《洞真太上太素玉籙》

The Scripture of the Supreme White Jade Register from the Cavern of Perfection (Dongzhen Taishang Taisu Yulu) primarily elucidates the origins, efficacies, and associated visualization practices of the Taisu Jade Register—an esoteric Daoist talisman (fulu).

This Jade Register was attained through the cultivation practices of the Jade Dawn Lord (Yuchen Jun), a revered Daoist deity. It contains the divine power of the Five Directional Thearchs and is secretly stored in the Great Abundant Chamber of the Upper Palace of Primordial Numen. Those who obtain and practice this register gain the ability to traverse the celestial void and achieve concealment from physical form. During practice, two jade youths and two jade maidens are assigned as protectors. However, the cultivation must be conducted in secrecy to manifest its efficacy—disclosure invites calamity, demanding utmost caution.

The scripture introduces two exalted deities: Lord Taisu (Yuancheng Laojun, the celestial hun-soul of Heaven) and Lord Taihe (Huangcheng Laojun, the celestial po-soul of Heaven). Lord Taisu governs the qi of primordial authenticity (zhenyuan qi) and resides in the Hook Array Palace within the Great Clarity (Taiqing) realm. Lord Taihe oversees the qi of embryonic origin (taiyuan qi). These two lords constantly attend the Divine Sovereign (Dijun) alongside Lord Taiyi, collectively known as the "Three Lords." These three originate from the undifferentiated qi of primordial chaos (hundun yiqi), representing the foundational forces of cosmic transformation.

Practice Method:

On the 2nd and 3rd nights of the lunar month during the midnight hour (子时), recline calmly with closed eyes and engage in visualization.

1. Visualize your head as the Great Clarity Supreme Ultimate Palace (Taiqing Taiji Gong), where the Divine Sovereign resides.

2. Imagine your left eye as Lord Taisu—clad in azure robes, wearing a Nine-Florate Crown, holding a cyan lingzhi mushroom and a blue banner.

3. Simultaneously, visualize your right eye as Lord Taihe—dressed in white, adorned with a Five-Florate Crown, holding golden elixir (jinye), jade nectar, and a white banner. Both lords stand in attendance beside the Divine Sovereign.

4. The Supreme Ultimate Palace has nine alternative names and is located one cun below the crown of the head, measuring approximately one square cun in size.

Conclude by visualizing your hun and po souls entering the Supreme Ultimate Palace to receive offerings of cyan lingzhi (shaped like a lotus) and golden elixir (with a wine-like flavor) from the Two Elders. After partaking, report your gratitude to the Divine Sovereign. Through this practice, the cultivator achieves mystical union with the Dao (Yu Dao He Zhen).

(Note: "Visualization" (cunsi) is a core Daoist cultivation technique involving concentrated imagination of divine forms or internal landscapes. The "Six Harmonies Palace" (Liuhe Gong) refers to a key acupoint in the head region.)

This scripture elucidates Daoist methods for cultivating longevity and achieving immortality, primarily involving the ingestion of talismans (fulu) and adherence to precepts:

On longevity cultivation:

The text states that by consuming celestial medicines like "divine mushrooms, golden fluids, and jade nectar," combined with specific rituals ("the Two Elders registering with the Supreme Unity and presenting memorials"), one may attain undying longevity and ultimately achieve immortality. Here, the "Supreme Unity" (Taiyi) refers to the fundamental Qi (vital energy) within the human body, the root of all life transformations.

Methods for ingesting talismans:

1. One must sequentially ingest talismans from the Five Sacred Mountains (Eastern Peak, Western Peak, etc.), beginning with the Eastern Peak

2. In the first lunar month, the talismans should be inscribed on purple silk (a special writing material) and placed in bamboo tubes

3. These bamboo tubes must be concealed between large rocks in the mountains, unknown to others

4. Seal them with seven pints of yellow earth made into clay while reciting specific incantations

Effects after ingesting talismans:

• Jade-clad youths in white or scholar-immortals will manifest
• After thirty days, the body becomes lighter, enabling flight
• Advanced practitioners can ascend to the Clear Void celestial realm
• Intermediate practitioners can rise a hundred zhang (about 300 meters)
• Beginners can ascend ten zhang (about 30 meters)

Cultivation prohibitions:

1. Strict observance of precepts is mandatory, otherwise misfortune will extend to seven generations of descendants

2. Before ingesting talismans, one must:

• Abstain from the five pungent vegetables (garlic, onions, etc.)
• Avoid meat
• Refrain from sexual activity for 100 days

3. Practice must occur in undisturbed, pure locations

4. Particularly forbidden are defiling and irreverent behaviors

The scripture repeatedly emphasizes the necessity for caution in cultivation, requiring self-cultivation and moral refinement—otherwise success will be difficult to achieve. These methods represent ancient Daoist techniques for pursuing longevity and ascension, demanding strict compliance with specific rituals and precepts.

This scripture passage elucidates the methods and efficacy of cultivating the Supreme Purity Jade Register (Taishang Taisu Yulu). The core teachings can be understood as follows:

The essence of practice lies in single-minded recitation of the Daoist scripture while maintaining ritual purity through fasting (zhai). Those who persevere in such cultivation may ultimately ascend to immortality. Practitioners will establish communion with celestial immortals, summon divine beings, and obtain the Golden Elixir (Jindan) and other elixirs of transcendence. At advanced stages, one travels accompanied by dragon-drawn chariots and feathered canopies (the magnificent conveyances of deities), attended by jade maidens and spirit youths (celestial attendants), with all earthly spirits and marvels at their command—omniscient and omnipotent.

The scripture further describes several miraculous powers: wearing specific talismans (fulu) renders one invulnerable to weapons, and any who plot harm against the practitioner will suffer retribution; possessing the "Essence-Jade Horse Covenant" (a Daoist ritual implement) and sacred texts enables flight through the heavens, repels malignant forces, and secures divine protection. The specific oral instructions (koujue) for cultivation must be transmitted personally by a master according to the disciple's aptitude.

The text records the scripture's transmission lineage: from the Great Ultimate Perfected (Taiji Zhenren, a high-ranking celestial official) to the Sage Monarch of Later Ages (Housheng Jun), then to the Azure Lad of Fangzhu (Fangzhu Qingtong Jun), and finally by Lord Wang (Wang Jun, an immortal) to Xu Yuanyou (a practitioner) in the 11th year of the Yonghe era (355 CE) during the Jin dynasty. Through seven years of rigorous cultivation, Xu attained supernatural abilities of unimpeded manifestation.

The passage concludes with a standard covenant text for receiving esoteric teachings, documenting the vows taken when initiating the "Nine Stars of Soaring Dawn" (Feichen Jiuxing) method. It includes the disciple's name and origin, ritual tokens used (such as the green-gold dragon-jade fish), and oaths to practice devoutly without careless transmission—with warnings of punishment by the Three Officials (Sanguan, deities of heaven, earth, and water) for violations. This solemn ceremony reflects the gravity of Daoist esoteric transmission.

This scripture documents the strict covenant and oath-taking rituals involved in transmitting Daoist scriptures, comprising three main sections:

The first part outlines the covenant for transmitting the Supreme Great Cavern of Three Luminaries Scripture. Disciples must swear a solemn vow: they shall never harbor resentment toward the Daoist tradition or their master, lest they be condemned to the Yellow Springs (underworld). The transmission requires ritual tokens - forty feet of white silk, one peck of rice, a bundle of firewood, and a pinch of salt - along with detailed records of both master and disciple's clerical status and origins. The covenant mandates three years of probation before transmission; improper transmission to unworthy recipients invokes punishment from the Three Officials (Heaven, Earth, and Water) upon both parties.

The second section, the Supreme Hidden Scripture Covenant for Soaring Steps and Subduing the Five Planets, describes an even more elaborate transmission ceremony. Disciples must prepare precious tokens like golden dragons and jade fish, presided over by libationers (early Celestial Masters/Tianshi tradition officiants). The oath is sworn before the Three Officials with ancestral witnesses spanning three generations. Violators bring calamity upon their parents and ancestors, eternally damned to the Yellow Springs.

The third part contains cultivation mnemonics from the Great Cavern Three Luminaries Covenant, visualizing solar and lunar essences. The sixteen-character mantra "Sun-Soul Pearl Radiance" and similar phrases constitute secret methods bestowed by the Golden Portal Sage Monarch (high Daoist deity). Practitioners visualize solar auroras and the Crimson Youth Deity to absorb celestial essences, cultivating the path of ascension.

These contents reflect the rigorous master-disciple system and sacred covenantal spirit in early Daoist scripture transmission, emphasizing the principle of "not transmitting to the unworthy" and the severe divine retribution awaiting oath-breakers.

This passage recounts the origins and efficacy of the precious scripture Jade Register of the Great Simplicity (Taisu Yulu). Originally transmitted by the Celestial Emperor of Great Tenuity (a revered Daoist deity) to perfected beings, it is also known as Scripture of the Golden Essence, Stony Scenery, and Water Mother (Jinjing Shijing Shuimu Jing). The text records two hundred esoteric characters representing the solar deities known as the Five Thearchs of the Noonday Sun (Rizhong Wudi) - these sacred graphs embody the august titles of the Nine Heavenly Kings and the Five Directional Perfected Spirits.

Those who bear these characters receive the blessings of the Five Solar Thearchs. The method involves inscribing the characters onto talismans (fulu) and wearing them on the left forearm. This practice bestows brilliant wisdom, comprehensive knowledge of the five directions, and the ability to traverse freely among the Five Sacred Peaks. The adept gains power to command mountains and summon seas, marshal ten thousand celestial troops, and subdue ghosts and spirits. Even celestial deities, jade maidens, and immortal youths will serve as protectors, rendering the practitioner invulnerable to all trials. This represents nothing less than the ultimate method of cultivating immortality.

However, such secret arts cannot be casually transmitted. Only steadfast Daoist practitioners who encounter authentic masters may receive them - and only after solemn altar ceremonies where they pledge unbreakable oaths using the golden dragon and jade fish (sacred Daoist covenant objects). Transmission requires writing the true characters on yellow paper mounted upon jade-green backing.