《靈寶無量度人上品妙經》Vol. 56

The Dao teaches: In ancient times, the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning, a revered deity in Daoism, proclaimed the Scripture of Primordial Beginning on the Boundless Deliverance of Humanity and the Salvation of the Souls of the Dead in the Land of Great Compassion and Numinosity, Green Scenery and Empty Brightness, in the Heaven of Purple Radiance and Mysterious Deliverance. Each time the Celestial Worthy proclaimed this scripture, he repeated it ten times from beginning to end.

Just as the Celestial Worthy was about to take his seat, the Great Divine Beings of Heavenly Truth, the Most Holy and Exalted Lords, the Great Emperor of Northern Feng, who governs the northern underworld, the Celestial Worthy Who Frees the Guilty from the Ninefold Darkness, the Celestial Worthy Who Delivers Souls at the Golden Palace, the Celestial Worthy Taiyi Who Rescues from Suffering, and countless other divine hosts—including the Perfected Ones of Great Compassion and Mercy Who Rescue from Suffering and the Perfected Ones of Great Beneficence—came riding through the air. Emerald light shimmered and brilliant colors flowed. Clouds reflected the radiant hues as dragon chariots and phoenix carriages appeared, with jeweled canopies and numinous banners spread out around them. Fragrance filled the air, and their ceremonial retinues lined up in formation. The sun and moon seemed to halt their courses, and all the heavens shone brightly.

For nine days and nine nights, the jeweled towers and jade palaces, cloud halls and rosy-cloud chambers of the various heavens all shone with light. Below, Kunlun, the Three Mountains, the Ten Isles, the Four Seas, the Nine Rivers, the land of the Winding Springs, Fengdu—the legendary underworld—and the pass of the Cold Court’s endless night were all illuminated by divine radiance. Light shone everywhere. All things became pure and clear, and the celestial realms in the ten directions opened wide and bright. Throughout the entire kingdom, the land, mountains, rivers, and forests became level and uniform, without high or low. The earth took on a deep blue-green hue, with no other colors.

The Perfected Ones stood in attendance beside the seat. The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning sat upright upon the precious throne of Dongyang, suspended in midair and radiant with jade light, and began to proclaim the scripture.

At the first recitation, the Great Sages of the various heavens praised him as one. The heavens and earth, mountains, and great iron prisons opened of their own accord, freeing many condemned souls from their punishments so they could come and hear the sacred teaching.

At the second recitation, the bubbling cauldrons of boiling water rang out and, in an instant, became cool and clear. Blue lotuses sprang up in the water, giving off a wondrous fragrance. The sharp blades of the knife mountains all turned into precious trees; handcuffs and shackles melted away. The bones of the dead grew back into human form, and all received the protection of the Daoist teachings.

At the third recitation, the immortals and holy beings praised the Celestial Worthy, and auspicious signs appeared in profusion.

At the fourth recitation, all the people understood the essential meaning of the teaching.

At the fifth recitation, even insects developed wisdom and goodness, understanding the roots of their own wrongdoing.

At the sixth recitation, tigers, wolves, venomous snakes, and vipers cast off their evil thoughts.

At the seventh recitation, enmities were reconciled, and even people of different surnames lived together in harmony like family.

At the eighth recitation, the realm of ghosts—the state inhabited by ghostly spirits—was brought to an end, and all beings retained their vitality forever.

At the ninth recitation, souls sunk in the underworld and unable to progress were refined and delivered, ascending to higher realms.

At the tenth recitation, the De of all beings returned to purity and unity, and all ascended together to the wondrous realm of truth.

At that moment, throughout the kingdom, every being—whether sentient and aware or hidden in the unseen underworld—wholeheartedly turned toward the Daoist teachings. All received protection and deliverance, and attained long life.

Each time the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning (Yuanshi Tianzun), a revered Daoist deity, finished preaching a scripture, great gods charged with saving living beings came through the air from the directions under their care, accompanied by countless attendants.

At the first preaching, the great gods of the east, charged with examining and delivering beings, arrived with their attendants. At the second, the great gods of the south, charged with overseeing and delivering beings, arrived with theirs. At the third, the great gods of the west, charged with restraining and delivering beings, came; at the fourth, the great gods of the north, charged with teaching and delivering beings. Then came, in turn, the great god who governed prisons in the northeast; the great god who governed the Nine Depths, the deepest reaches of the underworld, in the southeast; the great god who governed Spring and Stream, a land of the underworld, in the southwest; and the great god who governed Luofeng, the realm of the dead in Daoist teaching, in the northwest. At the ninth preaching, the great god above, charged with freeing and delivering living beings, arrived. At the tenth, the great god below, charged with elevating and transforming living beings, arrived.

When all ten preachings were complete, countless great gods who delivered beings from the heavenly realms of the ten directions arrived together. Men and women throughout the entire kingdom turned to the teaching with sincere hearts, and as many as a trillion came to hear it. They arrived together in carriages, their spiritual radiance shining as colored mists filled the sky. The Eight Divisions and Six Heavens, along with the Three Officials and Nine Offices—the deities and divine administrations of the Daoist heavens—used their awesome power to summon countless suffering souls from different realms. Those who came filled the entire kingdom, sinking half the land beneath their weight; their arrival could not be stopped.

At that moment, the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning surveyed the near and distant realms and took pity on living beings. Holding a precious fan, he fanned forth a wondrous light that illuminated the ten directions. All the celestial immortals and holy beings who had come to hear the teaching saw their bodies become like crystal, transparent and luminous within and without. The souls of the ghosts and spirits cleansed and transformed by the teaching also became clear and bright. Beings of every kind found completion in their own realms; their minds and bodies became pure, and the fires of karma—the suffering brought about by karmic consequences—were extinguished. Immortal flowers then drifted through the air, and grand, wondrous music arose, proclaiming and explaining the scripture’s essential meaning.

You beings have committed all manner of sins, leaving the souls of the dead to wander without refuge, scattered among various destinations and suffering the torment of endless rebirth. It is impossible to know when they might find a connection with the Dao (the Way). Now the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning, through the Great Brahma Qi of the Nine Suns and Divine Empyrean, has transformed it into twelve numinous texts to save the souls of the dead and raise them beyond the heavenly realms.

From the moment the dead depart this life, their corpses are refined and transformed. The corpse spirits guard the remains, while the lingering souls are enabled to rise beyond them, become immortals and sages, unite their De (Virtue/Power) with the Dao, and ultimately revive of their own accord in human form. In this way, they escape the Three Paths of Suffering—hell, hungry ghosts, and animals—and are delivered from the Eight Difficulties, the eight conditions that obstruct the cultivation of the Dao and the hearing of its teachings. The assembly rejoices and looks upward, awaiting the descent of the light of grace.

At that moment, the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning glanced aside, moved with compassion. He burned precious incense. The smoke rose, gathered into dense clouds, and became a jade gate pavilion nine zhang above the ground. A rainbow descended within the pavilion, its five colors shining brightly as it welcomed the assembly to enter together. The Celestial Worthy then commanded the Celestial Worthy Who Removes Sin, the Emperor of Luofeng, ruler of the underworld, and the Perfected One Who Saves from Suffering to ascend with countless beings to the purple jade, numinous and wondrous terrace within the transformed pavilion.

The heavenly beings looked up and saw abundant patterns of light revealing myriad scenes. Once the beings had entered the jade pavilion, no one knew where they were. The human world at once became open and peaceful; the earth grew level again, no longer tilted or collapsing.

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning then finished expounding the scripture on the purple terrace. The assembled Perfected Ones oversaw the work of deliverance, and the scripture was transmitted to me. The joy of that moment cannot be put into words. When the ritual was nearly complete, the various heavens returned to their proper places. In an instant, all sounds fell silent, leaving no trace.

At that time, the heavenly beings and all living beings were fortunate to encounter the scripture and its teachings, and all received deliverance. Each preserved the truth of the Dao within themselves and no longer sank into ruin. People throughout the world turned their hearts toward reverence and wished to do good: to disobey and offend no one; to grow angry or quarrel with no one; to lose or forget nothing; to covet or cling to nothing; to disturb or frighten no one. Their words were to be truthful and upright, with no evil speech issuing from their mouths. They showed one another kindness and compassion, in harmony with the transformation of the Dao. Both the living and the dead could be at peace and share in joy and glory.

Once the scripture and its teachings began to spread, the underworld and the human world could both accord with the Dao and De. All who possessed wholehearted sincerity and honored and revered the scripture and its teachings could attain deliverance.

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning said: What is spoken of in this scripture consists of the hidden names and secret tones of the gods of the heavens. It also contains the names kept from public view by the True Kings, and the concealed names by which the myriad spirits deliver living beings. These are not the words commonly used in the world. The perfected sages who have completed their cultivation understand the profound principles and have explored the deepest mysteries; they can fully grasp the scripture’s phrases and passages. When it is recited ten times, the heavens respond from afar and the myriad emperors pay their respects. The souls of those who have sunk into death are able to ascend to the immortal realm. All living beings weighed down by long-standing habits of craving and attachment can also leave behind their former bodily forms. The demons respectfully guard the scripture, while ghosts, spirits, and strange beings are driven off and dispelled.

When a scholar devoted to the Dao recites the scripture ten times, the Four Offices that administer criminal cases withdraw their charges, and the injustices of the Nine Prisons—the nine levels of hell—are wiped away. The dead may return to life, white bones may regain their bodies, and all beings may be delivered and granted new life. This is because a scholar’s recitation of the precious scripture summons the perfected ones and the spirits, bringing down wondrous Qi. The Dao is thereby revealed, and the powers of the divine spirits are made manifest. In this way, the dead can be rescued and delivered beyond death.

If one recites this scripture carelessly and without respect, calamity will befall oneself. If one offers it reverence and devotion, one’s household will prosper from generation to generation, and its good fortune will continue. No manner of disaster will intrude, and the spirits will guard the family.

This scripture is supremely honored and wondrously profound, unmatched in the Jade Capital, the celestial realm. It can deliver beings without limit and is the root of the myriad Ways. Its vast teachings and merits are beyond full description.

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning continued: Whenever this scripture is recited ten times, all the heavens come together in Fengdu, the chief city of the underworld. The Ghost Emperors and officials of the Six Caverns, along with the divine rulers of the Cold Courts, the Springs and Their Bends, the River of the Hidden Night, and the Mountain of Mount Tai, record the reciter’s merits and report them upward. The suffering souls of ancestors across countless generations, sunk in the dark underworld, are immediately delivered and ascend to the Vermilion Palace in the heavens. After nine years of instruction, they are reborn as people of noble standing. If they continue to study diligently and cultivate the scriptures, then, when their merits are complete, they can all become immortals, ascend to the Golden Palace, the dwelling of the Celestial Emperor, and roam and feast in the Jade Capital.

Those of the highest learning who cultivate and recite this scripture are delivered at once and ascend to the Southern Palace. If people in the world receive and uphold the scripture and recite it, they can deliver the Nine Generations of Ancestors, freeing them from hell and enabling them to be reborn in a blessed land. The resulting blessings extend to their descendants, and they themselves are forever spared calamity. This scripture is immeasurably profound and can deliver all beings without end. Humans and immortals alike receive blessings from it; both the living and the dead benefit from its grace.

This scripture is treasured in Heaven and must not be passed casually to people in the world. Those who truly follow the Dao should prepare gifts such as gold and silk, make a solemn oath in sincerity, and only then transmit it. If it is carelessly revealed or treated with disrespect, calamity will befall nine generations of ancestors, condemning them to long service in the offices of the underworld. Twenty-four Jade Boys and twenty-four Jade Maidens serve this scripture. They patrol and guard its divine writing and protect those who receive it.

The scripture says that during the first lunar month, prolonged fasting and recitation of this scripture can deliver the souls of the dead and spare them from inspection, sentencing, and punishment by the Celestial Officials. The baleful forces of the five directions and the evil spirits that bring about corpse calamities will also cease their violence and harm. The souls are granted pardon and may proceed to the Southern Palace, where Daoism says the dead are delivered, to dwell in peace and freedom.

During the seventh lunar month, prolonged fasting and recitation of this scripture can deliver the souls of the dead and spare them from inspection and punishment by the Earth Official. The spirits who govern the Five Sacred Peaks, the Four Offices, the Northern Capital of Luofeng, where Daoism locates the underworld, and the local earth gods and City Gods of wilds, mountains, and marshes must examine the records concerning the souls’ confinement and the investigation of their misdeeds. The relevant black registers and white tablets, which record the dead’s offenses in the underworld, should be destroyed, allowing the souls to be reborn.

During the tenth lunar month, prolonged fasting and recitation of this scripture can deliver the souls of the dead and spare them from inspection and punishment by the Water Official. The water spirits who govern the Northern Sea, the River Marquis, the River Earl, Mingling, and the Four Great Rivers should release the souls from sinking into shadowy misery and from forced labor and suffering, helping them leave the netherworld and set out on the path to rebirth.

Reciting this scripture on the eight seasonal nodes—Beginning of Spring, Spring Equinox, Beginning of Summer, Summer Solstice, Beginning of Autumn, Autumn Equinox, Beginning of Winter, and Winter Solstice—can deliver the souls of the dead and free them from punishment for their offenses. The ghosts held in the great prisons of the eight directions and the spirit jails of the Eight Caverns will receive the Dao’s instruction and enter realms of blessing forever. Their deluded minds will awaken to understanding, and together they will ascend to the wondrous ford of the Dao. They will be reborn in the world and attain brilliant wisdom. The living, too, should diligently study the great Dao and devote themselves to cultivation, ultimately becoming perfected beings.

When this scripture is recited on the Three Primal Days—the Upper, Middle, and Lower Primal Days, important Daoist days of purification—each departed soul can find its proper place. Through refinement and deliverance in the Southern Palace, a Daoist rite for the dead, the souls are reborn and receive spiritual vitality. Their spirits become clear and upright, their original Qi endures, and they suffer no more. Their bodies shine with light; spirits of the Three Realms guard them, the Five Emperors come to welcome them, and the myriad gods pay homage. Their names are entered in the celestial registers, and when their merit is complete, they ascend to Shangqing, the Daoist realm of pure subtlety.

The scripture also says that on days when Daoist rites are performed, one should bathe in fragrant water, fast, and purify oneself. Then enter the chamber, face east, click the teeth thirty-two times, make a report above to the thirty-two heavens, and bow thirty-two times. With eyes closed, quietly visualize yourself seated among clouds of blue, yellow, and white Qi, in a profound and lucid space within and around you. Beside you stand the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise, lions, and white cranes, arranged as guardians. The sun and moon shine, illuminating the chamber. A round image of light appears above your head, its radiance reaching in all ten directions. Once the visualization is clear, silently recite the incantation:

“Supreme Lord of the Dao, the Mysterious Origin and Most High Daoist Lord, summon the Three-Five Merit Officers within my body; the attendants on my left and right; the Jade Youths who attend to incense; the Maidens of Transmission; the direct talisman officers of the Five Emperors; and the incense officers on duty today—thirty-two of each kind. Let them make this report on my behalf: Today is auspicious. In this pure chamber of fasting, I cultivate and recite the Scripture of Limitless Deliverance. May the matters I report ascend to the heavenly court and reach the Imperial Presence directly.”

When the recitation before the exalted throne of the Supreme Original Emperor of the Thirty-Two Heavens is complete, guide the Qi thirty-two times, face east, and recite the scripture.

A supreme, wondrous scripture in which the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning, a revered Daoist deity, transforms living beings through boundless compassion.

Among the Dongxuan Lingbao scriptures of the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning is a chapter on rescuing and delivering the souls of the dead. It proclaims that after ten acts of deliverance, the souls of the dead may ascend to a higher realm. The Celestial Emperor registers and refines the souls, guiding them back to their natural state.

The wondrous method of the Nine Palaces: the Imperial Lord of Azure Radiance uses sacred spiritual power to set transformation in motion, joining the hidden and mysterious gateways. He governs fate, harmonizes the workings of creation, and nourishes the roots of life. His mysterious merit reaches everywhere. The Five Qi receive his De and interweave throughout the human body; the myriad spirits each take their appointed place, with the Emperor One held in highest honor.

The Twenty-Four Palaces and the Eight Radiances revolve in cycles, blending and flowing through one another. The grotto-heavens open, bringing light even to the dark places. The path of deliverance is opened, and the gate to death is blocked. The “womb trees”—symbolic objects in Daoist rites for delivering the dead—that bind the souls are cut down and severed, allowing the souls to be delivered.

The guilt and punishments of ancestors through the generations are traced back and released. Their souls are refined at Zhuling, the legendary place where souls are transformed. The God of Taiyi determines their allotted fate, while the God of Nanchang protects their bodies. The Great Lord of Boundless Deliverance and Long Life destroys the court of karmic offenses; the Great God Sima raises souls sunk in stagnation. Lord Han the Elder, the Director of Destinies, and the Director of Records remove grievances and faults and pull away the burden of sin. The Venerable God Who Delivers from Calamity revives the bones and brings the dead back to life, extending boundless salvation far and wide.

Today the register of the deceased souls is being checked and recorded, and the myriad saints gather before the hall.

In the eastern quarter, the Boundless Divine King Who Preserves Life, the Great Sage of Long Life, grants boundless deliverance.

In the southern quarter, the Boundless Divine King Who Transforms and Protects, the Great Sage of Long Life, grants boundless deliverance.

In the western quarter, the Boundless Divine King Who Disperses Calamities, the Great Sage of Long Life, grants boundless deliverance.

In the northern quarter, the Boundless Divine King Who Delivers from Calamity, the Great Sage of Long Life, grants boundless deliverance.

In the northeast, the Boundless Divine King Who Rescues from Suffering, the Great Sage of Long Life, grants boundless deliverance.

In the southeast, the Boundless Divine King Who Preserves Life and Health, the Great Sage of Long Life, grants boundless deliverance.

In the southwest, the Boundless Divine King Who Removes Sin, the Great Sage of Long Life, grants boundless deliverance.

In the northwest, the Boundless Divine King Who Delivers Souls, the Great Sage of Long Life, grants boundless deliverance.

Above, the Boundless Divine King Who Transcends and Transforms, the Great Sage of Long Life, grants boundless deliverance.

Below, the Boundless Divine King of Sovereign Freedom, the Great Sage of Long Life, grants boundless deliverance.

The Divine Kings of Utmost Truth in the Ten Directions, who deliver the souls of the dead, and the Great Gods of Long Life, Deliverance, and Transcendence all arrive together, riding clouds of eight colors.

The nine-phoenix jade chariot is drawn by dragons and phoenixes, its canopy adorned with feathers covering the carriage. The procession rises into the air to perform rites for the dead and secure the departed soul’s place in the registers of destiny. Divine banners lead the way, while jade youths cry out at the front. Those following behind chant in unison, accompanied by flutes and pipes. Lions and white cranes call out in response, their cries sounding one after another. The heavenly realms in the four directions open their roads. Divine officials escort the carriage as millions of vehicles and tens of thousands of mounted attendants come floating through the air. Their radiance gathers and circles the procession as they inspect the departed souls and deliver all beings from suffering.

The Chancellor of Nanchang, the Grand Minister of the Celestial Pivot, Han, Director of Registers and Overseer of Life, and other great deities hold talismans and registers of names as they come together before the Emperor. Each carries out a strict examination of the heavens according to those whom they are responsible for delivering. They also proclaim throughout the Three Realms that the departed are to be freed in places including the boundless divine realm, the Office of Winding Springs, the Northern Capital of Luofeng, the Three Offices and Nine Administrations, and the sources of the Twelve Rivers. The departed’s ancestors and relatives, along with all those bound to them by kinship over countless kalpas, are to have their registers of guilt cleared and their roots of wrongdoing destroyed. They must no longer be detained, coerced, or seized by the ghostly host.

By the talismanic command of the Celestial Worthy of the Primordial Beginning, departed souls must ascend to higher stations at the appointed time. The host in the Northern Capital’s Cold Pool guards the bodies and souls of the dead, subdues demonic obstacles, and recommends them for deliverance, enabling them to enter the Southern Palace. There the souls of the dead undergo refinement and become immortals; they may also be delivered when reborn as human beings. They endure through the kalpas, revolving with the cycles of time and living as long as Heaven. Forever freed from the Three Paths, Five Sufferings, and Eight Difficulties, they transcend the Three Realms and roam at ease in Shangqing.

Above the Heaven of Shangqing lies the Dongzhen Realm of Formlessness, where the Celestial Emperor resides. It is pure and free from defilement.

Eight Heavens of the East

Heaven of Delivering Souls and Bringing Joy — Celestial Emperor Hudi Kuang.

Heaven of Luminous Marshes and Verification of the Mystery — Celestial Emperor Fan Yu Si Ping.

Heaven of Flowing Firmness and Ascending Yang — Celestial Emperor Zhen Zu Liu Guang.

Heaven of Brahma Qi and Raising the Spirit — Celestial Emperor Shi Zhen Hua Hun.

Heaven of Xiao Terrace and Examining the Registers — Celestial Emperor Ba Ku Zun.

Heaven of Ancestral Plans and Flourishing Lineage — Celestial Emperor Dao Xuan Ju Ying.

Heaven of Beautiful Compassion and Transforming Life — Celestial Emperor Fu Cheng Yong Guang.

Heaven of the Dao’s Function and Transcending the Spirit — Celestial Emperor Bo Chang Miao Chong.

Eight Heavens of the South

Heaven of Purple Radiance and Luminous Grotto — Celestial Emperor Jue Shan Zi Shen.

Heaven of Jade Chen and Compassionate Transformation — Celestial Emperor Tui Ban Qing Yu.

Heaven of the Orthodox Lineage and Mysterious Dew — Celestial Emperor Ding Yi Xu Guang.

Heaven of the First Infant and Nurturing the Spirit — Celestial Emperor Pan Zai Si Qiang.

Heaven of Assisting Nonbeing and Beginning the Ancestral Line — Celestial Emperor Xia Chen Yuan Fang.

This passage first lists the names of the Eight Heavens of the West and the Eight Heavens of the North, together with the names of their Heavenly Emperors. It then turns to a general account of the secret names of all the heavens and speaks of the power of liberating the dead and granting them rebirth.

The opening lines continue from the preceding eastern and southern heavens and close out the western group. The Emperor of Queshi Lizhen Heaven is "Hou Jin Douguang," the Emperor of Mingchao Shenghun Heaven is "Miao Zhixian," and the Emperor of Zuling Zengbian Heaven is "Lao Ti Bing Zhuan." Many of these heaven names contain characters such as "surpass and be reborn" (chaosheng), "living souls" (shenghun), and "ancestral spirits" (zuling), which fits the passage's central purpose of delivering the souls of the dead.

The Eight Heavens of the West, each with its own Emperor, are named in this order, heaven first and emperor second. Pindi Yisi Heaven has the Emperor Chang Rongzhen. Guocheng Chaoqu Heaven has Yi Cishou Jun. Yingguan Zixu Heaven has Han Chengxu Yan. Yiling Qingzhang Heaven has Dao Fang Zi Ping. Zhuxia Qizhi Heaven has Hai Tun Zong Yang. Dangjun Yuejiang Heaven has Meng Qin Li Ming. Dusheng Shenghun Heaven has Zhao Yun Lian Xuan. Kuifu Kaoyue Heaven has Jue Shangsheng.

The Eight Heavens of the North follow. Yuyi Jingdu Heaven has the Emperor Liu Mao Shun Xuan. Jiniu Kanghua Heaven has Yao Dong Guan Zhou. Yuqian Cining Heaven has Xian Dao Li Tian. Zhaoben Shenhua Heaven has Jue Qi Si Ren. Xuanlong Shixu Heaven has Tai Wan Zixian. Xiandou Yingqi Heaven has Zhao Di Yong Liao. Chaorui Yuze Heaven has Bo Xuyuan. Kangyong Jihun Heaven has Chang Yuan Yin Gong.

The text then sums up. With eight heavens in each of the four directions, east, south, west and north, there are thirty-two heavens in all. Each has one Emperor, making thirty-two Emperors. All these heaven names and imperial names are the hidden names of the heavens, secret appellations not lightly shown to others. Within the heavens is the "Numinous Script of Empty Cavern and Naturalness" (Kongdong Ziran Lingzhang), the celestial script that formed of itself. It is the secret sound and rhythm of the heavens, and also the voice that opens the heavens and delivers humankind. The supreme sovereign who presides over this opening and deliverance, the deities charged with refining and transforming the souls of the dead, the great demons of the heavens, and the deities of Yuqing (Jade Purity) all blend and transform into one another, and so bring about a profound realm of the Highest Perfected, beyond measure. Its mystery is so deep and far-reaching that it cannot be fully explained. It can only be set down in this sacred text, to be used for the salvation of destitute souls, afflicted and without refuge.

What follows is the petition of the deceased soul who has been delivered. Today, rejoicing and grateful to receive deliverance, the soul passes through the barriers of the heavens and begs them to destroy the "Three Evils," the three evil realms of hell, hungry ghosts and animals. It asks them to sever the "roots of the earth," the karmic ties that bind it to the underworld, so that the soul may fly beyond the "Five Skandhas" (form, sensation, perception, volition and consciousness, the five aggregates that make up the body and mind of living beings), and that its name may ascend to the realm of the immortals.

The passage ends by saying that the True King of Taiqing (Great Purity) observes and recommends the soul, so that it is not held back at the gates of heaven. It adds that the Eastern Dipper bestows nature and life, the Western Dipper forms the body, the Northern Dipper protects the allotted span of life, and the Southern Dipper governs the continuation of life and its deliverance.

(This passage begins with the character “dou” (斗), suggesting that it continues from an earlier section. The following interpretation is based on the surviving text.)

The stars of the Northern Dipper ascend on high, and the Dipper’s Great Dipper-star governs the creation and growth of all things. The Azure Emperor enables all things to reach the true; the White Emperor protects the spirits; the Red Emperor transforms and moves all things; the Black Emperor gathers Shen and Qi; and the Yellow Emperor nurtures all living beings. In this way, every good thing is brought to completion. A person’s nine orifices and four limbs are preserved, and life is made whole.

The Azure Heaven Demon King Ba Yuan Choubo, the Red Heaven Demon King Fu Tian Danshi, the White Heaven Demon King Fan Shan Liumu, the Black Heaven Demon King Jian Chou Langfu, the Yellow Heaven Demon King Heng Tian Danli, and the great demons of the Five Emperors all command the myriad spirits. Drums and music accompany them as they fly. They command the divine troops, wave their banners, and sound their ritual insignia, their might reaching in every direction. They patrol Heaven and Earth and deliver departed souls. They proclaim their radiant authority and limitless power, opening the way for life and nourishing it, while keeping strict watch over Beifeng, the realm that governs the ghosts and spirits of the underworld.

At the command of the numinous immortals, all inauspicious forces are swept away. Divine dragons exhale poisonous vapors; qilin beasts leap and charge; celestial officials carry command banners and drive out disasters and evil. Flames are cast forth, and the ringing of bells carries for ten thousand miles, shaking all directions. If evil spirits dare to trespass or obstruct the way, divine generals bearing golden axes strike them down first, followed by generals wielding great halberds to punish them. When the commands are carried out, ghosts and spirits can ascend; grievances and offenses are reconciled and released, and their forms too can be freed. Demons and evil forces cannot intrude, and ghosts and specters cannot cause harm. The Three Officials of Heaven, Earth, and Water, together with Beifeng, keep watch over the abodes of ghosts and spirits, allowing nothing to remain hidden. The Golden Horse relay stations—the divine messengers and routes that carry celestial commands—transmit these orders everywhere without end. All the spirits must obey and report to Shangqing, the Daoist realm of the highest immortals, on the state of the Three Realms and the Five Emperors.

In the realm of wondrous transformation within the void, between the seas, mountains, and sources of rivers, lie the gates of the underworld. Sinful souls are confined there in vast darkness, sinking for ages upon ages without seeing the light of Heaven. Above them there is no brightness, and below them nowhere to rest; wind-blades inflict their punishments without restraint, and cries of anguish fill the void. Only the revered Primordial Emperor Taiyi, in his boundless compassion, uses divine power to free them from their suffering. He issues supreme true texts—the numinous chapters, red writings, and jade characters—to deliver departed souls and guide them into the gate of life.

The original pure Qi spreads throughout the cosmos, from which the forms of all things unfold. The fundamental order of the cosmos flows through the thirty-two heavens, turns through the Formless Realm, and extends in every direction. It bestows grace everywhere, enabling all beings to ascend. The numinous Qi of the eight directions harmonizes and enters the heights of the profound. In this wondrous realm, the Great Emperor Shangdi and the lofty perfected beings ride upon rays of light to Taixiao, where they chant the Cavern Chapters, Daoist scriptures. The Golden Perfected emit clear, bright, and gentle sounds; jade tones draw in the breath, while numinous winds gather the souls and spirits. The Qi of the Purple Void flourishes in beauty and supports the immortals. A thousand kinds of harmonious Qi and ten thousand auspicious signs gather of their own accord, enabling people to become perfected.

In the realm of the perfected are the Great Lord of Long Life, the Young Lord Wuying, and the revered spirit Baiyuan. They refine and transform life and death, removing the corpse-like form from a person and freeing them from the bonds of the body. Taiyi, the Controller of Destinies, governs life, gathers primordial Qi, and restores the Shen. The spirits Taokang and Heyan also help protect the Three Ones. The Three One Imperial Lords hold the talismanic commands and govern the registers of names, protecting people’s lives and ensuring that the root of life continues.

They travel upward through the realm of Shangqing, passing in and out of the Flower Hall and the hidden regions of the eight directions. They can also penetrate the subtlest places. Below, they guard the body’s Niwan Palace (the head’s dwelling place of the spirits) and Crimson Palace (the heart’s dwelling place of the spirit). At the center, they harmonize the Five Qi and unite the hundred spirits. After ten cycles, they restore spiritual nature and bring all Qi together toward the immortal Way. The immortal Way takes cherishing life as its essential principle and widely saves all beings. It opens the eight gates above, setting the Flying-Heaven Dharma Wheel—the principle that carries beings up to heaven—into motion.

Offenses and blessings, prohibitions and precepts, and the karmic ties of past lives can all be proclaimed widely, so that beings may receive instruction and salvation. The souls of the dead can be delivered, while the living can once again receive instruction. People can hear of the affairs of heaven. Above the heavens, each realm has a gateway to new life, and within them are songs of the empty realms, the celestial regions described in Daoism. The numinous writings of the True King use language that can be compared with that of the High Perfected, the exalted immortals.

First Deliverance: The Sound of Flying Through the Desire Realm

In the human world, it is easy to fall. Worldly desires torment the mind and spirit, depleting them until they are scattered and lost.

Dark and sunken souls sink into this plight. Their hun and po souls lose awareness and suddenly leave the body. The body turns to kalpa ash, the residue left after a cosmic calamity, while the soul has no idea where to go. It falls silent, yet retains memories of the past. In its fearful confusion, it gradually forgets its loved ones. It looks up but cannot see the sun, moon, or stars, and does not know whom it can rely on.

The ghost officials inflict cruel punishments, beating the dead without pause. The dead line up like sheep and are driven along, sinking in bewilderment at the crossing into the underworld. Iron prisons burn throughout the year, and clouds of foul smoke rise. Corpses pile up like mountains, while tears pour down like rivers. Sinful karma binds the dead through long kalpas, leaving them in grief and bitter anguish.

The Jade King of the Divine Empyrean and Jade Clarity issues a heavenly text to save beings in heaven and on earth. The numinous talismans and registers of the Primordial Celestial Worthy enable the dead to be delivered and transformed, gaining a new spiritual body.

Second Deliverance: The True King’s Hymn for Ascending into the Mysterious Realm

The Crimson Portal lies in the flourishing south. Radiant and magnificent, it is where the myriad gods gather and the gateway through which life is brought forth. There dwells the Purple Lord, the Great Emperor of Long Life. He wears a blue-green feather robe and a blue-purple skirt, and holds a Yellow Register, a Daoist talismanic register used to record and deliver beings, along with the Upper Chapter of the Numinous Treasure.

In the Jade Pavilion, he examines merit so that the souls of the dead may ascend. Their breath is refined and formed into a numinous root. The divine perfected arrange their ascent, guiding them upward as they transform through Yang Qi. They rise into the mysterious realm and unite with the wondrous Dao. Along the way, they undergo refinement through water and fire: rushing waters surge against them, flames consume them, and waves churn in a boiling pool. A jade-colored rainbow shines like countless scales and stretches across the pool to form a bridge.

A golden radiance streaks across the sky and arrives at the Supreme Seven Origins, the deities or celestial realms of the highest heavens, guiding guilty souls from the depths of the Ninefold Darkness. Receiving the talismanic decree, these souls are transformed and rise beyond their former state, riding clouds and winds until they reach the place where earth meets heaven.

The third transformation: revealing the form of the True King of the Formless Realm. The True King sings:

In the highest reaches of the Three Heavens stands the wondrous Palace of the Primordial Sovereign, beyond the Three Realms. Its halls brim with numinous light. Within dwells a great deity known as the True King.

The True King establishes teachings, reveals the way to salvation, and is the root of the myriad paths. The Primordial Beginning God bestows numinous scriptures and proclaims them throughout the lower world to the divine officials in charge there. Thus those who suffer punishment and hardship may rise to a higher state; the darkness of the netherworld is dispelled and light shines everywhere. Calamities are banished, the foundations of good fortune and De (Virtue) are planted for all time, and both the living and the dead are saved through the wondrous grace of the Mystery.

The offices of the netherworld are therefore dissolved, and all beings rejoice, enjoying lasting peace. Wherever the True King’s mighty De and teaching reach, who would dare disobey? Jade talismans protect and refine all beings, bringing them peace through the successive kalpas.

The realm above the Formless Realm is as mysterious as the Great Dao. The vast, rounded azure sky has been so from the beginning, through countless kalpas.

This song of the True King is proclaimed above the Three Realms, amid flight through the air, and its melody accords with the sacred Daoist hymns. Reciting it a hundred times enables one to ascend to the Southern Palace; reciting it a thousand times brings the Demon King to escort and welcome the practitioner. After ten thousand recitations, one’s cultivation is complete: one can soar into the vast heavens, transcend the Three Realms, and take a place among the immortal officials.

Upon hearing the numinous sound, the Demon King will honor the practitioner, obey the command to restrain the earth deities, and send attendants to escort and welcome them. The departed are lifted out of the gates of hell. Ancestors across seven generations who endured the Five Sufferings and Eight Calamities may also rise to a higher state, leave the jurisdiction of the ghost officials forever, and have their souls conveyed to Zhul­ing, where they are refined and reborn.

This is called universal salvation without limit, a deliverance without end. This scripture is a secret treasure of the heavens, revered by all the celestial beings. To divulge it irreverently is to fall into hell and bring calamity upon seven generations of ancestors.

The scripture says that these two chapters are secret songs preserved by the gods and sovereigns of the heavens and by the True King of the Divine Empyrean. They are used to refine and deliver the souls of the dead, enabling them to ascend to the heavenly realms, lengthening their heavenly lifespan, and dissolving the sins and grievances accumulated over past lives. The teachings of the scripture are profoundly abstruse. They are words of the Great Brahma—the sublime language of the heavenly realms in Daoism—not expressions commonly used in the human world. Their rhythms and literary style also differ from secular writing, so they are called mysterious and difficult to understand. The scripture is treasured in the divine palaces of Heaven and in the Azure Jade Treasury. According to the esoteric ritual rules of Daoism, it is transmitted to the human world at the appointed time. A person who has made progress in cultivating the Dao may receive it only after presenting a token of faith and making a sincere vow, following the established regulations and entering into a covenant three days beforehand.

The scripture also says that Heaven and Earth bring forth physical forms, while the Great Dao—the fundamental principle of the cosmos—gives rise to divine beings. The human body is the dwelling place of the divine, and the divine is the human being’s fundamental spirit. The spirit and Qi stir and are cultivated like the wind; humanity and Heaven respond to one another, sustaining life without end. Those who lose sight of the Great Dao become bound by the consequences of their sins and fall into doubt, delusion, and greed. External things disturb the mind, and unceasing thoughts assail the spirit. Jing and Qi are thereby depleted, the breath grows weak, and the body decays: the five viscera fail from within, the seven emotions scatter outward, and the divine being loses its dwelling. When the soul departs from the body, it sinks into the torments of the netherworld, drawn along by karmic force. The good attain birth in Heaven, while the wicked fall into Fengquan, the subterranean springs of the dead in Daoist belief. The souls of the dead can be aided by the compassion of the Great Dao, delivered by its sacred scriptures, and protected by its true talismans. The officials of the underworld and the true functionaries also honor this method and follow the principles of the Great Brahma. Practitioners should fast together, offer incense six times each day, and recite the scripture ten times. In this way, blessings and merit will descend, and the souls will ascend to Heaven. The deliverance described in the Scripture of Deliverance Without Limit is boundless.

The scripture says that among those who have only recently begun cultivating the Dao and have made little progress, some have not yet completed their rank among the immortals when their allotted lifespan comes to an end and their bodies are about to return to the Great Yin, the Daoist term for the realm of the dead. At the time of death, fellow cultivators should offer incense and recite the scripture ten times. Following the ritual procedure, they should deliver the body so that the person’s soul rises directly to the Southern Palace, a heavenly court. The period of rebirth should then be determined according to the person’s accomplishments in cultivation during life. If, in the course of reincarnation, the person can be reborn without falling into delusion, they may cultivate themselves into an immortal.

The scripture further says that those who have made progress in cultivating the Dao devote themselves to practice and recitation of the treasured scriptures of the Three Caverns of Shangqing, strictly observe the precepts, live in seclusion in the mountains, remain serene and unattached to worldly affairs, and cultivate Wuwei (non-action). Others accumulate virtue, do good deeds in secret, and help people. If their parents or teachers pass away, and they wish to deliver their souls so they may ascend to the immortal terraces of the Caverns of Heaven and take their place among the ranks of the immortals, they should prepare a bath using five kinds of incense and wash the body. Then, on blue silk, they should write twelve talismans of the Primordial Beginning’s sacred script in cinnabar and arrange them inside the Dark Palace, the mysterious chamber where the coffin is placed. The talismans should be positioned above and below the body: one on the pillow, one over the face, two on the hands, two on the feet, and the remaining talismans at the middle of the body, over the chest, and on all four sides of the coffin.

The reciter burns incense and faces north. After writing the talisman, recite the incantation at the appointed time:

“Wang Jia, a Daoist adherent [a member of the people who has received the Dao], acts under the command of the Immortals. His allotted years have come to an end; his body has undergone refinement and returned to Great Yin. The divine talisman of the Shangdi is issued in red writing and jade script to deliver the souls of the dead. Hasten his return to the Jade Perfected and his ascent to Heaven; engrave his name in the register of the Immortals. Let his bones become orchid jade and his face shine with golden radiance. Taiyi guards his corpse, and the Three Officials protect his spirit, so that he may suddenly rise, light of body, and ascend to the Great Clarity.

“Evil spirits of the earth, corpse demons, and the myriad kinds of wraiths: if you dare to violate the divine talisman or disturb Jia’s body, the divine Heavenly Officers will wield their axes and cut you down. The Qi of the Five Phases (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water), and the most perfect spirits of mountains and marshes, water and fire, and the winds—all come to protect Wang Jia’s corpse intact, restore life to his body, and return his soul. The Northern Emperor marvels; Wang Jia’s name is erased from the roll of the dead. Riding a flying cloud chariot of jade, he goes to the Purple Court to pay audience. Act swiftly, in accordance with the statutes and ordinances!”

After completing the talisman, one should also observe purification, burn incense, and recite scriptures. The merit of purification and scripture recitation is immense: through it, the soul can ascend and transform, enjoy blessings, and the body can be spared harm from poison. In this way, many people are delivered, and both the living and the dead receive grace. Such merit and blessing are beyond measure; hence the phrase “universal deliverance of Heaven and humanity without limit.”

The Dao says: Anyone who upholds this scripture and performs such meritorious practice for princes, dukes, marquises, nobles, and common people should, on the day of deliverance, resolve to observe purification, burn incense, and recite the scripture ten times. The heavens will record that person’s name, and the myriad spirits will attend and protect them. If they continue in this practice, they may ultimately become an official among the sacred lords of the Golden Towers. The heavens record every person’s merits and faults without the slightest omission; the True Kings of Heaven will also recommend you. Only those who have attained the Dao can truly understand these most profound words.

The Great Brahma’s hidden words, transmitted by the heavens, have sounds without limit. This section was composed by the Dao Lord.

Middle Section on Delivering Souls from the Numinous Writ of the Original Beginning

The Eight Heavens of the East

Brilliant luminaries govern the Pole and command the gates of the Imperial Capital. They turn and shift the cycles, bringing allotted lifespans to an end. The source of water and fire flows onward; the Way of life receives its mysterious endowment. Let Heaven’s course proceed naturally. Release the bonds and cast off the old form; the soul receives blessings and joy, and its two aspects are joined. Complete the body and wield divine power. What is bent becomes clear and open; harmonize the True Qi and extend it throughout the Jade Realm. Auspicious clouds arrive at Heaven’s gate. Brahma-Qi transforms and migrates; the spirit nature changes, and the soul crosses beyond the eight directions. Pure radiance accords with the calendar, and the divine talisman moves through the lunar lodges of Mao and Bi.

The Eight Heavens of the South

Refine the bright eyes of the Jade Court; register and verify the Lady Marquis. Investigate hidden matters and confirm that there has been no error. Deliver and raise the soul to Changdu. With secret arts, protect the body from disturbance by the dusty world; go forth and heed the plans of August Heaven. Remove its offenses and raise it to the Immortal Court. The office of registers submits a report on its abilities; seals and credentials select the presiding boy.

The phenomena of demonic transformation have entirely dissipated. Mysterious resonance discerns what is hidden and minute, and rescues from the cold pools the souls confined in the underworld. Radiance circulates, spreading a sound as clear and resonant as fine jade; transformations converge and nourish the myriad things. This is the very root of saving souls and setting them free.

“Baiyong Beijing” is a cryptic phrase within the scripture (Jing).

The Eight Heavens of the West bear these phrases: Tiyang gechu, juanlie feiye, qingjie guiyan. Youting xuangeng, fuchuan longdian, huixi pingjuan. Shenghe shenlu, zhaohu chengren, xueye juchan. Guorong weishen, luejing sihua, xunqi fuzhen. Xiangu bingmao, jingxi xiangjun, yanyou qinguan. Taolun guping.

The Eight Heavens of the North bear these phrases: Qiyin qiyu, wupin lansu, zhaoyi jingwang. Cibing bitu, nüegu hansuo, louyi shemei. Liuzu weiduo, moyuan yayun, chuobian biqi. Yuangu linghui, changwu qingyu, chiluo ziyu. Qiangkui yidou, longhu wuqiu, zuojiang kuiyou. Biansheng youjia.

The scripture says that within these heavenly realms there circulate the “Immeasurable Sounds of the Hidden Language of the Great Brahma.” The writings of former times are recorded upon the Jade Towers of the Northern Numina in the Mysterious Heaven. These sound-texts serve to set in order the ghost-prisons of Fengquan in the mountains due north, to restrain the great ghosts of the Nine Capitals, and to save the souls of the dead, so that they may be reborn in blessed realms and obtain godlike wisdom and carefree freedom.

Each character is one zhang long. The Celestial Perfected Imperial Lord (Tianzhen Huangren, a divine perfected being in Daoist legend) wrote these characters long ago as the orthodox sounds. If someone understands these sounds and recites them after fasting and purification, all the heavens will dispatch spirits to observe and record the matter. Spirit Kings will also descend to examine that person’s conduct and report his merits upward to the various heavens. The myriad spirits come to pay homage; the earth deities (spirits of the earth) keep watch beside the gate; and the Perfected King of Great Merit will recommend him. If this person perfects the Dao (the Way) of Dongxuan (Cavern of Mystery, one of the Three Caverns), he will be able to roam through the Three Realms and ascend into the Golden Gate.

There is nothing these sounds cannot exorcise, ritually avert, or save and deliver, and they can also accomplish every kind of efficacious work. They are sounds spontaneously uttered by the celestial perfected. Reciting them therefore draws the Spirit Kings to come and inspect, as though the Supreme Thearch were answering in song from afar, the myriad spirits were coming to pay homage, and the divinities of the Three Realms were standing in attendance beside the carriage. Hosts of deviant powers bow their heads, and ghosts and specters disperse of themselves. Sounds like clustered jade ring out through the four directions and bring solemn stillness and clarity everywhere: rivers and seas grow calm, the vapors among the mountains and great peaks recede, the myriad numina submit in reverence, and the hosts of immortals are summoned. Between heaven and earth there is neither filth nor demonic miasma. The dark underworld and illuminating wisdom alike return to luminous clarity and vast expanse, mysterious and profound.