(Recite three times.)
I. The Short Hymn
The merit of reciting the scriptures is inconceivable; all the heavens and all the earths turn their numinous workings. May the sovereign's life equal heaven's; the Great Tao is compassionate, and all transformations rejoice in harmony. The merits of all our worship and recitation just now rely wholly on compassion as lord of the covenant. We gaze up at the immortal retinue hidden in the mysterious void; the true spirits of the ritual divisions ever guard and protect us.
Lord of the Teaching of Azure Florescence, the compassionate Worthy Taiyi, manifesting in response from Jade Clarity in a golden body, a gate of sweet dew for the great chiliocosm, receiving and leading all living beings forever out of the ford of the river of love.
II. The Earth God Incantation
Earth God of the scripture altar, most numinous of spirits, ascending to heaven and reaching the earth, going out of darkness and entering the underworld: report on my behalf without delay, and on the day of merit your name will be written in Highest Clarity.
III. The Lingguan Incantation (Incantation of Reverent Invocation)
I reverently invoke the mighty general Huoluo, Great Numinous Officer who inspects throughout all heaven,
Great Thunder Lord of the Three-Five Fire Chariot, who by command of the Three Pure Ones subdues ghosts and evil influences.
Holding a golden whip, he patrols the world; clad in golden armor, he displays his majestic power.
Green boots and wind sash protect his form; his two fiery eyes blaze over heaven and earth.
In an instant he pays court to the Supreme Emperor in the Three Heavens; in a moment he rescues living beings in the Nine Earths.
With silver teeth and phoenix beak he leads three thousand generals; with tiger heads and pixiu, a million troops.
Running with fire and moving with the wind, they guard front and rear; piercing mountains and splitting rocks, they seize demons and sprites.
Praying for clear skies and rain, he aids the world; through possession and the round light, he makes known the meaning of events.
He heals illness and expels evil like a flash of lightning; he gathers pestilence, seizes poisons, and subdues the host of demons.
Soaring through clouds and mists, he fills the void; he commands the thunder with crashing thunderbolts.
The great demons of the Three Realms all fold their hands in submission; the heterodox of the ten directions all take refuge.
Now I invoke you and pray that you come, and bestow the majesty of thunder to guard and protect us.
IV. Taking Refuge in the Three Treasures
With utmost sincerity I take refuge and pay homage. The supreme Treasure of the Tao: may all beings ever attend the Heavenly Worthy and forever escape the cycle of rebirth. The supreme Treasure of the Scriptures: may all beings, life after life, hear the right teaching. The supreme Treasure of the Masters: may all beings study the highest vehicle and not fall into heterodox views.
V. The Closing Gatha
The merit of our scripture recitation just now we offer up to the High Perfected and down to protect peace, bestowing blessings and dispelling calamity, all relying on good works. To realize the supreme Tao, let all in faith and reverence invoke with utmost sincerity: the Heavenly Worthy of Constant Clarity and Stillness. Inconceivable merit.
The Heavenly Worthy Taiyi of the Voice of Thunder, Who Manifests in Response.
May the three obstacles and all vexations be extinguished; may wisdom be gained and the mind be clear;
may all calamities and obstacles everywhere be dissolved; may we, life after life, ever practice the supreme Tao;
may the four kindnesses and the three realms of existence all be benefited; may we roam freely among the Ten Continents and Three Islands;
we dedicate the merit to the dragon spirits of the Four Bureaus, and bow in thanks to the Three Treasures of the Tao, the scriptures, and the masters.
The blessings of our scripture recitation just now are boundless; may the winds be timely, the rains favorable, and the people at peace and happy.
May this merit extend to all; reciting the scriptures, may we be kept in peace, calamities dispelled and blessings and years increased.