《靈寶無量度人上品妙經》Vol. 55

Chapter on Deliverance for the Souls of the Dead in Former Ages

The Dao says: Long ago, in the Dragon Brahma Heaven, during the great transformation of the land through the hidden hymns of the Bright Firmament, the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning proclaimed this Scripture for Delivering Humanity to deliver the souls of the dead in former ages. Each time the Celestial Worthy preached the scripture, its reach extended throughout the ten directions. Only when the sermon began did the gods arrive before the seat.

The Nine August Supreme Perfected Ones, the Great Flying-Heaven Sages, the Perfected Ones of Wondrous Practice, the Dharma Masters of the Mysterious Center, and the deities of realms such as Dongyin, Shuodan, and Yujue came, along with countless others: the Five-Spirit Mysterious Elders, the Black Emperor Heavenly Lord, the Northern Emperor of Fengdu, the Great Demons of the Six Heavens, the Immortals Who Rescue from Suffering, the officials of the Nine Palaces, and those who examine souls in the Three Primordial Cycles. They rode through the air together. The Three Pure Flying Clouds and the Eightfold Radiant Sky Chariots—the cloud chariots ridden by immortals—shone in reflection upon one another. Flowering jades of nine colors illuminated the sky. For seven days and seven nights, the forms of the terraces, cities, towers, and observatories of the heavens appeared clearly. The pearl-like celestial latitudes and jade rays—the radiance of the heavenly realm—came to a halt and dimmed their brilliance. Divine winds blew, and auspicious Qi filled the sky. The earth, its mountains and rivers, its forests and plants, was flattened and made even, without high or low places. All the land turned to green jade, clear and translucent for ten thousand miles, with no variation in color.

The Perfected Ones stood in attendance beside the seat. The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning sat upright in the air upon a jeweled seat of nine lights and preached the scripture. Each time he recited it, the Great Sages of the heavens praised him together.

When the Celestial Worthy preached the first time, all beings on earth were pardoned for the sins accumulated by their ancestors. The second time, light shone throughout the Nine Depths, illuminating the dead to the causes and conditions of their past lives. The third time, auspicious clouds encircled the Dao realm, and sweet dew fell from the sky. The fourth time, the mountains of fire went out, and the freezing pools grew calm. The fifth time, the gates of hell opened, and the souls of the dead were freed. The sixth time, the roots of evil were removed, so that no one would fall again into a realm of suffering. The seventh time, the black registers of sin were burned, and the proceedings of examination and judgment came to an end. The eighth time, the officials of Quanqu—the underworld—raised the souls of the dead to the rank of immortals. The ninth time, auspicious clouds rose from the dark realm, and sunlight dispelled the gloom. The tenth time, flesh grew again upon dry bones, and all the dead returned to life as human beings.

At that time, men and women throughout the kingdom sincerely turned toward the Dao. All received protection and deliverance, and all attained long life.

The Dao says: At that moment, after the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning had preached the scripture once, the Great God Who Rescues from Suffering of the Green Palace, of the boundless and immeasurable eastern region, led countless gods through the air to attend. When he preached it a second time, the Brightly Awakened One of the Vermilion Palace, of the boundless and immeasurable southern region, …

Countless Great Gods—that is, the many deities—floated through the air together and proclaimed the scripture for the third time. The Mysterious and Serene Great God of the Palace of Unadorned Spirits, in the boundless realm of the Western direction, led the gods through the air and proclaimed the scripture for the fourth time. The Deeply Responsive Great God of the Palace of Purple Origin, in the boundless realm of the Northern direction, led the gods through the air and proclaimed the scripture for the fifth time. The Cloud-Banner Great God of the Palace of Fengdu, in the boundless realm of the Northeast, led the gods through the air and proclaimed the scripture for the sixth time. The Sin-Delivering Great God of the Palace of the Nine Depths, in the boundless realm of the Southeast, led the gods through the air and proclaimed the scripture for the seventh time. The Life-Delivering Great God of the Palace of Winding Springs, in the boundless realm of the Southwest, led the gods through the air and proclaimed the scripture for the eighth time. The Transcending and Transforming Great God of the Palace of Heavenly Blessings, in the boundless realm of the Northwest, led the gods through the air and proclaimed the scripture for the ninth time. The Numinous and Wondrous Great God of the Palace of True Capitals, in the boundless realm above, led the gods through the air and proclaimed the scripture for the tenth time. The Still and Serene Great God of the Palace of Mysterious Wonder, in the boundless realm below, led the gods through the air. Once the scripture had been proclaimed ten times, its reach extended throughout the Ten Directions.

At that same moment, the Heavenly Perfected Great Gods responsible for delivering suffering souls from death in the boundless worlds of the Ten Directions also arrived together.

When the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning first proclaimed the teachings of the Dao, the men and women of one nation all remembered their deceased from past lives: their ancestors from countless generations and their departed kin from ancient times to the present. Some souls, bound by the causes and conditions and karmic ties of former lives, had already been reborn in different places, wandering through the Three Realms. Others remained sunk in shadowy regions, detained at the gates of the underworld. Ages had passed, and years stretched far into the past. With nowhere to turn, the souls’ bodies had crumbled into dust, yet their awareness had not dispersed; thoughts still remained within them. As a result, they suffered punishments in the underworld, and were certain to bring misfortune upon the world of the living as well.

Now they had encountered the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning, who was about to proclaim the method for delivering the souls of the dead. This wondrous assembly would bring boundless benefit, and people hoped that through these teachings, beings everywhere might be saved.

At that moment, the Celestial Worthy gazed around at the heavens, the human world, and all the spirits and gods. The holy assembly in one direction raised sleeves like mountains, rivers, and clouds, and waved silken ribbons that shimmered with nine-colored jade light and drifted in graceful coils. After a short while, the Celestial Worthy let down a thread from the nine-colored jade light, allowing its radiance to stream downward and through.

That strand of blue-green light stretched far away, reaching the Ten Hells between the nine layers of earth and the seven encircling walls of iron. Each hell extended more than eight thousand li in every direction, and was vast in height, width, depth, and thickness. As the strand of blue-green light descended, the ground rang with a tremendous crash, and heaven and earth shook in all six directions. It was like two mountain peaks colliding violently in the sea, or the Five Thunders of the heavens sounding all at once. The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning was touring the palaces of the thirty-six heavens when the great hells of Northern Feng—the underworld in the north—began to tremble. They rose gently, broke free of the darkness below, and flew up into the sky.

The blue-green ribbon climbed into the highest heavens, caught the hells by their tops, and lifted them out. A fierce wind blew straight up to the celestial realm. Though the hells were immense, once suspended from the ribbon they shrank to the size of pellets. Countless beings could clearly see everything inside: the punishments and suffering, the mountains of blades, the bloody edges of knives, and the flames consuming their victims. They could see inside and out, without the slightest obstruction. They also saw their own guilty ancestors suffering, imprisoned and tortured in the hells, crying out for rescue.

Seeing this, all beings wept and cried aloud, their voices shaking the heavens. They pleaded with the Sovereign Emperor to grant salvation and deliverance. The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning looked pleased and smiled faintly. At once, a brilliant light streamed from the crown of his head, illuminating heaven and earth. Within the light appeared the “Precious Writ for Ascending to Heaven,” a sacred certificate that enables the dead to be delivered and rise to heaven. Written upon it in golden radiance and jade-colored tadpole script were detailed instructions for delivering the dead.

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning proclaimed to the assembly: “If you wish to deliver the souls of the dead from your former generations, follow this method and perform it ten times in succession. All those souls will be able to ascend to heaven.” The souls who had come seeking deliverance gathered like mist and clouds, in such numbers that they could not be held back; the press of them made half the land sink down. The Celestial Worthy then suspended a precious pearl in the air. It was no larger than a millet grain and hung nine zhang above the ground.

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning led the perfected beings, great spirits, supreme sages, and exalted worthies of the celestial realm into the pearl, together with the perfected beings and great spirits from the ten directions who rescue the suffering and free the guilty, and countless other holy beings. Those looking up from heaven saw them entering one after another through the pearl’s opening. Once inside, no one knew where they had gone. The crowds on the land dispersed, and the ground became level again, no longer tilted or sunken. Within the pearl, the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning finished expounding the scripture, while the perfected beings supervised the deliverance.

At this time, the scripture and teaching were imparted to me, and my joy was beyond words. The ritual was nearly complete. The gods of the heavens returned to their places, and in an instant all was still; not a sound could be heard.

Then, as the people of Heaven encountered the scripture and teaching, all received deliverance and blessings. Their ancestors, too, were released from suffering and no longer fell into the lower paths. Everyone turned wholeheartedly toward the teaching and could uphold filial conduct: they learned to show respect, yield to others, remain honest and upright, and live with gentleness and harmony. They understood how to serve and accept their responsibilities, to endure hardship, and to care for their elders. Their hearts held no defiance or arrogance, and their mouths gave voice to no complaints. They treated one another with compassion and, even in foreign lands, could become close as kin. The state was at peace, the people were prosperous, and all rejoiced in a time of peace.

Once the scripture and teaching began to spread, all in a country who aspired to the Dao, held faith in their hearts, and offered reverence and respect could receive deliverance.

The Dao says: What the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning says in the scripture consists entirely of the inner names and hidden sounds of the gods and emperors of the heavens, the secret taboo names of the True Kings, and the hidden names of the divine beings. These are not words used in the ordinary world. The High Sages have cultivated themselves into perfected beings, penetrated the mysteries, and seen what is hidden; they can fully understand the scripture. Recite this scripture ten times, and the heavens will answer one another from afar, and all sins will be forgiven. The departed souls of former generations will also have the chance to ascend to immortality. In this way, all living beings may be delivered: the dead restored to life, and bare bones transformed into living people.

As for those who study the Dao, reciting the scripture ten times can cause the Five Sacred Peaks to submit memorials to Heaven, and the Three Officials—the deities who govern Heaven, Earth, and Water—to present their petitions. This allows wandering souls to be transformed and departed spirits to ascend, delivers the dead, and can even restore lives that have been cut short. This is because the virtue of those who study the Dao is not yet complete, and their cultivation has not yet reached full insight into the true realm. Their power is not yet sufficient to command the ten directions or administer the laws of Heaven. Yet their virtue can move and direct the local earth deities, rescue wandering souls, and deliver their ancestors. If they recite this passage carelessly, however, calamity will befall the practitioner.

Making offerings to and honoring this scripture can bring prosperity to a household and flourishing to its generations. It creates good affinities, keeps every kind of disaster at bay, and draws the protection of the gods to the family’s gates. This scripture is supremely honored and mysterious, unrivaled among the scriptures of the Jade Capital, the celestial realm. It can deliver people without limit and is the root of the myriad Dao. Its vast teaching stands beyond compare, and its virtue cannot be fully described.

The Dao says: Whenever this scripture is recited ten times, all the heavens descend together. The wandering souls of ancestors from countless generations, and the spirits of the dead who suffer, are immediately delivered and ascend to the Vermilion Palace, a celestial palace. After nine years of instruction there, they can be reborn. In their next life they may become people of high rank and take delight in studying the scriptures. When their merits and virtues are complete, they can deliver those of lofty and profound attainment, ultimately become immortals, ascend to the Golden Palace of the Heavenly Emperor, and feast and roam in the Jade Capital.

Those who study the Dao at the highest level practice and recite…

This scripture can deliver the souls of the dead from past ages, allowing them to be immediately liberated and ascend to the Southern Palace, a celestial palace in Daoist belief. When people recite it, their deceased ancestors can also receive the method of refining the body through Taiyin energy, a Daoist teaching about transforming the body with the force of the Great Yin.

The souls and spirits of the dead temporarily disperse. Without passing through hell, they can recover their bodies and travel through space. This scripture is incomparably subtle and can deliver all beings without limit; all heavenly beings and humans can receive its blessings. Its immeasurable merit benefits both the living and the dead. Heaven holds this scripture precious, and it must not be passed on casually. A true adept of the Dao should prepare gold, silk, and other valuables to show sincerity, then transmit it only after swearing an oath to Heaven. If someone carelessly reveals or neglects the scripture, calamity will befall their descendants, who will be conscripted to serve the Three Palaces for a long time. Twenty-four Jade Boys and twenty-four Jade Maidens of the Five Emperors attend this scripture. They guard the text and protect those who receive it.

A Daoist scripture says: If you observe a long fast and recite this scripture in the first month, you can deliver the souls of the dead from earlier generations, freeing them from service in the underworld and raising them to the Southern Palace. If you observe a long fast and recite it in the seventh month, you can raise the Nine Ancestors and Seven Generations—your ancestors and distant kin—to Heaven’s Gate. Their sins will be pardoned, they will turn toward goodness, and you yourself can become an immortal. If you observe a long fast and recite it in the tenth month, you can deliver ancient ancestors and relatives, as well as the dead in distant, shadowy realms. They will be transformed at once, and their names will be entered in the registers of the Great Clarity, the celestial realm in Daoist belief.

Reciting this scripture on the Eight Festivals, the eight major observances in the Daoist calendar, can dispel the sins of the dead from distant ages. They will be spared judgment and forced service at Fengshan, the Northern Capital, and will rise from the source of the River to the Nine Palaces, becoming perfected beings. Reciting it on your birth anniversary can deliver the spirits and souls of the dead who have been held in the Dark Hall for seven generations. Their spirit and flesh will reunite, their bones will come together, and they will be reborn as human beings. Your own soul and spirit will also become clear and upright, while your original Qi endures for a long time and you no longer undergo suffering. Your body will shine with light; attendants will protect you throughout the Three Realms; the Five Emperors will come to welcome you, and the myriad spirits will pay homage. When your merit is complete, your name will be entered in the heavenly registers, and you will ultimately ascend to the Highest Clarity.

A Daoist scripture says: On any day when a Daoist liturgy is performed, bathe with fragrant water and observe the fast and precepts. Face east inside the room and click your teeth thirty-two times, so that your prayer reaches the Thirty-Two Heavens; then bow to Heaven thirty-two times. Next, close your eyes and meditate, imagining yourself seated amid clouds of blue, purple, and crimson, surrounded inside and out by profound stillness. The Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise, lions, and white cranes stand in rows on either side. The sun and moon shine, making the room bright and clear.

The immeasurable Great Deities who deliver beings from suffering in the ten directions come to rest high in the heavens. A circular halo appears above their heads, its light illuminating the ten directions. You should visualize this scene clearly and distinctly, then silently recite the secret incantation:

“Supreme Lord of the Dao, the Profound Origin, please summon the Three-and-Five Meritorious Officers within my body; the officials and messengers on my left and right; the Jade Boys who attend the incense; the Jade Maidens who convey messages; the Five Emperors’ Talismanic Officers; and the Incense Officials on duty today, thirty-two of each, to report above the words I now speak…”

On an auspicious day, undertake a prolonged fast. Cultivate and recite the Scripture on Deliverance from Boundless Suffering in a pure and tranquil hall. May the matters for which prayers are offered ascend to the celestial court and be presented directly before the imperial presence.

With reverence, invite the Primordial Lord, the Supreme Emperor of the Thirty-Two Heavens, and make offerings before his exalted throne. (When the rites are complete, bow.)

Face east, draw in Qi (vital energy) thirty-two times, then recite the scripture.

The Wondrous Scripture of Boundless Deliverance, the Supreme Teaching of the Primordial Lord

The Celestial Worthy of the Primordial Beginning uses the scriptures and rites of the Cavern Mystery Lingbao tradition to deliver the souls of the dead from ages past. Reciting the scripture ten times in succession can free beings in the netherworld; its subtle verses can open the gate to spiritual instruction.

The scripture arises spontaneously, empty and profound. Sacred Qi descends into the Great Void, from which the spirits and gods come forth. It gathers in itself the laws and forms of Heaven and Earth, all returning to the jeweled palaces of the Three Primes. The Great Sage dwells on high, while the Imperial Worthy proclaims the vast and wondrous Dao. He examines each case according to its conditions and reviews its merits and faults. Mysterious documents are recorded on blue registers and vermilion slips: the realms of Primordial Yang, Purple Tenuity, Fangzhu, Cave Spring, and Great Yin, along with the Fire Officials who administer punishment, seize the dead according to their deeds in life, and send them to such netherworld places as Feng Mountain, the Nine Rivers, and the Six Caverns.

In the places where ghosts gather are cities of fire, forests of swords, boiling cauldrons of oil, and cold prisons. Ghost marshals and great demons interrogate and punish guilty souls. The Celestial Worthy of the Primordial Beginning sends down jade tallies and opens the gates of the netherworld. He works universally to deliver the ancestors of all beings, enabling them to ascend to Zhulings. Their merit is reported to the Three Officials, the Five Sacred Peaks, the Four Great Rivers, and the presiding deities of famous mountains, great rivers, water palaces, and cavern heavens. These deities are asked to pardon the dead who remain trapped in the netherworld, without delay or obstruction.

A great assembly is held in the Mysterious Capital, and the myriad gods are swiftly summoned. Among those present are the Celestial Worthy of Great Oneness, who responds to cries for help in the Eastern Pole and saves those in suffering; the Divine Lord who oversees the deliverance and transformation of souls; the Great God of Great Darkness who refines corpses; the True Person of Great Compassion and Wondrous Practice; the gods of the Celestial Pivot and Celestial Mechanism; and the honored deities of cherishing life, literary brilliance, longevity, and deliverance from calamity. The numinous officials are summoned to the boundless deliverance of the people by the Great Mystery. The gods of the heavens who are to examine and register the souls of the dead today also attend the hall and await their orders.

The Great Sage, Long Life, Divine King of Dragon Might at the Boundless East, is responsible for delivering people.

The Great Sage, Long Life, Divine King of Cinnabar Radiance at the Boundless South, is responsible for delivering people.

The Great Sage, Long Life, Divine King of Radiant Splendor at the Boundless West, is responsible for delivering people.

The Great Sage, Long Life, Divine King of Dark Essence at the Boundless North, is responsible for delivering people.

The Great Sage, Long Life, Divine King of Refining and Deliverance at the Boundless Northeast, is responsible for delivering people.

The Great Sage, Long Life, Divine King of Transforming the Body at the Boundless Southeast, is responsible for delivering people.

The Great Sage, Long Life, Divine King of Restoring Form at the Boundless Southwest, is responsible for delivering people.

The Great Sage, Long Life, Divine King of True Essence at the Boundless Northwest, is responsible for delivering people.

The Great Sage, Long Life, Divine King of the Fire Palace at the Boundless Above, is responsible for delivering people.

The “Three Officials,” “Five Sacred Peaks,” and “Four Great Rivers” are part of the Daoist divine order governing Heaven, Earth, waters, mountains and rivers, and the affairs of the dead. “Zhulings” and “Feng Mountain” are among the netherworld realms and places of deliverance described in the scripture. This entire passage summons the gods during a recitation rite, praying that they examine and register the souls of the dead, pardon those held in the netherworld for their offenses, and deliver them.

The countless spirits who save and guide people, including the Form-Returning Spirit King of the Wuji below and the Great Sage of Long Life, together with the Perfect Ones of the Ten Directions who fly through the heavens, the Spirit Kings who deliver souls and transform them beyond death, and the countless Great Gods who grant long life and deliver the world, all ride in carriages of eightfold radiance, with jeweled canopies of flying cloud, chariots of rosy light, and wheels swift as the wind. Heavenly horses, white phoenixes, and azure luan birds draw them. They hold banners of dark spiritual jade and dragon flags adorned with green feathers.

The grand music of Jun Heaven goes ahead to clear the way, followed by the song of the Eight Yang Modes. Elephants and qilin guard both sides; warding beasts protect the road. Ten spirits lead the procession, while the Seven Luminaries—the Sun, Moon, and five planets of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth—support the chariot poles. Myriads upon myriads of divine officials and spirits come through the air, radiating light until all the heavens shine. Xiang Yuanhuang of the Divine Empyrean Bureau, Immortal Elder Tao of the Left Palace, and others arrive together before the Celestial Emperor, carrying registers and records, to deliver all beings.

The Celestial Emperor commands the Ghost Emperors, who govern the souls of the dead, to come and hear his decree. The Six Palaces of Luofeng, the Iron Mountain of the Dark Cavern, their guests and subordinate officials, the Four Great Illustrious Lords, the guardians of prohibitions and attendants of the palace, and the marquises of the Northern River must each produce their black registers of offenses and erase the roots of the dead souls’ transgressions. They must neither detain nor coerce the souls into joining the ranks of ghosts.

By the talismanic decree of the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning, the souls are promoted at the appointed time. They leave the pool of bitter cold and are cleansed at the Heavenly Ford, the crossing into the celestial realm. The spirits subdue demonic obstacles and commend the souls for deliverance, enabling them to pass through salvation. In due order, they enter the Nine Mysteries of the Southern Palace to undergo refining and deliverance and become immortals, or else are reborn as human beings. Once delivered, they endure through life after life and kalpa after kalpa, flowing with the cycles of the kalpas and sharing the lifespan of Heaven. Forever freed from calamities such as wind and fire disasters, warfare, judgment, and entanglement in lawsuits, they transcend the Three Realms and roam at ease in the realm of Shangqing.

In the Heaven of Shangqing, the Celestial Emperor Heyan dwells in the Formless Realm. To the east of Fanxing are eight tiers of Heaven:

Heaven of Fundamental Transformation and Upright Proclamation, whose emperor is named Bianjinyi;

Heaven of Illumination and Mysterious Response, whose emperor is named Bian Zhenyuan;

Heaven of Supreme Joy and Hidden Pivot, whose emperor is named Liuguan Xuanxuan;

Heaven of Transformation, Truth, and the Nine Immortals, whose emperor is named Zhen Xiwukua;

Heaven of Radiant Spirits and Flourishing Cycles, whose emperor is named Jian Changzefang;

Heaven of Unpride, Compassion, and Knowing, whose emperor is named Jue Haiyun;

Heaven of Blessing, Auspiciousness, Pure Treasure, and Circumambient Storehouse, whose emperor is named Liu Mengshaozi;

Heaven of Bright Passage, Ancient Sheng, and Vast Thought, whose emperor is named Jilu Shi.

To the south are also eight tiers of Heaven, of which the original text lists three:

Heaven of Li Tan and Shun’s Register, whose emperor is named Mu Yaxu;

Heaven of the Rosy Cavern and the Feast of Kings, whose emperor is named Jing Tang Wuyang;

Heaven of the High Transformation Heard at the Shrine, whose emperor is named Xiao Ci Jiaoqiong.

The Heaven that seals away the registers of the underworld and governs its records bears the imperial title “Bo Huang You Zhong.”

The Heaven that enables departed souls to cross over and ascend to a realm of good fortune and joy bears the imperial title “Yong Lin De Guang.”

The Heaven that frees departed souls from duality and grants them peace and bliss bears the imperial title “Xi Chang Ru.”

The Heaven that compassionately guides all beings to a realm where blessings are complete bears the imperial title “Bu Yi Pi Men.”

The Heaven where divine beings assess merit, oversee official appointments, and administer the registers bears the imperial title “Dao Shen Xiu Yu.”

The Eight Heavens of the West

The Heaven that answers prayers and is wondrously sublime bears the imperial title “Shi Duan Si.”

The Heaven that spreads teachings, leading people to aspire to become immortals and to pass from the ordinary into the real, bears the imperial title “Jing Chang Song.”

The Heaven that enables those long settled in the world to leave behind worldly ways and transform their outward forms bears the imperial title “Xu Fan Zi Wei.”

The Heaven of quiet and tranquil Daoist practice bears the imperial title “Ji Dong Chong Bang.”

The Heaven that upholds what is right, shows compassion, gazes from afar into the spirit realm, and assists the Way of Heaven bears the imperial title “Fu Fu Shuai Cong.”

The Heaven where Yudu Xiaohan oversees the fulfillment of undertakings bears the imperial title “Ming Xuan Chong.”

The Heaven of ascent into emptiness and mysterious transformation bears the imperial title “Qi Zhang Rong Liu.”

The Heaven of cultivating pure practices and dwelling in vast emptiness bears the imperial title “She Shen Zong Ling.”

The Eight Heavens of the North

The Heaven of Taiwei Yuhua bears the imperial title “Liu Ci Wan Xing.”

The Heaven of subtle awakening and reverence for the Way of the immortals bears the imperial title “Zheng Dao Pu San.”

The Heaven that enables spirits to cross over and preserves their true traces bears the imperial title “Ye Ti Yan Heng.”

The Heaven that sets the right Way in order and distinguishes among living beings bears the imperial title “Bu Qiang Ji Zhen.”

The Heaven that administers and inspects the Yin Terrace bears the imperial title “Zou Yi Lian.”

The Heaven that receives the command of the sacred mountains, oversees advancement, and verifies one’s cultivation and merit bears the imperial title “Tang Yao Ming Lun.”

The Heaven formed through the transformation of dragons, and marked by preciousness and benevolence, bears the imperial title “Ding Zhi Pi Xuan.”

The Heaven where Nüqing proclaims the civil teachings bears the imperial title “A Du Zhi Shu.”

Together, these are known as the Thirty-Two Heavens, each ruled by an Emperor Lord. The various heavens also have hidden taboo names. Their empty, naturally arising spiritual writings contain the secret resonances of the heavens and the revered deities who return people to emptiness and bring forth wondrous spiritual transformation. They also include the spirits who summon and guide departed souls across, the great demons who keep watch over them, and the numinous beings who bring them back to life.

The original text ends with the three characters “九圣十” (“Nine Sages Ten”). The passage that follows appears to be missing, so its full meaning cannot be determined.

Note: The “Thirty-Two Heavens” are levels in the Daoist celestial hierarchy. This passage mainly lists the heavens, their imperial titles, and the duties of related divine beings. Many of the imperial titles in the scripture are secret taboo names, and their characters are uncommon; they are generally not given separate interpretations based on their literal meanings.

The mysteries of Shangqing, one of the Daoist heavens, encompass immeasurable transformations and are profound and endless, beyond exhaustive description. The divine perfected ones descend to deliver the souls of the dead. Today we rejoice and celebrate as these souls receive deliverance: having passed through the barriers of the heavens, they are granted release from the Three Evil Paths and freed from the prisons beneath the earth, so that they need no longer undergo rebirth in the Five Paths and may ascend in spirit to the Great Mystery.

The True King of the Great Mystery presides over and oversees this work of deliverance. The gates of heaven stand unobstructed. The Eastern Dipper washes and purifies the spirits; the Western Dipper refines and nourishes essence and Qi; the Northern Dipper pursues and gathers souls in the underworld; the Southern Dipper delivers living beings; and the Central Dipper directs their movement and governs all spirits. The Azure Emperor protects the hun-soul, the White Emperor protects the po-soul, the Red Emperor nourishes Qi, the Black Emperor circulates the blood, and the Yellow Emperor, dwelling at the center, commands the myriad gods.

The Azure Heaven Demon King opens the way for transformation; the Red Heaven Demon King enforces the decrees; the White Heaven Demon King commands the awe-inspiring spirits of the eight directions; the Black Heaven Demon King investigates evil and exposes transgressions; and the Yellow Heaven Demon King commands the myriad gods. The Great Demons of the Five Emperors are the root of the generation and transformation of all things. Leading their host, they fly down and gather the souls of the dead from below. Banners, drums, music, and ceremonial insignia accompany them as they examine the ranks and names of ghosts and spirits, their authority resplendent.

The High Lord, dwelling aloft in the pure, empty heavens, receives the Heavenly Mandate to deliver the souls of the dead. He proclaims it to Beifeng, the region of the underworld in Daoist belief, and commands the Seven Lineages, deities associated with the deliverance of the dead, to accept them and summon their souls. The underworld, the human world, and the Nine Depths all obey the command. A memorial is presented to Mount Tai, and the perfected ones, demons, and spirits are ordered to attach themselves to the souls, gathering their vital energy and restoring the radiance of their Shen, so that they may follow transformation and return to the human world. The power of the Dao unfolds in its greatness. Should anyone dare to interfere or obstruct the work, the Highest Perfected Ones strike down the ringleaders first with golden axes, then punish and eradicate the rebellious ranks of demons and evildoers, while wind and fire rage without cease.

The souls of the dead from the distant ages of the past are summoned and delivered, so that they may transform into Qi, receive Shen, regain life, and return to bodily form. Demons must not trespass; innate nature and spiritual awareness must shine clearly. The Three Officials—the Heavenly Official, Earthly Official, and Water Official—and Beifeng clearly discern where the hun and po return; their whereabouts must not be concealed. Documents are sent by the Golden Horse courier station and reported upward, proclaiming the decree throughout the boundless realms. All the myriad gods must obey, and the Five Emperors of the Three Realms must each submit their reports to Shangqing.

The vast, subtle transformations of the primordial epoch of mixed Yellow Chaos awaken a response to the true and wondrous. From this, Heaven and Earth and the Two Poles first came into being. Wind and marsh rise upward, while the primordial order descends and spreads. The Yang hun-soul shines with numinous radiance; the Yin po-soul reveals a mysterious glow; and the depths of empty space stretch without end.

Deep within the profound and mysterious lies the supreme divinity. He commands the transformations of Heaven and Earth and is the highest of the gods. He is called the “Emperor of Emptiness,” a Daoist divine title.

The Emperor of Emptiness dwells in the Mysterious Jade Abode of the Jade Clarity Heaven. When the Great Calamity of Longhan, an ancient cosmic cycle in Daoist tradition, came to an end, the destiny of the Azure Emperor also reached its close. In the age of Yan’kang, Heaven and Earth remained undivided in primordial chaos, and the vast expanse of space lay in lasting stillness. The Emperor of Emptiness had no form or shadow and no bounds or limits. Crimson light ushered in a new cycle of transformation, and the Great Dao was transmitted at the Jade Palace. From Bailin Changle and the Cinnabar Heaven of Primordial Blue, the Three Realms were brought into manifestation, giving rise to thirty-six palaces. Primordial Qi transformed and flowed through the heavenly realms in all directions. The stars of the Five Dipper constellations took their places, and the ordering Qi flowed freely between them.

Heaven and Earth turned, rose, and descended, bringing forth and nourishing the myriad beings. The Emperor of Emptiness therefore bestowed the Mysterious Talisman, a sacred Daoist mandate, and the Jade Writ of the Nine Heavens, to pacify the Five Sacred Peaks and keep them firm and enduring, free from collapse. The Earth Emperors of the Nine Layers of the Cavernous Abyss, the successive regions of the netherworld, were commanded to patrol the Brahma-Treasure Gate. They built palaces among the clouds and served as lords of the primordial age. The Earth Dragon of the Tiger’s Mouth held the great decree of the heavenly realm, whose efficacy was one with the Dao. Through wondrous transformations he set the cycles of change in motion; through the strength of his vigorous force he embraced all things. This is the mystery within the mystery of the Numinous Treasure.

The gods are spread throughout every place, all under the authority of the Three Officials of Heaven, Earth, and Water. They bring forth and transform the myriad beings, and examine and govern the people. Good deeds are entered in the registers, allowing people to ascend to true attainment. Those burdened by grave evil karma sink into suffering: they carry sand and bear stones, draw deep water from the river of the netherworld, and endure the torment of being driven by thunder and lightning. In darkness they pass through ten thousand kalpas, enduring every bitterness.

If I do not grant them pardon, by what means could they escape and ascend? Therefore, I seek to deliver the departed souls of your former lives. I proclaim the root of the Great Dao so that all beings may awaken and form wholesome bonds. Numinous talismans can break open the prisons of hell and bring every suffering to an end. Mysterious radiance shines into the darkness, making layer upon layer of gloom grow clear. The officials of the dead are then able to ascend and report to the heavens. Above the heavens, each realm has its own gate of life. Among these are writings for delivering the departed souls of former lives, as well as the lyrics of the spirit songs that fly through the heavens; together they accord with the Way of the High Perfected, a Daoist title for perfected immortals of high rank.

First: Songs of Ascension Beyond the Realm of Desire

The following are songs that deliver departed souls from the Realm of Desire, where beings are drawn by their desires, and enable them to ascend:

In the vast, empty heavens,

the Jade-Wondrous Primordial Sovereign

guides the transformations of the gods,

opening the path of life and saving all.

Among countless generations of ancestors and descendants,

some departed souls sink into the netherworld,

entangled by desire

and long confined to the darkness of night.

If they cannot awaken together to the Mysterious Dao,

how can they cross the river of the netherworld?

Cleanse your thoughts and cast off worldly grime;

quiet your heart and wash away impurity.

Turn the light of compassion and wisdom back toward them,

and let the numinous wind gently bear their souls upward.

Old grievances should cease to be repaid in kind;

this is made possible by the power of the Great Rite.

Break through the net of delusion and ignorance,

and you may dwell freely throughout the ten directions.

Bow before the Supreme King,

recite this chapter of the Numinous Treasure scripture,

and refine and nourish your body in the Hall of Yanghua.

The souls of the dead who receive deliverance return to Nanchang, the immortal realm described in Daoism. There, at a celebratory gathering, they join the immortals and ascend together to the Hall of Blessings.

Second: The Chapter on Deliverance into Reality in the Form Realm

The dark and distant paths of the underworld are governed by the ghost officials of the Northern Emperor, who also rule the subterranean realm of the dead. In that realm are guilty souls who, through karmic retribution and calamity, have lost their true nature. Bound by their bodies and desires, they suffer in spirit.

They sink into suffering through long ages of calamity, their vitality spent. The world in which we live is perilous and difficult to traverse, filled with a jumble of impure, turbulent thoughts. Now the true path is opened for them, so that they may receive my wondrous laws and be raised up: flying across the Gourd River and receiving the harmonious Qi of the Nine Heavens.

The wondrous flowers of the Three Origins—the pure Qi of the Three Origins in Daoist teaching—blend and give rise to life, spreading auspicious clouds. They govern the movement and responsiveness of Qi, bringing life to fruition. Through hundreds of millions of refinements, grudges and offenses are dissolved, calamities disperse, blessings arrive, and these blessings extend to you as well.

Rescue and deliver the countless dead without end, so that they may together attain the rank of imperial immortals. Pitying the multitude, who are ignorant and deluded, I have especially proclaimed these words of the Dao.

Third: The Song of Deliverance and Ascension to the Mystery in the Formless Realm

The Jade Holy Supreme, the Great One (Taiyi), the Highest God, is named Jingjing, “Essence of Radiance.” He summons the perfected, commands the spirits, and draws forth vital energy, enabling the dead to be delivered and their souls to ascend.

This exalted model of wondrous teaching, this luminous and profound scripture, can open the boundless gate to awakening. It removes all desires and attachments that entangle the mind and spirit. With wisdom made clear, one turns the light inward to contemplate one’s nature, and radiance illuminates the dark passes.

The talismanic mandate appears in blazing splendor, raising up the ancestors of seven generations. The command pardons the souls lingering in the netherworld. Who could still detain or delay them? They will forever transcend the Three Realms, undergo refinement at Zhuling, the place described in Daoism where the souls of the dead are refined, and roam freely in Taiqing, one of the highest heavens.

They dwell in peace, surveying the cycles of calamity. My Dao is vast, shaping and transforming hundreds of millions of beings; those raised up are not only ancestors and forebears.

After reciting the scripture ten thousand times, the Dao’s work is complete, and the reciter too will ascend on clouds of auspicious vapor.

This is the song sung by the True King above the Three Realms, in the open sky; it accords with the Cavern Chapters. Recite it one hundred times, and the ancestors of seven generations will ascend. Recite it one thousand times, and a host of immortals will come to escort and welcome the ancestors of countless generations, enabling them to roam freely in Taiqing. Recite it ten thousand times, and the Dao’s work will be complete: all sentient beings will be universally delivered, and the reciter too will transcend and ascend…

Whenever an immortal official of the Three Realms attains an immortal rank, the Six Heavens honor his dignity upon hearing the wondrous sound of this scripture. By command, they restrain the earth spirits, who govern the underworld, and have them send attendants to escort and receive the souls of the dead. The souls are released from the gates of hell and forever leave behind the Five Sufferings and Eight Calamities of Northern Feng, the realm of darkness in the north, so that their souls and spirits may be conveyed to Zhu Ling, the Daoist place of refinement and deliverance. This is called “deliverance without measure,” whose grace is inexhaustible. These scriptures are secret writings treasured by Heaven and honored by all the heavens. To reveal them or treat them with disrespect is to fall into hell and bring calamity upon seven generations of one’s ancestors.

The Dao says: The two chapters above are numinous sounds, hidden away by the Heavenly Emperors of the many heavens and the Jade-Clear True King, a revered Daoist deity. They are all words of the Great Brahma, the sacred language of the celestial realm. Their sound reaches the Ninefold Darkness, the deepest regions of the underworld, and can seek out and deliver the souls of ancestors and deceased relatives. When the dead hear these scriptures, their many sufferings are dispelled and their consciousness can ascend. These words are not ordinary speech of the human world. They lack the ornate rhythms and diction of worldly poetry, and so are called mysterious and difficult to fathom.

These scriptures are secret treasures kept by Heaven, stored in the eastern chamber of the residence of the Jade-Clear King of Divine Empyrean in the Mysterious Capital. They are transmitted in response to the times only when the Dao is flourishing and the moment is right. If a person who has attained the Dao wishes to offer gold and jewels as a token of trust, they may receive the transmission only after sincerely observing the established rites and making an oath of alliance in Divine Empyrean.

The Dao says: All beings in the world have remote ancestors. Though everyone has descendants, few can remember ancestors more than seven generations back; and when many years have passed, it is difficult to keep up the proper rites of offering. If an ancestor died long ago and the descendants can no longer make offerings or perform rites of deliverance for them, the soul may remain in the underworld because the burdens of its deeds in life have not been cleared. In such a case, one should pray to the perfected spirits and seek a response. A clear message or auspicious sign indicates that the soul has been delivered. If dreams remain disturbed, with frequent visions of graves or deceased relatives coming to demand an account, this shows that the soul is still imprisoned in the underworld and has not escaped its confinement.

At this time, all should unite in performing a purification rite, burn incense six times each day, and recite the scriptures ten times. On blue paper, write the Great Brahma’s hidden words, the secret script of the celestial realm, in cinnabar, along with the deceased’s surname and the year and month of death. Then prepare four talismanic certificates. On the front of each, write in cinnabar the text of a warrant for ascent to Heaven; on the back, record the year, month, day, and hour, together with the ritual master’s name. Place them in a red pouch. At the site of the purification rite, invoke the spirits who govern the underworld and speak the deceased’s name, then burn the pouch. This will seek out and deliver the soul, enabling it to ascend to Heaven with the warrant. Blessings and merit will then descend, and all misfortune will be dispelled. This scripture of deliverance without measure can save beings everywhere, and its grace is inexhaustible.

The Dao says: Among one’s close relatives, some may have only begun to study the Dao, or may not yet have perfected their merit and virtue in the registers of the immortals. If they die in response to a calamity, their bodies return to the Great Yin (the underworld). As they approach death, one should burn incense and recite the scripture ten times to deliver the deceased. By carrying out the rites, the soul and spirit of the deceased can ascend directly to the Southern Palace. The time of their rebirth is determined according to their merit from cultivation; they will no longer lose their way in the cycle of rebirth and will ultimately become immortals.

The Dao says: When Heaven and Earth first came into being and the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning established the celestial realm, humanity and all things came into existence. Once all things existed, there was birth and death. Birth and death are the coming and going of spirit and Qi, and also the measure of a person’s allotted lifespan.

The souls of the dead from ancient times have been gone for ages. Among ancestors stretching back countless generations, some have endured calamity after calamity without yet ascending beyond this world. People who study the Dao in this world do not know how many cycles of creation and destruction Heaven and Earth have undergone, nor how long the cycles of calamity last. The souls of the dead held captive in the netherworld by karmic forces, unable to escape, should be aided through memorial petitions and written appeals, the burning of incense and recitation of scriptures, the burning of heavenly talismans for ascent (talismans used to deliver the souls of the dead), and the establishment of purification rites and offerings. Through these acts, one should petition the High Perfected Ones (the exalted divine Perfected Ones). In this way, the souls of the dead can be remembered and delivered, and enter the Hall of Great Blessing in the Realm of Life.

The merit of purification and scripture recitation is immense. It can bring peace to the souls of the dead and bring light to the long night; the torments of hell can be dispelled and the flames of the volcanoes extinguished. The underworld’s investigations and punishments cease at once, and its bitter cold and scorching heat both subside. All beings can benefit from this, and its blessings and merit are beyond description. It is therefore called “Deliverance of Heavenly and Human Beings, Without Measure.”

The Dao says: Anyone who possesses this scripture and can cultivate this merit on behalf of the people, resolve to observe purification, burn incense, and recite the scripture ten times will have their name recorded by all the heavens and be protected by the myriad spirits. They will be entered in the registers, and may ultimately become an official serving the Sage Lord in the Golden Palace of Heaven. The heavens record people’s good and bad deeds, omitting nothing, however small; the True King of Jade Clarity will also recommend you. Only those who have attained the Dao can truly understand these profound principles.

These are the Great Brahma’s hidden words among the heavens, possessing immeasurable sounds, written by the Lord of the Dao.

Middle Section of the Numinous Writ of Primordial Beginning

The Eight Heavens of the East

Da-lang-pi-ji, Lord of the Mysterious Record; He-lu, Master of Demons; the Radiance Chanted from the Flaming Pool; Dou-lu’s Hidden Investigation; Xie-si’s Settled Quarters; Wan-liao’s Thorough Understanding; the Abundant Hall at Ying Gate; the Command to Seize and Punish the Cruel and Abusive; the Purple Emperor Who Opens the Chaos; the Quieting and Clearing of the Lush Chambers; the Strong Thoughts of Silent Sound; the Spirit of Bian, Free and Unbound; the Broad Light that Examines and Averts Calamity; the Wondrous Practice that Breaks through; the True Qi that Shines upon the Realm.

The Eight Heavens of the South

The Eight Terraces of Ji-luo; the Four Radiances that Establish Immortals; the Registers that Exhaustively Record Souls.

历都命玄、泉沙般拉、阿列邅姿；妙澄演觉、离璘愆阿、摆笳频夷；欹连遣那、笼卯遏戌、虚府蒲圭；都文曷骙、臻和梦持、衮物汨谟；块额颐基。

The Eight Heavens of the West: 乾帝华枢、焦平观都、景孽铢行；周萌宾呼、烈井驱力、玉判归浮；赵章延蹊、鹿桓蚪檀、追冥叩无；纲石尸徒、阅顶辞纬、奕奕霹灵；左翊箕制、木玄魔𠀉、略负广须；韩司主图。

The Eight Heavens of the North: 鼈灵典洞、酆牢锁魂、赤章检考；问籍通詗、檛求过谚、报罚遣程；亿资岁成、杳檄文灵、变孤驿弭；谲跃洞京、雕嚚布款、孽齐交明；昉边冲庐、九口津洴、马猛戮奴；奔爱莽神。

The scripture says: In these celestial realms circulate the hidden words of the Great Brahmā—the Daoist name for the exalted heavens—and immeasurable mysterious sounds. An old edition records that these characters are vast, each measuring a zhang in length, and are carved on a jeweled standard—the tall banner or flagpole—of the Northern Clear and Mysterious Heaven. Reciting these scriptures can grant mercy and pardon sins in Fengdu, the Daoist underworld, and in the Nine Depths of Quanqu. It can also summon and deliver the souls of the dead from past generations, enabling them to ascend. It helps the dead escape suffering and free themselves from karmic causes and fixed debts formed in past lives, sparing them repayment so they may roam freely and without restraint.

This practice can also bring blessings to descendants in the region of Mount Tai, granting them rank and emoluments and making them fit for office. Their household will be spared calamities that arise without cause; its blessings will continue, its fortunes will flourish, and its virtue will grow abundant.

The Primordial Lord of Numina and Response once wrote down these characters and established them as the Orthodox Sounds. If someone understands these sounds, observes purification, and recites them, …

The heavens will dispatch divine officers of pursuit and deliverance—officials who seek out and save the souls of the dead—to descend and liberate departed souls. They record the souls’ merits and devoted efforts, then report them to the heavens. The myriad gods come to pay their respects, while earth deities wait at the gate. The Great Merit True King, a Daoist divine title, recommends them, enabling them to master the Daoist methods of the Divine Empyrean, travel among the Three Realms, and ascend through the Golden Gate.

The sound of this scripture can ward off, dispel, deliver, transform, and bring all things to fulfillment. It is the sound of heavenly truth arising spontaneously from nature. Reciting it can therefore move the spirit realm and bring its beings down to observe. The Supreme Lord sings in response from afar, the myriad gods come to pay their respects, and the spirits of the Three Realms stand beside the divine carriage. Demons bow their heads and surrender, while ghosts, wraiths, and strange beings vanish of their own accord.

The crystalline sound of the recitation resounds in every direction, bringing stillness and clarity to the ten directions. Rivers and seas grow calm; mountains are no longer shrouded in mist; and all spirits are subdued and brought to obedience. The recitation can summon the gathered immortals, leaving no turbid energy in heaven and no demons or defiling dust on earth. Even the netherworld is illuminated by wisdom’s light, purified and made clear. This is a realm of vastness and mystery.