《靈寶領教濟度金書》Vol. 24

This scripture documents the specific liturgy (Keyi) used by the Lingbao school (one of Daoism's major lineages) in rituals for the salvation of deceased souls. Before commencing the ceremony, the presiding Daoist priest (addressed as "Your Servant, the Officiant") would light precious incense and reverently pay homage to the supreme deities, including:

The Three Pure Ones (Sanqing, Daoism's highest deities): Yuanshi Tianzun of the Jade Purity realm, Lingbao Tianzun of the Upper Purity realm, and Daode Tianzun of the Great Purity realm; as well as specialized savior deities like the Eastern Extremity Azure Mystery Elder Lord and the Great Benevolent Savior from Suffering Tianzun. The priest beseeches these divine beings for compassionate witness to the ritual.

The text employs cosmological metaphors of celestial movements and Yin-Yang transformations to illustrate sentient beings' suffering within the cycle of rebirth. Just as frozen ponds need warmth, lost souls require guidance. Daoist practice holds that by erecting spirit-summoning banners (lingfan), one creates lanterns to illuminate the underworld and bridges for salvation. The towering banner poles resemble rainbows while their fluttering streamers dance like phoenix wings, making them visible across the ten directions and nine layers of the underworld, thereby helping deceased souls cleanse karmic obstructions accumulated over countless lifetimes.

This purification ritual (Zhaijiao) is sponsored by a patron seeking salvation for specific deceased individuals. The scripture describes ordinary people drowning in oceans of desire and rivers of attachment, their original purity obscured by towering walls of karmic debt. Like startled birds or stampeding horses, they suffer the torments of the three wretched paths (hell, hungry ghosts, and animal realms) and five sufferings (birth, aging, sickness, death, and separation) within samsara. Only through divine salvation can they attain liberation.

Finally, through chanting scriptures and ritual dances, the priests create swirling incense clouds and celestial blossoms, employing these solemn ceremonial elements for universal salvation. The assembly sincerely extols the virtuous deeds of Yuanshi Tianzun and Lingbao Tianzun, praying for the ritual's perfect completion.

This passage describes the scene and significance of the "Raising the Banner" ritual in Daoist practice. The "Raising the Banner" ceremony involves hoisting a spiritual banner (a long, narrow flag embroidered with sacred texts and patterns) during Zhaijiao (purification rituals), serving to liberate deceased souls and pray for blessings while dispelling misfortunes.

First, it praises the majestic virtue of the Dao De Tianzun (Lord Lao, the Supreme Venerable Sovereign). When the spiritual banner is raised high, it connects the celestial realms above and penetrates the netherworld below. The banner sways in the void, its cloud-like radiance shimmering like a rainbow, drawing down the sweet dew from the Sanqing (Three Pure Ones) heavens above and channeling the compassionate winds from the Nine Netherworlds below. Through this, the karmic obstructions of departed souls are dissolved, the underworld becomes bright as daylight, and all sins are purified. The assembly recites precious gāthās (Daoist hymns) with sincere devotion, celebrating together the opening of the liberation path, witnessed by all ten directions of the universe in this profound act of merit.

Next, the passage details the banner's physical form: its purple sections symbolize the pure Yang Qi initiating the ritual, while the black portions represent salvation for the netherworld. The banner's surface glows like sunlight, its silk fluttering in the wind, forming a bridge to celestial gates. It sweeps away the gloom of hell, swiftly erasing the registers of sins. Departed souls regain sight of light upon the Dharma Bridge (bridge of liberation), beings from all six realms return to the right path, transcending the suffering of samsara to realize the state of Wuwei (non-action).

Finally, the text emphasizes the banner's salvific power: as a ladder and standard for ascending to immortality, its shadow dances like phoenixes and luan birds, benefiting all ten directions. It helps souls escape the Five Sufferings (birth, aging, sickness, death, and other hardships), achieving liberation through the protection of myriad deities. The banner's sound resonates like dragon songs and tiger roars, echoing through the sacred realms of the Three Pure Ones, its radiance illuminating the underworld until eternal night becomes daybreak. The sacred texts on the banner sparkle in the morning light, while celestial winds produce golden-jade tones. The ship of compassion has set sail; through the profound grace of the celestial sovereign, souls stranded in the sea of suffering are elevated. All beings received today shall reach the blissful pure lands, transcending temporal constraints to attain eternal freedom.

Through erecting this banner and invoking the majestic power of the celestial venerables and mantra forces, the entire ritual accomplishes its purpose of aiding departed souls and resolving calamities. The banner becomes a medium connecting heaven and earth, achieving dual benefit for both Yin and Yang realms through recitation, visualization, and other ritual methods.

This scripture describes the scene and devotional purpose of the Daoist "Erecting the Salvation Banner" ritual. The general meaning conveys:

We reverently raise the Lingbao Banner (a ritual implement for guiding departed souls in Daoism), extending universal salvation with impartial compassion. As this sacred banner flutters in the wind, it symbolizes how the teachings of the Celestial Worthy (the supreme Daoist deity) can deliver all lost souls. Wherever the banner's influence reaches—whether to spirits in hell realms, hungry ghosts, or other suffering beings—all may attain liberation and ascend to heavenly realms.

The banner possesses miraculous power to make departed souls perceive light amidst darkness, guiding them beyond suffering. Through this ritual, we pray that: all beings throughout the Three Realms (Desire Realm, Form Realm, and Formless Realm) and Ten Directions (the eight compass points plus above and below) may transcend afflictions; departed souls may enter the pure realm (the "Gate of Subtle Silence" refers to the Daoist state of serene non-action); hell realms may transform into paradises of ease; both human and celestial realms may obtain joy; and all living creatures may comprehend the profound mystery of Non-Being (a core Daoist concept denoting the nature of Dao).

During the ceremony, priests devoutly invoke the sacred names of multiple Celestial Worthies, including the Three Pure Ones (Yuanshi Tianzun, Lingbao Tianzun, and Daode Tianzun), the Ten Directions Lingbao Tianzun, the Jiuyou Savior from Suffering Tianzun, and the Taiyi Savior from Torment Tianzun—believing these deities embody inconceivable salvific power.

The latter section details specific ritual procedures: first performing Pacing the Void (a circumambulation ritual), Water Purification (sprinkling consecrated water to sanctify the altar), and incense offerings. Priests light precious incense to honor the Celestial Worthies, praying that through this salvation ritual, departed souls may escape hell's torment, cross the Dharma Bridge (a Daoist metaphor for the path of deliverance), and embark on the illuminated great way. The ritual patron (who sponsors the ceremony), moved by compassion for worldly suffering, specially conducts this rite to elevate departed souls.

This scripture describes the scene and significance of the Daoist "Banner-Raising Ceremony" (a ritual for liberating wandering souls). When night's darkness descends, souls suffer in the Three Wretched Realms (hell, hungry ghosts, and animal existence); yet at dawn's first light, the Five Paths (heaven, human realm, hell, hungry ghosts, and animals) offer new hope. By raising the five-colored banners, these souls can be guided from their sea of suffering.

The banner pole pierces the clouds, its streamers dancing in the wind like a rainbow flickering among misty peaks. Auspicious breezes carry celestial fragrances, scattering sins like falling petals while virtuous thoughts blossom like flower stamens. The congregation chants sincerely, praising the merits of the "Heavenly Worthy Who Absolves Sins Through Numinous Banners."

When the banners flutter eastward, azure radiance mingles with rosy clouds as divine winds play celestial harmonies. Below, the ritual illuminates the Ninefold Darkness of hell to liberate trapped souls; above, participants gaze skyward to venerate the Heavenly Worthy. Immortal music reverberates endlessly in joyful union with the Dao.

When the banners sway southward, crimson light bathes all directions. The Celestial Emperor descends in his dragon chariot, commanding Fengdu (the Daoist underworld) to release imprisoned souls. Seven generations of ancestral karma dissolves as spirits ascend along celestial pathways. Jade Boys (immortal youths) transform into countless divine beings, roaming freely in perfect harmony with the Dao.

The banners possess power to shatter darkness, illuminating lost paths and calming turbulent seas of suffering. Their hundred-foot shadows arch like rainbows across the sky, while thousand-zhang beams penetrate heaven and earth. Through this ritual, souls are cleansed of transgressions until their spirits become jade-pure, transcending the Three Realms (desire, form, and formlessness) and breaking free from the Five Phases (metal, wood, water, fire, earth), ultimately merging with the Dao in perfect truth.

This passage describes the sacred functions of ritual banners (huafan) used in Daoist ceremonies for the salvation of departed souls. When these colorful banners flutter in the wind, they serve as conduits between the Three Realms (heaven, earth, and underworld), manifesting miraculous effects:

When the banners dance toward the Western Kunlun direction, the eight winds swirl in response, revealing divine radiance amidst fragrant groves that dispels demonic obstructions in the darkness. This numinous light opens the Five Directions Paths (celestial routes), while the Divine Tigers (Daoist guardian beasts) patrol the Nine Netherworlds (underworld realms). Departed souls may then feast on jade nectar in the Hall of Luminous Mists (immortal abodes), achieving harmony with the natural Dao.

When the banners sway in the northern Mysterious Heaven, jade-hued brilliance illuminates the scene, unlocking the gates of the Long Night Netherworld (yin realms) to deliver salvation for ancestors across nine generations. The karmic burdens of departed souls dissolve instantly, as if bathed in the sacred waters of Orchid Pond, granting them immortality aligned with heaven and earth.

When the banners flutter in the Azure Void (celestial realm), spiritual winds carry celestial music from the heavens. Perfected Persons (daoist adepts) descend astride six dragons, rescuing souls from Fengdu (Daoist hell) to eternally escape the Eight Calamities. These liberated souls ascend to the Palace of Eternal Joy at dawn and rest in the Great Tenuity Palace (stellar mansions) by dusk.

The recurring phrase "harmonizing with Dao's ultimate truth" emphasizes how the banners' movement reconciles Yin-Yang forces, enabling departed souls to unite with the fundamental Dao and ultimately transcend the cycle of rebirth. The concluding formula "with mystical liturgy we reverently praise" indicates this is a standardized hymn within Daoist ceremonial texts.

This passage describes the miraculous efficacy of the spiritual banner (lingfan), a sacred ritual flag used in Daoist salvation ceremonies. According to scripture, when the banner is erected and flutters in the empty void, it universally delivers all beings:

The text begins by describing how the primordial Qi (Xiantian Yuanqi) permeated the chaos of creation, impartially nurturing all things. The spiritual banner, standing in the realm of emptiness, becomes a pathway for departed souls to ascend, aiding beings trapped in the underworld to attain liberation. Whether beings from the Six Paths (heavenly, human, asura, hell, hungry ghost, animal) or the Four Births (womb-born, egg-born, moisture-born, transformation-born), all who behold the banner have their sins absolved. Souls from the Ten Palaces and Nine Bureaus (various underworld institutions) can likewise escape suffering and ascend to realms of truth.

The banner helps beings break free from the bonds of samsara, sparing them from the torments of water, fire, and the interplay of Yin-Yang, enabling souls to soar to joyful realms. Through reciting the Divine Incantation of Absolution, the Celestial Worthy (the highest Daoist deity) opens the gate of salvation, allowing all beings throughout the Three Realms and Ten Directions to gather at the ritual site. As the banner waves in the wind, its spiritual power extends in all directions, reaching even the darkest corners of the Spring Bend Office (a hell realm) and the Land of Cold Nights—countless suffering beings, including hell-dwellers and hungry ghosts, all gain liberation and ascend to paradise.

The ceremony concludes with prayers for the perfect fulfillment of the banner's salvific merit: may all Dharma manifest, bringing peace to all quarters; may the gate of life open while the door of death closes; may the Dao's Qi circulate unimpeded, lifting souls from the Northern Office (hell) to the Southern Palace (heaven). May spiritual light illuminate all realms, from the highest heavens to the lowest earth, so that all creatures—whether scaled, feathered, winged, or four-legged—may return to the Great Dao and flourish in the wind of benevolence.

At the ceremony's conclusion, participants devoutly chant the sacred names of multiple Celestial Worthies: the Three Pure Supreme Celestial Worthies (Yuanshi Tianzun, Lingbao Tianzun, Daode Tianzun), the Ten Directions Lingbao Celestial Worthy, the Nine Darknesses Sin-Extracting Celestial Worthy, and the Great Unity Savior from Suffering Celestial Worthy, collectively praising this salvation ritual's inconceivable merit.

(Note: The character "he" [和] indicates where the congregation should respond in unison)