《靈寶無量度人上經大法》Vol. 16

The Mysterious Master said: When those who study the Dao have cultivated to the point where they can perceive what is subtle and hidden, they are often assailed by hosts of demons and lose the powers they have gained. If they see a spirit consort of beautiful appearance, they must not gaze at her for long. Such figures are usually jade youths or jade maidens sent by the Three Officials and Five Emperors—the gods who oversee Heaven, Earth, and Water, as well as the affairs of the celestial realm—to inspect a person’s good and bad deeds. They may also be demons transformed from pure and benevolent spirit hosts, deliberately seeking to mislead cultivators. Sometimes they take the form of ghosts and monsters, appearing in countless shapes to test cultivators and prevent them from completing their great work. They may also cause family members and friends to obstruct them. All of this is the work of demons, seeking to make people give up partway through.

One should regularly recite the Middle Section of the Numinous Writ of the Primordial Beginning and the Great Incantation of the Five Heavens’ Demon Kings, beginning with the Demon King of the Azure Heaven and continuing through the hymns that name the Lords of the High Clarity and the Demon Kings of the Three Realms. In this way, one can halt demonic trials and strengthen the heart of the Dao. Accumulate ten thousand recitations each day; after a hundred days, enter a quiet chamber to cultivate the art of penetrating vision. Before beginning, first recite the Wisdom Incantation of the Lord of the Mysterious Origin in the Golden Palace, which destroys ninety kinds of heterodox paths and one hundred and eighty kinds of great demons. Then summon the Jade Maidens Who Discern Demons to distinguish the true from the false. Next, write the five directional demon-expelling talismans on banners and hang them in the five directions. Only then may one behold the hundred spirits through penetrating vision and see clearly in all ten directions.

When the work is thus accomplished and one’s practice fulfilled, one’s name will be entered among the Orthodox Pure. One will attain long life and far-reaching vision, and even the heavenly demons will withdraw with hands clasped. The myriad gods will revere and submit to one, and the Three Officials will select one for elevation to the rank of Perfected Person. But if one harbors lustful or wicked thoughts, jealousy, or a taste for spreading discord, or conspires with others to do evil; if one is diligent at first but later grows lax, one’s previous merit will gradually be lost. One will then be placed in the service of ghost officials, bringing misfortune upon nine generations of ancestors. Take this as a warning; take this as a warning.

Wisdom Incantation for Destroying Demons:

Turbid energies intermingle between Heaven and Earth, giving rise to all kinds of sinister beings. One should always use the righteous Dao to drive away evil and gloom. First contemplate: there is no separate, unchanging “self,” nor any master who rules over things. All phenomena are empty and cannot transform one another into something real and substantial. There is only one true realm. One can know where flying demons, ghosts, and spirits dwell, and truly understand how to deal with them, because both “emptiness” and “existence” are provisional names. The nature of the Dharma and the principle of things are clear, profound, and pure; they abide forever and neither come nor go. First, know the truth; second, know the demons; third, let go of attachment to forms of every kind; fourth, discern the meaning of emptiness.

Origin, flourishing, benefit, and constancy: evil cannot invade what is righteous. Approach, soldiers, battle, those, all, formation, array, in front. Hasten, hasten, in accordance with the command of the Supreme Lord; let the order be carried out.

Practice: First click the teeth together twelve times, then recite this incantation silently. It may be recited any number of times. All kinds of demons will immediately give rise to good thoughts and bow before the seat where you are. To subdue them completely, recite it repeatedly. When the demons see the incantation’s power, they will flee far away and vanish under its force.

Talisman of the Azure Emperor, Comprehensive True Numinous Talisman for Subduing Demons

The spirits of the four quarters and the four primal Qi ascend on clouds above the Vermilion Heaven (Danxiao). Jin Liuqihua leads the gods in subduing the hundred demons, returning all things to Wuwei (non-action) and natural spontaneity. Pure Qi fills the Mi Luo Heaven, the sun and moon halt their courses, and the Xuanji (an ancient instrument for observing the heavens) ceases to turn. Ba Yuan Chou Bo unites with the Dao and dwells where the Upright Qi resides. The demons are bound in their forms, calamities are preserved and controlled, and the Way of Heaven therefore endures for a long time, lasting for myriad generations.

This talisman is guarded by 900,000 talisman officers under the command of Fu Li Qi Hua. When it is used together with the Red Script True Writ (Chishu Zhenwen), written in vermilion ink on purple material on a jia or yi day in spring and placed in the east, it can dispel misfortune, secure peace, summon auspiciousness, and make the produce of the land abundant and the times prosperous. Practitioners who take this talisman at the appointed times will, after three years, see a jade-like essence arise in the Liver Palace (Ganfu), its radiance shining beyond the body. When the Way is complete, the Azure Emperor will come to welcome them. Wearing this talisman with sincerity will eliminate misfortune forever.

Talisman of the Vermilion Emperor for Subduing Demons

The awesome spirits of the eight quarters cause me to accord with nature. Bearing the heavens on my back and shouldering the stone, I wander freely and gaze into the vast void. The Brilliant True (Mingzhen) governs the gods, drives away evil spirits, and averts the calamities of war. The true sages in heaven naturally emit divine sounds. The myriad numina are awed and subdued, and the assembled immortals are gathered. The hundred demons lay down their arms, and ghosts and spirits vanish on their own. Yinghuo (Mars) unites with this talisman and merges into one with the Dao.

This talisman is guarded by 300,000 talisman officers under the command of the Brilliant True (Mingzhen). When it is used together with the Red Script True Writ (Chishu Zhenwen), written in vermilion ink on blue-green material on a bing or ding day in summer and placed in the south, it can dispel misfortune, secure peace, summon auspiciousness, and make the produce of the land abundant and the times prosperous. Practitioners who take this talisman at the appointed times will, after three years, see a red jade-like essence arise in the Heart Palace (Xinfu), its radiance shining beyond the body. When the Way is complete, the Vermilion Emperor will come to welcome them. Wearing this talisman with sincerity will eliminate misfortune forever.

Talisman of the White Emperor, Comprehensive True Numinous Talisman

Light shines across the five directions, and majestic power subdues the demon armies. Maocheng governs the gods so that I obtain the power of the Supreme Majestic Northern Emperor, which flourishes and prospers, and also governs the northern Luofeng (the realm of ghosts and spirits in Daoist legend). The inner text of the Red Script transforms and ascends, unites with the luminous Qi of the eight quarters in the dark netherworld, and the Yuan Qi penetrates the mysterious origin.

The original text of the White Emperor talisman ends here, so only the surviving text can be interpreted.

The first talisman claims it can subdue all kinds of demonic obstacles and bring the heavenly deities to protect the practitioner. Even across perilous mountains and rivers, and against six-eyed beings of every kind, none will fail to submit.

When the nine components are united as one and the ten directions respond in full accord, its efficacy will endure through countless kalpas without exhaustion.

The talisman officer of this Fulu (talismans and registers) is named Maocheng, who commands seven hundred thousand personnel to guard the Jing (scriptures) and talismans. Together with the Vermilion Writ True Script (sacred characters written in cinnabar), it should be written in white ink on yellow material on a gengri or xinri day of autumn and placed in the west. The scripture states that this will dispel calamities, provide lasting protection, draw auspicious blessings, and bring abundance to all things and peace to the age.

A practitioner who wears this talisman at the appointed times will, after three years, see a jade-like essence arise within the Lung Palace, its radiance shining beyond the body. Once the practice is complete, the White Emperor will summon the practitioner. Wearing this talisman sincerely will keep calamities away over the long term.

Black Emperor's Universal True Talisman for Commanding Demons

(Lord of the Xuanhuang Region.)

(Nine Directions and Nine Monsters.)

(The spirit at the center of Heaven, the pivot through which qi circulates; the honored one at the center of Heaven, who turns the Winnowing Basket and the Dipper.)

(Lingbao Dongxuan; the Three Realms bow in homage. The Five Emperors attend as guardians, their positions the highest of the Five Primes. The heavens respond to one another from afar.)

([Character illegible in original] offer ritual; the demonic essences lose their sight and turn to serve the decrees of Lingbao. Ghosts and demons vanish without a trace, and the myriad spirits pay court.)

(No myriad calamities may intrude. The spirits guard the gate. Today there is rejoicing, and all humans and sentient beings are universally delivered.)

(Overseeing all the monsters, luminous and fragrant. Holding fast to primordial qi, guarding and protecting the spiritual nature.)

(Ascending to the Golden Gate.)

Roaming and feasting in the Jade Capital (enjoying a banquet in the immortal realm of the Jade Capital).

The talisman officer of this Fulu is named Shouyuan, who commands five hundred thousand personnel to guard the Jing and talismans. Together with the Vermilion Writ True Script, it should be written in black ink on white material on a renzi or guiri day of winter and placed in the north. The scripture states that this will dispel calamities, provide lasting protection, draw auspicious blessings, and bring abundance to all things and peace to the age.

A practitioner who wears this talisman at the appointed times will, after three years, see a jewel-like essence arise within the Kidney Palace, its radiance shining beyond the body. Once the practice is complete, the Black Emperor will summon the practitioner. Wearing this talisman sincerely will keep calamities away over the long term.

Yellow Emperor's Universal True Talisman for Commanding Demons

(Wherever the Seven Governors (the Sun, the Moon, and the five planets of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth) travel, the celestial patterns turn. The qi of the four quarters is clear and bright, and the terrain moves in its course.)

(The Three Terraces (names of celestial officials) and the Nine Dawns.)

(Suddenly manifesting, cutting down and destroying.)

(Hurling fire and flinging bells (images of Daoist spirit generals and ritual instruments such as fire-bells).)

(Governing all the spirits. Among the scriptures of Lingbao, it stands as the lord of the myriad spirits.)

(Flying Heavenly Great Ugly, transform your very body, stretch across the heavens and bear its might, and command the myriad soldiers.)

(Slay the ghosts and spirits, with wind and fire never pausing; the Three Officials of the Northern Fengdu clearly inspect the ghost encampments.)

(Assist the Netherworld and command it all, flying to pay homage at the Yellow Court.)

The talisman text above is led by the talisman clerk Xie Ming (Xieming), who commands ten million troops to guard this scripture and its talismans. Next, the Chishu zhenwen (Crimson Script True Writ, the sacred characters written in cinnabar) is combined with the talisman. Written in cinnabar on yellow silk on the wu and ji days (the Earth stems) of each season and placed at the center, it can dispel myriad calamities, grant lasting peace, summon good fortune, and bring abundance to all things and tranquility to the age. A practitioner who wears this talisman at the appointed times will, after three years, see the "Essence of Yellow Jade" (a spirit substance in Daoist cultivation that symbolizes the essence of the spleen qi) arise within the spleen palace, its radiance shining beyond the body. Once cultivation is complete, the Yellow Emperor will come to welcome them. Wearing this talisman with a sincere heart will eliminate calamities forever.

Purging Defilement and Removing Impurity

Whenever one practices the Dongshi fa (the Method of Penetrating Vision, a Daoist discipline for observing subtle things and discerning what is hidden) and sets up an altar to perform rites, one must first observe a period of purification. On the appointed day, the master opens the altar and arranges twelve offerings of incense, tea, wine, fruit, and the like, presenting the rite to the immortal bureaux recorded in the scripture. After the rite, one must not attend funerals or visit those who have just given birth, nor enter pigsties, battlefields, prisons, or other polluted places. One may not watch animals being slaughtered, nor engage in sexual relations.

If a relative's household holds a wedding or a funeral, one should perform liberation rites (lian du) for the family members according to the Shangqing Jingen Baoshu (Shangqing Golden Root Precious Book), using Daoist ritual to free their souls and spirits for rebirth. Then one bathes to remove the impurity and returns to the quiet chamber to resume practice. If one must go out and in out of necessity and inadvertently touches the immortals' prohibitions or contracts pollution, the practice must be suspended for twenty-four days. Only after bathing and re-entering the chamber may cultivation resume.

If, during a rite, chickens, dogs, Buddhist monks or nuns, pregnant women, or others regarded as defiled breach the altar's prohibitions, all previous merit is annulled, and the one who brought the pollution will also meet ruin. In such a case, one should immediately burn incense, go before the sacred image, remove the headcloth, kowtow, and slap one's cheeks twenty-four times. Then one recites "Ten Directions Great Compassion, Savior of Suffering Heavenly Venerable," "Taiyi Savior of Suffering Heavenly Venerable," and the "Three Sovereigns' Inner Taboo Names" several hundred times. Next, one chants an incantation over water and sprinkles it to cleanse the defilement, reciting the "Purifying Heaven and Earth Incantation" and spraying water in all directions so as not to harm people or animals.

The rite may be resumed three days later. Each morning, the practitioner takes a bowl of water, chants the incantation, faces north and inhales, then blows the qi into the water. They then swallow the talisman with the water, sprinkle it over their own body, and recite:

"Heavenly River pours into the Eastern Well; Stone Scene, essence of the Water Mother; the vital qi of the five directions flourishing..."

Gather the form of the Canopy (huagai, the protective cloud-qi that shelters the body). With it, restrain the hun and po souls and subdue the seven po, so that the five kinds of impure Qi are washed away and made pure.

This is the "True Talisman for Dispelling Impurity" (a talisman used to remove defilement). The characters "𩳐魒, 魓魁, 䰢𩵄𩲃" and others are written on it.

The incantation says: "The immortals bathe, and their breath is fragrant. Wash away foulness and loathsome impurity, and let all defilement disperse. Let the Sun be my general and the Moon my marshal. Grant my eyes clear sight, so that nothing goes unseen. Swiftly, swiftly, in accordance with the statutes and ordinances."

Write the talisman (Fulu) in cinnabar. First write the character for "sun" three times, then the names of the stars of the Big Dipper, and recite the incantation seven times. When the writing is finished, swallow one talisman. Pour half of the talisman water onto the ground, then step across it at once while reciting: "I tread across the waters of the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing) and wash away the mud of the five turbidities. May my body rise into the realm beyond color and irrigate the spirit pool of the heavens."

Only after completing this rite of dispelling impurity may one enter the meditation chamber to practice Dongshi (penetrating vision, a Daoist practice that opens the sight and lets one perceive what is subtle and hidden) and the Great Method of the Supreme Way, and to carry out the visualization practices of daily life.

The practitioner rises every night at the Zi hour (11 p.m. to 1 a.m.), drapes a robe over the shoulders, and sits upright facing south. Each hand forms the Five Emperors mudra (a hand seal symbolizing the celestial emperors of the five directions; the original annotates it as "red, apricot"). Knock the teeth thirty-two times, then visualize the heart as General Tang, the left kidney as General Ge, and the right kidney as General Zhou. The four spirit generals of the Four Divine Beasts are arrayed around the body, left, right, front, and back. The Azure Dragon emerges from the liver, exits through the eyes, and stands on the left. The White Tiger emerges from the lungs, exits through the nose, and stands on the right. The Vermilion Bird emerges from the heart, exits through the mouth, and stands in front. The Black Tortoise emerges from the kidneys, exits through the ears, and stands behind.

Next, visualize General Tang coming out of the Crimson Palace of the heart (the dwelling place of the heart's spirit), General Ge coming out of the Left Mysterious Palace of the left kidney, and General Zhou coming out of the Mysterious Origin Palace of the right kidney. Each commands eight hundred thousand troops, who line up on both sides of the body. Bow to the spirit of the heart thirty-two times, knock the teeth thirty-two times again, and visualize seeing thirty-two heavenly sovereigns. Then silently recite the secret incantation:

"Supreme Mysterious Origin, Most High Lord of the Dao, summon forth from within my body the Three-Five officers of merit (the spirit officials who carry out commands), the left and right officials and messengers, the incense-bearing golden youths, the jade maidens who convey words, the Five Emperors' duty talismans, and the officers of incense on duty for the day, thirty-six of each. Let them come forth to attend me and present my petition on my behalf. Swiftly, swiftly, as commanded by the Primordial Celestial Sovereign."

Then visualize three spirits of the Fire star in the south, dressed in crimson, entering the heart, which turns red. In the east, nine spirits of the Wood star in the virtue of Wood, dressed in green, enter the liver, which turns green. In the west, seven spirits of the Metal star, dressed in white, enter the lungs, which turn white. In the north, five spirits of the Water star, dressed in black, enter the kidneys, which turn black. In the center, twelve spirits of the Earth star, dressed in yellow, enter the spleen, which turns yellow.

At the same time, visualize the three hun and seven po souls, together with the thirty-six thousand spirits of the body, all present within the body. Then recite the incantation.

The hun-soul becomes clear and upright, the myriad vital qi (Qi) endure, the body is no longer troubled by suffering, and it emits light.

The Three Realms (Sanjie), namely the Desire Realm, Form Realm, and Formless Realm of Daoist cosmology, guard the practitioner. The Five Emperors (Wudi), the Heavenly Emperors of the Five Directions, welcome them, and the myriad spirits come to pay homage. The practitioner's name is registered in Shangqing (Highest Clarity), the celestial realm revered in Daoism.

"Quickly, quickly, as commanded by the Primordial Heavenly Lord (Yuanshi Shangdi)."

Next, visualize the sun on the left and the moon on the right, with the stars arrayed above. They gradually enter through the Heavenly Gate into the Xuantai Palace and the Jiangque Palace, their light penetrating inside and out and illuminating the entire room.

When the visualization is complete, visualize the Yellow Lord (Huang Laojun) clad in purple and seated in the Zhonghuang Palace, the position below the navel. Prince Wuying, in purple Daoist robes, stands on the left, and the Venerable Spirit of White Origin (Bai Yuan Zunshen), dressed in white, stands on the right. Once they are in place, hold this image and keep the breath long and unbroken. Draw the breath slowly in through the nose, close the mouth, and do not exhale or let the breath escape; proceed slowly. In this way one may ascend to Shangqing.

Next, visualize a blue qi in the left kidney transforming into blue light, which travels upward along the left side of the spine to the back of the head, then enters the left eye and passes through the right eye. Then visualize a black qi in the right kidney transforming into purple light, which travels upward along the right side of the spine to the back of the head, then enters the left eye.

Next, recite the incantation:

"Within the two eyes lies a talisman of ink and brush. True qi enters the eyes, making the sight clear and penetrating, illuminating emptiness and perceiving the Three Realms. True immortals and I share the same Way."

The visualizations of the left and right eyes above are each performed nine times, with the aim of cultivating the art of penetrating sight.

Method of Penetrating Sight for Rising and Resting

At night, when lying down to sleep and upon waking, immediately close the eyes, click the teeth together nine times, and swallow the saliva nine times. Then, using the hands, massage the left and right sides of the nose and its upper and lower areas, ten times in all, while reciting this prayer:

"Essence of the Supreme One's Four Brightnesses and Nine Gates, let the ears and eyes become profound, mysterious, and thoroughly clear, reaching the true numinous. Let the qi of the Heavenly Terrace at the center of heaven circulate and harmonize, and let the pupils of the Jiao Maiden of the cloud-ordered form shine bright. Let the ears be keen and clear, and all affairs distinct. Preserve the qi of the Upper Origin, letting it move back and forth through the Nine Cities. Let the foundations of the Five Viscera be firm, so that the ears and eyes naturally flourish. The Heavenly Terrace stands in lush purity, its ridgepole and pillars not leaning. Refine the Seven Po-souls so that the Three Hun-souls are at peace. May the Infant carry its radiance and forever accompany me. If anyone dares to cloud my ears and eyes, the Most High shall destroy them with flowing bells, extinguish all myriad evils, and what is wished for shall surely be fulfilled. The sun and moon guard the gate, and within the heart the Five Stars are stored. Let all the gods reverently hear this prayer made by the True Sovereign."

After the prayer, swallow the saliva while visualizing it turning blue and entering the liver, repeating nine times. Then massage the face and eyes until they feel slightly warm. This method should be kept as a constant practice, performed each time one lies down to sleep or wakes, and the prayer should never be omitted.

It is said that this practice makes the ears and eyes keen, the memory strong, and the mind open and cheerful. It keeps the breath harmonious, prevents the loss of saliva and nasal discharge, preserves a youthful complexion, subdues the hun- and po-souls, and drives away myriad demons.

Another method follows.

First, press the middle fingers of both hands into the bony hollows on the inner ends of the eyebrows, near the space between the two eyes, nine times. While pressing, chant:

"Open the Heavenly Court so that I may live forever. Let my vision reach ten thousand li, and let my hun and po souls return to the state of an infant. Extinguish ghosts and demons, drive off evil spirits, and summon all the numinous beings. May I ascend to the realm of the Most High, unite with the sun and moon, and be counted among the Perfected, my name entered in the mysterious registers of the immortals."

Another method is as follows. After taking the "Jade Character" preparation, massage the fingers and palms, then wipe the eyes. Next, join the hands and raise them to the center of the crown three times. Visualize blue, purple, and red breaths rising before the eyes, and then chant:

"Eye Youths of the Three Clouds, Two-Eye Perfected Lords, illuminate and concentrate your essence, and open the spirit of clarity. The cloud-ceremony of the Most High, the numinous maidens fluttering in grace, guard and protect the two eyes so that the gates of the nine orifices are bright and clear. Let every joint of the body respond, drawing in the fluid-qi at dawn and gathering it into Niwan (the cultivation site in the head). May I ascend to the Jade Palace and be ranked among the Supreme Perfected. If anything veils my ears and eyes, may the Most High destroy it, so that through the power of the flowing bells I may see across ten thousand li and perceive ghosts and spirits. Swiftly, swiftly, as the statute commands."

This may be performed at the hours of zi and wu, and it may also be practiced regularly to keep the ears and eyes clear. Pinch the upper joint of the middle finger with both hands and recite each section of the prayer three times. Blow the "northern qi," the breath that the text says is visualized and used in the rite, into the palms. Then press the warmed palms over the eyes, continuing back to the nape of the neck. Repeat the recitation three more times, again blowing into the palms and pressing the eyes. Then recite the prayer nine times, blow into water, dip the middle finger into the water, and let a drop fall into the eyes. Do this once a day.

Penetrating Vision: Entering the Office to Issue Rulings

Whenever one needs to annotate memorials or review submitted documents, first write the following four lines on paper: "The heavens are free of floating veils; the four qi are bright and clear; the dark wisdom penetrates the clear qi." While writing, visualize hundreds of millions of script characters on Mount Yuqing in the southeast, with the sun and moon shining and the constellations gleaming. Form the Yuqing hand-seal (a Daoist gesture) to draw in qi, blow the qi onto the brush, and for each character recited, write one character. The strokes will stack layer upon layer until they form a talisman (fu).

Throw the talisman into water and wash the eyes with it. If there is no time to write a talisman, take clean earth from the ground, recite the incantation fifteen times, stir the earth into water, and once the water clears, wash the eyes with it. After washing, place the documents to be submitted in an open-air spot, burn incense, and pray toward the sky. The Numinous Officers and Jade Maidens (Daoist spirits) who convey the documents will then arrive.

Next, form the seal again, recite the "Jade Sound Gathering Qi Incantation," and blow qi onto the documents. Then recite the sacred names of the Five Thearchs and blow the eastern qi onto the documents. At this point, one should see a sky-blue light seeming to cover the characters written earlier. This shows that true qi has descended. If the light has not yet appeared, continue chanting until blue appears. Then recite the incantation nine more times.

The Fanqi (pure primordial vital energy) arises spontaneously as the void condenses, transforming into the Red Script of Jade Characters and the Eight Majestic Dragon Patterns (divine celestial script in Daoist belief).

These divine scripts protect the kalpic cycles, so that the heavens endure for a long time. The Fanqi pervades the empty expanse, and myriad Fan (Sanskrit-like) characters are thereby revealed and interconnected.

Draw in the qi of the Heavenly Gate (heavenly qi, as the method teaches), blow it toward the paper, and then gaze at the characters that have not yet clearly appeared on the page.

The Jade Sound (sacred chanting) gathers primordial qi, and numinous wind draws together vapors. Within the Purple Void (purple emptiness), numinous and refined qi fills richly, assisting the host of immortals. A thousand harmonies and myriad phenomena blend together, and the true realm is naturally achieved.

The Red Script of Primordial Chaos (the red celestial writing from the first opening of chaos) is the supreme true primal energy. In the Primordial Origin Kalpa (the first beginning of creation), the heavens were born and the light of the sun, moon, and stars was opened. This is the root of Heaven. Above it there is no further source; there is only the Dao (the Way) as substance.

The Five Celestial Patterns unfold, and divine spirits (Shen) are universally established. None of these celestial patterns fails to shine, to brighten, to establish, to accomplish, to deliver, or to transform and give birth.

Quickly, quickly, as the statute commands.

Decreed by the Primordial Celestial Lord.

Draw in the qi of the Heavenly Gate and blow it onto the paper to observe. A beginner's sight can at first discern perhaps one or two fen (tenths): the characters look like tunnels bored by insects, and their lines appear and vanish. At three fen, the characters resemble inscriptions on a placard, each stroke raised at its edges with a channel running down the middle, in which faint traces of ink seem to lie. At four fen, faint ink lines can be seen. At five fen, the lines take on a blue-green, pale pink, or pale yellow tint, or resemble wisps of faint ink-colored cloud that swirl across the paper. Beyond five fen, the characters gradually show red, and at ten fen most of them appear yellow.

If the characters are still not clear, continue chanting and blowing qi until their degree of appearance matches the levels described above and the lines are uncluttered. Only then is the practice considered qualified. Afterward, chant the incantation "No Script Without Light." If the characters appear black, chant the incantation "No Script Without Brightness." Blow qi onto the paper until the strokes are half-revealed and half-hidden and can be recognized, and only then may you copy them. If they are still unclear, continue chanting and blowing qi, and perform the Washing-the-Eyes Prayer (a rite of cleansing the eyes and petitioning the spirits for blessing), invoking spirits such as the Numinous Officials, the Jade Maidens, and the Divine Tiger.

When first beginning practice, stop as soon as you can recognize ten or twenty characters, and do not be greedy. Thereafter, gradually add a dozen or so characters each day, taking care not to let your vision regress. Regression of vision often comes from copying too much: the body grows weary and the spirit fatigued, the characters are not recognized accurately, the sentences written down become disordered, and the true qi is disturbed as well. The characters sometimes look like insect holes, sometimes like channels, and sometimes like bird shapes, so their appearance is unstable and easily misidentified, which harms the eyes. The reason lies in the celestial script...

Talismanic script is formed from true qi (zhen qi), the primordial vital energy described in Daoism. Though there may be thousands or tens of thousands of talismans, each must be treated with care, as though it were the only one. Throughout one hundred ke (a unit of time), the eyesight must not weaken, and only once it has stabilized may one continue. First recite the Five Directions Incantation and write five talismans, called the Lingbao Five Efficacies Talismans (Lingbao Wugong Fu), then swallow them. Next, take the Yuzha (Jade Tablet) according to the yin-yang days. In this way one can see more, strengthen the eyesight, and enter the Fajü (Ritual Bureau) to take charge of affairs.

Each day, before entering the Fajü, first recite the Incantation for Entering the Gate:

"Officers of Merit of the Four Brightnesses, Envoys of True Penetration, Jade Maidens Attending the Chamber, and Jade Youths Conveying Words, please convey your servant to the upright spirits of the Daoist chamber. May the primordial qi of the Shangyuan enter my body, so that all matters I submit may reach the heavenly court."

After silently reciting it, knock the teeth twelve times, enter from the right side, and lead with the right foot. Upon reaching the divine image, knock the teeth nine times and perform nine prostrations. Form the hand seal with the left hand three times, then offer incense and recite:

"Jade Flower scatters its light, the nine qi transform into incense smoke, fragrant clouds gather densely and rise to the nine heavens. Golden Youth who attends the incense, Jade Maiden who conveys words, please carry your servant's petitions up before the Sovereign, so that all matters I submit may be granted as I wish."

Then, according to the wish in your heart, offer prayers, walk the Pacing the Dipper (Bu Dou Fa) steps that trace the stars of the Dipper to the mouth of the Dipper, perform nine prostrations, and kneel at length to present the secret memorial (mi biao). Then, beginning from the head of the register, summon in order each of the relevant celestial officials (xian cao) in the ritual register and inform them all: "Please wait until I have finished my audience with the True Spirits. When I enter the Fajü to handle affairs, please appear clearly, report plainly, and do not delay or err." After the announcement, visualize the officials gathered at your side, then form the hand seals and perform the rites in sequence. Next, swallow the Yuzha according to the yin-yang days and wash the eyes. Then sit upright at the table and swallow the Tongmu Dongshi Fu (Talisman for Penetrating Vision) and the Shezhao Fu (Summoning Talisman).

Place a sheet of paper before you, folded into three, to be used over three days. For example, if today is the seventh day of the seventh month, after entering the Fajü, visualize heavenly documents descending, and the spirits of the middle and lower realms presenting official business, or the celestial officials reporting their replies. Have the Jing officials, Numinous Officers, Jade Maidens, and others in charge of this chamber issue their instructions. After a while, visualize each item clearly within the incense smoke. Then, using the Dongshi method (method of penetrating sight), recite incantations and draw in the images of blue and white script, reciting until the characters appear clearly. Copy each one down in turn and examine what matter it records. In the evening, handle the affairs.

When leaving the chamber, recite the Incantation for Leaving the Gate:

"Leave the yin and enter the yang, the myriad spirits open their ranks. The audience is complete; please close the Yellow Chamber. Jade Maiden attending the chamber, please observe the spirit carriage clearly."

Note: The phrase "baike zhong er" in the original text appears to be corrupted. The rendering above follows the general sense of the surrounding context.

After reciting the incantation, step out the door with your left foot first. Once you are back inside, do not look back, or evil qi may follow you in. If the memorial you submitted receives no response, perform nine bows. Hold your breath while kowtowing. When leaving, do not look back either, or you will offend the true qi (zhēn qì), the pure and upright vital energy in Daoist usage. Do not step on the threshold, do not let the fire in the stove go out, and do not hold incense in your mouth. These are grave taboos against the Dao of Heaven (tiān dào), and violating them will bring investigation and punishment.

If the matters you were instructed to handle still need to be discussed with teachers or fellow practitioners, or if the general meaning of the instructions remains unclear, review the directive again and wait for signs that it has taken effect. Make your judgment in the evening.