《高上玉皇本行集經》Vol. 1

The Wenchang Sovereign (deity of literary fortune) states: The principles of heaven and humanity are fundamentally one, sharing the same original heart across all ages. When principles remain obscure, the human mind naturally becomes unsettled. Even imperial scriptures require continuous refinement until their principles become thoroughly comprehended and human hearts find stability.

The Scripture of the Primordial Deeds of the August Jade Emperor (Yuhuang Benxing Jijing) originally evolved from the Dongxuan section (one of the Three Caverns in the Daoist canon). Through multiple revisions, it has become a sacred text revered by practitioners worldwide—a ladder to sagehood and a vessel for attaining the Dao. However, transmission errors have inevitably crept in, with misinterpreted commentaries causing textual contradictions and disorganized chapters. True seekers of the Dao indeed require this newly collated edition. This printing strictly follows the secret jade casket manuscript preserved in the Nine Heavens, with 118 characters meticulously corrected to ensure clarity of language and illumination of meaning. The chapter divisions have been reorganized for coherent flow, while commentaries adhere closely to the original text, avoiding empty metaphysical speculation. Scholars need only compare this with commonly circulated versions to recognize its superior quality. Those who stubbornly insist on the inviolability of scriptures ironically violate the fundamental unity of heavenly and human principles across time.

The Fuyou Sovereign (Daoist immortal) adds: Scriptures are vessels that carry the Dao—through them the Dao becomes manifest; commentaries are keys that unlock scriptures—through them the scriptures become comprehensible. While the Dao requires scriptures for transmission, scriptures in turn require commentaries for illumination. The Scripture of the Jade Emperor's Primordial Deeds expounds the supreme principle of humans aligning with celestial patterns to perfect themselves and benefit all beings—its meaning runs profoundly deep. Without proper commentary, how could future seekers tread the path to sagehood and realization? Yet spiritual practice resembles distant journeys beginning with nearby steps, or high ascents starting from low ground—Daoist cultivation most detests unrealistic ambitions. This scripture's profound mystery lies herein: within the text resides deeper meaning, and within that meaning resides textual truth—the celestial Jade Emperor (supreme Daoist deity) corresponds to the "imperial throne" of righteous awareness in the human heart; when the body follows this righteous governance, its Qi channels become like the host of celestial beings. Herein lies the scripture's most sublime truth.

This scripture passage depicts the scene of a Celestial Venerable (one of the highest deities in Daoism) transmitting the Dao teachings. Reclining upon an armrest, the Celestial Venerable bestows pure dharma decrees while numerous attendants seek guidance on essential cultivation practices. The deity manifests seventeen great illuminations that liberate both sages and ordinary beings, and accomplishes thirty forms of De (Virtue/Power) enabling humans and spirits alike to transcend and ascend to heaven.

The author explains the scripture operates on two levels: the exoteric aspects understandable to ordinary people, and the esoteric dimensions beyond common comprehension. A commentator's duty lies in clarifying the intelligible content for readers' understanding, while those ineffable profundities require silent contemplation beyond words to grasp. Dao cultivation demands gradual progress through accumulated practice—only then will the great Dao gradually reveal itself. When truth becomes apparent and scriptures grow clear, the path to attaining perfection and sainthood unfolds naturally.

The text criticizes empty discourses on emptiness and deliberate mystifications, arguing that convoluted obscurities only weary practitioners, sometimes making them reluctant to finish reading. This neither aligns with the original intent of scripture publishers nor serves commentators' purposes. The passage concludes with this aspiration: May practitioners maintain bodily and mental purity when studying these engraved and circulated texts, engaging in devout recitation—thus receiving celestial blessings with natural fulfillment of auspicious rewards.