their traces. They cut down evil spirits and seize ghosts, allowing the Orthodox Way to prevail and destroying the nine kinds of foul malign spirits. Thus Heaven is clear and Earth at peace.

Second: The Hymn of the Seven Stars’ Jade Consort

Layer upon layer, azure clouds spread out, their brocade-like radiance shining brightly. Within them dwells the Imperial Spirit, who is known inwardly as the Jade Consort. She calculates with counting rods and arranges affairs, setting the seasons of Heaven in their proper order.

Lightning flashes and the stars array themselves; she commands the troops of the nine heavens. She removes demons and heresies from the world, bringing people blessings and shielding them from misfortune, so that the Orthodox Way shines forth.

Jade talismans fly in all directions, dispelling every kind of sin. The vast energy of primordial creation flows everywhere, reaching through the Violet Empyrean, the lofty celestial realm. Once one receives the true and wondrous Way, body and spirit will not decay.

She wears a crown marked with the number nine and treads the Mysterious Palace, moving among the Four Images, the stellar lodges of the four directions. The Taiwei constellation, the region of the Celestial Emperor, turns with numinous light; the spirit palace is deep and hidden, yet connected to the Great Way.

Chapter Three, “Song of the Seven-Star Divine Kings,” says:

The Black-Armored Deity spreads across the sky, while the Three Officials—divine beings who govern Heaven, Earth, and Water—proclaim Heaven’s mandate. The True Demon General commands his troops, whose numbers reach into the billions. The Celestial Canopy Deity treads upon the Qi of Primordial Unity; the Mother of Kun, the mother of the earth, opens the Golden Gate. Li Ying establishes the way of the Imperial True Ones, and turns the divine light back to pierce the Grand Tenuity, where the celestial star officials dwell. The majestic, exalted deity of the Divine Empyrean rides a dragon and tends the jade mushrooms of the immortal realm. Their fragrance grows rich, filling the Primordial Framework, while numinous light shines through the Divine Pool.

The divine perfected beings tread upon cloud nets and spiral upward; flowing flames scatter through the streams and valleys of Heaven. The Qi of Yin-Yang and the Five Phases mingles into a wondrous vision, while the Three Primordials—Heaven, Earth, and Water—array the jade workings of Heaven’s secret mechanism. Interweaving and revolving, they govern the cycles of the celestial realm. They harness primordial Qi, unite with the Dao, and fly as immortals. The Elixir’s numinous radiance illuminates the hidden Gate of Heaven, and the Azure Youth opens it. They sweep away demons and evils, and uphold the righteous way; our Daoist teachings will grow ever more flourishing and bright.

This is the song sung by the star perfected beings in the heavens above the Three Realms; every line accords with the Cavern Chapters. Recite it a hundred times, and your name will be entered among those who pass through the Southern Palace. Recite it a thousand times, and the Demon King will escort and welcome you. Recite it ten thousand times, and your Daoist attainment will be complete: you will ascend through the vastness of space, transcend the Three Realms, and take your place among the immortals.

If anyone hears this wondrous, numinous Daoist music, the Seven Stars will guard their body and command the earth spirits to serve and protect them, seeing them off and welcoming them back. In this way, they will escape the gates of hell and the Five Sufferings and Eight Calamities, the many torments of the underworld. Their ancestors for seven generations will also be raised up and forever released from the jurisdiction of ghost officials. Their souls will be conveyed to Zhu Ling, where departed spirits are refined, and will receive a new life. This is called universal deliverance without measure or end. This scripture is kept secret in Heaven and revered by all the heavens. To divulge or slight it is to fall into hell, with calamity extending to one’s ancestors for seven generations.

The Dao says: These two chapters are songs kept secret by the emperors of the heavens, the supremely numinous Demon Kings, the Seven-Star Divine Kings, and the immortal perfected beings. They are all words of the Great Brahma, the sacred speech of the celestial realm, not ordinary words of the human world. They have neither worldly rhyme nor ornate, flowing melodies. Every line is a secret formula transmitted by the perfected superiors of the Seven Stars to banish demons and uphold the righteous way. Their mystery is profound and cannot be fully explored. They are treasures kept by Heaven, concealed in the east of the Jade Palace of the Divine Empyrean at the Mysterious Capital, a celestial palace in Daoist teaching. According to the Mysterious Regulations, the secret precepts and rules of Daoism, they are transmitted only once every forty thousand kalpas. If a person who has attained the Dao brings gold and precious treasures as proof of sincerity, and, following the old regulations, swears an oath to Heaven ten times, only then may the scripture be entrusted to them.

The Dao says: As Heaven and Earth turn, the sun, moon, and five planets—Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, Venus, and Mercury—wax and wane. Sages, worthies, and divine beings sometimes prosper and sometimes fall into adversity, while those who study the Dao in later generations suffer illness and injury. Whenever such calamities occur, they are all caused by the Six Heavens’ great demons and the powerful evil ghosts of the Five Directions wreaking havoc in the human world, thereby harming people’s lives… The original text breaks off here.

Earthly Calamities

When earthly calamities arise, people should sincerely join together in observing a purification fast. They should burn incense and worship at six appointed times throughout the day, and recite the scripture ten times. In this way, blessings and De (Virtue) will descend, and every kind of ill omen will disperse. This scripture possesses immeasurable power and can universally deliver beings without end.

Commentary on the Scripture

The Dao says: Some who are new to the Dao have made little progress in their practice, or are occupied with earning a living. They do not understand the true principles, and so are easily troubled by strange beings such as spirits of earth and stone, demons of plants and trees, mountain spirits, tree spirits, and other uncanny creatures, as well as ghosts of the wangliang kind. At times, these spirits attach themselves to temples and local shrines, both ancient and modern, accept people’s offerings, and use them as a means to cause harm.

In such cases, one may pray to the Great Emperor of the North Pole, a revered deity who governs the north and is associated with protection and the expulsion of evil, and to the Venerable Lords of the Seven Stars. Write the true talisman of the Seven Stars in cinnabar, burn it to ash, and mix the ash with fragrant water to drink. One may also wear the talisman or affix it to the hall or house. The True Lords of the Seven Stars will then descend and send heavenly troops to cut off grave harm, turn calamity into good fortune, and teach you the essential methods of cultivating the Dao, so that in the end you may become an immortal.

The Dao says: When the workings of Heaven and Earth approach their end and the stars fall out of order; when the Sun and Moon depart from their proper courses and the seasons lose their sequence; when Yin-Yang is out of balance, disasters occur within a nation: floods and fires rage, epidemics spread, and the people are killed or injured. Friends, teachers, and fellow practitioners may also be wounded or lose their lives. Sometimes such events are caused by powerful demon gods or the ghost commanders of the Six Caverns, who recklessly bring forth strange and calamitous changes. In these circumstances, one should also observe a purification fast, offer incense, and recite the scripture.

The merit of fasting and reciting the scripture is immense. Above, it can dispel disasters from Heaven and protect the emperor’s peace and security; below, it can avert poisonous harm and deliver the people, allowing both the living and the dead to receive blessings. This merit is beyond measure, and is therefore called “the immeasurable deliverance of Heaven and humanity.”

The Dao says: Whenever someone performs the merit of this scripture on behalf of Heaven and Earth, the emperor, and the people, they should, on a day of calamity, resolve to observe a purification fast, burn incense, and recite the scripture ten times. The various heavens will record their name, and the myriad spirits will protect them. If they later encounter a perfected person who has attained the Dao, they may hope to become an official in the Golden Palace of the Sacred Rulers. The heavens record people’s good and bad deeds without overlooking even the smallest detail; the demon kings of Heaven, too, will recommend and protect you. Only those capable of attaining the Dao can truly and fully understand these profound teachings.

Jade Chapter on the Seven Stars’ Elimination of Evil Omens

What follows is the “Hidden Language of the Great Brahma of the Various Heavens,” a sacred secret language in Daoist scriptures, composed by the Perfected Person of Illustrious Might. The words of the “Eight Heavens of the East” in this chapter are hidden-language syllables and cannot readily be translated according to their ordinary meaning, so the original text is retained:

渙都瓊樓　魂綦猷浮　洞鏡宛貳

嶽鄙顏仇　呂正燕驛　儻札遞侯

懃寂恕愿　京僅蕭侔　輪豫關璞

晉晝辯周　固遁靈嶷　互琤淙留

Gua ping du pan, hua dou yan biao, yuan zhi he chi, xi lu zhen shou.

The Eight Heavens of the South

Cheng ji zou qiang, yi xu bi ya, zhou ge shi xiang, yuan reng miao xia, ji lei ping chang, mi tu jing luo, jiu jian shu mang, li bian meng bing, zhu huan liu qiang, xuan lian ke han, kui mo jiu tang, you di yan duo, liang bian ying xiang, mei lin dou shu, hui hun yan kang, chou yi mian luo.

The Eight Heavens of the West

Shen tu xiao yi, zhuo ming yan li, bi gao qing he, ji du yue kui, zhuang chi yi jiang, jia zhi wan xiu, kuang ding fu si, guo feng cheng wei, xian nian guang gu, ling xue feng zhui, xi yan huang hu, lü suo ning yi, hao wang tai huan, tian geng yu zheng, cai qiang fu yao, jing ying bao liao.

The Eight Heavens of the North

Tong zong ling sui, ren jie ming shuang, nü qing tu jiu, dao zhu sheng yang, can hua yao dang, po cong ci jing, liang na wei cang, tong yu lian hong, gang fu yao chang, zhi wu yun sai, hun ji jing mao, quan du xing li, bao di ze fang, yu dan chi huang, fan zou hu ji, yi tou fei yi.

Kui, gui, yu, xing, bi, shi, piao, she.

Tang Xia governs prisoners; pearl nets enter the measure; the Moon Consort shines warmly in the east; the Seven Killings are black spirits.

The sixteen characters above are the hidden script of the Seven Stars, written as follows.

The scripture says: These are the “Great Brahma Hidden Words” of the seven stars of the Northern Pole and Purple Tenuity, and also the immeasurable sounds used by the great generals of the heavens and the great demons of the Five Dippers. These ancient characters first appeared above the Jade Gate of the Northern Dipper and the gates of the Three Terraces enclosure. They were used to determine and correct the paths of the Seven Stars, command ghosts and spirits, and destroy evil influences. They are the Northern Lord’s secret writing. The Celestial Perfected Emperor once recorded these characters as the correct sounds. If someone understands how to pronounce them and recites them after observing ritual purification, the heavens will send flying celestial spirit kings down to observe that person and record their merits.

Most of the items listed here are star names, deity names, and hidden words or talismanic characters. They do not form sentences that can ordinarily be read by linking their literal meanings together. The scripture presents them as secret writing with the power to summon spirits and ward off evil.

Diligently, they submit reports to the heavens. The myriad gods come to pay homage, while the earth spirits stand in attendance beside the gate. The Great Merit Demon King recommends and petitions on behalf of the perfected ones who cultivate the Dao, enabling their practice to become complete so that they may travel through the Three Realms and ascend to the Golden Gate. This sound can ward off evil, avert calamity, and save living beings wherever it is heard; there is nothing it cannot accomplish. It is the sound of heavenly perfection and natural spontaneity. Thus, reciting it can summon the flying immortals to descend and survey the human world. The Supreme Emperor answers from afar in song, and the myriad gods pay homage together.

The gods who attend the Heavenly Emperor’s chariot in the Three Realms, along with the gathered demons, bow their heads and lower their eyes. Ghosts, monsters, and spirits naturally vanish. As the sound of jade chimes rings out, the ten directions grow solemn and pure. Rivers and seas fall silent, and the mists among the mountains disperse. All spirits are subdued, and the assembled immortals are summoned. No turbid energy clouds the sky, and no demonic haze hangs over the earth. Deep wisdom shines clear and penetrating, vast and wondrous, extending without end.

Chapter on the Divine Talisman That Removes Hardship

The Dao says: In ancient times, at the Red Spirit Cinnabar Heaven and the Radiant Brilliance, Bright Splendor, Eightfold Might Divine Gate, I received the secret and wondrous method of the Primordial Beginning’s divine talisman for saving people and removing hardship. When the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning was about to proclaim this scripture, he made ten circuits and summoned the gods of the ten directions. Then countless beings—including great divine ones of heavenly perfection, supreme sages and exalted worthies, and perfected ones of wondrous practice—came riding through the air. Palace clouds shone across the void; emerald chariot wheels gleamed beside jade-adorned carriages. Radiance coiled around splendid canopies of precious zhi plants, and ten thousand beams of light blazed in brilliance. Lights like full moons mingled and merged. For five days and five nights, the wondrous Qi of the heavens interwove into patterns, shining resplendently. Dragon light coiled and circled; phoenix shadows wheeled and returned. Auspicious abundance gathered naturally into a text. The numinous wind was fresh and clear, the constellations halted in their courses, and all things appeared bright and open as turbid energy dispersed and cleared. The mountains, rivers, and forests throughout the whole land crystallized with radiance like the Seven Treasures; near and far, the ground became level, with no more high or low places. The earth turned into auspicious clouds, displaying the colors of Yuliluo. The perfected ones attended at the side of the seat.

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning sat upright upon the jade platform of the divine diagram of the Eight Spirits and Nine Transformations, which had appeared in the air, and proclaimed this scripture. After he recited it once, the great sages of the heavens all praised it together. At that moment, the myriad realms were clear and bright, and the numinous wind scattered the mists. The heavens sent down wondrous auspicious signs, and the earth displayed fortunate omens. The gods who had gathered to celebrate the great assembly were all present, and its blessings reached every living being.

After he recited the scripture a second time, demonic obstacles and epidemics were destroyed. After the third recitation, calamities and illnesses were dispelled. After the fourth, numinous patterns appeared naturally in the empty sky of the eight directions. After the fifth, the people understood the origins of the divine talisman’s script. After the sixth, all who reverently upheld the numinous text could realize the truth of the Dao. After the seventh, the treasure chapters and jade books opened, saving countless beings. After the eighth, the wondrous Qi of the three lights—the sun, moon, and stars—flowed through and nourished body and spirit…

After the scripture had been proclaimed nine times, the suffering souls were transformed and delivered. After it had been proclaimed ten times, the ritual of refining and delivering souls at Zhuling was complete, the state was brought to order, and peace was secured for the long term. At that time, men and women throughout the country sincerely turned toward the Dao. All received protection and deliverance, and were able to attain long life.

The Dao says: At this time, each time the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning proclaimed a passage of the scripture, the Divine Kings of Deliverance Talismans, the Perfected and Great Gods, and countless other deities from one direction came through the air. At the first proclamation, the divine host of the boundless East arrived; at the second, the divine host of the boundless South; at the third, the divine host of the boundless West; at the fourth, the divine host of the boundless North; at the fifth, the divine host of the boundless Northeast; at the sixth, the divine host of the boundless Southeast; at the seventh, the divine host of the boundless Southwest; at the eighth, the divine host of the boundless Northwest; at the ninth, the divine host of the boundless Upper Realm; and at the tenth, the divine host of the boundless Lower Realm.

When the scripture had been proclaimed all ten times, the Divine Kings who governed divine talismans and talismans of deliverance in the boundless worlds of the ten directions, together with the true gods of the heavens, all arrived. Men and women throughout the country sincerely revered and turned toward them. Those who came gathered like rain and mist; countless deities assembled in dense throngs, and the whole land shook with their presence, beyond all restraint.

Then the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning sat upright at the altar, gazed intently into the Mysterious Void, and wielded great supernatural powers, breathing sacred writings from his mouth. These writings appeared as divine characters in cloud script and dragon forms, shining with flowing golden light. Their radiance streamed in all eight directions and filled the air. They gathered and dispersed, shifting and transforming, until a jeweled altar appeared. The altar stood nine zhang above the ground, supported below by flower clouds.

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning led the true gods of the heavens, the exalted sages and high venerables, the perfected beings of wondrous practice, and the Divine Kings of Deliverance Talismans, the Perfected and Great Gods, the officials who administered talismanic commands, and countless other deities from the boundless celestial palaces of the ten directions. Together, they ascended the manifested jeweled altar. The people of heaven looked up and saw only… (The original text ends here.)

Auspicious light rose around the ritual precinct, and then the assembly ascended the sacred altar. Nothing within the altar was beyond its capacity to contain and support. The people of the land felt their hearts and spirits ease; the ground became level again and settled into stability.

The Celestial Worthy of the Primordial Beginning then completed his sermon on the altar. The Perfected Ones oversaw the work of salvation and transmission, and passed the teachings of the Dao on to me. The joy and celebration of that moment cannot be put into words; the ritual was largely complete. The spirits of the heavens returned to their appointed places, and in an instant all around fell silent.

At that time, the people of heaven and all living beings were fortunate to encounter the teachings and receive salvation, preserving the full span of their natural lifespans. Calamities were dispelled, and they were spared harm. The land returned to peace, and people admired and turned toward the Great Dao, widely forming bonds of goodness. There was no grief, distress, illness, disaster, fear, adversity, misfortune, trial, or demonic obstruction. In speech, people followed only the principles of the Dao; in their hearts, they held only the truth of the Great Dao. Everyone lived in harmony and joy, and even those who had borne different surnames became as close as one family. The country was at peace and its people prosperous, gladly enjoying an era of tranquility.

When this scripture first began to spread, anyone in a country who put the Dao first and, with utmost sincerity, believed in and revered its teachings could receive salvation.

The Celestial Worthy of the Primordial Beginning said: “What this scripture speaks of are the titles of the Five Elders, the luminous essence refined by fire, and the root of the open, empty, mysterious realm and its transformations. They are also the hidden inner names and secret sounds of the wondrous Qi of the Three Origins, as well as the inner taboos of the Three Heavens and the concealed names of the hundred spirits. None of these are ordinary words of the world. Only the highest sages and Perfected Ones who have attained the Great Dao and understood its mysterious principles can fully comprehend the scripture’s phrases.

“Reciting the scripture ten times will make the demon kings stand in awe, destroy evil spirits, cleanse away defiled Qi, and bring the Qi of the Dao into harmony with the spirits. The two luminaries, the sun and moon, will shine and flow; the radiance of the Five Directions will receive their light; plagues and calamities will vanish, and one may escape death and return to life. When practitioners of the Dao recite the scripture ten times, the Emperor Lords and Perfected Ones will observe and protect them. The High Perfected will descend and secretly transmit mysterious words, precious registers, and jade writings. They will command and subdue ghosts and demons, making calamities and treachery retreat and submit.

“This is because the numinous sounds converge with the subtle realm of quietude, and the highest principles accord with their source. When refined Qi is stirred in response, it can summon primordial Qi and call forth the True Spirits, entering into wondrous transformations and acting without limit, so that nothing is beyond its power to manifest. If you recite this chapter carelessly, you will bring calamity upon yourself. If you make offerings to the scripture, honor it, and bow before it, your household will flourish and prosper for generations. The divine talismans can dispel calamities and keep the myriad misfortunes from intruding; the spirits guard the doors of the home.

“This scripture is exalted and mysterious. In the Jade Capital, the celestial city of Daoist tradition, it holds the foremost place. Its power to save living beings is boundless, and it is the root of the myriad Dao. Its teachings are lofty and vast, and its grace cannot be fully recounted.”

The scripture says: Whoever recites this scripture in full ten times will draw all the heavenly beings down together. The thirty-six thousand divine spirits, the wondrous Qi of the eighty-four thousand Daoist talismans, and the essence of the Red Writings—the sacred characters of Daoist scriptures—will all pour into the reciter. Through cultivation and refinement, body and mind will coalesce and transform, enabling the practitioner to join the ranks of the immortals and perfected beings. After the period prescribed in the Jade Register, nine years will suffice to remove the practitioner from the registers of the dead.

Even souls long trapped in stagnation, bound by resentment and hatred, and sunk in the netherworld can be delivered. Each will gain release, transform its form, awaken its spiritual nature and awareness, and grasp the scripture’s profound meaning. Those who reverently uphold these subtle teachings and bring their cultivation to completion will ascend to the Nine Palaces, pass beyond the Grand Rosy Clouds, and travel freely through the heavens of Purple Clarity in an immortal conveyance.

When those who study the Daoist Way recite this scripture, perfected beings from the Nine Heavens will gather. They will form a wondrous network of spiritual power that enters the body, encircles the five organs, and nourishes Jing and Qi, extending life and enabling the practitioner to become an immortal who flies through the heavens. Ordinary people who receive and recite this scripture can also summon divine officers, attendants bearing talismanic registers, the true lords of the Three Luminaries—the sun, moon, and stars—and the Heavenly Lords of the Five Qi to protect them. No disaster can assail them; Daoist Qi gathers within their bodies. Even when the body dies, their true nature will not perish: their numinous spirit can ascend straight to the Southern Palace, transforming and enduring forever.

This scripture is subtle and boundless, and offers universal deliverance to living beings. All beings in heaven and on earth benefit from it; the living and the dead alike receive its blessings. It is a scripture treasured by Heaven and must not be passed casually to ordinary people. Only a person truly endowed with the Dao may transmit it after presenting gold and silver as tokens and sincerely swearing an oath to Heaven. If the scripture is carelessly revealed or treated with disrespect, disaster will befall nine generations of ancestors, condemning them to long service under ghost officials. The Five Emperors’ Directing Talismans, the Jade Youths, and the Jade Maidens who attend the scripture number twenty-four of each kind. They will guard the scripture and protect those who receive it.

The scripture also says: By observing a strict fast and reciting it in the first month, one can commune with the Longevity Jade Perfected One, the High Emperor, in the Eastern Pole Palace of the Upper Origin. The Emperor bestows the Talisman of Mysterious Life of the Nine Qi, protecting the reciter and freeing the wandering souls of nine generations of ancestors, so that they may unite with the Dao.

By observing a strict fast and reciting it in the seventh month, one can commune with the Supreme Venerable of Utmost Perfection, the Precious Flower, in the Great Brightness Palace of the Western Numinous Realm of the Middle Origin. The deity proclaims and transmits the Golden Light Jade Talisman of the Seven Qi, dispelling the burdens of karmic obstruction, subduing demons and spirits, and dissolving the knots of sin, so that one may remain pure and upright for a long time. The Golden Perfected Ones refine and transform the essence, while a Jade Body arises from within, strengthening the body and granting life for ten thousand years.

By observing a strict fast and reciting it in the tenth month, one can commune with the Jade Sovereign, the Great Dao, the Supreme Primordial Emperor, in the Mysterious Upper Palace of the Purple Emperor of the Northern True Realm of the Lower Origin. The Primordial Emperor sends down numinous radiance, spreading divine blessings and the Great Talisman of the Five Qi of the Heavenly Mystery. This sweeps away treachery and impurity, destroys baleful anomalies and evil spirits, and strengthens and protects households and the state. It bestows grace upon and shields the people, ensuring the emperor’s health, long life, and lasting fortune and rank. Its beneficent virtue reaches in every direction, and peace endures throughout the world. On the days of the Eight Seasonal Nodes…

By reciting this scripture, one can attune to and summon the Vermilion Essence and Cinnabar Blossoms of the Eight Radiances—the scenes of the immortal realms described in Daoism—as well as the numinous lights and wondrous energies of the Jade Writings, the Eight Majestic Divine Strategies, and other powers. These numinous energies descend into the body and nourish the Nine Palaces and Three Fields, the sites of cultivation within the human body. They enable one to receive true Qi, dispel every illness, seal off the roots of calamity, and make the host of demons fear and retreat. In this way, one escapes disaster; one’s merits are entered in the Azure Register, a record of the virtues of immortals, and one’s name in the register of immortals is recorded in the Purple Register. As one’s profound merit becomes manifest, one ultimately ascends to the immortal realm of Highest Clarity.

A Daoist scripture says: On every day when a Daoist ritual is to be performed, first bathe with fragrant water and observe purification and fasting. Then enter the chamber, face east, and click the teeth thirty-two times, so that one’s intentions ascend to the Thirty-Two Heavens. Then bow to the Thirty-Two Heavens thirty-two times. Close the eyes and still the mind, visualizing oneself seated amid blue, yellow, and white clouds, with everything within and without shrouded in deep, hazy stillness. Beside oneself stand the Six Jia Direct Talisman Officers, divine generals charged with protecting cultivators; the clerks of the Nine Palaces; the Divine Kings who transmit talismans; and the officers and attendants of the Direct Talisman, arrayed on either side. The sun and moon shine, illuminating the chamber. A circle of light appears above the head, its radiance reaching in all directions. The vision should be clear and distinct.

Then silently recite the invocation:

“Supreme Lord of the Dao, the Most High Lord of the Mysterious Origin: summon from within my body the Three-Five Meritorious Officers, the officials and envoys on my left and right, the Jade Youths who attend the incense, the Jade Maidens who transmit words, the Five Emperors’ Direct Talisman Officers, and the Incense Officers of the Day—thirty-two of each. Let them convey and report the words I speak. Today is an auspicious day. In this pure fasting hall, I observe purification and practice the Dao, reciting the Scripture of Deliverance from Limitless Suffering. May what I pray for ascend to the celestial court and reach directly before the supreme throne of the Primordial Beginning Emperor of the Thirty-Two Heavens.” (When finished.)

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