《元始說功德法食往生經》

The Scripture of the Primordial Beginning on Merit, Dharma Feasts, and Rebirth (Modern Interpretation):

At that time, the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning (the supreme deity of Daoism), together with celestial immortals, terrestrial transcendents, officials of the Three Realms, deities of the Five Sacred Mountains and the underworld, water spirits of the Five Directions, and the virtuous attendants of the Northern Capital Luo-Feng (the Daoist netherworld), gathered beneath the Jade Treasure Pavilion’s verdant trees in the Eastern World, seated upon blue lotuses. There, they expounded upon the ten kinds of karmic retribution, inspiring all beings present to awaken the mind of liberation.

Then, the Celestial Worthy manifested a great radiance that illuminated the entire cosmos, revealing the harrowing scenes of the Three Wretched Realms (hells, hungry ghosts, and animals): beings with scorched faces and bodies burning in raging fires, tormented by mountains of blades and forests of swords, their suffering piercing the heavens. Some were roasted by fierce flames, others forced to drink molten bronze, bound by endless cycles of karmic debt. All the assembled immortals and perfected beings witnessed these visions.

At this moment, a Perfected One (an enlightened being) named Great Compassion and Wisdom, overcome with sorrow, rose and bowed reverently to the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning, saying: "I beseech Your Eminence to have mercy on the suffering beings below. How might they be universally saved?" After a long silence, the Celestial Worthy raised the Five-Illumination Fan (a symbol of wisdom) and proclaimed in a majestic voice: "Excellent! You have awakened compassion for all beings. Now listen carefully."

The Celestial Worthy revealed: "Within the Three Wretched Realms and the Ninefold Darkness, there are one hundred and twenty Fengdu hells. Those who fail to cultivate the Dao in life fall into darkness after death, their souls becoming base ghosts, sinking into wretched paths." Then, with great compassion, the Celestial Worthy uttered verses of deliverance:

Cool nectar moistens all,

The Dharma’s flavor profound beyond thought.

Fragrance pervades the seven heavens,

O beings of the shadows, doubt no more.

Those who receive this Dharma feast

Shall ascend to the celestial Purple Tenuity.

Vast are the merits of virtuous fields,

Pure offerings to the sacred perfected.

All wholesome deeds of conditioned existence

Can transform destiny’s course.

Uprooting the suffering of the Three Wretched Realms,

Bestowing blessings upon the Nine Mysteries,

At the very moment of receiving this feast,

The heavens join in harmonious praise.

The icy hells abound in sorrow—

Turn your hearts and invoke the Celestial Worthy!

The Nüqing Lingbao Talismans (deliverance talismans)

And the sacred decrees of the True Emperor of Zhongshan.

One thought lifts you to the Great Purity’s realm,

Another returns you to the Supreme Non-Being.

Merits grace the depths of the Ninefold Darkness,

Souls swiftly reborn in the Violet Empyrean.

This scripture primarily expounds the method of delivering departed souls through "Dharma feasts" (ritual food offerings), emphasizing that through pure offerings and recitation of sacred incantations, beings in hell can be liberated from suffering and reborn in celestial realms. The "Nüqing Lingbao Talismans" mentioned are commonly used in Daoist deliverance rites, while the "True Emperor of Zhongshan" refers to the deity governing the underworld.

The Celestial Venerable of Primordial Beginning (Yuanshi Tianzun, the supreme deity in Daoism) proclaimed: Offering food to the deceased brings immeasurable merit. These wandering souls, whether male or female, will thereby receive nourishment, be liberated from suffering, attain deliverance, and be reborn upon cool lotus thrones, forever freed from the cycle of reincarnation.

Then the Celestial Venerable reiterated through gatha verses (a metrical form commonly used in Buddhist and Daoist scriptures):

"The merit of almsgiving is beyond conception,

Practitioners shall receive blessings in return.

By offering ritual food (fashi, ceremonial nourishment for salvation),

One gains passage to the eternal realm of bliss."

As these verses concluded, all scenes of torment throughout the hell realms dissolved with the chanting of scriptures. Every soul in the dark underworld received deliverance according to their karmic destiny. Present at this assembly, the Great Compassionate and Wise Perfected Being (Daci Dahui Zhenren, an enlightened one possessing supreme compassion and wisdom) along with all devotees attending the ritual, rejoiced exceedingly. Prostrating themselves with utmost reverence, they devoutly received and pledged to uphold this sacred teaching.

(Here concludes the Scripture on Merit, Ritual Food and Rebirth Spoken by the Primordial Beginning)

Note: This scripture describes the Daoist "food offering" (shishi) ritual for saving lost souls. Through specific ceremonial practices of offering nourishment to the deceased, it's believed souls can escape hell realms and attain favorable rebirth. Such rituals continue to be performed during Daoist festivals like the Zhongyuan Festival (Ghost Festival).