《靈寶無量度人上品妙經》Vol. 60

The Dao says: In ancient times, the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning proclaimed the “Chapter on Primordial Beginning, Deliverance of Humanity, Refining Qi, Transforming into Immortals, and Transcending the Spirit of the Highest Clarity” in the Great Floating Li Land of Blue-Firmament Hollow Song in the Beginning-Cyan Heaven. The Celestial Worthy recited this scripture ten times in succession to summon the gods of the ten directions. Then the Celestial Worthy ascended the ritual seat.

Among those who came to hear the scripture were great gods who were heavenly and true, supreme sages and exalted worthies, perfected beings of wondrous practice, those from the ten directions who had refined Qi and become immortals, Dao Lords who gave birth to spirits, merit officers who transformed bones and sustained life, and heavenly officials who kept the registers of the immortals. All were perfected immortals who had responded to the truth, attained deliverance, and refined Qi to become immortal. The countless great gods of the heavens who deliver humanity also came, riding primordial Qi.

That primordial Qi swirled and flowed, seeming both present and absent. It had neither fixed form nor definite color; it was vast and all-encompassing, beyond measure. Clouds, rosy mists, and celestial vapors could not describe its appearance. It showed nine colors, shifting without pause: at times it shone, at times it gleamed; sometimes it was deep crimson, sometimes blue-green. Its brilliance shimmered across the nine heavens and illuminated the Three Realms. Nothing could compare with this sight—not the clouds and radiance of the gods in the heavens, nor the auspicious colors of immortal clouds.

The spectacle gradually spread from the Jade Chambers, deep crags, and shadowed caves of Primordial Jade Capital. There appeared hundreds and thousands of scenes, beyond all counting: red immortal carriages, green chariots, feathered canopies, and jade wheels; dragon-patterned banners, phoenix-adorned carriages, luminous steeds, and nine kinds of fierce beasts. Jade ornaments hung down, while immortal chariots halted in midair. Purple canopies rose high overhead, and flowing vital essences gleamed like jade. Vast, abundant Qi surged and filled the air, illuminating the entire expanse of space.

This spectacle continued for three days and three nights. The wheels of the sun, moon, and stars in the heavens, the golden pivots and jade gates, the agate axles, the celestial registers woven from precious gems, the cloud-realm dwellings, and the crimson branching paths all revolved and shifted at once, moving in an order unlike their usual course. The officials in charge of celestial phenomena and their clerks who managed the documents each kept watch over the heavenly wheels and turned the pivots, yet they could not make them follow their original paths or customary order. Everyone was deeply alarmed and asked one another, “What kind of auspicious sign is this?”

After witnessing these strange changes, they immediately beat the heavenly drum to observe the movement of the Northern Dipper’s chariot. The drum sounded nine times. Looking down, they saw that the twelve mountains near Jade Capital, the numinous sea, the blue-green waves, and the tides of the divine ford had all responded: Yinglong and Qiulong dragons appeared and vanished, their sounds like thunder; the deep waters surged, and even the smallest streams churned and rushed. Yet these events did not coincide with the timing of the heavenly drumbeats.

For a time, the imperial palaces of the heavens could not determine the cause of the anomaly. They checked their records and silently compared the registers and tablets of the immortals, preparing to go to the Imperial Terrace to seek answers. They then hurriedly ordered mighty divine generals to part the clouds, clear the roads, and regulate the Qi; to hitch the chariots of dragons and tigers and take up the banners. But the time for departure had not yet come, and the divine mist…

The celestial winds blow, and the Three Luminaries—the sun, moon, and stars—turn and shine. Original Qi, the fundamental energy of Heaven and Earth, is clear and boundless; Heaven is round and Earth square. Heaven and Earth move, turning left and revolving right. The music of Heaven rings out, its song reaching through the myriad realms and echoing far and wide. Light streams through worlds beyond counting; lofty immortal realms appear in stillness, and all the Perfected Ones are able to attend in the assembly.

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning sits upright in empty space upon a blue-green lotus. The lotus has ten thousand petals, with pearl-like stamens all around. Each petal spreads broadly downward, as though covering the entire sky. Within every stamen, a precious pearl reveals a wondrous golden celestial realm. In each world are celestial kings: they wear jeweled flower crowns, their robes billow with immortal hues, and they travel freely on cranes and phoenixes.

The lotus stem shines like crystal and reaches straight into the sky; its roots coil through a jade sea, spanning ten thousand li. Within the stem stand jeweled towers, precious gates, jade palaces, and magnificent halls, rising in flourishing tiers to great heights. The numinous wonders revealed here cannot be described in words or measured by comparison. To offer a rough image, it is like looking from afar at heaps of grain inside a granary.

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning sits at ease upon the lotus and gazes upon the heavens. His stature is equal to that of the heavens, with nothing lacking. Each time he recites the scripture, the great sages of the heavens praise it together.

At the second recitation, the light and shadows on the men and women of a whole realm mingle with one another. At the third, spirits and deities appear without end; realms such as Yujing and Kunlun are as small as dust, yet without boundary. At the fourth, all things and living beings praise the scripture and its teaching, their clear voices chanting the truth of the Great Dao.

At the fifth recitation, the thirty-six thousand suns and moons in the Nine Heavens of Shangqing shine all at once. The decaying corpses of the underworld and the bones of those not yet delivered rise again and take human form. At the sixth, divine beasts in the form of golden dragons vie to breathe out wind and clouds. The clouds gather in layered folds, revealing a vision of nine-colored, wondrous caverns, all blended into one.

At the seventh recitation, every living being in the realm that still possesses vital energy regains a youthful face, with a body like gold and jade. They no longer know death; they live by Original Qi alone, and their spirits roam freely. At the eighth, golden-winged birds cease to be born, and divine dragons cry out at night. The Five Sacred Peaks draw in their mists, and the immortal realms of the eight directions reveal their forms.

At the ninth recitation, waves surge across the jade sea, while green mountains flourish in beauty. Flying immortals come to pay homage, riding cloud chariots and raising phoenix banners. At the tenth, sweet dew wells up from the earth, and the Seven Treasures grow across the land. Even hard stones shine with auspicious light and turn into precious gems.

At this time, everyone in the realm, men and women alike, wholeheartedly believes and accepts the teaching. All receive its protection and deliverance, and attain long life.

At that time, the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning began to expound the scripture. Each time he recited it, countless supreme divine beings who had refined their Qi and attained immortality arrived from the sky to join the assembly.

At the first recitation, those who had refined their Qi and attained immortality in the east came forward; at the second, those in the south; at the third, those in the west; at the fourth, those in the north; at the fifth, those in the northeast; at the sixth, those in the southeast; at the seventh, those in the southwest; at the eighth, those in the northwest; at the ninth, those above; and at the tenth, those below.

When the scripture had been recited ten times, the heavenly perfected divine beings who had refined their Qi and attained immortality came from all ten directions at once. Men and women throughout the land sincerely turned toward and revered the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning. Those who had come to hear the teaching felt wondrous Qi spreading and filling the four quarters. In this boundless, magnificent scene, all beings gathered together: their bodies joined with Qi, and Qi joined with their bodies, until distinctions of east and west, direction and boundary, no longer existed.

All kinds of figures, men and women in every form, appeared and vanished without warning, now concealed, now revealed, throughout the great realm. Their breath spread everywhere, filling all things, impossible to hold back.

Then the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning smiled and extended his precious palm, shining with purple-gold radiance, bringing his five fingers together. The breath gathered in response, and a clear light appeared. The people then saw all beings in the heavens, the perfected immortals listening to the teaching, the countless divine powers of the Great Dao, the various divine officials of the hidden, empty celestial realms, and multitudes of ghosts, all within the luminous Qi. They bowed and paid homage to the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning, gathered around his seat, and wished to hear the subtle essentials of the teaching.

In this mysterious realm, beyond what words can express, the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning rose a hundred zhang above the ground and welcomed the heavenly perfected divine beings, the highest sages and honored ones, the perfected beings of wondrous practice, and the supreme divine kings who had refined their Qi and attained immortality from all ten directions, together with their countless retinues, into the luminous Qi. All the heavenly beings saw the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning.

The Celestial Worthy, the supreme deity, and the highest sages and exalted beings seem to sit serenely amid precious jewels and pure, lustrous glass. Heaven meets the sea, light and shadow mingle and reflect one another, and the scene opens into a vast, seamless expanse. Emerald radiance shines through everything, within and without, without the slightest obstruction. It is as though one could see the emptiness in all ten directions, clear as the sight of the Heavenly Eye.

All the perfected immortals gaze up at the Celestial Worthy, chanting hymns of praise and bowing as they perform the ritual steps of the Bu Xu, the “Pacing the Void.” Light and shadow drift, move in and out, and merge and transform, becoming Qi—the vital energy that forms and moves all things.

One no longer knows where one is. Lands and heavenly realms alike appear spacious, level, open, and unobstructed, clear and serene, revealing the Primordial Beginning, the source from which all things first arose. The Celestial Worthy of the Primordial Beginning completes the scripture amid the contemplation of Qi, speaking between being and nonbeing. All the perfected immortals witness and examine this teaching together, then transmit it to me. The joy and celebration of that moment are beyond words. When the ritual was nearly complete, the beings of the heavens each returned to their proper place. In a trance, empty Qi and form became one: all was silent and still, with no echo remaining.

At that moment, the various offices governing the affairs of the heavens, along with the deities who oversee the movements of the sun, moon, and stars, began to sense that something was amiss. Qi had changed, and the spirits had shifted, yet they did not know why. Only later did they understand: the Celestial Worthy of the Primordial Beginning was about to reveal the supreme, wondrous Dao of refining Qi and transforming into an immortal, and had first manifested these auspicious signs. All the perfected immortals of the heavens and all heavenly beings are fortunate to encounter this scripture and teaching; through it, they can all be saved, preserve their natural lifespan, and escape untimely calamity.

People throughout the world turn toward and place their faith in this Dao, practicing methods that include knowing the Dao, forgetting the mind, refining Qi, illuminating Qi, great Qi, firm Qi, empty Qi, deep Qi, resonant Qi, circulating Qi, Qi of being, Qi of nonbeing, and transforming Qi. The words of the immortals are not conveyed by chanting a creed, and oral transmission does not take external things as its command. People treat one another as equals and with compassion. Though they are not of the same bloodline, they can be as close as family. The country is peaceful, the people prosperous, and all rejoice in the enjoyment of peace.

As the scripture began to be transmitted, it taught the people of an entire nation to cultivate Qi and realize twelve methods: unite Qi with the Dao, unite the Dao with the mind, and unite the mind with the spirit; then the spirit transforms, and one becomes an immortal. All who honor and pay reverence to this scripture can attain deliverance from the world.

The scripture says: What the Celestial Worthy of the Primordial Beginning teaches consists entirely of profound, esoteric words used by the emperors of the heavens concerning the refinement of Qi into immortality and the generation of spirit through the exchange of bones, as well as the transformations in the ten directions…

“Qi Transforms into Immortality: The Hidden Inner Name of the Great Perfect Spirit” is the secret name of the method of refining Qi and transforming into an immortal; it is not ordinary language used in the world. Only perfected sages and Realized Ones who have attained the Dao, understand its mysterious principles, and investigate its subtleties can fully grasp its meaning. Even practitioners who have already ascended to the sacred realm and entered the formless realm should continue their practice and recite this scripture ten times. Then the heavens will summon primordial Qi, and the myriad emperors will help them refine Qi and become immortals.

Heaven and Earth return to the primordial Qi of the beginning, deep and mysterious like a spring in an abyss. Mountains, earth, heaven, and people can all be refined into Qi; the Three Luminaries—the sun, moon, and stars—and all things in the world can also be refined into Qi. Qi has no fixed form: it seems to exist and not to exist, elusive and indistinct. Those who comprehend this can transform through Shen and become immortals. If they do not yet recognize Qi or understand the methods of refining the Dao, they should observe purification and recite the scripture. True Qi will arise naturally, and the work of refining Qi will proceed of its own accord, moving Heaven and Earth to respond.

At that time, the movements of the sun, moon, and stars seem to stop. The hordes of demons cannot bind the practitioner’s body, and ghosts, apparitions, and malign spirits disperse. The scripture also says that this practice can raise a corpse, bring the dead back to life, and transform white bones into an immortal body. When students of the Way recite the scripture ten times, their Jing and blood can transform into Qi, which flows through all the body’s meridians. The functions of the five viscera and six bowels become harmonious and unobstructed. Gradually moving from form into formlessness, they preserve their breath in an unbroken, enduring flow, transforming their Shen and becoming immortals.

Once the practice is complete, the Heavenly Emperors of the Five Directions stand in attendance, and the Qi of the Three Origins appears. Demons and monsters are terrified; ghost officials crack their whips to drive away evil beings and sweep aside the “Nine Ugly Ones,” the evil Qi and ghostly beings described in the scripture. When primordial Qi reaches its height, it can open access to mysterious principles, heal illness, deliver the dead, and restore life to those on the verge of death. This is because students of the Way have not yet fully understood the refining of Qi, nor thoroughly penetrated the truth in body and mind. Only by summoning and directing the myriad forms of Qi, raising Qi to Heaven’s Gate and then returning it from there, can one understand how the virtue of formlessness subdues and commands the earth deities and binds demonic spirits. Those who do not understand this can only evade death; those who truly master the refining of Qi can gain new life.

If this chapter is recited carelessly or disrespectfully, Qi cannot flourish and circulate, and Jing and Qi cannot transform into jade liquid. This will obstruct the Hall of Light, the place symbolizing the gathering of Shen and Qi in Daoist internal cultivation, and the deed will be recorded by the Mysterious Bureau, the heavenly office that keeps records of merits and faults, leaving misfortune in its wake. Those who make offerings to and honor this scripture will see their household thrive and their descendants prosper. They will also form ties with the good, keep calamities at a distance, and receive divine protection for their home.

This scripture is held in the Jade Capital, the celestial realm of Daoist immortals, as precious, mysterious, and unique. Through its boundless methods it delivers living beings. It is an essential model for refining Qi and becoming an immortal, and for bringing the myriad paths back to their source. Its merit and virtue are too vast to describe fully.

The scripture also says that whenever someone recites it ten times, the Qi of the heavens reaches the abode of their countless ancestors. After their former bodies have perished, the ancestors’ hidden souls and suffering spirits can all transform into Qi. If this Qi has not been refined, they remain in darkness and cannot attain new life. If someone recites the scripture and refines Qi, they can be delivered immediately and ascend to the Vermilion Palace, a palace in the Daoist heavens. According to the ranks described in the scripture, they undergo nine years of transformation and nurture; afterward, they are reborn as nobles and delight in studying the classics. Once their merit is complete, they can refine Qi and become immortals.

After attaining immortality, one ascends to the Golden Palace, where immortals dwell, and roams and feasts in the Jade Capital, the city of the celestial realm. This is the attainment of those who pursue the Dao at the highest level. All who practice and recite this scripture can immediately receive deliverance and ascend to the Southern Palace. Even ordinary people who uphold and recite it can prolong their lives; in the end, they may also attain the Dao of “解脱 by corpse”: shedding their old form and departing through transformation, as Daoism describes it. The body transforms and emerges with Qi; the hun and shen join with Qi, which condenses to form the spirit. Without passing through hell, one can manifest a body anew and move freely through the vast heavens. This scripture is subtle and boundless, able to deliver all beings without limit. Celestial beings and humans alike receive blessings and celebration through it, and both the living and the dead benefit.

Heaven regards this scripture as a treasure and does not pass it on lightly to later generations. Those truly devoted to the Dao should offer precious gold to show their sincerity, swear an oath before Heaven, and only then transmit it. Anyone who carelessly discloses it or treats the scripture with disrespect will bring calamity upon the nine generations of ancestors and be made to serve ghost officials for a long time. The scripture is attended by Jade Youths and Jade Maidens of the Five Emperors, sixty-four of each. They guard the text and protect those who receive it.

The Daoist scripture says: If one observes an extended fast in the first lunar month and recites this scripture, one can refine and nourish the Qi of “Lush Green.” This Qi can deliver the souls of the dead, refining the old Qi and renewing it with fresh Qi. It frees them from the jurisdiction of the Earthly Bureau, which oversees the underworld, and ends lawsuits concerning their graves, allowing their souls to be delivered and ascend to the Southern Palace. If one observes an extended fast and recites the scripture in the seventh lunar month, one can refine and nourish the Qi of “Empty White,” transforming the body into that of an immortal. One’s name is entered in the Jade Register and Plain Covenant of the celestial realm, removed from the register of the dead, and added to the register of the living. If one observes an extended fast and recites the scripture in the tenth lunar month, one can refine and nourish the Qi of “Great Yellow,” summoning the Qi of the Nine Heavens for kings, emperors, rulers and ministers, fathers and sons. The blessings bestowed by Heaven then bring peace to the unseen realm, protect the state, and preserve its fortunes for generations.

Reciting the scripture continuously, generation after generation, can bring stability to the lands governed by the ruler and allow them to enjoy lasting peace. On the Eight Seasonal Nodes—the eight important festivals marking the transitions between seasons—reciting the scripture can refine and nourish the Qi of the Nine Stars and transform it into nine-colored light: nine atop the head, one beneath the feet, three to the left and seven to the right, two and four supporting the shoulders, and six and eight flanking the feet. Qi circles the Nine Palaces and transforms into the true body, through which one cultivates into a Perfected One of the Nine Palaces.

Reciting the scripture on one’s natal day, the day of one’s birth, can refine and nourish the Qi of Taiwei, causing the Qi of the Heavenly Stems to enter the Earthly Branches. The Six Jia attendant generals appear as the One Qi transforms. The hun and shen become clear and upright, and all Qi follows; suffering comes to an end, and one’s wondrous transformations become profound and unfathomable. The Three Realms are commanded to welcome one, the Five Heavens raise their banners, and the myriad spirits come to pay homage. One’s name is recorded in Heaven, and when one’s merits are complete, one can ascend to Shangqing, a high celestial realm in Daoism.

The Daoist scripture also says: Whenever one performs the ritual of following the Dao, one should bathe in fragrant water and observe purification before entering a quiet chamber. Facing east, click the teeth sixty-four times, sending one’s intention up to the sixty-four heavens, then bow to the Heart of Heaven sixty-four times. Close the eyes and sit upright, envisioning oneself amid clouds of blue, yellow, and white. Imagine clouds filling the space within and around the body, dim and shadowy, and envision a Blue Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise, lion, white crane, and luo…

The radiance of the sun and moon illuminates the room, making it bright and clear. A circular image of light appears above the head, its brilliance shining in all ten directions. The scene is vivid and distinct.

Secret Incantation

Recite:

Supreme Lord of the Dao, Mysterious Origin, please summon from within my body the Three and Five Merit Officers—the divine officials who relay documents within the body—the left and right messengers, the Jade Youth Attendant of Incense, the Jade Maiden who Transmits Words, the Five Emperors’ Talisman Officers who stand guard under the orders of the Celestial Emperors of the five directions, the Officer on Duty for the Day, and the Incense Officer: all sixty-four of you.

Please convey and report what I say. Today is an auspicious day of celebration. In the pure fasting hall, I observe a long fast, cultivate the Dao, and recite the Wuliang Duren Jing (Scripture of Limitless Salvation). May what I pray for and report ascend to the heavenly court and reach the imperial presence directly.

May it arrive before the supreme throne of the Primordial Beginning, Sovereign of the sixty-four heavens. (When the bowing is complete.)

Draw in Qi thirty-two times while facing east, then recite the scripture.

The Wuliang Duren Shangpin Miaojing

(Wondrous Scripture of Limitless Salvation, Superior Grade)

The foundational chapter of the Yuan Shi Dong Xuan Ling Bao Jing explains the nine transformations by which Qi is refined and one becomes an immortal, as well as the principles of saving people. The hidden patterns in the resonances of Dao-Qi, its separation and reunion, all occur naturally.

The undifferentiated cavernous state extends to the Great Nonbeing. In undivided Wuwei, the void transforms into emptiness. Form and Qi unite; Qi and emptiness exist together. When Qi reaches the Great Reality, it subtly enters mysterious nonbeing. Qi is the Dao.

The nature of the Dao belongs neither to “being” nor to “nonbeing.” It changes without limit and reaches everywhere through mystery. Shen and Qi exist together. The Qi spoken of here is not the vaporous Qi produced by the union of Yin and Yang, nor is it the breath. It does not rise in the form of vapor; it is neither cloud nor mist, nor anything with tangible substance.

True Qi has no concrete form. “Qi” is merely a name applied to it for want of a better one. Qi can generate the myriad things and transform and shift them; it can become firm and strong, and it can return to its source. It endures without end and is never cut off. The Qi I speak of is no particular thing, yet it can bring forth many things. It has no feelings, yet it can give rise to beings that feel.

Qi is the mother of the Dao and also the Great Spirit. When Qi moves, it appears as “being”; when still, it returns to “emptiness.” It transforms and gives rise to immortal realms such as Yujing and Xiaotai: lofty palace terraces, the Great Luo Heaven, the Jade Clarity Realm, the Golden Tower, Jade Chambers, Violet Pavilions, and Vermilion Courts.

True Qi flows through these realms, congealing and giving rise to the highest perfected immortals. Without Qi, there can be no shining light; without Qi, nothing can appear, be established, or be completed; without Qi, there can be no deliverance or generation. This is the Great Brahma, the mystery within mystery. It branches out and spreads, yet loops back upon itself like a ring, with beginning and end joined.

It coils and extends, bending and turning back. Violet Qi and white vapors rise and descend, changing without a fixed pattern. Hardness and softness each have their own way. The high sages, numinous immortals, and myriad emperors… (The original text ends here unfinished.)

The thousand true sages—the divine beings who have attained the Dao—are born from the One Qi of Primordial Unity, the source breath that existed before Heaven and Earth were divided. Through refinement, they become immortals. Just as the mountains and seas, towers and palaces of the human world, and people in times of flourishing or decline—whether clever or dull, worthy or ordinary, from rulers above to officials below—all arise from Qi. Through refinement, Qi continually changes and ascends. It has neither birth nor death, and shows no partiality; it always appears in response to an answering resonance.

The wondrous form of this Qi seems both present and absent, subtle and difficult to fathom. The scripture goes on to name realms such as Hongjing, Qiongchi, Rize, and Ruiyuan, whose meanings here are unclear. It says that vast Brahma Qi, the sacred energy of the cosmos, pervades the ten directions, giving life to and delivering all beings.

It gives life to the Great Lord of Longevity of the Southern Pole, and to the great gods who refine Qi and become immortals. It gives life to the awe-inspiring powers of the natural Dao Qi, and to the Purple Lords of Shangqing divine Qi. It also refines primordial Qi and initiates transformation, so that the most true and exalted deities are born from Qi. When divine Qi endures, one can escape death; through it, countless beings are delivered. Today, as the scriptures are collated and copied, the divine beings of all the heavens have come to the hall.

In the East, the Limitless Great Sage who refines Qi, transforms into an immortal, and attains longevity delivers beings without number.

In the South, the Limitless Great Sage who refines Qi, transforms into an immortal, and attains longevity delivers beings without number.

In the West, the Limitless Great Sage who refines Qi, transforms into an immortal, and attains longevity delivers beings without number.

In the North, the Limitless Great Sage who refines Qi, transforms into an immortal, and attains longevity delivers beings without number.

In the Northeast, Southeast, Southwest, and Northwest, and above and below, the Limitless Great Sages who refine Qi, transform into immortals, and attain longevity also deliver beings without number.

The supremely true beings of the ten directions—the immeasurable great gods who refine Qi, become immortals, attain longevity, and deliver the world—all arrive together, riding purple clouds formed from Brahma Qi. They ride carriages of green jade and conveyances drawn by jade phoenixes, adorned with yellow canopies and white wheels. Nine dragons pull their chariots of the Three Qi. Colorful-cloud banners stand before them; bells of flowing fire ring out, while golden cymbals and leather drums resound, and the imperial bell sounds. Jade-bearing youths walk ahead, singing in unison; behind them, jade maidens play music on their reed pipes.

The lions drive away evil with a thunderous roar. The heavenly realms of the eight directions unfurl their registers. The Five Emperors—the Celestial Emperors of the five directions—begin playing immortal music like drifting clouds and rosy mists. Myriad chariots and countless riders arrive upon the flowing primordial Qi, the fundamental energy that forms all things in heaven and earth. They embrace the void, bring down radiance, and survey the realm of truth.

The ministers who deliver beings from the heavens, the rulers of the Upper Palace of Great Simplicity, and the great deities who uphold the Dao, gather Qi, and transform beings into immortals all hold registers of names and come together before the Celestial Emperor. They carefully examine the records of the heavens according to whom each is meant to deliver, and make this known throughout the boundless divine realms of the Three Realms.

The Office of the Winding Springs, the Northern Capital of Luofeng—the underworld of Daoist tradition—the Three Offices, the Nine Bureaus, and the twelve sources of the rivers must all release the dead person’s ancestors and relatives from their karmic offenses. Even ancestors from ages beyond reckoning, as well as the remains of the dead in the underworld, stranded souls, and the many demonic spirits, are included in this liberation. After death, the soul’s Qi returns beneath the Three Offices, where it remains for a long time in stagnation. Yet the karma of the past drifts like the wind, and the Qi of evil roots is hard to dispel.

Qi itself has neither birth nor death; it is merely in a state of shadowy obscurity. Awareness depends on Qi as it wanders and lingers, yet has nowhere to settle. Those who do good are transformed and born in halls of blessing; those who do evil are transformed and cast into fiery pools. Human nature is led astray by confused awareness, turning with the flow of Qi toward different destinations. The many responses of the soul and awareness resemble the surprise, laughter, and weeping people experience in life. Demonic Qi takes the form of underworld officials, who come to interrogate the dead.

The soul’s Qi drifts unsteadily, still holding memories and filled with sorrow. The Venerable Celestial Primordial Beginning, by the grace of the Dao, gathers and sustains the soul’s Qi, refining and nourishing it. Accumulated resentments are brought to reconciliation, and past karma is transformed into new life. The dead person’s Qi is cleansed and transformed; the roots of wrongdoing dissolve, and the soul is no longer detained or forced to consort with ghosts. When the Primordial Beginning’s talismanic command arrives, the soul ascends at its appointed time.

The soul’s Qi returns to Great Nonbeing, a realm of empty, still obscurity, merges with the Dao, and returns to its original embryonic source. As karma is exhausted and Qi refined, the heavenly demons, the Six Directions, and realms such as the fiery prisons and icy pools dissolve. The soul ultimately enters the realm of Jade Radiance and Subtle Mystery: silent and spacious, containing only the hidden and wondrous. Refined and delivered, the dead person’s soul can become immortal and enter the wondrous heavens, taking the Dao as its body and Qi as its spirit.

People in the world are deluded by false thoughts and can only grieve in vain. Through refining Qi and becoming immortal, one may receive immeasurable deliverance. Those delivered while alive endure through the passage of kalpas. As the cycles of kalpas turn, they live as long as Heaven and forever escape the heavenly prison formed by gross attachments, defilements, desires, and karma. Their souls are no longer held captive; they transcend the Three Realms and roam freely in Shangqing, the higher heavens of Daoist tradition.

The heavens of Shangqing are a realm of heavenly Qi that is utterly true and formless, known as the Brahmā Realm. In the East there are sixteen heavens. Their heavenly Qi is the Qi of Great Brahmā, without beginning or end. These heavens are manifestations of the original spirit of the Dao’s nature. They have no fixed form: the Great Dao transforms itself into realms of reality. Contemplating this Qi does not mean that refining it brings the heavens into view; it means apprehending the natural truth of Heaven and the profound mystery of the great void. These heavens do not follow the sequence of the stars’ movements, nor do they lie within the divisions of Yin and Yang. They belong to the formless realm and are the dwelling place of the highest sages.

Two of the sixteen heavens are:

Wankong Mingfan Heaven, ruled by Emperor Kongchong Ying.

Ziyuan Bowu Heaven, ruled by Emperor Mingzi Gui.

Yan Jing Yu Xu Heaven is governed by Emperor Xu Fu Zi Kang; Chong Zheng Dong Ji Heaven, by Emperor Yao Zhu Pian Luo; Ming Bian Yuan Huang Heaven, by Emperor Tai Wu Liu Yan; Li Zhong Yuan Xu Heaven, by Emperor Dao Shi Jian Hua; Jue Zhen Quan Zhong Heaven, by Emperor Fu Tai Yong Shi; Qing Wei Huang Yu Heaven, by Emperor Gui Du Jian; Jiu Ming Wang Shi Heaven, by Emperor Chang You Jiang Yin; Yue Fu Wen Shi Heaven, by Emperor Su Lai Jiu Sheng; Qi Ling Zhao Pu Heaven, by Emperor Qing Huang Shang Zong; Xuan Xu Guang Fan Heaven, by Emperor Zhao Ji Nu Hun; Shang Ji Si Zhong Heaven, by Emperor Qiang Chen Yan; Yi Hua Zheng Zhen Heaven, by Emperor Du Chang Sheng; Gu Gang Ba Fan Heaven, by Emperor Kong Jian Ming Lou; and Jiu Yan Yu Ding Heaven, by Emperor Zhi Ding Yan.

The scripture lists these heavenly realms and their rulers. “Heaven” here refers to a celestial realm in the Daoist cosmology, while “Emperor” refers to the ruler of each realm. Most of these names and titles are proper names, and the scripture does not further explain their meaning.

The Sixteen Heavens of the South: Dan Mo Yi Hua Heaven is governed by Emperor Chong Zhen Si Tai; Dou Jian Xu Yu Heaven, by Emperor Sha Jie Zi An; Di Guang Wu Ji Heaven, by Emperor Wang Qi Ming; Zhu Ling Yao Guang Heaven, by Emperor Dong Yun Wu Zhen; Zi Jing Duan Bai Heaven, by Emperor Wan Xi Luo; Jiang Xian Tai Yuan Heaven, by Emperor Hu Niu Yan Chi; Shuang Zhi Xie Shen Heaven, by Emperor Lu Tang Zi Jia; Yu Jiang Si Chan Heaven, by Emperor Ri Yao Chun; Gu Hou Li Zhen Heaven, by Emperor Zeng He Tai Kong; Gu Xuan Dao Yong Heaven, by Emperor Tu Ming Zhi Sheng; Li Bu Ming Wei Heaven, by Emperor Tu He Bu Duo; Shen Lu Chang Ying Heaven, by Emperor Sui Gong Mi Zhu; Du Zheng Ke Zong Heaven, by Emperor Shun Jiao Ming Ji; and Da Huo Chi Yi Heaven, by Emperor Han Jue Xian.

“The Sixteen Heavens of the South” is the directional classification for this group of celestial realms. This passage actually lists fourteen heavens and their rulers.

The Azure Emperor’s Distant-Heaven Grotto is governed by Emperor Jiang Pingyan Sun; the Hundred Transformations of Haicheng Heaven is governed by Emperor Xiliu Yantuo.

To the west are sixteen heavens:

Golden Radiance and Brilliant Dawn Heaven is governed by Emperor Fu Miao Bingchang; Ultimate Sovereign, Mysterious Movement Heaven is governed by Emperor Yu Zhu Hongzhao; All-Encompassing Extension and Tranquil Balance Heaven is governed by Emperor Guangming Wang; Treasured Song and Flourishing Growth Heaven is governed by Emperor Mingfan Zichang; Auspicious Truth, Beautiful Origin Heaven is governed by Emperor Lujiang Shangming; Sacrifices Without Spirits, Abundant Heaven is governed by Emperor Yun Zhixiancheng; Lofty Descent and Refined Splendor Heaven is governed by Emperor Baijian Wenying; The Way’s Period and Extended Era Heaven is governed by Emperor Quduo Mi; Childlike Benefit, Imperial Hoe Heaven is governed by Emperor Xiyu Zhouwei; Cauldron Spirit and Subtle Transformation Heaven is governed by Emperor Long Hengshi; Great Peace and Supreme Accord Heaven is governed by Emperor Zhen Gongxiaowen; Utmost Brightness and Radiant Immortals Heaven is governed by Emperor Lü Luo Qian; Purple Capital and Broad Moon Heaven is governed by Emperor Shi Zhucongming; Cui Kang and Seasonal Observance Heaven is governed by Emperor Kuanyu Xiaqiong; Emerald Realm and Falling Minerals Heaven is governed by Emperor Jiangfei Choujing; Universal Sea and Subtle Cavern Heaven is governed by Emperor You Zidu.

To the north are sixteen heavens:

Fish Ford and True Governance Heaven is governed by Emperor Qinlai Hu; Tiger Galva and Thunderous Region Heaven is governed by Emperor Xianzhu Banwu; Deep Abyss and Falling Remnants Heaven is governed by Emperor Taizhen Huiyuan; Golden Brightness and Upright Deliverance Heaven is governed by Emperor Zongling Siji; Imperial Benefit and Profound Cultivation Heaven is governed by Emperor Yan Laofu; Pivot of Yao and Essence Spirits Heaven is governed by Emperor Gouhua Bohuang; Spirit Chant and Xiao Capital Heaven is governed by Emperor Ding Sikang; Auspiciously Acclaimed Mountain Talisman Heaven is governed by Emperor Yan Xianshougong; and Precious Clarity and Removal of Suffering Heaven is governed by Emperor Qin Yige.

This passage lists heavens in different directions and names their ruling deities. “Heaven” here refers to a level of the celestial realm in the Daoist cosmology, while the “Emperor” named after it is its governor. Most of these heaven names and divine names are specific titles found in the classics and should not be explained by breaking them down into their literal components. The passage begins by saying “sixteen heavens to the west,” but lists seventeen western heaven names; it says there are “sixteen heavens to the north,” but this passage lists only nine.

The Heaven of Fengxin Kaofu, the Heaven of Zhengru Bao, the Heaven of Genglei Liquan, the Heaven of Guichu Shile, the Heaven of Lingfu Hailun, the Heaven of Shangji Xiaozhi, and the Heaven of Bichang Dongyuan each have a Heavenly Emperor: Emperor Xi Qingranning, Emperor Tuo Qiaomengying, Emperor Du Tingjiugong, Emperor Lu Xizailing, Emperor Shen Wenqubing, Emperor Zhao Tiantiping, and Emperor Luo Chisongcheng. Each of the sixty-four heavens also has sixty-four Heavenly Emperors, along with concealed taboo names—names kept secret and unspoken—and hidden names.

This is the Numinous Chapter on Refining Qi in the Central Void. The hidden rhythms of the heavens are sounds within Qi, revered spirits within Qi, divine beings and great demons within Qi, and the wondrous potency within Qi. Through nine transformations and ten layers of cultivation, refine and transmute together, until the nature of the Dao returns to Highest Clarity and transforms into Qi—the vital energy of life as understood in Daoism. Qi merges with the Void. If you are still unable to refine Qi, you should recite this cavern text.

If you understand cultivation, you will know that its foundation lies in purity and refinement. “Refining” has no fixed form; it is merely a convenient way of speaking. When your mind and spirit are not focused, greed, desire, love, and aversion arise. Karmic obstructions become impurities, and emotions become flaws. They damage your Dao-Qi and diminish your spiritual radiance. Refine Qi through purity and stillness, and preserve your cultivation with an upright heart.

With prolonged practice, Qi will settle and gradually unite with the Qi of Great Clarity. Refine and uphold it regularly, and your state of mind will become even and peaceful. Turn your gaze inward upon the Eight Visions—the divine beings and scenes within the body—and you will see the Six Emptinesses, the four directions above and below, filled with light.

Refine away the habits of ordinary people, and you will rise above and leave the world behind, joining with the Dao’s perfected beings. These boundless mysteries are too profound to explain fully. They spread widely among the divine perfected, bringing salvation to both heaven and humanity. Today, rejoice that you have received salvation. Having passed the trials of the heavens, you ask to refine Qi, cut away evil thoughts and their roots, ascend beyond the Three Palaces, and transform into an immortal.

The True King within Supreme Mystery Qi watches over your elevation and salvation, and protects your refinement of Qi. In entering and leaving, you encounter no barriers or gates. The Qi of the Dipper constellations is blue in the east, white in the west, black in the north, and red in the south; the Qi of the Yellow Court at the center is yellow. Refine and transform the Qi of the Five Dippers, and you can alter your color and form. Yet when this form reaches the realm of perfect reality, it is no illusion. To transform into an immortal and become one with the numinous perfected is simply to accord with the Great Dao.

Blue Qi protects the hun soul; white Qi serves the po soul; red Qi nourishes harmonious Qi; black Qi courses through the blood vessels; and yellow Qi resides in the central embryo. Among the ten thousand Ways, nothing surpasses blue Qi. The Immortal King of Blue Qi is Pure Light, Mysterious and Immaculate; the Immortal King of Red Qi is Abyssal Depth, the Emperor…

The Immortal King of Pure White Qi (the Immortal King who governs pure white Qi) is Haoting Ningmi; the Immortal King of Black Qi (the Immortal King who governs black Qi) is Beixuan Jingwei. The Immortal King of Yellow Qi, Zidan, and the Immortal King of the Five Qi, Yulu, are the source of the myriad spirits and roam freely through the skies in their chariots. They command the celestial Qi of the Dao, ride chariots drawn by dragons and qilin, raise tiger banners, and wave thunderbolt pennants. Their radiance blazes as they carry out the great work of ascending to Heaven and saving people.

They transform their forms and fly through the air, subdue demons and evil forces, bind spirits and monsters, and strictly govern Beifeng, the northern realm of the dead. They also transform those who have received the mandate into immortals and sweep away inauspicious forces below. The foul, bloodstained Qi left behind by the Six Heavens fills the eight directions, surging about and gathering without dispersing. It coils in darkness and runs rampant, bringing misery and defilement. Ghosts and spirits conceal their tracks and hide their forms, while these malign forces wreak havoc in the world and harm living beings.

The Heavenly Emperor commands the Nine Elders, the nine revered divinities, to go to Luofeng, the Daoist realm of the dead, and carry out his decree. They clear the way with lightning and fire, drive on tigers and rebuke dragons, and cast flames through the clouds that fill the sky. The Qi of evil and harm is swept away for a thousand miles and refined into a clear blue sky. The Great Emperor gives a long cry and issues his command; the Jade Perfected, exalted perfected immortals, display their majesty. Their precious wheels roll onward and surge into the heavens, where a harmonious purple radiance spreads. Should anyone dare to offend or obstruct the Supreme Perfected, the offender’s head will be severed by the Heavenly Axe and the body struck down by the Golden Axe.

Heaven’s cycles turn and Earth shifts; winds howl and fire bursts forth, shaking the divine mound. The Purple Tenuity, the central seat of the Heavenly Court, governs the capital, where the names of countless hosts of ghosts are checked. The Three Officials of Heaven, Earth, and Water wield their brushes to record them. The spirits of the Five Sacred Peaks stand solemnly in the court, leaving evil spirits nowhere to hide. The register is sent by a Golden Horse courier for presentation. The decree is proclaimed throughout the boundless worlds, and all spirits must obey. The Five Emperors of the Three Realms will also report the matter to Shangqing, the Highest Clarity.

The Divine General of the Dragon Transformation in the Jade Luminosity of the Grotto: Within the deep, distant chaos that endured through countless kalpas, the Qi above had no color, and below there was no abyss. At the center lay penetrating emptiness. Through refinement, Qi formed Heaven. Above and below, there was no darkness or obscurity, no form or shadow; all was vast beyond limit, boundless and endless.

The vast, primordial expanse of Great Brahma was broad and without light. Through refinement, Qi took on a vermilion radiance and moved and changed of itself. The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning calmed the Nine Heavens, transforming them into realms of immortals. Refined Qi formed clouds, rosy mists, and vapor; in other cases, refinement left no form or trace. The wondrous realm transformed into immortals, while condensed Qi formed the Great Brahma’s numinous writings and Grotto texts. After being refined by fire, the water too became clear and pure, revealing ten kinds of radiance.

Luminous, vividly adorned eight-sided jewels hang down their radiance. Golden characters shine against the blue sky, and jade inscriptions illuminate the halls. Tigers crouch and dragons lie hidden; the breath of phoenixes mingles with the traces of cranes. Star-like patterned hooks link together to form a network of order. This is the true form of the Three Origins—the Daoist principles of Heaven, Earth, and Water—transmitted through the sworn covenant of the myriad heavens. It is used to guard against and halt calamities, preserving Heaven for ages to come.

Primordial Qi (the original, precelestial vital energy) fills the expanse of the heavens, from which all forms unfold. Original Qi spreads and transforms as the sixty-four heavens revolve. It travels through the ten directions in the realm beyond color, circling through the void.

As Qi passes through the cycles of constant rotation and the Red Flow of Mysterious Qi, it divides into eighty-one parts. The encompassing Qi rises to the realm of Primordial Beginning, where nine kinds of luminous Qi mingle and enter the depths of mystery. The Supreme Emperor in the Mysterious Realm and the High Perfected—Daoist immortals of exalted rank—chant in the wondrous court of diffused Qi. Sounds ring between pillars of jade, forged in fire, and their echoes spread through the cloud palaces.

Wondrous emptiness nourishes Original Qi, while divine wind joins with mist. The qualities of Purple Essence, Jade Sprouts, Yellow, White, and other substances transform; blue and red essences harmonize, and at last a Perfected Person is formed. Through natural refinement and transformation, the divine perfected being comes into existence of itself. Within the Perfected Person dwells a spirit that grants long life. The Great Lord of Long Life supports Azure Florescence and welcomes the imperial consorts. In the realm of Nine Florescences, he holds a banquet for jade guests from the Three Heavens.

Taiyi, Niwan (a cultivation site in the head), Siming, and other deities dwell in the heart. Taokang and Heyan spread the breath and bring forth divine beings. The Way of the Yellow Emperor and Laozi refines and transforms, protecting nature and life and nourishing the root of life. Shen and Qi travel upward to Shangqing, the Daoist Pure Heights, and move in and out of the ornate chambers, reaching the eight directions, the underworld, and the subtlest places. They also descend to settle within the human body, dwelling in Niwan and the Crimson Palace. They unite with the Great Void to become the mother Qi of the Dao, dwelling alongside the Qi of emptiness and changing without fixed form.

The hundred spirits mingle; numinous Qi transforms and circles nine times, turning the myriad forms of Qi into immortal Qi. The Way of the Immortals prizes cherishing life and liberates living beings through boundless means. Shen and Qi cover the brain palace and open the heavenly gate above, revealing the flying soul of destiny. There, sins and blessings, prohibitions and precepts, and the karmic ties of past lives are all received and released. Death Qi is transformed into Shen, and Shen in turn transforms into an immortal. Report this upward to the heavens: above each tier of Heaven lies a Gate of Life, within which are hidden texts on refining Qi in the empty caverns.

The writings of the sacred scrolls of the Immortals and Sages accord with the methods of the High Perfected.

First Heaven: The Voice of the True King of the Azure Cavern, Who Refines Qi as the True Imperial Sovereign

Heaven’s light is deep and subtle; numinous Qi is endless. Rising in flight, I enter the realm of the empty cavern.

Numinous Qi flows from side to side, and waves of blue ripple. This precious numinous splendor is refined.

Riding the void, what holds it in place? I cross the Dipper and tread upon Ji.

Second Heaven: The Voice of the True King of the Green Cavern, Who Refines Qi as the Supreme True Imperial Sovereign

The divine horse need not walk, and my breath does not set out on a journey; the Dao is the root of Qi.

The royal palaces stretch one after another, and numinous maidens travel wearing the moon; the dragon chariot sets out at dawn.

Gathering cloud Qi, I fly and scatter fragrance; the sea lies smooth as though covered in snow.

The Hymn of the Third Mysterious Truth, the Emperor Who Refines Qi, the True King of the Grotto of Indigo

Within the nine gates of the Supreme Emperor, sunlight shines with the brightness and warmth of the rising sun. Inhale the rosy dawn vapors and refine and nourish them, and they will remain within you for a long time. Blue, red, and indigo light pours into my Yellow Chamber, the bodily region that symbolizes the spleen or central Qi. The Grotto’s sacred lingzhi can be made into a nourishing broth, sustaining body and mind like an infant and bringing good fortune, peace, and health.

The Hymn of the Fourth Wondrous Truth, the Emperor Who Refines Qi, the True King of the Grotto of Azure

The sky is deep blue; jade objects strike together with a clear, ringing sound. Refine and nourish yourself with Qi until body and mind enter emptiness and forget their physical form. In this way, you transform into a spirit and then an immortal, displaying mystery outwardly and containing yellow Qi within. The Dao you receive is profound and subtle; ordinary people of the world cannot grasp or possess it.

Verses of the Fifth Utmost Truth, the Emperor Who Refines Qi, the True King of the Grotto of Yellow

Riding in a phoenix carriage and holding a tiger-shaped jade tablet, I pay homage to the Eastern Fusang, the legendary land where the sun rises. Purple immortal writings coil like a dragon, while the immortal elder’s jade earrings hang down. Yang Qi flows like the wind; I lean back and receive the vermilion light. Paying homage to the Celestial Emperor, I can transform into an immortal. I refine and nourish Qi until it returns to the yellow center.

Verses of the Sixth Pure Truth, the Emperor Who Refines Qi, the True King of the Grotto of Purple

Before red and black have yet separated, I seek the source of life as though searching for an egg within a chicken. I swallow and absorb the golden Qi, joining it with Xiyi, the subtle realm beyond perception. I refine and nourish the body until its bones dissolve into emptiness, and Qi flows through the physical form. The Dao I cultivate is subtle and profound; how could shallow arts of immortality understand it?

Verses of the Seventh Empty Truth, the Emperor Who Refines Qi, the True King of the Grotto of Red

A White Tiger holds a jade disk in its mouth and sets the red sun in motion. Refine and nourish Qi until it is abundant and vigorous; understand the Three and return to the One, the cultivation principle of gathering multiplicity into unity, and you can attain the immortal Dao. The immortal’s face is like jade, and it transforms the numbers nine and seven, which are symbolic figures in the scripture. Dwelling in the Hunyuan Grotto, a deep and primordial realm, I sit upright in a jade-like quiet chamber, with no light all around.

Song of the Eighth True Emperor, the Emperor Who Refines Qi, the True King of the Grotto of Green

Blue and yellow transform into green. The journey seems unhurried, yet reaches its destination swiftly. I take my spirit as a carriage, pass through the clouds, and roll onward. The Jade Maiden is beautiful; I ride eastward in my carriage. She smiles, and her earrings fall; in the deep abyss are a pair of fish.

Verses of the Ninth Jade Truth, the Emperor Who Refines Qi, the True King of the Grotto of White

The crimson tower has a thousand steps, which flying immortals can climb. Refine and nourish Qi until it is as long and strong as a cord; a dragon-shaped belt is fitted with a jade flask. Immortal liquid among the clouds restores the face of youth, while Qi transforms into winds from the eight directions.

Those who pay court and feast at Kunlun, the Daoist realm of immortals, have their names entered among the immortals of Jinqiu.

Song of the Tenth Golden Perfect Imperial Sovereign, the True King of the Dongxuan Cavern Who Refines Qi

I hold the bellows in my hands, regulating and refining the breath, setting it in motion and bringing about its transformations. The stars hang in array, like arcs of golden bows; the Qi of the Celestial Net flows on, stretching five feet. I part the clouds and mist, bend down to receive the radiance, inhale mysterious Qi, and swallow the fluids. When the Dao is cultivated to completion, one can transform and become an immortal, entering the deep, emerald realm where the imperial sovereigns and perfected immortals dwell.

This is the song sung by the True King above the Three Luminaries, as he flies through the空. Its sound accords with the Cavern Chapters, Daoist scriptures of mysterious depth.

Recite this song one hundred times, and your name may be entered in the Southern Palace. Recite it one thousand times, and the True King will protect and welcome you. Recite it ten thousand times, and when your Dao practice is complete, you can ascend through the great void, transcend the Three Realms, and take your place among the Immortal Lords. At the sound of this wondrous music, the Demon Kings will bind their bodies and submit to command. The attendants of the Nine Heavens will come to escort you, freeing you from the Gate of Earth, the entrance to the underworld. Thus you can uproot the dark and baleful Qi accumulated from the past, remove every kind of obstruction, and escape punishment, calamity, violent death, and harm. Your ancestral Qi will rise to a higher place, and you will leave forever the lands governed by ghost officials. Your hun and po souls will pass through Zhuling, where the dead are refined; transformed by the refining power of Qi, they will gain new life. This is called universal deliverance without limit, saving beings without end.

These writings are scriptures kept secret by Heaven and revered by all the heavens. To disclose them or treat them with contempt is to fall into hell, where one’s former Qi perishes and one’s ancestors find no peace.

The Dao says: These Cavern Chapters are secret sounds preserved by the Emperors of Heaven and the True Kings who refine Qi and transform themselves into immortals. They are the words of the Great Brahma, the true speech of the celestial realm, not ordinary words of this world. They follow neither worldly patterns of sound nor ornate, flowing melodies. For this reason, they are called mysterious and beyond measure, impossible to investigate fully, and treasured secret writings of Heaven.

These secret scriptures are kept in the Upper Palace of Purple Tenuity in the Mysterious Capital, a celestial palace in Daoist cosmology. According to the Mysterious Regulations—the secret precepts and rules of Daoism—they are transmitted only once every forty thousand kalpas. If a person who has attained the Dao brings gold and jewels, follows the ancient rules with sincerity, and makes a solemn covenant before Shangqing, the revered deities and realm of the Daoist heavens, the scriptures may then be transmitted to them.

The Dao says: Even the Qi refined by Heaven and Earth will one day be exhausted, and the Qi of the sun, moon, and stars undergoes cycles of fullness and decline. Even the holiest divine beings have their allotted span, while the Qi cultivated by beginners may also weaken and be damaged. When such calamities occur, those who cultivate the Dao together should join in fasting, offer incense at six appointed times, and recite the scripture ten times. Then blessings will descend, calamity Qi will recede, and auspicious signs will spread. This scripture of boundless reach can universally deliver beings without end.

The Dao says: Beginners have only shallow attainment, and their Qi may not yet have been successfully refined. If a person’s allotted span is ending, their breath has stopped, and they are about to enter the Great Yin, the realm of the underworld, fellow practitioners who have attained the Dao should offer incense for them and recite the scripture ten times. Following the prescribed rites, they should refine the Qi of the corpse so that the person’s hun and Shen ascend directly to the Southern Palace. Then, in accordance with the merits of their practice, their attainment is assessed; they may receive life anew, continue through the cycles of rebirth without perishing, and transform into a divine immortal.

The Dao says: When the Qi of Heaven and Earth is about to come to an end, one should also observe purification, burn incense, and recite scriptures. When the stars move out of order and the Sun and Moon lose their light, one should also observe purification, burn incense, and recite scriptures. When the Qi of the four seasons runs abnormally and Yin-Yang falls out of balance, one should also observe purification, burn incense, and recite scriptures. When a land is struck by disaster and the Qi of war rises on all sides, one should also observe purification, burn incense, and recite scriptures. When epidemics spread and the people suffer death and injury, one should also observe purification, burn incense, and recite scriptures. When the breath of one’s master or companions is cut off, one should also observe purification, burn incense, and recite scriptures.

The merit of observing purification and reciting scriptures is immense: above, it can dispel disasters from Heaven and protect the emperor’s peace; below, it can drive away baleful Qi, save the people, and refine and deliver people amid life and death. Such blessings and virtues are beyond measure, hence they are called “immeasurable”; they can save all beings, both heavenly and human.

The Dao says: Anyone who possesses this scripture and can cultivate these merits for Heaven and Earth, the emperor, and the people—who, on days when disaster Qi is spreading, resolves to observe purification, burn incense, and recite the scripture ten times—will have their name entered in the registers of the various heavens, and will be guarded by the myriad spirits. Such a person may have the chance to become a Perfected One and, in the end, serve as a minister in the Golden Towers of the Sage Sovereigns. The heavens record people’s merits and faults, omitting nothing, however slight. The True King within the Qi will also recommend you. Only those who cultivate the Dao and attain the Dao can truly penetrate these highest principles.

“The Great Brahmā’s Hidden Words and Immeasurable Sounds Among the Various Heavens,” compiled by the Dao Lord.

“Jade Chapters on Refining Qi and Transforming into Immortals in the Primordial Beginning Cavern-Subtlety”

Eight Heavens of the East

Tan Wu Jing Lian　Qi Ji Dong Min　Taiji Jing Luo

Xuan Mu Kao Sheng　Yu Ji Chan Mou　Bi Bi Wan Chen

Xia Kuo Yi Miao　Kun Chi Jing Teng　Xu Dang Chou Jie

Hua Yan Mu Jun　Fa Da You Yan　Dou Yun Li Yin

Chui Mao Ge Xi　Fan Tang Pu Cheng　Ai Mi Qu Lai

Zi Qiu Shi Jin

Eight Heavens of the South

Jin Ji Ming Yu　Kong Zhi Yan Ling　Qing Du Lang Wen

Shu Guo Ping Ying　Mu Gu Yan Fei　Chi Ji Mao Ceng

Wan Li Huang Jian　Qiao Qiang Yu Shen　Bian Jing Pu Tu

Wei Qiu Ba Xing　Hua Qi Ruo Long　Dao Luo Yun Sheng

Jian Ba Ye Ni　Jiu Ri Xuan Jing　Wu Jia Qiu Mei

Bi Chu Yin Mi

Eight Heavens of the West

Quan Qu Jian A　Chi Jing Fu Li　Jue Yi Zhan Ding

“Observing purification, burning incense, and reciting scriptures” are common practices in Daoist Zhaijiao (purification rituals); the passage presents them as meritorious acts that dispel disasters, bring blessings, and deliver people. The “hidden words” listed below are specialized sounds in the scripture. Since the original provides no word-by-word explanation, the characters are retained. The list of western heaven names in this passage stops at “Jue Yi Zhan Ding.”

The crimson palace stands solemn and deep; the sovereign descends suddenly. Gou Tu is built, and teachings are bestowed to transform the people.

Liu Yu follows the rhythms of the laws; mulberry trees and streets each take their own form. The forest trees stir, as if transforming into dwellings.

Those who grasp the essential meaning may don the robe of the Primordial Beginning. On the towering Celestial Mountain, dark pavilions stretch far and wide.

Dwellings extend into the distance, linked together; galleries and corridors wind like jade. Radiant flames shine forth, bringing stability and order.

The souls are stirred, reaching throughout the Great Ritual Order of the cosmos.

The Eight Heavens of the North

Deep and blue, beyond all measure; cinnabar light shines, revealing auspicious signs. Cliffs, dragon smoke, and bridges interlace.

Jing and Qi lie deep, while life begins to stir. Qi transforms into the Dao, and divine beings spread throughout. Colors and lights fill the air.

The majesty of De guards the rear of the grotto heaven. Inscriptions are carved into the vast celestial net; rosy clouds descend, beautiful and boundless.

Commands are issued to the abyss, and a suanni, a mythical divine beast, is raised aloft. Jade disks and moonlike gems encircle it; it follows the white banner through the netherworld.

The Qi of breathing in and out transforms into jade. The Golden Way spreads in all directions; the Yellow Terrace stands amid the emptiness of the four quarters.

A tiger’s head tilts, as if cast in a mold.

The Daoist scriptures say that within these heavens are the “Hidden Words of the Great Brahma,” immeasurable sacred sounds. They can refine Qi and transform people into immortals. These are the mysterious writings of the Nine Palaces, the writings of the Heavenly Perfected.

The Heavenly Perfected Sovereign, a legendary sacred figure, understood the source of Qi and held its foundations. Qi expanded into vastness, interweaving lengthwise and crosswise to form writing, set down with a cinnabar brush. The characters are octagonal, their radiance cascading in layers, with jade and fine gems arrayed among them. They are one zhang square, and light shines from all four sides.

In ancient times, people wrote these characters down as the orthodox sounds. If someone understands their tones, observes purification, and recites them, the Qi of the Dao will refine that person’s true nature, and the divine beings will withdraw into the netherworld.

The True Kings of the Heavens descend to inspect this person’s body and mind, record the diligence of their spiritual practice, and report it to the celestial realm. The myriad gods of the heavens come to pay homage, while the terrestrial spirits wait beside the gate. The True King of Great Merit recommends this person, enabling them to become one of the Highest Perfected.

When one’s practice of the Dao is complete, one can roam through the Three Realms and ascend through the Golden Gate. These sounds can refine anything, govern any affair, transform any thing, and discern any principle. They are sounds that refine Qi and bring about immortality, arising spontaneously. Thus, reciting them can summon the Flying Immortals to descend and inspect, the Supreme Emperor to sing in distant response, and the myriad gods to pay homage, while the spirits of the Three Realms stand in attendance before Xuanyuan. All malign forces bow their heads, and ghosts and demons disperse of their own accord.

Qi surges through the divine palace, and jade tones ring out naturally. The suspended jade chimes resound; the Daoist realm is quiet and fragrant. The sea lies still, and the mountains rise high. Emerald smoke curls through the air; golden cities and towers of immortal cranes stand in rows. Within the immortal capital, walls rise in tier upon tier, while emptiness and the visible world fill one another. Myriad immortals stand in ordered ranks, surrounded by purple canopies and scarlet banners. Heaven and Earth refine Qi, transforming it within the celestial capital of Haodu. Beings of the netherworld suddenly rise beyond their former state, vast without limit, mysterious beyond mystery.

Chapter on Forever Ending the Cycle of Rebirth

The Dao says: In ancient times, within the Great Floating Cavern in the Primordial Blue Heaven—a celestial grotto in Daoist cosmology—the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning taught the Scripture of Salvation, enabling people to end the cycle of rebirth forever. This scripture, supreme and beyond measure, was proclaimed by the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning. Each time he recited it, he circled around ten times, summoning the spirits of the ten directions; only then did he ascend the teaching seat.

The great gods of heavenly truth, the supreme sages and exalted worthies, the perfected ones of wondrous practice, and countless other gods arrived through the air. They rode jade horses and cloud chariots, surrounded by flowing colored mists and swirling clouds. Vermilion carriages and red wheels stood in ordered rows; flowers drifted through the air and fragrance filled the space. The sun, moon, and stars—the Three Luminaries—shone clearly and illuminated the whole sky. For seven days and seven nights, the heavens revealed dragon-shaped script each day and displayed precious characters each month. Starry towers, palaces shaped like cranes, and the courses of the constellations all came to a halt at once. Wind and rain followed the dragons, while phoenix energy gathered into mountain peaks. No floating clouds obscured the sky; the sun, moon, and stars, along with the sights in all four directions, shone brightly and stood out in full clarity.

Throughout the kingdom, the land, rivers and mountains, and forests became level and even, with no high or low places remaining. The earth grew soft as purple gold. Water and fire became clear and pure, reflecting one another without any other colors. The perfected ones sat in attendance. The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning sat upright in empty space, above the radiance of the colorless sea, steady as a golden mountain and appearing with a solemn, auspicious countenance.

When he had recited the scripture once, the great sages of the heavens praised him together. At that time, all the men and women in the kingdom saw the true form of the Dao—the true form of one who has attained the Dao—and grew weary of and renounced the cycle of birth and death.

At the second recitation, they recognized that their words, actions, and thoughts—the three karmic deeds—were like being inside a fire. They understood that these deeds bring suffering. At the third, they contemplated the body’s filth and decay, and became willing to realize the Dharma Body, the true body in accord with the Great Dao. At the fourth, they felt compassion for beings in the Three Realms, whose circumstances change again and again like a wheel that never stops turning. At the fifth, they saw through the world’s false views and turned their hearts toward the right path. At the sixth, they understood that the Dao can lift the spirit upward, beyond the pollution of base and evil things. At the seventh, they learned the causes and conditions of their past lives and did not prize supernatural powers. At the eighth, they rested in the realm of enduring truth and ended the cycle of rebirth forever. At the ninth, their lifespans surpassed those of Heaven and Earth, and they attained true longevity. At the tenth, they attained a rank in the lofty, mysterious realm and would never again undergo birth, death, or change.

At that time, all the men and women in the kingdom sincerely turned toward the Great Dao and received its protection and deliverance. Thus they all attained long life.

The Dao also says: When the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning recited the scripture for the first time, the Great God of Many Hearings, of infinite rank and without limit, from the farthest reaches of the East, arrived through the air with countless other gods. At the second recitation, the Great God of Many Eyes, of infinite rank and without limit, from the farthest reaches of the South, arrived through the air with countless other gods. At the third recitation, the Great God of Steadfast Abiding, of infinite rank and without limit, from the farthest reaches of the West, arrived through the air with countless other gods.

The gods and immortals came through the air to hear the Primordial Heavenly Worthy expound the scripture. At the fourth recitation, the Great God Who Calms the Seas, of the boundless and measureless rank of the North, arrived through the air with his countless followers. At the fifth, the Great God Who Makes Use of Spirit, of the boundless and measureless rank of the Northeast, arrived with his countless followers. At the sixth, the Great God Who Transforms Through Authority, of the boundless and measureless rank of the Southeast, arrived with his countless followers. At the seventh, the Great God of the Wise Dao, of the boundless and measureless rank of the Southwest, arrived with his countless followers. At the eighth, the Great God Who Stores the Mystery, of the boundless and measureless rank of the Northwest, arrived with his countless followers. At the ninth, the Great God of Eternal Life, of the boundless and measureless rank above, arrived with his countless followers. At the tenth, the Great God Who Rests from Transformation, of the boundless and measureless rank below, arrived with his countless followers.

When the ten recitations were complete, the Heavenly Immortals of the boundless realms in all ten directions arrived at once. The men and women throughout the land sincerely took refuge and gazed upward. They saw the Primordial Heavenly Worthy, a revered Daoist deity, ascend the ritual seat in his celestial palace, where he resided. With solemn dignity, he expounded the scripture and demonstrated wondrous teachings. Light from the immeasurable worlds in the ten directions streamed into the palace, illuminating it like the sun at dawn. The people said to one another, “Though we have attained the fruits of the heavenly realms, we have not yet escaped the cycle of rebirth. Our lifespans exceed five kalpas, yet we still cannot avoid birth and death; our bodies and radiance still decay and vanish. Now we hear that the Heavenly Worthy is about to expound the Great Teaching, which will bring the cycle of rebirth to an end forever. Only now do we have the chance to awaken, enter the gate of the True Teaching, and escape the net of birth and death.”

Those who came to hear the teaching were as numerous as fine rain and dense mist, beyond counting. They filled half the land, and their weight even made the ground sink to one side. Nothing could hold them back. The Primordial Heavenly Worthy then shook his sleeves, leaned against his armrest, and sent light from the crown of his head to shine throughout the worlds in the ten directions.

In every land where the immortal sages of the boundless realms dwelt, people saw the Immortal Kings arrive at the assembly with their attendants. They also saw the gods of the heavens each bring rare flowers and fruits, jade fungi, and immortal herbs as offerings. Some Immortal Kings lived in vast palaces, cultivated the Way of the Immortals, and governed the affairs of the celestial realms, yet had grown weary of sensual pleasures. Others hurried about gathering radiance and swallowing flavors…

Amid the wondrous rites and assemblies of “The True Ones Who Exhort and Teach,” the heavenly beings understood and saw everything with their own eyes, yet did not dare to speak of it or discuss it. The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning slowly gave voice, like rolling thunder, and proclaimed to the assembled multitude: “If you wish to escape birth and death and cease transmigrating, you must first be without mind.

“To be without mind means not to be led by deluded thoughts. Living beings are confused: they take consciousness to be the mind, distinguish between existence and nonexistence, and calculate over life and death. In truth, this mind is illusory, and even its name arose from deluded thought. Since the mind is illusory, it is the source that perceives and knows that is the root of the Dao. How could that be the mind’s doing?

“When the mind clings to external things, it remains caught in birth and death. Without a deluded mind, one is not bound by birth and death and can end the cycle of rebirth forever. Even the great celestial immortals, the lofty perfected ones—immortals who have attained the Dao—and emperors have attained the rank of holy perfected beings through being without mind, and have reached the Dao naturally. If you follow the mind’s impulses to choose and reject, you will move toward death or life and ultimately fail to reach the ultimate state. Absorbing and refining Qi, or taking medicines to prolong life, are only more elementary benefits of cultivation. Even if they produce a response, they still cannot free you to ascend and enter the Dao, which has neither form nor appearance.

“If you are not moved by thoughts, and do not act at the prompting of thoughts and emotions, then, forgetting both thought and action, you will see the Dao’s true substance. You will end the cycle of rebirth forever and no longer remain caught in birth and death.

“I now proclaim this teaching here in the sea of colorless light, a state without form or appearance. If anything still holds your mind in its grasp, all the guardian spirits of Heaven, dragons, and ghosts will each depart; they should not come here. From this you can know that being without mind is the Dao’s true form and the supreme principle. The deeds carried out by the body are beyond the full knowledge of the holy beings of the ten directions; words spoken aloud are like the commands of the Heavenly Emperor. If the mind harbors calculation, demonic essences will possess the body, and you will ultimately fall into an evil path.

“Suddenly, the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning dissolved from the sea of light into the colorless, vast expanse of the Great Mystery. A precious pearl hung in the expanse, the size of a millet grain, suspended amid the Great Void a thousand feet above the ground. The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning led the Heavenly True Great Spirits, the Supreme Holy and Lofty Venerables, the Perfected Ones of Wondrous Practice, and the awe inspiring powers of the boundless Great Dao of the ten directions, together with countless beings, into the pearl. The heavenly beings looked up and saw within it a faint, flickering light…”

After people entered through the entrance to the precious pearl, they no longer knew where they were. The people in the land dispersed, and the ground became level again, no longer sloping or sinking. Within the pearl, the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning (Yuanshi Tianzun), a revered Daoist deity, preached the scripture. When the preaching was complete, the assembled Perfected Ones supervised and transmitted the scripture to me.

The joy and celebration of that moment defy description. Once the ritual proceedings were largely complete, the spirits of the heavens returned to their proper places. In an instant, all was silent, without a trace of echo. At that time, the people of Heaven were fortunate to encounter the scripture and its teachings. They received insight together and entered a wondrous, tranquil, lucid, and empty realm, without clinging to the view that “emptiness” is real. The people of the land turned their hearts toward the Dao and admired it, cultivating goodness together: they did not kill or harm, envy or suspect, engage in sexual misconduct or steal, covet or lust, hate or deceive. Their speech was not showy, and they uttered no malicious words. They treated one another with kindness; even people of different surnames were as close as family. The country was at peace, the people prosperous, and all rejoiced in a life of peace and stability.

When this scripture first began to spread, it taught the people of an entire country to cultivate the Dao. All who approached it with utmost sincerity and honored and revered it could transcend worldly suffering.

The Dao says: Some passages in the scripture preached by the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning contain the inner names and hidden sounds of the Lords of Heaven, as well as the secret inner names of True Kings and the hidden names of the spirits. These are not words used in everyday life. The High Sages, having become Perfected Ones and mastered the mysteries down to their finest details, can fully understand its chapters. If the scripture is recited ten times, the heavens will answer in unison from afar, and the myriad emperors will greet the reciter with ceremony. Clouds and mists will grow still, seas and mountains will be at peace, and the sun, moon, and stars—the “Three Luminaries”—will shine clear and bright. The hearts of all sentient beings will accord with the True Dao, and the cycle of birth and death will be severed forever.

When a Daoist cultivator recites this scripture ten times, the Five Emperors, the celestial rulers of the five directions, will come to protect them, and the Three Realms—the different levels of Heaven, Earth, and Water—will bow together. Demonic essences will be blinded, ghosts and monsters destroyed, the spirit stabilized, and the body strengthened, until at last the cultivator attains long life. This is because the impure Qi within a cultivator has not yet dissipated, and the body has not yet fully entered the realm of Truth. Though the cultivator can summon and subdue forces from the ten directions, they still cannot command the ordinances of Heaven. Their De can subdue and command the Earth deities and bind demonic spirits, but they can save only themselves, not all living beings. To recite this chapter carelessly will instead bring calamity upon oneself.

If you make offerings to this scripture and honor it, your household will flourish and your descendants prosper. You will form ties with goodness, be untouched by the myriad disasters, and have the spirits guard your household. This scripture is exalted and mysterious, unique in the Jade Capital, the celestial city of Daoist tradition. It saves people without limit and is the root of the myriad paths. Its teachings are vast and majestic, and its beneficence cannot be fully described.

The Dao says: Whenever this scripture is recited ten times, the heavens descend together and the Three Realms cease their movement. The Daoist cultivator reaches the realm of Truth and understands the source of life. They cling neither to existence nor to nonexistence, and do not become trapped in ideas of extinction or continuance. If one insists that there is some vast, substantial entity, it becomes a gateway to birth and death. If one says that nothing exists, then all things merge into one and can no longer be distinguished.

They permanently end the cycle of reincarnation and become one with the Great Dao. The departed spirits and suffering souls of ancestors across countless generations are immediately delivered from suffering and rise to the Vermilion Palace, the celestial palace of Daoist belief. There they undergo nine years of instruction, regain life, become honored beings, and delight in studying the scriptures. Once their merit is complete, they return to the nameless and formless, leave Yin-Yang behind, escape punishment and destruction, and no longer belong to the realm of life and death. Thus they permanently end the cycle of reincarnation. Through transformation, they are no longer reborn; in the end, they become one with the Great Dao. All can become immortals, ascend to the Golden Palace in heaven, and wander and feast in the Jade Capital, the celestial capital of Daoist belief.

Those of the highest attainment who cultivate the Dao and recite this scripture are immediately delivered from suffering and ascend to the Southern Palace. People in the world who receive and recite it can prolong their lives and suddenly grasp the wondrous Dao. Their spiritual awareness becomes clear and undimmed, and their responses to all things are inexhaustible. They can also use their physical form to travel and behold the Great Darkness, a realm of profound and mysterious distance.

This scripture is subtle and wondrous, and delivers all beings far and wide. No one among the immortals or people of the world fails to receive its blessings and auspicious fortune; its immeasurable blessings extend to both the living and the dead. Heaven treasures this scripture, so it must not be passed lightly to later generations. Those who truly possess the Dao must prepare gold, silver, and precious objects, then make a sincere oath before Heaven; only afterward may they transmit it. If they reveal it carelessly or treat it with disrespect, calamity will befall their ancestors for nine generations, condemning them to long service. The officials who administer punishments and examinations, the Five Emperors who attend upon the scriptures, and twenty-four Jade Youths and twenty-four Jade Maidens will all guard this divine text and protect those who receive it.

The Dao says: During the first lunar month, those who observe purification and recite this scripture can accord with the true realm of the Great Dao and bring the cycle of arising and ceasing to rest among the heavens. They are no longer drawn by the causes of coming and going, nor attached to the meditation of extinction; instead, they enter the Mahayana path. In this way, they can also end the service imposed in the underworld upon the departed souls of earlier generations, delivering them from suffering so they may ascend to the Southern Palace.

During the seventh lunar month, those who observe purification and recite this scripture can dispel evil thoughts and reconcile enmities, no longer becoming entangled in the comings and goings of human relationships and circumstances. They dwell in the world without being obscured by darkness, and their original Jing naturally becomes complete, bringing them to a state beyond death and birth, with the body transformed into that of an immortal. The heavens will enter their names in the Yellow Registers and White Tablets, documents used in Daoism to record immortals and the departed, and strike them from the registers of the dead, turning death into life.

During the tenth lunar month, those who observe purification and recite this scripture cling neither to eternal stillness nor to prolonged life. They move freely in accord with all things, able to become light or disappear into the ordinary world. This scripture reveals great compassion and delivers beings through the immeasurable Dao. It proclaims the teachings and transmits precious scriptures from Heaven, bringing stability to kings, emperors, rulers and ministers, fathers and sons, and protecting the fate of the state…

Heaven endures for ages, succeeding from generation to generation without ever fading or coming to an end. It continually brings peace to the four quarters for the rulers of the human realm, and the people therefore praise the age of peace. If you recite this scripture on the days when the eight seasonal nodes of the year change, you can stand apart, observe the influences from all eight directions without being shaken, foresee the changes of life and death, ride a carriage of fine jade, and become a Perfected One of the Nine Palaces. If you recite this scripture on the day of your birth destiny, your true Qi may wax and wane, but it will never perish or cease. From then on, you will be forever free of the cycle of rebirth and roam at ease in the Wondrous Court. Your hun and shen become clear and upright, the Qi throughout your body endures, you no longer undergo suffering, and your body shines with light. Spirits of the Three Realms come to protect you; the Five Emperors welcome you, and the myriad spirits pay homage. Your name is entered in the heavenly registers, and when your merit is complete, you may ascend to Shangqing.

The Daoist scripture says: On every day you practice the Dao, bathe with fragrant water, observe purification and abstinence, and then enter a chamber. Face east and click your teeth thirty-two times, so that your intention reaches the thirty-two heavens. Bow thirty-two times, then close your eyes and meditate. Visualize yourself seated upright amid clouds of nine colors: yellow, green, azure, red, deep blue, black, jade green, violet, and white. Within and without, all is profound and obscure. The Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise, lions, and white cranes stand in ranks on either side. Above your head is the Supreme Perfect Lord of the Dao, wearing a precious crown formed by the confluence of the Seven Luminaries—the sun, moon, and five planets. His face is like fine jade, his pupils are square, and his beard is white. He is majestic and radiant. He wears green cloudlike robes and crimson ritual garments, with flying skirts, and holds a divine sword that severs the demons of life and death and the killing ghosts of the Three Heavens. Riding purple clouds, he stands in lofty splendor, nine feet tall, corresponding above to the Nine Perfected Ones. Like the sun and moon, he illuminates the clear, open chamber. Three streams of Qi emerge from his neck; his whole body appears within a complete, rounded halo, whose radiance shines in all ten directions. Visualize this scene with clarity and precision, then secretly recite the incantation:

“Supreme Mysterious Origin, Most High Lord of the Dao, summon the Three-Five Officers of Merit within my body, the left and right official messengers, the jade attendants who serve incense, the female jade messengers who carry words, the Five Emperors’ talisman officers, and the incense officers on duty today—thirty-two of each. Have them submit a report: This is an auspicious day. I observe a long fast in a pure purification hall and practice this scripture. May the matters I report be conveyed to the heavenly court and delivered directly before the Most High Emperor of Primordial Beginning, Supreme among the thirty-two heavens.”

When you have finished reciting, draw in Qi thirty-two times. Face east and recite the scripture:

The Wondrous Scripture of Limitless Deliverance, the Supreme Scripture of Primordial Beginning

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning knows the profound mysteries of the Lingbao, an honorific title in Daoism, and its foundational scriptures. They can forever end the cycles of reincarnation and guide all beings to liberation. Their deep and subtle mysteries arise from the Way of Nature.

The Qi of Red Chaos is the source of numinous wonder. From emptiness, it brings forth the Great Void. Clear and luminous, the Great Void first gives rise to the heavens, then flows and transforms into three kinds of primordial Qi, forming a vast power that encompasses all things. Within it is the August Void—this is my own being. Mysterious writings spread everywhere, nourishing all living beings. Red radiance belongs to Yang; yellow brilliance belongs to Yin.

Perfect radiance stands in solemn array and becomes the myriad stars. The Purple Chamber of the Great One, a celestial palace, opens and sets in motion the creative power of heaven and earth through bamboo slips of precious jade and blue-green binding cords. Within the mysterious lies a still deeper mystery; in the Boundless Great Brahma Heaven, there are numinous palaces.

Palaces of jade cover the realms below, while yellow Qi reaches deep and far. The hidden and vast framework of heaven and earth unfolds: the six directions open, and the nine gates of heaven stand wide. Numinous Qi is summoned to bring forth the human body, endowed with a hundred joints. Its miraculous transformations have no limit, flourishing together with the Great Dao. The spirits patrol the eight celestial regions and sit in state at Jade Capital.

Among them are the Venerable One of the Profound Ultimate and Supreme Dao; the Sovereign Image Emperor, who governs life; the Great Dragon-Stride Spirit, who opened heaven and earth; the True Elder of the Nine Emperors; and the Most Wondrous Venerable Spirit, who holds the primordial order and turns the pivot of heaven and earth. From this, heaven and earth give rise to the two forms of Yin and Yang, and countless beings are universally delivered. The root of awakening to the Dao is made known to all beings, so that they may forever end the cycles of reincarnation and become the “seed people” of the Daoist tradition—those who have attained the Dao and are sheltered by it.

Today we record the Celestial Worthies and spirits who have descended before the sanctuary:

The Limitless Spirit King of Pure Faith in the East, Great Saint of Long Life, delivering countless beings;

The Limitless Spirit King of Clear Response in the South, Great Saint of Long Life, delivering countless beings;

The Limitless Spirit King of Firm Foundation in the West, Great Saint of Long Life, delivering countless beings;

The Limitless Spirit King of the Vast Empty Sea in the North, Great Saint of Long Life, delivering countless beings;

The Limitless Spirit King of the Holy Immortals in the Northeast, Great Saint of Long Life, delivering countless beings;

The Limitless Spirit King of Wondrous Wisdom in the Southeast, Great Saint of Long Life, delivering countless beings;

The Limitless Spirit King of Constant Serenity in the Southwest, Great Saint of Long Life, delivering countless beings;

The Limitless Spirit King of Realized Truth in the Northwest, Great Saint of Long Life, delivering countless beings;

The Limitless Spirit King of the Invisible One Above, Great Saint of Long Life, delivering countless beings;

The Limitless Spirit King of the Unreturning One Below, Great Saint of Long Life, delivering countless beings.

The True and Perfect Flying Heavenly Divine Kings of the Ten Directions—the four quarters, the eight directions, above, and below—and the immeasurable great deities who have forever ended the cycle of rebirth, all ride together on clouds of emerald green and jade radiance, in magnificent celestial carriages adorned with the Eight Auspicious Scenes. Their carriages bear cinnabar-red jade palanquins drawn by blue-green phoenixes. Nine-colored divine dragons carry the ceremonial staffs that mark the immortals’ rank, while white tigers hold aloft sacred banners. The procession advances according to the Nine-Chapter rite.

The Nine-Chapter melodies sound at the front, and the six yu flutes play behind; their music rises together, answered by the calls of blue-green luan birds and white swans. The Ninefold Spirits drive the divine carriages through the swift wind, while the Seven Perfected Ones—those who have attained the Dao—ride upon the clouds. Singing “The Song of Walking in Emptiness,” they descend through the air, gather in their radiance, and turn their carriages around. They summon the Immortal of Life, the Southern Chang High Minister, Han, Registrar of the Red Palace’s affairs, the Great God of Firmness, and others. Holding registers, they come together before the Celestial Emperor and carefully examine the names, each according to those they are charged to deliver.

They proclaim throughout the heavens and the Three Realms: the guardians of the Land of Limitless Spirits, the Palace of the Winding Springs, the Northern Capital of Luofeng, the Three Offices and Nine Palaces, the sources of the Twelve Rivers, and other places must protect and recognize their original nature, and understand the Dao of Nature. The Great Dao has neither birth nor death and is not bound by change or displacement. It neither comes nor goes; its form is like a precious mountain.

The fire of wisdom can refine golden radiance; gold merges with jade, and day and night hang without falling, like the sun and moon. Though they seem to move back and forth, this is no illusion. The Great Dao is subtle, profound, and unceasing. Its Dharma Body—the Dao’s fundamental nature—is empty, still, and luminous, beyond the forms of the world. Thus the true immortals end the cycle of rebirth forever, ascend to the Great Mystery, the highest and most profound heaven, and free their ancestors and kin from suffering.