《上清靈寶大法(二)》Vol. 34

The Great Method of the Shangqing Lingbao, Scroll Thirty-Five, “Immortals, Section Eight.” Compiled by Jin Yunzhong, Lingbao Master of the Dongxuan tradition, ritual official of the Southern Bureau, and deputy assistant of the Right Court of Tongchu.

The Rite of Lighting Lamps to Break Open the Prisons

The rite for breaking open the prisons was not originally performed in succession with the lamp-lighting rite. However, the ritual liturgies of Master Guangcheng of the Tang dynasty included the “Nine Netherworld Lamps,” which later came to be called the “Nine Goblet Lamps.” When many lamps were used, eighty-one could be set out; alternatively, only nine might be used. Ancient liturgical texts state plainly that these lamps shed light into the prisons of the Nine Netherworlds. In practice, the rite was performed much like the ceremony of venerating lamps. Thus, today, lamps are lit before the prisons, the Daoist assembly recites the liturgy, and the High Merit Master presides, visualizing the gods within himself.

The Daoist assembly takes its places in order before the prison lamps. The High Merit Master begins by making his invocation, reporting the matter to the gods. First, he offers incense in accordance with the rite.

I respectfully burn precious incense and, with a single mind, petition the Primordial Heavenly Worthy of Original Beginning, born of the Void and Nature; the Most High Lord of the Dao; the Most High Lord Lao; the Jade Emperor, Sovereign of Heaven; the Great Emperor of the Purple Tenuity and Northern Pole; the Great Emperor of the Heavenly Sovereign of Gouchen; the Earthly Sovereign, Empress of Earth; the Heavenly Worthy of Great Compassion and Salvation, the Azure One of the Eastern Pole; the Emperors of the Nine Heavens; the Emperors of the Thirty-Two Heavens; the Lord of the Way, the Azure Lad of the Eastern Florescence and Minister of the Left, Duke Wood; the Primordial Lady, Golden Mother of the Nine Spirits, of the White Jade Terrace; and the Emperors of the Ten Thousand Heavens.

I earnestly implore all the gods to bestow their grace and compassionately witness this matter. May jade radiance spread forth and the Nine Qi gather; may incense smoke fill the air like clouds. Golden Lads who attend the incense and Jade Maidens who convey messages, please report this matter on my behalf and present it before the Emperor. I humbly ask the gods to grant what I now report in accordance with ritual procedure and bring it to fulfillment.

I, the ritual master, whose surname is [name], have long been blessed with good affinity and received the protection of the Dao. I have accepted talismans and registers and taken my place in the ranks of the Daoist order. Now I presume to preside over a Zhaijiao purification ritual and practice the rites, and have mistakenly been entrusted with a leading duty. With sincere concern, I petition on behalf of the deceased [names] whom I am recommending for salvation, and all sentient beings and netherworld souls throughout the Nine Provinces, the Four Seas, and the Five Paths and Three Routes. All are guilty souls of the Lower Origin. After leaving behind their illusory bodies, they have repeatedly been entangled in the shadow realms and confined in the offices of the underworld. Without an imperial decree of grace, how could they obtain an amnesty from the dark capital?

I humbly pray that the gods issue an edict to deliver the departed souls, bestow the true talismans for breaking open the prisons, and entrust them to the officials of the Six Heavens and Ten Grottoes. May the prison gates be opened, the realms of the Five Sacred Peaks and Nine Netherworlds thrown wide, and guilty souls released and their offenses pardoned. May the souls recommended for salvation, along with all beings lingering in the netherworld throughout the Nine Provinces, escape their suffering and behold the light of compassion.

The commands issued from above should be reported on time and carried out according to the regulations. I respectfully receive the command and perform the prescribed rites before the Heavenly Gate. If there are no further assignments, I shall await the arrival of gracious instructions.

The high-ranking officiant, the Daoist priest presiding over the ritual, visualizes transformations and performs the rites according to protocol. One person among the assembly of Daoists presides over the liturgy.

We respectfully report: In the nine dark prisons of the underworld, extending across the eight directions between Heaven and Earth, souls guilty of wrongdoing have sunk into the Three Paths of suffering after death, burdened by the many evil deeds they committed in life. They undergo retribution and remain unable to escape for a long time. In the dark and endless night, they cannot see the light. Were it not for the Great Sage’s compassion and the salvation made possible through a good karmic connection, they would remain in darkness for ages beyond counting, unable to break free.

Therefore, the Celestial Worthy established the mysterious rites and instituted the practice of lighting lamps, using their flames to carry on the light and illuminate the depths of the underworld. Wherever the lamplight reaches, the suffering of fallen souls may cease; wherever the sacred radiance shines, wandering spirits may be freed from grief and pain. The merit of lighting lamps brings blessings without measure.

Now the ritual sponsor, So-and-so, fears that the deceased, So-and-so, departed this world suddenly and has entered the underworld, perhaps still held in captivity and not yet able to ascend. Therefore, in accordance with the teachings, we seek gracious favor, establish a purification altar and perform the rites, burn talismans to break open the prisons, and set up lamps according to protocol. We respectfully pray that the nine dark prisons be spared their interrogations and punishments, and that the souls in the Three Paths cease their forced service and suffering. Wherever the sacred light shines, may the dark earth be opened to brightness. We respectfully perform the rites before the lamp altar.

The ritual is performed.

The disciple, So-and-so, respectfully lights the sacred lamp of the nine dark prisons. Its light shines above upon the Hall of Blessings in the boundless heavens of the East, brightening and illuminating it completely; it shines in the middle upon the Palace of Zhen, in the eastern quarter, the domain where the Azure Emperor dwells, clearing away calamity and sweeping aside gloom; and it shines below upon the eastern hell of wind and thunder, dispelling darkness and opening the way to light. May all wandering souls receive the benefit bestowed by this wondrous rite, so that thunder and lightning cease, calamities are quelled, and they may at last ascend to Heaven and roam freely. The ritual assembly devoutly chants praises.

The assembly recites the “Middle Section” and circumambulates the altar.

The disciple, So-and-so, respectfully lights the sacred lamp of the nine dark prisons. Its light shines above upon the Hall of Blessings in the boundless heavens of the South, radiant and shining without limit; it shines in the middle upon the Palace of Li, in the southern quarter, the domain where the Red Emperor dwells, dispelling omens of disaster and sweeping away evil influences; and it shines below upon the southern hell of fire and shadow, dispelling darkness and opening the way to light. May all wandering souls receive the blessings bestowed by this rite, no longer swallow fire or eat charcoal, and enjoy coolness; may they all ascend to Heaven and roam in joy and freedom. The ritual assembly devoutly chants praises.

The assembly recites the “Middle Section” and circumambulates the altar.

The disciple respectfully lights the Divine Lamp of the Ninefold Darkness, a lamp used in Daoist liturgy to illuminate the netherworld and save the souls of the dead. Its light shines upward upon the boundless blessed halls of the heavens in the west, its clear and brilliant radiance penetrating the deepest places; it shines toward the center upon the You Palace at the You position—that is, the western region ruled by the White Emperor—dispelling evil and sweeping away malign energy; and it shines downward upon the Vajra Hell in the west, breaking through the darkness and bringing forth light. Through this blessing, all the wandering souls are freed: the punishments once inflicted with golden hammers and iron staves are transformed into lotus flowers, and they ascend to heaven, at ease and joyful. The ritual assembly devoutly chants praises.

All present recite the middle section of the scripture and perform circumambulating bows.

The disciple respectfully lights the Divine Lamp of the Ninefold Darkness. Its light shines upward upon the boundless blessed halls of the heavens in the north, its auspicious radiance bright and illuminating without limit; it shines toward the center upon the Kan Palace at the Zi position—that is, the northern region ruled by the Black Emperor—purifying defilement and washing away calamities and misfortunes; and it shines downward upon the Nether-Cold Hell in the north, breaking through the darkness and bringing forth light. Through this blessing, all sinful souls are freed: the bitter punishments of ice halberds and frost blades vanish at once, and they ascend to heaven, at ease and joyful. The ritual assembly devoutly chants praises.

All present recite the middle section of the scripture and perform circumambulating bows.

The disciple respectfully lights the Divine Lamp of the Ninefold Darkness. Its light shines upward upon the boundless blessed halls of the heavens in the northeast, its numinous radiance gleaming as it illuminates the void; it shines toward the center upon the Gen Palace at the Yin position—that is, the region of Chou and Yin—sweeping away calamitous energy and destroying evil and misfortune; and it shines downward upon the Cauldron-Broth Hell in the northeast, breaking through the darkness and bringing forth bright light. Through this blessing, all the wandering souls are freed from the suffering of iron forks piercing their bodies and boiling broth cooking them; they soon ascend to heaven, at ease and joyful. The ritual assembly devoutly chants praises.

All present recite the middle section of the scripture and perform circumambulating bows.

The disciple respectfully lights the Divine Lamp of the Ninefold Darkness. Its light shines upward upon the boundless blessed halls of the heavens in the southeast, its radiance spreading everywhere, bright and unending; it shines toward the center upon the Xun Palace at the Si position—that is, the region of Chen and Si—dispelling evil and destroying calamity and misfortune; and it shines downward upon the Copper Pillar Hell in the southeast, breaking through the darkness and bringing forth bright light. Through this blessing, all sinful souls are spared the suffering of being burned and scorched; cool within and without, they ascend to heaven, at ease and free. The ritual assembly devoutly chants praises.

All present recite the middle section of the scripture and perform circumambulating bows.

The disciple respectfully lights the Divine Lamp of the Ninefold Darkness. Its light shines upward upon the boundless blessed halls of the heavens in the southwest, its radiance spreading far and penetrating everywhere, illuminating without end; it shines toward the center upon the Kun Palace…

In the Wei and Shen positions within the Shen sector, corresponding to the southwest, sweep away Yin and evil Qi and subdue fierce, malevolent spirits. The divine lamp shines down upon the Hell of Butchering and Mutilation in the southwest, where punishment takes the form of slaughter and dismemberment. It dispels the darkness and restores the light. All the deceased who suffer punishment receive this blessing: they are spared the torment of butchering and mutilation, their karmic retribution is dissolved, and in the end they may ascend to Heaven and dwell in freedom and joy. The ritual assembly devoutly chants in praise.

The assembly recites the middle section of the scripture, walking in a circuit and bowing in reverence.

Your disciple, so-and-so, reverently lights the Divine Lamp of the Ninefold Darkness, a ritual lamp used to illuminate the netherworld and deliver the souls of the dead. Its light shines upward upon the Hall of Blessings among the boundless heavens of the northwest, bright and radiant, illuminating the empty expanse. It shines downward upon the Qian Palace—that is, the Hai position, within the Hai and Xu positions of the northwest—sweeping away demons, evil deeds, and calamity. The divine lamp also illuminates the Hell of the Fire Cart in the northwest, where punishment is inflicted by fire carts. It dispels the darkness and restores the light. All wandering souls receive this blessing: the fire carts cease to turn, the flames are extinguished, and the evil karma accumulated over ages is cleansed. The dead are released from suffering and ascend to Heaven, where they dwell in freedom and joy. The ritual assembly devoutly chants in praise.

The assembly recites the middle section of the scripture, walking in a circuit and bowing in reverence.

Your disciple, so-and-so, reverently lights the Divine Lamp of the Ninefold Darkness. Its light shines upward upon the Hall of Blessings in the central heavens, illuminating all directions with its radiance. It shines downward upon the realm of China in the Central Palace, bringing calamities to an end and dispelling demons and evil spirits. The divine lamp also illuminates the Hell of Universal Plunder in the center, where punishment takes the form of robbery and seizure. It dispels the darkness and restores the light. All wandering souls receive this blessing: the mountains of knives and trees of swords, scenes of punishment inflicted by blades and thorns, are forever brought to an end. No longer bound by them, the souls are released from suffering and ascend to Heaven, where they dwell in freedom and joy. The ritual assembly devoutly chants in praise.

The assembly recites the middle section of the scripture, walking in a circuit and bowing in reverence.

The good causes accumulated through lighting lamps and breaking open the hells described above are immeasurable. We sincerely pray for the countless suffering souls in the Ninefold Darkness hells, and for the suffering dead among the ten classes of beings, the four forms of birth—womb-born, egg-born, moisture-born, and transformation-born—the Three Paths and Five Ways, and throughout the Nine Provinces. May all receive deliverance, whether they are sentient and aware or have no one to claim them, whether foes or family, so long as they have fallen into these hells.

Some may have committed offenses in a former life or made mistakes in this one; some may have done wrong through the three karmic actions of body, speech, and mind, or through the six faculties of consciousness; others may be entangled in past lives or bound by old enmities. Unable to recognize wholesome conditions when they were born, they brought suffering upon themselves and acted against the order of Heaven. After death, they were imprisoned in the underworld, tormented by the five kinds of punishment and made to endure every form of retribution. Until their offenses are exhausted, rebirth is difficult. They turn through the Three Paths and Six Realms of rebirth, passing through billions upon billions of kalpas, never finding release. Once they lose the human body, they remain for a long time cut off from wise teachers and the righteous Way.

Were it not for the Great Dao granting deliverance and the Most Holy extending compassion, how could they escape after being trapped for ages in the vast darkness of the netherworld? Therefore, we now light lamps, repent, and atone, praying that all of this…

After illumination has appeared and wholesome causes have gathered, respectfully recommend and deliver the deceased person for whom the purification ritual is being performed. Their spiritual nature becomes luminous and unobstructed, and all karmic offenses are erased. Through this wholesome result, they can be reborn and transformed, receiving life anew. For this reason, devote yourself to reciting “Celestial Worthy Who Saves from Suffering in the Ten Directions.” Its merit is beyond measure.

The presiding ritual master (gaogong) faces the Gate of Heaven, the celestial palace, and gives thanks.

The ritual master stills the mind and visualizes in accordance with ritual rules. Before the assembly begins reciting the liturgy (keyi), the master first makes a private report to the highest perfected beings, stating the sincerity behind the purification ritual. Next, holding a ritual staff, the master uses nine prison-breaking talismans, writing them on half a sheet of thin paper without adding an invocation. The master then takes a copy of the “True Text of the Middle Section,” rolls it together with the talismans, and conceals it in the sleeve. Holding the staff, the master visualizes transforming into the Celestial Worthy Who Saves from Suffering, performs one circuit of the ritual steps, and, after completing them, faces the Eastern Hell and burns one talisman.

The master visualizes Qi in blue, yellow, and white spreading with the talisman’s ashes, its radiance illuminating Heaven and Earth. The vision then reaches ten thousand zhang beneath the ground, where countless hells in this region come into view. Every office and institution that judges sinners turns toward the Gate of Heaven to receive the talisman’s command. Shackles are broken, prison gates opened, and all imprisoned souls released. The souls follow the radiance to the ritual site.

The master burns the talisman paper, recites the sacred chant and incantation for that direction, and visualizes in accordance with the ritual. Next, the master burns an image of Mount Fengdu, the legendary abode of the underworld, scatters its ashes, and visualizes them dispersing with the flow of Qi. The master then uses the staff to open the prison lamps. At this moment, everything from the highest reaches of Heaven to the depths of the Earth is clear and bright, within and without. The hells lie empty and still, with no prisoners; the Nine Hells are all the same. Once the entire ritual is complete, the master turns to face the Gate of Heaven, offers incense in thanks, and withdraws. The prison-breaking talisman appears in another section of this book.

Ninefold Pure Sacred Chants for Breaking the Hells

East

Celestial Worthy of Compassion, Jade Treasure of the Ninefold Qi, Blue Radiance, and Thunderous Wind, who destroys spears, lances, and weapons, and illumines all beneath the morning light. May souls ascend to Taiwei, their spirits and awareness find deliverance, and their blessings be boundless.

South

Celestial Worthy of Compassion, of the Threefold Qi and Cinnabar Radiance, whose light penetrates the fiery hells and brings ten thousand blessings. May calamities be dispelled and the pool of fire transformed into a green garden; may it become sweet, cool, pure, and refreshing, with the skin cleansed. May souls who have suffered receive grace and roam freely in Wuwei (non-action).

West

Celestial Worthy of Compassion, of the Sevenfold Qi and Pure Radiance, who shines with the adamantine, wondrous ultimate. May sharp blades be destroyed and swords and spears vanish. May knives become towering trees and swords turn into cypress trees; may souls ascend, shining as brightly as the sun.

North

Celestial Worthy of Compassion, Jade Dawn of the Fivefold Qi and Vast Blue Radiance, whose light penetrates the deep and frigid realms. May pools of ice and snow grow warm, the cold disperse, and poisonous fluids be eliminated. May souls attain wondrous joy and ascend to the Fragrant Grove.

Northeast

In the early morning, the radiance of pure primordial Qi appears, shining through like a cauldron of boiling water. The Highest Sage, with boundless power, responds and saves the dead, stilling the surging waters and transforming them into sweet nectar. The souls of the dead recover their bodily forms and rise directly to Heaven.

Southeast

The radiance of life-giving Qi shines down upon the southeast, causing the copper pillars to crack and the flames to die down. With compassion and a love of life, the Sage saves all beings, offering aid everywhere without cease. Suffering souls are released and ascend to the Jade Altar.

Southwest

Yellow radiance, like moonlight, shines upon the southwest, the Kun quarter, dispelling blades and destroying the power of slaughter. The Venerable Compassionate One of the Empty Emperor protects and saves beings sunk in misery, awakening sinful souls and restoring them to life; all swords and blades are destroyed.

Northwest

The celestial origin reveals auspicious radiance. The Boundlessly Compassionate One dispels poison and harm. The wheels of the fiery chariot are destroyed, and the implements of fire torture become blue lotuses. Scorched bones and rotting limbs regain life and enter a cool, refreshing realm.

Above

Jade radiance and golden primordial Qi circulate and send down their light; fiery pits and celestial prisons are reduced to ash. The Venerable Mystery of Jade Emptiness saves all beings, enabling the souls of the dead to ascend to Heaven through Wuwei, where they enjoy blessings of great height and breadth.

Center

The mysterious radiance of the Three Mornings shines everywhere. The True Emperor, the Compassionate One, releases and removes the torments of interrogation and torture. Golden hammers and iron rods melt and vanish; countless sufferings cease, bitterness is dispelled, and sinful souls are filled with joy.

Mudra for Breaking Open the Prisons

Diagram of the Nine Prison Lamps

Following the teachings passed down by our masters and consulting the old regulations, I record here the complete procedure for the prison-breaking ritual.

The liturgy for extinguishing the lamps comes from Master Guangcheng’s Rituals of the Yellow Register Retreat. Its form follows only the practice of paying reverence to the lamps, without reciting scriptures. The old edition calls them simply the “Nine Netherworld Lamps.” Later versions of the “Nine Goblet Lamps” recite the Chapter on Generating the Spirits at each direction, and the wording differs somewhat.

When the lamps are used today at the altar of the prisons, the retreat officiant still pays reverence to them, while the Daoist assembly reads the liturgy according to the prescribed method, assisting the High Merit officiant—the Daoist who presides over the rites—in carrying out the ceremony. When reverencing the eastern lamp, the High Merit officiant goes to the east to perform the prison-breaking rite. During the recitation of the middle section, the assembly circles around, coordinating with the High Merit officiant’s visualization. The Daoist assembly then reads the liturgy for reverencing the second lamp, circling and chanting in the same way as for the first. The same procedure is followed for all nine prisons. In this way, the High Merit officiant’s spirit and Qi can remain calm and settled, while the meaning of the lamp-blessing liturgy accords with the ritual actions and confusion is avoided.

The Nine Prison lamp texts that have become popular in recent times assign a verse to each direction during the extinguishing of the lamps. Their language is not sufficiently refined and does not fit the content of the prison-breaking rite. They can disrupt the High Merit officiant’s visualization during the ritual and bring no benefit to the ceremony. As for the divine lamps of the Nine Netherworlds, if they are lit throughout the ritual space, then the blessing text for extinguishing the lamps…

According to popular custom, the Broken Hells rite was originally established to save all beings universally. Although the scale of a purification rite may be arranged according to the sponsor’s means, it usually spans three ritual sessions and includes ceremonies such as opening and closing the altar. Those who perform the purification rites should also prepare alms food in keeping with their means—food offered to the dead and wandering spirits—and distribute it widely among the Three Paths (hell beings, hungry ghosts, and animals), extending salvation to all. Only afterward should they request talismans, issue commands, and perform the Broken Hells rite. This is the proper way to proceed.

In today’s prayers for purification rites, there are no blessings offered above for the sovereign and all under Heaven, and no salvation sought below for the nine generations of ancestors or beings of the Five Paths. The focus is confined to the three deceased persons being commemorated. In that case, the Lord on High could not possibly bestow talismans and open the Nine Hells for the sake of just one person. Such a claim makes no sense. The hells may not all be opened, and the wandering spirits may not all be saved. If our intentions extend not at all to other beings, can this really have been the original purpose for which the Most High established the ritual rules?

The offering of food to save beings universally need not be fixed at any particular quantity; it should be arranged according to one’s means, thereby widening the compassionate intention to aid all beings. Only then is there a sound basis for performing the Broken Hells rite. If one seeks to commemorate only certain deceased persons and the prayer makes no mention of other beings, then lighting lamps and reciting scriptures are enough; there is no need to use the Broken Hells rite. Those who understand the principle: do you agree?

When sponsors today request the Broken Hells rite, I dare not show the slightest neglect. But I should personally put this set of principles and practices into effect.