《靈寶無量度人上經大法》Vol. 39

The Great Scripture of Limitless Salvation Through the Numinous Treasure, Great Method, Volume 39

Numinous Treasure Methods of Pacing the Dipper

The Dipper Pace for Summoning the Flying Heavenly Spirit Kings of the Ten Directions

When performing any of the various Dipper paces, stand upright with the body straight. Always begin by stepping with the left foot, then step with the right, proceeding one step at a time.

Flying Heaven Talisman Method

(Used after the talisman has been folded or written.)

When performing the “Ten Directions Mudra,” form the mudra in turn with the left and right hands. Begin at the Zhen position, move the mudra to the center of the middle finger, and stop there.

The Dipper Pace for Summoning the Officials of the Office of Refining and Deliverance

With both hands, form the “Three Paths and Five Sufferings Mudra” and the wheel mudra. Begin at the Zhen position, move the mudra to the center of the middle finger, and stop there.

The Dipper Pace for Summoning the Officials of the Numinous Treasure

Place the middle fingers of both hands at the center. Begin stepping at the Yin position and proceed to the Wu position. Turn and circle three times, then summon the officials at the Dui Palace.

The Dipper Pace for Summoning the Officials of the Yellow Register Court

Place the middle fingers of both hands at the third joint. Begin stepping at the central position and proceed to….

The Dipper Pace for Summoning the Demon Kings of the Three Realms

Begin stepping at the Kan position, cross-step to the Wei position, and stop. With both hands, form the mudra at the third joint of the middle fingers.

The General Dipper Pace for Summoning the Direct Talismans of the Three Realms

The Dipper Pace for Summoning the Five Emperors

Begin stepping in the east and walk to the west, where you stop. At the same time, form the Metal-Wood Mudra with both hands.

The Dipper Pace for Summoning the Awe-Inspiring Spirits of the Eight Directions

Form the Eight Trigrams Mudra with both hands. Begin stepping at the Kun position and walk to the Qian position, where you stop.

The Dipper Pace for Turning a Corpse and Bringing the Dead Back to Life

Form the mudra with both hands, passing in order through the centers of the four fingers and the center of the middle finger, then flick the three fingers. Begin stepping in the north and walk to the south, where you stop.

The Dipper Pace for Suppressing and Subduing, and Commanding the Earth Spirits

Place the middle fingers of both hands at the center and flick them upon reaching the Jia position. Begin stepping at the Zi position, walk south, then turn back and stop at the central palace.

The Dipper Pace for Binding the Demons

With both hands, flick and form the mudra from the Zi position to the Wu position. Begin stepping at the Zhen position and walk to the Qian position.

The Dipper Pace for Destroying Ghostly Essences

With both hands, form and flick the mudra in the order Zi, Hai, Shen, Yin. Begin stepping at the Kan position and walk to the Si position, where you stop.

The Dipper Pace for Binding Demonic Spirits

With both hands, form and flick the mudra in the order Yin, Shen, Si, Hai. Begin stepping at the Kan position and walk to the Wu position, where you stop.

The Dipper Pace for Sweeping Away Inauspicious Influences Everywhere

Use three fingers of both hands to press the second joint of each thumb, then flick and form the mudra. Begin stepping at the You position and walk to the Zhen Palace, where you stop.

The Dipper Pace for Circling the Dipper and Passing Through the Winnowing Basket

With the left hand, form the Yin-Yang Mudra and then the Northern Dipper Mudra in sequence, while proceeding one step at a time. Turn back from the Earth Gate and enter the Heavenly Pass, taking twenty-one steps in all, and stop at the central palace.

Dipper-Pacing Incantation:

Om, julu zhi juti; wu hong, julu jieboshi yandi; hema hong she.

(This incantation is used for all the various Dipper paces.)

All the talismanic patterns above are forms naturally generated from the primordial source Qi of the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning. They are transmitted to those who cultivate the Dao and seek to become immortals. Practitioners should keep them secret and perform them accordingly. Each step taken in the ritual astral pace corresponds to a commanding general. First write the talismanic pattern in cinnabar on yellow paper and place it before the deity; then perform the astral pace. When the ritual is complete, burn the talisman in the incense burner. The corresponding lord and general will then descend and appear before you.

Incantations and Methods for the Ritual Altar

Method for Sealing Characters

Pinch the middle finger of the left hand and recite silently:

“Om, pan nuo hen nuo wu lu mo nuo sa he.”

Method for Blessing the Inkstone

Pinch the upper section of the middle finger of the left hand and recite:

“Om, miao mang wu shuang ju zhi bi tu she.”

Method for Blessing Water

Form the Zi hand sign with the left hand, hold water in the right hand, and recite:

“Om, yu dan bo he han jing tuo luo jing xuan she.”

Method for Blessing Paper

Pinch the middle section of the middle finger of the left hand, hold paper in the right hand, and recite:

“Om, pu yu tan na mo luo a na she.”

Method for Blessing Cinnabar

Form the Wu hand sign with the left hand, hold cinnabar in the right hand, and recite:

“Om, tuo luo a na yuan fan pu tan she.”

Method for Blessing Ink

Form the Zi hand sign with the left hand. Hold the ink stick in the right hand, and grind it in nine turns while reciting:

“Om, xing xuan tuo he you lü [unclear character] she.”

Method for Blessing the Brush

Form the Yin hand sign with the left hand and hold the brush in the right. Cross the hands before the mouth and recite:

“Om, yu kong luo meng mo luo a yi yu yuan she.”

Offering for the Brush

Following ritual procedure, choose a day of the Six Ding and Six Jia, the divine generals associated with Daoist calendrical selection. Prepare twelve goat-hair brushes, twelve ink cakes, twelve liang of cinnabar, and two inkstones. On a Jiazi day, face the Gate of Heaven, the celestial direction designated in the ritual, and arrange these items on a table. Prepare twelve cups of jujube broth and an incense burner as offerings. Do not let anyone else see you during the ritual.

The ritual officiant forms hand signs with both hands: the left hand makes the Zi sign and the right hand the Wu sign. Cross them before the mouth and recite this invocation:

“I, your servant, have now prepared brushes, ink, cinnabar, and inkstones in accordance with ritual, arranging them beneath the Gate of Heaven. I respectfully invite the spirit officials, Golden Youths, Jade Maidens, generals, commanders, and officers and soldiers of the Lingbao ritual department to transform themselves into true Qi and enter these implements, so that when your disciple uses them in the future, they may respond with numinous efficacy to the meaning of each recited incantation.”

Then recite:

“Om, a nuo fa yan mo yi a [unclear character] mi luo pu ti,

po lou sa luo fan na zong jian gui shen she.”

After reciting the incantation, flick the hand signs, draw in twelve breaths of Qi from the Gate of Heaven, and blow them onto the implements.

First place the talisman brush in its holder, then recite the following incantations.

Incantation for Writing Talismans:

Numinous brush, may your efficacy be manifest! Act by the command of the Supreme Emperor. Let all three realms heed the order; let the myriad spirits respectfully obey.

Writing talismans grants passage to the deep and wondrous realms. Supreme Emperor of the Mysterious Central Realm, exalted perfected ones of Daoism, please set the Five Qi (vital energies) in order and assemble the hundred spirits. Swiftly carry this out in accordance with the statutes of the Great Ritual of the Numinous Treasure.

Incantation for Consecrating the Brush:

Numinous brush, communicate with the spirits and join above with Jade Clarity, one of the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing). With you, talismans can slay ghosts and cure illness, bringing peace to people; every calamity and misfortune will be driven away. Deliver the secluded souls: when the talisman arrives, make them withdraw.

Incantation for Dispatching the Talisman:

The primordial true script of the Great Ritual of the Numinous Treasure issues from the Great Dao of emptiness, condensing and transforming into the Three Pure Ones. Please let pure Qi descend into the talisman. Wherever the talisman arrives, people will be at peace, demons and malign spirits will be expelled, and people will be preserved for a long time.

For both incantations above, form the Jade Clarity hand seal, gather Qi from the Celestial Gate, and blow it onto the brush.

— Great Ritual of the Numinous Treasure for Boundless Deliverance from the Upper Scripture of Delivering People, Scroll 39