《無上玄元三天玉堂大法》Vol. 29

This passage explains the key points and taboos of the "Petitioning the Dipper Ritual" (Gaodoufa) in Daoist practice—a ceremonial method for beseeching the Northern Dipper deities to avert misfortunes.

The Northern Dipper Lords (Beidou Xingjun, the deified seven stars of Ursa Major) govern human fortunes, misfortunes, and lifespans. When someone faces celestial punishment, false accusations by malevolent spirits, or ancestral ghost disturbances, only the "Emergency Petition Method" can summon divine response. Ordinary incense offerings and rituals prove ineffective—just as sulfur only reacts when meeting fire, the correct method must be employed.

Various forms of Dipper Petition rituals exist, often confusing beginners. Here we particularly record the essentials of the "Emergency Secret Protocol": during the ritual, practitioners must maintain single-minded devotion. Crucially, they must secure assistance from the two Messenger Officials Qing and Tuo (the Dipper Lords' celestial heralds). These divine inspectors examine whether the altar is purified—if sincerity is lacking, they report to higher realms, preventing deities from descending.

The Nine Imperial Consorts (Jiuhuang Furen, goddesses of the nine Dipper stars) and Jade Maidens record human merits and transgressions. Without their descent, memorial petitions cannot ascend, rendering rituals void. Other divine officials like the Four Direct Messengers and Nine Imperial Numinous Officers must also transmit messages—otherwise, even the Dipper Lords themselves remain unaware of petitions.

Practitioners must maintain bodily and spiritual purity: no sexual impurity, meat consumption, distracted thoughts, or physical uncleanness—otherwise deities won't descend and transgressions will be recorded. Ritual sites must avoid slaughterhouses, taverns, markets, and brothels, ideally being conducted in temples or pure spaces. Taboos include encountering mourners, Buddhist monks/nuns, coffins, cats/dogs, or people wearing mourning clothes entering the altar area.

Technical requirements include: coordinating breath regulation (Qingqi) to commune with deities, wearing talismans (Fulu) for spiritual connection, and visualizing divine forms to invite their descent. Ultimately, practitioners must achieve complete fusion of Qi (vital energy) and Shen (spirit) to establish communication with the divine.

This scripture records a mystical account concerning supplications to the Star Lords of the Northern Dipper (the deified Big Dipper constellation venerated in Daoism) along with detailed ritual instructions.

The narrative tells of Zhang Shuo, a Tang Dynasty official serving as Director of the Water Bureau who lived by the Zha River. His nine-year-old son remained unable to speak. After praying at the Shrine of Director Zhang (dedicated to Judge Zhang) and Mount Bian's Temple, the deity suddenly manifested, revealing: "Your son offended the Northern Dipper Palace at birth—you must swiftly perform a Dipper confession." This deity had served the Dipper during his earthly life and possessed a brief secret method, which he subsequently transmitted to Zhang Shuo. Zhang later rose to become Chancellor and buried the method atop Great Peak of Mount Juqu. Now that the Great Dao flourishes, this secret method has reappeared in the world and should be transmitted discreetly among practitioners.

The text then details the confession ritual procedure: Prepare four clean mats, weave seven plates from cogongrass flowers (each plate about saucer-sized), seven cups of clear tea, seven bowls of jujube soup, seven oil cakes, seven portions of fruit, seven incense burners, and seven lamps. When making offerings facing north, the practitioner must kneel-walk to each star position, performing seven prostrations while silently voicing petitions. Then swiftly burn the memorial document in an incense burner before entering meditation in a quiet chamber.

During meditation, perform nine mental prostrations while visualizing the five viscera emitting five-colored Qi (corresponding to the Five Phases in Daoist physiology). These vapors coalesce midair into a golden bridge. Crossing this bridge reveals the Seven Dipper Palaces as golden towers and jade halls. Soon a silk-robed envoy appears to guide you along a path veiled in purple clouds, where you encounter nine imperial officials wearing nine-beam crowns (headgear of high Daoist clergy) and vermilion robes. They escort you into the corresponding star palace to present your case. At this stage, only golden light is visible—direct gazing is forbidden. When crimson light flashes, it signals the petition's completion, after which you retrace your path. Conclude by swallowing saliva and "knocking teeth" (a Daoist longevity practice).

The text further records three altar-transforming fu talismans (ritual charms for altar consecration). While reciting each incantation, visualize jade platforms (representing ritual altar tiers) rising from the ground—three layers in total. The incantations essentially invoke pure qi to cleanse impurities, using the jade platforms to connect with celestial realms and summon immortal presence. Finally, visualize the three talismans transforming into three-tiered jade altars with purple clouds ascending, while golden light bridges the space to connect with the Northern Dipper stars.

This passage describes an emergency ritual procedure in Daoism, primarily used for swiftly resolving urgent crises such as illness or calamities. Here are the specific steps:

First, burn the demon-expelling talisman (Fulu) - written in cinnabar with the characters "Fly Away Great Malice," sprinkle water to the four directions while reciting the incantation. The incantation roughly means: By the command of the Supreme Pure Dao (Taishang Qingdao), summon celestial soldiers and generals, harness the dragon and tiger, cast the fire-bell ritual implement, and sweep away hordes of demonic winds and ghosts. With true fire burning ahead and halberds punishing behind, any who resist shall be immediately beheaded, pacifying ghosts and demons to welcome the descent of the exalted perfected ones (Gaozhen).

Next, burn the messenger-reporting talisman (also written in cinnabar with two sets of characters). The ritual master visualizes (meditates on) the descent of divine generals before kneeling again. The incantation roughly means: May the clear Qi of heaven and earth protect me, allowing my primordial spirit (Yuanshen) to swiftly reach the upper realms. May the two perfected officials quickly deliver my message so my wishes may be fulfilled.

Then visualize the talisman for the descent of exalted perfected ones (accompanied by the Big Dipper hand seal, quickly burning seven cinnabar talismans and immediately submitting the memorial). The incantation roughly means: The Jade Emperor (Yuhuang Dadi) permits my petition to the true deities. On this auspicious day, may my heart's incense ascend; may the seven perfected officials descend to cure illness, expel demons, dispel calamities, bestow blessings, and ensure peace.

The ancestral master explains: When ordinary people face sudden illness or suffering, they often lack time to prepare complex memorial documents. Thus, this rapid emergency method is used. The technique involves using light yellow paper (one chi two cun tall, six cun wide) to briefly state the ritual master's rank and purpose (no more than a hundred characters), entirely written in cinnabar. After writing, fold it eight times then four times again, with the cover inscribed "Your minor subject [name] respectfully submits." Dispatch it via the duty officers of the Dipper Ministry (Doubu). When burning, ensure thick smoke rises from the incense burner without open flames, while visualizing the incense smoke directly reaching the celestial court.

Finally, the format for the emergency memorial includes: stating the ritual master's identity, the petitioner's birthplace and birthdate, specifying the request (such as resolving grievances, dispelling disasters, or prolonging life), petitioning a specific Big Dipper constellation palace for immediate action, and awaiting response. This method originates from the Tang Dynasty teachings of Minister Zhang Shui and the Maoshan sect's Big Dipper worship rituals.

This Supreme Mysterious Primordial Three Heavens Jade Hall Great Method (Wushang Xuanyuan Santian Yutang Dafa) features cultivation techniques characterized by their simplicity, antiquity, and ease of practice—neither overly elaborate nor excessively rudimentary. Its effects (referring to the tangible responses from cultivation) manifest with remarkable swiftness, bearing similarities to the arts recorded in the Canon of Prohibitions (Jindian), though with minor variations in detail.

Practitioners may directly apply these methods without grasping for excessive or exhaustive techniques. The text further documents specialized principles attuned to destined individuals (yuanfa—those with karmic affinity for cultivation), all of which ultimately find their corresponding classifications within the Canon of Prohibitions. Particular emphasis is placed here on the content of the scripture’s twenty-ninth volume.

(Note: The Canon of Prohibitions is a pivotal Daoist text documenting various taboos and esoteric arts. The term yuanfa underscores the Daoist emphasis on the alignment between master-disciple缘分 (affinity) and the practitioner’s innate foundation.)