《上清靈寶大法(一)》Vol. 34

Shangqing Lingbao Dafa (Great Rites of Shangqing Lingbao), Scroll Thirty-Four

Transmitted by Ning Quanzhen, Gaoshi of Dongwei and Zhenren of Kaiguang Jiuku

Compiled by Wang Weizhen, Disciple of the Shangqing Three Caverns and Heir-Master of Lingbao Instruction

Altar Diagrams and Gates of the Zhaifa (Purification Rites)

Images of the Hell Lamps

The Master says: Whenever a large zhaijiao (purification ritual) is held, one should dispel darkness, extend the light, and pardon the sinful souls in every region of the hells. To rescue these souls, the altar should be arranged according to the prescribed diagram, as follows.

Diagram of the Nine Cups and Nine Ramparts Lamps

The Master says: The rite for delivering the dead should be carried out with a lamp tree made according to regulation. Beneath the lamp tree, a Wheel of Heaven and Earth is set up: a circle represents Heaven and a square represents Earth. Three kinds of radiance are distributed to illuminate the nine levels of hell, and the eight directions are arranged so that the Central Sovereign occupies the center. From the day the deceased passes away until the completion of the seven sevens (seven periods of seven days, that is, forty-nine days), the lamps must never be extinguished, so that the dark passes are kept lit.

The method for setting up the lamp altar is as follows. Make a lamp tree from catalpa wood, with nine lamp-cup seats branching from it, each holding one lamp. Beneath it, build a three-tiered platform of clean earth, round above and square below. On the topmost tier, place the lamp tree and hang nine banners from it. On the middle tier, erect nine "Nine Qi Tablets" and set nine lamps upon them. On the lowest tier, erect nine "Tablets of the Nine Ramparts Sovereigns" and set nine more lamps. The three tiers together hold twenty-seven lamps. Outside the altar, eight gates are then set up according to the trigram directions, each with one lamp lit. In all, thirty-five lamps are arranged, so that their light rises to the Nine Heavens, spreads through the Nine Fields, descends to the Nine Ramparts, illuminates the Nine Paths, and shines across the eight directions and encircles the ten directions. This is called the method of "gathering the twenty-five parts of the Supreme Mysterious Qi."

Nine Qi Tablets

The placental life-source of the Divine True is named the Qi of Yuanyi Huangyan. The embryonic life-source of the Divine True is named the Qi of Dongming Ziwu. The soul life-source of the Divine True is named the Qi of Changling Mingxian. The corporeal life-source of the Divine True is named the Qi of Dangshi Mingyan You. The viscera life-source of the Divine True is named the Qi of the Five Immortals' Central Numinosity. The spirit-mansion life-source of the Divine True is named the Qi of Gaozhen Chongrong. The primal-mansion life-source of the Divine True is named the Qi of Gaoxian Dongji. The flowery-mansion life-source of the Divine True is named the Qi of Zhenling Huaning. The mountain-mansion life-source of the Divine True is named the Qi of Ziran Xuanzhao.

Nine Ramparts Tablets

First Rampart: Earth Sovereign of the Dongyuan Marsh.

Second Rampart: Earth Sovereign of the Jingang Marsh.

Third Rampart: Earth Sovereign of the Shizhi-Hued Marsh.

Fourth Rampart: Earth Sovereign of the Runse Marsh.

Fifth Rampart: Earth Sovereign of the Jinsu Marsh.

The sixth is the Earth Sovereign of the Diamond-Iron Hue; the seventh is the Earth Sovereign of the Water-Restraining Hue; the eighth is the Earth Sovereign of the Great Wind Hue; and the ninth is the Earth Sovereign of the Colorless Abyss of Dongyuan.

The Diagram of the Nine Dark Prisons (Jiuyou)

The Master said: Lay them out according to the established standards, shaping them to the round heaven and the square earth. The Lords of the Nine Dark Prisons and the officials who administer their punishments dwell in the Si position, to the southeast of Mount Luofeng. According to the regulations of the Scripture of the Taiyi Holy Perfected Liturgy, build nine altars of sand and earth. Each altar measures two chi square, and the nine together measure six chi square, symbolizing the number "two-six," the extreme of earthly yin. Each altar is formed with four corners and three bends, like a prison.

Before each prison, light three torches, for twenty-seven in all. At the center of each prison, set up a tablet according to its direction. The front of the tablet bears the Talisman for Breaking the Earth Prisons (Podiyu Fu; see the Section on Ritual Methods and Talismans and Registers), and the back bears the name of the prison. Above each tablet, hang nine banners (for their form, see the Section on Banners and Canopies). Alternatively, make nine yellow banners and write upon them the Seals of the Nine Heavens that Generate Spirits (Jiutian Shengshen Zhang). Once the nine prisons have been broken, burn the nine banners, and then hang these yellow banners in their corresponding places. First raise a yellow banner for the transfer and return of the spirit, so that the wandering souls may see it. In this way, the sins of the dead are dissolved.

The Nine Dark Prisons are established according to the Bagua and the central direction, with reference to the correspondence of the Nine Provinces. Each is guarded by an Office of the Altar (She Ling). In the heavens they correspond to the Nine Empyreans, and on earth to the Nine Palaces, and they appear as nine kinds of hell. Although the prisons have nine names, all are transformed from the same primordial qi (yuanqi), and they manifest in response to a single thought. When the dead give rise to even one evil thought, the corresponding hell appears, and they receive its retribution. For this reason, the Most High (Taishang), in his compassion, established the nine zhai rites to deliver the dead from suffering, and one should understand the origins of these hells.

The first is the Prison of Dark Obscurity (Youming), transformed from the nine qi of the eastern Zhen trigram. All things sprout and stir under the shock of wind and thunder, so it is also called the Prison of Wind and Thunder.

The second is the Prison of Dark Yin (Youyin), transformed from the three qi of the southern Li trigram. The number of fire is yang, and when yang reaches its extreme it turns and gives rise to yin, so it is also called the Prison of Fire Shadow.

The third is the Prison of Dark Night (Youye), transformed from the seven qi of the western Dui trigram. The light of day vanishes in the west at the you hour. The west belongs to metal, which signifies austerity, punishment, and the unyielding way, so it is also called the Diamond Prison.

The fourth is the Prison of Dark Feng (Youfeng), transformed from the five qi of the northern Kan trigram. By the pattern of climate and the number of water, at the zi hour yin reaches its extreme and yang begins to stir. Water is at its strongest in the zi position, so it is also called the Prison of Frigid Gloom.

Youdu (Dark Capital) is the Fan Qi, the primordial Qi that Daoism identifies as the original vital energy before the cosmos took form, generated from Gen (Mountain), the trigram of the Bagua (Eight Trigrams) that governs the northeast and symbolizes the mountain. When the qi reaches the hour of Yin, around 3 to 5 a.m., the Gen position presides over gentle warmth, the spreading of new life, and the birth of Wood Qi. For this reason it is called the "Cauldron of Boiling Water" (Huotang).

Sixth, Youzhi (Dark Governance) is the Fan Qi generated from Xun (Wind), the trigram of the southeast that symbolizes wind. When Fire Qi reaches the hour of Si, around 9 to 11 a.m., it attains its most vigorous stage, its flames so fierce that they seem able to melt copper and iron. For this reason it is called the "Bronze Pillar" (Tongzhu).

Seventh, Youguan (Dark Pass), is the Fan Qi generated from Kun (Earth), the trigram of the southwest that symbolizes the earth. Metal Qi governs austerity and killing, and the southwest is the season of such austerity. Moreover, because this is the "Gate of Humanity" (renmen), it readily gives rise to greed and a desire to kill, and so it is called "Butchery" (Tuge).

Eighth, Youfu (Dark Palace), is the Fan Qi generated from Qian (Heaven), the trigram of the northwest that symbolizes heaven. It presents the image of the celestial wheel turning, and so it is called the "Fire Chariot" (Huoche).

Ninth, Youyu (Dark Prison), is generated by the single Qi of the center and governed by the Earth Sovereign of the Central Palace, who oversees the governance of the center. Hence it is called "Universal Seizure" (Puluo).

In sum, establishing the Keyi (liturgy) of the Nine Prisons is meant to deliver the drowning souls of the dead universally. If a small-scale rite is held that prays neither for the ruler above nor for the deliverance of the Nine Ancestors and the beings of the Six Paths below, but seeks only to save one or two souls, the Supreme Lord would certainly not issue a special pardon for a single person that opens all nine prisons. The hells may not all be broken, and the wandering spirits may not all be liberated. If the rite is performed without any intention of benefiting living beings, it does not accord with the original purpose of this liturgy.

If the aim is only to deliver the dead in particular, lighting lamps and offering prayers, or a rite of nine lamps and the like, is sufficient, and there is no need to perform the Breaking-the-Prisons liturgy, which also avoids presumption and offense. Still, a filial son who sincerely repents of karmic transgressions on behalf of his parents and ancestors has already done enough. Could he perform this liturgy merely out of fear that his ancestors have certainly fallen into hell? If it is truly to be performed, one should set up a Xushi (offering of food rite) as circumstances require to deliver the drowning souls. Regardless of their number, one should cultivate merit by doing good according to one's ability. Only then is the Breaking-the-Prisons liturgy performed without impropriety.

Living beings are immersed in immeasurable suffering, and only because of a single deviant thought do they ultimately fall into hell. If one does not petition Heaven for pardon, intercede on their behalf, and perform the breaking-the-prison talismans (Fulu) according to the law, how could the souls be liberated? Therefore, the rite should be performed in accordance with the proper rules.

Nine Prisons Tablet

East: Hell of Dark Wind and Thunder (Youming Fenglei).

South: Hell of Dark Yin and Shadowed Fire (Youyin Huoyi).

West: Hell of Dark Night and Vajra (Youye Jingang).

North: Hell of Dark Fengming Cold (Youfeng Minglěng).

Northeast: Hell of Youdu Cauldron of Boiling Water (Youdu Huotang).

Southeast: Hell of Youzhi Bronze Pillar (Youzhi Tongzhu).

West and southwest is the Youguan Tuge Diyu (Hell of the Dark Pass and Butchering Dismemberment), northwest is the Youfu Huoche Diyu (Hell of the Dark Mansion and Fiery Cart), and the center is the Pulue Youyu (Hell of Universal Plunder).

Nine Prison Lamp Talismans, Nine Prison Form Diagrams, General Nine Prison Diagram, Huiyao Lamp Diagram.

The Master said: The Mengzhen Kedian (Liturgical Canon of the Perfected Covenant) records a ritual standard called huiyao jiangguang (returning the radiance and descending the light). This rite is used for repentance and for dispelling the suffering brought on by the wulei kumen (Five Burdens and Gates of Suffering). The method is to make a wheel-shaped lamp frame from catalpa wood. Twelve lamps are lit on the upper tier, sixteen on the middle tier, and twenty-one on the lower tier. The central wulei kumen is also counted, so the total comes to forty-nine lamps. Separate tablets are set up and inscribed with the names of the various hells. Then forty-nine small banners are made in alternating yellow and white and interlaced on the lamp frame. First, a single huiyao fan (Returning Radiance Banner) is erected to the southeast of the lamp wheel, so that the inner and outer arrangements correspond to one another.

This rite is used in the huanglu guangdu (Yellow Register Universal Salvation), a large Daoist ritual of deliverance for the dead, through which merit is accumulated and the deceased are transported and aided. The rite aims to draw back the light of the three luminaries, the sun, moon, and stars, so that their radiance enters the Nine Springs below. It is meant to melt the iron city, destroy the blades and poisoned points, and let the suffering dead all see the three lights, so that they may be reborn directly among humans or in the heavens. This is an original rite of our lineage. The method has been abandoned for a long time and is no longer practiced. It would be better to follow the rites of Cai Zhixu and Lu Shizhong: build a triple-ring altar of sand, square outside and round inside, shaped like a wheel, nine chi (feet) in diameter.

The outermost ring is divided into twenty-four spokes, with twenty-four lamps and twenty-four hell tablets. The middle ring is divided into fifteen spokes, with fifteen lamps and tablets for the wulei, wudao (Five Paths), and wu kumen (Five Gates of Suffering). The innermost ring is divided into nine spokes, with nine lamps and tablets for the san'e men (Three Evil Gates), sanshi dao (Three Corpse Paths), and san tu jie (Three Realms of Followers). At the center, a single huiyao lingfan (Numinous Returning Radiance Banner) is set up, with one lamp. Forty-nine yellow and white small banners are then made and arranged alongside the lamps. When the liturgy and the lamp rite are complete, these small banners are burned over the lamps.

Wooden axle design.

Honorific titles for the nine lamps, nine tablets, and nine banners of the inner ring:

Se Yu Men (Gate of Desire for Form): Yuanling Yinyao Tianzun (Celestial Venerable Who Conceals the Radiance of the Primordial Spirit)

Shang Shi Dao (Upper Corpse Path): Weiguang Baoji Tianzun (Celestial Venerable of Majestic Light at the Treasured Boundary)

Tian Tu Jie (Heavenly Follower Realm): Puzhao Youming Tianzun (Celestial Venerable Who Universally Illuminates Darkness and Light)

Ai Yu Men (Gate of Desire for Love): Suiji Fugan Tianzun (Celestial Venerable Who Responds to Every Need)

Zhong Shi Dao (Middle Corpse Path): Xuhuang Puji Tianzun (Celestial Venerable, Void Sovereign, Who Universally Relieves)

Ren Tu Jie (Human Follower Realm): Da Ci Jiuku Tianzun (Celestial Venerable of Great Compassion Who Rescues from Suffering)

Tan Yu Men (Gate of Desire for Greed): Ci Bei Jiudu Tianzun (Celestial Venerable of Compassion Who Delivers)

Xia Shi Dao (Lower Corpse Path): Wubian Pudu Tianzun (Celestial Venerable of Boundless Universal Salvation)

Di Tu Jie (Earth Follower Realm): Fali Chaosheng Tianzun (Celestial Venerable of Transcendent Ascent by Dharma Power)

The honorific titles for the fifteen lamps, fifteen tablets, and fifteen banners of the middle ring follow.

The Heavenly Venerable (Tianzun) Yuandong Wangchen of the Human Dao, who governs the Human Dao and dwells in the Heaven of Yuandong Wangchen.

The Heavenly Venerable Puguang Hongji, who rescues those whose hearts suffer from craving sensual desire.

The Heavenly Venerable Hongci Guangji of the Bitter Dao of Mount Tai Hell, who with vast compassion rescues those who suffer in Mount Tai Hell.

The Heavenly Venerable Tongguang Puzhao of the Divine Dao, who illuminates the Divine Dao with light.

The Heavenly Venerable Falun Kaihua of the Gate of Suffering from Attachment to Love, who teaches and rescues the spirits that suffer from clinging to passion.

The Heavenly Venerable Lingyuan Punrun of the Bitter Dao of the Wind-Blade Hell, who with universal spiritual springs moistens those who suffer in the Wind-Blade Hell.

The Heavenly Venerable Cibei Huiai of the Ghost Dao, who aids the beings of the Ghost Dao with compassion and grace.

The Heavenly Venerable Shenguang Guangbei of the Gate of Suffering from Greed in Form, who rescues those whose bodies suffer from covetousness.

The Heavenly Venerable Xuanshang Yuhua of the Bitter Dao of Carrying Mountains and Stones. "Carrying mountains and bearing stones" refers to punishments like hauling mountains and bearing rocks on one's back; the Venerable rescues those who suffer here.

The Heavenly Venerable Baoguang Tongzhao of the Dao of Hell, who illuminates the Hell Dao with precious light.

The Heavenly Venerable Yuqing Xuanshang of the Gate of Suffering in Essence from Competing for Glory, who rescues those whose vital essence suffers from striving for worldly honor.

The Heavenly Venerable Ciən Wanshan of the Bitter Dao of "Making Rivers," who rescues beings through grace within this bitter Dao.

The Heavenly Venerable Jinhua Cihui of the Gate of Sideways-Born Beings, who aids the beings of the sideways-born realm, that is, the animal realm.

The Heavenly Venerable Xuanming Fanxing of the Gate of Suffering in the Soul from Bodily Burdens, who rescues the souls that suffer from bodily entanglement.

The Heavenly Venerable Yuzhen Yinyun of the Bitter Dao of Swallowing Fire and Eating Charcoal, who rescues those who suffer in this bitter Dao.

The outer ring of lantern placards bears the titles of twenty-four Heavenly Venerables:

The Heavenly Venerable Guangchang Ciai of the Supervising Heaven-and-Earth Hell, who patrols and rescues the beings of that hell.

The Heavenly Venerable Puchui Miaoze of the Xuansha Hell, who bestows wondrous grace universally upon the beings of the Xuansha Hell.

The Heavenly Venerable Kaidu Wuliang of the Supreme Hell, who widely liberates the beings in the Supreme Hell.

The Heavenly Venerable Guangming Baohua of the Taizhen Hell, who shines radiant treasure-light over the Taizhen Hell.

The Heavenly Venerable Suijie Jiuku of the Void Hell, who rescues those who suffer in the Void Hell, responding to changes of the kalpa.

The Heavenly Venerable Xunsheng Jiuku of the Fire Court Hell, who, upon hearing a cry for help, goes forth to rescue the beings of the Fire Court Hell.

The Heavenly Venerable Wubian Puji of the Poison-Blade Hell, who universally rescues the beings in the Poison-Blade Hell.

The Heavenly Venerable Jiuyou Bacu of the Cold Night Hell, who uproots suffering from the depths of the nine dark realms.

The Heavenly Venerable Miaohua Wubian of the Statute Hell, who teaches and delivers the beings of the Statute Hell with boundless wondrous Dharma.

The Heavenly Venerable Guangchang Fugu of the Wind-Blade Hell, who constantly shelters the beings in the Wind-Blade Hell.

The Heavenly Venerable Jinhua Guangyao of the Nine Obscurities Hell, who illuminates the Nine Obscurities Hell with golden radiance.

The Heavenly Venerable Shengli Wubian of the Xingzheng Hell, who with boundless sacred power rescues the beings of the Xingzheng Hell.

The Heavenly Venerable Guangda Cibei of the Taiping Hell, who with vast compassion aids the beings of the Taiping Hell.

The Heavenly Venerable Wuji Kuaile of the Qingzhao Hell, who grants boundless joy to the beings of the Qingzhao Hell.

The Heavenly Venerable Lunzhuan Wanbian of the Xuanyin Hell, who rescues beings through transformation within the Xuanyin Hell.

The Heavenly Venerable Guangdu Chenlun of the Tianxuan Hell, who widely delivers beings sunk in the Tianxuan Hell.

The Heavenly Venerable Gaohuang Yuchen of the Tianyi Hell, the Supreme Sovereign Jade Dawn Heavenly Venerable of the Tianyi Hell.

The Heavenly Venerable Gaoling Zuimiao of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Prisons, who governs the Thirty-Six Heavenly Prisons and is supremely spiritual and wondrous.

The Heavenly Venerable Cijiao Guangdu of the Yuanzheng Hell, who with compassionate teaching widely delivers the beings of the Yuanzheng Hell.

The Heavenly Venerable Puchui Huize of the Hebo Hell, who universally bestows grace upon the beings of the Hebo Hell.

The Heavenly Venerable Guangda Wubian of the Jinfa Hell, who with boundless great power rescues the beings of the Jinfa Hell.

The Heavenly Venerable Dahong Puji of the Huangtian Hell, who broadly spreads deliverance to the beings of the Huangtian Hell.

The Heavenly Venerable Suinian Wangsheng of the Leijie Hell, who, according to the thoughts of beings, causes them to be reborn.

The Heavenly Venerable Kaidu Suzhang of the Nüqing Hell, who dissolves old karmic obstructions and delivers the beings of the Nüqing Hell.

Return the rotating lantern wheel.

Diagram of the Twenty-Four Prisons.

The Master says: According to the Scripture of the Twenty-Four Precepts of the Perfected (Zhenren Ershisi Jie Jing), if a person commits twenty-four kinds of wrongdoing during life, they will undergo twenty-four corresponding retributions after death, be transformed into the Twenty-Four Prisons, and suffer the Three Paths (santu) and Five Afflictions (wuku) and the Eight Calamities (banan). The Eight Prisons combine into the Twenty-Four Prisons, which correspond to the number of the Three Sections (sanbu), the Eight Luminaries (bajing), and the Twenty-Four Spirits within the human body.

Most people, while alive, cling to romantic love and desire, give rise to deviant thoughts, and accumulate filth that cannot be cleared away. For this reason, the Mengzhen liturgical registers (Mengzhen Ke Dian) establish a method called "Returning Radiance" (huiyao), which uses a light like sunshine to dispel the darkness, so that the ghost officials cease their interrogations and the prisoners are released from their suffering.

The Names of the Twenty-Four Prisons

The first is the Cauldron of Boiling Broth Hell; the second, the Mountain of Knives Hell; the third, the Bronze Pillar Hell; the fourth, the Iron Plough Tilling the Tongue Hell; the fifth, the Mincing-the-Body Hell; the sixth, the Poisonous Snakes Devouring the Body Hell; the seventh, the Molten Copper Hell; the eighth, the Furnace of Coals Hell; the ninth, the Iron Wheel Hell; the tenth, the Carrying Stones Hell; the eleventh, the Iron Bed Hell; the twelfth, the Forest of Swords Hell; the thirteenth, the Frozen Ice Hell; the fourteenth, the Iron Nails Piercing the Body Hell; the fifteenth, the Chaotic Torture Hell; the sixteenth, the Great Stone Crushing the Body Hell; the seventeenth, the Needles and Awls Hell; the eighteenth, the Iron Pellets Hell; the nineteenth, the Eating Coals Hell; the twentieth, the Grinding, Milling, and Pounding Hell; the twenty-first, the Prison of Foul Liquid Poured into the Body; the twenty-second, the Tongue-Plucking Hell; the twenty-third, the Prison of Iron Chains Binding the Body; and the twenty-fourth, the Sawing-Asunder Hell.

The Gate Placards of the Three Paths and Five Afflictions

The Heaven Path (tiantu) is the Way of the Upper Corpse, the Dead Way, and it is the gate of lust (seyu). The Earth Path (ditu) is the Way of the Middle Corpse, the Deviant Way, and it is the gate of love-desire (aiyu). The Water Path (shuitu) is the Way of the Lower Corpse, the Evil Way, and it is the gate of greed (tanyu).

When bound by lust, the heart suffers; when bound by love-desire, the spirit suffers; when bound by greed, the physical form suffers; when driven by ostentatious rivalry, the essence and vital energy (jing and qi) suffer; and when bound by the body itself, the hun and po souls suffer.

The Diagram of the Blood Pool Lamp

The Master says: To the south of the Great Iron Encircling Mountain lies the Xiashi Prison, which is pitch black inside, with flames burning at its sides, and below it is the Blood Pool. To the southeast there is a great stone, broad at the top and tapering at the bottom, with a crack down its middle through which the sinners come and go. Poisonous liquids of a hundred medicines are poured over their bodies and minds. This prison is called the Blood Pool. Women who have died in childbirth sink here for hundreds of millions of kalpas, and the suffering they endure is beyond description, and their defilement is extremely severe. Within the prison are a million ghost soldiers, and by day...

Blood Pool Lamp, Childbirth-Death Prison, and Fengdu Lamp Diagram

The Great Deities of Night Interrogation, Overturning the Body, Hurling the Corpse, and Devouring Hearts and Brains all belong to the class of Ghost Kings.

Opening the Five Roads Lamp Diagram

The Master said: Whenever a large Zhaijiao (purification ritual) is established, one should first open the roads and release the wandering spirits of the dead. The method is to shape five bases from clay, insert five white banners, and arrange them according to the five directions, each honoring a deity: the Great Deity of the Flying Road in the east, the Great Deity of the Crosswise Road in the south, the Great Deity of the Straight Road in the west, the Great Deity of the Obstructing Road in the north, and the Great Deity of the Central Capital Road in the center.

Thirty-Two Heavens Lamp Diagram

The Master said: The lamp altar is divided into three tiers. The upper tier represents the Four Heavens of the Formless Realm. Tablets are set up to honor the demon kings of the Formless Realm, and the banners of the Heavenly Flying Divine Kings of the Ten Directions are hung. The middle tier represents the Eighteen Heavens, where tablets honor the demon kings of the Form Realm. The lower tier honors the Heavenly Honored Ones of the Ten Directions, and tablets are set up for the demon kings of the Desire Realm. At the center of the altar stands a single banner inscribed with "Great Demon King of the Three Realms."

The Master said: This diagram is drawn according to the Yuangang liuyan (the flowing unfolding of the Primordial Network), a Daoist schema of the movements of Heaven and Earth. Above it hang the banners of the Thirty-Two Heavens. The perimeter opens eight gates, and on all four sides stand tablets of the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions.

Nine Heavens Lamp Diagram

The Master said: The Nine Heavens Lamp is the Nine Cup Lamp, a set of nine lamps. If no lamp stand is used, the lamps may be laid directly on the ground. According to the Dong Jing (Cavern Scripture), the First Heaven is at the center, directly facing overhead. The Second Heaven lies to the south, the Third to the southeast, the Fourth to the west, the Fifth to the northeast, the Sixth to the northwest, the Seventh to the north, the Eighth to the southwest, and the Ninth to the east. Nine Qi tablets, marking the nine qi, are to be set upright according to these directions, and the Nine Heavens banner is hung above. The arrangement should follow this diagram.

Today some people take the northeast as the First Heaven. This is highly unreasonable and should be examined and verified carefully.

Shengtian Baotai (Treasure Platform of Birth into Heaven)

From Volume Thirty-Four of the Shangqing Lingbao Dafa (Great Methods of the Numinous Treasure of Highest Clarity).