《太上玄靈北斗本命延生真經》

The Taishang Xuanling Beidou Benming Yansheng Zhenjing (Authentic Scripture of the Northern Dipper for Prolonging Life and Original Destiny), commonly known as the Northern Dipper Scripture, records the transmission of life-prolonging methods by Lord Lao (Taishang Laojun). The opening "Xuan Yun Incantation" describes the profound realm of Dao's origin: the supreme Dao is tranquil and formless, transcending time and space (where "kalpa" signifies vast cosmic cycles), its profound principles beyond ordinary comprehension. Practitioners who align with this Dao can transcend the cycle of rebirth (the Three Realms refer to Desire, Form, and Formless realms), liberate sentient beings from suffering through compassion, and attain the supreme merit of realized beings (Zhenren), eternally abiding as immortals.

The scripture recounts: On the seventh day of the first lunar month in the Yongshou era, Lord Lao observed from his celestial abode in the Great Clarity Realm (Taiji Palace, one of Daoism's highest heavens) how beings drifted through samsara. Some were reborn in the Central Plains (China's heartland), others among barbarian tribes; some enjoyed wealth and status, while others suffered poverty. Due to karmic debts from past lives, some fell into hell realms after death, enduring punishments in the underworld courts; others took animal forms, rarely regaining human rebirth. All this stems from losing touch with the true Dao in previous existences.

Moved by compassion, Lord Lao manifested in Shu (modern Sichuan). Local earth deities emerged, raising a jade platform (yuju ritual seat) where he ascended to transmit the Northern Dipper Scripture's secrets to Celestial Master Zhang (Zhang Daoling, founder of Daoism). This method universally saves beings, extending lifespans and averting disasters.

Lord Lao revealed to the Celestial Master: Human rebirth is rare, and birth in civilized lands rarer still. Even as humans, few encounter true teachings. Most stray from Dao, joining heterodox paths and committing sins—deception, licentiousness, killing, greed, hatred, and arrogance—leading to hellish rebirths and loss of human form. Out of pity for this ignorance, Lord Lao bestowed this method to reveal how all life originates from Dao. Those awakening to this truth preserve their human status across lifetimes, never falling into lower realms.

(Note: This scripture holds central importance in Daoist practice, teaching that the Northern Dipper's seven stars govern human longevity. Reciting its verses and performing its rituals (keyi) can prolong life and prevent calamities. The seventh day of the first lunar month, "Human Day," commemorates Lord Lao's revelation, carrying unique religious significance.)

Even if a person is born in a land without the Dao (the Way), one should not let one’s fundamental root be cut off; if one can moreover apply the mind to cultivating the true Dao, one will gradually enter the immortal lineage, forever escape transmigration, and transcend to attain the Dao. Therefore I (Taishang Laojun) instruct you in the wondrous method, enabling the people of Heaven to attain salvation, return to the truth, and know their destiny. On one’s Benming day (the day corresponding to the earthly branch of one’s birth), one may cultivate zhai (fasting and purification of body and mind), establish a jiao (altar sacrifice and prayer for blessings), announce, invoke, and pray to the Northern Dipper, the Three Officials (Heavenly Official, Earthly Official, and Water Official), the Five Emperors, the Nine Bureaus, and the Four Departments, pray for blessings and eliminate disasters, submit memorials, and earnestly make vows; devoutly present offerings, using various incense flowers and seasonal fresh five fruits, conforming to worldly ritual norms, purifying the altar ground, and emulating the image of Heaven and Earth. Whether in a Daoist temple or at home, establish merit according to one’s own capacity and request the performance of ritual (Daoist ceremonies); the merit is profound and weighty and cannot be fully described one by one. Reciting the name of the Great Sage Seven Primes True Lords of the Northern Dipper (the deified seven stars of the Northern Dipper) should cause karmic offenses to be eliminated, calamities and sins to be washed away, blessings and longevity to sustain one’s life, and good fruits to come to oneself. Whenever there is urgent peril, one may burn incense and recite the scripture, and in due course obtain peace and safety. Thereupon, the testimony of the Great Sage Northern Dipper’s deliverance from adversity says: the Great Sage Northern Dipper Seven Primes Lord can remove the adversity of the Three Disasters; the Great Sage Northern Dipper Seven Primes Lord can remove the adversity of the Four Killings; the Great Sage Northern Dipper Seven Primes Lord can remove the adversity of the Five Phases; the Great Sage Northern Dipper Seven Primes Lord can remove the adversity of the Six Harms; the Great Sage Northern Dipper Seven Primes Lord can remove the adversity of the Seven Injuries; the Great Sage Northern Dipper Seven Primes Lord can remove the adversity of the Eight Hardships; the Great Sage Northern Dipper Seven Primes Lord can remove the adversity of the Nine Stars; the Great Sage Northern Dipper Seven Primes Lord can remove the adversity of husband and wife; the Great Sage Northern Dipper Seven Primes Lord can remove the adversity of men and women; the Great Sage Northern Dipper Seven Primes Lord can remove the adversity of childbirth; the Great Sage Northern Dipper Seven Primes Lord can remove the adversity of recurrent entanglement; the Great Sage Northern Dipper Seven Primes Lord can remove the adversity of pestilence; the Great Sage Northern Dipper Seven Primes Lord can remove the adversity of illness; the Great Sage Northern Dipper Seven Primes Lord can remove the adversity of malevolent spirits; the Great Sage Northern Dipper Seven Primes Lord can remove the adversity of tigers and wolves; the Great Sage Northern Dipper Seven Primes Lord can remove the adversity of insects and snakes; the Great Sage Northern Dipper Seven Primes Lord can remove the adversity of robbers and bandits.

The Supreme Mysterious Numinous Scripture of the Dipper for Extending Life and Resolving Calamities reveals the divine power of the Seven Luminaries of the Northern Dipper (the Daoist-revered stellar deities) to deliver beings from all forms of misfortune.

The Seven Great Sage-True Lords of the Northern Dipper can dispel: imprisonment and judicial punishments, untimely violent deaths, curses and poisoned vows, the "Celestial Net and Earthly Snare" (symbolizing invisible calamitous bonds), warfare and blade afflictions, disasters of fire and water, and all manner of suffering. Their vast spiritual capacities enable them to rescue sentient beings from the sea of sorrows. Should anyone encounter sudden peril, sincere recitation of this scripture will bring peace, attract countless blessings, harmonize with the Dao of the Five Phases (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water), stabilize the Three Hun-souls (Daoism teaches that humans possess three ethereal and seven corporeal souls), and ward off malignant influences.

The scripture particularly emphasizes: the True Qi (primordial energy) from the Five Directions (east, south, west, north, center) will descend, and myriad blessings will naturally gather. To transcend the "Eight Obstacles" (hindrances to spiritual practice) and attain longevity, the key lies in devout veneration of the Seven Stars of the Dipper. This ensures freedom of body and mind across lifetimes, with radiant spiritual clarity. Such virtuous fruits manifest as inevitably as shadows follow sunlight or echoes resound in valleys. The Three Primal Deities (Upper, Middle, and Lower Origin divinities) will jointly protect the practitioner, while all sages observe with wisdom-eye vision, shielding one from calamities and eternally preserving the serenity of the Dao-mind.

Finally, the scripture conveys the words of the Supreme Venerable Lord (Laozi): the Northern Dipper (Polaris) functions as the celestial pivot, around which all stars revolve, governing the transformations of heaven and earth. Its majesty shakes the Three Realms (celestial, terrestrial, and underworld), commands the myriad spirits, judges human virtue and vice, and records underworld affairs. Whether emperor or commoner, all destinies are governed by the Dipper. Yet most mortals remain unaware of this truth. When calamity strikes, they know not how to resolve it, resulting in chronic illness, demonic harassment, restless ancestral graves, and years of misfortune caused by malevolent spirits.

(Note: This scripture embodies the Daoist belief that "the Dipper governs fate," teaching that sincere Dipper veneration dispels misfortune and prolongs life. The described "calamity resolution" requires accompanying Daoist rituals and cultivation methods.)

This scripture elucidates methods for resolving calamities and prolonging life through devotion to the Northern Dipper Lords (Beidou Xingjun).

When facing grave dangers, one should immediately offer prayers of repentance to the Northern Dipper Lords, recite this authentic scripture while identifying one's natal star lord (one of the seven stars corresponding to one's birth hour) to obtain peace and smooth fortune. The text particularly emphasizes the need for devout prostration when beholding the visage of the Northern Dipper Lords.

It then enumerates the nine stellar deities comprising the seven principal stars and two auxiliary stars, along with their corresponding zodiac animals:

• Greedy Wolf Star Lord (associated with Rat)
• Giant Gate Star Lord (Ox, Pig)
• Prosperity Preserver Star Lord (Tiger, Dog)
• Cultured Curve Star Lord (Rabbit, Rooster)
• Incorruptible Chastity Star Lord (Dragon, Monkey)
• Martial Pivot Star Lord (Snake, Goat)
• Army Breaker Star Lord (Horse)

Plus two auxiliary stars: Outer Support Star Lord and Inner Assistance Star Lord.

The text further mentions the Three Platforms Star Lords (Upper, Middle, Lower Platforms), whose sacred names are rarely heard in ordinary times. Those capable of hearing and reciting these names are deemed to possess profound Daoist resolve and accumulated merit from past lives. Devotees who faithfully uphold this scripture may awaken wisdom and comprehend the Great Dao (Da Dao).

The scripture instructs followers to establish altars during important festivals (Three Primes and Eight Nodes, natal birthdays, and days of Northern Dipper descent), performing scripture recitation and Zhaijiao (Daoist purification rituals) according to liturgical protocols. Such practice generates boundless blessings while preserving one's true nature across lifetimes. Regular recitation of the seven principal stars' names brings auspiciousness when merit reaches completion.

The text concludes with a Northern Dipper divine incantation, extolling the nine stars' cosmic governance in dispelling disasters and bestowing blessings. It invokes the Jade Emperor (Yuhuang Dadi) and Purple Tenuity Emperor Lord (Ziwei Dijun) - prominent Daoist deities - to shower divine grace throughout the cosmos.

The upright Qi of the Primordial Sovereign (Yuanhuang) comes to unite with my body, and wherever the Tiangang — the stellar power indicated by the handle of the Northern Dipper — points, it turns without cease day and night. I, a lowly person dwelling amid the dust of the world, delight in the great Dao and pray for numinous response; I long to behold the countenance of the honored deity, who forever guards me in long life. The empty essence of the Three Terraces (Santai) and Qusheng of Liuchun (names of stellar deities) give me birth and nourish me, shielding and protecting my bodily form. Reciting and holding the esoteric taboo-name characters of the seven stars of the Northern Dipper — Kui together with its six companion graphs — by the command of the Venerable Emperor (the honored high god): swiftly, swiftly, as the statute and ordinance require (jiji ru lüling, the closing formula of Daoist incantations, meaning "respond at once as commanded").

Laojun said: the life, nature, and body of ordinary people all fall under the charge of the Star Officer of the Original Destiny (Benming Xingguan, the deity who governs one's natal star). The divine generals of one's original destiny and the stellar officers of one's natal mansion constantly descend to shelter and protect, presiding over human life and enabling people to keep their allotted span of years intact. Yet ordinary worldly folk are ignorant and remain unawakened to the end of their days. The Star Officer of the Original Destiny descends into the human world six times each year, and the days of that descent are the original-destiny deadline days (benming xianqi — the natal days corresponding to one's own allotment of fate). There are three thousand envoys of Nanling (a divine messenger) and seven thousand divine generals of the Perfected Lord of the Northern Dipper; when the Perfected Officer of one's original destiny comes down in his carriage, all the assembled deities gather to guard and support him.

Thus one may dispel calamities, repent transgressions, pray for blessings, and extend life; and if one establishes a zhangjiao — the Daoist rite of submitting a memorial and setting up an altar offering — according to one's own means, blessings and virtue will increase. But if someone's original-destiny deadline draws near and the person knows nothing of it, sets up no zhaijiao (purification ritual), and maintains no incense or offerings, this is to slight one's life, to lose the root, and to fail to treasure the human body. The Celestial Bureau will then strip away that person's emoluments and blessings and reduce the years of the allotted lifespan, most often bringing on premature death. Deluded people, even when they meet with scriptures and oral instructions, harbor disbelief and slander the true texts. After such a person dies, they sink into the Three Destinies (the three evil paths) and drift and drown among the various realms of rebirth, forever losing the human body — this is deeply to be mourned, yet they have brought this suffering upon themselves. If, however, on the days of one's original destiny one can perform zhaijiao and skillfully cause one's petitions to reach the Celestial Bureau, and throughout one's life, on the original-destiny deadline days, expounds, reads, and recites the true scripture and sets out abundant offerings, one may thereby be born in three existences (sansheng) always in a man's body, wealthy, noble, and intelligent, outstanding and surpassing among people. And if someone is born with thin karmic fruit of blessing, so that even among humans they are poor and lowly, then even knowing their original destiny but lacking the strength to cultivate and revere it, they need only offer water and flowers, still the mind and gaze toward the North Pole, bow the head and do homage, and invoke the name of the Perfected Lord of their Original Destiny: such a one does not let the original-destiny deadline pass in vain either, but may extend life and have blessing recorded, remaining closely bound to the human body, with calamities dissolved and immeasurable blessing obtained.

The Celestial Master (Tianshi) rejoiced and leapt for joy, bowed in homage, and praised it, saying that it is hard indeed to encounter this unsurpassed bridge of Dharma (a metaphor for the scriptural teaching that ferries beings across). Laojun again told the Celestial Master: the guilt and blessing, good and evil of worldly people all belong to the Celestial Bureau, and for repenting transgressions and dissolving calamities nothing surpasses cultivating and putting this into practice. When the birthday of one's original destiny comes around, report it to the "Origin" within one's body (the primordial source within the body).

When the Chen post-horse star in one’s destiny (an astrological star-spirit) is pared away, the three disasters and nine adversities (three kinds of disaster and nine kinds of hardship) are dissolved, protecting one’s present family dependents in peace.

If a superior cultivator upholds and recites this true text on the natal birthday corresponding to one’s natal star (one’s natal day), externally one can subdue demons, monsters, spirits, and evil influences; internally one can stabilize the original true nature.

Merit moistens all beings in water and on land; good deeds benefit both the living and the dead. Repenting of faults and being devout and reverent, one gradually ascends to the wondrous fruit of the Dao, re-establishes mysterious and wondrous meritorious practice, and realizes and enters the Great Dao of emptiness and nonbeing.

Thereupon one attains perfect and penetrating sage wisdom; transformations in concealment and manifestation become unfathomable; one passes in and out between being and nonbeing; one roams freely amid clouds and rosy mists; one ascends into the Golden Gate (the gate of the heavens); and one becomes one with the sages and true ones.

The body transcends the Three Realms (the Desire, Form, and Formless Realms), never again transmigrates, gains an endless lifespan, and is joyful and at ease.

If any man or woman, on the natal birthday and on various fast days, purifies body and mind, burns incense and upholds and recites this true text, personally identifies the star lord of the North Pole to whom one’s natal destiny belongs, and prays and makes vows according to one’s wishes, then good wishes are all answered, disasters and sins are eliminated, and one invokes ten thousand sages and a thousand true beings all to come and protect.

Wherever this scripture is present, a thousand true beings pay homage; ten thousand sages protect and uphold it; demons and devils hide away and disappear; spirits and sprites conceal themselves and do not emerge; and whatever calamities there are in the world are all eliminated.

This is called the Northern Dipper Natal Destiny Life-Extending Scripture and Instructions; it is the path of cultivating the truth.

Attaining the Dao and roaming freely all come about through this scripture; realizing sagehood and becoming true all come about through this scripture; escaping birth and death all comes about through this scripture; protecting men and women all comes about through this scripture; preserving life and prolonging years, all attain freedom; forever make it a treasure within one’s body; blessings and longevity may be praised.

Protect and revere it; do not display it to those who are not suitable.

When Lord Lao was about to finish expounding the scripture, dragon-and-crane celestial immortals came to welcome him, and he returned to the Jade Capital (the capital of the Daoist heavens).

At that time the Celestial Master (Tianshi) received the wondrous Dharma and said: “I vow to cause it to circulate and to transmit it to good people. If any man or woman receives, upholds, reads, and recites it, I, together with the immortal officials of the Ten Precepts, will protect them wherever they are.”

Thereupon he bowed again to Lord Lao and spoke this praise:

When the Northern Dipper Scripture is in the home, the true spirit of one’s natal destiny descends; when the Northern Dipper Scripture is in the home, the dwelling gains peace and security; when the Northern Dipper Scripture is in the home, parents are protected and attain long life; when the Northern Dipper Scripture is in the home, all kinds of malevolent enchantments (evil influences and sorcerous objects) turn to dust; when the Northern Dipper Scripture is in the home, ten thousand evils naturally return to rectitude; when the Northern Dipper Scripture is in the home, undertakings and enterprises accord with one’s wishes; when the Northern Dipper Scripture is in the home, the whole family is naturally healthy; when the Northern Dipper Scripture is in the home, descendants preserve glory and prosperity; when the Northern Dipper Scripture is in the home, roads in the five directions naturally open; when the Northern Dipper Scripture is in the home, all evils are forever eliminated.

This scripture passage describes the miraculous efficacy of the True Scripture of the Great Supreme Mystical Numinous Dipper for Prolonging Life According to Natal Destiny. The text states:

When this Dipper Scripture (an important Daoist classic governing disaster relief and longevity) is enshrined in a household, it ensures the thriving growth of domestic animals. Where this scripture resides, the sick shall recover from their ailments.

With the Dipper Scripture venerated in the home, possessions will not suffer unexplained loss; where this scripture is kept, unforeseen calamities shall never occur. A household that worships the Dipper Scripture will long maintain auspicious harmony.

The Most High Lord Lao (one of Daoism's supreme deities) praised saying: "Excellent! Excellent! You should propagate this true Dharma, for its blessings are boundless, benefiting all sentient beings eternally."

The Celestial Master (Tianshi, an advanced Daoist practitioner) reverently bowed in gratitude, pledging sincere acceptance and adherence to this sacred text.

The full title of this scripture is True Scripture of the Great Supreme Mystical Numinous Dipper for Prolonging Life According to Natal Destiny. As a key Daoist classic concerning the Big Dipper constellation, it primarily expounds the merits of worshipping the Dipper stars to dispel misfortunes, prolong life, and safeguard households.