《靈寶無量度人上經大法》Vol. 52

Interpretation

The Celestial One says: A ritual for delivering the spirits of the dead must rely on a true master—a skilled ritual master who transmits the arts—using the Qi of the Three Fields and bringing it into accord with the light of Heaven and Earth’s Three Origins. This must be combined with incantations, hand-seals, talismans and diagrams, and the dragon and phoenix scripts, the mysterious writing used in Daoist practice. Through this, the demons and kings are moved to recommend the dead, enabling them to ascend to the Southern Heaven. If a single thought goes astray while performing the rite, the deceased will remain once more in the depths of darkness, unable to awaken or see the light. This is truly to be pitied. The procedures for the deliverance ritual were therefore established so that practitioners of the Dao could follow them and complete the work of aiding the dead and rescuing living beings.

Setting up the “Spirit-Transferring Banner” and “Yellow-Returning Banner”

The dimensions of these two banners are determined according to the deceased’s age. Make one yellow and one red, symbolizing the light of the sun and moon. Write the hidden names of the Three Heavens at the top, and the celestial talismanic incantation of the Nine Heavens’ birth of spirits in the middle. Hang them outside the ritual altar to open a path of light through the long night.

Spirit-Transferring Banner

Write at the top:

Compassionate Savior,

Heavenly Worthy Who Rescues the Guilty from the Ninefold Depths

Write on the body of the banner:

The talismanic command passes through the vast, dark expanse;

The spirit banner rises on the dawn wind.

It transfers the spirit beyond the Northern Court;

The flying sandals ascend to the Southern Palace.

Here, the “Northern Court” means the realm of the dead, while the “Southern Palace” is the destination of ascension. The verses describe using the talismanic command and spirit banner to guide the deceased out of the underworld and up to the heavens.

Yellow-Returning Banner

Write at the top:

Compassionate Savior,

Heavenly Worthy Whose Jeweled Banner Leads the Way

Write on the body of the banner:

The Yellow-Returning Banner of the Grand Subtlety;

Wuying commands the spirit banner.

It summons the dwellers of the long-night realm;

It opens the way of deliverance for souls destined to be reborn.

Way-Opening Banner

Write the secret name of the Supreme Emperor at the top.

On the body of the banner, write: “The Six Jia messengers carry the banner and open the way.”

On the banner’s handle, write the “Incantation for Opening the Cavern and Reaching the Hidden Realm”:

Sacred sounds resound through the empty cavern;

The Nine Mysteries depart from the realm of darkness.

Responsive rewards flow without obstruction;

To depart or remain is as easy as loosening a belt.

Banner for Saving the Suffering before the Grain Measure

Use a yellow silk banner with four points, each three feet long. Write the soul-deliverance incantation in gold characters:

How wondrous, it brings joy to the Five Spirits;

Written in gold, it alerts the myriad spirits.

It examines fate and determines the registers;

The spirit talisman delivers souls from suffering.

Bright-Sun Banner for Crossing the Bridge

Make a single-point banner from yellow silk, two zhang and four chi long. Write the true talisman of the Northern Lodges at the top, and “Chapter of the Compassionate Grace of Brahma Qi” on the body. On the handle, write these eight lines:

The jade eyes shine from a golden countenance;

The blessed court opens in accordance with one’s wish.

The Three Paths extend to the boundless;

The immortal of the Dipper is solemnly guarded.

It aids the southern lands with a crimson elixir glow;

The August Elder establishes the Mysterious Capital.

The Divine Lord registers the immortal realm;

The long night opens, boundless and clear.

These banners are used in deliverance rituals. Together with talismans, incantations, and the arrangement of the ritual altar, they guide souls out of dark places toward rebirth or ascension.

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Interpretation

On the Seven-Star Banner of the Northern Dipper, write the venerable title of the Heavenly Worthy Taiyi. Draw the sun with the left hand and the moon with the right, and write the Yanghui Soul-Transcending Incantation. At the feet, write the Nine Heavens Incantation for Returning to the Root.

Draw the images of the Northern Dipper, sun, and moon in their customary forms.

The Yanghui Incantation

Bright, bright is the sun’s radiance!

Divine light shines through the Three Pure Ones—the Daoist realms of the three levels of purity.

Primordial Qi spreads through the depths of the Celestial River.

Water, eleven nineteen.

Numinous smoke rises in the Purple Court,

drifting lightly beyond the realm of the formless.

The Incantation for Returning to the Root

Pure, radiant Brahma Qi soars, revealing wondrous scenes;

salvation is opened, and souls in the long night are delivered;

wandering souls and spirits should return at their appointed time;

all Primordial Qi returns to its original source.

On the banner, write: “Jade Characters Transmitted by the Perfected One of Brahma Practice in the Golden Gate.”

Then write: “The Greatly Compassionate and Benevolent One in the Eastern Pole Palace, the Heavenly Worthy Taiyi Who Responds to Calls and Hastens to Relieve Suffering.”

The sacred titles on the banners used at the ritual altar are as follows:

Banner of Bright Light Guiding Souls; Banner of Penetrating Radiance Receiving Souls; Banner of Luminous Rosy Clouds; Banner of Awe-Inspiring Numinous Power Raising and Delivering Souls; Banner of Hanging Light and Compassionate Shelter; Banner of the Jade Emperor’s Forgiveness of Sins; Banner of Brahma Qi Pervading All; Banner of Luminous Rosy Clouds Opening Wisdom; Banner of the Dharma Lamp Shining Brightly; Banner of Wisdom’s Radiant Flow; Banner of Profound Clarity and True Stillness; Banner of Numinous Radiance Illuminating the Eight Realms; Banner of Golden Essence Protecting Souls; Banner of Penetrating Insight into the Hidden and the Manifest; Banner of Flowing Insight Illuminating the Hidden; Banner of the Five Eons Opening and Transforming; Banner of Pervasive Light Shining Everywhere; Banner of Transformation Giving Rise to Life; Banner of Numinous Light Gleaming White; Banner of Hanging Light and Flowing Illumination; Banner of Divine Light Extending Everywhere; Banner of the Jade Register of Illuminating Deliverance; Banner of Vanishing Light and Swift Response; Banner of Dragon Might and Brahma Deliverance.

These twenty-four banners are the precious banners held by the Perfected Ones of the Ten Directions when the Heavenly Worthy Primordial Beginning preached the Upper Scripture of Deliverance at the assembly in the Beginning Azure Heaven. They circled the sacred altar in procession to praise the Heavenly Worthy and deliver souls from former generations. No large-scale Zhaijiao purification ritual may be held without these banners.

Heavenly Worthy of the Three Lights Refining and Deliverance; Heavenly Worthy of Great Light Shining Everywhere; Heavenly Worthy of Returning Light with Repeated Radiance; Heavenly Worthy of Precious Light and Empty Stillness; Heavenly Worthy of Flowing Light Manifesting Brahma; Heavenly Worthy of the Three Lights Shining Brightly; Heavenly Worthy of the Way of Light Bringing Forth Humanity; Heavenly Worthy of Golden Light and Jade Splendor; Heavenly Worthy of Compassionate Light Bestowed Everywhere.

Lingbao Hanging-Banner Liturgy: Inviting the Holy Perfected Ones.

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Interpretation

This Jade Repository of True Writings establishes the ritual rules for setting up a banner to deliver the spirits of the dead. It also contains profound teachings on rescuing the deceased. The sacred banner is therefore erected as a ritual treasure in the netherworld. The words “Taiwei Returning Yellow” are inscribed on it, and it has the power to summon the Wuying and the Mingling. The banner hangs high in the blue sky, while its shadow falls into the realm of emptiness. Once its tall pole is raised, the souls of the dead sunk in the long night can be delivered. By continuing to perform the wondrous rite, the suffering and distress of countless souls can be relieved. The gods of the heavens descend together, and the assembled sages gather; light shines in all ten directions, and the merit returns to the Three Treasures (the Dao, the scriptures, and the masters).

Then recite the sacred title “Heavenly Worthy Who Pardons Sins Through the Sacred Banner.”

Auspicious clouds gather to form the sacred banner. Its shadow is reflected in the sky and spreads across the human world. Light and ethereal, it rises on the wind; once the sacred banner is raised, the souls of the dead can all pass beyond the barriers of the netherworld.

Now, in reverent accordance with the Great Rite, we specially establish this precious Zhai (Daoist purification ritual). The sacred banner opens a way through darkness and confusion, guiding all beings onto a path to liberation. The Fulu (talismans and registers) reach into the netherworld, and the ritual is performed according to the order of the Taiji (Supreme Ultimate), bringing down the radiance of the three luminaries—the sun, moon, and stars—and proclaiming the utterly true Great Dao. The ritual has been established, and the sacred banner raised high, so that people in all four directions may behold it. Auspicious energy flows and rises; beings of the Six Paths and the Four Births (born from eggs, wombs, moisture, and transformation) are thereby released from suffering. The numinous wind surges, and the sound of the banner is heard throughout the Three Realms in the ten directions. It protects the living and the dead alike, so that all may receive the protection of the Great Dao.

Then recite the sacred title “Heavenly Worthy Who Guides Souls with the Precious Standard.”

The immortals and perfected beings extend their compassion to all sentient beings. Raising the splendid ritual banner high, they stir the depths of the netherworld, allowing the souls of all beings to ascend into the blue sky. Their blessings extend throughout the world, protecting peace under heaven.

The praises above honor this ritual service and explain that the establishment of the precious banner follows the rites recorded in the Jade Casket of Illumination and Truth. It is a rite for delivering the dead and aiding the living. Through this supremely good ritual, boundless benefit is extended to all beings, helping the souls of the dead ascend to the realm of the immortals. We respectfully pray that the assembled immortals guide the deceased and help them swiftly rise to a pure realm; may the many benevolent gods show them compassion and lead them directly to the Southern Palace, the celestial office associated in Daoist mythology with the immortals and the ascent of the dead. May blessings reach both the netherworld and the human realm, and kindness extend to all beings, so that every sentient being may reach the far shore of the Great Dao.

Banner for Safeguarding Peace and Guiding the Spirit

Returning Yellow Banner for Safeguarding Peace

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