《靈寶無量度人上品妙經》Vol. 9

The Venerable Dao said: In ancient times, the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning proclaimed the Scripture of Primordial Beginning, Deliverance of Humanity, Yu-Yu Jade Statutes, Boundless Supreme Teaching in the Land of Primordial Mystery, where Crimson Clouds Flow and Sing beneath the Golden Reflection and Emerald Light Heaven—the heavenly realm in Daoist teaching. Each time the Celestial Worthy proclaimed it, he summoned divine beings from the Ten Directions: the four quarters, above, and below.

At first, the Great Divine Beings of Heavenly Truth, the Supreme Sages and High Worthies, the Perfected Ones of Wondrous Practice, the Nine Perfected Ones of Shangqing, the True Immortals of Yu-Yu, the True Kings of the Three Realms, and countless other beings rode clouds through the sky to attend. They traveled in green and purple jeweled carriages, surrounded by interweaving numinous light and canopies of emerald. Ten thousand rays of light, brilliant as the rosy dawn, blazed across the sky.

For seven days and seven nights, the radiance of the sun and moon in the heavens converged, the stars ceased their courses, and the jade towers and palaces all shone together. The heavenly wind was gentle, and the seas and mountains were calm. The mountains, rivers, and forests throughout the land became level and even, with no high places or low. The earth gleamed like polished jade, vivid and bright, with no difference from one place to another. The assembled Perfected Ones stood in attendance beside the seat, while the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning sat in the air upon a jeweled jade throne encircled by nine-colored radiance.

Each time the Celestial Worthy proclaimed the scripture, corresponding blessings and transformations appeared.

At the first recitation, the Great Sages of the heavens praised him together. The men and women of the land transcended delusion and awakening alike, fully realizing their innate nature and gaining numinous clarity and wisdom. At the second, their hearing and sight became keen; they comprehended the Way of Shangqing and entered the realm of Primordial Emptiness. At the third, their spirit and vital force grew firm, and their true nature became settled. At the fourth, karmic hindrances accumulated over many lifetimes dissolved, and all entered together the pure realm of emptiness. At the fifth, calamities and illness ceased, and the climate was mild in all four seasons. At the sixth, wondrous Qi flowed and brought forth the myriad things, which flourished abundantly. At the seventh, the wind of the True Way spread in every direction, and virtue renewed itself day by day. At the eighth, the elderly regained the vigor of youth, and all enjoyed long life. At the ninth, everyone received enlightenment and deliverance, and together they attained a state like that of immortals. At the tenth, the myriad sages of heaven and earth came to praise him. The men and women of the land received the wondrous grace of the Mystery, held him in reverence, and felt boundless gratitude.

The Venerable Dao continued: Then, after the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning had completed the first recitation, the infinitely numerous Great Divine Beings of Perfect Truth from the boundless East, along with countless other divine beings, rode through the air to attend. After he completed the second recitation, the infinitely numerous Great Divine Beings of Perfect Truth from the boundless South, along with countless other divine beings, also rode through the air to attend. After he completed the third recitation, the infinitely numerous Great Divine Beings of Perfect Truth from the boundless West, along with countless other divine beings, rode through the air to attend.

The gods and immortals came through the air. At the fourth recitation of the scripture, countless great gods of perfect truth from the boundless, infinite northern realm also arrived. At the fifth, the boundless, infinite great gods of perfect truth from the northeast came; at the sixth, those from the southeast; at the seventh, those from the southwest; at the eighth, those from the northwest; at the ninth, those from above; and at the tenth, those from below.

When the scripture had been recited ten times, the true gods and great gods from the infinite heavenly realms of the ten directions—the four cardinal points, the four intermediate points, above, and below—arrived together in this land. Men and women alike sincerely took refuge and paid homage. Those who came were as numerous as fine rain and dense mist. Heaven’s people and mortals subtly joined as one, attaining the realm of perfect truth. They transformed their forms and multiplied themselves without limit, each declaring, “Through kalpas of cultivation, we have awakened to the Dao. We are free of worldly afflictions and failings, and have realized the Dharma-body, a body in accord with the Great Dao and beyond the ordinary world. We have entered into the contemplation of Qi of our own accord and understood the profound principle of emptiness.”

At first they dwelt in the realm of great red primordial Qi, the wondrous realm of the Dao and Wuwei (non-action). Then they ascended to Yuyu Heaven, a higher celestial realm in Daoism, entered the pure realm of truth, realized the wondrous fruit, and reached the utmost limit of the Dao. “Yu” means vast, and “yu” means far-reaching; because its vastness is endless, it is called “Yuyu.” The realm of Yuyu is wholly one with the primordial body and universally encompasses all things.

I have heard that the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning proclaimed the teachings and revealed the text of the Jade Statutes of Yuyu Heaven, its precepts and ordinances. This is the supreme Great Law: it examines the true immortals, restrains the myriad demons, drives away evil spirits, and turns wickedness toward goodness. Countless beings crowded in to hear it, so that half the land sank under their weight, and no one could stop them.

The Celestial Worthy looked down upon them and gave this universal admonition: “You are now studying the Dao and have already ascended to the rank of the true. You are ranked among the Highest Clarity and dwell in the realm of Yuyu. Your Dharma-nature is spontaneous and no longer changes. You have cleared away the coarse habits, and even subtle attachments no longer arise. Naturally, you will commit no transgressions. Why, then, would you still need precepts?

“Even after teachings have been established to guide the people of the world, one must not stop cultivating simply because no precepts have been set. Consider the celestial emperors and immortal perfected ones: their rank surpasses the nine grades, and their conditions and practices are complete, yet they still wear round caps and square shoes, carry swords and jade tablets, and ride in feather-adorned carriages bearing dragon banners and fitted with phoenix-decorated screens. Since these ceremonial forms have their prescribed rules, how could they be treated carelessly? Now I proclaim the subtle ordinances of the Jade Statutes of Yuyu Heaven. They can examine sacred affairs throughout Heaven and Earth. By observing them, one’s grace can extend to ancestors for ten thousand generations; after a thousand days of cultivation, that grace can spread throughout…”

All beings in the ten directions—the worlds of the ten directions—should listen with reverence and not treat this sacred scripture lightly.

At that moment, the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning suspended a precious orb in the empty sky. It was the size of a millet grain and hung five zhang above the ground. The Celestial Worthy led the Divine Great Gods of Heaven, the High Sages and Exalted Ones, the Perfected Ones of Wondrous Practice, and countless other beings, including the Utmost Perfected Great Gods from the boundless ten directions, into the orb together. The heavenly beings looked up and saw only the group drifting gently through its opening. Once they had entered, no one knew where they were.

The lands of the various kingdoms immediately became level again, no longer slanted or collapsing. Within the orb, the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning completed his teaching of the scripture. The Perfected Ones watched over and transformed the beings, then entrusted the scripture to me. The joy and celebration of that moment cannot be put into words. When the ritual was nearly complete, the gods of the various heavens returned to their appointed places. In an instant, all fell silent, and no sound remained.

At that time, the heavenly beings were fortunate to encounter the scripture and its teachings. They were saved in great numbers and allowed to live out their allotted lifespans without harm. People everywhere turned toward and revered the Great Dao, and all practiced the true Dao: they showed no favoritism and did no evil; they kept their minds and spirits from scattering and free of worldly defilement. They harbored no attachments, delusions, greed, impurity, or anger. Their words were never false, and they spoke kind words at all times. People cared for one another; even those with different surnames were as close as family. The kingdoms were peaceful, the people prosperous, everyone was joyful, and all under Heaven was at peace.

Once the scripture and its teachings began to spread, anyone in a kingdom who was devoted, sincerely reverent, and respectful toward the Great Dao could be transformed and delivered beyond the ways of the world.

The Daoist scripture says: What the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning taught includes the secret internal titles and hidden sounds of the Heavenly Emperors, as well as the jade ordinances of Yuyu Heaven, one of the heavens of the Highest Clarity; the secret internal names of the True Kings; and the hidden names of the myriad spirits. These are secret methods of the Highest Clarity and essential instructions for the cultivation of the Nine Perfected Ones.

Those who understand these principles can become Perfected Ones by practicing according to the teachings, and through the true Dao can realize the Great Dao. The mystery of the Great Dao accords with the divine spirits; one lets go of attachment to them and holds to the Great Dao amid the void. The Great Dao was already sovereign before Heaven and Earth, and after they came into being, it remained alone and enduring. Without the jade ordinances of Yuyu Heaven, how could wondrous transformations take place in the formless and boundless realms? These are not ordinary words of the world. The High Sages have already become Perfected Ones. They understand the profound principles, penetrate the subtle mysteries, and fully comprehend the chapters of the scripture.

If this scripture is recited ten times, the immortals will praise it and the myriad emperors will rejoice. Heaven and Earth will become clear and still, and harmonious Qi will flow in abundance. The Three Origins—the energies of the three realms governed by the officials of Heaven, Earth, and Water—will send down auspicious signs; the Nine Layers of Earth will reveal good omens. Evil spirits, demons, and baleful monsters will be subdued and swept away, and realms of suffering will dissolve, so that all may ascend together to a place of bliss.

A practitioner devoted to the Dao who recites the scripture ten times can summon the Perfected Spirits and draw forth wondrous essence, cultivate the spirit, and become an immortal. The deity in charge of life will protect and welcome them, enabling their seven generations of ancestors to be delivered and transformed, and to proceed to Zhuling, the Daoist realm where the dead are delivered. Calamities, too, can be dispelled. The scripture’s power is wondrous and reaches everywhere.

This is so because the breath of the Primordial Perfected Ones originates in the Supreme Sovereign, while the sounds of the profound void accord with the principle of the utmost cavern. The Qi of the Primordial Origin stirs and flows together, spreading De and bringing forth the myriad things, extending its grace to all beings…

If one recites and upholds this chapter without reverence, disaster will follow. If one offers it reverence and honors it, one’s household will flourish and prosper for generations, forming ties with goodness, free from a hundred calamities, with the gods protecting the household gates. This scripture is supremely precious and mysterious, without equal in the Jade Capital (the celestial capital in Daoist legend). It delivers countless people and is the root of the myriad Dao. Its laws are vast, and its merits and virtues cannot be fully described.

The scripture says: Whoever recites it ten times will be heard in solemn silence by the myriad sages, while the gods of the heavens descend together. They examine the immortals and sages by the jade laws of Yuyu Heaven (the laws of the celestial realm) and bring the spirits under discipline. All the gods show reverence and awe. A celestial decree pardons the suffering spirits of ancestors from countless generations in Beifeng (the realm that governs the underworld), delivering them at once and raising them to the Vermilion Palace (a celestial palace). After nine years of instruction, they can be reborn as nobles and will delight in studying the scriptures. Once their merits are complete, they can govern the myriad spirits, extending the Great Dao’s grace to all living beings. In the end, they all become immortals, ascend to the Golden Palace (the palace of the Celestial Emperor), and roam and feast in the Jade Capital.

Those who are determined to cultivate and study this scripture will be visited by the Divine Emperor. The Three Fields and Nine Palaces (places of cultivation within the body) and the Cavern Chamber (a Daoist inner-cultivation term for the spirit chamber within the body) will shine with brilliant jade light, strengthening the numinous Qi throughout the body and ultimately granting long life. When people of the world receive and recite this scripture, they can erase past transgressions. By believing in the Great Dao and diligently accumulating good deeds, they can transcend worldly karmic ties and ultimately attain the path of corpse liberation (a Daoist cultivation achievement in which one leaves the physical body and the soul-spirit ascends): the soul-spirit briefly leaves the body, passes beyond the hells, and then takes on another body, roaming through the Great Void.

This scripture is mysterious and subtle, and saves all without limit. All beings in heaven and on earth may receive blessings and good fortune through it; the living and the dead alike benefit from its grace. It is a scripture kept in Heaven’s treasure vault and must not be passed casually to people of the world. A truly realized adept must bring gold and silver treasures and, with utmost sincerity, swear an oath before Heaven before receiving permission to transmit it. If one carelessly divulges or neglects this scripture, disaster will befall nine generations of ancestors, who will serve for a long time in the offices of the ghosts. The five imperial jade youths and jade maidens who attend this scripture number twenty-four each. They guard the text and protect those who receive it.

The scripture says: If one observes a long fast and recites this scripture in the first month, the Azure Emperor (the Eastern Celestial Emperor) will carry out Heaven’s laws, and the Celestial Officials will report one’s merits. The souls of those who died in past lives will be freed from confinement in the hells and raised to the Southern Palace. If one observes a long fast and recites this scripture in the seventh month, the White Emperor (the Western Celestial Emperor) will carry out Heaven’s laws, and the Earth Officials will report one’s merits. The cultivator will become an immortal, have their name entered in the registers of the heavens, be removed from the records of the dead, and gain long life. If one observes a long fast and recites this scripture in the tenth month, the Black Emperor (the Northern Celestial Emperor) will carry out Heaven’s laws, and the Water Officials will report one’s merits. The emperors, rulers, ministers, fathers, and sons of the state will be at peace; the fortunes of the state will be secure and endure through generation after generation. The ruler will also be able to keep the lands under his governance at peace, so that the people may enjoy a peaceful age.

When this scripture is recited on the Eight Festivals (the eight important observances in the Daoist calendar), Heaven’s laws encompass the celestial realms in all eight directions, warning and encouraging the hundred gods. The cultivator can then become a Perfected One of the Nine Palaces. When it is recited on one’s Birth Day (the cyclical date of one’s birth)… (The original text ends here.)

The scripture enters the Crimson Palace, the dwelling place of the heart spirit, and receives true Qi. Following the prescribed rites, it summons the spirits, brings clarity and uprightness to the hun and po souls, and sustains the myriad breaths for a long time. The practitioner no longer suffers distress, and the body radiates light. The spirits of the Three Realms stand guard and attend; the Five Emperors come to welcome the practitioner, and the myriad gods pay homage. The practitioner’s name is entered in the heavenly register. When their merit is complete, they ascend to Shangqing, one of the higher heavens in Daoism.

The scripture says: On every day of practice, bathe with fragrant water. After fasting, enter a quiet chamber and face east. Click the teeth thirty-two times to reach the Thirty-Two Heavens; then bow thirty-two times, close the eyes, and meditate in silence. Imagine your body sitting upright amid clouds of nine-colored light, with profound darkness all around, within and without. Divine beasts—the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise—stand to either side, along with lions and white cranes. The sun and moon illuminate the chamber, their radiance shining throughout. A circular halo forms above your head, its light reaching in all ten directions. Once the visualization is clear, silently recite the secret invocation:

“Most High, Mysterious Origin, Supreme Lord of the Dao, summon forth the Three-and-Five Merit Officers within my body—the divine clerks who convey documents—the officials and messengers on my left and right, the spirit who attends the incense, the Jade Youth and Jade Maiden who transmit words, the Five Emperors’ talismanic envoys who carry out their commands, and the incense officials on duty today, thirty-two of each. Report to the heavens what I say today. This is an auspicious day. In this pure fasting hall, I observe the fast and cultivate the Dao, reciting the Wuliang Duren Jing (Scripture of Limitless Salvation). May what I now declare ascend to the heavenly court, reaching the august presence of the Primordial Lord, the Supreme Sovereign of the unsurpassed Thirty-Two Heavens.”

(When the recitation is complete.) Draw in Qi toward the east thirty-two times, then recite the scripture.

The Wondrous Supreme Scripture of Limitless Salvation by the Primordial Lord

This chapter of the Yuanshi Dongxuan Lingbao, according to the Jade Statutes of Yuyu Heaven, is a supreme scripture for delivering beings. Its true meaning is subtle and hidden; its tones shift and interweave, taking shape spontaneously.

In the realm of the Red Turbidity, Great Nonbeing, and Mysterious Supreme Jade Void, the Three Origins opened the cycles of kalpas and brought forth all things. Yuyu Heaven is vast and far-reaching, a realm of supreme wonder and emptiness. The Celestial Lord of Lingbao manifested divine wonders in Dongxuan and stood out among the finest at the Jade Capital. At the beginning of Shangqing and the Dragon-Han era, he gathered Qi and shone with radiance. The flying, numinous Qi brimmed with splendor; from it appeared brilliant, wondrous writings. These were arranged into scriptural rites, canons, and ordinances to govern the immortals, sages, and numinous beings of the myriad heavens.

These scriptures distinguish good from evil and restrain baleful Qi so that it cannot run rampant, ruin cultivation, or disrupt the right path. They command the sources of evil and seal off the beginnings of calamity. This is the law of the Primordial Lord, the foundation on which the teaching and generation of all things depend.

The Taihe Flowering Palace, the Cloud City of the Eight Radiances, the Great Luminous Purple Palace, the Jade Firmament’s Chamber of Gemlike Trees, Taiwei’s Harmonious Dawn, the Sevenfold Reflection’s Long Tower, the Vault of Heaven… (The scripture continues.)

Amid the flowing radiance, many divine beings appear: the God of Mysterious Truth who grants deliverance from fate, the Lord of the Elixir Spirit who prolongs life and fixes one’s register, the Great God of Jade Dawn and Rising Life, and the Elder of the Great Primordial Origin of the Celestial Capital. There is also the Supreme Exalted Venerable God of Purple Tenuity, who keeps the records, investigates wrongdoing, and inspects transgressions. These deities can make corpses rise again and bring the dead back to life, saving beings far and wide.

Today, the gods of the heavens examine the registers before the palace and verify the records.

In the east, the King of the Gods of Boundless Flying Heavens, who governs the laws, and the Great Sage of Long Life save beings far and wide.

In the south, the King of the Gods of Boundless Flying Heavens, who governs the laws, and the Great Sage of Long Life save beings far and wide.

In the west, the King of the Gods of Boundless Flying Heavens, who governs the laws, and the Great Sage of Long Life save beings far and wide.

In the north, the King of the Gods of Boundless Flying Heavens, who governs the laws, and the Great Sage of Long Life save beings far and wide.

In the northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest, as well as above and below, the Kings of the Gods of Boundless Flying Heavens, who govern the laws, and the Great Sages of Long Life likewise save beings far and wide.

The Perfected Kings of the Gods of Flying Heavens in the ten directions, together with the Immeasurable Great Gods who prolong life and deliver the world, ride in vermilion carriages like the rosy clouds of dawn. Jeweled chariots and ornate canopies accompany them, as do vehicles adorned with feathers, drawn by divine phoenixes of Jade Radiance and black dragons of the Nine Qi. On the carriages stand banners and pennants of the three colors of Highest Clarity, along with numinous flags bearing all manifestations. In front, the wondrous music of Great Harmony rings out; behind, they chant the divine hymns of transformative power. Lions and white cranes cry and sing together. A retinue of nine-colored standards guards them, while divine beings of the Three Purities protect the carriages. Millions upon millions of vehicles and mounted attendants float together through the sky.

“Keeping records, investigating wrongdoing, and inspecting transgressions” refers to divine offices responsible for managing registers and monitoring faults; “checking the registers” means verifying the entries in those records. The scripture depicts the gods summoned to the palace to examine and record the registers, then proceeding in a magnificent celestial procession that displays their majesty as saviors of all beings.

The assembled gods circle and dance high in the sky, their gazes moving as they look down upon the eight directions. The True Emperors of the Eight Extremities, the Dao Lords of the Ten Directions, and the divine officials, numinous officials, and high ministers who administer the laws all descend together, bearing purple documents and blue registers. They oversee and inspect merit and transgression, measure good deeds, and detect and suppress the roots of evil. Their messengers race through the myriad realms, traveling between grottoes and the passes of the netherworld.

Taiyuan—the primordial Qi in Daoist belief—determines the registers of names and preserves life. The Thirty-Six Palaces, including Tongchu, as well as places such as Kunlang, each uphold the laws: they protect and save the people, dispel baleful influences, and summon good fortune. The spirits refine and transform the body, causing it to flourish together with the Dao. They also succor those below in the hidden springs—the netherworld—where the Three Officials and Beifeng, the divine authority responsible for examining the dead, investigate guilt and merit, fortune and misfortune. After the dead are refined at Zhuling, the Daoist place of transformative salvation, they can gather true Qi, recover their forms, and be born again. The living, too, can attain deliverance, endure through the cycles of calamity, and live on, turning with the cycles and sharing the longevity of Heaven.

In this way, all beings can be delivered from the Three Paths and Five Sufferings—the realms of hell, hungry ghosts, and animals, and the many forms of suffering—rise beyond the Eight Difficulties, transcend the Three Realms, and roam freely in Shangqing. The heavens of Shangqing are the pure realm where the Celestial Emperor resides, and the destination sought by those who cultivate the pure way.

Eight Heavens of the East

Heaven of Azure Transformation and Yang Pattern — Emperor Hui Ji’pu Zun

Heaven of Bu Zhen Fu Long — Emperor Ni He Yi Yuan

Heaven of Jing Chang Tai Ming — Emperor Yao Chang Bi Yun

Heaven of Zuo Yuan Dao Fu — Emperor Zhu Chi Xun Shu

Heaven of True Qi, Cultivating the Stomach, and Spirit’s Control — Emperor Hui Suo Nan Qi

Heaven of Bai Xian Lian He — Emperor Wei Chang Zi Fei

Heaven of Jade Purity, Registers, and Mystery — Emperor Zhao Fu Ge Yan

Heaven of Qi Yang Chun Ying — Emperor Yin Ya Shu Dun

Eight Heavens of the South

Heaven of Settled Thought and Conjoined Spirit — Emperor Jiang Wu Ling Qi

Heaven of Yuan Bi and Cherished Life — Emperor Que Yun Zhu Cang

Heaven of the Red Ancestor and Drum of the Seasons — Emperor Bu Fang Jiu Guan

Heaven of Cloud Palaces and Arrayed Splendor — Emperor Zhong Jing Hui Yan

Heaven of Ninefold Brightness and Subtle Thought — Emperor Yao Hua Ling Yuan

Heaven of the Way’s Record and Yang’s Accord — Emperor Zong Fu Zhi Kong

Heaven of Kang Xu and Manifest Mystery — Emperor Jiang Xu Shang Chen

Heaven of Joined Dew and Transformed Mystery — Emperor Jing Chong Yuan Tuo

Eight Heavens of the West

Heaven of Refinement, Extension, and Ultimate Stillness — Emperor Lu Xian Yi Cong

Shaohua Solemnly Ascends Heaven, ruled by the Heavenly Emperor Ancestor Huang Shuxin;

Zhenming Governs Primordial Heaven, ruled by the Heavenly Emperor Lida Bian Ning;

Taisu Radiant Spirit of the Nine Mountains Heaven, ruled by the Heavenly Emperor Donghou Yangtu;

Jade Pivot Deliverance of People Heaven, ruled by the Heavenly Emperor Zuxi, King of Immortals;

Primordial Brahma Images of Transformation Heaven, ruled by the Heavenly Emperor Tuguang Shangxuan;

Great Empyrean Hidden Void Heaven, ruled by the Heavenly Emperor Liangdu Fuchang;

Cavernous Subtlety Imperial Truth Heaven, ruled by the Heavenly Emperor General Overseer of Spirit Gods.

The Eight Northern Heavens

Great Mountain Benevolence and Compassion Heaven, ruled by the Heavenly Emperor Yunling Qixian;

Mysterious Gate Ordering the Hidden Heaven, ruled by the Heavenly Emperor Hanlou Juanmeng;

Northern Directorate Equal Power Heaven, ruled by the Heavenly Emperor Yinzheng Qushi;

True Dao Manifesting Fragrance and Esteemed Command Heaven, ruled by the Heavenly Emperor Juelong Zongwang;

Mysterious Yellow Cavernous Void, Radiant and Falling Heaven, ruled by the Heavenly Emperor Miaosheng Zhiyun;

Jade Court Primordial Element Heaven, ruled by the Heavenly Emperor Lizhen Weifen;

Dragon Brahma Transforming Embryo Heaven, ruled by the Heavenly Emperor Gechang Ju;

Spring Spirit Utmost Darkness Heaven, ruled by the Heavenly Emperor Tui Bai Lei.

These are the honorific titles of the thirty-two heavens and their thirty-two Heavenly Emperors. They also include the hidden titles and secret names of the various heavens. Together, they form the wondrous script of the naturally arising, hollow heavens. The hidden verses of the heavens are the transmitted cadences of Yuyu Heaven, belonging to the exalted gods, divine spirits, true demons, and numinous officials of Shangqing.

The Mysterious Void is of utmost profundity. It can act upon the transformations of all things and become the root from which all things arise. Its boundless hidden profundity is unfathomable, and it governs the principles of the numinous and wondrous.

Set the workings of Heaven in motion and circulate the true Qi (the vital energy of life and the cosmos, as understood in Daoism).

Today, proclaim the wondrous teachings and announce them everywhere to the Three Officials (the Daoist officials of Heaven, Earth, and Water). Subdue evil spirits and dispel calamities. Recommend those who have done good, and promote them; review the registers and enter their names into the illustrated records. The Emperor Lords, Immortals, and Perfected Ones, together with the Mystery Masters (immortals and ritual masters honored in Daoism), jointly vouch for them, enabling them to transcend and ascend to the realm of Great Mystery.

The Eastern Dipper governs the records of human lifespans; the Western Dipper determines punishments; the Northern Dipper investigates transgressions; the Southern Dipper governs treachery; and the Central Dipper carries out the teachings and holds supreme authority. The Azure Emperor protects life; the White Emperor assists in bringing things to completion; the Red Emperor reports achievements; the Black Emperor pardons offenses; and the Yellow Emperor travels throughout the four directions, exercising his authority.

The Auspicious Assembly’s Azure-Law Spirit King guards the Heavenly Emperor; the Red-Law Spirit King reveals the origins of punishments; the White-Law Spirit King cuts down evil spirits in Fengquan (the land of the underworld); the Black-Law Spirit King aids and judges the treacherous in the darkness; and the Yellow-Law Spirit King governs the officials of the Five Sacred Peaks and inspects the precepts. The True Demon, sovereign of the myriad spirits, flies in, accompanied by drums and music. He commands the ghostly troops, waves banners and standards, beats drums and marks the rhythm, and patrols the vast sky. His divine might shines forth, and all the heavens join in proclaiming their achievements. The Jade Laws of the Upper Clarity (the celestial ordinances of the Upper Clarity realm) strictly restrain the Spirit King of Northern Feng, who obeys the command to sweep away all ill omens.

Golden essence flashes, swift as flying lightning, rushing in all directions. The constellations Shen and Wei (names of star lodges) lead the way. Armored divine generals raise flags and banners, send forth streaming rays of brilliance, and hurl flames, their power shaking the eight directions of the south. Whoever dares to offend or obstruct the High Perfected Ones (a Daoist honorific for realized immortals) will be slain by the Golden-Headed Divine General at the front and punished by the Heavenly Cavalry General behind, who will cut down the demons. Wind and fire rage without pause: thousands upon thousands are beheaded, and tens of thousands are cut to pieces. Demons cannot invade; ghosts cannot wreak havoc.

The Three Officials and the Bright Inspectors of Northern Feng keep close watch over the ghostly realm, where no ghostly camp can hide. Golden-Horse courier messengers present the documents and broadcast them to the furthest reaches without end. All the spirits come to receive their orders, while the Five Emperors of the Three Realms jointly submit their reports to the Upper Clarity.

“The Celestial Writ of Yu Yu,” 161 characters:

The True King of Yu Yu (a revered Daoist deity) inspects the myriad spirits,

establishes the precepts, carves them in jade, and declares the Five Punishments.

Whoever dares to defy the Dao of Heaven and disrupt the Heavenly Canons

will be torn apart by wind-blades in Luofeng City (the underworld prison).

The civil officials of the Ninefold Darkness (the depths of the underworld) wear brocade headcloths;

at dawn they ride golden horses and ascend to the Jade Capital (the palace of Heaven).

Holding the register of offenders, they execute ghosts and spirits

and, by command, summon the Five Emperors to examine their souls.

Offenders must also endure the punishments of boiling cauldrons and fiery furnaces,

as evil smoke billows upward.

An army of ten thousand, fully armed, guards Ququan, a place name or the site of a divine realm. Those who do evil will suffer severe punishment, their cries of pain reaching the heavens. Rebels and traitors must listen carefully and understand these words: do not violate the Jade Laws, the laws of the celestial realm, or you will face harsh punishment and fall into peril.

The myriad gods uphold the laws of Heaven and receive the wondrous scriptures. Fairness, loyalty, and filial devotion are the foundations of cultivating the Dao. Why assume you alone are in the right and remain secluded in an empty mountain? Why not build merit by helping those trapped in suffering and unable to find release? In doing so, you will naturally receive an immortal rank bestowed by the Celestial Emperor, and your ancestors of seven generations will be freed from suffering and ascend to Great Mystery, the lofty celestial realm described in Daoism.

Bring the people long life and well-being, so they may witness an era of peace. The Shangqing Department of Destiny, the divine office in the Shangqing Heaven that oversees registers of life, will record your name. Uphold the laws of Heaven and pay homage to the Divine Lord, and you may ride an immortal carriage into Zichen, the abode of the Celestial Emperor.

Write the text in blue on white silk and wear it on your person: the hundred gods will then guard your body. Carve the text into red jujube wood, apply it with focused intention, and seal it in place; it can be used to treat all kinds of illness, with wondrous effect. The myriad gods will answer your intention and respond at once.

The Great Jade Morning Law is a wondrous text of the Three Heavens. The three primordial energies communicate and unite, blending to form the pure primordial Qi of the Origin. The heaven called “Great Red Origin” is known as Shangqing; the heaven called “Yu Yu Beginning” is known as Yuqing; and the heaven called “Clear Subtlety” is known as Qingwei Heaven. Before the three primordial energies divided, they were deep and indistinct, joined as one. Only after the three luminous forms appeared did the primordial energies begin to divide.

In the era of Red Chaos, the Jade Laws were profound and unfathomable. The primordial energies interwove and spread, arranged and entwined to form patterns; their Qi lay hidden within, blending and condensing into jade essence. After countless kalpas, amid the chaos, the Upper… (The original text ends here.)

The wondrous, deep and subtle Primordial Qi—the original energy from which heaven and earth first arose, according to Daoism—spreads up from the lower realms and fills the cosmos. Jade light gathers and condenses into essence, while the primordial spirit of the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning first takes the form of a divine infant. Wind, water, mystery, and emptiness together form the foundation of all things, and golden radiance shines across the heavens.

From this came the creation of writing and ornate patterns of composition, as the laws of the Dao were made manifest and its teachings opened without end. Yuya Heaven, one of the Thirty-Six Heavens in Daoist cosmology, became the realm where the myriad ways return to their source; from there, diverse teachings and regulations were handed down. The movements of heaven and earth and the salvation of living beings unfold naturally, extending across an immeasurable expanse. Thousands upon thousands of mysterious celestial officials and divine registers inspect and govern the true realms of the underworld, preserving the force of life through the cycles of cosmic calamity.

Primordial Brahma Qi winds and condenses to form the Thirty-Two Heavens. The numinous power of Virtue moves throughout the ten directions, reaching upward to the imperial abode and downward through the caverns and palaces. The heavens proclaim hidden scriptures and talismanic writings of nine grades. Spirits gather and focus their breath through long cries and chants; numinous winds gather mists and clouds, and the realm of Purple Void flourishes with auspicious signs. The immortals assist the transformation wrought by the Dao, and all things harmonize, naturally cultivating themselves into perfected immortals. Among these perfected immortals are divine beings such as the Great Lord of Longevity, the Lordling Wu Ying, the Venerable Spirit Bai Yuan, and such exalted deities as the Lords of the Four Poles and the Sovereign Ruler Yuan Huang.

The Celestial Register Office, whose divine officials oversee the records and rosters of heaven, compiles the lists of the highest perfected beings and administers the mysterious registers of the immortals. It selects those with the right affinity and guides them toward transcendence. Its officials roam freely through the realm of Shangqing and enter and leave splendid immortal palaces, sending down true Qi and numinous essence. They also infuse Qi into the Gate of Life, the Mud Ball Palace, and the Crimson Palace—all locations of bodily energy in Daoist inner cultivation—so that the Five Qi harmonize and the hundred spirits gather. As the breath undergoes nine transformations, it circles back and stirs the wind; the myriad Qi assemble, and living beings turn toward the immortal path.

The immortal path treasures life and saves living beings without limit. It opens the immortal gates in the eight directions, focuses the spirit with sincerity, and pays homage to the emperors, raising the seven generations of ancestors together. In accordance with guilt and merit, prohibitions and precepts, and the karmic ties of past lives, it universally saves departed souls, enabling the dead to be reborn and the living to receive new life. This work is reported to the heavens above.

Above the heavens, each realm has its own immortal gate. There circulate the sacred hymns known as “hollow songs,” and the words of the numinous writings of the True Kings may be compared with the teachings of the highest perfected beings.

Chapter One: The Pure and Mysterious Jade Precepts of Yuya, the Sound of Soaring Through the Air

Beyond the Three Realms lies a remote and vast expanse. Vast, primordial energy condenses into the realm of Cinnabar Mystery. Clouds and rosy mists coil among jade towers; crimson palaces stretch into scarlet haze. There dwells the Lord of Emptiness, who governs the transformation of the teachings and commands the heavens.

The subtle laws are written in jade script and existed even before the Great Beginning, before heaven and earth were formed. The three lights of the sun, moon, and stars shine brilliantly, while the warp and weft of the Dao govern the myriad spirits. The Dao discerns and restrains every form of heresy and delusion, protecting those who possess Virtue.

Those whose hearts are balanced and tranquil and who follow the right path need not fear the hosts of demons. They see into the mysterious realms, remain unbound by the burdens of the mundane world, and are unmoved by gain or loss, rise or decline, through hundreds of millions of kalpas. Who can understand this wondrous function at the highest level? It is enough to preserve life for a long time.

Chapter Two: The Chapter of the Jade Precepts for Inspecting and Regulating the Spirits

At the beginning of the Great Catastrophe of Crimson Radiance, an ancient cosmic cycle, the light of Mysterious Clarity shone upon the Jade Writings, the jade script of the celestial realm, and the majestic Lord of Numinous Treasure appeared.

He governs the source of all transformations and rules over Heaven, Earth, mountains, and rivers. The gods carry out his authority. Yin and Yang meet in harmony, and the world is entirely free of violence and treachery. He harmonizes and sets in motion the peaceful Qi, keeping evil from encroaching upon the righteous Way. Those who observe and follow his laws and ordinances can preserve their De day by day and help it flourish.

If anyone acts recklessly, spreads harm, and corrupts the way of purity and stillness, the Five Emperors will swiftly wield their might and punish them, sending them to the Palace of Flowing Fire, a celestial office where offenses are punished. The deceitful and deluded who commit misdeeds are all investigated and restrained; none can escape. Their merits and faults are weighed with exactness and reported to the Chamber of Jade Firmament, the celestial office that receives reports of merit and fault. Those with the right affinity may transcend and be transformed, entering together the Gate of Great Mystery.

The third song, “Song of the Jade Law and Primordial Sovereign’s Ascension,” says:

I travel through the realm of Highest Clarity, looking back upon the Three Realms. With a lift of my hand or a step, I gaze down over ten thousand layers of heaven. In an instant, I am already racing away astride a flying dragon.

The human body is like a temporary thatched hut, while the small field within the heart—the inner self—is beset by countless deluded thoughts. If people do not realize that their Shen and Qi will be exhausted, they will feel as though the Five Destinies, the five realms of rebirth, were a prison. They should consider setting aside worldly learning and attachments, and quietly contemplate the Great Dao. Then the Dao’s Qi will remain full and flowing within them. The spirit grows still and settled, the body naturally transforms, and mysterious forms grow indistinct. Yin Qi is dispelled, demonic defilements are destroyed, and body and mind become clear and empty, merging with the great void. Through refinement, one forms the substance of an immortal, then reports one’s accomplishments to the Azure Flower Youth, a celestial spirit.

Once the true and wondrous Dao fills body and mind, blessings and joy also reach one’s ancestors. Then, stepping upon the sun’s shadow, one walks through the vast open sky, passing through myriad kalpas with a life without end. Without the capacity of a perfected adept, how could one dwell at ease in the primordial chaos, before Heaven and Earth were divided and the original Qi differentiated? Celestials and humans travel with me; every kind of wondrous joy is complete. Without relying on precepts and teachings, how could the Mysterious Dao be renewed and brought to flourish?

This is the song sung by the True King who dwells above the Three Realms, flying through the sky; every line accords with the Cavern Scriptures. Recite it one hundred times, and your name will 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 your Dao practice will be perfected: you will ascend through the sky, transcend the Three Realms, and take your place among the Immortal Lords.

When someone hears this wondrous song of the True King, the True King will honor their body and command the earthly spirits to escort and protect them, welcoming them and drawing them out through the Earthly Gate, the passage to the underworld. They will be freed from the Five Sufferings and Eight Calamities, their seven generations of ancestors will ascend, and they will leave the Earthly Pass forever. Their souls will cross to Vermilion Mound, the celestial place where the souls of the dead are refined. After refinement, they will receive new life. This is called universal salvation without measure or end. This text is a scripture secretly transmitted by Heaven.

Anyone who reveals or treats with contempt the scriptures revered throughout the heavens will fall into hell, and the calamity will extend to seven generations of their ancestors.

A Daoist scripture says: These two chapters are sacred words, secretly treasured by the Heavenly Lords of the heavens and the most numinous True Kings. They are called the “Jade Statutes of Yuyu” (the laws of the celestial realm). They govern Heaven and Earth, examine the conduct of immortals, and restrain the gods. Among the prohibitions of the celestial realm, they are texts of the utmost importance. They are not ordinary worldly words: they do not rely on rhyme or ornate phrasing. Instead, they are called mysterious and profound, and impossible to investigate fully. Heaven prizes and keeps this scripture hidden in a treasure chamber east of the Jade Palace of Yuchen in the Divine Empyrean.

The Dao Lord established an altar and taught the scriptures, allowing this one to circulate in keeping with the times. If a person who has attained the Dao brings gold, silk, and other valuables, and sincerely follows the established rites, they may make a solemn oath before the spirits and pledge themselves for ten days. Only then may they transmit this scripture.

A Daoist scripture says: The Jade Statutes of Yuyu oversee the immortals, assess their merits and faults, and examine the hundred spirits. The cycles of Heaven and Earth, the waxing and waning of the sun, moon, and five planets, and the fortunes and misfortunes of sages and practitioners are all subject to the scrutiny of the celestial realm. When beginners in the Dao encounter illness or injury, the officials under the jurisdiction of the celestial bureau are responsible for managing such calamities. Misfortunes and transgressions therefore concern the governance of the celestial realm: they must be examined and verified under the Jade Statutes, without favoritism. If anyone dares to conceal the truth, act recklessly, and bring calamity upon themselves, the statutes will show no mercy. Those bound to them by a shared vital essence must also join together in purification, burn incense at the appointed times, and recite the scripture ten times.

When a Daoist priest ascends the altar to perform rites, they should be solemn and properly attired, and recite this great scripture of the Jade Statutes in accordance with the ritual. Blessings and De (Virtue/Power) will then descend, and all manner of ill omens will disperse. This scripture has immeasurable merit and can deliver beings everywhere, without limit.

A Daoist scripture says: Beginners whose practice is still shallow, or whose cultivation of the immortal ranks is not yet complete, may have reached the end of their allotted lifespan and be about to enter “Great Yin,” a state associated in Daoist teaching with death and the netherworld. A fellow practitioner who has attained the Dao may burn incense and recite the scripture ten times on their behalf, delivering their remains. If the rites are carried out correctly, the Earth Official will enforce the statutes and command and oversee the earth spirits. He will seize the departed soul and refine and deliver the remains, protecting them from evil forces in the earth, such as earth-dwelling wind tigers. The departed soul will ascend directly to the Southern Palace, the celestial offices of the immortals. There, the merit of the person’s Daoist practice will be used to determine the time of their rebirth, so they will not be confused when they are born again and enter the cycle of rebirth. In time, they will become an immortal.

The Daoist scriptures say: When the workings of Heaven and Earth reach their limit, the stars fall out of order in their courses, the Sun and Moon lose their light, the seasons lose their rhythm, and Yin-Yang falls out of balance. Droughts and floods strike within a state; bandits and armed rebellions arise one after another; epidemics spread, and the people suffer injury and death. Teachers, friends, and relatives pass away in succession. These are all consequences of violating the Jade Laws, the laws of Heaven, and matters against which the divine beings issue solemn warnings. Whenever such circumstances arise, one should perform a purification retreat, cleanse the mind according to the prescribed rules, burn incense, and recite the scriptures.

The merit of undertaking a purification retreat and reciting the scriptures is great: above, it can dispel calamities from Heaven and protect the ruler; below, it can avert disasters and save the people, shielding all beings amid the dangers of life and death. This merit and blessing are beyond measure, hence the phrase “immeasurably saving all beings, human and celestial.”

The Daoist scriptures also say: Anyone who possesses this scripture and is willing to cultivate this merit for Heaven and Earth, the ruler, and the people should, when disaster strikes, resolve to undertake a purification retreat, burn incense, and recite the scripture ten times. The heavens will then record that person’s name, and the myriad spirits will guard them. In time, this person may become a minister in the Golden Towers of the Sage Sovereigns, the palaces of the Celestial Emperor. The heavens record people’s good and bad deeds, overlooking nothing, however small; the True Sovereign in Heaven will also recommend you.

Those who cultivate the Dao should truly understand these highest principles.

The Great Brahma’s Hidden Words and Inexhaustible Sounds among the Heavens (the secret, sacred language said to be used by the heavens), composed by the Dao Lord.

The Jade Chapters of the Numinous Writings of Yu’s Remaining Purity from Primordial Beginning

What follows are the numinous written characters of the celestial realms in each direction. They are sacred hidden words within the scriptures; the text provides no word-by-word explanation, and they generally cannot be read as ordinary Chinese characters.

The Eight Heavens of the East

室乾颂交　韩陁誓晦　韬漏颐侯

真阿琯参　徼冒绢扑　青逗驿岑

瓘存兴治　号桓罟沈　逸罗端丑

霞纺捐金　露曜忽卓　庆陂溪寻

喜陈玉静　宝液鼎淫　辨甲宅祥

戍何三真

The Eight Heavens of the South

神霄干露　警青虎霞　壶方中定

敕法使灵　岫将斩魔　慧光涤元

赖巫来见　考魂隐宣　仙功惟意

真华命呼　离涂救焚　大宸紫君

天岳秘讳　内闭法轮　蓬府司监

化度种人

The Eight Heavens of the West

玉阙明都　启昆瑶月　火令掷雷

八杀戮检　魁垒神帝　震诚理仙

恍荡役罚　俊召龙崿　遁鑴遐逵

The spirit of Changmen enters and leaves the realm of truth. It commands troops and weapons, brings strange events to order, and protects the spirits on the left.

Lü Jin Yin Quan penetrates the netherworld and makes the souls clear and bright. At the time of transformation and return, it also offers protection in the unseen realm.

The Eastern Talisman Lord.

The Eight Heavens of the North (the eightfold celestial realm in the north):

The Dao Qi is vast and clear, empty, still, refined, and subtle. The Yellow Path governs, extending everywhere as far as the realm of Puna. The Dharma treasures are precious and worthy of offering; the jade and mysterious scripture shines brightly, while the light of the Mao direction brings forth all things. Its essence is stored within yet reaches far away, penetrating the depths in hidden places, pure, unified, and subtle. At the crimson altar, spiritual awareness awakens.

They come in accordance with the Dao and assist the sovereign; they look after and rescue the vast waters, letting their grace reach remote wastelands. The Ladle Mansion童 records maps and registers; Huangjin receives the ancestral stores of grain. The netherworld stretches on without end, yet nothing there is apparent.

Xiao Hui Lu Gang.

The Daoist scriptures say: The Great Brahma hidden words of these heavens are inner chapters of the Jade Laws, sounds without measure. Ancient scriptures are engraved on the jade gates of Yuyu Heaven to set right the characters of the Jade Laws. The true celestial officials and honored spirits of the upper, middle, and lower realms respectfully wear them and dare not violate them. These characters are not within the reach of the officials of the underworld or local magistrates. Each character is a zhang in size. If a practitioner obtains them, they can send their spirit flying. Yuyu Heaven transmits this method, and Yuchen Heaven, one of the heavens in Daoist teaching, may also conceal it.

Practitioners sometimes live in seclusion beneath the Abode of Quiet Clouds, and at other times travel among people. They use this method to summon and command the spirits of the mountains, and to investigate and record the myriad ghosts. The Perfected Sovereign of the Highest Clarity once wrote these characters as the true sacred sounds. If someone understands their sounds, observes purification, and recites them, the heavens will dispatch the demons of the Central Heaven, seven great generals, and the Immortal Perfected of Taiyi to descend and inspect that person. They will attach themselves to the person’s natal spirit and bring about numinous efficacy. The merit of the practice will be reported to the heavens. The myriad spirits will come to pay homage, while the earth deities stand guard before the gate. The Great Merit True King will recommend the practitioner, enabling them, once they have perfected the Daoist methods of the Divine Empyrean, to travel through the Three Realms and ascend to the Golden Gate.

These sounds can ward off evil, avert calamities, deliver living beings, and bring deeds to completion. They are sounds that arise naturally from the Perfected Ones of Heaven. Thus, reciting them causes demons and spirits to come and inspect; the Supreme Emperor responds in song from afar, the myriad spirits come to pay homage, and the deities of the Three Realms attend the divine carriage. All evils bow their heads, and ghosts and goblins vanish of their own accord. The resonant sound of scripture recitation rings out in the ten directions, making the four quarters solemn and pure. Rivers, lakes, and seas grow still; mists disperse among the mountains. The myriad spirits are stirred and bow in submission, while the assembled immortals answer the summons. There is no murk or impurity in the heavens, and no demonic evil or dust on earth. In the netherworld, wisdom shines with clear, pure penetration, vast and profoundly mysterious.

Section on the Great Red Numinous Writings.

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning said: “In the past, in the splendid and luminous treasure realm of Golden Jade, flying in the sky of Purple Dawn, I received the Supreme, Immeasurable Great Red Scripture of the Numinous Writings for Delivering People of Primordial Beginning. Then the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning began to expound this scripture. Each time it was recited, he summoned the spirits of one direction to come and hear the teaching.

“At first, the Great Divine Ones of Heaven, the highest sages and honored ones, the Perfected Ones of wondrous practice, the True Kings of Great Clarity, the assembled sages of the Seven Heavens, the left and right officials of the Jade Bureau of the Supreme Ultimate, and countless beings such as spirit officials and attendants came flying through the sky in cloud chariots. Their carriages were splendid and radiant: carriages of langgan stone, jade wheels, and red canopies cast shimmering reflections; jade flowers glowed, and five-colored rays streamed forth, illuminating the whole sky.

“At that moment, the spirits in the Dao realms of the heavens halted their chariots, and the winds between Heaven and Earth fell still. The sky grew serene, the clouds drew back, and the waters became calm; Heaven and Earth were clear and bright. The land, mountains, rivers, and forests throughout the country became level and even, with no high or low places. The earth shone with brilliant light, green everywhere and without any other color. The Perfected Ones served before the assembly, while the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning sat upright upon a five-colored, radiant jade lotus suspended in the air and began to preach the scripture.

“When the scripture was preached for the first time, the great sages of the heavens praised it in unison. Men and women throughout the country came to an inner understanding, as though their minds and spirits had opened into the vast sky, and comprehended the Dao of Wuwei (non-action).

“When it was preached for the second time, they could see the Dharma Body—the true, transcendent body realized by a cultivator—and from then on were no longer stained by afflictions or worldly dust.

“When it was preached for the third time, their minds and spirits passed beyond the subtle and mysterious realms and understood the principles of all the teachings.

“When it was preached for the fourth time, their spiritual wisdom was perfected, and they could fly freely.

“When it was preached for the fifth time, they spoke with fluency and quick eloquence, able to proclaim the highest truths.

“When it was preached for the sixth time, they turned their gaze inward and saw the Fetal Light, one of the original spirits within the human body according to Daoist teaching. Their breath became steady and unbroken.

“When it was preached for the seventh time, they brought the Qi of the Jade Gate and the divine palace into harmony, circulating it like a pearl.

“When it was preached for the eighth time, the radiance of the soaring forests flowed and spread throughout the heavens.

“When it was preached for the ninth time, all things sprouted and grew, no longer dying before their time.

“When it was preached for the tenth time, heavenly music sounded in the sky, clouds gathered, and auspicious signs appeared. Men and women throughout the country all wholeheartedly believed and accepted the teaching. They received protection and deliverance, and attained long life.”

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning also said: “Whenever the scripture was completed once, the immeasurable Great Perfected Ones and countless divine hosts of one direction would come flying through the sky. At the first recitation, the divine hosts of the east arrived; at the second, those of the south; at the third, those of the west; and at the fourth, those of the north. At the fifth through eighth recitations, the hosts of the northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest arrived in turn. At the ninth, the hosts from above arrived; at the tenth, those from below.

“When all ten recitations were complete, the immeasurable Heavenly Perfected Ones from the ten directions had all gathered together. Men and women throughout the country rejoiced and celebrated, and together they awakened to the will to do good.

“The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning also said: ‘At that moment, the immeasurable Heavenly Perfected Ones from the ten directions arrived together. They bowed before the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning and asked: “Celestial Worthy, you have preached the scripture ten times, reaching all ten directions and delivering living beings through immeasurable teachings. Today we rejoice and celebrate that we have been able to hear the scripture and its teachings. We still do not understand: by hearing this teaching, do we attain the Way of the Most Perfect and the sound of the Most Virtuous? What merits should we cultivate, and what wisdom will they bring? We beg you, Celestial Worthy, to explain, so that those who have not yet awakened may also hear this mysterious teaching.”’”

Many divine beings arrived through the air, and the scripture was expounded for the fourth time. From the boundless realm of the north came supreme divine beings of countless ranks and innumerable gods, all arriving through the air to hear the scripture.

When the scripture was expounded for the fifth time, supreme divine beings of countless ranks and innumerable gods came through the air from the boundless realm of the northeast. At the sixth recitation, the gods of the southeast arrived; at the seventh, those of the southwest; at the eighth, those of the northwest; at the ninth, those above; and at the tenth, those below. When the scripture had been recited ten times, the supreme celestial beings from the boundless heavens of all ten directions had gathered together.

The men and women throughout the kingdom sincerely turned toward and revered the Heavenly Venerable. The gods who arrived later were as numerous as drifting clouds and gathering rain. Countless gods bowed their heads, respectfully saluted before the Jade Steps, and said:

“The heavens where we dwell lie above the Heaven of the Seed People, within the Great Clarity, Great Red, and Mysterious Void. All the phenomena in those heavens arise with thought and vanish when thought ceases. That realm is vast and empty, bright and far-reaching; it belongs to the realm of the Dao. Practitioners who have attained the sacred rank of the Nine Qi have risen beyond and reached fulfillment, freed from every entanglement and illusion. They cling neither to being nor to nonbeing; through contemplating the Great Dao, they attain eternal life.

“Within the Great Red Heaven lies the third layer of the mysterious expanse, displaying the radiant colors of the Three Blossoms. Beneath it are placed flying wheels, which protect and guard the gates of heaven. We have respectfully heard that the Heavenly Venerable has revealed wondrous scriptures in this Taiji realm of the August True Immortals, making known the Dao’s profound mysteries. Within the Mysterious Firmament, all beings—from the divine continent to the boundless worlds—may together receive supreme rewards and become beneficiaries of immeasurable blessings and De. Each of us applies the heart of the Dao and waits in stillness to hear the highest teachings and the great Dharma of the True Ones.”

At that moment, the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning suspended a precious pearl, as small as a millet grain, in the empty firmament, five zhang above the ground. The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning ascended the steps and drew forth…

The great gods of the celestial realms, the Highest Sages and the Most Honored Ones, together with the many Perfected Ones from the boundless realms in all ten directions, all entered the precious pearl. Celestial beings and living creatures looked up and saw sacred Great Red numinous script—the divine writing of Daoist scriptures—covering the inside of the pearl. Its space measured one zhang across, was octagonal, and shone with light. They saw radiant energy surging and pouring in through the pearl’s entrance; once inside, it was impossible to tell where it went.

At that moment, the land opened out and grew level. The earth was restored to evenness and no longer tilted or collapsed. Within the precious pearl, the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning finished expounding this Jing. The assembled Perfected Ones oversaw and protected this rite of salvation, then transmitted the scripture to me. The joy and celebration of that moment are beyond words. When the rite was largely complete, the heavens each returned to their proper places. In an instant, all around fell silent, and not a sound could be heard.

At that time, celestial beings and living creatures were fortunate to encounter the scripture and its teaching. They were saved and preserved their allotted lifespans, suffering no harm. The people of the land turned their hearts toward faith and all attained the wondrous realm of emptiness: free from thought and attachment, and no longer bound by forms, colors, or sounds. They neither killed nor coveted, and were free of filth, defilement, and falsehood. They spoke no selfish words, used no flowery language, and uttered no evil speech. They shared compassion for one another, and even those of different surnames were as close as family. The state was at peace, the people were prosperous, and all rejoiced in the enjoyment of peace and order.

When this Jing first began to be transmitted, it transformed an entire state. All who had long held sincere hearts and revered and honored the Great Dao were able to transcend the suffering of the world.

The Dao declares: What the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning said while expounding the Jing consists entirely of the inner names and hidden tones used by the celestial sovereigns, as well as the jade characters of the Nine Heavens and the secret names of the Highest Perfected Ones found in the “Great Red numinous script.” These are not words used in everyday life. The assembled sages have attained the realm of true immortals, understood the mysterious, and explored the hidden. By wearing and studying the Red Script, one can understand its chapters.

Reciting this Jing ten times will draw a response from the heavens at a distance, and the Myriad Emperors will offer their respects. The power of the numinous script will reach throughout the ten directions, bringing all things into accord with the mysterious. All the spirits will come in response; the true Dao will thereby appear, the host of demons will be bound in body, and ghostly essences will lose their numinous power. The cinnabar characters can awaken life, raising corpses, restoring the dead to life, and transforming white bones into human beings. As for those who aspire to cultivate the Dao and recite…

Recite this scripture ten times, and your breath will rise beyond the stars of the Five Directions, while your De will move the Three Realms. Demons and monsters will lose their power to cause trouble, and ghosts, spirits, and evil beings will be destroyed. The scripture can also save those on the brink of death and sinking into suffering, enabling them to ascend to Heaven.

This is because beginners, though they have only just grasped the principle of the Mysterious Void and begun to cultivate the Dao, and though they revere and contemplate the Lingbao scriptures, have not yet fully understood the truth or brought their De into accord with that of the High Sages. Their power may be enough to subdue a hundred demons and save ten thousand spirits, but it can only help people ascend; it cannot yet penetrate the Mysterious Profundity completely. To recite this chapter carelessly may instead bring disaster. If one makes offerings to and honors this scripture, one’s household will prosper and flourish through the generations, form ties with goodness, and suffer no harm from calamities; the spirits will also protect its gates. This scripture is supremely honored and mysterious, without equal in the Jade Capital, the celestial immortal city of Daoist legend. It saves countless people and is the root of the myriad Dao; its scope is vast and deep, and its De beyond measure.

The Dao says: Anyone who recites this scripture ten times and understands its principles will come into accord with the Dao of Great Red and bring their breath into harmony with Supreme Clarity. As the mind gradually penetrates more deeply, the accumulated dust and stagnation within body and mind will dissolve. What remains is a state of mysterious emptiness and calm: subtle forms and shadows, clear and still, crystalline and transparent, able to perceive the mysterious essence. Such a person becomes a Perfected One. The spirits of the heavens will all descend, and the departed souls of countless ancestors, along with suffering spirits, will be delivered and ascend to the Vermilion Palace, a celestial palace in Daoist teaching.

After nine years of transformation there, the departed souls can be reborn as people of high rank, delighting in the study and cultivation of the scriptures. When their merit and virtue are complete, they can all become immortals, ascend to the Golden Palace, and feast and wander in the Jade Capital. Those of the highest rank in Daoist cultivation who practice and recite this scripture, understand the Great Dao, and realize the Mysterious Profundity can ascend to the Palace of the Supreme Ultimate. The entanglements of the world suddenly fall away, and they return to emptiness and stillness. In silence, they accord with this principle and awaken to clarity. They never change or perish, transcend life and death, attain longevity, and, after undergoing refinement, ascend to the Southern Palace.

Even if people who recite this scripture have not yet entered a truly tranquil state, they need only gradually release their attachment to physical things. True Qi will then naturally arise in the Great Void and nourish the whole body from below. In this way they can prolong their lives and ultimately cultivate the Dao of Corpse Liberation, in which the physical body is left behind as the spirit escapes and regains the power of transformation: the spirit temporarily leaves the body, bypasses the underworld, and then takes form again, free to roam through the Great Void.

This scripture is supremely subtle and delivers all beings without limit. The inhabitants of Heaven and the human world can receive its blessings, and both the living and the dead benefit from its grace. It is a scripture treasured by Heaven and must not be passed casually to ordinary people. Those truly devoted to the Dao should express their sincerity with gifts such as gold and silk, swear an oath before Heaven, and only then receive the transmission. To disclose it carelessly or treat the scripture with disrespect will bring calamity upon nine generations of ancestors, condemning them to long service under the ghost officials. Twenty-four Jade Boys and twenty-four Jade Maidens serve this scripture’s Five Emperors; they guard the text and protect those who receive it.

The Dao says: If one fasts, recites, and chants this scripture during the first lunar month, the divine wind will move in harmony with the natural order and nourish all spirits. Accumulated sins will be dissolved, and one will come into accord with the true Dao.

By embodying the Dao in one’s practice, one can deliver the souls of the dead from former lives, freeing them from service in the underworld so that they may ascend to the Southern Palace. If one observes an extended fast and recites this Jing for seven months, the Qi of the Golden Truth will stir the clouds, allowing one to enter the realm of Dongzhen, summon perfected spirits, and communicate with the divine. In the end, one attains the Dao and becomes an immortal, ascending in the physical body. One’s name will also be entered on the celestial registers of yellow and white, removed from the register of the dead, and transferred to the register of the living. If one observes an extended fast and recites the Jing for ten months, purple clouds will descend.

Refine and transform the body, ride the wind, and circle the Eight Luminaries on the left. The Three Perfected Ones will come to pay their respects. Perfected spirits will command the divine beings to arrive with a roar and marshal the tiger troops. If the practitioner is a king or sovereign, or a ruler, minister, father, or son, reciting the Jing can bring stability to the state and extend its fortunes through the generations. If the practitioner is a ruler, it can pacify the lands under their authority, so that the people praise the peace.

Recite this Jing on the eight seasonal nodes—Beginning of Spring, Spring Equinox, Beginning of Summer, Summer Solstice, Beginning of Autumn, Autumn Equinox, Beginning of Winter, and Winter Solstice—and the Eight Luminaries will open and flow freely, while the five inner palaces become clear and bright. The body will enter the realm of Great Nonbeing and unite with the mysterious Void, enabling one to become a Perfected of the Nine Palaces. Recite this Jing on the day of one’s birth cycle, and the Great Red numinous text will resonate with the practitioner, enabling a thousand transformations and leading naturally to the Dao. The soul and spirit will become clear and upright; the various vital energies will remain within for a long time; suffering will cease, and the body will shine with light. Divine beings of the Three Realms will attend on either side, the Five Emperors will send divine generals to welcome the practitioner, and the myriad spirits will come to pay homage. The practitioner’s name will be entered in the celestial register, and, when their merit is complete, they will ascend to Shangqing.

A Daoist scripture says: On any day when one performs the ritual of practicing the Dao, one should bathe with fragrant water, observe a fast, and then enter a quiet chamber.

Face east and click the teeth thirty-two times to connect with the thirty-two heavens above. Silently call to mind the thirty-two heavens and bow thirty-two times. Close the eyes and meditate, envisioning yourself seated upright amid clouds of blue, red, and yellow. Clouds within and without gather thickly in a deep, shadowed expanse. On either side stand the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise, lions, and white cranes. The sun and moon shine, filling the chamber with clear light. Behind your neck, a circular halo appears, its radiance illuminating the ten directions. When this vision is clear, silently recite the invocation:

“Supreme, Mysterious Origin, Most High Lord of the Dao, summon from within my body the Three and Five Meritorious Officers, the left and right emissaries, the jade attendants who serve incense, the jade maidens who transmit words, the Five Emperors’ appointed talisman officers, and the incense officials on duty today—thirty-two of each. Let them report above the words I speak: Today is an auspicious day. I observe a fast and cultivate in a pure and quiet chamber, reciting and studying the Jing of Deliverance without Limit. May the matter I report ascend and reach the throne of the Most High Primordial Emperor, the Supreme One of the thirty-two heavens.”

After reciting this, face east and draw in Qi thirty-two times, then recite the scripture.