《靈寶無量度人上品妙經》Vol. 39

The Dao (the highest teaching of Daoism) says: Long ago, at the Crimson-Eyed Blessed Land of Crimson Banners and Singing Winds in the Heaven of Cinnabar Radiance, I received from the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning the Supreme Scripture of Infinite Deliverance in the Southern Palace for Prolonging Life. Before expounding the scripture, the Celestial Worthy recited it ten times from beginning to end to summon the heavens in the ten directions. Then countless divine beings came riding through the air: the Heavenly Perfected Great Gods, the Supreme Sages and High Venerables, the Perfected Ones of Wondrous Practice, and the Heavenly Lords of the Inner Office of Heavenly Mechanisms in the Upper Palace of Nanchang, the Supreme Perfected Lords of the Dao who Prolong Life and Protect the Immortals, the High Ministers of Heavenly Mechanisms in the Southern Palace, the True Rulers, the High Officials of Heavenly Mechanisms, the True Immortals, the Attendant Spirits, the Cinnabar Origin Immortal Officials, the Three Origins Immortal Officials, the Chief Officials of Heavenly Mechanisms, and the Divine Officials of the Armored Cavalry.

They rode precious chariots encircled by red clouds and divine radiance. The wheels were cinnabar red; the phoenix-shaped canopies cast down their light and shimmered with purple brilliance. Their rich, multicolored glow illuminated the great void.

For six days and six nights, the stars of the Upper Palace of Nanchang held their appointed places in turn, while the watch drums remained silent. The water clock of Dragon Peak seemed carved from jade, its drops suspended without falling. Smoke banners floated in the air, mist curtains billowed, and fragrance filled the surroundings. The two offices of pivotal authority and the ten bureaus held ceremonial tablets in their hands and solemnly directed their respective departments. A divine breeze passed gently; the void and the sea grew clear and bright, the sky opened wide and serene, and pure Qi spread throughout heaven and earth. The land, mountains, rivers, and forests within the kingdom became level and even, with no distinction between high and low. The earth took on the smooth, lustrous look of jade: blue-green, finely polished, pure, bright, and translucent. No other colors could be seen between heaven and earth.

The Perfected Ones sat in ordered rows to attend. The Celestial Worthy sat upright in the void, while six dragons circled and rose together like dragons at play with a pearl, bearing aloft a cloud-brocade throne. After the Celestial Worthy recited the scripture once, the great sages of the heavens praised him in unison.

At that time, the Office of Heavenly Mechanisms in Nanchang Palace recorded and submitted the registers of all beings who would gain long life and be protected as immortals. Their number reached into the hundreds of millions; the register listed more than ninety thousand who had attained the Dao and become immortals.

At the second recitation, the Vermilion Radiance of the Southern Dipper filled the blue sky, clouds wove together and swirled, and the stars displayed wondrous changes. At the third, sounds as exquisite as tinkling jade resounded, and the gods praised the Cavern Chapters. At the fourth, the Southern Palace opened its gates and gave life to all things. At the fifth, the workings of Heavenly Mechanisms flowed, and the Five Virtues settled into peace and prosperity. At the sixth, six stars trembled with light, and all the gods celebrated together. At the seventh, the immortals’ years knew no end, and they enjoyed long life from generation to generation. At the eighth, True Gods and hosts of demons alike received talismanic commands to save living beings and prolong their lives. At the ninth, flowers rained down from heaven, piling up to a foot deep, as celestial fragrance mingled with clouds. At the tenth, no one in the world died before their time, and people gladly turned their hearts toward the wondrous Perfected Ones.

At that time, men and women throughout the kingdom sincerely turned toward the Celestial Worthy and received his protection and deliverance. In this way, they attained long life.

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning (Yuanshi Tianzun), a revered deity in Daoism, recited the scripture once, and the great gods of perfect truth who grant long life in the Eastern Realm of Limitless and Boundless Vastness came down from the sky. When he recited it a second time, the great gods of the south arrived; on the third recitation, those of the west; on the fourth, those of the north; on the fifth, those of the northeast; on the sixth, those of the southeast; on the seventh, those of the southwest; on the eighth, those of the northwest; on the ninth, those above; and on the tenth, those below. When the scripture had been recited ten times, the great gods of heavenly perfection who grant long life in the Southern Palace of the Ten Directions of Limitless Vastness all arrived at that very moment.

The men and women of the kingdom who were present sincerely turned toward and revered the Celestial Worthy, ready to hear him explain the Southern Palace’s methods for extending life and the essentials for attaining the status of a perfected person. They said to one another, “We have already attained the rank of heavenly beings and dwell among the various heavens, yet we still do not know the names, ranks, and locations of the offices in the celestial realm. Nor do we understand how they govern the life and death, sins and blessings, and merits and faults of beings within the Three Primes—the Daoist system of the officials of Heaven, Earth, and Water. We know only in general terms that the Upper Palace of Nanchang, where the Great Emperor of Long Life in the South Pole oversees matters of extending life, is in charge of this work. We do not know exactly where it is established, what scriptures it holds, who its officials and subordinate clerks are, or how the people of the Three Primes should pray to receive extended life and enjoy limitless longevity. Today the Celestial Worthy is about to set out the main principles and explain these matters to heavenly beings. We should all listen attentively.”

All who had taken refuge in the Great Dao and pursued cultivation in search of realization came here and bowed twice before the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning. The visitors were as numerous as fine mist and clouds, beyond counting. They filled the land so densely that it seemed half the earth sank beneath their weight, and nothing could hold them back. They gathered around the seats, gazing up reverently at the sacred countenance and yearning to hear the wondrous teaching.

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning leaned forward and back, surveyed the gathering, rested a hand on the table, and turned his body. His countenance shone with solemn purple-gold radiance as he addressed the assembly:

“When Heaven and Earth established their order, the distinctions between ruler and minister were set in place. The Three Heavens’ Emperors, who govern the heavenly realms of the Three Realms, established offices and issued decrees to administer the Three Origins: Heaven, Earth, and Water. The Purple Tenuity Palace and the Grand Tenuity Palace are the two central authorities that govern life and death, the sins and blessings of the people, and the merits and faults of immortals and perfected beings.

“The offices of the Purple Tenuity belong to the Northern Dipper, while the clerks and record keepers of the Grand Tenuity belong to the Southern Dipper. The celestial offices of the Purple Tenuity have the Supreme Mystery Directorate, which oversees the Three Officials. The offices of the Great Lord of the Grand Tenuity have two directorates, the Celestial Pivot and Celestial Mechanism, which extend and register lifespans. The fifth star of the Southern Dipper is called Celestial Pivot, and the sixth is called Celestial Mechanism. These two directorates are inner offices beside the Emperor, responsible for matters of longevity, and are also the dwelling place of the Great Emperor of Longevity.

“Heaven has three directorates that administer the Three Origins. The Celestial Pivot and Celestial Mechanism directorates both belong to the Upper Palace of Nanchang, which is the Grand Tenuity Palace. Among the three directorates, officials including the Attendant of the Golden Gate, the Upper Minister, the Upper Steward, the Attendant, the Immortal Ministers, and the Director of Destiny govern together.

“If you can observe fasting over a long period, present prayers, and worship the Great Emperor of Longevity with earnest devotion in the Celestial Mechanism Directorate, preparing offerings with care and remaining diligent and sincere throughout, then the perfected officials who inspect and assess the Nine Heavens will examine your merits and faults and report them. When the Celestial Mechanism Directorate receives their report, the Upper Minister will enter your name by hand, extending your years and granting you a lifespan without limit. You need not wait to consume elixir plants before you may hope to attain the Dao of immortality.”

The assembly rejoiced and eagerly asked to hear the teaching in full. They waited reverently for the sacred words. Then the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning suspended a precious pearl, no larger than a millet grain, in the empty expanse, five zhang above the ground. He led the Heavenly Perfected Great Gods, the Supreme Sages and Venerable Ones, the Perfected Ones of Wondrous Practice, the true ministers and officials of the Celestial Mechanism Inner Directorate, the numinous officers, the Directing Talisman troops, and the countless Great Gods of the Southern Palace who extend life, together with the supremely perfected and venerable deities of the ten directions, into the pearl. The heavenly beings and the gathered people gazed upward…

One by one, faint lights drifted in through the entrance of the precious orb. Once inside, they disappeared from sight. The people in the land dispersed, and the ground became level again, no longer tilted or collapsing. Within the orb, the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning (Yuanshi Tianzun), the supreme deity revered in Daoism, completed his sermon on the scripture. The perfected beings stood by to oversee and bear witness, then bestowed the scripture upon me.

At that moment, my joy was beyond words. When the ritual was largely complete, the heavens each returned to their proper place, and in an instant all around fell silent. Those in heaven and the people who were fortunate enough to encounter the scripture and its teachings were all delivered and preserved; their lives were spared, and they suffered no harm. People throughout the land turned their hearts toward reverence and devotion, and all were granted longer lives.

Do not kill or harm living beings; do not be jealous or engage in illicit sex; do not steal or covet; do not hate; do not speak falsely or use flowery, extravagant language; do not utter harsh words. Devote yourself to practicing these twelve good deeds, and you will live longer. The Southern Palace, which governs lifespans, will learn the secrets of Heaven and record your merit. The seven generations of a practitioner’s ancestors can all become immortals. People will treat one another with kindness, and even those of different surnames will be as close as family. The state will be peaceful, its people prosperous, and all will rejoice in a life of peace. When this scripture first began to circulate, if the people of a country followed the Dao and held sincere hearts, honoring and revering it, they could all be delivered from the world.

The Dao says: What the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning teaches in this scripture consists entirely of the secret names and hidden sounds concerning longevity in the Southern Palace of the Supreme Emperor. It also contains the secret taboo names of the Senior Minister in the Bureau of Heaven’s Secrets, the celestial office that governs Heaven’s secrets, and the hidden names of the myriad spirits. If one observes purification and recites this scripture, the Direct Talisman Officer, a divine official charged with conveying talismanic commands, will go to the Bureau of Heaven’s Secrets and seek a longevity register on one’s behalf. The Most High Lord Lao (Taishang Laojun), a deity revered in Daoism, will also grant the covenant of the Southern Palace, allowing those who receive it to live longer and endure in the world. These are not ordinary words of this world. Only the perfected sages who have already attained realization, penetrated the mysteries, and explored the hidden depths can fully understand its passages.

Recite the scripture ten times, and the heavens will answer one another from afar, while the myriad emperors perform their rites. The Southern Palace will extend one’s lifespan, and the Bureau of Heaven’s Secrets will record one’s allotted years. The paired radiances, symbols of the sun and moon, will shine upon the crown of the head, and the vital essence of the Mudball Palace, the divine abode within the brain in Daoist teaching, will return. The demons will be bound, and ghosts and pestilential forces will disperse. The dead can be brought back to life, and bare bones can take human form. When those who have made progress in their practice recite the scripture ten times, the Celestial Lords will forward their merit to the Three Bureaus, the celestial offices. Demonic essences will lose their power, ghosts and evil influences will be destroyed, and even those at death’s door, whose breath has ceased, can be delivered and brought back to life.

This is because the impure energies in practitioners have not yet been cleared away, and their bodies have not yet reached a state of penetrating realization. Their power to summon and subdue the myriad spirits is not yet sufficient to control the ordinances of Heaven. Their virtue can only subdue the earthly spirits and bind demonic beings; it can therefore prevent death, but cannot bring the dead back to life. Reciting this scripture carelessly will instead invite calamity.

Offerings made to this scripture and reverence shown toward it will bring prosperity to the household and flourishing across generations, in accord with auspicious connections. Every kind of disaster will be kept away, and the spirits will guard the household. This scripture is supremely precious and profound, unparalleled among the scriptures of Jade Capital, the celestial palace in Daoist teaching. It can deliver people without limit and is the root of the myriad Dao. Its vast methods and merits are too great to describe in full.

The Dao Lord said: Whenever this scripture is recited ten times, the divine beings of all the heavens will come together at Nanchang Palace. The True Lord, Minister and Chancellor of the Celestial Pivot Office, a revered deity of the heavens, will petition the Great Emperor of Long Life, the deity who governs the prolonging of life, for the Book of Nine Clouds written in jade seal script and the treasured registers of cloud-patterned characters. He will lead the assembly of immortals and divine officials, ride in a carriage drawn by eight luan birds, carry the true talismans, and issue orders to the Office of Springs and Bends on Feng Mountain, the divine office that governs the netherworld. At that time, the suffering souls of ancestors across countless generations will at once be delivered and ascend to the Vermilion Palace. After nine years of transformation and nurture, they will be reborn as noble people. If they delight in learning, then, once their merit is complete, they may all become immortals, ascend to the Golden Gate, and feast and wander in the Jade Capital.

Those who pursue learning and the Dao, if they practice and recite this scripture, will have their lives prolonged by the Perfected Officials and Talisman-Bearing Divine Attendants of the Southern Pole’s Cinnabar Origin and the Left Spirit Immortal Court. They will be delivered at once and ascend to the Southern Palace. When people in the world uphold and recite this scripture, the Nine Origins, Eight Extremities, Four Dippers, Three Perfected Ones, and Twelve Immortal Officials will teach and protect them, freeing them from hardship and extending their years. In the end, they can perfect the Way of Corpse Liberation: their soul and spirit briefly leave the body, and without passing through hell, they regain their form and roam through the vast heavens.

This scripture is subtle and mysterious, and can save all beings without number. Beings in both heaven and the human world may receive immeasurable blessings through it; the living and the dead alike benefit. Heaven treasures this scripture and does not allow it to be passed lightly to people in the world. A truly virtuous cultivator must prepare gold, silver, and precious goods, and make a sincere oath before Heaven before the scripture may be transmitted. Those who carelessly disclose it or treat it with disrespect will bring calamity upon nine generations of ancestors, condemning them to long service in the offices of the underworld. Twenty-four Jade Youths and twenty-four Jade Maidens who serve this scripture in the Southern Palace will guard its text and protect those who receive it.

The Dao Lord said: If you observe a strict fast and recite this scripture during the first month, the Great Emperor of Long Life, who prolongs life in the Southern Palace, will command the Nine Immortal Lords of Supreme Mystery, the Lord of Supreme Void, and the Lord of the Nine Elders of the Most High Immortal Capital to open your heart and mind. They will enable you to communicate with the netherworld and save the souls of the dead from previous lives, freeing them from service in hell and raising them to the Southern Palace.

If you observe a strict fast and recite this scripture during the seventh month, the Celestial Pivot Chancellor of Long Life in the Southern Palace will inform the Lord of Purple Origin and Cavern Yang in Supreme Void, the Lord of the Immortal Origin of Supreme Simplicity, and the Lord of Supreme High Music to dispel your deluded thoughts. They will enable you to preserve your most true form for a long time and become an immortal. The Southern Palace will write your name on yellow registers and white slips, erase it from the ledger of the dead, and thereby grant you long life.

If you observe a strict fast and recite this scripture during the tenth month, the Gentleman-in-Attendance at the Golden Gate of Long Life in the Southern Palace will petition the Lord of Cavern Spirit in Jade Radiance, the Lord of Purple Spirit in Jade Radiance, and the Lord of the Central Emperor of Primordial Cinnabar to protect you. They will enable you to serve the Supreme One with loyalty and honor your family with filial devotion, and will bring harmony among the ruler, ministers, fathers, and sons of the state…

May this text guard the nation’s good fortune, keeping it secure for a long time and unbroken from generation to generation. May it always bring stability to the ruler and lead the people of the land to praise the peace they enjoy. Whenever the Eight Festivals—the eight important annual observances in Daoism—come around, reciting this scripture will move the South Palace’s Longevity-Extending Jade-Clear Three August Emperors, the Immortal Lord of Huayang, the Immortal Lord of Ziling, and the Immortal Lord of Dongyang to open the Eight Gates of the people, enabling them to behold true immortals and become Perfected Ones of the Nine Palaces.

When a person recites this scripture on their natal day, the Great Emperor of Longevity in the South Palace will command the Immortal Lord of Taiji, the Immortal Lord of Qingling, the Immortal Lord of Jiuguang, and the Immortal Lord of Shihua to add years to their life and enter their name in the register of extended life. Their offenses will be pardoned, their spirit and soul released and brought to peace, and all Qi made pure and upright, enduring without decline. They will no longer suffer distress, and their body will radiate light. Spirits of the Three Realms will come to guard them; the Five Emperors will send spirits to greet them; and the myriad spirits will come to pay homage. Their name will be recorded in Heaven, and when their merit is complete, they will ascend to the realm of Highest Clarity.

The Daoist scriptures say: On every day when a rite of practicing the Dao is performed, one should bathe with fragrant water, fast, enter the ritual chamber, and face east. Click the teeth thirty-two times—a practice used in Daoist visualization and Qi-circulation rites—to make one’s appeal reach the thirty-two heavens. Then bow thirty-two times, close the eyes, and meditate in stillness. Visualize yourself seated amid clouds of purple, red, and deep crimson Qi, with vast darkness all around, within and without. The Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise, lions, and white cranes stand in ranks on either side. The ministers and divine officials of the South Palace’s Celestial Pivot descend together before you. The sun and moon shine, illuminating the chamber; a round halo appears above your head, casting light in all ten directions. Once these visions are clear and distinct, silently recite the secret invocation:

“Supreme and Mysterious Origin, Lord of the Dao, summon the Three-Five Merit Officers within my body, the officials and messengers on my left and right, the attendant jade youths who bear incense, the jade maidens who carry messages, the Five Emperors’ appointed talisman officers, and the incense officials on duty today—thirty-two of each. On my behalf, report the following: Today is auspicious and joyful. In this pure fasting hall, I observe the fast, cultivate the Dao, and recite this scripture of immeasurable deliverance. May the matter I report reach the heavenly court and be presented directly before the Most Exalted Primordial Emperor, Supreme Sovereign of the thirty-two heavens.” (The rite is complete.)

Then guide the breath thirty-two times and, facing east, recite the scripture.

Wondrous Scripture of the Supreme Grade for Delivering Humanity, of the Primordial Beginning and Immeasurable Salvation

This chapter of the Lingbao tradition, from the Cavern of Mystery of the Primordial Beginning, is a Supreme-Grade Celestial Pivot for delivering humanity, transmitted by the South Palace of Longevity. Its hidden resonance and meaning part and join according to their own nature, blending in profound mystery. The supreme true Qi of Red Essence transforms into the exalted ministers of the Six Offices of the South Pole. They command the hosts, oversee the Celestial Pivot of the Three Origins, inspect the affairs governed by the heavenly administration, direct the South Palace, and preside over the assessment of matters concerning extended life. The original text continues beyond this point.

At the time the ancestral kalpa—the vast age before Heaven and Earth were opened—gave rise to life, the various heavens became manifest. The waters and fires of the two poles are the foundation of Heaven and Earth. Above them there is no other ancestral source; only the Dao is its own source. The Cloud Script of the Nine Dragons and the True Writings of the Eight Phoenixes—sacred talismanic characters—gather primordial Qi and sustain the lives of immortals. They summon spirits and call forth perfected beings, sending reports in jade seals and writings of precious jade to the ten directions. From this, the Three Provinces, the divine offices of the heavens, were expanded and established everywhere.

The Great Mysterious Capital, the central government of Heaven, oversees affairs at the hub, assists the gods, holds the seals, and administers the laws. The Phoenix Writings of the Eight Heavens shine wherever they are inscribed, illuminate all they touch, and make nothing impossible to establish, accomplish, deliver, transform, or bring to life. This is called Heaven within the Great Brahma Heaven.

Yuluo Xiaotai and the Jade Mountain’s Upper Capital are the supreme realm of Great Luo Jade Purity. This realm is deep and mysterious, seeming at once to approach the end of a kalpa and to be barely perceptible. The Three Blossoms’ Libi, the Wondrous Court of Nanchang, the Golden Tower, and the Jade Chambers are arranged in tier upon tier. In the pure realm of the spirits, the Brahma Qi of the Divine Empyrean circulates all around.

Among the ten directions are the gods of the Southern Palace who prolong life; the Great Emperor of Longevity of the Southern Pole and the Emperor of Azure Radiance of the Divine Palace; the High Minister of the Celestial Pivot, senior officials, perfected gods, divine rulers, and perfected lords; the Great Divine Marshal of the Office for Prolonging Life, and the Perfected Lord Han, elder of the Office of the Register, who cherishes life and oversees records; as well as the Southern High Officials who administer destiny and records, prolong life, increase allotted years, and deliver people from calamity. These spirits govern the restoration of bones to the dead, the return of the dead to life, and the universal deliverance of living beings. Today, as the scriptures are examined and recorded, the gods of all the heavens have come in person before the hall.

In the East: the King of the Gods without Limit who Prolongs Life and Records Good Deeds, the Great Sage of Longevity, who delivers all living beings.

In the South: the King of the Gods without Limit who Prolongs Life and Conducts Examinations, the Great Sage of Longevity, who delivers all living beings.

In the West: the King of the Gods without Limit who Prolongs Life and Rewards Merit, the Great Sage of Longevity, who delivers all living beings.

In the North: the King of the Gods without Limit who Prolongs Life and Verifies the Records, the Great Sage of Longevity, who delivers all living beings.

In the Northeast: the King of the Gods without Limit who Prolongs Life and Sets the Ranks, the Great Sage of Longevity, who delivers all living beings.

In the Southeast: the King of the Gods without Limit who Prolongs Life and Records the Years, the Great Sage of Longevity, who delivers all living beings.

In the Southwest: the King of the Gods without Limit who Prolongs Life and Submits Reports to the Throne, the Great Sage of Longevity, who delivers all living beings.

In the Northwest: the King of the Gods without Limit who Prolongs Life and Issues Immortal Proclamations, the Great Sage of Longevity, who delivers all living beings.

Above: the King of the Gods without Limit who Prolongs Life and Serves the Imperial Offices, the Great Sage of Longevity, who delivers all living beings.

Below: the King of the Gods without Limit who Prolongs Life and Makes Rounds of Inspection, the Great Sage of Longevity, who delivers all living beings.

The gods of the Southern Ten Directions, the Supreme Perfect Ones, the Longevity-Extending Divine Kings of the Southern Palace, and the other deities arrive riding purple clouds, jade carriages, and vermilion chariots. Their vehicles bear canopies, with wheels of green jade and crimson phoenixes harnessed as steeds. Azure Dragons raise five-colored banners and wield fire bells to subdue evil spirits; the Divine Generals of the Six Jia hold aloft banners that summon the true spirits. Ahead, the hosts of the Nine Divisions chant in unison; behind, eight kinds of instruments resound together. Immortals fly through the air, their chants and songs echoing without end. Five marshals clear the way, while the numinous beasts of the four directions guard the chariot poles. It is as though ten thousand mounted attendants are sweeping through the sky.

The gods draw in their radiance and turn their chariots back to inspect the true spirits and extend their lifespans. The Celestial Mechanism Chancellor of Longevity-Extending Heaven and Han Si, the Longevity-Extending Great God who governs the Upper Palace of Nanchang, hold the registers and oversee the records. Together they appear before the Celestial Emperor. Anyone who is to receive deliverance need only make a sincere appeal. The gods will examine the records of the heavens, enter the person’s name and date and time of birth in the Southern Palace register, and submit a report to the heavenly court.

The memorial is delivered to the Cavern Hall and secretly presented to the Upper Palace of Nanchang. The Inner Inspector of the Celestial Mechanism, the Attendant of the Golden Palace, Lingxu Perfect Immortal, the Director of Fate of the Southern Upper Palace, and the others inscribe the name in the register of extended life, thereby lengthening the person’s lifespan: what has withered grows lush again; what has been damaged is made whole; what has ended is revived; what has decayed is made firm again. The Celestial Mechanism’s God of Ascendant Life bestows longevity and proclaims the decree throughout the boundless divine realms of the Three Realms, as well as the underworld offices of the Bureau of the Springs, the Northern Capital of Luofeng, the Three Offices and Nine Courts, and the Twelve River Sources.

The gods remove the registers of offenses accumulated by the ancestors and generations of kin, and eradicate their evil roots, so that the souls of the dead are no longer detained or forced into the ranks of ghosts. The Southern Palace issues a talismanic decree for their timely advancement. The divine hosts of the Northern Capital’s Cold Pool guard body and soul, subdue evil spirits, and recommend them for deliverance. The dead who are admitted to the ranks of the delivered have their souls refined and transformed into immortal spirits; the living receive deliverance in this world. They endure through every generation, following the cycles of the kalpas and sharing Heaven’s longevity. Forever freed from the Three Paths, Five Sufferings, and Eight Adversities, they transcend the Three Realms and wander at ease in the Upper Clarity.

The Heaven of Upper Clarity is a realm where the Celestial Emperor perceives the workings of Heaven’s mysteries, beyond color and form. It is also a place of pure cultivation.

The Eight Heavens of the East

Heaven of the Jade Calendar’s Benevolence — Celestial Emperor Cichizongyuan.

Heaven of Transforming Growth and Blue-Green Spirit — Celestial Emperor Guangfanyiwang.

Heaven of the Dao’s Blossoming Excellence — Celestial Emperor Chunpingzikua.

Heaven of the Precious Palace’s Wondrous Life — Celestial Emperor Chongxuandingxian.

Heaven of Great Mystery, Stillness, and Truth — Celestial Emperor Cichizongyuan.

Heaven of Encountering Immortals and Cleansing Thought — Celestial Emperor Guangfanyiwang.

Heaven of the E’long Dragon Spreading Harmony — Celestial Emperor Chunpingzikua.

The original heading here is “The Eight Heavens of the East,” but the scripture provided lists only seven.

Qingqiu Dongyi Heaven is governed by the Immortal Lord Dingxian, Emperor Chongxuan.

The Eight Heavens of the South

Heaven of Correct Order and Yellow Origin is governed by Emperor Juefu Danming.

Heaven of Vermilion Chambers and Simple Truth is governed by Emperor Juedong Jiufang.

Heaven of Transforming Radiance and Shining Might is governed by Emperor Tianzhao Yansheng.

Heaven of Flame, Correctness, and Ancestral Completion is governed by Emperor Diangong Weiliang.

Heaven of the August Ultimate and Transformation into Completion is governed by Emperor Fangduo Zuchi.

Heaven of Cinnabar Radiance and Response to the Immortals is governed by Emperor Liangui Muxuan.

Heaven of Flying Dragons and Morning Candles is governed by Emperor Yuyin Mihui.

Heaven of the Divine Gate and Crimson Jade is governed by Emperor Futang Jiameng.

The Eight Heavens of the West

Heaven of the Seven Spirits and Pure Brightness is governed by Emperor Huxiang Wei.

Heaven of the Mechanism Wheel and Bright Capital is governed by Emperor Shengyuan Yanguang.

Heaven of Still Life and Great Emptiness is governed by Emperor Zizhen Dingkai.

Heaven of Clear Brightness and Returning Light is governed by Emperor Jianyin Shouzhu.

Heaven of Daring Command and Righteous Punishment is governed by Emperor Zhicheng Jianming.

Heaven of the Dao’s Solemnity and the City of Precepts is governed by Emperor Yaodao Lichang.

Heaven of the Jade Dragon Rising from the Riverbank is governed by Emperor Shengqi Zuanshen.

Heaven of Fullness and Emptiness, Ruler of All Spirits, is governed by Emperor Duishen Bazhen.

The Eight Heavens of the North

Heaven of the Pole, Stillness, and Compliance is governed by Emperor Liehua Zhibin.

Heaven of Treading Firmness and Summoning Spirits is governed by Emperor Changyou Ketong.

Heaven of the Mysterious Truth and Distant Sea is governed by Emperor Bochi Piaoguang.

Heaven of the Mysterious Cavern and Five Clouds is governed by Emperor Hehui Shuchun.

Heaven of Golden Manifestation and Restrained Order is governed by Emperor Baofu Qingming.

Heaven of the Mysterious Spirit and Dipper Palace is governed by Emperor Qichao Yanzong.

Heaven of the Ten Thousand Blessings and Imperial Sovereign is governed by Emperor Shanchi Jielan.

Heaven of Jade Clouds and Coiling Dragons is governed by Emperor Mujing Luoyuan.

This passage lists the eight tiers of heaven in each of the southern, western, and northern regions, recording the name of each heaven and the emperor who governs it. Here, “heaven” refers to a tier in the Daoist conception of the cosmos. Most of the names of the heavens and emperors are proper names; the original text does not explain their specific meanings.

The thirty-two heavens each have a Heavenly Emperor. The secret names and hidden taboos of the Southern Palace, the sacred divine residence in the celestial realm, are contained in the numinous writings that arise naturally from the void. The hidden rhythms and sounds of Taiwei Heaven reveal the dignity of the Celestial Worthy of Taiwei. The God of Nanchang, the True Ruler of the Celestial Pivot, and the spirit of the Southern Palace are also present there.

The Nine Offices and Ten Bureaus, the divine administrations that oversee celestial registers, merits and faults, rewards and punishments, swiftly transmit their documents. The mysteries of Shangqing, the Daoist higher heavens, are profound and difficult to describe in full. They spread the way of the divine perfected beings and save humans and spirits everywhere.

Today, we celebrate the bestowal of deliverance, extending life and making it enduring and secure. Through the heavens, we ask that all evils be removed, the roots of calamity cut away, and people delivered from the Five Sufferings, all manner of distress, so that their names may be entered in the Great Mystery.

The Eastern Dipper oversees the reckoning of lifespans; the Western Dipper records names; the Northern Dipper removes names from the registers of the dead; and the Southern Dipper enters them in the registers of the living. The Central Dipper governs them all. The Great Kui supervises all spirits. The Azure Emperor protects the hun soul, the White Emperor attends to the po soul, the Red Emperor nourishes primordial Qi, the Black Emperor makes the blood vessels flow freely, and the Yellow Emperor resides at the center and commands the myriad spirits.

The True Official of the Azure Register governs good fortune; the True Official of the Red Register can split mountains and raise stones; the True Official of the White Register is named Yellow Yue, Red Spirit; the True Official of the Black Register is named Thunder Controller, Iron Belly; and the True Official of the Yellow Register possesses the divine power of Heaven’s Dao. The five True Officials of the Registers are the ancestors of the myriad spirits. When they travel, drums and music accompany them. They command the immortal troops and direct the ceremonial retinues, banners, drums, and signals as they patrol the Southern Palace in great splendor.

The Heavenly Emperor examines words of merit, while the God of Nanchang prolongs life and exercises strict command. The divine offices of Northern Feng, the underworld administration that governs ghosts and spirits, are ordered to sweep away every ill omen. Divine dragons exhale poisonous vapors; heavenly horses gallop in all directions; golden essences lead the way. Flying spirits carry banners and hurl flames, while flowing bells race across ten thousand miles. In all eight directions, whoever dares to offend or obstruct the Supreme Perfected will be cut down before them by golden axes, then punished by flowing fire and dismembered as a demon. Blazing fire and raging winds never cease: thousands upon thousands are beheaded, tens of thousands disfigured.

Demons may not intrude, and ghosts may not wreak havoc. The Three Officials and Northern Feng keep watch over the ghost camps, leaving spirits nowhere to hide. Golden horses carry the documents and announce them throughout the boundless reaches; the myriad spirits must all obey. The Three Realms and the Five Emperors present their reports and submit them to the Shangqing realm.

The Great Cavern, the profound Great Dao teaching in Daoist scripture, opens the registers of the ages; its way accords with nature. In a state of indistinctness, primordial Qi gathers, and the realms of Heaven and Earth unfold from it. Ruler, father, minister, and people each settle into their proper place and take up their appointed roles. By gathering jade Qi, a capital is established. At the first transformation of Longkang, the Heavenly Emperor emerged to govern, with officials on the left and right each in charge of their own ordinances. Thus the foundations of the Three Palaces were laid, and the Three Departments were opened and established.

The Three Offices General Directorate, the divine bureau overseeing the affairs of the Three Offices, reviews documents and maintains protection.

Countless kalpas ago, so far in the distant past as to defy imagination, Heaven and Earth were still in chaos. Above lay an empty expanse without color; below was an empty expanse without a floor. Wind stirred the waters and dried them up; water congealed into mountains, while primordial earth and vajra arose from the void. Heaven mounted upon Heaven and rose upward. In the heavens, many divine officials received commands to govern the world and set the Way of Heaven in motion. Between Heaven and Earth there was no hidden or concealed place, nor any obscure realm beyond knowing. There were no forms or images, no boundaries, and no end. The wondrous transformations of nature shaped the forms of all things.

In the vast, unfathomably deep primordial state of chaos, Heaven and Earth joined with the Dao. Though people had ears and eyes, they did not know how to hear or see. All was still and dark, boundless and without light. The Red Radiance, the Daoist era of light said to mark the beginning of Heaven and Earth, opened the images of the celestial realm and made the order of its workings clear.

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning settled and bestowed the Five Scrolls of Red Writing in Jade Characters, celestial scriptures written in red, which contain the Dragon Script of the Eight Majesties. They protect and sustain the cycles of kalpas, keeping the Three Realms in existence. Talismans and registers transform; each immortal and perfected being has an official position, and they assist one another. Primordial Qi once again transformed into talismanic signs and images, then merged with the void.

The Brahma Qi, pure and vast primordial energy, spread throughout the cosmos, unfolding the patterns of all things. The celestial network and constellations evolved and moved with the Qi. The thirty-two heavens revolved through the formless realm, encircling the ten directions and layered one over another. Divine spirits rode in chariots and ascended to the Purple Palace. The Supreme Mystery Directorate of the Celestial Capital governed the Great Dipper star, arranging the celestial pivots and the workings of Heaven’s mechanisms. Taking the Dipper’s handle as the measure of the celestial order, it governed the Two Provinces and issued commands to Nanchang; in turn, it set the Six Measures in motion, revolved the Five Constants, and arranged the thirty-five divisions. It gathered the Eight Luminaries of the Upper Origin, bringing subtle breaths together in harmony.

Qi entered the realm of mystery within mystery, becoming the pivot and command by which the Supreme Emperor governed Heaven. Below, it corresponded to the human body. The heart and eyes are the key within the mystery. The Emperor of Life-Prolonging, the Central Great Sovereign of the Southern Palace, together with the High Perfected, exalted Daoist immortals, manifested amid the rosy clouds and chanted the Cavern Chapters, Daoist scriptures. The golden immortals shone with clear radiance, and their voices rang through the Mudball, the upper Dantian in the head. Clouds of Qi gathered within the body, while white pearls formed an unbroken chain. Their jade tones governed the breath, and the ears heard sounds like bells and chimes.

The numinous wind circled of its own accord, and the hundred spirits gathered like smoke. The Purple Void, the clear and empty celestial realm, flourished in beauty and attended the immortals. A thousand kinds of harmonious Qi converged in myriad forms, naturally bringing about the perfected immortals. Among them were divine spirits: the Great Lord of Long Life, the Left Duke of Green Radiance, the Jade Consort, the Right Spirit, and the High King of the Dao. They held jade tablets and wore hanging sashes. Taiyi went before them and the Director of Destinies followed behind. Spirits such as Taokang and Heyan breathed in essence and drew in the vital energies of nature; they wielded talismans and registers and guarded the foundation of life.

In the Southern Palace, they consulted the registers of names and petitioned the Northern Origin, the celestial bureau that governs the records of life, to increase one’s allotted years. They ascended through the highest reaches of Shangqing, one of the highest Daoist heavens, entering and leaving splendid palaces, reaching the eight directions and the realms of the dead, and penetrating even the finest details. Below, they guarded the human body: the pivot lies in the brain, still and clear; the Crimson Palace, the seat of the heart, is the mechanism through which things move. Within the subtle, one can perceive what is minute, harmonize the Five Qi, gather the hundred spirits, repeatedly circulate essence and Qi, and bring the myriad breaths into accord. In the end, one becomes an immortal.

The Southern Palace’s boundless mechanism for prolonging life and delivering beings opens the Eight Gates, setting the flying celestial wheel, the law governing the movement of Heaven, in motion. Sin and merit, prohibitions and precepts, destiny and karmic conditions are universally… (The original text ends here unfinished.)

After receiving the opening of the way of deliverance (transcendence and rescue), the souls of the dead can regain life and be reborn. These teachings reach up to the heavens; above each heaven is a gate of life. Among them are true and sacred spirit texts such as “The Song of the Empty Cavern.”

The verses are addressed to the High Perfected, the exalted divine beings revered in Daoism:

First: “The Sound of the Flying Void, by the Southern Palace’s High Minister of the Celestial Pivot of Prolonged Life”

The Celestial Pivot governs ascent and descent, and the imperial palace lies in the south. To prolong life, one must not manipulate or steer the Celestial Pivot. When its axle no longer turns, the power of the Dao is vast and cannot be compelled.

If the axles rush and revolve against one another, people fall ill and may even die. The Celestial Pivot moves in accord with all things; call to it, and it responds. Good and evil, merit and fault, are all overseen by the imperial offices, which administer the affairs of Heaven.

When the pivot grows still, Shen begins to move, and the immortals ascend to the Southern Palace. Guard the Celestial Pivot carefully and treasure the true Dao; then you may stand apart as a person endowed with spirit. Use the pivot in accord with the Way of Heaven, and the Dao follows its own nature. Use it only for selfish ends, and you will exhaust your vital energy, losing both essence and life. The heart and eyes, too, can become the hinges that set the Celestial Pivot in motion.

All things change with the four seasons. I hold the essence of these changes, and the Supreme Lord knows it.

Second: “The Southern Palace’s High Minister of the Celestial Hub of Prolonged Life”

In the south are six stars, reaching upward to Vermilion Mound, the legendary southern abode of the immortals. Crimson clouds blaze, and vermilion palaces and courtyards shine with light.

What encircles the Celestial Hub—the pivotal position among the stars, including those of the Northern Dipper—is emptiness. The substance of emptiness has no form. If the formless does not move, what makes its wondrous workings appear? No one commands this numinous power; all is borne by the imperial sovereign.

The ordinances of Heaven move on without end. Do not recklessly cause harm, and do not boast. If an assistant seems to lend support, that too is simply an office charged with the work. Keep to stillness and Wuwei (non-action), and the Dao will operate impartially.

Model yourself on the Muddy Pellet Palace, the inner palace of the brain in Daoist views of Neidan and the body’s spirits, where the highest spirit resides. Let body and mind merge with empty space, and the hundred bones will grow naturally. Let the Celestial Hub run its course and bring things to completion; grasp at nothing and seek no fame.

I ride a flying gale, gazing down upon countless miles of mountains and rivers.

Third: “Song of the Great Emperor of Longevity of the Southern Palace”

A wheel like lightning dances through the air as I ride toward the divine palace. Cloud banners flash, and the radiance of purple clouds surrounds me. Below are ten thousand immortals, while dragon wings guard the shafts of my chariot.

Purple clouds weave into a splendid canopy, while celestial robes stream like bands of a river. Immortal music accompanies the High Gods. At the feast, youths of radiant beauty are entertained; in Nanchang Palace, memorials are laid out and presented. Through the methods of the Dao, all beings are delivered and true merit is accomplished.

Good deeds can lengthen one’s life, and meritorious service can earn a place among the immortals. If people are free of selfishness and deluded thoughts, they take an upright mind as their teacher. But if desires and distracting thoughts swarm like bees, they will attract demons.

Do the sages and immortals who transcend the world seek only long life? Their forms drift among the Eight Radiances as they look down upon the blue celestial net. Elixir forests spread across the heavens, while jade-toned voices carry the immortal songs of the Cavern Chapters.

They take pity on people in the dusty world, whose lives pass like water in an instant. So burn incense and hold the numinous texts aloft, and the Perfected Ones will come in person.

This is a song sung by the True Kings in the air above the Three Realms. Every note accords with the Cavern Chapters. Recite it one hundred times, and your name will be entered in the registers of the Southern Palace. Recite it one thousand times, and True Immortals will protect and welcome you. Recite it ten thousand times, and when your Dao practice is complete, you can ascend through the vast heavens, cross beyond the Three Realms, and take your place among the Immortal Lords. All who hear this wondrous, numinous sound will have their bodies honored by the True Kings, who will command the Earth Spirits to guard and escort them, open the gates of hell, and free them from the Five Sufferings and Eight Calamities. Their seven generations of ancestors will ascend, forever leaving the passes of the netherworld behind; their souls will be carried across to Vermilion Mound, where, through refinement and deliverance, they will be reborn. This is called boundless deliverance for all, without end. These scriptures are secret writings treasured by Heaven and revered by all the heavens. To disclose or treat them with disrespect is to fall into hell and bring calamity upon seven generations of one’s ancestors.

The Dao says: These two chapters are secret sounds used by the Emperors of the Heavens and by the Southern Palace to prolong life. Together they explain the offices that govern the vital pivots: the voice and eyes, the heart and mind, through which the Emperors convey their commands and perceive affairs. These offices all fall under the authority of the Upper Palace of Nanchang, a place of great importance within the Golden Towers. If believers maintain purification and abstinence over time, present memorials, and report their prayers to the gods, they may meet the true numinous officials and divine rulers. The gods will then exercise their power and record their petitions, granting them long life and the blessings of Heaven, with benefits extending to their descendants.

All these are words of the Great Brahma, not ordinary expressions used in the human world. Their language has none of the ornate rhythms of worldly speech, nor the embellishments of worldly writing; therefore they are called profound and difficult to understand. They are secret texts cherished by Heaven and hidden away in the Jade Palace of the High Gods, in the Jade Clarity of the Divine Empyrean at the Mysterious Capital. They are transmitted only when the Dao accords with the governance of the age and responds to the laws of the time. If someone who has attained the Dao brings gold and treasure as an offering, pledges sincerity, and swears an oath of alliance to Jade Clarity according to the ancient rite, only then will the scriptures be entrusted to them.

The Dao says: The workings of Heaven and Earth follow cycles; when one comes to an end, another begins. The sun, moon, and five planets likewise wane and wax. Even the most exalted divine sages sometimes meet with adversity. If those of lesser learning suffer illness or calamity, then all those who share the same vital energy and are attuned to one another will also…

Practitioners should observe fasting and abstinence with single-minded devotion, burn incense at six appointed times throughout the day, and recite the scripture ten times. In this way, they accumulate blessings and virtue and dispel all manner of calamities. The merit of this scripture is immeasurable; it can universally deliver all living beings.

The Dao says: Some who are new to the Way have made only shallow progress, and their ranks among the immortals remain incomplete. Pressed by the turns of fate, they may be nearing death, and their bodies must pass through the checkpoint of the underworld (Great Yin). At such a time, a fellow practitioner who has attained the Dao may burn incense and recite the scripture ten times on their behalf, performing the rite to deliver their corpse from the realm of death. The divine beings of Heaven will open a numinous path southward for them and grant documents that extend their years and continue their life, recording their good deeds. Their hun and shen may proceed directly to the Southern Palace, where their days are reckoned according to their cultivation and they receive rebirth. They will not lose their way in the cycle of transmigration, and in the end they can become immortals.

The Dao says: When the Qi of Heaven and Earth is nearing its end, the stars move in disorder, the Sun and Moon lose their radiance, the seasons fall out of order, and Yin-Yang becomes unbalanced. Famine strikes the land, poisonous miasma and pestilence spread, and the people die and suffer injury. When one’s teacher, elder, or friend passes away, one should observe fasting and abstinence, burn incense, and recite the scripture. The merit of fasting and recitation is exceedingly profound: above, it can dispel celestial calamities and protect and bring peace to the ruler; below, it can neutralize poison and deliver the people. Thus, all living beings, both the living and the dead, may receive blessings. This merit is beyond measure, and so it is called “the immeasurable universal deliverance of Heaven and humanity.”

The Dao says: Whoever obtains this scripture and is willing to cultivate these merits for Heaven and Earth, the ruler, and the people should, on the day calamity strikes, resolve to observe fasting and abstinence, burn incense, and recite the scripture ten times. The heavens will record their name, and the myriad spirits will protect them. They may be admitted among the perfected and become an attendant of the Sage Ruler in the Golden Court, the celestial palace. Heaven records people’s merits and faults without overlooking even the smallest detail; the True Kings of Heaven will also recommend you. Only those who cultivate the Dao and attain it can truly understand these highest principles.

“Immeasurable tones of the Great Brahma’s hidden words among the heavens”—this chapter was composed by the Dao Lord.

Numinous Writ of the Primordial Beginning: Secret Chapter of the Southern Palace on Extending Life

What follows are the celestial hidden names of the Eight Heavens of the East and the Eight Heavens of the South. These characters are Brahma sounds found in the scripture—sacred utterances used in Daoist texts to communicate with the celestial realm—not ordinary phrases. The original text is therefore retained without word-for-word translation.

Eight Heavens of the East

Lou Wei Wo Shu　Yi Yan Chong Bo　Chuo Mo Qing Jiang

Lu Tu [𤁒] Di　Bao Neng Xing Sheng　Zhang Xian Du Li

Rui Bo Lin Yuan　Mian Hong Qian Chi　Jiao Fei Jian Luo

Wen Yue Gou Hui　Yue Jia Tong Yi　Yun Duo Fu Wei

Fan Fang Ying Luo　Mi Tiao Yuan Qian　Bi Du Deng Xiang

Bing Ning Ying Jian

Eight Heavens of the South

Wu Dong Ning Tuo　Bi Cang Yan Hui　Zhuang Fu Pou Yuan

Xing Ke Jian Cui　Jue Luo Jin Tao　Chan Shi Yi Quan

Red light flashes; the tortoise-shaped path should be laid out. Joining the palms can dispel evil spirits.

In stillness, Lu Liting is called Yandu Li. Zhen Chong Ge Zhen gradually brings peace to the heavens and well-being to all beings. The spirit of the mountain plunges into the whirlpool, setting things right, supporting and protecting all beings: Jiluo Dachen.

The Eight Heavens of the West

Haijing Taihua, Jiong Han Fu Jin: clear streams are transformed and filth dispersed. Meng Liang Shun Xin, Yao Yan Gang Shi; Pu Chi Miao Cheng, Fan Du Yuan Pin. Vast and empty, they stretch without end to the water’s edge. Chang Rong Shu Qiu, Di Qian E Ping. Hun Hua Kai Dui, Yan Chi Chan Yin; Shu Guan E Du, Bi Yao Yu Wei. Zhi Pang Fan Chu, Bian Dang Ye Ben.

The Eight Heavens of the North

Xuan Han Ju Mo, Teng Lun Tian Yang; Long Jian Hua Yu, Hui Ban Zhi Zhuang. Da Luo Zheng Wei, Zhao Ai Xu Wei; Xi He Lü Duo, Bing Cha Xing He. Zan Nai You Yang, Qi Ling Qin Peng; Hui Dong Shi Yu, Fu Duo Ying Ao. Zhu Luo Ji Ji, Yan Kun Cheng Mo. Within, they destroy vile and wicked demons; Yu Yan Zhong Bi.

The Dao says: The “Great Brahma hidden words” of these heavens are the sounds of boundless celestial realms. In ancient times, the scripture was engraved upon the Phoenix Terrace of the Southern Palace to summon the Perfected of the Southern Pole, Douji. It opened signs and bestowed the Jade Register, allowing people to prolong their years and attain immortality, deliver seven generations of ancestors from suffering, receive the emperor’s profound grace, and fly in bodily form to the Golden Chamber.

These words were written by Red Youth, each character measuring one zhang in width and height. The Great Lord of Long Life once treasured this scripture and regarded it as the true sound. Those who know these sounds and, after observing purification, recite them will be inspected by appointed Perfected Divine Kings sent down from all the heavens. They will record the merits of their diligent practice and report them to the heavens. The myriad gods will come to pay homage, while the earth deities guard the gates. The Great Merit True King will recommend them to the Southern Chang Dao. Once their cultivation and merit are complete, they can roam through the Three Realms and ascend to Shentian.

These sounds can dispel evil, avert calamity, deliver beings from suffering, and bring things to completion. They are the natural sounds of the Celestial Perfected. Reciting them can therefore summon the Divine Kings to inspect; the Supreme Emperor sings in response from afar, the myriad gods come to pay homage, and the deities of the Three Realms attend the carriage. Demons bow their heads, and ghostly spirits vanish of their own accord. As the jade-like chants of the scripture ring out, the ten directions grow still and pure; rivers and seas fall silent, and even the mountains draw in upon themselves…

As mist rises, the myriad spirits tremble, submit, and gather; the immortals are summoned as well. No turbid qi clouds the heavens, and no dust of demonic forces defiles the earth.

Dark wisdom, profound and luminous, shines through to clarity. Its heart is vast, its mystery deep and far-reaching.