The Consecration Liturgy of the Celestial Masters of the Zhengyi School

Taoist Temple of Mount Longhu, Jiangxi

1. The merit officiant performs the inner secret; all chant: The Supreme Ultimate (Taiji) divided the high and the thick; the light and clear rose above to belong to heaven. If people can cultivate the supreme Tao, their bodies become true immortals. Their deeds overflow the number of three thousand; their time meets forty thousand years. On the Cinnabar Terrace the precious books are opened; from the golden mouth they are handed down forever. Heavenly Worthy Who Seizes Demons and Wards Off Defilement.

2. The merit officiant holds up the hu tablet, bows, and moves the heavenly eye, (reciting secretly): An, hong zha li!

Swiftly manifest radiance, seize! (Three times in one breath.) Dan Zhu, rectify the order, seize in clarity and stillness! Heavenly Worthy of Numinous Treasure (Lingbao Tianzun), remove defilement, seize! Taiguang, Shuangling, Youjing, seize! Peng Ju, Peng Qiao, Peng Zhi, you may not leave my body, seize! (Press the Si, Wu, Wei, and Shen positions.)

By the emptiness and nothingness and what is so of itself of the Three Heavens of the Most High, seize! I wash my body with the sun (press Mao), I refine my form with the moon (press You), the Perfected protect me (press Wu), the Jade Maidens assist my form, the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions follow me and turn in their wheel, a thousand evils and ten thousand defilements are driven off by the qi and made clear. Swiftly, swiftly, as the law commands!

The Nine Phoenixes break defilement; essences and evils are destroyed. Heavenly generals and mounted clerks descend straight from the cloudy stars. The stars shift and the Dipper turns; the three lights shimmer. Above they shine on the Nine Heavens; below they look down on the Nine Earths. The Thunder Lord strikes his thunderbolt; the Lightning Mother flashes jasper light. Wind and cloud meet in celebration, covering all the ten directions. Heaven and earth are fixed in their places; ghosts wail and spirits grieve. Ten thousand gods stand guard and may not linger. Swiftly, swiftly, as the law of the Immortal Master of the Nine Phoenixes who breaks defilement and seals the altar commands!

3. The merit officiant recites secretly: By the law of Miluo of the Most High, I transform my bodily image; my body sits upright, embracing the myriad phenomena. I summon the heavenly troops of the six directions and the officers and generals of all the thunder bureaus to carry out my command. With the command tablet I write in the air: “Taiji, one person, one mouth standing at the head; the two emperors come in order and then it is speech; the Heavenly Sovereign opens his mouth and issues the decree; the thunder gods and generals summoned stand in solemn array.” (Strike the command tablet once on the table to form the Kun trigram.) An, po luo yun zha li suo he!

I reverently invite the Sun Lord of the Solar Palace to send down true qi into my water (press the Mao mark): An, po luo luo li suo he! I reverently invite the Moon Sovereign to send down true qi into my water (press the You mark). I reverently invite the Great Sage of the Heavenly Guideline, the Star Lord of the Purple Court, to send down true qi into my water (press the Chen mark and then write the sacred name). Heavenly Worthy Who Seizes Demons and Wards Off Defilement.

We earnestly consider: within heaven and earth, the stale qi of the dusty world becomes demonic vapor; among people and things, coming and going often gives rise to foulness and defilement. Wishing to communicate with the high sages, one must first sweep away the demonic vapors. Now, reverently offering the true incense in the burner, I devoutly announce to the Merit Officer on duty today and to the Earth God and the other gods who pass on and deliver messages here: carry this true incense for me and devoutly petition and make offering to my gracious master, the Lord of the Teaching of the Ten Thousand Methods, the Supreme Emperor of Benevolent Awe of the Dark Heaven, incarnation of the Golden Gate, the Heavenly Worthy Who Sweeps Away Demons; to the Patriarch, the High Minister of Great Mystery, the True Lord of Orthodox Unity; to the Patriarchs of the Three Caverns and Four Supplements, of the scriptures, registers, and ritual codes, the ancestral and mysterious true masters; and to the Patriarchs of this parish and this lineage, the three masters of scripture, register, and ordination, and the ranks of the Perfected. Your servant respectfully hopes that the masters in their compassion will descend to the ritual altar and preside over this observance. Again I offer true incense and devoutly announce.

4. Putting down the hu tablet and holding the command tablet, he recites: I reverently summon the Divine Lords of the five directions, the Five Emperors, and the Five Dragons. I reverently invite the Lord of Heavenly Virtue, the Lord of Earthly Virtue, the Lords of the Year's Virtue and the Month's Virtue, the Sun Lord and the Lord of Lunar Splendor, and the Lords of Living Qi and Flourishing Qi of the five directions; the Lady of the Clear River, the Jade Maiden Who Washes Away Turbidity, and Marshal Chali; the great numinous officers of the Lingbao Court of Communicating with the Perfected who seize demons and ward off defilement; the Great General Song Di of the south, of the Nine Phoenixes who break defilement; Marshal Zhu of the Wind Wheel Court of the north, who sweeps away ghosts and destroys demons; the Essence of Great Fire of the south and the Essence of Great Water of the north; the Great White Lad of the west; the Merit Officers of the three and five on heavenly duty; and the officers and generals of all the bureaus of the ritual registers I bear. The Highest Clarity clerks who seize essences and devour essences, who seize evils and devour evils, who seize ghosts and devour ghosts, who seize foulness and devour foulness, and the clerks of the hard wind who destroy shrines; the Bureau for Dispelling Defilement and the Bureau for Sweeping Away Defilement, which remove and destroy defilement; all the officers and generals of every bureau: hearing this command and summons, come to the altar like a shooting star, to be directed in what is to be done. Swiftly!

5. Chant: Heavenly Worthy of the Five Dragons Who Sweeps Away Defilement. This water contains the true qi of the Five Dragons and carries the auspicious light of the Nine Phoenixes; therefore it can swiftly stir the turbid to raise the clear, and is used to sweep away evil and wash away filth. Now I take this water and sprinkle it all over the ritual altar. Sprinkled on heaven, heaven is bright and clear; sprinkled on earth, earth is at peace; sprinkled on people, people live long; sprinkled on ghosts, ghosts lose their form. The first sprinkling turns to frost, the second sprinkling turns to snow; the third sprinkling and the fourth spray, and a hundred evils are cut off, demons and monsters are seized and removed, calamities and disasters are wiped out; by the Southern Dipper, long life, longevity equal to the sun and moon. The mysterious liturgy has an incantation, which we reverently chant and proclaim.

6. Sprinkling purifying water, the Incantation for Purifying Defilement is chanted, followed by the Hymn of the Three Treasures, and then: The demon kings bow their heads and stand guard at my gate. Evil and defilement disperse; the qi of the Tao remains forever. Heavenly Worthy of Constant Clarity and Stillness. Heavenly Worthy of Constant Clarity and Stillness.

“Hymn for Welcoming the Masters”: Winding and winding, the land of the divine realm; lofty, lofty, the altar of all wonders. Guests of crane carriages and imperial chariots descend with a breath from the ranks of the immortals. Heavenly Worthy of the Golden Perfected Who Expounds the Teaching. Recited aloud: On Mount Longhu the great elixir was refined; the demons and goblins of the Six Heavens shivered to their bones and hair. Since he rode the crane back to the Mysterious Province, the methods of the Tao have flourished to help the world. Reverently facing the imperial altar, please state your ritual office. (State the office.) Bowing down, I speak upward:

The Perfect and Limitless Great Tao of emptiness and nothingness and what is so of itself; in the Holy Realm of Jade Clarity, the Primordial Heavenly Worthy (Yuanshi Tianzun); in the True Realm of Highest Clarity, the Heavenly Worthy of Numinous Treasure; in the Immortal Realm of Grand Clarity, the Heavenly Worthy of the Tao and Its Virtue (Daode Tianzun). The Jade Emperor, Great Emperor of the Golden Gate of Vast Heaven. The Heavenly Sovereign, Great Emperor of the Upper Palace of the Curved Array. The Lord of the Stars of the Central Heaven, the Great Emperor of Purple Tenuity (Ziwei Dadi). Empress Earth (Houtu), who receives heaven and follows its law, the Imperial Earth Spirit. The True King of the South Pole, the Great Emperor of Longevity. The Compassionate Father of the Eastern Pole, the Supreme Emperor of Azure Mystery. The Heavenly Worthy of Thunder (Leisheng Puhua Tianzun), Responding to the Origin of the Nine Heavens. The Great Emperor, Thunder Patriarch of the Nine Heavens. The Divine Lord Taiyi, Great Heavenly Emperor of the Palace of Purple Tenuity and Azure Jade in Highest Clarity. The Great Emperor of the Grotto Abyss of the Six Heavens. The Divine Lord, Heavenly Ruler of the Six Waves. The True Lord Elder Kehanshi of the Nine Heavens. The True Lord of Wondrous Transformation Who Responds to the Origin and Protects Fortunes, Inspector of the Nine Heavens. The True Lord of the Upper Prime Who Transforms by the Tao. The True Lord of the Middle Prime Who Fixes the Utmost. The True Lord of the Lower Prime Who Supports Uprightness. The Sun Star Lord of the Solar Palace of Highest Clarity. The Moon Sovereign of the Plain Luminary of the Lunar Palace. The Star Lord of the Purple Court, Commander of the Heavenly Guideline. The Star Lords of the Six Bureaus of the Southern Dipper Who Prolong Life. The Star Lords of the Seven Primordials of the Northern Dipper Who Resolve Hardship. The Star Lords of the Eastern, Western, and Central Dippers. The Star Lords of the Three Terraces and the Canopy. The Star Lords of the Twelve Palaces and Hours. The Star Lords of the Sixty Jiazi (the sixty-year cycle). The Star Lords of the Five Dippers of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. The Star Lords of the Four Poles and Four Luminaries. The Star Lords of the Eleven Luminaries. The stars and Dippers of all heaven, the myriad phenomena arrayed, and the hosts of Perfected of the Milky Way. The Patriarch, the High Minister of Great Mystery, the True Lord of Orthodox Unity. The Patriarchs of the Three Caverns and Four Supplements, of the scriptures, registers, and ritual codes, the ancestral and mysterious true masters. The Patriarchs of this parish and this lineage, the three masters of scripture, register, and ordination, and the ranks of the Perfected. The three immortal True Lords Fuqiu, Wang, and Guo of the Three Provinces of the Pivot. The True Lords, Controllers of Destiny, the Three Maos of Highest Clarity. The Eight Great Perfected Wang, Wang, Lin, Zhang, Sa, Shen, Liao, and Mo. The patriarchs who opened the teaching, those who transmitted before and those who ordained after, the masters and Perfected of all generations, and the holy hosts of teachers. The officers, generals, clerks, and troops of all the bureaus of the One Office and Two Courts of the Thunder, and the Three Bureaus of the Five Thunders. The Ten Great Marshals of Highest Clarity and Orthodox Unity: Wang, Ma, Zhao, Shi, Zhu, Yin, Wen, Kang, Yue, and Meng. The Eight Great Heavenly Lords of the Thunder: Deng, Xin, Zhang, Tao, Pang, Liu, Gou, and Bi. Before primal chaos divided, the Tao came first; without form or image, its substance is what is so of itself. Purple qi came from the east over thirty thousand li; at Hangu Pass the five thousand words passed through. The golden codes and jade calendars are spread everywhere; the phoenix seal script and dragon writing are handed down age after age. Heaven was opened and earth divided, and all things were born and shone. The constant Tao, the mysterious Tao, attains the True Lord. The thousand Perfected and ten thousand sages of the Three Realms and the ten directions: may all, by this true incense, receive our universal offering.

(Pouring the offering to convey the intention.) The clouds have already descended; the heavenly carriages have arrived. The invitation of the holy ones is complete; still we must bow and invite. The descending staffs linger as they are welcomed; flowers are scattered through the grove. Heavenly flowers fly in profusion, filling the pure arena. Offering before the imperial masters. The Taoist assembly in devotion, aided by the golden light. Heavenly Worthy Who Covers and Protects with Golden Light. (Returning to the altar, the merit officiant performs the method of transforming the body.)

7. The merit officiant recites silently: Summoning the generals, the command of prior heaven sounds once; that one sound stirs my primordial spirit. If the master does not revere his primordial spirit, let his cry stir the thunder gods to descend in person.

(With the willow-branch seal of the right hand, dip into the water and write on the palm of the left hand): Heaven is clear and earth at peace; heaven and earth unite, seize!

(With the willow-branch seal of the left hand, dip into the water and write on the palm of the right hand): Heaven is clear and earth at peace; heaven and earth unite, seize!

8. Release the willow-branch seal: dip the hand into the bowl in the left palm; burn the jade script with both hands in the burner, rub the hands together three times, turn them five times, and with the sword seal of the right hand write the Five Thunders sign on the left palm, reciting meanwhile: In the east arises the thunder of Mount Tai, in the south arises the thunder of Mount Heng, in the west arises the thunder of Mount Hua, in the north arises the thunder of Mount Heng, in the center arises the thunder of Mount Song; Five Thunders, swiftly strike! (Make the sound of thunder with the mouth.) An, hong zha li! The left hand sends forth power; with the willow-branch seal of the right hand dip into the water, step back one step, and draw a Taiji diagram on the ground. The right hand sends toward Xun; when the rumbling of thunder is felt in the mind it is fixed. With the sword seal of the right hand draw in the air over the ground, writing and reciting: Open the Gate of Heaven (press the Hai mark), close the Door of Earth (press the Si mark), leave open the Gate of Humans (press the Shen mark), block the Road of Ghosts (press the Yin mark), lay the golden beam across (press the Zi mark), mount the jade pillar (press the jade mark). Step forward with the left foot first and stand in the center of the Taiji, on the golden beam and jade pillar. Raise both hands, move the heavenly eye to form the golden light seal script, cover the crown of the head, and secretly recite the Golden Light Incantation. With four qi in one breath, visualize the golden light covering and protecting your body. Grasp the demon-subduing pestle with both hands, part the seal to both shoulders and before the chest, and drive the foul qi from the body. Breathe out once toward the left, secretly reciting: Spitting out the old and uniting with brightness, the Heavenly Emperor says (breathe in once toward the right), take in the new: Qian, primal, prevailing, beneficial, and steadfast.

9. With both hands form the jade seal level with the eyebrows and visualize a bundle of dry hair on your body. With the left hand form the Five Fires seal, reciting as you press: Heavenly fire, swiftly strike (press Yin); earthly fire, swiftly strike (press Mao); thunder fire, swiftly strike (press Chen); thunderbolt fire, strike (press Si); the true samadhi fire of the great yang in the sun, swiftly strike (press Wu). Visualize the five fires burning the dry hair until it all turns to ash and dust. With the left thumb press the index finger and write Xun. Recite secretly: Raise the wind god, raise the wind god; the Jade Emperor decrees it transformed to fine dust. One point of numinous light breaks through to the true origin; swiftly manifest radiance. Swiftly, swiftly, as the law commands!

Fanning with the edge of the sleeve, recite secretly: The first fan raises an auspicious wind, the second fan brings auspicious qi, the third fan turns all foulness to dust. Blow out one breath and visualize the Xun wind blowing away the dust, leaving one point of numinous light that gradually grows larger. Recite secretly: Northern Emperor, sovereign wheel, universal numinous spirit, swiftly transform my body, seize! Three times in one breath. With the double thunder seal, draw it into the precious vase and breathe in this golden light, returning it into the ancestral qi, mixing it through three returns and nine turnings, then forcefully send it out with two sounds, “Hu! Hu!” Visualize the True Person of the Primordial Destiny, in golden crown and ritual robes, solemnly before you. Move the heavenly eye and write in the air ahead; the wind transforms into golden towers and jade halls, within which the Emperor, the masters and Perfected, and the thunder gods, officers, and generals preside over the rite above. Recite secretly: Clear numen, clear numen, assist my primordial spirit. Strike open the heavenly drum; transform my body into a god. Swiftly, swiftly, as the law commands!

10. (Visualize yourself transformed into the Dark Emperor or the Founding Celestial Master.) The first yellow of the Upper Terrace drives away all that is inauspicious (Wu); the second white of the Middle Terrace protects the body and guards the house (Wei); the third clear of the Lower Terrace beheads monsters and removes goblins (Si); wherever the Terrace Stars reach, they grant great awesome power. Pressing, recite: Jiao (Chen), Kang, Di (Mao), Fang, Xin, Wei (Yin), Ji, Dou (Chou), Niu, Nü (Zi), Xu, Wei, Shi (Hai), Bi, Kui (Xu), Lou, Wei (You), Mao, Bi, Zi (Shen), Shen, Jing (Wei), Gui, Liu (Wu), Xing, Zhang, Yi (Si), Zhen. The Azure Dragon Mengzhang attends on my left (press the Mao mark and exhale with xu); the White Tiger Jianbing guards my right (press the You mark and exhale with si); the Vermilion Bird Lingguang leads before me (press the Wu mark and exhale with he); the Dark Warrior (Black Tortoise) Zhiming follows behind me (press the Zi mark and exhale with chui). (For exorcism and healing, add this stellar pace and seal: hold the command tablet in the right hand, form the jade seal with the left hand level with the heart, recite, and with the feet pace this forward Nine Purple pace, used after the winter solstice.) Treading Tianying, I return to Tianren; at the wall of Qingling I stand high at Ding. Pacing Tianzhu, I embrace Tianxin; from here I pace the heavens and mount Tianqin.

Leaning on Tianfu, I gaze toward Tianchong; entering Tianrui, I come out at Tianpeng. The Nine Heavens are opened to the meeting of wind and cloud; the Nine Empyreans open and the spirit unites with the qi. Swiftly, swiftly, as the law commands!

If after the summer solstice, pace the reverse Nine Purple pace, reciting: From Tianpeng I enter Tianrui, fly past Tianchong, descend, and withdraw by Tianfu. I return to Tianqin, facing Tianxin; I embrace Tianzhu, where Tianren and Tianying meet. The way of the Dipper is open and the way of ghosts is blocked; above and below, heavenly troops rise by the hundreds and thousands. Diligently I assist the Jade Morning in the Three Realms; I enter the mouth of the Dipper and wield the thunder. Swiftly, swiftly, as the law commands!

11. The merit officiant goes on to pace the Northern Dipper pace; when finished, he turns and paces the Three Terraces pace, then sets up the prison. Within the well sign he adds the prison sign, and within the mouth of the prison sign he adds the two signs for “evil” and “ghost,” reciting as he writes: The first stroke makes a river, the second stroke makes a sea, the third stroke makes the Yellow River flow backward, the fourth stroke drives the evil into the well prison. Thunder gods of the heavenly prison, thunder gods of the earthly prison, thunder gods of the water realm, thunder gods of the fire realm: the Emperor on high has decreed, and the command of Fengdu is carried out. Now I look to the Bureau of the Fire Rhinoceros Thunder General, Marshal Zhu who strikes evil and destroys sorcerers, and Marshal Wen, high general of the earth spirits: swiftly seize and hold for me the hard wind and the vast qi, the nine ugly ones and the host of evils, the heterodox demons of the Six Heavens, and those who play with stellar paces and hand seals at this altar—the improper sorcerers of life and death—as well as all demons, evils, ghosts, and goblins that cause trouble in the body and the household. Stuff them all into the well prison and imprison them forever. They are not permitted to move, seize! Four vertical and five horizontal, the Six Jia and Six Ding; King Yu ruled the way, Chiyou warded off weapons. I now cut off what comes after; they may not be born again. The nine ways are all blocked: the way of heaven cut off, the way of earth cut off, the way of humans open, the way of ghosts blocked.

12. Press Hai, Si, Shen, and Yin, then add the Five Thunders sign: In the east arises the thunder of Mount Tai, in the south arises the thunder of Mount Heng, in the west arises the thunder of Mount Hua, in the north arises the thunder of Mount Heng, in the center arises the thunder of Mount Song; Five Thunders, swiftly strike! Make the sound of thunder with the mouth: An, hong hong! (With the command tablet write a Qian trigram on the table, then strike the middle with the tablet to change it into a Kun trigram.) Heaven and earth unite in peace; the myriad phenomena are bright and clear.

13. The high priest faces Xun and recites loudly: Together we raise Mount Tai ten thousand zhang high, and set down the coiled boulder of ten thousand jin. It crushes the thousand evils and the goblins, and they may never come out of the dark underworld. We respectfully invite the Great Marshal to guard the gate of the prison.

14. The high priest stands at the Qian position, raises “Heavenly Worthy Who Covers and Protects with Golden Light,” holds the command tablet, faces Xun, and recites loudly: The Emperor's command is not moved lightly; when there is a matter, it shows no mercy. Should any dare to disobey the command, the punishment of heaven's law is no light one. The first strike opens the Gate of Heaven, the second strike splits the Door of Earth, the third strike gathers the ten thousand gods. The command goes down: An, hong hong! The host of gods bow their heads; demons and evils return to what is right. Should any not comply, they are turned to fine dust. The essence joins with Li fire at my decree; the three yang reveal the five brightnesses. Ten thousand gods hear my summons; divide your bodies and swiftly manifest as gods.

15. I reverently summon: on the left, the Azure Dragon Mengzhang (press the Mao mark); on the right, the White Tiger Jianbing (press the You mark); in front, the Vermilion Bird Lingguang (press the Wu mark); behind, the Dark Warrior Zhiming (press the Zi mark). Mengzhang and Jianbing, raise the staffs and set up the banners, in full armor, and be stationed on my left (press Mao) and attend on my right (press You); Lingguang and Zhiming, swift as wind, fire, and thunder, holding halberds and banners, form ranks to lead before me (press Wu) and follow behind me (press Zi). Dark and obscure, born together with heaven and earth; dispersed, you become qi; gathered, you take form. Ancestors of the Five Phases, essences of the Six Jia: the troops turn as the seal turns, the generals act as the command is given. Reverently offering one stick of the incense of the Tao, the ten directions are purified; the drum is struck three times, and the ten thousand gods all listen.

16. Take up the incense, click the teeth three times, hold the command tablet, and over the incense burner write the golden light seal script, reciting as you write: The incense burns the precious seal script; its smoke pierces the Nine Empyreans. When the command goes down, it is heard throughout the Three Realms. Now, reverently serving the Capital Bureau of the Thunder, presiding over this altar, I burn incense and issue the command to summon: the talisman officer on duty in the upper realm, Jiao Gongnu; the talisman officer on duty in the middle realm, Cui Zhiyi; the talisman officer on duty in the lower realm, Zhou Yuanyang; the petition officer of the water realm, Zhang Yuanbo; the Merit Officer on yearly duty, Wu Zong'e; the Merit Officer on monthly duty, Qu Jiangzhong; the Merit Officer on daily duty, Dou Yuanming; the officer on hourly duty, Liu Shiqing; the envoy Sun, who transmits reports for the numinous officers; the envoy Shen, who transmits reports for the Fire Rhinoceros; the envoy Guo, who transmits reports for the Mysterious Altar; the envoy Jiang, who transmits reports for the earth spirits; Zhang Xian and Xie You, the two talisman envoys who transmit reports for the earth spirits; and Wang and Lu, the two envoys who transmit reports for Fengdu. The Merit Officers on duty for this season, year, month, and day, and the Earth God and other gods who pass on messages for this altar: hearing this command and summons, come to the altar like a shooting star, to be directed in what is to be done. Swiftly! Facing Xun, write with the command tablet (the talisman graph combining yu “rain,” gui “ghost,” and fei “fly”), and recite silently: An hong hong, Merit Officers and Earth Gods gather here, suo he. Three times in one breath, visualizing the Merit Officers coming from heaven to earth; behind the elbow, the Tathagata holds the command. Recite aloud the seal for decreeing the day and hour, while at the altar they await the command: Jade script of the Mysterious Bureau, officers who establish merit, the governing decree is issued; report to the Three Heavens. The Emperor on high has decreed: swiftly send down the divine light. The Seven Governors and Eight Spirits, commanding the four on duty; heaven, earth, water, and fire, sun and moon, all gathered together. Heaven is clear and earth at peace; heaven and earth unite. Merit Officers and talisman envoys, swiftly manifest your true forms. Swiftly, swiftly answer my mouth; quickly, quickly answer my body. If you fulfill my command, well; if you defy it, by the law of Nüqing. Swiftly, swiftly, as the law commands! The summons has just been proclaimed, and I trust you have arrived at the altar. There is the general summons of Jade Clarity, the talismanic command of the ten thousand spirits, which I shall reverently read out.

17. The declarer proclaims the general summons, while the high priest writes facing Xun and strikes the thunder seal of the left hand toward the Door of Xun, visualizing golden light blazing and thunder and lightning crashing together; holding the command tablet he recites aloud: The precious seal of Jade Clarity decrees the talisman to the immortal ministers. Holding the talisman and grasping the command, I summon the heavenly Perfected; the Three Realms come together, the ten thousand gods revere it alike. The Heavenly Sovereign, Supreme Emperor, whose Brahma qi flows like gold; the golden light gathers from the four quarters—how could any dare not come? To defy the talisman and resist the command, heaven has its statutory punishments. Swiftly, swiftly, as the general summons of Jade Clarity, the talismanic command of the ten thousand spirits, decrees—slay, seize!

18. Issuing the command, recite loudly: The talismanic command has just been fully read out; it is burned in the blazing fire. We rely on the Merit Officers and talisman envoys to carry it to the Xun Palace of the Thunder and summon all the officers, generals, clerks, and troops of the heavenly thunder and the Feng prison to come swiftly to the altar, to be entrusted with what is to be done. Go quickly and do not linger; I am before the altar awaiting your clear report. Swiftly! Issuing the command, the merit officiant paces the wind-and-fire stellar pace; the Merit Officers carry the command and depart toward Xun. Holding the command tablet, the merit officiant recites aloud: The command of the Golden Gate is sent down by the Mysterious Worthy; its dispatch is dazzling, and heaven and earth are all startled. The jade talisman in golden letters, every stroke distinct. The first incantation darkens the Dipper, the second incantation dims the sun, the third incantation raises the wind, the fourth incantation brings the clouds, the fifth incantation brings the rain, the sixth incantation sounds the thunder, the seventh incantation flashes the lightning and the thunderbolt roars. The moment the golden talisman arrives, none may linger; ten thousand demons are broken and turned to fine dust. All as by the law of the general summons of the ten thousand gods of the Jade Emperor, Supreme Emperor of Vast Heaven. Now, writing in the air toward Xun, now, reverently serving the altar of the Capital Bureau of the Thunder, I issue the command at this altar and send the flying talisman of general summons. The merit officiant holds the command flag and sword toward the outside of the altar and recites: The Three Heavens, the Nine Heavens, the Ten Heavens, the Thirty-Two Heavens; the Jade Maidens who receive for all the heavens; the numinous officers on daily duty who present reports above; the Merit Officers who move the gods and meet with the Tao; the mounted clerks of the flying dragons and flying tigers; the cloud roads of the Nine Heavens; the Merit Officers of Orthodox Unity and the envoys of the talismanic command that opens heaven; the Great General of the Flowing Gold Fire Bell; before the Hall of the Primordial, the two Divine Lords who bring down the Perfected, summon the spirits, and hasten the envoys. The general summons of Jade Clarity; the Dispatching Bureau of the High Assistants of the Golden Gate; the Grandee Imperial Clerks of the Nine Heavens; the officers and clerks who receive talismans and transmit dispatches. The general summons of Jade Clarity; the Great General of the Ten Thousand Bureaus According to Wish; the Palace of Numinous Emptiness of Jade Clarity; the Palace of the Ten Thousand Spirits of the Primordial; the Inner Court of the Heavenly Immortals of Lingbao; the immortal bureaus of the Six Ministries; the combined immortal bureaus; the Jade Lads and Jade Maidens; the ten thousand spirits holding office; and the principal and deputy officers, with their generals and clerks, of all ranks of the great Lingbao methods. The Bureau of the Controller of Destinies of the Nine Heavens; the Azure Mystery Yellow Register Bureau; the Bureau of Initial Youth of Highest Clarity; the Bureau of the True King of the Divine Empyrean; the Bureau of the High Minister of the Capital Thunder of the Limitless Prior Heaven; the Bureau of Reports of the Jasper Pivot of the North Pole; the Commandery Thunder Bureau of the One Qi of Prior Heaven; the Bureau of the Mysterious Model of the Northern Kui; and all the immortal and numinous officers and clerks under them. The Court of Universal Deliverance of the Nine Heavens; the Court of the Heavenly Pivot of Upper Azure; the Yellow Register Court of Highest Clarity; the Court for Copying Registers of Highest Clarity; the Plum Immortal Court of the Five Thunders of Highest Clarity; the Court of Heavenly Physicians of Highest Clarity; the Court of the South Pole for Sweeping Away Evil; the Wind and Fire Court of the Cinnabar Heaven of the South Pole; the Court of the North Pole for Subduing Demons; the Court of the North Pole for Expelling Evil; the Court of Good Government of the Eastern Pole; the Golden Wheel Court of the Western Pole; the Court of Pacifying the Yellow of the Central Pole; and all the immortal and numinous officers and clerks under them. The Bureau of Flying-Step Petitions of the Nine Heavens; the Dragon and Tiger Court of Rewards and Punishments; and all the immortal and numinous officers and clerks under them. The Bureau Supervising Birth of the Nine Heavens; the Lingbao Bureau of Washing; the Bureau for Dispelling Defilement; the Bureau for Untying Knots; the Bureau of Caps and Boxes; the Bureau of Distribution; the Bureau of Filling Deficiency; the Bureau of Transformation and Refinement; the Bureau of Gathering and Transforming; and all the immortal and numinous officers and clerks under them. The Louluo King of the Jade Brahma Venerable Heaven; the Jialou King of the Wondrous Brahma Venerable Heaven; the Palace of the Great Brahma Heaven; the envoy Lin, talisman officer on duty of the Nine Heavens; and the hundred million thunder gods who sound the command and proclaim transformation. Presiding over the altar of the Thunder, the Heavenly Lord Deng, Flame Emperor of the sudden-fire law. Deputy marshal, the fierce silver-fanged clerk, Commander-Minister, the Heavenly Lord Xin, Azure Emperor. Envoy of the fire thunder of the One Qi of Prior Heaven, the Heavenly Lord Zhang of Yanggu. The Heavenly Lord Gou of the divine fierce yang thunder of Highest Clarity. The Heavenly Lord Bi of the divinely transforming yin thunder. Chief marshal of Dongshen, the Heavenly Lord Liu of the azure fangs and iron face. The two marshals Pang and Liu of the Eight Trigrams of Dongshen. Under the gate of Primordial Unity of the Six Heavens, the Commandery Ding and Ren, Qi, and the two great Heavenly Ding (names written with rare characters formed with the ghost radical). The two marshals Cheng and Yong of the Two Terraces of the Pivot. The three envoys Kang, Liu, and Lü, commanders of the Nine Provinces. The five great thunder gods Zhang, Bao, Huang, Xie, and Li of the Court of the North Pole for Subduing Demons. The twelve heavenly generals of the Taiyi Fire Bureau: Qiu, Wang, Chen, Li, Kong, Cui, Zhou, Ji, Liu, Lin, Bai, and Xie. The thirty-six heavenly generals under the gate of Tianpeng. The Grand Commander-in-Chief of the One Qi of the Purple Court. Marshal Zhang, Commander-in-Chief Who Beheads Evil, of the Plum Immortal Court of the Five Thunders of Highest Clarity. Huang, Qian, Xi, and He, the Kings of the Four Heavenly Gates, and the great generals of the eight gates. The four great divine generals Cui, Lu, Deng, and Dou, who seize, bind, cangue, and flog. Bronze Head, Iron Face, and all the divine clerks. General Song of the southern fire bell who commands the thunder. The Heavenly Lord Xun, Wood Gentleman of the Three Mountains. The Heavenly Lord Zhu of the Taiyi Moon Comet. The Heavenly Lord Xie of the Flowing Gold Fire Bell. The five envoys of heavenly thunder, Moming, Liesha, Hemeng, E'hong, and Kundian of the five directions. The five envoys of divine thunder, Yang, Kong, Yan, Sun, and Fang. The five envoys of dragon thunder, Meng, Ji, Si, Rao, and Rui. The five envoys of altar thunder, Huo, Liu, Hu, Bi, and Zhao (names written with rare characters formed with the fire radical). The five envoys of barbarian thunder, Ma, Guo, Fang, Deng, and Tian. The five envoys of prison thunder, Wang, Zhang, Shi, Guan, and Xiao. The five envoys of yang thunder, Peng, Huang, Guo, Li, and Zhou. The five envoys of yin thunder, Zhang, Xu, Yao, Lei, and Nan. The fifteen great thunder gods: of the east, Hufengya, Duoli, and Jiuluo; of the south, Bingjiuluo, Nuandanliao, and Shi'axiong; of the west, Rongyaoling, Langzhongyan, and Shanjiutuo; of the north, Luxingmeng, Hengtianba, and Daozhenjiu; of the center, Sun Zhen'er, Duojiayan, and Xuzhigui. The Thunder Lord and Lightning Mother, the Wind Earl and Rain Master, and the great gods, the cloud clerks. The officers, generals, clerks, and troops of all the bureaus of the heavenly thunder and the Feng prison under the One Office and Two Courts of the Thunder, the Three Altars, and the branch altars and parishes. The chief general of prior heaven, my gracious master, the thunder of all the heavens, sudden and vast, the numinous officer of punishment of the three-five fire chariot, the Heavenly Officer Wang. Marshal Ma, numinous officer of Orthodox Unity who resolves hardship. Marshal Zhao of the Dragon and Tiger Mysterious Altar of Highest Clarity. Marshal Shi, head of the divine thunder. The heart-general of the Great Canopy Heaven, Marshal Zhu of the Fire Rhinoceros Thunder Bureau who strikes evil and destroys sorcerers; Marshal Yin, Tai Sui (Grand Year) who commands the malign stars of the earth bureau, the high general of martial light. Marshal Wen, Grand Guardian and Capital Inspector, of Zhaowu of the earth spirits; Marshal Kang, Grand Guardian of the Imperial Gate. Marshal Yue, loyal, righteous, and brave, of the Song. Marshal Meng, who carries out punishments and flogs ghosts. By imperial decree, the Great Emperor Who Subdues Demons of the Three Realms and Assists Heaven, the Heavenly Worthy of Divine Awe Who Pacifies Far and Wide, Lord Guan (Guandi), the Holy Divine Lord. Chief marshal of Fengdu, Censor of the Western Terrace, the purple-haired demon king who examines the laws and carries out punishments, the True Lord Wei. Marshal Yang of the nine pythons and eight malign stars. Marshal Deng, the great demon king of the Baochun Palace. Marshal Zou of Fengdu who destroys evil. The four great marshals Han, Ai, Ying, and Pei. The four great numinous officers Jiao, Zeng, Ma, and Song. The four great black gods Gou, Bi, Tian, and Sun. The eight great gods of the malign stars Wei, Liu, Wang, Meng, Che, Xia, Gou, and Sang. The chief clerks of the nine prisons of Fengdu and the wardens of the prison of the Fire Rhinoceros banner altar. The executioners of Fengdu who behead evil, the vajra Merit Officers, and the great generals of the bronze snakes and iron dogs. The flying hawks and the clerks with swans; the divine generals of the six mountain-piercing seals. The divine generals who spread the snares and cast the nets; the great gods of the fire and black covers. The talisman envoys of the iron screen that reaches the sky, the talisman envoys of the two corners of yin and yang, and the divine generals who confuse pursuers and cut off the rear. All the officers, generals, troops, and clerks of the two terraces of the complete statutes of Fengdu. Marshal Wu of Daoyang of the South Pole, Marshal Li of the Ice Pool of the North Pole, Marshal Wu of the surging tide of the Cang River, the four great marshals Yan, Xiao, Yang, Hong, and Nie of the water bureau, the Great Heavenly King Golden Dragon of the Yellow River by imperial decree, and the Nanmu General, lord of Dongting. The gentlemen Zong the First, Zong the Second, and Zong the Third of the water bureau. The ninth gentleman Nie, of the Nie family's incense fire. The immortal palaces of the sea islands and the wave gardens of Penglai in the water bureau. Marshal Zhang of the Eight Bureaus of the Eastern Peak and the Great Venerable God of the Nine Bureaus. The presiding officers of the thirty-six cases and the clerks of the seventy-two bureaus of the Peak Office. The Tai Sui of the year on duty, the venerable god of supreme virtue. The host of malign star lords of the Annual Luck under his command. The Five Sovereign Great Emperors who hold the command of the heavenly talismans and the year's divisions. The Marshal of Great Strength of the Capital Heaven, the Bright King of three heads and six arms. The Twelve Year Kings and the Twelve Month Generals. The gods of the seasonal qi and the great gods who govern transformation in the five directions. The envoys who carry out the commands of the four seasons. The Great Envoy Who Exhorts to Goodness, the Perfected Jingming. The envoy of the City Gods of all the capitals under heaven, the upright gods of the capital soil altars of the nine provinces, the god of the capital Earth God of the Gate of Heaven, and the god of the capital Controller of Destinies of the Nine Heavens. The true person of the presiding City God of this prefecture and county. The great gods in the soil altar bureau who govern the seedlings and the five grains. The great gods who govern pigs, oxen, and the six domestic animals, the envoys who exterminate insects and locusts, and the generals who drive away tigers and wolves. All the awesome spirits, great and small, who welcome good fortune and send joy, who yield calamity and gather misfortune and blessing. The envoys of the Six Jia who hold banners and lead the way, and the divine officers of the prohibitions of the banner poles. The envoys who supervise the fast in the cloud kitchens of the Nine Heavens. The Controller of Destinies of the eastern kitchen, the Lord of the Stove God's Bureau. The bright god of fortune and virtue of the family shrine's incense fire. The gods of the incoming dragon and earth veins of the dwelling, and of the prohibitions of its directions and corners.

The envoys who supervise the scriptures, supervise the offering, and oversee the incense at this altar. The Merit Officers of the Three Realms and the talisman envoys of the four duties. The Earth God of this ward and the other gods who pass on messages. The gods and immortals of all the heavens and all the earths, and the holy hosts of all the waters and all the mountains. The ten thousand spirits of the Three Realms, the ranks of sages of the ten directions, and all the awesome spirits seated at the images set out for this offering. Hearing this command, come swiftly before the altar. Swiftly!

19. Still reciting the thunder-moving stanza, visualize the heavenly generals in stern array, transformed from the Tathagata of Xun, in golden light, awaiting the command at the altar. The merit officiant holds the command tablet and recites aloud: By the Emperor's decree I summon all the gods; all the gods, hearing the summons, manifest your divine powers, come to the altar, and obey every command. Should you dare not to come, I will report to the Emperor of the heavenly vault, the mysterious law will fix your crime, and you will be sent to Northern Feng, all as by the law of the general summons of the ten thousand gods of the Jade Emperor, Supreme Emperor of Vast Heaven. The summons has just been proclaimed. The officers and generals of the Capital Bureau of the Thunder, and the clerks and troops of the ritual ministries who respond, have graciously come to the altar; the incense of faith is offered up. Heavenly Worthy Whose Divine Awe Is Ever Present.

Decreeing the thunder and cutting the sacrificial animal: This rooster—his golden crown shines in the sun, his phoenix claws stride the clouds, his body is like a golden bell, he walks like a colorful phoenix; his crowing stirs heaven and earth, his call rings out and ten thousand li are startled. Beneath the window of Song Zong he crowed loudly at the rising sun; within Hangu Pass he announced the dawn at the fifth watch. He received his form from the creative transformation of heaven and earth, and nourished his nature from Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. I borrow your form to offer sacrifice to my generals. With one stroke of the knife you are cut, and your blood is taken with wine to sacrifice to the thunder gods; your two wings fly up, and the feathered robe you shed pays court to the Purple Bureau. It is not that I cruelly slay your life; it is the ritual lineage handed down by the patriarchs. The dragon knife cleaves your spirit; the tiger sword slays your form. May the thunder receive this offering in person, and swiftly manifest your numinous power.

20. As the merit officiant kills the rooster, the assembly, guarding the Tao, recites the Tianpeng Incantation: Tianpeng, Tianpeng, slaying lad of the nine origins, capital commander of the five Ding, Gaodiao, Old Man of the North; the Seven Governors and Eight Spirits, bright terror of the Most High; long-skulled giant beast, holding the emperor's bell in your hand; the three white-owl spirits, harnessing the kui dragons in stern array; the divine king of the awesome sword, beheading evil and wiping out its traces. Purple qi rides the heavens; cinnabar clouds blaze upward. Swallowing demons and devouring ghosts, you stand crosswise and drink the wind; blue tongue and green teeth, the old man with four eyes. Heavenly Ding and strongmen, awe the south and guard against evil; the heavenly outriders, fierce and furious, awe the north with blades in their mouths. Three hundred thousand troops guard my ninefold heaven; they repel corpses for a thousand li and drive away all that is inauspicious. Should any petty ghost dare to come and show itself, the great axe that splits heaven slays ghosts until no form remains. The fierce blood of the Flame Emperor, the Northern Dipper burning bones, the four bright ones breaking skeletons, Tianyou destroying their kind: when the divine knife falls once, ten thousand ghosts collapse of themselves. Swiftly, by the law of the Commander-in-Chief and the Supreme Emperor of the Azure Heaven!

21. The merit officiant recites aloud: Covenant by dripping blood. This blood-wine rouses the heroic might of the heavenly generals and praises the valor of the official army. Their banners blot out the sun; their strength can move mountains and uproot trees. Their swords and blades are cold as frost; their qi can overturn earth and upend heaven. When they capture demons and goblins, they wipe out every trace; when they slay evils and monsters, they sweep out their dens and burn their nests. The thunder gods are just; the heavenly generals are impartial. Drink your fill of the jade nectar, and your faces will show the color of peach blossoms. Greatly manifest your response, and together make firm your name of metal and stone. Thunder gods, leap up and listen closely to my words. I have read the books of the sages and carry out the laws of heaven. Wishing to bring forth numinous blessing for the common people, I am graciously given my office over the thunder. I do not know whether I have merit—who among people is without fault? I summon you and command you, to the left and to the right. Be my brothers, be my arms and legs, be my heart and belly, be my sworn friends, and while the mountains do not move and the seas do not dry up, endure as long as heaven and earth and shine as bright as sun and moon. The wind and rain before my eyes, I send out and gather in; the thunder in my palm, I breathe out and draw in. Flying up to perform and report, seizing and subduing demons and goblins. With a single thought and a single visualization, ten thousand spirits respond ten thousand times. Once it is spoken, let it be; may the gods spare it. Now, with this blood-wine, I make a vow with you. The first drop is a vow to heaven, to accord above with the heart of heaven; if heaven betrays me, may the sun and moon not shine. The second drop is a vow to earth, to accord below with the peace of earth; if earth betrays me, may grass and trees not grow. The third drop is a vow to you, thunder gods and heavenly generals; may all accord with the generals' hearts. If the generals betray me, may the laws of heaven punish them; if I betray the generals, may my methods of the Tao have no power. I am now utterly sincere; you should manifest your response. With our two intentions supporting each other, we vow a covenant for all ages. Now that I act, you must swiftly obey, promoting benefit and removing harm, so that your merit is recorded in the heavenly court. Officers and generals, drink the wine, and depart without delay. Barbarian thunder of the east, drink the blood-wine; barbarian thunder of the south, drink the blood-wine; barbarian thunder of the west, drink the blood-wine; barbarian thunder of the north, drink the blood-wine; barbarian thunder of the center, drink the blood-wine. The dripping of blood just performed, the sacrifice and feast of reward, is now fully complete. There is a warrant, which I shall reverently read out.

22. Building the bridge. Humbly we consider: the dragon returns to the great sea, the tiger roars on the high mountain. I now perform the consecration, inviting the god to receive this image, with divine powers of transformation and awesome numinous power through all its changes. By the skillful hands of fine craftsmen, with both feet treading the dragon's head, passing between the two divisions where people are revealed—humans are the most numinous of all things—a wondrous image is newly made in the world of the living. Ever since Pangu divided heaven and earth, Li Laojun (Lord Lao) taught the liturgical codes so that the true way was practiced. Confucius taught human relations; the Founding Celestial Master refined elixirs and compounded medicines to save the people. Pointing out the true way, he became a god of blessing, able to receive the sacrifices of the human world. When one looks upon the precious image and worships it, there is divine numinous power. Without people, the gods are not numinous; without gods, people receive no response. The image and features made here are revered and prayed to in all things. The god will surely respond; radiance will pierce its body and color shine on its garments. Believers will surely contribute their wealth, and one must marvel at the skillful hands of the disciples. From the merit before our eyes, the adornment that follows will be complete of itself. The jade holy image of the lord's countenance, of awesome numinous power; its essence and qi bright and fierce, vast and heroic in its splendor. The four great ones and five emperors, solemnly given living bodies. May it further protect what is darkened today; the bright moon, swift as a shuttle, shines for ten thousand years. Through a thousand changes and ten thousand transformations, vast in its divine powers—the Perfected, the Son of Heaven, the Dragon King of the island seas—from what origin did they come?

23. Washing the face. Humbly we consider: first emerging from heaven and earth, the precious image of compassion is made far and wide. Together meeting a flourishing age, we restore anew the countenance of our sages. Good thoughts reach all the heavens, and together we honor blessing in holy transformation; between heaven and earth it is built, and the six directions are bright again. Saving and delivering the faithful, driving away the eight hardships, with lucky stars shining high above, together we speak of devotion. For the disciple, the numinous light of the wondrous image is especially dotted open, shining forth layer upon layer of splendor. Therefore it is said: the sun is grieved and the moon dim, sun and moon ever in the wind and unable to turn. At this moment the golden light comes to shine in the eyes, and the two compassionate lights of sun and moon illuminate heaven and earth. Assisting the nation, securing the state, and establishing great peace, the lord of blessings for a thousand years, numinous in its incense fire for ten thousand years. The original face remains as it was; today its adornment is new in every color.

24. Decreeing the brush. Humbly we consider: in the morning it judged rivers and mountains; in the evening it transmitted human relations. The divine brush is numinous; it dots open the bright light. The divine brush is black; it dots open the ears and eyes. The divine brush is azure; it dots open the divine light. This brush is no ordinary brush; the patriarchs handed down three brushes: the first brush was passed to Confucius, who taught three thousand disciples and seventy-two worthies; the second brush was passed to the true Shakyamuni, who saves from suffering and hardship and saves living beings; the third brush was passed to the Founding Celestial Master, who subdues demons, protects the Tao, and helps the people of the world. This brush has a few hairs, but when it falls it is like a golden knife. First, it writes long life and wealth and rank; second, it writes gold, jade, and blessings filling the hall; third, it writes prosperity of offspring and wealth. This brush is not for ordinary use; the patriarchs handed it down to dot the divine light, and to write talismans that save in emergencies throughout the world. The Founding Celestial Master passed the brush to his disciples, and I now take the brush to dot open the divine light. (Dot the eyes and light the lamp, reciting silently.)

Humbly we consider: may the golden light swiftly appear, as though descending in person. The lamp stands before the Patriarch; who would dare to take the fire and light it? The disciple lights the true samadhi fire, shining so that the venerable god sends forth his radiance. This fire is no ordinary fire; it is the true samadhi fire handed down by the patriarchs. Only the lamp's fire shows no favor; it shines on rich and poor alike. We earnestly consider: the golden lamp comes to shine in the eyes, the moon round like a boluo fruit; the great general moves through the five wheels and eight trigrams, and his light shines over the four seas. The nine provinces are made new; again we behold the Gate of Heaven. Eyes aligned and brows level, the face rises like the earth. The tiger roars on the high mountain ten thousand zhang deep; auspicious qi rises for ten thousand upon ten thousand years.

25. The merit officiant consecrates the lamp, writes the sacred names of the Three Pure Ones and the Five Emperors of the five directions, then lays out the golden light seal and recites silently: The mysterious ancestor of heaven and earth, the root of the ten thousand qi; cultivated widely through a hundred million kalpas, it proves my divine power. Within and beyond the Three Realms, only the Tao is supreme. In my body there is golden light (press Si), covering and shining on my body. Look at it and it cannot be seen; listen to it and it cannot be heard. It encompasses heaven and earth and nourishes all living beings. Recite the scripture ten thousand times, and the body has light (press Wei); the Three Realms stand guard, the Five Emperors come to welcome. Ten thousand gods pay court and homage; I command the thunder. Ghosts and demons lose their courage; goblins and monsters forget their forms. Within there is the thunderbolt; the thunder god hides his name. Penetrating wisdom shines throughout; the five qi rise up. Golden light, swiftly appear, covering and protecting the Perfected.

26. The merit officiant withdraws the stellar pace; guarding the Tao, the assembly recites the Sacred Proclamation of the Celestial Master, and the merit officiant recites silently: Three steps and nine tracks, the Heavenly Guideline and the Earthly Net; I withdraw the stellar pace, let the pace's force swiftly rise. Heaven is numinous, earth is numinous, the gods are numinous generals, the generals are numinous gods. Humans and gods meet and unite, and of themselves attain perfection; let all the gods return into my heart. Holding with the tongue and swallowing with the heart, reciting and pressing below: May the merit of the consecration just performed be swiftly passed on by the officers and generals above. Bestow blessings and peace; together relying on good merit, may we realize the supreme Tao. All faith and homage become good causes above. With utmost sincerity we recite: Heavenly Worthies of the Three Pure Ones and Three Realms of Clarity, Heavenly Worthy at Whom Ten Thousand Sages Halt Their Carriages, Heavenly Worthy Who Ascends High to the Precious Seat. The Great Tao is immeasurable; merit beyond conception.