《靈寶無量度人上經大法》Vol. 72

The Great Scripture of Limitless Salvation through the Numinous Treasure, Scroll Seventy-Two (Part Eight)

Section on Preparing for the Retreat and Receiving the Petition

Form for a Petition to Receive Transmission

On the first day of the first month of a certain year, I, [name], of [registered place of origin], respectfully present this petition. Having fasted and bathed, and with a heart full of reverence and apprehension, I bow my head and prostrate myself twice.

I have heard that the Cavern of Mystery (Dongxuan), one of the divisions in the Daoist scriptural canon, establishes teachings and reveals the methods for saving the living and delivering the dead. The scriptures of the Numinous Treasure set forth texts that contain the wondrous principles of shedding the bodily form, ascending to immortality, and attaining the Dao. If I had not accumulated blessings and affinities in a former life, how could I have come to hear of these methods so suddenly? To join the ranks of perfected beings, one must rely on the guidance of a teacher.

I, [name], wish to rescue the suffering souls of my departed ancestors and deliver the spirits of the dead who languish below the springs, burdened by injustice and wrongs. I also wish to escape dangers to my life and destiny, preserve my household, and free myself from calamity. Though I once made a vow, I have long failed to meet a true master. Now, by good fortune, I have encountered Master [name], a ritual master who does not close the gate to the mysteries, but widely extends compassion and instructs the ignorant. I have therefore respectfully prepared this sincere petition and brought gold, silk, and valuables as tokens of my earnestness. I have come especially to the sacred altar to state my request, and humbly seek authorization to receive the Great Numinous Treasure Method and the secret methods of alchemical deliverance, by which the dead are refined and saved.

I vow to practice and uphold these teachings throughout my life, and never to forget my teacher’s instructions. If I break this covenant, I willingly accept a fall into the depths of perdition. I humbly ask that compassion be shown and transmission granted, so that I may accumulate meritorious deeds and join my teacher among the ranks of perfected beings. I have respectfully prepared this sincere petition and present it below the altar, awaiting the sacred instruction.

I, [name], full of reverence and apprehension, bow my head and prostrate myself twice, and respectfully submit this petition.

Ritual for Presenting a Petition to Receive Transmission

I, your servant, have heard that at the beginning of the kalpa, the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning gave birth to the various heavens. In the azure void, he silently intoned the music of immortals; in the realm of purple emptiness, he unfolded the abundant wonders of the Dao. He brought forth the Three Luminaries—the sun, moon, and stars—to nurture the spirits far and wide, and expounded the five scriptures so that living beings might be preserved and carried through the kalpa.

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning sat upright upon a five-colored lion, preaching the Dharma and delivering people. He also sat in repose among a forest of seven treasures, conferring scriptures and transmitting them to later generations. The myriad sages came before his throne and bowed their heads; the perfected beings stood in attendance beside him and took refuge. These were the hidden immortal sounds of the heavens, not the ordinary words and songs of the world. The wondrous wind surged like the bellows of a forge, while the sun and moon moved in peace; the Celestial Worthy proclaimed the Great Dao with his golden mouth, bringing the wondrous wind to stillness.

When the scripture was recited once, the heavens praised it. When it was recited ten times, dry bones could transform and come to life as human beings. From this we know that the wondrous Dao cannot be exhausted, and its mysterious merit is limitless. It is a treasured method kept by Heaven, not ordinarily transmitted among the people of this world. Only when a person of utmost sincerity arrives, pledges to receive the teachings with gold and silk as tokens, and the perfected beings oversee the transmission while the myriad sages witness it at the altar—only when the heavens protect and carefully transmit the teachings, and the demon kings acknowledge that the Dao’s methods are complete—may they be permitted to circulate in accordance with the rules of the Mysterious Gate. Now…

The disciple who succeeds to the Dharma, So-and-so, through the good affinities and blessings accumulated in the past, has been able to encounter the wondrous Daoist tradition. With sincere devotion, the disciple makes a vow and bows in reverence.

In Qingdu, the celestial realm spoken of in Daoist teachings, I sincerely pay homage to the Great Dharma. I knock my head, strike my cheeks, and perform the ritual steps with my elbows as I approach the altar. Reverently following the ceremony for transmitting the teachings under an oath of alliance, I cast aside thoughts of attachment to worldly ties, present gold, silk, and precious treasures, and drink an elixir mixed with blood as a rite of sworn alliance. I vow to seek the support of the Great Dharma, hoping to be enrolled among the immortals and appointed to an immortal office.

In earlier years, this disciple (your servant) received instruction from a teacher and was granted sacred writings, taking on the duty of transforming and guiding the people of the world. When I meet a person of supreme virtue, I do not conceal the secret teachings. Now that I have received this earnest petition, I have presented the matter to Heaven and received an auspicious response. Therefore, I have chosen an auspicious time to transmit the scriptures and teachings, bestow talismans and registers, and pass on the methods, so that the disciple may receive the precepts and command the Dharma’s protecting troops and generals.

May the perfected beings of Lingbao and the emperors of Dongxuan compassionately save the world. May they use skillful means to guide all beings, so that the disciple, So-and-so, may leave the dust of the world and forever escape its fleeting illusions; cleanse the Six Roots—eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind—and attain a pure state of mind; break free from the cycle of the Eight Difficulties; suddenly awaken to the wondrous principles of the Dao; practice the mysteries of the Great Dao; complete three thousand meritorious deeds; summon the assembled immortals; command the Five Emperors and Demon Kings; and bring all spirits to reverent submission.

This disciple (your servant) and the disciple who succeeds to the Dharma respectfully bow their heads and bow twice.

Next, the petition for transmission and the scripture for conferring the teachings are read aloud.

The scripture says: Those of the highest capacity who cultivate this scripture and penetrate its hidden subtleties can ascend to the Southern Palace, bypass the underworld, and deliver boundless beings. All the people of Heaven and the beings of the human world will thereby receive blessings; the living and the dead alike will benefit. This scripture is a treasure cherished by Heaven and must not be transmitted lightly to later generations. A true person of the Dao must offer gold, silk, and precious treasures, and swear an oath to Heaven with sincere devotion before receiving it. If anyone carelessly reveals or profanes this scripture, calamity will befall nine generations of their ancestors, and they themselves will serve for a long time in the offices of the ghost realm.

The Jade Youths and Jade Maidens of the Five Emperors who attend this scripture number twenty-four of each. They are charged with guarding its divine writing and protecting those who receive it.

When the prayers are complete, the disciple kneels to receive the scripture.

Next, the methods are transmitted.

This disciple (your servant) has heard that the Dao accords with nature: it brings things to fruition but does not rule over them. Though one may force oneself to name and speak of its utmost subtlety, one cannot describe the source from which it gives life to the myriad things, for it has neither form nor image.

With reverence, I reflect that the Great Dharma of Lingbao is inscribed in the Great You Gold Book. It is the subtle and unfathomable teaching of the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning, and a principle of supreme numinosity and mystery, empty, still, and profound. Its source cannot be traced, and its wondrous principles cannot be exhausted. It is hidden in the celestial realm of the Great Luo Golden Palace and reveals the meaning of the precious pearl of Fuli. The heavens revere it, and the myriad sages protect it. Only those who have long possessed roots of goodness can glimpse its secrets.

The methods of the Dao must be proclaimed by people, and people establish their foundation through the Dao. Now the disciple, So-and-so, sincerely bows and vows to receive the secret essentials, declaring the oath to the ten directions and pledging with sincerity before the Three Realms. The disciple wishes to investigate the highest principles, realize the Great Dao, and guide all people, and reverently receives and upholds this teaching before the Holy Worthy.

Before the Great Rite begins, the disciple respectfully invokes the Supreme Perfected One of the Golden Palace, the Mysterious Elder of the Jade Capital—a revered Daoist deity—to reveal auspicious signs in the Nine Heavens and shine light upon the dark realms in all directions. He dispatches Jade Maidens bearing golden proclamations to announce them far and wide, commands Golden Youths to read words of praise, and opens the jade scripture casket so that the scriptures and rites may be transmitted.

May the soul and spirit of disciple so-and-so be clear and upright, and may the myriad forms of primordial Qi endure forever. May the disciple suffer no more anguish and shine with radiance. May the guardians of the Three Realms protect them, the Five Emperors welcome them, and the myriad spirits come to pay homage. May their name be entered in the registers of the heavenly realm. When their merit is complete, may they ascend to Shangqing.

When the invocation is finished, the disciple bows in the ten directions, then offers thanks to the master. The master next holds the cinnabar water and sprinkles it over the disciple three times. The first sprinkling invokes the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing) to deliver and transform them; the second invokes the Perfected Ones of the ten directions; the third invokes all the Perfected Ones of the Three Realms. Here, “sprinkling” refers to holding water in the mouth and spitting it over someone, a Daoist rite of purification and blessing.

The master then holds the covenant ring, a token that serves as proof of the oath, and recites:

Heaven and Earth join together, and the covenant ring seals the alliance. In all conduct, keep faith; be loyal and filial; let the heart be clear and peaceful. Be loving and respectful, speak uprightly and purely, and remain steadfast and constant in conduct. Only such a heart aligned with the Dao accords with the spirits. Do not flatter and curry favor, giving rise to greed and anger. If you harm yourself and ruin your good deeds, the Three Realms will not acknowledge you. Now the covenant ring is bestowed; the principles it embodies are firm as metal and stone.

The master then hands the covenant ring to the disciple, along with documents and ritual objects such as certificates, registers, tablets, talismans, seals, and petitions.

The Lingbao scriptures and rites are revered by the Celestial Worthies of the myriad heavens. Today, as the disciple receives initiation, the Three Realms will all honor and heed it. The heavens will record the initiate’s name and rank, admitting them among the ranks of the Immortal Lords, Imperial Lords, and Great Sages, and proclaiming this throughout the boundless heavenly realm. Through the immeasurable Dao of saving people, may our Dao flourish and spread.

When the invocation is finished, the disciple bows once more and withdraws.

Model Memorial of Thanks for Receiving Initiation

Before Heaven and Earth were divided, radiance had already gathered in the empty expanse. Auspicious Qi rose within the heavens, while mysterious Qi gathered in the heights. The numinous wind sounded forth, and the purity of sacred Qi—known in Daoist ritual as Brahma-Qi—rose in splendor. Thus, in accordance with the patterns of Heaven, the scriptures were written and kept secret through countless kalpas.

Since the scriptures and rites were bestowed by Xuanyuan, the Mysterious Originator, they have been transmitted from generation to generation. In the Zhengyi (Orthodox Unity) lineage, their transmission has continued without interruption. People hold covenant ceremonies at precious altars to save all beings throughout the world. These rites help people sever evil thoughts and dispel calamities; they also guide beings to salvation and bring benefit to life. They lead from what is near and accessible into the subtle and profound, whose depths cannot be exhausted.

I, the memorialist, have been fortunate to inherit the blessings of my forebears and be born as a human being. I have lived in a prosperous age and had the opportunity to draw near to the mysterious Dao. I will purify my heart, observe the precepts, bow with sincere devotion, and follow the liturgies preserved in the precious secret canon as I advance in the ranks of the immortals. In cultivating myself and carrying out my duties, I will follow the teachings given at my initiation. In treating illness and aiding those in danger, I will never forget the injunctions of the covenant. Should I violate the prohibitions of the Mysterious Gate, I willingly accept punishment under the laws of the underworld.

Rite for Sacrificing to the Generals

Reverently declared: A hundred demons lie concealed in the depths of the Dao’s resonance, gathering and dispersing according to the principles of nature. The three luminaries—the sun, moon, and stars—shine brightly, illuminating the entire celestial circuit. The supreme realm of Daluo lies within the vast, coursing Brahma Qi (the primordial energy that precedes the cosmos), with the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning seated in its midst.

The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning promulgated teachings of the Dao and saves all beings. Among them are subtle methods for returning the body to its original state. He transmitted scriptures and spread them throughout the world, imparting true arts that can revive the dead. Eight directions of awe-inspiring spirits guard those who serve these scriptures; the holy beings of the heavens protect those who uphold this teaching. The Five Emperors and the Great Demon Kings preside over its affairs, while the flying immortals of the ten directions carry out their commands. Once those who truly study the teaching have sworn their vows and received the precepts, the Demon Kings proclaim the laws, ensuring that their cultivation follows complete ritual forms and observes Heaven’s prohibitions.

An open-air sacrifice is set out at the numinous altar, and a Zhaijiao (purification ritual) is performed. Following the essential instructions, one summons and restrains the spirits of the ten directions and commands the earth deities. The power of the true texts intimidates the laws of Heaven and binds demons. When this scripture is recited, the heavens descend together; when its subtle methods are cultivated, the myriad sages come before the altar. Those who assist my teaching can turn nonbeing into being upon hearing the incantation; those who aid my Dao can escape death and gain new life by receiving a talismanic command. The Eight Awe-Inspiring Dragon Texts can ward off calamities, and the red-script jade characters can dispel disasters. A hundred spirits and the Demon Kings of the Three Realms gather through these means, bowing their heads and accepting orders. The true sovereign who governs the Five Qi and the myriad spirits, too, submits and carries them out.

Now, in accordance with the covenants of the ritual liturgy, I set out offerings and respectfully invite the Lingbao officers and attendants, along with the various divine judges and lords of the law, to accept these gifts of gratitude and solemnly partake in this devoted and focused Zhaijiao. May the gods raise up the teaching and assist the work of the Dao; may they guard human bodies in the lower realm so that demons cannot intrude, and wield talismans and registers to prevent ghosts and monsters from practicing their sorcery. May the spirits look upon this place and accept the offering.

First Presentation

Reverently declared: The Lingbao foundational chapter is a supreme scripture of boundless salvation; the supreme and wondrous beginning is the fundamental purpose of the Great Teaching. Some of these scriptures have been transmitted among humankind, while others are kept secret in Heaven. Those who honor and revere them can receive blessings; those who carelessly reveal them will invite calamity.

Now I, so-and-so, by virtue of good affinities accumulated in past lives, have respectfully entered the Great Teaching and already received instruction and salvation from my master. I therefore set out offerings and present this rite. I look up to the discerning gaze of the divine officials and humbly invite them to witness this modest ceremony and descend in response. May the awe-inspiring forms of the gods be close before the altar, supporting the orthodox teaching at the Dark Altar and, with serene dignity, helping this humble novice, one who has received the teaching and cultivates the Dao, fulfill their cultivation.

I, so-and-so, am merely an inferior scholar newly entered into the teaching, yet fortunate enough to have encountered a true master. Though I rely on the Great Teaching to subdue demons, I still depend entirely on the aid of awe-inspiring spirits: let the roots of calamity be severed completely, and the demon chiefs be cut down a thousand thousand times; subdue monsters and destroy their forms ten thousand ten thousand times. With the golden battle-axe, the weapon borne by divine generals, first execute…

The violent ghosts were slain and dismembered, and fierce spirits such as Guishuang and Zhang Jutian were also punished; the raging winds and fires did not cease. This rite can be performed to deliver the dead from darkness, release them from hostile debts and resentments caused by past-life karma, or heal those long afflicted by grave illness and restore them to their former state. May those of virtue share in the honor, and those who have earned merit share in its blessings. Do not grow lax, lest all that has been accomplished be lost. Listen respectfully to what I say, and do not neglect it.

Second Offering

I respectfully make this declaration: the officers and soldiers of every division are properly ordered and imposing; the military camps are orderly and solemn. Standards and banners are drawn up in formation, and weapons must be kept in good repair. Let commands be proclaimed, and let oversight within the ghostly camps be strictly enforced. Rewards and punishments must be fair. May these words be conveyed to the Five Emperors, so that ghosts, monsters, and baleful forces are destroyed, and pestilence and malign influences dare not spread. May the divine powers guard the gates and drive away every kind of anomaly.

Each of you must act according to the laws, with fairness and integrity. In assisting the Dao, be prudent and steadfast, brave and loyal. May we together accomplish great merit and support the transformation of Wuwei (non-action). We have now prayed with sincerity and offer wine once more. Our hearts remain true from beginning to end; we rely entirely on the divine powers to bear witness. The money and horses offered will be distributed and laid out according to ritual. The offerings are complete; we respectfully ask the spirits to return to their original place of governance.

Final Offering

Read the memorial, bow twice, then withdraw.

Talisman for Offering to the Generals

As you write the talisman, recite:

“Om, yé shé tú qú hē lè tán jù pó yí zhī dì sà zhā.”

Form the mudra by pressing the middle finger, then write ten strokes on the talisman, arranging them toward the ten directions. Write each talisman in yellow on red paper, pair it with one coin, and burn them together.

As you burn the talismans and registers, recite:

“May a thousand and ten thousand harmonize and unite; may the multitudes of spirits blend together. The Spirit Lord receives the command and governs all spirits. The assembled demons bow their heads, and the ten thousand spirits submit in reverence. Preserve the true nature and strengthen life, to deliver the people. Whether living or dead, all receive blessings through relying on this method; this merit cannot be counted. May you neither lose sight of merit nor fault, but protect and recommend yourselves. Swiftly carry this out in accordance with the ordinances of Lingbao.”

On the Seals and Writings of This Method

The Perfected One said: To practice the Lingbao method, one must obtain the heavenly jade seal, for only then can one communicate with the underworld. If one uses a seal made from ordinary writing and has not received transmission from a true master, then even if one exhausts one’s mind and effort, one will ultimately gain nothing.

The Lingbao seal was originally formed by the Primordial Heavenly King, who gathered wondrous Qi into true seal-script. It was made entirely of jade and called the “Golden Insignia and Jade Seal.” It descended from the Heaven of True Spirits and was entrusted to the Dao Lord. Later it was passed on to the Venerable Celestial Sovereign of the Void Emperor. The Venerable Celestial Sovereign of the Void Emperor then entrusted it to the Lord Emperor of the Golden Gate, who transmitted it to…

The Great Celestial Emperor (a revered Daoist deity) first transmitted this scripture to Xuanyuan, the Yellow Emperor. Xuanyuan later met the Great Master Jing, the Venerable Celestial One of the Mysterious Center. After the Venerable Celestial One appeared in the world, he distinguished the scripture’s passages and organized them into their respective categories and sections. Xuanyuan earnestly sought his instruction, and the Mysterious Master then transmitted the methods and the rites for their use. Thus, the Mysterious Master presided over the Great Lingbao Method.

In later generations, immortal adepts continued to teach the tradition, and the scriptures were transmitted in many places. But when no suitable person could be found, the seals were often concealed in famous mountains and not readily revealed. In time, an immortal appeared who encountered this scripture. Out of compassion, the Venerable Celestial One entrusted the seals to him so that they could be passed down to later generations. Those who study this method and are fortunate enough to encounter these seals should cherish and safeguard them. They must not pass them on carelessly, lest the secret methods be disclosed. The exalted perfected beings of the Three Realms, seeing such secrets exposed, would grieve and feel deep compassion. Their disclosure would bring grave calamity, a truly regrettable outcome. The contents are now included in this section; anyone who encounters them should receive them with reverence and faith, and preserve them with care.

Jade Seal of the Upper Clarity Lingbao Grand Method Office

This seal may be stamped on talismanic writing, documents, and posted notices, which are then displayed so that the ghosts and spirits of the Three Realms may see them as proof of authority. During the transmission rite, after submitting the memorial, one must first offer sacrifices and recite the incantation; only then may the seal be used.

Seal of the Office for Refining and Deliverance

This seal was bestowed by the Supreme Emperor upon the Perfected Lord of the Office for Refining and Deliverance in Nanchang. The office oversees the refinement of the souls of the dead and the deliverance of departed spirits. The seal is used specifically on water-and-fire talismans and registers, as well as official documents and transit warrants used by the Office for Refining and Deliverance.

Seal of the Yellow Register Institute

This seal was bestowed by the Supreme Emperor upon the Director and Chancellor of the Yellow Register Institute, who oversee the deliverance of departed spirits in the Lower Origin, the underworld. At major Zhaijiao purification rituals, when a sacred altar is established and divine generals, officials, and troops are summoned, all talismanic dispatches and official documents must bear this seal.

Seal of the Celestial Treasure Lord

This is the seal the Supreme Lord Primordial (a revered Daoist deity) uses to teach and transform. It can subdue Heaven and Earth, regulate Yin-Yang, set the workings of creation in motion, and command the myriad numinous beings. When practicing the great method, it should be used to guard the place where the ritual altar is established. All the myriad sages honor this seal. During rites of homage to the Celestial Worthy Primordial, it radiates a light tens of thousands of feet high, illuminating the demon hordes. It may also be used to stamp Fulu talismans and registers.

This seal was lost during the reign of Qin Shi Huang. In the Han dynasty, the Celestial Master used a replacement seal engraved with ordinary seal script.

Jade Seal of the Dao Lord

This is the seal the Dao Lord (a revered Daoist deity) uses to teach and transform. It governs the stars and constellations of the heavens, the ghosts and spirits of the Three Realms, and the cycles of calamity and fortune. It should be worn when practicing ritual arts. It can transform into the Lingbao Celestial Worthy and may also be used to stamp Fulu talismans and registers.

Seal of the Azure Mystery for Deliverance from Suffering

This seal was bestowed by the Supreme Emperor for the Venerable Celestial Worthy of Salvation from Suffering in the Eastern Pole, the honored deity who oversees the deliverance of departed souls from suffering. It is used to rescue suffering souls throughout the Three Realms and the Ten Directions. When used in the appropriate ritual, a radiance of myriad treasures appears. Officials of the prisons in the underworld see the seal’s light and clear the way, allowing imprisoned souls to proceed directly to rebirth in the Land of Ultimate Bliss. This seal may also be stamped on Fulu.

Seal of the Tai Xuan Metropolitan Office

This seal was bestowed by the Jade Emperor. When the Celestial Master oversees the Tai Xuan Metropolitan Office, the Daoist institution responsible for petitions and the summoning and dispatching of spiritual forces, he uses it to handle reports and formal requests. The seal may be used to summon merit officials and talisman officers, mobilize troops, conduct Zhaijiao rites, report to the stars, and submit official communications and documents.

The Celestial Master of the Han dynasty once used a seal carved with ordinary seal script in its place. After that ancestral secret seal ascended to heaven with the Celestial Master of Zhengyi, the Celestial Master continued to hold and use the official seal of the Tai Xuan Metropolitan Office.

Seal of the Eight Majestic Dragon Writings and Seal of the Red Script in Jade Characters

These two seals are specially overseen by the Primordial Supreme Emperor and are used for the true writings in jade characters and seal script belonging to the various heavens. They should be applied during Zhaijiao rites and when proclaiming the true writings or Red Script at the ritual altar.

Seal of Union with the Dao and Realization of Truth

This seal was bestowed by the Supreme Emperor upon those who have attained the Dao. By wearing it, they can ascend to heaven; at the gates of the Golden Palace in the Three Heavens, the seal serves as proof of identity.

To deliver departed souls from the underworld, each soul must be listed in the merit registers and documents, and the corresponding talisman credentials must be combined and stamped with the seal. When the spirits of the underworld see it, they regard it as an edict personally issued by the Supreme Emperor and dare not delay or obstruct the passage.

Seal of the Five Emperors and Great Demons

This seal was bestowed by the Supreme Emperor upon practitioners of magical arts. By receiving and wearing it, they can subdue myriad demons, suppress malevolent forces, and control evil spirits. If they receive and wear it with sincerity, the Five Emperors will come to protect them, and all manner of harmful spirits will be subdued.

Seal of the Convergence of the Hundred Spirits

This seal, too, was bestowed by the Supreme Emperor upon practitioners of magical arts. Once received and worn, it enables them to command myriad spirits. Wherever the seal is present, the myriad gods will come to pay homage, and the deities of the Three Realms will provide protection. In rites of invocation, stamping this seal on the relevant commanders, officers, and talismanic registers brings a swift response.

All these seals are made from the Seven Treasures, gold, or jade; sometimes they are made from the heartwood of red jujube, peach, or cypress. An artisan is instructed to carve them on a day of Yang Fire, then leave them outdoors overnight on a day of Yin Water before retrieving them.