《靈寶無量度人上品妙經》Vol. 8

The Golden Precepts of the Qingwei

The Dao says: In ancient times, the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning, in the wondrously supreme Heaven, within the numinous cavern of Xiao Yin, the profound realm of transformation, received and upheld the Supreme, Incomparable Scripture of the Golden Precepts of the Qingwei for Delivering People by Primordial Beginning. Just before proclaiming this scripture, the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning circumambulated ten times to summon the gods of the ten directions. Only then did the gods arrive before the teaching seat: the Great Gods of Heavenly Truth, the High Sages and Venerable Worthies, the Perfected Ones of Wondrous Practice, the Nine Sages of the Qingwei, the Celestial Officials of the Upper Origin, the Immortal Kings who Guard the Dharma, and countless other gods. They came riding through the air in jade-bright green carriages, surrounded by three-colored flying clouds. Their feathered canopies shimmered with flowing light. Rosy clouds spread across the mysterious sky, red brilliance rippled through the air, and the vast heavens were illuminated.

For seven days and seven nights, the palaces and halls of the heavens, the shadow palaces, and the golden gates and jade towers appeared in orderly array, and sacred writings came into view. Numinous winds swept through the clouds, carrying faint strains of wondrous music. The workings of heaven and earth paused for a time, while the sun and moon hung bright overhead. The country’s land, rivers, mountains, and forests became smooth and level, with no high or low places; the whole earth turned to green jade, with no other color remaining. The gods stood in attendance beside the teaching seat. The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning sat upright in the air, seated upon a nine-colored divine dragon, and began to proclaim the scripture.

When the scripture had been proclaimed once, the Great Sages of all the heavens praised it together. At that time, men and women throughout the country set their hearts on the teaching, sincerely hoping to behold the wondrous Dao. When it had been proclaimed twice, their inner nature grew clear and they awakened all at once. At the third proclamation, spirit and vital energy merged, and through stillness in meditation they could behold the ten directions. At the fourth, their understanding of the teaching sank deep into their hearts, and they could in turn teach and guide others. At the fifth, they could widely draw in beings of future generations. At the sixth, they perfected the work of becoming Celestial Immortals and advanced in the Dao of the Highest Perfected. At the seventh, they passed beyond the Three Realms and became the seeds of the celestial world. At the eighth, they came to know the divine titles of the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning. At the ninth, their names were entered in the registers of Qingwei Heaven and included among the Golden Precepts. At the tenth, they joined with the sages and perfected beings, forever ending the cycle of rebirth.

At that time, all the men and women in the country, without exception, devoted themselves to the Dao. All received protection and deliverance, and attained long life.

The Dao further says: When the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning proclaimed the scripture for the first time, the Great God of Bestowing Life, of the Infinite and Incomparable Rank of the East, came riding through the air with countless attendants. At the second proclamation, the Great God Who Administers the Laws, of the Infinite and Incomparable Rank of the South, came riding through the air with countless attendants. At the third proclamation, the Great God Who Determines Names, of the Infinite and Incomparable Rank of the West, came riding through the air with countless attendants. At the fourth proclamation, the Great God Who Directs Transformation, of the Infinite and Incomparable Rank of the North, came riding through the air with countless attendants.

At the fifth proclamation of the chapter on the boundless and immeasurable in the northeast, the Great God of Simple Memorials and countless other gods came floating through the air to hear the scripture.

At the sixth proclamation of the chapter on the boundless and immeasurable in the southeast, the Great God Who Spreads the Teaching and countless other gods came floating through the air to hear the scripture.

At the seventh proclamation of the chapter on the boundless and immeasurable in the southwest, the Great God of Adaptation and Transformation and countless other gods came floating through the air to hear the scripture.

At the eighth proclamation of the chapter on the boundless and immeasurable in the northwest, the Great God Who Investigates and Corrects and countless other gods came floating through the air to hear the scripture.

At the ninth proclamation of the chapter on the boundless and immeasurable above, the Great God Who Inspects and Watches and countless other gods came floating through the air to hear the scripture.

At the tenth proclamation of the chapter on the boundless and immeasurable below, the Great God Who Brings Virtue to Completion and countless other gods came floating through the air to hear the scripture.

When all ten recitations were complete, the True Gods and Great Gods from the boundless heavens of the ten directions arrived together in a kingdom. The men and women there revered them sincerely. Those who came to hear the scripture were as numerous as fine rain and dense mist, and the gods gathered so thickly that half the land sank beneath them, with no way to stop it. Then the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning gathered the subtle, wondrous Qi of Clear Tenuity and transformed it into a precious pearl, bright as a great star, which hung in the air a hundred yards above the ground. The Celestial Worthy ascended to a high place, set the golden statutes in motion, and brought forth true, mysterious Qi. He manifested the Lofty Venerable One and the Realized Ones transformed from Qi. The Great Gods who guide and enlighten in the boundless realms of the ten directions, together with countless other gods, all entered the precious pearl. The heavenly beings looked up and saw the gods streaming in through its opening. Once inside, no one knew where they had gone. The crowds dispersed, and the ground became level again, no longer sloping or sinking.

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning then proclaimed the scripture inside the precious pearl. When he had finished, all the True Gods oversaw the rite of deliverance and transmitted this scripture to me. The joy and celebration of that moment are beyond words. After the ritual was largely complete, the gods of the heavens each returned to their proper place, and in an instant all around fell silent.

At that time, the heavenly beings encountered the scripture and its teaching and were universally delivered. All living beings attained wholesome karmic ties. The people of the whole kingdom turned their hearts toward the Dao in admiration, and all understood the wondrous insight, hearing, awareness, and knowledge of the empty and luminous; wondrous being and nonbeing; wondrous union and separation; and wondrous change and transformation. Their words accorded with the highest Dao, and their hearts held great compassion. Together, they reached a mysterious understanding, lived with purity and Wuwei (non-action), and brought peace to the kingdom and abundance to its people, who rejoiced in the enjoyment of peace and stability. The scripture was first transmitted in this kingdom. All who, with utmost sincerity, believed in, honored, and paid homage to the Great Dao were immediately delivered.

The Dao says: What is spoken of in this scripture is the primordial Qi from which the heavens bring forth all things. The Imperial Dao Lords conceal their names and sacred titles. The inner taboo name, “Mysterious Writ,” belonging to the Perfected High Spirits without limit in the Ten Directions, is also the scripture by which the ninefold ramparts of heaven establish order between Heaven and Earth, give voice, and test the myriad demons.

This is no ordinary worldly language. It is a secret text of golden laws, inscribed by the High Sages and treasured in the Clear Tenuity Heaven. Its prohibitions are so strict that even officials among the ghosts and spirits may not hear it. The gods and perfected beings of the four realms—Jade Void, Grotto Mystery, Supreme Ultimate, and Great Clarity—as well as those in the thirty-nine heavens, can understand its chapters. Recite it ten times, and its sound will shake the Vast Net Heaven. The Great One deity will come to inspect and protect, keeping Heaven and Earth at peace through countless kalpas. The five celestial bodies will follow the Dao in their courses, the sun and moon will shine forever, and lands will remain peaceful and secure for ages. The dead may be restored to life, and white bones may take human form; they will ascend through the open sky and become immortals.

Recite it ten times, and the Five Elders will recommend and protect you. The Three Realms will bow before you, great demons will prostrate themselves in homage, and the heavenly officials will record your merit. You will ascend to the realm of Grotto Truth and serve the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning for ages. When an Earth Immortal of the Nine Palaces recites it ten times, the Primordial Elders will descend into the courtyard and, in accordance with that person’s wishes, rescue and deliver living beings. The Celestial Emperor will issue a jade decree and send an escort to welcome them into the heavenly palace.

To recite this chapter carelessly brings calamity upon oneself. But if you make offerings to this scripture and honor it, your household will flourish and your descendants prosper. You will form ties with goodness, disasters will be unable to approach, and the myriad spirits will protect your body. This scripture is exalted and mysterious, unmatched in the Jade Capital, and can deliver living beings without limit. It is the root of the Ten Thousand Ways. Its laws are vast and majestic, and its benevolence is beyond description.

The Dao says: Whenever this scripture is recited ten times, all the heavens descend together. The departed souls of generations of ancestors, along with the dead who have suffered, are immediately delivered and ascend to the Vermilion Palace in the heavens. After nine years of instruction there, they can be reborn, with the chance to become people of noble rank who delight in studying the wondrous scriptures. When their merit is complete, they can all become immortals, ascend to the Golden Palace, and feast and wander in the Jade Capital.

Those who aspire to the highest practice and cultivate and recite this scripture will have their names entered in the Golden Register. Every kind of good deed will gather around them, and living beings will at once be delivered; the practitioners will ascend to the Southern Palace. If people of the world can receive and uphold the scripture and recite it, numinous officials will descend to protect them, prolonging their lives. In the end, all can attain the Way of the Flying Immortals. Its mysterious merit reaches outward, while spirit and Qi grow full within; body and spirit alike attain a mysterious state, enabling one to roam through the open sky.

This scripture is subtle and wondrous, able to deliver living beings everywhere without limit. All heavenly beings receive blessings and good fortune through it, and both the living and the dead benefit. It is a scripture treasured by Heaven and is not transmitted to worldly people. Those of virtue must offer gold and precious stones to show their sincerity, and may receive the teaching only after swearing an oath to Heaven. If they carelessly disclose it or treat the scripture with disrespect, calamity will fall upon nine generations of their ancestors, condemning them to long service under the ghost officials. The Great Elixir Jade Youths and the Blue-Waisted Jade Maidens who attend this scripture each number forty…

Two divine generals guard and protect those who recite and receive this scripture.

The Dao Yan says: If one observes a prolonged fast and recites this scripture in the first month, it can guide the spirits of the underworld and illuminate the Ninefold Darkness. It can relieve the departed souls of former lives from the torments of hell, allowing them to be delivered and ascend to the Southern Palace. If one observes a prolonged fast and recites this scripture in the seventh month, one can send a memorial up to Qingwei Heaven, one of the heavens in Daoist cosmology, and have one’s name entered in the Register of Golden Writings, thereby attaining immortal status. The heavens record one’s merits and enter them in the Yellow Registers and White Tablets, the ledgers of merit and the names of immortals. This frees one from the register of the dead and turns death into life.

If one observes a prolonged fast and recites this scripture in the tenth month, the Three Officials of the Three Primordial Forces—those of the Upper, Middle, and Lower Primordial Forces—will make one’s merits known and credit them to the Emperor Lord. This can bring peace to ruler and ministers, fathers and sons; secure the blessings of the state; and ensure that the dynasty endures through successive generations. It also enables the ruler to bring peace to the realm, so that the people praise its tranquility.

If one recites this scripture on the Eight Festivals, the Celestial Immortals will come to welcome them, enabling them to become Perfected Ones of the Nine Palaces. Reciting it on one’s natal day—the anniversary corresponding to one’s birth date—can purify the soul and spirit and bring the myriad Qi of the cosmos into accord with the immortal Way, free from distress. The body and its transformations can also ascend, radiating light throughout the eight directions of the underworld. The Five Emperors will descend, the myriad spirits will come to pay homage, and one’s name will be entered in the celestial register. When one’s merits are complete, one can soar to Great Mystery, a lofty heaven in Daoist cosmology.

The Dao Yan says: On days when Daoist rites are performed, one should bathe with fragrant water and observe a fast before entering the ritual chamber. Facing east, click the teeth thirty-two times to send one’s prayer up to the thirty-two heavens. Then bow thirty-two times, close the eyes, and visualize oneself seated amid clouds of blue, yellow, and white Qi. Clouds of Qi fill the space within and without. The Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise, lions, and white cranes stand in ranks on either side. The sun and moon illuminate the chamber; a round radiance forms above the head, shining in all ten directions. These images should all appear clearly in visualization.

Silently recite the secret incantation:

“Supreme Lord of the Dao, of the Mysterious Origin and the Great One, summon the Three and Five Meritorious Officers within my body; the officials and messengers on my left and right; the attendant Jade Boys bearing incense; the Jade Maidens who transmit messages; the Five Emperors’ tally-holders; and the incense officials on duty today—thirty-two of each—to speak on my behalf: This is an auspicious day. In this pure fasting hall, I cultivate this immeasurable, salvific, supreme scripture. May the matter I report ascend and be presented directly before the Most High Supreme Emperor of the Origin, the Most Venerable One of the thirty-two heavens.”

When the incantation is complete, draw in Qi thirty-two times, face east, and recite the scripture.

The Wondrous Scripture of Infinite Salvation, Supreme in the Highest Grade, transmitted by the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning (the supreme deity revered in Daoism), is a supreme-grade scripture within the Lingbao canon. Its structure and liturgy derive from the Qingwei tradition. It comprises the secret names and condensed Qi that summon divine response and transform living beings. These energies mingle naturally and become wondrous scripture, containing the most refined Dao.

When the Void Emperor opened the cosmic cycle of tribulations, the heavens came forth and were born from it. Clear, penetrating light stretched without limit; the three primordial energies coursed and soared, encompassing all things between Heaven and Earth and establishing their foundations. The scripture was inscribed on blue bamboo tablets and golden slips. It recorded the names of the spirits throughout the universe, spread the orthodox Way, and illuminated the unseen realms. The twin forces of Yin and Yang joined, their radiance flowing and turning. The Five Qi gave birth to all things and discerned their transformations, enabling beings of every kind to come into existence. This is the wondrous, empty mystery and the common source of the myriad Ways.

The celestial realms of Taiwei, Yanghua, and the Jade Palace of Zixiao reach upward into the lofty, empty heavens of Daluo. The three true deities are remote and unfathomable, vast and boundless. In the Jade Realm of Crimson Chaos and Great Nonbeing, the honored deity occupies the supreme place and manifests immeasurable transformations. The deity proclaims teachings throughout the worlds in the ten directions and, within the Qingwei tradition, registers and issues the Golden Statutes. The scripture records the names of the myriad emperors of the heavens; the name of the Jade Emperor, who rightly travels through the Brahma realms; the forms of mountains, rivers, seas, and peaks; and the documents by which assembled demons test the people of the world. It also records the great methods by which the Three Caverns—Dongzhen, Dongxuan, and Dongshen—open Heaven and establish the cosmic order. I now proclaim these matters and summon all the spirits, so that the Three Origins may converge and the heavens may descend to the ritual altar.

In the east, the Limitless Divine King Who Records Birth, a great sage of longevity, transforms and saves immeasurable beings.

In the south, the Limitless Divine King Who Upholds the Statutes, a great sage of longevity, transforms and saves immeasurable beings.

In the west, the Limitless Divine King Who Determines Names, a great sage of longevity, transforms and saves immeasurable beings.

In the north, the Limitless Divine King Who Directs Transformation, a great sage of longevity, transforms and saves immeasurable beings.

In the northeast, the Limitless Divine King Who Registers and Submits Memorials, a great sage of longevity, transforms and saves immeasurable beings.

In the southeast, the Limitless Divine King Who Spreads the Teachings, a great sage of longevity, transforms and saves immeasurable beings.

In the southwest, the Limitless Divine King of Adaptive Transformation, a great sage of longevity, transforms and saves immeasurable beings.

In the northwest, the Limitless Divine King Who Inspects and Corrects, a great sage of longevity, transforms and saves immeasurable beings.

Above, the Limitless Divine King Who Oversees and Observes, a great sage of longevity, transforms and saves immeasurable beings.

Below, the Limitless Divine King Who Brings De (Virtue) to Fulfillment, a great sage of longevity, transforms and saves immeasurable beings.

The divine kings who govern the registers and golden statutes of the Ten Directions (the worlds of the Ten Directions), together with the immeasurable Great Gods who soar through the heavens and deliver beings from the world, all arrive in radiant jade chariots and cloud-borne carriages. Three plain-hued flying clouds serve as their teams; heavenly horses and dappled beasts gleam with crystalline light. Azure dragons draw the chariots, Feng Zhen holds the tally, and great banners streaming with light follow behind. On the left, feathered guards of the Nine Heavens stand at the ready; on the right, divine troops of the Three Realms are arrayed.

The Great One, the Imperial Origin, commands the myriad spirits. The Red Emperor leads the way, while the Dark Elder oversees the covenant. Millions of chariots and ten thousand riders come floating through the air. They draw in their radiance, turn their chariots around, and summon immortals and perfected beings. The great blended spirits who assist the Clear Subtle Imperial Qi and the Great Cavern’s Mysterious Palace take charge of the golden statutes. They form ranks according to their stations, pay homage, and inspect the talismanic mandates. The immortal sages conceal their names and make a general announcement to the Supreme Venerables of the Three Realms.

The three groups of lords from the Jade Gate of the Great Empyrean, the jeweled peaks towering through the kalpas, and the Northern Court of Purple Tenuity number thirty-nine in all. They undergo seven turns and seven transformations. Waters circle and dance in heaven, while the mysterious subtlety gathers its luminous essence. Below, they govern Luofeng; Qu Chen flies beneath a canopy. Together they assemble at the Eastern River. Radiance opens, the wind rises and billows, and they set the Celestial Gate and the Northern Dipper in motion. The Central Realm takes its proper place. Kunlun unfolds the most wondrous Dao, sending down the Mysterious Elixir so that the warp and weft of Heaven and Earth each fall into order. They protect and guard, deliver people from suffering, and bring forth the growth and transformation of the myriad things. May they join me in becoming immortals; may the Five Spirits grow clear and bright, never to fall even through countless kalpas. May all who study the Dao in the heavens be delivered forever. Their names are engraved on golden tablets and presented to the Purple Palace, the dwelling of the Celestial Emperor. In the heaven of the Purple Palace, the Celestial Emperor’s radiance shines forth. He abides in the realm beyond color and follows the pure practices.

The Eight Heavens of the East

• Heaven of Langqiu’s Assembly of Origins — Emperor Zeli resides at Ying
• Heaven where Chonggou gathers the perfected — Emperor Huaxi divides the auspicious signs
• Heaven of Xiaolin’s radiant splendor — Emperor Tingyu commands the lofty peaks
• Heaven where Dongzong celebrates the primordial — Emperor Lingdou oversees the bright
• Heaven where Sanskrit patterns bear flying spirits — Emperor Guanhe extends the divisions
• Heaven of the Great Realm that subdues demons — Emperor Zhaosu commands Zhilia
• Heaven where jeweled writings surpass the ordinances — Emperor Mengzong governs Luo
• Heaven where the universe is refined and the sun concealed — Emperor Lingdu governs Yinping

In the south are eight layers of heaven:

The Heaven of Settled Names and True Perception is governed by Emperor Dongdong, master of the Fanjing Chamber; the Heaven of Mysterious Emptiness and Radiant Void is governed by Emperor Luobao, overseer of the Zhang Office; the Heaven of Flame Spirit and Proffered Talismans is governed by Emperor Gelin, master of Ancient Mountain; the Heaven of Jade Writings and Vermilion Script is governed by Emperor Zhihua Ding; the Heaven of Cinnabar Light and Dawning Clarity is governed by Emperor Shan Huiyin; the Heaven of Auspicious Fortune and Purple Splendor is governed by Emperor Longbin Jiefang; the Heaven of the Utmost Origin and Cavernous Sovereignty is governed by Emperor Fengzheng Yanling; the Heaven of the August Pattern and Universal Generation is governed by Emperor Yuanjian Lixuan.

In the west are eight layers of heaven:

The Heaven of Tan Radiance and Summoned Demons is governed by Emperor Donghuang Jiuyun; the Heaven of Cavernous Stillness, Preserved Clarity, and Knocking at the Impulse is governed by Emperor Xuan Shiqiong; the Heaven of Purple Clarity, Great Vastness, and Cavernous Extremity is governed by Emperor Lingchang Liuzong; the Heaven of Jade Yang and Wondrous Truth is governed by Emperor Jiao Shu Huashen; the Heaven of Returning Wind and Transformative Union is governed by Emperor Daozi Yuan; the Heaven of Flowing Radiance and Luminous Patterns is governed by Emperor Lü Ding Yaohua; the Heaven of Illuminating the Origin and Simplifying Qi is governed by Emperor Liang Qiong Bo’a; the Heaven of Blending, Coalescing, and Upright Order is governed by Emperor Yun Huangjiming.

In the north are eight layers of heaven. The surviving scripture proceeds to name the first: the Heaven of Transforming Qi and Ascending to the Origin, governed by Emperor Miaoli Chiyuan.

The celestial realms and Celestial Emperors listed above dwell in the midst of the void, a realm of divine mystery. The Celestial Emperor of the Eight Enclosures Dancing in the Void Heaven is named Zhichong Yousheng; the Emperor of the Flying Spirits Descending and Perfecting Heaven, Weirong Miaoxuan; the Emperor of the Great Simplicity and Pure Essence Heaven, Weijing Yutong; the Emperor of the Jade Splendor Aiding the Mysterious Heaven, Mingfu Shangdeng; the Emperor of the Three Vacuities and Utmost Dao Heaven, Linhuai Minhuang; the Emperor of the Great Effulgence Descending to the Chamber of Jade Historians Heaven, Chen Chang Lübin; and the Emperor of the Great Clarity, Orthodox Lineage Heaven, Fanxing Jianguan.

Each of the thirty-two heavens has its own Celestial Emperor, as well as secret names and titles. The heavens’ hidden taboos and names, the numinous writings of the naturally arising void—that is, sacred characters generated by nature—and the hidden rhymes of the celestial realms, heavenly sounds, exalted gods, spirits, great demons, and numinous officials are all encompassed within the Four Mysteries and Seven Vacuities. Governed by the laws of ultimate truth, these powers gather Qi into written form and proclaim teachings throughout the Jade Clarity realm, a higher heaven in Daoism, universally saving celestial beings, humans, and all living things.

At today’s celebration, revolving winds descend. The gods receive purification and bind themselves by solemn vows. Their names are inscribed in the Wenchang office, whose deity oversees literary records and official distinction. The relevant directives are passed down through successive levels, while mysterious decrees fly across the Great Simplicity realm. The gods gather their light in the Clear Subtlety realm, where perfected immortals examine and correct them, bringing the transformations of all things into unity.

The Eastern Dipper grants talismanic mandates; the Western Dipper oversees inspection; the Northern Dipper records merit; the Southern Dipper registers lifespans; and the Central Dipper coordinates their extension. The Azure Emperor of the Boundless Heaven raises people to immortality; the White Emperor commands divine generals; the Red Emperor governs primordial Qi; the Black Emperor administers the registers; and the Yellow Emperor subdues demons and directs the transformation and nurture of all things. The Dao Lord Azure Origin holds the Dragon Leap, a Daoist method of flight; the Dao Lord Cinnabar Radiance administers the laws; the Dao Lord Bright Luminosity, Lesser Yin summons mountain spirits and opens the way; the Dao Lord Hidden Subtlety sets the mysterious workings in motion; and the Dao Lord Central Yellow issues commands.

The Exalted Spirits of the Five Directions carry out the command of the source of the Utmost Dao. They fly through the Three Realms—different levels of worlds, including heaven, earth, and water—command the immortals, transform without limit, patrol the myriad heavens, and bring forth the myriad kinds of beings. The gods wield their authority, enabling the Highest Perfected to teach the people and ensuring that all things endure and join in harmony. The Purple Emperor receives the command to subdue demons and evil spirits, while sunlight flashes like lightning across Feng Mountain, the land of the underworld. The pure and upright order is set in motion, opening the mysterious gateway of the Primordial Beginning. The sinking souls of the Six Heavens are purified and enter the realm of Dongyang.

May the Divine Continent and all the vast lands remain blessed, and may evil deeds and grievances cease, so that all beings may form wholesome bonds. May all beings, boundless in their multitude, attain long life; may their consciousness ascend to the Great Nonbeing, wash away the primordial Qi, and be clothed in the radiance of the Three Blossoms. May they receive purification in the Celestial River and become exalted assistants of the Three Origins.

Clearly discern and correct the hundred demons; condemn and punish all who dare to intrude. Proclaim this to all spirits, so that they may gather together in the realm of Yuanluo, advance in order through the ranks, and have their merits entered in the Golden Register, the record of merits and immortal ranks.

The opening of the Clear Tenuity Golden Register, the record of merits and liturgies in the Clear Tenuity realm, bears a title of thirty-six characters. The remaining contents are given in this volume.

The foregoing are the jade titles and hidden names of the Three Heavens Lords, revered Daoist deities. Arranged according to the number “four-nine,” they form a text of jade clarity, lofty mystery, and naturalness. Write them in cinnabar on plain blue silk and wear them on the body, and no baleful force can intrude. Burn the talismanic text and take it as medicine to cure illness. Those who practice this method will have their names entered in the Golden Register.

The Cavern Origin opens wide and clear; ascent and descent, roundness and squareness, unfold. The boundless transformation flows throughout Longkang. Above, it opens forth the One Qi; below, it spreads Yin-Yang, encompassing all the heavens. The wind’s sacred sound is firm and strong; mystery and transformation are wondrous, and Jing and Qi flow. The Great Simplicity is deep and still, empty, bright, vast, and without boundary or form. The primordial Qi and its emblems at the beginning of primordial chaos came into being through transformation from the Three Ways. The eight directions lie open and level; the utmost measure of Clear Tenuity manifests naturally. From this, the Jade Capital was opened and developed, forming the upper section of the Golden Register.

The Eight-Scenery Mysterious Text, written in yellow slips and green script, carves and records the names of the divine beings and endures with the Dao. It soars within the undifferentiated cavern, filling the sky and encompassing all things. It sets the sun, moon, and five planets in motion and governs the ordering principles of Heaven and Earth, joining in hidden accord with the numinous root. The thirty-nine chapters of the Great Cavern of the August Elder and the Emperor’s One, divided into origins, bring peace and protection to the ten thousand regions. The wondrous flying script emerges in transcendence, radiating cinnabar light; this light gives birth to divine beings in the nine heavens. They ride the rosy clouds, roam through the Purple Void, and harness primordial Qi. Mysterious sounds accompany green clouds as they spread through the sky, unfurling colored radiance. Amid the Qian Grove, the Three Blossoms dance like rising smoke; flowering clouds wheel and turn, fanning the heavens, while the realm of Yuluo shines with light.

Among the naturally perfected divine beings—Chang Geng, Qianhe, Wanhe, and others—are the Lord of the Primordial Element, the Immortal Youth of Fangzhu, the Venerable Emperor of Azure Florescence, Taiyi Joined with the Scenery, and Siming Whirling Wind. They hold slips and registers, recording and verifying primordial merits. They travel above to Jade Clarity, in the lofty and distant Jade Palace. It lies within Taiwei, at the center of Heaven, and descends to the Yellow Gate and Mysterious Palace deep within layer upon layer of the abyss. Looking back, one sees the nine layers of Earth, the thirty-six emperors, the five great regions of the mountain wards, the immortal islands of the ten continents, the grotto-heavens and blessed lands, the boundless famous mountains, and the ruling divinities of the eight seas and four rivers, the officials of the Three Origins, and the innumerable flying immortals. They all bestow true talismans, record merits in the presence of the Imperial Sovereign, assign ranks and register names, then submit their reports to the Three Heavens. Above the Three Heavens, a celebratory assembly is held on this account, and it includes the chapters of the Clear Tenuity Golden Register.

In the boundless, distant Daluo Heaven, imperial Qi descends and transforms into pure, subtle energy; true light shines upon the Jade Capital. The divine beings govern the pivot of the Dao’s unfolding and nurturing. Through vast ages, they set in motion the birth, death, and transformation of all things.

The forms and substances of the Three Realms will eventually dissolve into nothingness, and the earth, too, will sink into the abyss of the Ninefold Darkness. The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning, moved by compassion for all beings, sent down jade writings upon the Five Sacred Mountains. The light of the sun and moon rose and shone together, while the heavenly order spread throughout the myriad spirits. The three bodies of scripture and teaching—the Three Caverns (Dongzhen, Lingbao, and Dongshen)—contain, respectively, hidden and profound texts, the foundations that establish Heaven and Earth, and the power to govern wondrous transformations. From them all things come into being. By command of the Celestial Emperor, beings from every quarter jointly examine and register those who attain long life through cultivating the Dao. The hard wind supports the earth’s foundations, and the laws of Heaven are administered by the Celestial Emperor. Thus all beings receive protection and will not be overturned, even after countless kalpas.

The phoenix draws a chariot through the air, and the procession comes to rest beside Mount Yu. The summit of the great kalpa rises in boundless emptiness; in an instant, the Three Blossoms open. “Three Blossoms” refers to the blossoming of Jing (essence), Qi (vital energy), and Shen (spirit) in cultivation, and may also mean the auspicious radiance of the heavenly realm. The Primordial Sage reviews the registers of names and summons numinous spirits and demons through the air. Transcending the Taiqing realm is no easy matter; the cycles of rebirth turn without end, like grains of dust and sand. The immortals, moved by compassion for beings who suffer as they pass between past, present, and future, ascend into the sky and sing.

The foundations of the Longhan age are vast and boundless, and the Dark Peak towers high and majestic. The myriad spirits gather where the Celestial Emperor resides, while the Dongjing stars stretch across the River of Heaven. Beings in the turbid world are pulled along by karmic ties and sink ever deeper. What can be done? Reciting this Qingwei scripture can make the righteous Qi sweep away evil influences and illness. Beings throughout the heavens of the Three Realms journey together toward a realm of radiant purity. May you cultivate and attain the Dao, your name carved into the golden registers of Heaven, forever in accord with the principles of long life. Even if your lifespan reaches a hundred million years, how could that seem too long?

Chapter Three: Songs of True Immortals in the Sacred Realm.

The encircling heavens, layered one upon another, contain Yuxu and rise high above the Palace of Great Being. The sacred trees of Qianlin spread over the heavens, while nine holy perfected beings ride the spirit winds. They admire the splendid scenery, absorb its radiance, and roam freely amid the Great Nonbeing. Then they enter the realm of Dongxuan, riding flying dragons through the sky. Thirty-nine Dao Lords pay homage to the Supreme Sovereign of Emptiness.

The power of great compassion stirs the sound of the Law, and holy grace spreads in boundless abundance. The Heavenly Emperor issues seals and opens the gates of Heaven, proclaiming the texts of the Three Luminaries: the sun, moon, and stars. A jade decree descends to Fengdu to deliver the souls of the dead from the long night. The ghost officials cease their inspections and interrogations, and sunlight shines into the Nine Depths. The torments of the Three Paths subside, and the Eight Ways set their flying wheels in motion. All beings are spared and granted long life, and the world is forever at peace.

These are the songs of perfected immortals above the Three Realms, soaring through the air, their melodies in harmony with the Dongzhang hymns. Recite them a hundred times, and your name may be transferred to the Southern Palace. Recite them a thousand times, and the Demon Kings will escort and welcome you. Recite them ten thousand times, and you will complete the work of the Dao, ascend through the vast sky, transcend the Three Realms, and take your place among the immortals.

If anyone hears these true songs of the immortals, the numinous demons will revere their presence, and the earthly spirits will be commanded to guard and escort them. They will be freed from the gates of hell and delivered from the Five Sufferings and Eight Calamities. Their seven generations of ancestors will rise to a higher state, forever leaving the jurisdiction of the ghost officials. The souls of the dead will pass through Zhuling, the spirit realm where the dead are refined, and undergo transformation so that they may be reborn. This is called universal deliverance without measure or end.

This scripture is a text kept secret by Heaven, and all the heavens honor it together. Anyone who reveals it or treats it with disrespect will fall into hell, bringing misfortune upon seven generations of ancestors.

The Dao says: The two chapters above are secret sounds preserved by the Lords of Heaven and the supremely numinous True Kings. They are words of the Great Brahma, not ordinary speech from the human world. Their language follows neither worldly rhythms nor ornate melodies; for this reason, they are called profound and difficult to investigate fully. They are treasures cherished by Heaven and kept hidden in the jade palaces of the heavens, including Xuandu, Shenxiao, and Yuqing. According to the celestial statutes, they are transmitted to the human world only once every thirty-seven thousand years, when the time is right. If a person who has attained the Dao brings gold and treasure as tokens of faith and sincerely swears an oath of alliance with Yuqing according to the established rites, only then will the scriptures be entrusted to them.

The Dao says: The workings of Heaven and Earth have their times of decline and ending; the sun, moon, and five planets wax and wane; even the most holy divine beings encounter adversity and setbacks; and beginners in the Dao may fall ill or be injured. Whenever such calamities arise, those who share the same Qi should join together in purification: burn incense six times each day and recite the scriptures ten times, so that the three Qi may unite with the spirit. In this way, calamities can be dispelled everywhere, Heaven and Earth made pure and tranquil, and wondrous, true Qi brought down…

The Wondrous Scripture of the Highest Rank for Delivering the Limitless

The Dao says: This scripture, in accordance with the jade laws, can subdue ghosts and spirits and deliver all living beings without number.

The Dao says: Some who are new to the Way have made little progress in their practice, and their rank among the immortals is not yet complete. When their allotted time comes and their physical bodies are about to die and enter Great Yin—the netherworld as Daoism understands it—fellow practitioners who have made progress may burn incense and recite the scripture ten times on their behalf. In this way, the remains will be delivered according to the proper rites: they will neither decay nor be damaged, and the body will remain firm and whole. Their hun and shen will ascend directly to the Southern Palace, one of the dwellings of the immortals. Their days will be reckoned according to the merit they earned through their studies and practice, allowing them to be reborn and reincarnated without falling into extinction, and ultimately to become immortals.

The Dao says: When the cycles of Heaven and Earth are nearing their end and great calamities bring upheaval, the stars move in disorder, the sun and moon lose their light, the seasons fall out of rhythm, and Yin-Yang becomes unbalanced. Nations suffer famine; floods and droughts strike at intervals, and epidemics spread. Teachers and friends, too, may die. Whenever such things occur, one should undertake a fast and retreat in accordance with Daoist ritual, burn incense, recite the scripture, and visualize the subtle clarity of the Qingwei Heaven. This can cause the golden laws to send down the Qi of harmony and light, while the spirits of Taiwei dispel the Qi of calamity.

The merit of fasting and reciting the scripture is immense. Above, it can avert disasters in Heaven and protect and guard the emperor; below, it can dispel poison and harm and save living beings. The living and the dead alike may receive its blessings. This merit and virtue cannot be measured, and so it is called “the limitless deliverance of Heaven and humanity.”

The Dao says: Anyone who possesses this scripture and is willing to cultivate this merit for Heaven and Earth, the imperial ruler, and living beings may, on a day of calamity, resolve to undertake a fast and retreat, burn incense, and recite the scripture ten times. The heavens will record that person’s name, and the myriad spirits will protect them. If a practitioner who has made progress also bears witness and helps bring this about, that person will be able to become an attendant in the Golden Palace of the Sage Sovereign, the palace of the Celestial Emperor. The heavens record people’s merits and faults without the slightest error, and the True Kings of Heaven will also recommend you. Those who have attained the Dao should fully understand this ultimate principle.

The Great Brahma hidden language of the heavens, the Limitless Sounds—written by the Dao Lord.

The Jade Chapters of the Pure Subtle Golden Laws, from the Primordial Spirit Book

The Eight Heavens of the East

Feitian Luohui Fuhua Manggeng Juyuan Lijiu

Kuoluo Sinan Mingyang Yuzhi Juhe Meijin

Jiaxu Wozhi Qianshu Dufen Yuji Daiguan

The phrases under “The Eight Heavens of the East” are sound transcriptions of the Great Brahma hidden language. Since the original provides no verifiable word-by-word interpretation, the transcription is retained without conjectural translation.

The tribute advances and the wheel turns true; how many have truly reached the capital? The clear net bears its patterned clouds.

The sound should be made faint, its skill matching the numinous source; the waves and blossoms subside, and the wind comes to rest.

Qi rises; call out the years.

The Eight Heavens of the South: Mountain-Extension and Cavern-Brightness; Mysterious Discourse and Well-Being; Radiant Strategy and Empty Scenery. The Dipper’s continuous thread sweeps the pearl; mountain brambles form a register; bright whirling answers the tally. The Cinnabar House’s cavern blazes; Kui and Lin point to jade pendants; concealment and illusion draw on elegance. The Jade Mansion casts into emptiness; He Bamboo brings forth life; the numinous court writes on cypress. Vast simplicity and righteous splendor; the Mysterious Ridge and Palace Capital; the Green Huan and Crimson Heaven; the Purple Empyrean floats in its rightful place.

The Eight Heavens of the West: The bank’s master carries mist; establishes Jin and forms an accord of support; the Great Purple recounts the net. Carefree, they offer plainness; Yang and Tang record the directions; turning and winding, they arrive with skill. Sincere understanding fills the vast heavens; the emperor’s proper decree remains unrolled; luminous fluid mingles and surges. The beneficial spell is only a household; the examined gate truly rushes forward; the humble and broad are shown compassion and guided. Lamplight shines, separating the hidden; the mind’s seal-script is worthy of longing; the first signs are harmonious and sincere. They ascend to Yu, harnessing the jade chariot.

The Eight Heavens of the North: The primal bamboo slips and enduring radiance; drums beat, and Xi’s pitch pipes lead the way; the inspectors search out and spread what is near. Martial brightness and righteousness come first; the northern seal summons the utmost; the Dragon Emperor sends up flames and smoke.

The phrases “Shenmiao Diwu,” “Zhuyin Sibān,” “Miaoxuan Liuzhou,” “Juechi Fengdan,” “Ruchang Cishen,” “Chengxu Fu Xian,” “Douce Q zuo,” “Xiequ Bingyan,” “Zhaoxi Shiyu,” and “Lingti Shubian” are secret expressions of the Great Brahmā of the various heavens, collectively called the “Sounds Without Limit.” In ancient times, they were engraved in the splendid halls of golden palaces and jade towers, where they were used to harmonize the Three Qi and protect the myriad spirits. Each character was broad and elongated, measuring one zhang. The Celestial Perfected Sovereign (Tianzhen Huangren), a divine immortal in Daoist legend, once wrote these words and established them as the correct sounds.

If someone understands the meaning of these sounds, observes purification, and recites them, the heavens will send flying celestial spirit kings to inspect that person, record their merits and diligent practice, and report them to the heavens. The myriad gods will come to pay their respects; earth spirits will attend at the door; and the Great Merit Demon King will also recommend the person. Once their practice of the Three Mysteries is complete, they will be able to roam through the Three Realms and ascend to the Golden Gate.

These sounds can dispel, avert harm, and deliver beings in every place, and there is nothing they cannot accomplish. They are the sounds of the Celestial Perfected, arising naturally. Thus, reciting them brings spirit kings down to inspect; it evokes a response from the Supreme Emperor in the distance; the myriad gods come to pay their respects and serve as guardians throughout the Three Realms. All demons bow their heads and withdraw; ghosts, apparitions, and uncanny beings vanish of their own accord. The recited scripture rings out like jade chimes striking together, resounding through the ten directions and bringing solemn clarity to Heaven and Earth. Rivers and seas fall silent, mountain mists disperse, the myriad spirits are awed into submission, and the assembled immortals answer the summons. There is no darkness or defilement in Heaven, no demons or dust on Earth; the netherworld and wisdom alike are rendered clear and open. This realm is vast yet deep and mysterious.