《上清靈寶大法(一)》Vol. 30

The Great Method of Shangqing Lingbao, Scroll Thirty-Six

Taught by Ning Quanzhen, the Perfected One Who Opens the Light and Rescues the Suffering, a lofty adept of the subtle mysteries

Compiled by Wang Qizhen, disciple of the Three Caverns of Shangqing and inheritor of the Lingbao teachings

Section on the Rites and Regulations for Transmitting the Degree

The master said: Whenever you establish an altar and transmit the degree, make arrangements according to your means and circumstances. If your household is well-off, submit the formal petitions in advance. In the evening, perform rites such as consecrating the water, sealing the altar, and the overnight initiation. Conduct the liturgy in accordance with the rules for a purification ritual. At dawn the next day, ascend the altar and present petitions three times—morning, midday, and evening. In the evening, hold the offering rite and transmit the degree. This is the most complete procedure.

People often simplify the proceedings and perform only the offering rite, so records of the overnight initiation and morning liturgy are rarely complete. The three-day liturgies for the Lingbao Great Purification Ritual have also been revised over time. What follows first is the procedure for the offering rite at a degree-transmission ceremony. This is a rite for receiving the teachings and giving thanks for grace; it is not a Yellow Register purification ritual, the large-scale purification rite for delivering the spirits of the dead. The ceremony should be conducted according to the importance of the occasion.

Offering Rite for Transmitting the Degree in the Great Lingbao Method

Pay respects to the master according to ritual, gather and still the mind, then recite the invocations and divine incantations according to the liturgical procedure.

May the Primordial Sovereigns and assembled Perfected Ones—Xiaoren, Fusang, Fangzhu, and Yuxia—gather the cloud-sprouts, illuminate the Nine Radiances, and contain the breath of the Three Blossoms. Raise the heavenly precious sword and stir its divine might; let the spirit tiger drive away evil, and let the Great Emperor Anyang command the multitude of demons. May people ascend to the Mysterious Capital and wash their bodies clean in the Celestial River.

May I unite with the Dao and become true.

The fiery breath courses and rises like drifting smoke. The Primordial Sage of Red Radiance and Long Life dwells high in the Jade Capital, lowering a mysterious net whose light spreads through the six directions of the underworld. The Primordial Heaven issues a great proclamation to save all beings everywhere and dispel demonic obstacles and trials. The fire-bells race forth to guard and protect, so that the righteous breath may endure in peace for ten thousand million kalpas.

May I unite with the Dao and become true.

Bright Radiance, Golden Flower, and Changeng’s Grotto-Light: the breath of the Great Brahma spreads forth, and the heavenly order circulates throughout the cosmos. Light flourishes and interweaves in transformation, rising and generating life throughout the ten directions. The Seven Passes are secured, and Yin-Yang is brought back into harmony. The Emperor’s Qi surges boundlessly, and I receive good fortune. The Jade Writ is proclaimed, enabling all beings to attain the Dao and prosper in fortune.

May I unite with the Dao and become true.

The breath of Taiyin Shuodan reaches upward to the Emperor’s abode, flowing and rising in radiance as it generates life in the Jade Void. It supports and guards the Three Realms and reviews the registers of the Primordial Beginning Heaven. The true talismans shine forth, and destinies are fixed in the Azure Capital, the celestial realm of immortals. All past offenses recorded in the Golden Registers are erased, enabling people to soar to the Azure Heavens and ascend beyond the Great Nothingness.

May I unite with the Dao and become true.

The Primordial Beginning Void Emperor gathers the primordial Qi and dwells at the center. From this, the Three Realms, profound and remote, open up the firmament. The Seven Revolutions and Nine Numina blend together; the returning wind transforms and generates the myriad spirits, opening communication between Heaven and Earth. On an auspicious day...

The opening lines are a hymn chanted before the ritual: When the rite is performed, every kind of evil spirit vanishes without a trace. The clear radiance of dawn shines brightly as the ritual master silently sets in motion the power of the primordial Qi. Raising a banner and holding a tally bearing talismans, the master journeys through the vast reaches of space, saving beings in all ten directions, so that the fate of the age need never be feared to end. With a peaceful nature and mind, the master joins with the Great Dao and becomes true.

The ritual master kneels and, in accordance with the method, summons the officials and generals within the body.

The master says: I respectfully summon the true officials, merit officers (divine clerks in charge of transmitting documents), and officers and attendants of the body’s five limbs, to bring forth illumination and guide beings along the Way. I also summon the Yin-Yang merit officers and the twelve lords and officers who dispel disasters, scatter misfortune, and resolve calamities. I summon the great general who bears the tally and oversees merit at this altar’s ritual headquarters, together with two direct messenger merit officers and two Yin-Yang divine adjudication officers. May they be fully arrayed and stationed in their camp, encircling and guarding my body. Let the other officers and attendants—among them the tiger guards, investigators of treachery, mounted scouts, director of officials, heavenly warriors and strongmen, and the divine clerks charged with seizing and devouring spirits, poisons, essences, and evil influences—also take up their posts around me, to my left and right, in front and behind. Let the officers who execute talismans and destroy shrines, the mounted couriers who ride the fierce wind, the post riders who deliver memorials to Heaven, the flying dragon cavalry, and all other officials listen to my words and convey them on my behalf.

The ritual master then sincerely addresses the local earth deity, the correct spirits of the neighborhood, the ritual headquarters and quiet chambers (Daoist administrative and meditation sites), the famous mountains, grotto-heavens, blessed lands, seas and peaks, the official lord of the year, and the generals, officers, and spirits of the ritual. Together they submit this petition to the Most High: the formless and nameless, empty and spontaneous, supremely true Great Dao, the Most High Primordial Venerable One enthroned in the Golden Palace beneath the Jade Steps. On the day I received the teachings, I pledged to make their circulation and their service to the world my first concern, to benefit all things and make guiding people my urgent duty. Now a certain person who follows the Dao has asked me to present a memorial on their behalf, praying above for a wondrous response from the Mystery. May what I pray for be fulfilled, what I report be answered, the evil influences I seek to destroy withdraw, and the calamities I seek to avert be dispelled. Let the merit officers, attendants, and flying dragon cavalry each convey the petition in turn and deliver it above at the appointed time. When the petition has been submitted, let them each return to my body. If they are summoned again later within the ritual chamber, let them come as before.

Next, the ritual master states the rank of the office held, reads out the title and name, and respectfully submits this petition with utmost sincerity: to the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning of the Holy Realm of Jade Clarity; the Celestial Worthy of Numinous Treasure of the True Realm of Highest Clarity; the Celestial Worthy of the Dao and its Virtue of the Immortal Realm of Great Clarity; the Jade Emperor, Supreme Sovereign of Heaven; the Great Emperor of the Southern Pole; the Great Emperor of the Northern Pole, Ziwei; the Earth Deity, Empress of Earth, who bears Heaven and models its transformative power; the True King of Jade Clarity in the Divine Empyrean; the Great Emperor of Long Life; the Great Emperor of Eastern Culmen, Azure Florescence; the Lords of Heaven; the High Perfected; the high perfected ones of the sun, moon, stars, and constellations, and of the many celestial rivers; the Three Officials and Great Emperors; and, in due order, all the honored deities who follow them. Let them all receive this petition.

Sacred True Lords, Great Masters of the Shangqing Lingbao tradition, Great Masters of the Mysterious Center, Venerable Jing, Great Masters of the Three Heavens, True Lords of Jingying, True Lords of the Three Masters Who Transmit and Deliver through the ancient scriptures, True Lords of the Immortal Elder of the Taiji, True Lords of the Wondrous Deliverance through Divine Power of the Nine Heavens, True Lords of the Three Masters of the Yellow Registers, the divine immortals of the Three Caverns and Four Supplements, and True Lord Fuqiu, who signs and oversees the Thunder Bureau; the perfected masters who transmit the scriptures and the teaching; the celestial officials, generals, clerks, and soldiers who oversee the registers of the rites; and the High Sages and Perfected Ones of the Three Realms and Ten Directions who have descended: I earnestly ask you, with your vast compassion, to see and graciously attend to this place.

I have heard that the Dao is originally without form or name: this is the subtle, mysterious realm of truth. The manifestation of light and image, by contrast, is the numinous mechanism of divine transformation. Before Heaven and Earth were divided, the primordial Qi had already taken shape. From it, Heaven and Earth were opened; all things received their proper allotments. This primal Qi gave birth to the Three Powers—Heaven, Earth, and humanity—governs the myriad spirits, and molds and brings forth every kind of living being. Thus the governing principles of Heaven and Earth’s movements began, laying the foundation for the countless ages. The Qi of the Great Brahma manifested, revealing the secret scriptures of the Nine Heavens. The scriptures of the Three Caverns spread, and Daoist teachings of every rank were put into practice. This served both to explain the workings of creation and to make clear the essential meaning of the Great Dao. Masters of every generation opened the means of delivering people, enabling us to honor and receive the teaching from ancient times to the present.

My abilities are mediocre and limited, yet I have been fortunate enough to hold the lowest place in the Daoist ranks and have presumptuously taken charge of the highest teaching. I privately believe that these numinous scriptures should be met with every effort to spread the teaching and its ritual forms; we must not abandon this work simply because others have neglected it. Since we have purified ourselves and come to pursue the teaching, we should open a path for diligent cultivation of the Great Dao and ensure that its transmission continues without interruption. In this way, we may fulfill the purpose of completing the Great Dao’s transformation and cultivating worthy people. Since the rites have their established rules, we should pray for the High Perfected to oversee us and grant the grace of a master who can deliver people. Therefore, I look up toward the Celestial Palace of Ziwei and pray with sincerity. Facing the blue heavens, I bow my head, and, though my ritual observance is meager, I venture to respectfully invite the honored deities of the Mysterious Ultimate to descend.

May five-colored clouds attend the ceremonial procession bearing the fire bells, and may the Threefold Flower’s Yellow Way send down a carriage with flying dragons and singing phoenixes. May the assembled Sacred Lords approach the hall and the gathered Perfected Ones take their places. We, your servants, stand in awe and fear, concentrating our sincere devotion as we bow before the steps of the heavenly court and respectfully welcome the sacred procession.

We respectfully invite the assembled Sacred and Perfected Ones to descend and receive the first offering of wine in the imperial rite.

The offices and titles of the ritual are now declared once more.

I, your servant, [name and office], respectfully submit again: to the High Worthies of the Three Realms, the Supreme Emperors of the Myriad Heavens, the Limitless Most High Heavenly Worthy of Numinous Treasure of the Ten Directions, the successive generations of masters and Perfected Ones of the Great Lingbao Rites, and the High Sages and Perfected Ones of the Three Realms and Ten Directions:

I have heard that the Dao is originally without words, and that scriptures and ritual manuals were established to convey its teaching; the Way of this teaching appears through concrete things...

Fulu—the certificates of ritual office and methods of cultivation that Daoism confers on practitioners—are used to guide living beings toward salvation. They are divided into nine grades and three vehicles, which interconnect with one another; they are also explained through the Six Scripts and Eight Styles. Transmitted down from the celestial realms, they provide the path by which the myriad sages return to the Orthodox Way. When they descend into the human world, they open a way for living beings to advance in cultivation. Without good affinities accumulated over many kalpas, how could anyone glimpse the orthodox scriptures? And more than that: only one who has mastered the essentials of the teachings can serve as a teacher; only one with lofty aspirations and a clear mind can bear a ritual office. Through meritorious deeds, one may assist the subtle transformation of the Dao above, while inwardly keeping one’s ordinary nature in check.

The precepts and ritual regulations are of the utmost importance; transmitting the methods is no casual matter. My own abilities are poor, and I truly lack penetrating understanding. As for the Five Sprouts and Three Qualities—terms for refined energies in Daoist cultivation—how could I know the foundations of their practice? Faced with the six desires and seven emotions, I have only followed the current and become ensnared in them. I ought to reflect on myself; how, then, could I teach others? Yet I have already sworn an oath and, upon the altar, received a ritual office. Although the precepts forbid reckless disclosure, they also do not permit excessive secrecy to cause the methods to be lost. Besides, the other person speaks with earnest sincerity and is willing to receive the teachings of the Orthodox Way. How could I refuse forever simply because I am incapable? Fortunately, this person is resolved in their purpose, so I venture to speak on their behalf and transcribe the petition.

Though I do not understand the mysteries of penetrating the true Dao and communicating with the spirits, I still would not dare transmit methods that violate the Daoist teachings and deceive people. I have therefore consulted the customary ritual canons and set forth the wondrous and numinous methods. With reverence, I invite the High Perfected to descend and look up to the Imperial Venerables above. I venture to state what is in my heart, though I risk offending those of exalted rank, and respectfully read aloud the document for transmission—the petition requesting the conferment of Fulu.

After reading the petition, burn it.

As stated in the petition, the applicant’s sincerity is earnest; in all reason, they should be received. I dare not refuse.

I have heard that the Lingbao Divine Chapters, Upper Grade of the Dongxuan Cavern, were still unknown in their beginnings at the dawn of Yanchang, and only gradually revealed their mysteries at the beginning of Longhan. They coalesced the jade Qi of Flying Mystery into hidden numinous sounds; they proclaimed the fundamental teachings of the Five Peaks, which became manifest and widely spread through translation in the four directions. They stabilize the state and assist emperors in governing; they harmonize Yin-Yang and aid the workings of creation. All the highest sages and perfected beings have relied on them to realize the Great Dao, while departed spirits sunk in suffering have depended on them to ascend and be delivered. They are indeed the bridge by which all things reach the Great Dao, and the standard followed by all spirits.

This profound and lofty scripture must certainly not be transmitted lightly. Yet its vast merit embraces all things and knows no bounds. I also reflect that my learning is shallow and my understanding limited, yet I have mistakenly taken up the position of a teacher; the person who inherits the lineage of the teachings, so-and-so, is of ordinary and limited capacity, yet has presumptuously accepted an office bestowed by the immortals. All this exceeds our rightful station and fills me with shame. Still, I pray that Heaven will show compassion, and hope that the grace of the master will protect us, permitting me to transmit …

May the disciple thereby be promoted to the ranks of the immortal perfected, and soon have his name entered in Xuandu, the celestial capital of the immortals. May all his offenses be erased from the Black Register, which records karmic transgressions, and may he no longer face demonic trials, but gradually enter the ranks of the immortals and perfected ones. I am deeply uneasy at having dared to make this petition and at the many formalities involved. I now offer a second cup of wine once more, to express my wholehearted sincerity. We bow again and respectfully perform the second offering.

The sacred name “Celestial Worthy of the Ten Directions, Numinous Treasure” is chanted.

The Ordination Master kneels and declares:

I have heard that, at the beginning of creation, the Primordial Beginning transformed and brought forth the heavens. Amid the azure firmament, he concealedly sang songs of emptiness and numinosity; in the realm of purple void, he set forth wondrous visions. He brought to light the three luminaries—the sun, moon, and stars—to nurture the spirits everywhere. He expounded the Five Scriptures so that living beings might be preserved and delivered through tribulations. Seated upright upon a five-colored lion, he preached the Dharma and delivered people. Then, seated among trees adorned with seven kinds of treasure, he transmitted the scriptures to the world. The myriad sages came before the hall and bowed their heads, while the perfected ones stood beside his seat and took refuge. What he proclaimed were all the hidden, wondrous sounds of the heavens, not ordinary songs of the human world.

The numinous wind surged like the bellows of a furnace, bringing the sun and moon to a halt. The Primordial Beginning spoke the Great Dao with his golden mouth, and the divine wind fell silent. When the scripture was recited once, the heavens praised its excellence; when it was recited ten times, even dry bones could become human again. From this we know that the wondrous Dao is inexhaustible, and its profound merit cannot be measured. It is a precious treasure kept by Heaven, not lightly imparted to people of the world. When a worthy person of sincere heart is encountered, he must offer gold and silk with wholehearted sincerity and swear an oath to receive the teaching. The perfected ones oversee the transmission, the myriad sages witness it in the hall, and the heavens protect the spread of the good teaching. Even the demon kings submit as a result. Only then is the Daoist teaching complete. In accordance with the ordinances of the Mysterious Gate, one may then enter the ranks of the pure and tranquil immortals.

Now the disciple So-and-so has come before the altar by the elbow-walking rite, kneeling and bowing as he receives the teaching with full attention. In earlier years, I received the instructions of my venerable master and was fortunate to wear the numinous writings. With the intention of aiding the world and delivering people, I have not kept these teachings from those with a destined connection. Now that a worthy person of utmost sincerity has come to make his request, I have petitioned the High Mystery on his behalf and received an auspicious assent. Accordingly, I have chosen an auspicious time to transmit the formulas, confer talismans and registers, transmit the teaching and precepts, and instruct him in the methods for commanding troops and generals.

I respectfully entreat the perfected ones of Numinous Treasure and the holy sages of the lofty void to show compassion and aid the world, and to use skillful means to deliver people. May the disciple So-and-so leave the dusty world and forever escape its illusory realm; may he cleanse the six senses—eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind—and bring body and mind to purity; may he escape the cycle of the eight hindrances, the conditions described in Buddhist and Daoist texts as obstacles to cultivation, and suddenly comprehend the subtle pivot of mystery, so that he may practice the Great Dao. May he accumulate three thousand meritorious deeds and summon the assembled immortals; may he command the demon kings of the Five Emperors, so that the myriad numinous beings are awed into submission.

I and the disciple bow our heads and prostrate ourselves twice, and I read aloud the petition addressed to the deities.

After the document of transmission is read, the disciple who inherits the Dharma bows again, kneels, and declares:

I, So-and-so, who inherits the cultivation of the great Numinous Treasure Dharma and holds the rank of a ritual master, am filled with awe and trepidation. I bow my head and prostrate myself, and with reverence make this renewed petition.

May the High Venerables of the Three Realms of the Golden Palace, the Emperors Above in all the Heavens, the Supreme High Venerable Celestial Lord of the Limitless Ten Directions, and the lineage masters of the Great Lingbao Method through the generations grant their compassion, look down upon me, and record my vow. By good fortune, through cultivation accumulated over many lifetimes, I have encountered the Orthodox Teaching today, received its lineage, been taught its true formula, and advanced to receive my office. I will forever hold fast to my original resolve and never dare betray my true nature. Should I break this vow, I willingly accept punishment. Today, my Ordination Master—the ritual master who confers ordination—and I have split a jade ring and torn a covenant as we make this vow. I have also drunk the cinnabar elixir as proof. I beg you all to bear witness and permit this disciple to receive ordination. My earnest prayers are too many to recount; I bow twice and state my plea.

Chant: “Heavenly Worthy Who Saves All Without Measure.”

The master and disciple return to their places in the assembly and stand facing one another. The master first proclaims the precepts. The disciple kneels facing the master, listens respectfully, and accepts them.

Respectfully, the Lingbao Way is the foundation of the Dongxuan lineage, and its mysteries are beyond words. It saves people without measure. Those who receive this Way can bring merit surpassing that of seven generations of ancestors; those who cultivate it can raise their physical form to the Nine Heavens. It is the pivot of the myriad methods and the guiding principle of the Orthodox Teachings throughout the ten directions. Its virtue is immense, its depth impossible to fathom. Since you are to cultivate it, you must especially observe the precepts that are required. If you uphold them without faltering, you may hope to join the ranks of the True Immortals. Now, in the presence of the Three Venerables, I will first explain the ten precepts.

Chant: “Hymn on Wisdom Giving Birth to the Roots of the Precepts.”

First Precept: Do not forget the Eight Foundations. Be utterly loyal, utterly filial, utterly disciplined in fasting, utterly generous, utterly abundant in joy, utterly tolerant and harmonious, and utterly patient and wise. The heavens take the North Star as their center, the earth takes its mountains as its center, and a house takes its ridgepole as its center. The heavens and earth each have a center, which allows them to gather the many Qi; a house has a ridgepole, which allows it to hold together its many timbers. People, too, have eight fundamental principles, and the same reasoning applies. By following these principles, one can establish every kind of good deed. When goodness is complete, the Way is complete. Once the Way is complete, hearing and understanding will naturally become clear, and one’s responses to things will naturally be fitting. This is the foundation for cultivating the Lingbao Way of saving people.

Second Precept: Do not forget the bright mirror and water. The bright mirror is a metaphor for the mind, and water is a metaphor for one’s nature and disposition. When the mind is clear, it can illuminate the myriad methods; when one’s nature and disposition are calm, the five turbid energies will not intrude. The Way exists within the human body and flows freely throughout it. Yet it cannot be understood by obscuring oneself in ignorance, nor attained through agitation and unrest. Using the bright mirror and water to comprehend the mind and nature is the foundation for cultivating the Lingbao Way of saving people.

Third Precept: Do not forget the daily record. The daily record is used to cultivate oneself and examine one’s good and bad deeds.

The greatest danger in life is failing to understand oneself, refusing to heed others when they point out one’s faults, and rejecting their advice. In this way, one gains no benefit. One should therefore record one’s words and actions each day, since there is always something one has done wrong. What is precious is being able to correct one’s mistakes. A diary is like a teacher who need not instruct, a friend who need not speak to offer advice, and a law that people follow without a ruler or parents having to urge them. It must not be forgotten. This is a way to grasp the ideas of the Lingbao Duren.

The Fourth Precept: Do not forget to help the departed attain deliverance and to pacify and protect the world.

No one is closer to us than our parents, and no one is more worthy of respect than the ruler. We should repay the kindness of both parents and ruler. Helping the departed attain deliverance and pacifying and protecting the world are ways to repay that kindness.

“To help the departed attain deliverance” means reciting scriptures and performing religious practices to pray for grandparents and the six close relations who have already died—parents, siblings, spouse, children, and other kin—and to help them receive support on their journey through the underworld. “To deliver” means reciting scriptures and performing religious practices to pray for grandparents and close relations who are still alive, helping them gain blessings and live longer. “To pacify and protect” means reciting scriptures and performing religious practices to pray for the sovereign’s long life and for peace in all directions. It also includes praying for the Dragon Gods to bring rain, driving out demons and harmful influences, protecting the people and all living things, and averting calamities caused by the movements of the stars.

At home, one should carry on the aspirations of one’s ancestors; in office, one should fulfill the duties entrusted by the ruler. One should do whatever benefits others and can serve as a way to repay kindness. Even trees nourish their roots after their leaves fall; all things, it seems, follow the principle of returning to their roots and origins. People, too, must do their utmost to repay those from whom they come and remember the sources of their kindness. This is how to understand the principles advocated in the Lingbao Duren.

The Fifth Precept: Do not forget the methods for treating illness and saving people; first cultivate a compassionate and sympathetic heart.

When someone falls ill, one should recite scriptures and write talismans for them, praying with utmost sincerity for their troubles to be dispelled and their illness cured. One should give one’s whole heart to them as if they were one’s dearest child or parent. Whenever there is an opportunity to help someone or show them kindness, one should do so to the best of one’s ability.

If one holds office and handles public affairs, one should perform good deeds generously and without seeking repayment, act with fairness and generosity, and establish appropriate rules. Before taking action, one should examine matters carefully and think them through repeatedly. One should also do one’s best to build bridges, repair roads, and plant trees that benefit the people.

A person’s compassion is like the root of a tree. Anyone without benevolence is less than a bird or beast. Stories of apes rescuing elephants, righteous falcons fighting snakes, and beings pulling others from danger deserve careful reflection. This is how to understand why the Lingbao Duren teaches people to help the world and save others.

The Sixth Precept: Do not forget the methods of taking substances and cultivating the body.

One should align oneself with Heaven and Earth and follow Yin-Yang. By keeping one’s thoughts upright and sincere, and never slackening, one can naturally transcend transformation…

Creatures such as insects sometimes leave the land and take flight; others travel along the earth’s veins and flowing streams, eventually making their way to distant places. If all things can do this, people should do so as well. This is the way to deliver others through the Way of the Numinous Treasure.

The seventh precept: Do not forget uprightness and purity. Uprightness enables you to stand firm and avoid wrongdoing; purity enables you to uphold the precepts and refrain from coveting what is improper. By abstaining from sexual misconduct, you will not deplete your own Jing, Qi, and Shen; by not coveting food you have no right to take, you will not kill living beings. Regard another person’s wife and daughters as you would your own family, and the lives of living beings as though they were your own offspring. In this way, you can preserve your spirit and lessen grievances and enmities. This is the foundation for delivering others through the Way of the Numinous Treasure.

The eighth precept: Do not forget frugality. You should understand that all things you need are born from the primordial ancestral Qi, the Daoist term for the source Qi of the cosmos. Use water mixed with ash to wash away dirt; there is no need for elaborate adornment. Eat millet and beans to satisfy your hunger; there is no need to seek rare delicacies. This is the blessing gained by delivering others through the Way of the Numinous Treasure.

The ninth precept: Do not forget to make vows and keep your pledges. Making vows means that, when first entering the Dao, you often set your intentions. Keeping pledges means swearing before Heaven, Earth, and the spirits after entering the Dao, with the spirits as witnesses. Do not casually change your resolve midway; the precepts and rules of ritual practice must be observed. This is the frame of mind you should uphold in delivering others through the Way of the Numinous Treasure.

The tenth precept: Do not forget your teachers and fellow practitioners. Teachers are responsible for instruction, and fellow practitioners for encouragement. Instruction is like a father’s guidance; encouragement is like an elder brother’s. Since they are like father and brother to you, how could you fail to respect and value them? Do not cast them aside. This is the essential lineage for delivering others through the Way of the Numinous Treasure.

In observing the precepts, do not fall short for even a moment.

The ten precepts expounded above were transmitted by teachers and bestowed by venerable masters to explain the ancient scripture. The scripture contains the essential principles of the Great Dao, while its rules are those principles put into practice. To follow the Orthodox Teaching, you must first devote yourself diligently to your cultivation. Uphold and practice the precepts without growing slack halfway through. In this way, the departed souls of countless generations of ancestors, along with those suffering and restless spirits, can all be delivered and ascend to the Vermilion Palace. If you cultivate with ever greater diligence and continue learning without pause, then once your merit is complete, you can all become immortals, ascend to the Golden Palace, and feast in the Jade Capital. Strive earnestly.

Next, the scripture will be transmitted.

The scripture states: A cultivator of the highest capacity who cultivates and recites this scripture and understands its profound principles can ascend and be delivered to the Southern Palace, bypassing hell, and can save countless beings everywhere. All the spirits of Heaven and living beings in the human realm will thereby receive its grace and immeasurable blessings; both the living and the dead will benefit. This scripture is a treasure cherished by Heaven and must not be transmitted to worldly people. A person of utmost sincerity must bring gold, silver, and other valuables, and swear an oath to Heaven with a sincere heart before it may be transmitted. If it is disclosed lightly…

Negligence and disrespect may bring calamity upon nine generations of one’s ancestors, condemning them to serve for a long time under the ghost officials. Twenty-four Jade Youths and Jade Maidens of the Five Emperors attend to the scriptures and will guard and protect those who receive them. After receiving a scripture, one must hold to it with reverence.

Next, the secret instructions are transmitted.

The Dao follows its own natural order. It carries out its functions without claiming mastery. We call it “Dao” only as a makeshift name, because it is supremely mysterious. It brings forth and nurtures the myriad things, yet has no form. The great Lingbao Dafa is treasured in golden books and was transmitted by the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning. It is profound and subtle, arising from a realm of utmost emptiness and stillness. Its deep roots cannot be traced, and its subtle principles cannot be exhausted.

This secret teaching comes from the celestial palace of the Great Luo Golden Gate and receives the intent revealed by the Precious Pearl of Fuli. The heavens revere it, and the assembled sages protect it. Only those who have cultivated good roots in the past can glimpse its hidden meaning.

Now the disciple, so-and-so, bows sincerely and vows to receive this secret teaching. The disciple declares their intent before the spirits of the ten directions and makes a covenant with the Three Realms, vowing to seek the ultimate principle, realize the Great Dao, and save the people of the world. The disciple reverently receives the great teaching before the sage and beseeches the Elders of Jade Capital and the Perfected Ones of the Golden Gate to send Jade Maidens bearing letters, carrying golden writs to proclaim the commands of the teaching far and wide. The disciple also asks them to command the Jade Youths to give their approval and open the precious chest, so that the teaching may be transmitted.

May the disciple, so-and-so, have a clear and upright soul and spirit, and may the myriad Qi endure forever. May the disciple be free from suffering, with light in their body. Under the protection of the spirits of the Three Realms, may the Five Emperors welcome the disciple, the myriad spirits pay homage, and the disciple’s name be entered in the celestial registers. When merit is complete, may the disciple ascend to Shangqing. After receiving the teaching, one must put it into practice and never reveal it carelessly.

Next, the ritual seal is transmitted.

The teachings have different levels, and offices have their ranks. Anyone carrying out commands from the divine realm must first wear the ritual seal. Documents and petitions to the gods are conveyed through it; summoning spirits and generals, and directing their movements, also depend on it to establish communion with the gods. The ritual seal is a token treasured by Heaven, and it is not for ordinary people to transmit. Since the token serves as proof of a covenant, it must be transmitted according to the prescribed ritual procedures. Thus, troops and generals move with the seal, and commanders act in accordance with the order. Those who receive the teaching must hold the seal with reverence and seek auspicious responses. The ritual seal described here is an insignia used in Daoist liturgy to issue commands, submit petitions, and summon and direct spirit generals.

Next, the ritual sword is transmitted.

To carry out Heaven’s instruction, issue commands, and display authority, one relies entirely on this three-foot divine sword, which subdues demons and beings that defy the righteous Dao. Its light shines upon the Seven Luminaries, and its might commands all spirits. Whatever it directs or summons will respond. Now I entrust this ritual sword to you; you must keep it carefully. Here, the ritual sword is a ritual implement that symbolizes divine authority and is used in rites to expel evil and subdue demons.

After each transmission is completed, the master and disciple both hold a writing brush and make a vow.

The master says, “Turn the brush toward Heaven.” The disciple replies, “Above, I will not fail Heaven. If I fail Heaven, may seven generations of my ancestors be punished. If Heaven fails me, may the sun and moon lose their light.”

The master says, “Turn the brush toward Earth.” The disciple replies, “Below, I will not fail Earth. If I fail Earth, may I suffer calamity by weapons.”

“If the earth lets me down, the plants and trees will cease to grow.” After saying this, the master pointed the brush back toward his own heart. The disciple continued, “If I betray my original nature, my whole household will know no peace; if I betray the Dao and its methods, the teachings I put into practice will have no effect.”

Raise the Heavenly Worthy Who Ever Aids Those Bound by the Dharma (a title of a Daoist deity).

Next, master and disciple split the covenant document and separated the jade ring.

The “ring covenant” is a token used to establish an oath: the oath is declared before the Three Officials (the Officials of Heaven, Earth, and Water), so that it may remain forever firm throughout the ten directions of the celestial realms. When the master transmits the true teaching, he must not conceal its real meaning or deceive the disciple with false teachings; nor may the disciple betray the Dao and its methods or disobey the master. By separating the jade ring, they pledge never to change their covenant; by splitting the covenant document, they pledge never to break their oath. If the disciple is diligent at first but grows lax later, the Five Emperors will record the offense. If the disciple reverently upholds the teaching and devotes themself to practice, they will share in the blessings of the Nine Heavens. The disciple should receive the teaching before the divine powers and cherish and uphold it throughout life.

The master held the left half of the covenant document and the disciple the right. With a knife, they cut the document between them. As the document was handed over, the disciple knelt and recited:

“With my brush I point toward the Lingbao Heavenly Worthy (a Daoist deity) in the Heaven of the Nine Qi in the east, and toward the Perfected Ones, immortals, Jade Maidens, Jade Youths, numinous officials, and immortal soldiers. Today I joyfully receive the transmission, having passed through the heavenly barriers. May the Three Evils be extinguished and the roots of earthly entanglement severed, so that I may fly beyond the Five Gates and have my name entered in the Great Mystery. May the demon kings recommend me, that I may take my place in Jade Purity; may my Nine Generations of ancestors and seven generations of forebears escape the underworld, receive deliverance at once, and have their souls ascend to the Southern Palace.

“May I pass beyond the Three Paths, the Five Sufferings, the Eight Tribulations, the Nine Calamities, and the thousand disasters and ten thousand misfortunes. When my merit is complete and my De perfected, may the Dark Master (the master who transmits the Dao) guide me across the Three Realms, so that I may roam freely in Highest Clarity. Once my inner cultivation and outer conduct are both complete, may I pass beyond the Three Realms and ascend to the rank of an immortal elder.

“May all demons be destroyed, never again to test or obstruct me; may the Three Officials each return to their proper places. May I command thunder and lightning with a cry, breathe in the wind and clouds, direct the Dingjia (protective divine generals), and command ghosts and spirits. May I summon a thousand Perfected Ones and direct ten thousand numinous beings, subdue noxious creatures, deliver the souls of the dead, capture tigers and leopards, destroy ghosts and monsters, rescue those in calamity, and protect the peace.

“May I assist Heaven in carrying out its teachings, aid the state and relieve the people, and harmonize and stabilize the Five Qi (the five forms of energy that compose all things). May I receive the Mandate of Heaven and take part in maintaining the order of Heaven and Earth. Through inner refinement may I become a Perfected One, able to summon food and drink without effort, and may all who travel where I go find good fortune and success.

“If these vows fail to come true, may Heaven and Earth bear witness together. I now entrust my spirit, body, and life to the Three Treasures (the Dao, the scriptures, and the master). If I harbor other intentions, am diligent at first but grow lax in the end, betray the Dao and its methods, slight the precepts, disclose the teachings, disobey the master’s commands, fail to maintain reverence and faith, disregard the prescribed period before transmitting the teaching, or recklessly pass it on to unsuitable people; if I am disloyal or unfilial, engage in illicit sexual conduct, destroy the covenant, or secretly plot murder, and willingly incur Heaven’s punishment, then first let my ancestors fall into guilt, and afterward let my descendants suffer the consequences, sinking forever into Northern Feng (a place in the underworld). The punishment visited upon my person shall accord with the offenses I have committed…”

The disciple’s physical form is tested with a ritual knife, which passes over it three times. This removes traces of conduct that goes against the Great Dao, so that through countless tribulations the disciple cannot hope to become an immortal. The disciple willingly accepts this, declaring that they have defied Heaven and Earth, betrayed the Dao and their master, and acted wickedly without conscience. Even if they suffer retribution, they dare not resent the Dao or blame their master. May this be carried out at once, by the ordinances and commands of the Great Lingbao Method.

Next, divide the covenant token and make the oath.

May the Celestial Official of the Upper Origin, the Terrestrial Official of the Middle Origin, and the Water Official of the Lower Origin; the Celestial Emperors of the four directions; the Five Emperors of the five directions; the sun, moon, and stars; and the Perfected Ones of the four poles bear witness to this. May the master who initiates the disciple also bear witness in the Mystery. After the covenant token is divided, the disciple swears never to betray Heaven, Earth, or the master; to be loyal to the state, filial toward their parents, compassionate toward all beings, and merciful in rescuing those who suffer and face hardship; and to aid all things through good deeds. The disciple swears never to break the covenant. Should they break it, they willingly accept Heaven’s punishment, enduring the sufferings of the Three Paths and repaying their debt through the punishments of the Five Pains. May this be carried out at once, according to the ordinances.

The master and disciple each hold one half of the covenant token. The master cuts a strand of dark hair with a knife, in place of cutting the hair. Then they draw blood, drink the elixir, and seal their covenant with an oath.

The disciple cuts their hair and swears before Heaven, seals the covenant with blood, and drinks the elixir to affirm their pledge. Looking up, they appeal to the Celestial Worthy and ask the Three Officials to recommend them and the Five Emperors to bear witness. The three masters who initiated the disciple, together with the divine spirits of the heavens, are asked to register the disciple’s name: to remove it from the register of the dead in the Northern Dipper and enter it in the register of the living in the Southern Dipper; to have all the Perfected Ones fulfill their appointed duties and the heavenly demons honor the disciple’s physical form; and to have the disciple’s seven generations of ancestors refined in the Southern Palace, the Daoist realm where immortals cultivate. When their cultivation is complete, the disciple will ascend to the Jade Clarity Heaven. If they harbor thoughts of betrayal and break their oath, they will receive no divine aid when events arise; all shall be carried out according to the ordinances.

The master holds a red cup, takes up a brush, and proclaims:

“The initiation is complete. Now, through the rite of drinking blood, renew the covenant, using the elixir in place of blood. May each of you remain true to your own heart. Drink this elixir’s radiance, and you will attain the true Dao and commune with the divine spirits. May the Five Qi within you be harmonized, the hundred spirits return to unity, spiritual power circulate, and the myriad Qi gather together, so that at last you may become an immortal.”

Next, the master sprays elixir water over the disciple and proclaims:

“With the first sprinkling, the highest sages of the Three Pure Ones initiate you; with the second, the most holy beings of the Ten Directions initiate you; with the third, all the Perfected Ones of the Three Realms initiate you.”

(The disciple drinks a mouthful of elixir water.)

The master and disciple each put away their half of the covenant token. The master then takes up the token again and offers this blessing:

“Heaven and Earth join in trust; the covenant token serves as their pledge. May you act with integrity, hold loyalty and filial devotion in your heart, keep your mind clear and peaceful, be compassionate and kind, treat others with respect, speak truthfully, guard your purity, and remain constant throughout, so that your cultivation of the Dao accords with the divine. Do not flatter or deceive, giving rise to greed and anger, harming yourself and ruining your virtue, until the Three Realms no longer recognize you. Now we divide and exchange the covenant tokens; this bond of fellowship is firm as metal and stone.”

(The master gives one half of the covenant token to the disciple.)

Read aloud the written covenant.

Next, transmit the immortal proclamation.

Note: The “covenant token” is a pledge shared by master and disciple, then divided for each to keep. “Elixir water” is the elixir liquid used in the rite. The original wording in passages such as “testing the form with a knife, three passes” is very concise; the translation above renders it according to the ritual context.

Through the blessings you accumulated in former lives, you have been fortunate enough to encounter the true Daoist teachings. Since you have aligned yourself with them, received and worn the sacred scriptures, and reverently upheld your vows, you should now be granted an immortal patent, a document conferring an immortal office, and enrolled among the honored ranks of the immortals. You need only receive and practice these teachings, and remember to cultivate yourself and keep your conduct in check.

The immortal patent is read aloud.

Next, the military dispatch document is bestowed. This document authorizes you to command divine troops and exercise the duties of your office.

You have received Heaven’s grace and been elevated in the ranks of the immortals. Now, in accordance with the Mysteries’ ritual regulations, you are given ritual implements suited to your office. All officials of this department and the celestial officers under its authority should jointly complete the transfer before the holy perfected ones, so that you may share responsibility for divine duties and govern their affairs. This document is therefore granted to you to clarify your responsibilities.

After the military dispatch document is read aloud, the master offers this prayer:

The scriptures and methods of Lingbao are revered by the myriad Heavenly Worthies. Today, as you receive the transmission, the Three Realms come to honor you. The heavens inscribe your name, admitting you among the ranks of the Immortal Elders, the Imperial Lords, and the Great Sages. May this be proclaimed throughout the boundless worlds, so that the Way of Deliverance may flourish and prosper.

The disciple receives the document, gives thanks, and offers this prayer:

I, your servant, am dull by nature and ordinary and limited in ability. Yet I have received the Emperor of Heaven’s grace, and my name has been entered among the immortals and perfected beings. I have made an oath firm as gold and stone, and received and worn the essential teachings of the Dao. Though all this depends on fortunate circumstances, I am deeply ashamed to have received an honor I do not deserve. How could I fail to strengthen my resolve and observe the rules of the Mysterious Gate for years to come? May I assist the transforming power of Wuwei (non-action) from above, and strive to accomplish works that benefit the world and deliver its people. Words cannot express my gratitude. I respectfully bow twice. The disciple performs three bows.

The master once more makes an invocation and reads the liturgical text for the Zhaijiao purification ritual:

We, your servants, respectfully make this renewed invocation to the Three Pure Ones, the Supreme Emperors, the perfected beings of the myriad heavens, the lineage masters who established the Great Lingbao Method, the celestial officials and generals of the scriptures, methods, and registers, and the holy sages and perfected beings throughout the Three Realms and the ten directions.

We have heard that the Daoist methods must be upheld by those who spread them, and that the teachings must be passed on by a master. Only through an unbroken succession from generation to generation can the true Dao be proclaimed widely and preserved without end. In this way, the Great Dao is exalted, a guiding boat is made for later students, and the vital energies of Heaven and Earth are stirred like air through a bellows. Thus the work of supporting what is upright is accomplished, and the path of delivering people is widened.

Our nature is weak, and our practice is not yet refined. Without meeting a perfected person, we would find it difficult to understand the profound meaning of the true Dao. Now we have been entrusted with transmitting the teachings, yet we feel unworthy of this weighty responsibility. Fortunately, our master has established the ritual procedures and permitted us to transmit the teachings, aid the world, and guide living beings. We have therefore sworn an oath before Heaven and declared our earnest intentions. The seals of transmission and the military dispatch document have been handed over, and offerings have been respectfully set out. The ceremony is now, for the most part, complete.

We recognize that the offerings may not have been abundant or pure enough, and that we may indeed have given offense to the perfected spirits. We earnestly ask them to extend their grace and forgive any omissions or faults. May they also enable So-and-so to ascend soon in a fine …

At once, one awakens to the subtle workings of the Dao. With continued practice, no demonic obstacle stands in the way. The Daoist rites one performs accord with the spirits; breath by breath, communication and response flow between them, and petitions can be conveyed in secret. By accumulating merit through aiding the living and delivering the dead, one comes to understand the subtle means of strengthening one’s roots and deepening one’s foundation.

May the true wind—that is, the orthodox Daoist tradition—shine forth, and may the highest teachings be proclaimed and put into practice. May the sun and moon shine brightly, and heaven and earth be at peace. May the sovereign live as long as the Southern Mountain, may the foundations of the state stand firm as rock, and may the ancestral temples be at peace. May officials fulfill their duties, the frontiers remain free of alarm, and the people live and work in peace. Next, may the masters who transmit the Daoist teachings and the living parents who gave us birth all receive blessings; may those who have passed away roam the realms of the immortals. May those dwelling in mountain caves soon fulfill the aspirations they pursue, and may all beings receive the blessings of birth, nourishment, and growth. We, your servants, respectfully bow twice and offer the final libation.

Reading the Memorial for the Dragon Chariot

The ritual master then takes his place in order, announces his title, and presents the following petition:

We, your servants, [names and titles], respectfully submit this petition once more:

Supreme One of the Golden Palace, Holy Ones above the Jade Firmament, venerable masters present at the altar to transmit the ordination, and perfected beings and holy ones throughout the Three Realms and the ten directions: We have heard that the Dao in its essence is empty and still, yet responds compassionately to all things; though heaven is high and distant, it hears the petitions of the lowly. Thus this altar for the transmission of the Daoist ordination has received the watchful care and protection of all the assembled holy ones. We deeply fear that our repeated petitions may have caused offense, and humbly beg your forgiveness. Now the rite conferring the additional ranks of office has been completed, and the Jiao offering rite has also come to an end. The realms of the immortals and of humankind are distinct, and the ceremonial retinue cannot remain for long. The sounds and presence of the pure retinue have faded away; the immortal procession has returned to the Jade Capital. The purple clouds have drawn in their radiance, and we can no longer behold the splendor of the immortal procession. The true spirits return in glory now that the affairs of the altar have been brought to completion, while the divine officers and generals, who were charged with guarding the altar and carrying out the rites, will depart in spirit to keep watch in their appointed places. At this thought, our hearts are filled with gratitude and deep attachment; our thanks, together with those of the disciples, cannot be expressed in words. We respectfully bow twice and bid farewell to all the holy ones.

The assembled ritualists see the holy procession off. They burn the memorial, dedicate the merit, and complete the rites.

Three Libations of Gratitude to the Divine Officers and Generals

We respectfully observe: The hidden rhythms of the myriad demons bring the joining and parting of all things into natural order. The Three Luminaries—the sun, moon, and stars—shine forth, and the Brahma-Qi of the great transformation flows throughout the cosmos. In the boundless Great Luo Heaven, the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning sits serenely. The Celestial Worthy proclaims the laws and saves the people, with subtle methods for restoring the body to its original, perfected state. The scriptures he spreads and causes to circulate through the world possess the profound power to raise the dead and restore life.

The eight directions’ awe-inspiring spirits serve this scripture, and the holy ones above the heavens guard this teaching. The Great Demons of the Five Emperors oversee this matter, while the envoys of the ten directions each have their appointed duties. Once those who seek the Dao have sworn their vows and received the transmission, the Demon Kings recommend them, so that they may follow the Great Dao and faithfully observe Heaven’s prohibitions. At the spirit altar, an open-air Jiao offering rite is performed to summon and command the spirits of the ten directions, to control the earth deities, and to put the hidden arts into practice…

Heavenly decrees can restrain demons. By cultivating this true text and following its essential teachings, one can summon all the sages to descend. When this Jing is read aloud and chanted, the gods of the heavens will all come together. Those who assist me in performing rituals will, upon hearing the incantations, be able to come and go without hindrance. Those who assist me in cultivating the Dao, by carrying out the talismanic commands, will be able to help all beings, save the living, and deliver the dead. Harmonize the Five Qi (the five primordial energies in Daoist teaching), so that the hundred spirits unite.

Now I respectfully abide by the covenant of the liturgy, prepare the offerings, and set them out with reverence. I humbly beseech the divine generals of every rank to come in ordered array, witness the rite, and partake of the offerings. The ceremonial procession is dignified, and the sacrificial rites have been purified and fully prepared. May the teachings be widely propagated and profound mysterious merit accumulated. With the spirits bearing witness here, I respectfully offer the first cup of wine.

I humbly reflect that the Lingbao text presented here contains the profound essentials of the Way of Double Mystery; the wondrous Dao of the highest rank is the fundamental aim of the Great Rite. At times it is transmitted among people; at times it is kept hidden in the heavenly treasury. Those who honor and pay reverence to it can attain the Dao; those who carelessly divulge it or treat it with disrespect will bring calamity upon themselves. Through karmic ties from a former life, I have been granted the honor of participating reverently in the Great Rite. Having received my master’s instruction and guidance, I should prepare gifts to repay this kindness. I look up to the wisdom of the most sacred spirits and down to the modest offerings I present, praying that they will be moved to descend. I pray that their divine power will shine brightly, supporting the Orthodox Teachings at the Mysterious Altar, and that their spiritual transformations will manifest clearly, enabling me to accumulate hidden virtue in the human world.

I am ashamed that my learning is shallow, yet fortunate to have encountered a clear-sighted master. Though my practice follows the teachings of the lineage, it still depends on the power of the spirits for support. May the roots of calamity be severed, evil forms cut away, and chief offenders struck down; may commands be proclaimed and the ordinances upheld; may beings in the netherworld and the living world be rescued, with nothing beyond accomplishment. May virtue be established and merit achieved, and may every request be answered. May I not grow lax and thereby violate the covenant. Now, fortunate to stand before the spirits’ majestic presence, I respectfully offer the second cup of wine.

I humbly reflect that without people, the Great Dao cannot be established; apart from the Dao, people cannot act. Therefore, the Dao must be proclaimed through people, and people must take their stand in accordance with the Dao. I am fortunate to participate in the mysterious Great Dao, to have been elevated and admitted to the ranks of the immortals. Yet I am ashamed that my virtue is shallow and my abilities meager, and can only rely on the most divine spirits for support. I humbly beseech the divine generals of every office to join in ordering the ritual altar: let banners and pennants stand in ranks, each guarding and securing its own Jingzhi (a purified area used for ritual practice). When called by name, the divine generals will respond at once; when the spirits move and distribute Qi, their power will manifest openly and flow freely. May the spirits assist my Dao and establish its merit, uphold the covenant and observe its rules; may they support the teachings of Xuanyuan (the source of the Dao, revered in Daoism as the Dao itself) and never cease their cultivation. May the merit be complete, allowing advancement among the ranks of immortals.

Now my words have been many, and I have repeatedly troubled the spirits. The rites have reached their third offering. May this sincere heart of mine never change, relying wholly on the spirits’ clear witness. I now respectfully present the final cup of wine in gratitude for the radiance of their divine power.

The Great Ritual of the Highest Clarity and Lingbao, Volume Thirty