《靈寶玉鑑》Vol. 21

This passage comes from the twenty-third volume of Lingbao Yujian (Precious Mirror of Numinous Treasure), primarily documenting the Daoist talismanic texts (Fulu - special documents used to summon deities and expel ghosts) and pardon decrees (documents for absolving sins) employed in salvation rituals for deceased souls.

It first enumerates the edicts of the three supreme deities: the Jade Pure Celestial Emperor (Yuqing Shangdi), the Supreme Pure Celestial Emperor (Shangqing Shangdi), and the Great Pure Celestial Emperor (Taiqing Shangdi) all issue identical decrees, commanding the light of wisdom to illuminate the netherworld, suspending the judgment of souls undergoing trial and enabling their swift ascension to the celestial realm. This is followed by the compassionate decree of the Azure Mystery Savior of Suffering Celestial Worthy (Qingxuan Jiuku Tianzun - the deity specifically devoted to saving deceased souls), who with great mercy delivers all souls from the Ninefold Netherworld, dispersing their corporeal forms while their shadows follow thought, utilizing the Three Radiances' true essence (sun, moon, and stellar energies - the refined qi of heaven and earth) to universally save sinful souls.

The scripture mentions how deities like the Mysterious Qi Divine Lord (Xuanqi Shenjun) and the Great Unity Savior of Suffering (Taiyi Jiuku) will rescue the souls' "bright spirits" (one of the three Hun souls), nourishing their forms with "Primordial Ancestral Qi" (Xianyuan Zuqi - the primordial vital energy) and erasing underworld records with "Cinnabar Heaven's Three Qi" (Dantian Sanqi - the fiery virtue of the southern direction), restoring the balance of Yin-Yang energies. Purple auspicious clouds envelop the souls, enabling their immediate transcendence through the power of talismans.

The latter section presents the formal structure of the "Precious Register Pardon Decree," where the ritual master petitions on behalf of the deceased to the Supreme Jade Dawn Primal Sovereign Great Dao Celestial Worthy of Numinous Treasure (Taishang Yuchen Yuanhuang Dadaojun Lingbao Tianzun - one of Daoism's highest deities), requesting issuance of the "Celestial Ascension Precious Register" to absolve the souls' transgressions. The pardon decree commands all governing spirits throughout the Ten Directions and Three Realms, including the Ninefold Netherworld, to obey the Supreme Decree in forgiving various lifetime offenses: filial impiety, slandering the Great Dao (Dadao), harming siblings, betraying teachers, incestuous relations, murder, slaughter of living beings, oppression of the weak, defilement of the Three Treasures (Dao, scriptures, and masters), disrespect toward ritual masters, harboring jealousy, and malicious speech among others.

This passage is a liturgical document from the Taoist scripture Lingbao Yujian (Precious Mirror of Numinous Treasure), detailing the ritual for absolving sins and guiding departed souls toward transcendence. Here's a modern interpretation:

The text first enumerates various transgressions committed by mortals: killing living beings, participating in improper sacrifices (yinsi), exposing oneself irreverently to the Three Luminaries (sun, moon, and stars). Whether through evil thoughts, harmful speech, direct wrongdoing, or instigating others, these accumulated karmic debts spanning multiple lifetimes can be absolved according to their severity. Through ritual intervention, the departed souls are liberated from hell's suffering, restored to light, with all karmic obstacles dissolved and grievances resolved, arriving at the sacred space for deliverance.

It then describes the transformed state of redeemed souls: the seven primordial Qi (qi) restore their original purity, the six ritual frameworks (liuyi) operate in the void, the five spiritual agents (wuling) renew vitality, while the Two Luminaries (eryao - sun and moon) support weakened energies. These souls now tread the celestial Gang steps, soaring to cloud-borne immortal palaces as if reborn from an embryonic state, transcending worldly kalpas. Within golden citadels they cultivate transcendent qualities; in jade caverns their Shen (spirit) coalesces; through internal refinement with authentic Qi, they ultimately attain the state of Zhenren (Perfected Being).

These redeemed souls may ascend to the supreme void of immortal realms or descend to the ninefold underworld springs, moving freely among cloud palaces and blessed lands. Nourished by consuming lingzhi mushrooms and drinking from golden springs, they receive celestial nourishment. Sweet dew flows like rivers into their Dantian (energy centers), bathed in violet auroras where the Three Qi (possibly Jing-Qi-Shen) condense into mist. Transformed within jade chambers, they sit serenely upon golden lotuses - their radiant countenances eclipsing sunlight, their existence stretching across cosmic aeons.

The concluding section outlines the celestial bureaucracy and document protocols: listing various divine departments like the Tai-xuan Bureau, Celestial Pivot Court, and Celestial Mechanism Court, with ranks of immortal officials such as "Zhengyi Stillness-Responding Perfected Lord" and "Jade Clarity Divine Duke - Supreme Minister of Infinity." The absolution documents must be inscribed with cinnabar on yellow paper, using ink for the pardon edicts, with precise ritual timing recorded. It includes application methods for the "True Talisman of the Celestial Sovereign's Precious Edict," requiring esoteric incantations and hand seals coordinating with the Five Directions' Qi.

This passage serves as a template for Taoist salvation rituals, containing: declarations of karmic absolution, descriptions of the soul's ideal post-deliverance state, plus the sacred authorization and operational standards for conducting these ceremonies. The text embodies the integration of Zhengyi (Orthodox Unity) ritual practice with Lingbao (Numinous Treasure) soteriology within Taoist liturgical tradition.

This scripture records three essential proclamation formats used by the Lingbao tradition of Daoism in salvation rituals. First is the Golden Tower Jade Emperor Treasure Proclamation, where the ritual master reverently invites the Jade Emperor (one of Daoism's supreme deities) to bestow profound scriptures. Through the power of the Lingbao Salvation Classic, the proclamation enables the Ten Directions' sacred beings to perform their life-restoring functions, commanding the Nine Nether Hells to open and liberate suffering souls.

Next comes the Eastern Extremity Azure Mystery Treasure Proclamation, wherein the master invokes the Heavenly Worthy of Universal Salvation (the deity specializing in soul redemption) to issue the Azure Mystery edict. Through the Compassionate Realized Being and Azure Mystery Spiritual Official, this opens the gate of mercy, helping souls submerged in darkness awaken to their true nature and ultimately attain ascension through realization of the Dao.

Finally, there is the Lingbao Fengdu Sin-Absolving True Proclamation, a document ceremonially presented at the altar. The master respectfully petitions the Supreme Jade Script Fengdu Proclamation to absolve souls of their transgressions, freeing them from infernal bondage. The text emphasizes that souls shall ride upon the Heavenly Worthy's merciful decree to escape underworld imprisonment, being reborn in the Southern Palace of Immortals to enjoy eternal bliss.

Each proclamation concludes with specific dates and the officiating master's religious name and rank, indicating these documents strictly follow Daoist liturgical protocols as executed by qualified masters under the Heavenly Worthies' mandate. These proclamations embody Daoism's religious practice of communicating across the Three Realms and saving lost souls through sacred documents.

This passage opens the twenty-third volume of the Lingbao Jade Mirror (Lingbao Yujian), a Daoist scripture. The phrase "The official of such position, subject [surname]" represents the humble self-address of a ritual master (the Daoist priest presiding over the ceremony) in ancient Daoist liturgy, meaning "This unworthy official [name] holding the designated position." "Receiving the imperial decree to implement" indicates the priest's acceptance of the celestial mandate (sacred edict) to conduct the ritual. The entire statement can be understood as: The presiding ritual master [name], in humble obedience to the divine command, hereby performs this ceremony.

The Lingbao Jade Mirror is a crucial scripture of the Lingbao tradition in Daoism, primarily documenting various zhaijiao (purification rituals) and keyi (liturgical procedures). The designation "Volume Twenty-Three" identifies this as the scripture's twenty-third section. Such opening formulas were standard in classical Daoist liturgical texts, serving as the ritual master's formal declaration before commencing ceremonial proceedings.