《上清靈寶大法(一)》Vol. 5

The Three Luminaries of the Inner Court and the Golden Palaces

The master said: “If, in cultivating and using the Great Dao, you have not yet fully reached the realm of heavenly reality, your divine power and spiritual responses will remain incomplete. You may be tested and attacked by demonic forces, the spirits will not hold you in reverence, and they may not respond when summoned. Therefore, you should cultivate the Way of the Three Luminaries of the Inner Court and the Flying Immortal’s Division of Form.

“The method is as follows. At the hours of Chen, Xu, Chou, and Wei, pay homage to the Central Court’s Director of Destiny. First, visualize that this deity’s name is Xuanjian, the Supreme One Lord of the Central Pole, who dwells in the Jade Hall Palace within the spleen, also called the King’s Chamber. This is where the Supreme One Lord rests. He oversees the nurturing and preservation of the practitioner’s true form and vital energy throughout the body.

“At each of these four hours, click your teeth five times and visualize yellow Qi filling the spleen. Above the spleen is a perfected being, shaped like an infant and dressed in yellow. Call to him:

“‘Supreme One True Lord Xuanjian of the Central Pole, I wish to attain the Daoist methods of the perfected immortals and of cultivating the Yellow Court.’

“Call to him five times. Then lie down and rest, sitting quietly with your eyes closed for fifty breaths. The Central Court’s Director of Destiny is also called the Elder. He descends and transforms into the Emperor Lord Supreme One, father of the celestial spirits of the Nine Heavens, who dwells in the Taiji Palace. It is said that those who cultivate this method will not fall into hell; Jade Boys and Jade Maidens will attend them, and they will be able to command the myriad spirits.

“At the hours of Yin, Mao, Wu, and Shen, pay homage to the Supreme One Lord of the Upper Court, known as the Elder of the Southern Pole, who dwells in the Palace of the Supreme One. He oversees the practitioner’s hun and po souls, the spirit of the womb, the vital energy of destiny, and the fetal chamber; he is the father of these life elements.

“At each of these four hours, click your teeth nine times. Visualize a perfected being entering one inch into your head, into a place called the Taiji Palace, also known as the Palace of the Supreme One. Visualize red-yellow Qi filling the palace. Within the Qi is a perfected being, shaped like a child and dressed in deep red. Call to him:

“‘Supreme One True Lord Yuánxiān of the Southern Pole, I wish to attain the Daoist methods for refining the Elixir of Spirit and living forever without death.’

“Call to him nine times. Then lie down and rest, sitting quietly with your eyes closed for fifty breaths; afterward, focus your visualization for ninety breaths. The scripture says that those who cultivate this method correctly can prolong their lives without dying, transform into immortals, dispel disturbances from demonic forces, and summon true immortals.

“At the hours of Zi, Hai, Si, and You, pay homage to the Mysterious Origin Mother of the Dao of the Lower Court. She dwells in the Palace of Dual Union, the place where the kidneys are located. Since it faces the Southern Pole above, it is called the Northern Pole. She oversees the practitioner’s Jing and Qi, and the registers governing life and death; she is the mother of these life elements.”

At any time of year, you may tap your teeth four times at the appointed hour while visualizing white Qi in your kidneys. Within the white Qi is a divine tortoise, and on its back sits the Mysterious Maiden, a goddess dressed in blue and white, with the appearance of a young woman. To the left stands the Lord of Destiny, the deity who governs people’s lifespans and registers of life and death. He wears blue robes and a heavenly crown. To the right stands the Lord of Records, the deity who records people’s merits, faults, and names. He wears white robes and a heavenly crown.

Call to them, saying:

“Mother of the Dao of the Northern Pole and Lower Origin, you who govern the Lower Origin and the Northern Pole: I, whose name is Mysterious Wonder, wish to receive the Golden Nectar and Jade Spring to drink. I beseech you to command the Lord of Records and the Lord of Destiny to erase my name from the register of the dead and enter me anew in the register of long life. Send the Jade Maidens of the Six Ding, Daoist deities, to serve me, so that I may obtain food and drink whenever I need them.”

Call to them in this way four times. Then close your eyes and settle into sleep, silently counting forty breaths before stopping. Practice at the appointed times without interruption. In time, you will naturally receive limitless responses. After nine years of practice, you may be admitted among the Immortal Ministers of Taiji. After one year, signs of response will begin to appear: you will be able to command spirits, and your requests will be granted. Keep the practice constantly in mind, without entertaining reckless thoughts; above all, take care with your words. Practice at the appointed times, and you will become an immortal.

This is the method practiced by the Lords of the Three Sovereigns of the Dongxuan tradition, and it is indeed a secret essential of the Lingbao scriptures and methods. Before practicing, you must swear an oath to Heaven and inform your master. You should also wear the Jade Characters of the Inner Sounds of the Five Directions, talismanic jade characters representing the sounds of the five directions. Practice according to the prescribed rules, until you enter the mysterious and attain subtle communion. This method should be kept secret.

Reciting the Dong Chapter Within

The master said: At the source of the Thirty-Two Heavens lies Mount Tortoise of the Western Origin. The primordial secret registers of Mount Tortoise contain the cinnabar-yellow, flying-and-mysterious purple text of the “Numinous Chapter of the Empty Cavern.” These are the very characters referred to here. Thus, when the “Chapter of the Demon Kings of the Realm of Form” says, “I possess the Dong Chapter,” it means this scripture.

The Flying-and-Mysterious Purple Text:

Flying purple Qi gathers and becomes the root and governing principle of the spirits, commanding the Jade Numinous Ones and the myriad gods. In the void, its presence swells and flourishes, naturally coalescing into form. Above, it rises tier upon tier, in twelve successive levels; jade towers stand majestically, their radiance gleaming as clouds flow around them. Golden terraces adjoin the purple palaces, while exquisite jade platforms encircle the eight directions.

Within them is a Ninefold Numinous Elixir of blue-gold. The True Mother of Cinnabar, the goddess who governs the elixir, is named Essence Prolonged. She wears a flying blue feather robe and a crown like the morning light; she holds a jade tally and grasps a numinous banner. The gods of the five colors obey her commands and serve the August Sovereign. She governs the talisman registers and guards the Gate of Life. She chews the sun and moon, drinks the sweet spring, and exhales radiance, using it to refine and nourish the Five Hun, the five souls that compose the human person. Filled within, she sends radiant Qi outward; the Crimson Palace, the divine palace within the body, rejoices. Golden light shines brightly, and the body becomes upright and whole.

Beginning on the first day of the lunar month, enter the realm of golden chaos. Once you understand the principles set out in this passage, you can open the way to illumination. On the fifth day of each month, the deity of the Northern Origin can manifest. The Lord of the Celestial Canopy, who leads the immortals, appears; purple Qi turns to the left and joins the Northern Dipper. After four sevens, twenty-eight days, enter the Golden Gate. This is where the Cinnabar Sovereign examines the registers of the myriad immortals. The scripture continues beyond the words “there is brightness”; the passage is not yet complete.

To practice this set of instructions, one must be even more diligent and devoted, visualizing one’s physical form disappearing and focusing the mind in silent contemplation. Only then can wondrous visions appear and one commune with them.

After practicing this method for three years, one should guard it with care in order to preserve it over time. After nine years of practice, one will be able to ride through the air, clad in feathered robes and phoenix garments, and rise lightly to Dragon Mountain. There one will pay respects to the Nine Numinous Ones—the perfected spirits of the Nine Heavens—and visit the Jade Dawn, a revered Daoist deity.

Those who practice this Way should choose the third, fifth, ninth, fifteenth, and twenty-fifth days of each month, from the first through the twelfth month, for a total of five practices each month. On each chosen day, fast and purify yourself for the entire day. After midnight, recite the “Purple Writ of Flying Mystery” once, then gaze toward the sky above the Western Golden Gate. If the sky is overcast and dark, remain indoors and silently contemplate. Following the instructions, imagine purple clouds swirling out from the left side of the Golden Gate, passing through the Dipper and Winnowing Basket mansions, circling the Northern Dipper, and finally returning to the sky above the Golden Gate. Make the vision clear and distinct.

When the contemplation is complete, bow to the purple clouds four times in your heart, then click your teeth three times and pray with an uplifted heart:

“The heavenly night is bright and clear; the realm of hidden emptiness opens to the true current. Clouds hover and drift, while golden blossoms scatter in every direction. The Cinnabar Sovereign radiates light, and tonight the numinous flying purple carriage descends. The tranquil dwelling opens, the registers of immortals are inspected, and my highest wish is fulfilled. Body and mind accord with nature and form their appointed destiny. By the moon’s radiance, I nourish my years; the sun’s root joins in splendor with the Three Numinous Ones, and the vision comes to rest on Dragon Mountain. In the deep night, I sincerely pray for your descent. May what I pray for be as I have spoken.”

When the prayer is finished, draw in through the mouth and nose the Qi of the sun, moon, and purple clouds, then swallow saliva twenty-eight times. Next, visualize yourself transformed into the Jade Void Emperor, with the stars of the twenty-eight lunar mansions encircling your body. After three years of such practice, perfected spirits will descend at night while you sleep and enter your body and bedchamber. Purple clouds will suffuse your body, and your name will be entered in the registers of immortals in the Nine Heavens. After completing nine years, you will directly attain the rank of a High Immortal.

This method brings immeasurable merit in saving people. How precious the Way of the immortals is! Those who seek immortality should practice diligently and not defile the Way of the Numinous Treasure. In this way, both the unseen realm and the human world will depend upon this Way.

The master said: In heaven, purple-cloud Qi is distributed across the regions of the sun, moon, Five Planets, and Northern Dipper. In the lands where this Qi is present, there are also people who accord with the Dao and can attain the Way of the immortals. If one understands and waits for these signs, one will see them with one’s own eyes. When the purple clouds appear, follow the scripture’s instructions to bow and gaze; there is no need to be bound to fixed dates. With diligent attention, one may hope to encounter the moment when the purple clouds descend and rise up. Moreover, the radiance of purple clouds and yellow Qi also drifts among mountain crags and stream valleys, taking shapes like mats or canopies. The clouds may be red, white, yellow, green, purple, or deep crimson; there are also clouds mingling green, yellow, and white, or blending all five colors…

When Qi is luminous, crimson clouds appear on all sides. These are the scenes that attend the excursions of the Celestial Worthies and the Supreme Lord. Those who have attained the Dao dwell in the mountain valleys, which are also suitable places to go and practice. At times, if you bow your head or raise your eyes to gaze upward, you may see a perfected one. Should you be fortunate enough to meet one, burn incense at once, bow twice, and state your wish. If you practice diligently, you will surely see the countenance of the sovereign deity and, in the end, ascend to the heavens. Such matters should be kept in your heart and not lightly revealed to others. If you disclose them, the efficacy of the Dao will dissipate, and you will never become an immortal. The account of Master Yin, the Lord of Wen Shi, serving the Sage Lord of the Golden Palace may serve as an example. Practice diligently.

The scripture says: Within the true Dao are spiritual beings, including the Great Lord of Long Life, the Young Lord Without Brilliance, the Venerable Spirit White Origin, the Great One who Directs Destiny, Tao Kang, and He Yan.

The master said: The first two chapters discuss the Dao of the Great Cavern, an important method within the Shangqing cultivation system. The “Central Scripture of the Nine Perfected” in the Scripture of Prohibitions on the Supreme Dao says that the Great Lord of Long Life transforms into the myriad spirits. When an ordinary person is born, Taiwei, a sacred abode in the heavens, sends down Qi, enabling the person to be born. As the body first takes shape and emerges from the womb, it already contains thirty-six thousand spirits. A person’s lifespan is measured in thirty-six thousand days. When that allotted lifespan is exhausted, all the spirits return to Taiwei, and the person becomes a “ghost.” “Ghost” means “return.”

If a person commits wrongs during life, Qi is depleted and the spirits are scattered, until the person brings about their own death. Thus some do not live out their natural span, and some die even in swaddling clothes: the spirits within them are incomplete. When the spirits are incomplete, the body cannot remain secure. Even a minor offense costs one unit of allotted life, and the Northern Dipper then takes away three of the spirits of the eyes. A grave transgression, which reduces one’s lifespan by a year, results in the seizure of thirty-six thousand spirit-Qi. A single good deed adds one unit of allotted life, prolongs life by three days, and brings an additional spirit. A great achievement adds a year to one’s lifespan—that is, three hundred and sixty days—and brings the spirits down to the person. This is how lifespan and the number of spirits increase and diminish.

These seven spirits are the yin spirits of the Northern Dipper, also called the Mysterious Elixir Great One; they are described in the Canons of the Supreme Dao’s Prohibitions. Those who understand and practice this Dao can increase their spirits and lengthen their lives, enduring through myriad kalpas without perishing.

The Primordial Worthy’s “Hymn to Long Life” says:

In the Central Origin is the Northern Dipper, which governs the human hun and po souls. The Mysterious Origin Great One commands the seven yin spirits, bearing a numinous banner and directing the host of spirits. They increase or diminish a person’s bodily form and allotted lifespan according to good and evil: one good deed adds one unit of allotted life and prolongs life by three days; adding a year to one’s allotted lifespan prolongs it by three hundred and sixty days. Those who know how to direct these seven numinous spirits can ascend to the Mysterious Heaven and open the seven gates. The three hun souls rejoice and unite as one form; the hundred spirits joyfully return, and one no longer sinks into decline.

How is this Daoist method to be attained? Fire rises in the Valley of the Origin, and the seven spirits proceed straight…

Enter within the body and open the Mysterious Pass, the point through which body and mind connect with the inner deities. Bow twice, then strike between Heaven and Earth. In this way, the original Qi may return and harmful, rebellious energies may be dispelled.

This can remove one’s name from the register of the dead, subdue the spirits, increase one’s years, and preserve life. It can also multiply the body into countless forms, or even revive dry bones and attain the state of a Celestial Immortal. Keep the mind silent, and observe all that is to be avoided among things within and without. Subdue the mind-monkey and the galloping horse—the restless thoughts and desires—and turn Yin energy back into Yang energy. This is a secret method of the Daoist tradition and must not be passed on casually. By maintaining it, one may endure through countless kalpas.

The scripture should be engraved in full on a golden tablet, included in a covenant oath, and reported to the Three Heavens, the three celestial realms of Daoism. If it is disclosed carelessly, one will be sealed forever at the source of the River. Keep the mind steadfast as stone; after a hundred days, spirit and Qi will be complete, and the root of life will revive.

Invoking and Making Offerings to the Deities of the Body

The master said: “The human body is governed by spirit and Qi. When spirit and Qi unite, one can reach the true Dao and manifest numinous responses. Spirit undergoes transformation, and Qi waxes and wanes in turn. If this were not so, how could prayers be answered? Moreover, The Secret Preface to the Five Talismans of Lingbao contains a method for summoning the deities of the body. It is the root of the myriad Daos and the forerunner of all methods, and should be practiced accordingly.

“This method should be performed on a Jiazi day, one’s birth destiny day, and on the second and sixteenth days and the last day of each month, for a total of five times a month. Enter a quiet chamber to practice. Prepare eight items, such as pure vegetarian food, wine, and fruit, choosing what you like. First sit facing east, gather your thoughts, regulate your breathing, and focus your spirit for a moment. Then burn incense three times, click your teeth twenty-four times, and recite the invocation:

“Perfected One of Cinnabar Heaven, Perfected One of Great Unity, Perfected One of Peach Health, Perfected One of Embryonic Light, Perfected One of Hidden Essence, Perfected One of Bright Spirit; deity of the brows, Heavenly Cloud; deity of the brain, Original Elder; deity of the crown, King of the East; deity of the ears, Lovely Maiden; deity of the eyes, Brilliant Radiance; deity of the hair, Long Life; deity of the nose, Numinous Communication; deity of the mouth, Cinnabar Vermilion; deity of the tongue, Cinnabar Sovereign; deity of the teeth, Guardsman; deity of the throat, Tiger Warrior; deity of the shoulders, Abundant Numinous Power; deity of the hands, Soul Yin; deity of the heart, Xu-Xu; deity of the liver, Lin-Lin; deity of the lungs, Zhu-Zhu; deity of the navel, Jade Numinous Power; deity of the stomach, Zu-Zu; deity of the spleen, Bi-Bi; deity of the kidneys, Piao-Piao; deity of the gallbladder, Huo-Huo; deity of the Dantian, Storehouse of Essence; deity of the large intestine, Tuo-Tuo; deity of the small intestine, Liang-Liang; deity of Yang, Qiong Ying; deity of the torso, Yin-Yin; deity of the knees, Qu-Qu; deity of the waist, Kong Nan; deities of the feet, Heavenly Strongmen.”

“Call upon them with the invocation three times, then pray:

“‘All of you, please come forth from my body and take your places before me, as well as to my front, back, left, and right, each in your appointed position. Today is an auspicious day, and I make offerings to you. Eat and drink as you please, and feast to your hearts’ content until you are satisfied.’

“When the prayer is complete, visualize the deities of the body as perfected beings, more than a hundred in number, greeting one another and taking their seats. The practitioner partakes of the offerings according to their wishes and appetite, until the food is finished. Another account says…”

You are already full from food and drink, and filled with joy. Whenever an auspicious day comes, I perform the sacrifice and summon you; you must come at once. At ordinary times, do not leave me either. If an event of good or ill fortune is to occur, report it to me in advance. As long as my body remains, so do you; if sorrow or grief arises, you also… (The original phrase “ru deng yi qiu” is suspected to be corrupt, and its meaning is unclear.) If immortal medicine is sent, bring it to me to take, and partake of it with me, so that we may live forever through ten thousand kalpas, until we transform and become immortals. Then return to my body at once, each keeping to your own place. Hasten in accordance with the statutes and commands.

The Master said: The ability to know the future, to attain immortality through corpse liberation (in Daoism, becoming immortal by leaving behind the physical body), to pay homage to the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning, and to ascend to immortality and commune with the True all begin with this method. After ten sacrifices, it will be transmitted to you; after one hundred sacrifices, you may attain the state of an immortal. The Golden Elixir, lingzhi, and food offerings will all be provided. If you reveal even one sentence of this, your life will be shortened by ten years, and the efficacy of the method will be lost. You must be cautious and never transmit it casually.

Method for Untying Knots and Sealing the Gates of Death

The Master said: The True Qi within the human body joins with the Qi of the heavens. When a person is born from the womb, malign Qi also enters the sac; malign Qi and upright Qi become mixed together. Thus, the body contains twelve knots and thirty-nine corpses of death. First, one must untie the twelve knots and seal the thirty-nine gates of death—the orifices that obstruct the passage of Qi—so that a person’s Qi can rise and communicate with Heaven.

There is a scripture for untying the knots. To seal the gates of death, there are the Thirty-Nine Chapters of the Great Cavern and the methods called “Male One, Female One, and Wind Returning and Blending.” The Lord Male One and the Lord Female One are the spirits within the pupils of the two eyes. Male One is four inches tall and sits inside the lower lip, listening as people recite the scriptures; Female One is also four inches tall and sits inside the upper lip, listening as people recite the scriptures.

Each of a person’s Three Fields—the upper, middle, and lower Dantian—has four knots, and there are thirty-nine gates of death. To untie the knots, recite the Scripture for Untying Knots and invoke the Qi of the Dao Father and Dao Mother. First untie the knots in the lower field, then those in the middle field, and finally those in the upper field. To seal the gates of death, recite the thirty-nine chapters of the Great Cavern Scripture and invoke the upright Qi of the thirty-six heavens. Begin at the lower Dantian, pass through the middle field, and continue to the upper field. At each stage, summon the Qi of one layer of Heaven, so that it joins with the upright Qi of the thirty-nine heavens and returns to the body as a whole. This is called “Emperor One”; it is also the return of a person’s True Nature to the Yellow Court, the place within the body where spirits are visualized and Qi is refined.

During recitation, first visualize the Qi of sunlight. Then visualize purple Qi emerging from five places: the centers of the palms, the soles of the feet, and the navel. Let it coil around the whole body and fill the room, extending everywhere reached by the sun in a day. When this is complete, guide the purple Qi back into the body.

Blending the Sun and Moon

The master said: The upper, middle, and lower Dantians (the three sites of internal cultivation in Daoism) each contain true Earth. Every day after midnight, gather the true Qi (original vital energy) of the two kidneys into the lower Dantian, at the place called the Elixir Origin. Visualize it as five-colored threads winding around a round pearl, with true nature contained within it. Then use intention to carry out the “Ten Turns” method: guide the true Qi upward from the Yang Horn until it reaches the Niwan (a site of cultivation inside the head). There, let the true Qi blend, then descend from the Jade Tower and settle in the Yellow Court (a site of cultivation within the body), where it blends with the Qi of the heart. Next, let the true Qi rise again from the Spinal Pass, circle the Niwan once, and descend back to the Yellow Court. Visualize a Celestial Worthy in the Yellow Court, whose appearance resembles your own and whose body is clothed in true Qi. This method may be practiced from midnight until noon, three times each session. After noon, instead guide the heart fire down to the Yellow Court and visualize the Celestial Worthy seated calmly and unmoving amid blazing flames, practicing according to the “Sitting in Forgetfulness” method.

The Method of Returning the Breath

With every exhalation, visualize the breath rising from the Dantian and then gathering in the Yellow Court, where the Celestial Worthy swallows it. With every inhalation, visualize the breath entering through the nose and then gathering in the Yellow Court, where the Celestial Worthy swallows it. All rites for aiding the living and delivering the dead, and all other ritual services, issue from the Yellow Court. Visualize the Celestial Worthy dwelling in the Niwan, gathering the Qi of the five viscera and directing it all to the Palace of Primordial Chaos.

Silent Veneration and Refinement of the Crown

The master said: Every day, enter a quiet chamber to cultivate during the three periods of Yin, Wu, and Xu (roughly dawn, noon, and night). First use the hand seals to refine the crown of the head and open the Gate of Heaven, then transform into a spirit. This is the ascension formula personally transmitted by the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning to Perfected Person Miaoxing and the Heavenly Perfected Huangren; it must be kept strictly secret.

The formula is: “Metal (Yin), Zha (Chou), Metal (Chen), Zha (Mao), Great (center), Strength (above center), Command (emerges at Wu); do it on the left in the year.”

Then form the Jade Purity hand seal with both hands and visualize yourself transformed into an immortal white crane. Next, visualize the Gate of Heaven opening and a white crane flying toward you. Mount it and drift upward until you reach the Three Heavens, where you see the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning emitting nine-colored golden light from the crown of his head. The light shines into the crown of your head. Then visualize light streaming from all the openings of your body, illuminating the ten directions and worlds. When you have finished, ride the crane back to your ritual seat.

This is the method for receiving the secret Lingbao teachings transmitted by the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning. If you have something to report to the gods, prostrate yourself before the steps of the royal terrace and present your report. The same method is used when performing the ritual of submitting a memorial.

The Method of Paying Homage to the Origin

The master said: On ordinary days, when nothing is pressing, burn incense in a quiet chamber and focus your thoughts, keeping your spirit within yourself. Only then may you perform the Flying Steps to Pay Homage to the Origin. The method of paying homage to the Origin is to visualize the upper, middle...

The lower three fields (the three Dantian in the lower part of the body) each have a Celestial Worthy. Next, visualize the Celestial Worthies in the middle and lower fields riding clouds of five colors, ascending from the Tower of Crimson Radiance together with your own deity in the Yellow Court (the sacred palace within the body), until they reach the Mudball (the upper Dantian in the head). Visualize yourself seated with the three Celestial Worthies in the Jade Bureau. Then picture yourself coming before the Jade Bureau, kneeling at length to present your affairs. When you have finished, visualize the three Celestial Worthies of the Three Realms riding clouds of three colors to the space above the Mudball. There they merge with the Celestial Worthies of the three Dantian within your body and together transform into a single Celestial Worthy.

Next, visualize this Celestial Worthy riding clouds of five colors down from the Tower of Crimson Radiance, entering the Yellow Court and settling there. Then practice the method of stillness.

True Stillness

The master said: “The method of observing the mind is to turn your attention inward and observe your own mind until you discover that there is no fixed, unchanging mind within it. Turn your attention outward and observe your own form until you discover that form, too, has no fixed, unchanging shape. Then look far outward at things until you discover that nothing has a fixed, unchanging substance. Once you understand these three, you see only emptiness. Observe this ‘emptiness,’ then let go even of emptiness. When there is nothing left to empty, let go even of ‘nothingness.’ When nothingness itself is no longer present, you enter a state of clear, profound stillness and constant quietude. Since there is nothing to extinguish, how could desire arise? When desire does not arise, that is true purity and stillness.

“The mind that is truly constant can respond to the myriad things; the Dao that is truly constant enables people to recover their original nature. If you can continually respond to things while continually preserving stillness, you can remain pure and still at all times. If people can do this, body and mind can reach a state of emptiness, and nature and life return to Taiji (the Supreme Ultimate). From there, one can respond to external things, benefit others, and transcend the ordinary to become a sage. This is the right path; the key is to practice it diligently.

“From this point, cultivate along the path from nonbeing into being. Practice the method of joining the sun and moon, and nurture the sacred embryo (the wondrous sacred body cultivated through practice). Only when your dreams become as clear as waking life may you proceed to cultivate the Great Cavern’s Returning Wind Way. Then, when the sacred body has become healthy and can come and go freely, you may travel through the heavens and pay reverence at the Golden Palace of Emptiness.”

Method for Lying Down at Night

The master said: “Whenever you lie down to sleep, first stretch out your arms and legs and lie on your back. Then visualize the Five Organs. Next, visualize the Celestial Worthy seated within the Yellow Court, radiating great light that shines in all ten directions.

“At this point, forget body and mind and focus on inward contemplation. Trace back to the original spirit you had when you first came into the world, and reflect on how it became settled and clear. Consider how it ordinarily directs the body, how it dwells within the body, and how it will later move the consciousness.

“Contemplate in this way for a while. At first, your consciousness will seem dim and clouded. After a time, your state of mind will suddenly open and brighten. You will feel the Four Qi (the four kinds of vital energy that constitute body and mind) peaceful and harmonious, while the sun and moon cast down their light and shine together within the Mysterious Palace. The Celestial Worthy you have visualized sits there, clear and distinct, with not a trace of dust or obscuring haze…”

(The original appears to have a lacuna after the final character, “li.”)

One may clearly hear the wondrous music of the immortal palaces and see the many strange and marvelous sights of the world. But one must not become attached to these appearances, or consciousness will wander without rest. This is a sign that one’s innate nature is becoming manifest. The scripture’s phrase “calmly beholding the realm of Jade Purity” (seeing the realm of Jade Purity with clarity and stillness) refers to this very experience.

One must also practice the “course of the Sun and Moon” and the method of refining them together, to nurture one’s innate nature. The essential point is to make the Yang Spirit (the spiritual consciousness developed through cultivation) strong and robust, until it can travel ten thousand li in an instant. When the intention to cultivate first arises, one must steady body and mind; otherwise, a restless spirit may instead lead to madness.

Ending One’s Life and Taking Another Form, Averting Calamity, and the Method of Corpse-Liberation

The master said: The Way of Numinous Treasure has a magical staff called the Staff of Command. It is used to subdue the ghosts and spirits of the Six Heavens and command the myriad numinous beings of the Three Realms.

To make the staff, choose a famous mountain, blessed site, pure Daoist sanctuary, or numinous altar. On an auspicious day, take a branch of sun-facing sweet bamboo, six chi long and with twelve nodes. Choose a Jiawu, Bingwu, or Dingmao day, or the third day of the third month, fifth day of the fifth month, seventh day of the seventh month, or ninth day of the ninth month. Count down from the top of the staff to the third node, and make a slight curve on its right side. Above the hollow of the curve, carve images of the Sun and Moon; below it, carve the form of the Dipper. Bore a hole in the center of the staff’s top and place within it the talisman of the central-direction guardian official. Below the second node, bore four holes facing the four directions and place in them the talismans of the guardian officials of those directions. Seal the holes with wax, then carve on the four sides below the inscription “Heavenly Worthy of Numinous Treasure, Manifesting in Response throughout Ten Directions and Myriad Kalpas.” When the staff is complete, make a bag of yellow silk to hold it, with the bag’s length suited to the staff.

Beginning on the first day of the month, follow the “Ten Direct Days” (specified dates used in Daoist purification and ritual practice). Face the Five Directions, recite the incantation, gather the Qi of the Five Directions, and then blow it into the staff. Thereafter, practice visualization every night. Only after a year, when its power is sufficient, may the staff be used.

Another method calls for a staff five chi and five cun long, with nine nodes. Bend it on the left side of the second node. Bore holes on all four sides below the third node, place within them the “Inner-Name Talisman of Mount Wangyue,” and fill them with talismanic writing from the middle section of the Numinous Writ. When carrying and practicing with the staff, place the Five Numinous Treasure Talismans inside it. A further method uses a straight staff with no bend.

When carrying and serving this staff, keep it with you at all times, whether sitting, lying down, or at rest. If it is inconvenient to carry, place it in a clean spot. After long service, point the staff at the sky and the heavenly spirits will bow; point it at the earth and the earth spirits will escort and welcome; point it northeast and all ghosts will be bound; point it toward the underworld and the souls of the dead will return to life. Calamities in the direction it points will likewise come to pass or be dispelled, and collapse and overturning can also be prevented. Through long and diligent practice, one may “cast off the garments and cover…” (the original text breaks off here; the following passage is missing).

When using the bamboo staff to perform rites, set the point where it appears and disappears below the second joint.

Hang a small yellow pennant from the staff, seven inches long. Write on it the “Talisman of the Celestial Worthy Who Saves from Suffering in the Ten Directions” and the “Talisman of the Mysterious Transformation of the Ten Heavens.” These talismans have special uses of their own; when wearing and maintaining them in the usual way, remove the small pennant. Before each rite, click the teeth together thirty-six times. Visualize one spirit of the talisman in attendance for each of the Five Emperor Lords, each dressed in the color associated with one of the five directions. Visualize one Jade Maiden of the Five Emperors for each, standing guard nearby. As you wield the bamboo staff, visualize five-colored rays shining upon it and spreading across it, and softly recite the incantation:

“On the mountain of the sun, the original beginning’s highest essence opens Heaven and lays out Earth. Sacred bamboo communicates with the spirits. The talisman’s attendant officials guard it, and divine troops surround it. Five colors shine and flow, with vermilion robes and golden tassels. They support and assist the two perfected ones, emerging from darkness and entering the unseen. Summon Heaven, and Heaven shows reverence; command Earth, and Earth receives you; point at ghosts, and ghosts vanish; bind the bodies of demons and monsters. The spirit talisman and divine staff command awe in all directions. May they be made complete with me and live on with me. After passing through ten thousand kalpas, let them take the place of my body. This is the method by which the spirits of the Five Deliverances ascend to Highest Clarity. All who receive the talisman’s mandate will listen with reverence and obey.”

After reciting the incantation, draw in the True Qi of the five directions and swallow thirty-six times, then stop. Alternatively, on the Three Primes, the Eight Seasonal Nodes, or your birth anniversary, invite and receive the True Qi, perform the rites and make offerings according to the prescribed forms, burn incense, and pay homage. Or recite the incantation every morning without fail, keeping your spirit undiminished until the divine perfected ones appear. The scripture says that the bamboo staff can then carry a person through the air. When merit is complete, use the staff in place of your own body, and in an instant you can become a perfected being.

The method called the “Five Deliverances” uses the True Qi of the Five Phases to seize the Northern Dipper’s authority over life and death. It frees a person from the misfortune of death and enables them to attain the Dao through corpse liberation, with their spirit ascending to Highest Clarity.

Wood Deliverance

Each day, face east and recite the incantation ninety times. Drink a cup of fragrant infusion and visualize the bamboo staff turning into your own body. Persist for nine years, and you will be able to perform Wood Deliverance.

The incantation says:

“Wenbo paints the black fish; bo paints Gaye; bo paints the Three Terraces; bo paints this day. My living body crosses over to the Dao. Seven times seven merits; ascending through a thousand transformations, I conceal my body in Highest Clarity. Let the staff become my form. Swiftly, swiftly, in accordance with the statutes and ordinances.”

Metal Deliverance

Each day, face west and recite the incantation seventy times. Drink a cup of fragrant infusion and visualize the bamboo staff turning into your own body. Persist for seven years, and you will be able to perform Metal Deliverance.

The incantation says:

“The Three Terraces give me life and transmit the teaching to me. The Three Terraces nurture me and pursue Heaven. The Three Terraces protect me as I ascend to immortality. Pass through the wind and cross the measure; cut off what should be right; restore my original form. Swiftly, swiftly, in accordance with the statutes and ordinances.”

Water Deliverance

The text gives only the heading “Water Deliverance” here and provides no further passage.

Face north each day, recite the incantation fifty times, drink a cup of fragrant broth, and visualize the staff in the shape of the Earthly Branch Si. Persist for five years, and you will be able to perform “water dissolution,” a spell for escaping through water.

Incantation:

The numinous tortoise releases primordial Qi and enters my staff. The great Dao I follow is unlike the ways of the world.

As the sun rises and the moon sets, I drive away tigers and pursue dragons. I ask you to transform in my place and join the channels of the springs.

Urgently, in accordance with the statutes and commands!

Fire Dissolution Method

Face south each day, recite the incantation thirty times, drink a cup of fragrant broth, and visualize the staff in the shape of the Earthly Branch Si. Persist for three years, and you will be able to perform “fire dissolution,” a spell for escaping through fire.

Incantation:

The Vermilion Bird dwells before me; I hold the authority of creation and transformation. The Three Officials protect my life, and the Five Emperors infuse me with life, preserving me.

Zhibo Wu Shen, transform me through fire so that both my original nature and my spirit-consciousness may be preserved. Urgently, in accordance with the statutes and commands!

Earth Dissolution Method

Lie on your back facing the sky, stand facing east, recite the incantation twelve times, drink a cup of fragrant broth, and visualize the staff in the shape of the Earthly Branch Si. Persist for twelve years, and you will be able to perform “earth dissolution,” a spell for escaping through earth.

Incantation:

The Primordial Yellow Dragon flourishes through the four seasons, dwells in the central palace, holds authority, and initiates creation and transformation.

Officials who govern the upper realm, I obey the command of the Celestial Emperor. Now take my place and receive my power through an assumed body.

Perform this practice repeatedly, until eighteen periods of Wu and Ji have passed. Urgently, in accordance with the statutes and commands!

Inner Names of the Five Sacred Peaks Talisman

The following five talismans are each written on paper of a different color: red writing on a blue ground, yellow writing on a red ground, black writing on a white ground, white writing on a black ground, and white writing on a yellow ground. Place the five talismans inside the staff according to their respective directions.

Five Emperors’ Staff Talisman for Breaking Open the Prison

Golden Gate

Transformed Body

True Qi

Flowing Everywhere

Wisdom Light

Radiant Splendor

Golden Tiger

Break Through the Underworld