《無上祕要》Vol. 51

The Supreme Secret Essentials, Volume 74: Chapter on Bringing Forth Aspirations

The Emperor’s Five Aspirations for Seeking the Supreme Way to Immortality

The supreme method of the Emperor’s five aspirations for seeking immortality is practiced on the ninth day of the ninth month, the fifth day of the tenth month, the third day of the third month, the eighth day of the fourth month, and the seventh day of the seventh month. These five days are the occasions of the “Five Aspirations and Ten Assemblies.” At these times, ascend to the jade halls and golden chambers of the Jade Terrace of Taiji. In a secluded palace, hold the five aspirations, hoping that the Mysterious Perfected One will descend of his own accord and that the Void will open with a jade writ. Golden tones will resound through the vast sky, summoning the Five Emperors to guard the numinous spirits and celebrating the ten thousand assemblies in the Cinnabar Chamber. Thus, a response brings the Perfected One, and the Perfected One, moved in turn, descends.

Daily Practice

On that day, bathe and observe a pure fast. Enter the chamber and burn incense; bow in your heart to the four directions. Sit upright facing due east—east is the direction from which the first radiance of Yang arises. Knock your teeth together thirty-six times.

The First Supreme Aspiration (of the Five Aspirations)

First aspiration: I am born from the natural Qi; Qi gathers and forms my body. May my body revolve in step with the Three Lights and long enjoy the root of the boundless.

Second aspiration: May my body always dwell above the vast sky, within jade chambers and jade halls. In the morning, may I feast alongside the Jade Emperor; in the evening, may I sit beside the Mysterious Mother. When thirsty, may I drink from the great springs of the Lang Well and partake of jade fungus; when hungry, may I take in dragon embryo and jade-rich nourishment, and give birth to crimson children.

Third aspiration: May my body give rise to ten thousand wonders and seventy-two radiances, to strange hairs and unusual bones, and to feathered garments for flight. Riding the Void and traversing the air, may I enter and leave the imperial palaces. May every celebration come to pass and my life span be without limit.

Fourth aspiration: May I be born together with the Nonbeing and die together with the Nonbeing; dying, may I be born again, and in life become an imperial ruler, invested with authority over the Ten Heavens and charged with the care of all living beings.

Fifth aspiration: May all living beings, those already born and those yet unborn, be protected together by the Three Lights of sun, moon, and stars. May those who follow the Dao and the ancestors of the Seven Generations ascend to the Southern Palace. May there be no blessing under Heaven that does not reach them—the five aspirations of the four directions all gather in the Jade Hall.

The Next Supreme Aspiration

May the Nine Generations of ancestors sustain and nurture my body, soul, and true Shen, and dwell forever in my palace. Above, may I reach the celestial immortals; below, may I extend to the Cavernous Abyss. May Heaven be my aspiration, may Earth be my aspiration, may wind be my aspiration, may clouds be my aspiration, may spirits be my aspiration. May these five aspirations unite, securing my name in the register of long life. May Heaven send down purple mist, and Earth guard me with the Five Numinous Ones. Riding clouds and traversing the Void in a flying carriage with green curtains, may I ascend to the Golden Gate and advance to Jade Purity. May the celebration extend to my Seven Ancestors, who will again receive the gift of birth.

The Middle Aspiration Also Has Five Parts

The root of attaining the Dao: may Yin be my aspiration, may Yang be my aspiration, may the Great Void be my aspiration, may the Great Nonbeing be my aspiration, may the Great Mystery be my aspiration. Above, may I feast in the jade chamber and form a bond with the Emperor; may I wander and gaze upon the gate of life, and open…

(The text continues in the source; the passage provided ends here.)

Brief Notes on Terms

“Five Aspirations and Ten Assemblies” refers to ritual assemblies and vows associated with five auspicious days. The “Three Lights” are the sun, moon, and stars. The Mysterious Mother is a revered Daoist deity, often paired with the Jade Emperor. The “Seven Mysteries” refers to seven generations of ancestors. The Southern Palace is an immortal realm and a place of ascent to perfected status. The “Nine Mysteries” refers to nine generations of ancestors or their souls. “Securing one’s name in the register of long life” means having one’s name entered into the register of immortals and attaining a place among the long-lived.

A Plain-Language Reading of the Wushang Miyao (Supreme Secret Essentials)

The Primordial Father enters names in the register, and the Mysterious Mother records the years: The Primordial Father of the Nine Heavens records names in the register, while the Mysterious Mother records the years. Taokang gathers and preserves Jing, securing the Dantian. The body ascends to the Golden Palace, the name is inscribed in the Jade Scroll, the seven ancestors are released, and blessings and joy arrive.

There are also five lower vows: the Great Void Vow, the Great Being Vow, and the Great Reality Vow. One vows that the immortal body will rise above the Five Sacred Peaks, drift amid the nine heavens, pass in and out through the gates, and escape beyond the portal of death. One vows that Heaven and Earth will be one’s parents, that the Three Luminaries will guard the body, that life will last for ten thousand ages, that Shen will keep watch over the nine apertures of the source, and that the true spirit will receive Qi from nature. The five vows of the eight directions are then raised together. When the five vows are complete, click the teeth fourteen times and recite:

The Supreme Emperor, the Upper Origin Emperor, the One Mysterious Scripture: five clouds scatter their radiance, filling the Three Pure Ones with splendor. Jade boys and jade girls burn incense and attend the spirits. May my upper vows be opened and presented; may I unite in form with the spirits. Make me an immortal, rising to the imperial court. May the Northern Emperor release me from death, the Southern Ultimate record my life, and the Eastern Florescence inscribe my name in the Golden Register, so that I may ascend. May my boundless vows be joined with mine.

When the invocation is complete, click the teeth twenty-one times, then tilt the head back and swallow Qi five times, stopping there.

This is the way by which the Emperor Lord presents the upper vows and unites in form with the spirits. If one can always practice in this way, jade radiance will attend and guard, jade boys will scatter incense, and one will reach the highest of the nine heavens and receive a response from the imperial powers. After five years of such practice, the true spirits will appear in visible form. Throughout the ten directions of the world, every vow made by those who follow the Dao will descend upon you in purity.

This passage is drawn from the Scripture of the Three Diagrams of the Celestial Gate and the Seven Stars’ Movement of the Cavern of Reality.

The Twelve Vows of the Emperor Lord

Vows concerning Heaven, Earth, wind, clouds, Yin, Yang, Great Space, Great Nonbeing, Great Void, Great Being, self-generation, and the generation of spirits.

The Eight Entrances of the Mysterious Mother

May the Mysterious Mother and I be born together amid the Qi of life; may we endure together between the sun and moon; may we be preserved together among the nine heavens; may we partake together of what is natural; may we drink together from the Gourd River; may we rest together amid jade reality; may we sleep together in the immortal hall; and may we roam together among the Three Mysteries.

When you are in a separate chamber, you should often read this scripture and never forget it, even for a moment. This is an inward vow. The Emperor Lord has opened the eight benevolent entrances. Even now, the immortals of the Five Sacred Peaks and the immortal maidens of the Divine Continent still pour jade goblets and swallow the flesh of the qilin.

Notes for understanding the original:

• Clicking the teeth: In Daoist ritual, the upper and lower teeth are gently tapped while reciting an invocation and swallowing Qi.
• Swallowing Qi: Qi in the mouth, or Qi formed through visualization, is swallowed and guided to the Dantian.
• The Primordial Father, the Mysterious Mother, and Taokang: Names or titles of spirits in the scripture, responsible respectively for entering names in the register, recording years, and gathering Jing.
• The portal of death: A metaphor for the gate between life and death. The gates: A metaphor for the mysterious gate, or the threshold between life and death.
• The Three Luminaries: The sun, moon, and stars. The nine apertures of the source: A cultivation image associated with the body’s nine openings and sources.
• “This passage is drawn from…”: Indicates that this section is compiled from the Scripture of the Three Diagrams of the Celestial Gate and the Seven Stars’ Movement.

A Plain-Language Interpretation of The Essential Secrets of the Supreme Mystery

1. Making a Vow and Setting Out Eight Vows

The text speaks of great vows and sets out eight vows. Taisu upheld the resolve of the Three Origins; Xiaocheng became a Jade Perfected One and, over seven lifetimes, entered the Vast Cold Palace. How much more should ordinary, obscure people of this world, sunk in the Five Turbidities and of low standing, cultivate and act? Though body and spirit may be refined, they suffer through successive lives. If the sins accumulated over seven lifetimes remain unresolved, one can have no hope of becoming an immortal. One must therefore arouse great vows and set out eight vows to release accumulated knots. When the seven trials have brought signs of blessing, one may become deathless. Deathlessness is the foundation of attaining the Dao and the root from which becoming an immortal begins. Those who resolve to pursue this practice may escape into everlasting life.

2. Contents of the Twelve Vows of the Nine Heavens’ Divine Sovereign

The supreme vow: May the Mysterious Mother of the Nine Spirits, the Eight Gates, and the Divine Registers return the Five Powers to their source, dispel calamities in the world, bless the seven generations of ancestors, and bring the practitioner to immortality.

In a quiet, secluded room, burn incense and make the smoke rise straight, then recite the Scripture of the Great Cavern’s Golden Flower, saying:

3. The Scripture of the Great Cavern’s Golden Flower (Supreme Vow)

The Celestial Emperor of the North Pole; the Emperor Lord Taiyi; the Two Luminaries of Jade Clarity and Purple Void; the Luminous, Perfect, Supreme Great Dao; Taisu of the Three Origins; the Five Elders of the Four Directions; the Six Canopies; the Seven Mornings; the Eight High Ones; the Nine Spirits; the Mysterious Mother, who conceals the Dao and returns it to its source; the High Immortals of the Five Powers and Golden Flower; the Celestial Master who oversees the Mandate of Life; the gods who govern birth; and the celestial Qi of the Great Tenuity—

Through this Zhaijiao rite, I make the supreme vow: May the Nine Mysteries protect my Po and support my Hun, and may the luminous, true primordial Qi remain within me. I look up and summon the supreme Great Immortal of the Five Powers; I look down and call upon the hidden Dao that returns to its source. May the sins accumulated over seven generations now be declared and dispersed, and may I receive blessings in the Southern Palace.

With incense, I purify the Eight Gates. I make vows to Heaven, Earth, the wind, and the clouds. May these four vows unite, and may my name be fixed in the register of everlasting life. May Heaven nourish my embryonic root; may Earth aid my radiant spirit. May the divine wind spread its eight wings, and may luminous clouds flow in abundance. May I and the Emperor Lord ascend together in the soaring winds to Supreme Clarity, gaze toward the Northern Mystery, and loosen our sashes in the Jade Court. May celebration and blessings extend to the seven generations of ancestors, and may the mysterious forebears enjoy good fortune and fulfillment.

May the supreme vow reach in all four directions; may my lifespan endure as long as the sun.

4. The Middle Vow

The middle vow also has four parts: to receive and administer the Emperor’s writings, and to make vows to Yin, Yang, the Great Void, and the Great Nonbeing.

The luminous gods of Three and Five, the dwelling places of Seven and Nine, and the Emperor Lord, the original father who fixed the beginning of life: May the Jade Emperor gather his chariot and remain always in my dwelling. I keep the Purple Chamber and Niwan in mind. Taokang gathers Yin and secures the blood; the Hun is born of the sun, and the numinous void shines with radiance. The Great Origin treads the vast sky; the Nine Qi are absent, and with me is the yellow robe. May the seven forebears bring blessings, and may I receive immortality in the Southern Palace.

Note: This text is a Daoist Zhaijiao vow used in ritual scripture. Proper names such as the Three Origins, the Five Powers, Niwan, and Taokang have been retained according to common interpretations without extending their meanings.

A Plain-Language Interpretation of The Supreme Secret Essentials

The lower vows also number four and concern the Immortal Abode of Longevity: The first is to vow to be in accord with the Great Void; the second, to be in accord with the Great Being Spirit.

Visualize the forms of the Nine Heavens, and let the spirit roam in the realm of the True-Character Imperial Lord, merging and circling with him. As the cycle of seven and nine turns, calamities depart and blessings enter my home; I receive those blessings. Evil thoughts fade away, and good words increase.

I also vow: May Heaven and Earth be my parents from the moment of my birth. And I vow: May harmonious Qi be the mother of my spirit’s birth. Return to the origin of beginnings and attain the five spiritual powers in full; remove every stain of sin, and let blessings crown seven generations. Transcend birth and death, endure through the ages, and bring these vows to fulfillment.

The High Imperial Lords sing together in unison, their voices soaring beyond the heavens. The eight tones ring out in full; the numinous writings rise against the heavens’ balance. A thousand perfected beings share in the joy. From one kalpa to the next, they meet in perpetuity. Twelve celebrations gather; the Imperial Lords’ grace is vast, and blessings of every kind return like reflections in a mirror.

I also vow to be in accord with the Eightfold Mysterious Mother, with the hymn that creates spirits in the Eightfold Realm, and with the Ninefold Spirit’s gaze into the Cavern.

First vow: May the Mysterious Mother and I be born together amid life-giving Qi. Purple radiance shines across the void; Heaven and humanity join in a matching tally. The flying perfected ones soar on their plumes and roam with us. Heavenly music delights the heart; we escape all sorrow. The Seven Mysteries bring auspicious joy, and the high spirits sustain us.

Second vow: May the Mysterious Mother and I endure together between the sun and moon, amid the Three Luminaries. May we travel alongside the Great Emperor, with blue banners and green canopies, flower-decked carriages and embroidered shawls, brocade robes and jade belts. May we lead the Five Elders as honored guests, and the Four Great Ones into the feast. From the heights of splendor, may we gaze out beyond the Eight Directions.

Third vow: May the Mysterious Mother and I be safeguarded together among the Nine Heavens. May our perfected nature grow still and balanced; may the Qi refined within our hearts fill the Cloud Hall. Moved by this, ten thousand spirits respond. Our bodies rise to the Nine Heavens, and blessings are tested in the profound realms. We loosen our sashes in the empty cavern and guide the wheel through the layered heavens. May good fortune prevail for seven generations. If I am reborn as a human, may I preserve the Great Perfection and share the sun’s lifespan.

Fourth vow: May the Mysterious Mother and I partake together of the natural realm, forever leaving behind the Three Paths of Suffering—hell, the animal realm, and the hungry ghosts—and meeting eternally in the natural realm. Seven-treasure jade grain, Golden Elixir with purple rays, and hidden mushrooms can be plucked freely, with either hand. The brains of the luminous night phoenix, tiger foam and cloud jade, and the rare flavor of jade frost: with one serving, the body is brushed into the Great Void.

Fifth vow: May the Mysterious Mother and I drink together from the Gourd River, whose sweet, clear streams flow through ten thousand ravines. Its returning waters are the essence of jade, numinous and moist, blue as lapis lazuli. They pour upward to the highest heavens, their source flowing from the Spirit Hall. Their surging waves rise in a fragrant swell, beating and fanning the Great Void. We float through vast clarity, drink and rinse our mouths in the Eastern Mound, and bow deeply to the rosy dawn. We entrust our joy to the blue waves. After seven examinations, we attain immortality and receive abundant blessings. Our bodies swear by the Nine Rivers; wherever we go, all is well.

Sixth vow: May the Mysterious Mother and I rest together among the Jade Perfected. How vast and exalted is the seat above!

Note for readers: “Mysterious Mother” often refers to a Dao-protecting goddess such as the Eightfold Mysterious Mother. “Five spiritual powers” means supernatural abilities. “Three Paths of Suffering” refers to the painful states of hell, the animal realm, and the hungry ghosts. The “Five Elders” are Daoist deities associated with the directions or the five regions. “Four Great Ones” can refer to earth, water, fire, and wind, or to aspects of the body and its elements; the meaning depends on the chapter’s subject. The vows are translated in their original order, with brief explanations provided for some proper names on first mention.

This passage comes from the Daoist Canon’s Secret Essentials of the Supreme (Wushang Miyao). Its first half is a poem of vows for cultivation; its second describes the rites for paying homage on the “Eight Seasonal Nodes” and the “Silent Prayer of the Three Origins and Eight Homages.”

[Excerpt from the Prayer of Eight Vows]

(May) the deep abyss stretch far and wide, and the heavens shine clear. May the Five Elders and immortal lords array themselves in the Jade Chamber, and may Jade Radiance proclaim the spirits. May the Queen Mother of the West ride in her flying carriage, driving her feathered retinue, and rest with me in the court of the Nine Mysteries. May blessings ring through seven trials; may I receive a new birth in the womb, dwell in a jeweled palace, and let my spirit rest in perfect radiance.

The seventh vow: May the Mysterious Mother sleep with me in the immortal hall—within the numinous chamber, deep and subtle, where mysterious radiance fills the four sides; where vermilion halls are framed with phoenixes, bright light shines across the gallery, golden beds and jade couches stand beneath purple curtains, and the gate is adorned with dragons. The Mysterious Emperor sits in the upper seat, the Heavenly Perfected in the middle; I take my place at their right, joined to them in tender closeness. May great blessings endure through seven trials; may I receive a register and become an immortal once more.

The eighth vow: May the Mysterious Mother journey with me among the Three Mysteries—driving freely across the Great Desert, turning her carriage toward the Three Mysteries; the Five Numinous Ones support my bones, the Queen Mother stands beside me, we dance on the divine mound, and our carriage halts in the Nine Heavens. May the Most High confirm my register and grant me the rank of a Perfected One. May the Female One and the Primordial One merge as one; may I reach a thousand grottoes, pass through eight resonances, and may the seven generations of my ancestors attain immortality. From one kalpa to the next, may we always meet in the Eight Realms. Where are the Eight Realms? In the everlasting bond of our destiny. May the Five Elders send down blessings; may virtue flourish in abundance; may the myriad Qi rise above and firmly preserve the Mudball Palace. Now that these vows have been spoken, may the sun and moon endure through the same years. Great is the birth from emptiness; the Mother moves and rests among the Eight Gates.

(The above) is from the Jade Scripture of Golden Radiance of the Five Mornings, Hidden in the Primordial Origin of the Cavern of Truth.

[Homage at the Eight Seasonal Nodes and Silent Prayer]

The days of the Eight Seasonal Nodes are all occasions when immortal beings from the Three Heavens and other celestial realms gather for audience and feast. Those who study the Dao should fast and observe the rites on these days when they cultivate, make vows, or pay homage to the deities. Homage on the new and full moons—the first and fifteenth days of the month—is not the highest method. When those days come, if you wish to make vows and offer prayers, first click your teeth seven times and bow in your heart toward the four directions. Then silently recite this prayer:

“Jade Emperor of Highest Clarity, Three Primordial Ladies of the Three Sublimities, Most High Lofty Spirit, great gods of the Immortal City: today is an auspicious day, when the Eight Vows are set forth. My first vow is for long life and immortality in the flying heavens; my second, for the union of the radiance of Heaven and Earth, and of wind and clouds; my third, for the lasting preservation of the five organs and the body; my next, for the release of my seven ancestors from the bonds of transgression; my fifth, for the Lord Emperor to break and sever the roots of the womb; my sixth, for wisdom to unfold in every generation; my seventh, for the destruction of demons and the beheading of the Six Heavens; my eighth, for numinous power to descend and reveal all things in the east and west. When my first vow is fulfilled, may every other vow be fulfilled as spoken. May I become a god and an immortal, and ascend to pay homage to the Three Origins.”

After the prayer, bow again as before. You may also add prayers according to your own wishes, asking to be freed from the ancestral bonds of transgression and from the sins of head and body, and then continue with the rest of the rite. This is called the “Silent Prayer of the Three Origins and Eight Homages.” It is an essential method for aspiring to become a god or immortal.

Brief background notes

The Five Elders often refer to the Five Elders of the Five Directions or the Five Directional Emperors, and are associated with the Jade Capital and stages of cultivation.

In Daoist texts, the Seven Trials often refer to the ordeals undergone across successive lives or kalpas, and to stages of rebirth and transformation; they do not simply mean seven years.

The Three Mysteries is a collective term for the realms of Heaven, Earth, and humanity, or for three levels of mysterious realms. Here, it refers to a celestial realm of travel and feasting.

The Eight Seasonal Nodes are eight auspicious days in the Daoist calendar associated with seasonal divisions and immortal assemblies. They are suitable for purification rites and paying homage to the Perfected Ones.

Clicking the teeth seven times is a ritual act for gathering the spirits. The number seven may correspond to celestial patterns or the seven generations of ancestors.

The Three Origins refers to the Upper, Middle, and Lower Origins, or to the Three Origins assembly of the officials of Heaven, Earth, and humanity.

A silent prayer is recited without speaking aloud, or in a low voice, as distinct from a prayer text proclaimed aloud.

Source

The following passage is from the Jing of the Forty-Four Methods of Yellow Talisman in the Cavern of Perfection, as quoted in the Essential Secrets of the Highest Mystery. The first half describes the effects of three years of cultivation. The second half presents precepts of the “seeing something and forming a vow” kind: at each encounter, one makes a vow that all beings may attain liberation together and unite with the Dao.

Plain-Language Interpretation

If one can cultivate according to the proper method for three full years, the accumulated sins of oneself and one’s ancestors for seven generations can all be dispelled.

Afterward, Jade Radiance will descend, protective responses will manifest, and one will meet the spirits. The eight vows will be set forth, and one will surely attain the essential covenant among the secret teachings.

The Dao (the Celestial Worthy) said: Whatever a cultivator sees in the world should inspire a vast-hearted vow, made not for oneself alone but for all beings:

• On seeing a household and its wife and children, one should vow that all beings will soon escape the prison of desire, gather their minds, and uphold the precepts.
• On seeing someone drinking wine, one should vow that all beings will guard the gate of life—the root of nature and life—and keep far from calamity and disorder.
• On seeing a beautiful woman, one should vow that all beings will remain pure and faithful, endure the sight of beauty and stay far from desire, and turn their hearts toward virtue.
• On seeing someone engaged in sexual misconduct, one should vow that all beings will put an end to deviant thoughts and wholeheartedly uphold the precepts.
• On seeing a woman, one should vow that all beings will keep faith and uphold what is right, entering the Dharma gate day after day.
• On seeing any being, one should vow that all beings will put others before themselves, avoid disputes and competition, and cherish the Dao so that the world may be at peace.
• On seeing a good person, one should vow that all beings will keep good teachings in mind at all times and look up to that person’s example.
• On seeing an evil person, one should vow that all beings will abandon wrongdoing and follow what is good, and break no laws of the state.
• On seeing a poor person, one should vow that all beings will give generously at their own expense and later receive great blessings.
• On seeing a rich person, one should vow that all beings will aid and provide for all things, and receive emoluments in every generation.
• On seeing a person of high rank, one should vow that all beings will accept that person’s teachings and conform wholly to the classical instructions.
• On seeing someone of low status, one should vow that all beings will cultivate diligently without slackening, each fulfilling the work entrusted to them.
• On seeing the emperor, one should vow that all beings will honor and look up to the royal Way, and be filial as they are to their parents.
• On seeing ministers and officials, one should vow that all beings will accept their instruction and laws, so that benevolence may prevail in all directions.
• On seeing weapons and armor, one should vow that all beings will each cherish a humane heart, and that the whole world will yield precedence to the worthy.
• On seeing a prince, one should vow that all beings will sing of peace each day and remain devoted to the state and their families.
• On seeing a worthy person, one should vow that all beings will practice that person’s Virtue and take the Dao as the guiding principle of the world.
• On seeing those of heterodox or marginal teachings, one should vow that all beings will understand the foundations of the teachings clearly and attain the Dao with divine power.
• On seeing a Daoist who dwells in the mountains, one should vow that all beings will behold the Daoist path and quickly attain immortal ascent.
• On seeing someone teaching and transforming others, one should vow that all beings will personally receive the sages’ teachings and become learned.
• On seeing a sage, one should vow that all beings will honor and pay respects to them, meet them in attendance, and be looked upon throughout all lands.
• On seeing an immortal, one should vow that all beings will fully realize the true Dao and ascend through the heavens.
• On seeing a city, one should vow that all beings will keep it orderly and well maintained, with the Dao as its foundation.
• On seeing a great state, one should vow that all beings will turn toward and revere Virtue, like water flowing into the sea.

Plain-language interpretation of The Supreme Secret Essentials (Wushang Miyao)

When you see a small country, may you wish that all beings know when to stop, remain inwardly empty, still, and humble, and be content where they dwell.

When you see a marketplace or a city, may you wish that worthy people gather like clouds and together spread the true Dao (the Way).

When you see someone quietly contemplating or practicing meditation, may you wish that their merit and virtue grow vast and lofty, and that heavenly beings and humans each find their place and fulfill their aspirations.

When you see people observing purification and abstinence, burning incense, and paying their respects, may you wish that their cultivation of Dao and De (Virtue/Power) renews itself each day, and that ritual order remains refined and upright.

When you see people reciting scriptures and teaching the Dao, may you wish that everyone can take the teaching seat and listen together to the sacred teachings.

When you see a tower or pavilion, may you wish for clear hearts and keen vision that illuminate the ten directions, leaving nothing hidden or obscure.

When you see a high mountain, may you wish that all establish De as firmly as the mountain and never turn back.

When you see the great sea, may you wish that all have wisdom as vast as the sea and boundless in its reflections, so they can help bring prosperity to their families and country.

When you see someone resting in a dense forest, may you wish that all become masters of learning, nurture disciples, and spread their teachings.

When you see someone washing their hands in preparation for a ritual, may you wish that all keep the scriptures in their hands and never set them aside, even for a moment.

When you see someone speaking well and voicing the right path, may you wish that all devote themselves to chanting profound scriptures, finding something new each day without growing weary.

When you see someone walking, may you wish that all transcend the bonds of the Three Realms and journey in spirit to the realm of Shangqing, one of the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing).

When you see someone come to rest, may you wish that all draw in their outward appearances, abide in their true nature, and dwell at ease in emptiness and stillness.

When you see food and drink, may you wish that all cast off burdens, enter purity, and preserve the taste of the Dao in their hearts, taking the Dao as their sustenance rather than sinking into worldly desires.

When you see a great collection of scriptures, may you wish that all dispel calamities and misfortunes and cultivate fields of merit through acts of generosity and other good deeds.

When you see illness, may you wish that all protect themselves through the Dao and escape such suffering and hardship.

When you see death and mourning, may you wish that all who study the Dao endure beyond death and save beings in the Three Paths of suffering: hell, hungry ghosts, and animals.

When you see fishing and hunting, may you wish that all cease killing, which begins a cycle of wrongdoing, and ultimately return to Wuwei (non-action).

When you see peoples beyond the frontiers, may you wish that all become honored guests of the Chinese ruler and are not born in remote borderlands.

When you see the young, may you wish that all take up learning in good time and earn a fine reputation.

When you see old age and illness, may you wish that all use the Dao to nurture life and cease growing ever more frail.

When you see the three lights—the sun, moon, and stars—may you wish that their radiant powers shine together and darkness vanish at once.

When you see clouds and rain, may you wish that blessings flow abundantly like rain, benefiting all things.

When you see white snow, may you wish that all dwell always in purity and whiteness, free and at ease.

When you feel a refreshing breeze, may you wish that all open and release what they hold within, and let their De flow far and near.

When you see deep water, may you wish that all wash away impurity, make their hearts clear and empty, and remain impartial.

When you smell a fine fragrance, may you wish that all receive an abundance of upright, fragrant purity, and that every impurity naturally falls away.

A Vernacular Rendering of Related Passages from the Wushang Miyao

1. “Seeing Things and Making Vows,” from the Dongxuan Dingzhi Jing

When you see a lovely flower, vow that all may joyfully behold the sages, complete in their auspicious features and adornments.

When you see a beautiful flower, make this vow: May all beings joyfully behold the sages and be complete in their auspicious features and adornments.

When you see carts and horses, vow that all may attain the Dao, abide in Wuwei (non-action), and ride phoenixes and dragons.

When you see carts and horses, make this vow: May all beings attain the fruits of the Dao, enter the state of Wuwei, and enjoy the freedom of riding phoenixes and dragons.

When you hear strings and singing, vow that all may delight in the scriptures, teach them freely, and take joy in the Dao.

When you hear strings and singing, make this vow: May all beings find delight in savoring the scriptures and teaching the Dao as circumstances allow, and take joy in the Dao.

When you see a sumptuous meal, vow that all may be fully satisfied and enjoy, in this world, the blessings of Heaven’s kitchens.

When you see abundant food, make this vow: May all beings be fully satisfied, and may people in this world enjoy blessings as rich as those of Heaven’s kitchens.

May the host find their proper place, as rivers flow into the sea; may the ancestral line endure and flourish, and remain forever in honor and prosperity; may they, in every generation, be born into a royal house together with the Four Assemblies.

Make this vow: May the host find their proper place, as all rivers flow into the sea; may their ancestral line endure, and may they remain in honor and prosperity. In every generation, may they be born into a royal house together with the Four Assemblies—the monastic, Daoist, and lay communities.

When you see someone filled with regret, vow that all calamities may be extinguished beneath the Nine Yin, blessings arise in the ten directions, and virtue become as vast as mountains and seas, so that all may prosper. May they be born as emperors for seven generations; may their descendants be wise, loyal, upright, wealthy, and honored; may all their wishes be fulfilled; and may they study the Dao, become immortals, and ride clouds and dragons.

When you see someone expressing remorse, make this vow: May all beings’ misfortunes be extinguished beneath the Nine Yin, and blessings arise in the ten directions. May their virtue be as great as mountains and seas, and may they all prosper. May they be born as emperors for seven generations; may their descendants be wise, loyal, upright, wealthy, and honored. May all their wishes be fulfilled, and may they study the Dao, become immortals, and ride clouds and dragons.

Whether sitting or lying down, Daoists should constantly reflect: May my four constituents unite in virtue and share one body with the Dao’s truth.

Whether sitting or lying down, Daoists should constantly reflect: May my four constituents—earth, water, fire, and wind—unite with the Dao and its virtue, and share one body with the Dao’s truth.

The above is from the Dongxuan Dingzhi Jing.

2. From the Dongxuan Yinzhu Jing

Study the Dao with a steadfast heart; honor your teacher as your closest kin. Draw in the pure and empty radiance, and diligently renew yourself day by day.

Study the Dao with a sincere heart, and honor your teacher as you would your closest kin. Draw in the pure, empty Qi of the sun and moon; make steady progress and renew yourself each day.

Until the multitude has been delivered, I will not consider myself delivered.

So long as living beings have not been delivered, I will not be content to seek deliverance for myself alone. This expresses the bodhisattva’s resolve to cross over together with all beings.

A great vow brings a weighty reward; the profound De is surely real.

A great vow will surely bring a great reward, and profound De (Virtue/Power) is real and dependable.

Secret wrongdoing brings deep guilt; when its consequences arrive, they turn like a wheel.

Wrongdoing committed in secret brings grave consequences. When retribution comes, it continues without end, like a turning wheel.

The above is from the Dongxuan Yinzhu Jing.

3. The Immortal Lord Questions the Supreme Ultimate’s High and Exalted Master

The Immortal Lord asked the Supreme Ultimate’s High and Exalted Master:

What fundamental practice should people cultivate so that, in this life, they may receive blessings; bring honor to their families and prosperity to their descendants; preserve wholesome connections across generations; be born above in Heaven and below into the houses of human lords and kings; be intelligent, learned, and humane; revere and trust the teachings of the scriptures; delight in mountains and waters; constantly recite subtle teachings; and ultimately attain the Way of the immortals?

The Master replied:

Good! Yours is a good question. Each person has their own fundamental practice, past connections, and root of destiny. These various causes depend on one another, vows follow vows, and like things draw together. They give rise to one another in succession, while misfortune and blessing lead one to another; thus they continue from generation to generation. People take pleasure in different things and direct their minds in different ways, all because of vows made in previous lives.

Those who wish to cultivate the Dao and form good connections with the worthy and the sages should observe the great precepts, widely establish fields of merit, and accomplish works of virtue on a grand scale. These practices may lead to becoming a flying immortal, a celestial immortal, or an earthly immortal; to being born in Heaven at the end of life; to being born among spirits and gods; to becoming an official in the ranks of the Great Demons of the Six Heavens; to being born directly, at the end of life, into the family of a lord or king and becoming one of the most honored among people; or to becoming someone whom all rely upon and who enjoys wealth and honor.

Note: “Seeing things and making vows” is a form of daily Daoist cultivation. When practitioners see flowers, carts, food, or someone expressing remorse, they turn each occasion into a formula for vows on behalf of all beings. This practice is linked to the reflection, “Whether sitting or lying down, Daoists should constantly unite the four constituents with the Dao.” Together, these passages emphasize that body, speech, and mind share one body with the Great Dao. The Master’s response links past vows, observance of the precepts, and fields of merit with the results of becoming an immortal, being born in Heaven, or entering the household of a lord or king. This is a familiar account in the Daoist Canon of fundamental practices and past connections.

A Plain-Language Interpretation of Wushang Biyao (The Supreme Secret Essentials)

Main Meaning of the Scripture

People who seek the Dao may receive different blessings according to their virtue, such as:

• Intelligence and quick understanding, a dignified appearance, and a clear, graceful voice
• Being loved and respected by others; being loyal, filial, chaste, and simple
• Skill in writing, with words and conduct that serve as examples
• A solemn, dignified presence that inspires respect
• Devout faith in the Three Treasures, with diligent offerings
• A love of pure mountain and water landscapes, reading scriptures, burning incense, and observing precepts
• Paying homage to scriptures of the Mysterious Gate
• In legend, a woman being reborn as a man, with a beautiful appearance
• An orderly household, safe and honored descendants, and good fortune from generation to generation
• Blessings in this life, reward at the end of life, and good fortune in future lives

All these blessings arise from the vows made at the outset. Once merit has been established and a vow fixed, its reward will come sooner or later, as surely as daybreak.

The Ills of the World

People in the world are deceitful and frivolous. They do not believe in the teachings, each relying on their own clever tricks. They disregard the destiny set by past actions and think they can act recklessly. They mock the scriptures as false, yet sink into desire and sit or stand waiting for an immediate reward, even though true responses often take a long time to appear. As a result, the Mysterious Teaching is buried, the world falls into decline, and both Heaven and humanity suffer—largely because people bring this upon themselves through how they live and act. The Most High is grieved by this.

The Lord of the Southern Pole on “Vows”

The Lord of the Southern Pole says: The path to becoming an immortal should begin with making a vow, followed by practice. A vow can establish communication and bring an efficacious response; its power is immense. It embraces everything, extends its protection over every blessing, and lets good fortune flow everywhere. One may say that “a single vow is already good.” If the mind is wholly devoted to the vow, every vow will receive a response.

Source and Volume

The passage above comes from the Dongxuan Qingwen Jing (Scripture of Questions from the Dongxuan Cavern).

This concludes volume seventy-four of the Wushang Biyao (The Supreme Secret Essentials). Volume seventy-five is missing from the original; it was lost in later editions.