《太上三生解冤妙經》

The ninth section of the Supreme Three-Life Scripture for Resolving Grievances records:

At that time, the Heavenly Worthy Who Seeks Sounds to Save from Suffering (a Daoist deity of salvation) traveled through the ten directions with his retinue, universally delivering sentient beings from the sea of suffering and guiding them back to the right path without straying into heresy. Observing the western regions, the Heavenly Worthy noticed the kingdom of Pure Brahma, whose people frequently committed sins of licentiousness and killing, seldom accumulated virtue through good deeds, and after death mostly fell into hell realms, rarely obtaining human rebirth.

Moved by compassion, the Heavenly Worthy manifested an incarnation to descend to this kingdom. The king of Pure Brahma dreamed at night of a divine message: "Tomorrow a celestial perfected being will come from the east—why not prepare to receive him?" Waking in awe, the king waited until dawn, then summoned his ministers, consorts, royal relatives, and commoners to greet the visitor outside the city. In a magnificent western garden adorned with flowers and trees, the Heavenly Worthy sat enthroned upon a golden dragon seat in a seven-jeweled palace, attended by celestial youths. As the king and his retinue reverently encircled the throne to hear the Orthodox Unity (Zhengyi) wondrous teachings, suddenly auspicious qi filled the courtyard while celestial blossoms rained down, leaving the assembly speechless with awe and joy.

The queen and concubines then offered incense and prostrated, petitioning: "Our remote kingdom has never heard such profound Dharma. Meeting Your Eminence today is our great fortune. We beg your compassionate answer to our dilemma." The queen continued: "Our aged king lacks an heir. Previous pregnancies ended in miscarriage, and those children born never survived past five years. What karmic offenses from past lives cause this retribution?"

The Heavenly Worthy replied: "This stems from careless miscarriages in your past lives and harboring aversion toward your offspring. Lest you doubt, I shall manifest the aggrieved spirits." Suddenly a ferocious yaksha (hell-demon) appeared, pointing at the queen: "In my past life I should have been your child, but you—" [Contextual Note]

This scripture passage illustrates the Daoist concept of "inherited retribution" (chengfu) through the Heavenly Worthy's enlightenment of Pure Brahma's royal couple. It emphasizes how misdeeds like abortion and killing generate future calamities, requiring repentance and scripture recitation to resolve karmic grievances. The "Orthodox Unity wondrous teachings" reference Tianshi Dao orthodoxy, while the "seven-jeweled palace" symbolizes the sacred space of divine revelation.

This scripture recounts the story of an empress who suffered karmic retribution in her present life due to killing offenses committed in past lives, along with methods for resolving karmic debts through repentance and virtuous deeds.

Though in her past life the empress had devoutly worshiped heaven, earth, sun, and moon, honored her parents, built Daoist temples, and aided the poor—accumulating much merit—which allowed her to be reborn as the empress of a small kingdom, she had also inadvertently harmed lives (possibly referring to abortion or harming a fetus). These karmic debts now sought retribution. Upon hearing this, the empress was filled with terror and prostrated herself, beseeching the Celestial Worthy (Tianzun) for guidance on liberation.

The Celestial Worthy told her: Though you performed many virtuous deeds in past lives, if you do not repent for your karmic debts, these offenses will remain. The Celestial Worthy then transmitted the Three-Life Karmic Resolution Sutra (Sansheng Jieyuan Miaojing), teaching her to sincerely recite the scripture to dissolve karmic obstacles.

The scripture then elaborates in detail how a fetus, like an adult, possesses complete life, and harming one creates karmic debts. It enumerates various actions during pregnancy that may harm the fetus: intense physical exertion, improper sexual activity, impact or pressure, taking abortifacient drugs, incorrect acupuncture, improper diet, and so on. Some of these actions are caused by the mother herself, while others result from others’ instigation.

These past-life acts of killing manifest in the present life as various sufferings: frequent illness during pregnancy, difficulty eating, skin ulcers, stabbing pains in the waist, and day-and-night torment. At childbirth, complications may arise, terrifying the entire household. All these pains are the present-life retribution for past-life karmic debts.

This scripture expounds the miraculous efficacy of the Supreme Three Lifetimes Resolution of Grievances Scripture. The text describes the painful situations of mutual harm among family members—such as a mother surviving while her child dies, a child living while the mother perishes, or both mother and child meeting untimely deaths, all of which create vengeful spirits of wrongful demise. If these aggrieved souls have already reincarnated, they continue to suffer; if not yet reborn, they linger to haunt and harm their relatives.

When encountering such circumstances, sincerely reciting this scripture can resolve all karmic grievances. The text includes a resolution mantra, which conveys: Heaven and Earth revolve, their radiance illuminates past and present, and all beings take form by receiving their Qi (vital energy). Karmic grievances defile, persisting across three lifetimes. Through the pure Qi of Orthodox Unity (Zhengyi, the Daoist cultivated energy), these spirits can be liberated. Upon hearing this mantra, karmic obstructions dissolve. Celestial soldiers and generals (Daoist protector deities) will arrive to safeguard, enabling the spirits to swiftly reincarnate in peace. The decree of the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning (Yuanshi Tianzun, the supreme Daoist deity) never ceases.

After reciting the scripture seven times, a yaksha (a guardian deity) appears, bowing in gratitude to the Celestial Worthy, declaring that by virtue of this merit, they will be reborn into a wealthy and noble family in the Central Plains. All who hear this rejoice.

The Celestial Worthy explains that this scripture does not merely resolve one person’s karmic grievances—if all recite it sincerely a hundred times, the entanglements of an entire nation can be untied. As the assembly chants in unison, dark clouds part to reveal auspicious Qi, and countless aggrieved spirits approach to give thanks, proclaiming that through the Celestial Worthy’s compassion and the scripture’s power, all grievances—great and small—have been resolved. In an instant, the skies clear, the weather turns bright, and the people celebrate with gratitude for divine grace.

The assembly then asks: Though grievances are now absent, how can future misdeeds be prevented? The Celestial Worthy replies: Now that this Three Lifetimes Resolution of Grievances Scripture has been transmitted, devout men and women need only burn incense and recite it three times daily to dissolve their own karmic obstructions. Those who meticulously transcribe a copy to gift others will bring blessings to their entire household. Pregnant women suffering from weak fetal Qi or recurrent miscarriages can safely deliver intelligent children by revering this scripture. If deceased children frequently appear in dreams—a sign of unresolved grievances—daily devoted recitation will resolve them.

The Supreme Three-Life Scripture for Resolving Karmic Grievances presents methods for dispelling karmic obstructions and securing protection through scripture recitation.

The scripture states: By offering incense and reverently paying homage to this scripture morning and evening, lingering grievances will naturally dissipate, freeing one from fear and disturbance. In cases of difficult childbirth, a Zhengyi (Orthodox Unity) Daoist priest should be invited before the expected delivery date to burn incense and recite the scripture before the sacred images of the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing: Jade Pure, Upper Pure, and Supreme Pure). Benevolent deities will then provide protection, ensuring a smooth delivery, safeguarding both mother and child, averting calamities caused by karmic grievances, and granting health and longevity.

Whether walking, pausing, sitting, or lying down, sincere recitation of this scripture ensures rebirth in a noble and prosperous family in the next life, endowing one with intelligence, dignified appearance, flourishing descendants, and boundless blessings.

A concluding verse summarizes: Sentient beings constantly accumulate grievances, their karmic entanglements deep and difficult to resolve. Once grievances are formed, retribution spans three lifetimes. Now, this wondrous scripture is transmitted to dissolve all karmic obstructions. With sincere listening and recitation, adversaries naturally disperse.

The scripture concludes: After the Celestial Sovereign finished expounding this scripture, all immortals came forth to welcome him. The Sovereign continued his journey to deliver beings across all realms. He specially instructed kings and consorts: By cultivating according to the true Dao, they would bear filial and wise sons. Three spiritual talismans (Fulu) were bestowed: the Body-Protection Talisman (for safeguarding health), the Grievance-Dispelling Talisman (for warding off vengeful spirits), and the Labor-Inducing Talisman (for aiding childbirth). All should be taught to revere and uphold these teachings.

(Note: The "Three Lives" refer to past, present, and future existences; "resolving grievances" means dissolving karmic enmity. Daoism holds that unresolved grievances bring misfortune, which can be dispelled through scripture recitation and talismanic practice.)