《太上洞淵神咒經》Vol. 16

This passage is from the Taishang Dongyuan Shenzhou Jing (Scripture of the Divine Spells of the Dongyuan Tradition of the Most High), which primarily explains how to expel various ghosts, demons, and malevolent spirits that plague the human world through Daoist rituals.

The scripture first enumerates the misfortunes people may encounter: illnesses and deaths caused by ghostly possession, madness and incoherent speech, uncontrollable cholera with diarrhea and convulsions, epidemics with toxic heat and swelling, disasters of fire and water, theft of property, legal disputes and slander, deaths of livestock, miscarriages, family tragedies, unfulfilled wishes, household unrest, and financial losses. When facing such adversities, one should seek out an enlightened master (a cultivated Daoist priest), receive the precepts and talismans (Fulu) of the Daoist tradition, and make sincere offerings. When calamities occur, one must purify oneself by bathing and changing clothes, burn incense, recite scriptures, sit upright in stillness, press incense between the fingers, knock the teeth thirty-six times, and chant exorcism spells.

The incantation reads: "With the Vermilion Bird (Zhuque, the southern divine bird) upon my head, the Dark Warrior (Xuanwu, the northern divine beast) beneath my feet, the Azure Dragon (Qinglong) guarding my left, the White Tiger (Baihu) defending my right, the Green Essence swords and halberds before me, the golden hammers and axes behind me, and celestial soldiers and generals surrounding me on all sides. I command all vicious ghosts and demons to retreat a thousand miles at once—those who disobey shall be severely punished according to the celestial decree."

The scripture then states that countless ghosts and demons torment the people, listing the names of various ghost kings and demon lords: the Red-Headed Ghost King of Slaughter (standing twenty feet tall, commanding thirty-six trillion murderous ghosts), the Great Demon of the Three Heavens, the Great Demon of the Nine Heavens, and others, along with deities and spirits from all directions, each leading billions of followers to wreak havoc in the human world. The scripture warns these malevolent beings that if they do not retreat immediately, the Eight Divisions of Divine Soldiers will be dispatched to annihilate them.

Finally, it mentions several great demon kings (such as Xiayin, Wuyan, and Chibohonggong) and the Great Exorcism Generals, along with the billions of celestial soldiers and divine generals under their command. These deities are all tasked with protecting devout men and women, driving away all manner of specters and evil influences.

This scripture describes how celestial deities and generals will protect those who recite it, dispelling malevolent spirits and illnesses. The Great Kings of the Thirty-Six Heavens (the highest Daoist celestial realms) lead seventy million heavenly troops, while the Nine Heavens' grand army numbers ninety billion. Additionally, there are eighty million celestial soldiers and generals, thirty million mighty celestial warriors of immense strength, four hundred thousand jade maidens who transmit incense, four hundred thousand heavenly maidens who present golden seals with incense, along with thirty-six Brahma Kings (Buddhist guardian deities, reflecting Buddhist-Daoist syncretism) and nine hundred billion righteous troops. When these divine beings hear someone reciting this scripture, they will descend to protect the living, expel hauntings, and cure diseases.

The text further mentions four hundred thousand Harmonious Warriors and three hundred sixty thousand Hundred-Tongued Officers (divine generals skilled in mediating disputes). They will gather wherever the scripture is recited to help resolve family conflicts, fostering harmony within and without while warding off external evil influences. Those who merit reward will be honored according to celestial law, while violators will be judged by the Three Officials (the sovereigns of Heaven, Earth, and Water).

The scripture emphasizes that whether officials, commoners, monks, hermits, or people of any social status—rich or poor—those who believe and uphold this text are revealed to have been immortals in past lives or transcendent beings who ascended through methods like shijie (a Daoist technique of achieving immortality by shedding the physical body) or miedu (Buddhist nirvana). Conversely, those who scorn or slander this scripture are said to originate from the Three Wretched Realms (hell, hungry ghosts, or animal rebirth), burdened by heavy karmic obstructions. Such individuals will suffer in this life: afflicted by chronic illness, professional failure, or sudden ruin despite temporary wealth, even contracting malignant sores or mysterious ailments.

Finally, the scripture instructs reciters to perform three knocks of the teeth (kouchi) and swallow saliva three times—a common Daoist health-preserving practice. Through promises of divine protection and warnings of karmic retribution, the passage encourages sincere devotion to the Dao.

This scripture passage discusses the karmic retribution for defiling sacred texts and the blessings received through sincere reverence.

The text begins with a stern warning: those who desecrate the scriptures or show disrespect to authentic Daoist classics will find no cure even with the best physicians, ultimately meeting untimely death. After death, such offenders will fall into Avici Hell (a Buddhist concept referring to uninterrupted suffering), confined in dark prisons for countless eons without liberation. Subsequent rebirths will only be as beasts or livestock, forced to consume filth while enduring whippings and servitude, trapped in endless cycles of suffering.

The Most High Lord Lao (the supreme Daoist deity) shows profound compassion for humanity, caring for sentient beings as tenderly as one would nurture an infant. He admonishes the ignorant to revere the scriptures, for only through sincere faith can one transcend suffering, ascend to celestial realms, attain purified bodies of freedom, and roam with divine beings.

The passage then reiterates in verse form (a common poetic style in Buddhist and Daoist texts):

• Those destined to hear the authentic "Samadhi" scriptures (advanced Daoist meditative states) and practice them faithfully will accumulate merit to become noble persons, ultimately achieving immortality.
• But wicked people who mock the scriptures and doubt their efficacy will face immediate retribution: chronic illness, rampant epidemics, and family ruin. After death, their souls enter hell realms for eons of suffering, later reborn as animals.
• Hearing this verse, the Great Demon Kings of the Nine Heavens (Daoist guardian deities) and other celestial beings joyfully prostrated, vowing to assist the Celestial Worthy in educating sentient beings.

Through this contrast of karmic consequences, the passage emphasizes the vital importance of venerating scriptures, exemplifying classic Daoist teachings on encouraging virtue and punishing evil. The inclusion of hell realms and rebirth concepts demonstrates Daoism's assimilation of Buddhist thought.

The Great Brahma Demon King (a Daoist guardian deity) and his retinue will perpetually protect those who recite this scripture, accompanying them as they roam freely throughout the world. All who sincerely cultivate and uphold this scripture shall be spared from calamities such as diseases, epidemics, and hauntings by malevolent spirits. Existing ailments will swiftly be cured, all wishes fulfilled, legal disputes naturally resolved, and every petition granted.

Should any demons, shape-shifting creatures, or evil ghosts dare to defy the teachings of the Most High Lord Lao (the supreme deity of Daoism), we guardian deities shall seize these malevolent spirits, cutting them into ten thousand pieces and grinding them to dust without mercy. We demon kings collectively swear this oath: We shall commit no evil deeds, but rather transform our demonic natures to assist all beings in cultivating the immortal path, drawing closer to the perfected sages.

At this moment, the Perfected One Wei Mingluo (a title for an enlightened being), having comprehended the scripture's profound meaning, together with numerous cultivators and celestial deities, listened to the Heavenly Worthy (referring to Lord Lao) expound these mysterious verses. Filled with the joy of Dharma, they all performed the ritual threefold prostration, sincerely vowing to receive and practice these teachings.