Complete Collection of Daoist Ritual Regulations (V): Rite for Repentance and Averting Illness

Noon Court Procession of the Way

The ritual masters ascend the altar according to form.

The Chief Reciter announces: each bows to the master and visualizes according to the method.

The High Merit Master proclaims the Protecting Spirit Spell.

Cinnabar numen, vermilion fire, blazing clouds and driving wind. The red wheel firmly operates, heavenly light in the eight instruments. Advancing might and containing all, intersecting transformation in the ten thousand directions. Flowing gold and scattering brilliance, the many demons vanish without trace. Opening wickedness and breaking monsters, illuminating the original merit. Golden tallies summon and control, treading clouds and driving dragons. Singing songs of celebration at the gathering, scattering flowers in the great void. Divine transformation appropriately operates, the four extremes rest at peace. Submitting before the Sovereign, none who are not reverent; in harmony, unite with the Dao in truth.

The Chief Reciter announces: sound the ritual drum twenty-four times.

The High Merit Master opens the censer.

The supreme Three Days of Dark, Primordial, and Commencement’s three qi, the Supreme Dao Lord, the Supreme Lord Lao, summons forth the three-five merit officers in our bodies, the left and right official messengers, the left and right incense-bearers, the post-dragon riding officials, the incense-attending golden youths, the message-passing and flower-scattering jade maidens, the five emperors’ direct talismans, the day-on-duty incense officials, thirty-six of each, to come forth. Those who come forth dress solemnly in distinguished robes, with caps and sashes and hanging tassels, and open the announcement to the Dark Altar’s land and the regional true spirits. We servants, this noon court, ascend the altar and process the Way, carefully report the intention of the petition; the sincere requests have already been recorded and announced, and we wish that the supreme ten directions’ ultimate true qi of the Dao, the Numen Treasure’s auspicious light, will descend and flow into our bodies, so that what we servants petition may swiftly arrive directly before the Supreme Limitless Great Dao, the Three Pure High Sages, and the Jade Emperor of Limitless Heaven.

The Chief Reciter announces: please state the ritual ranks.

We servants of complete rank, such and such, together with the officers and multitude present at the altar, carefully and with one heart announce upward to the Void and Naturally Self-Generated Primordial Commencement Tianzun, the Limitless Great Dao Supreme Great Dao Lord, the Great Sage Ancestor High Great Dao Golden Gate Dark Primordial Heavenly Sovereign Emperor, the Supreme Lord Lao, the High Jade Emperor, the ten directions’ already-attained great sages, the many Ultimate True Ones, the Lords and Fathers, the thirty-six Heavenly Emperor Lords, the Jade Void High Sovereign, the Jade Sovereign Great Emperor, Eastern Flower, Southern Pole, Western Numen, Northern True, Dark Capital, Jade Capital, Golden Gate, Seven Treasures, Dark Terrace, Purple Tenuity Upper Palace, the Numen Treasure Ultimate True Bright Emperor Dao Lord, the Upper Clarity, sun and moon, nine luminaries, Southern Dipper and Northern Dipper Star Lords, the Three Officials and Five Emperors, Nine Prefectures and Four Offices, the Daoian virtue lords within the Dipper, the unbridled sage multitude, the Great Ritual Master of the Dark Center, the Great Ritual Master of the Three Days, the sixty jiazi natal star lords, the Upper Minister of the Eastern Peak, the True Lord of Commanding Life, the Western Extreme Total True King Lord, the immortals and perfected of renowned mountains and cave heavens who have attained the Dao, the three realms’ responsive, all true numinous ones. We servants have heard that the ultimate Dao melts truth, establishing the pole before heaven; divine merit alone operates, numinous transformation latently manifests. Spreading clear and turbid in the two modes, beginning to fashion and complete the ten thousand images. Though ultimate emptiness is distant, wherever there is response it will surely penetrate; mystery and insight are deep and far, yet no petition fails to reach. Sage compassion reaches down, looking with pity upon the many beings. Only awaiting pure sincerity, fully descending with bright covering. We servants, from early on receiving the bright teaching, have been prepared in our offices; whenever there is sincere petitioning, principle requires the report to be submitted, especially when following the petition’s intent—how dare we not report upward.

Proclaim the petition.

As stated in the petition words, the sincere feeling is urgent. Disciple so-and-so, on account of the five constants’ faults in timing, the six qi’s disharmony, illness and adversity entwined, worry and danger acute. Thus stirring the dark heart toward the Great Dao, strengthening the will on the true vehicle, devoutly thinking of the pure capital, looking up to hope for the mysterious mirror, opening the Three Organs’ ranks, following the nine-fold scriptural forms, establishing the Daoian arena, and inviting down the true sages. We servants carefully lead and urge each other, bathing and refining body and mind, modeling earth and imitating heaven, cultivating the pure fast and processing the Way, opening the heart and bowing the forehead, taking refuge in the Ultimate True, purifying thought and lighting incense, following the form to open the report. We humbly hope that the Tianzun Great Sage, the Supreme many true ones, the eight poles’ high august ones, the ten directions’ transformation lords, the Three Pure Three Realms, all lands and all heavens, the sun and moon emperors, the stars and constellations’ rulers, mountains and rivers and peaks and streams, all numinous powers, will open the compassion of great pardon, send down bright and manifest responses, turn their carriages and halt their steeds, pity and discern what is prayed for, bend their canopies and flow light, confirm the deep sincerity, pour down great fortune, truly bestow special auspiciousness, from state to family, all receiving the bright blessings. On this noon court processing the Way, we invite the ritual assembly to offer the first pinch of incense; may this incense smoke rise straight through the air, offering to the supreme Ultimate True Dao Treasure. We servants take refuge in body, take refuge in spirit, take refuge in life, bowing head to the ground. Looking up to rely on the Supreme Three Honored Ones and the many sages of the ten directions, may the merit of this incense-offering flow to the honored spirits of the state and the ancestral temples’ former sages, roaming spirits at the Purple Palace, riding scenic light at the Azure Origin, meeting at Meng Valley to join truth, bearing the lined stars to expound Dao, hanging rest on the great mandate, bequeathing the imperial map, steadying seas and mountains to transmit fragrance, pairing with Qian and Kun in lasting fortune. Now therefore we burn incense, taking refuge in the Dao-honored Great Sage multitude and Ultimate True Ones. After attaining the Dao, forever preserve long-lasting; in harmony, unite with the Dao in truth.

On this noon court, ascending the altar and processing the Way, we invite the ritual assembly to offer the second pinch of incense; may this incense smoke rise straight through the air, offering to the supreme Ultimate True Scripture Treasure. We servants take refuge in body, take refuge in spirit, take refuge in life, bowing head to the ground. Looking up to rely on the Supreme Three Honored Ones and the many sages of the ten directions, may the merit of this incense-offering above bless the present emperor, dragon map and phoenix chronicle, truly preserved far and long, dark hanging and yellow Xuanyuan, truly matching heroic wisdom. The eight seas bright and at peace, sheathing arms and swords to hang the sash; ten thousand states in harmony and peace, mixing carts and books and covenanted to Dao. Now therefore we burn incense, taking refuge in the Scripture-honored Great Sage multitude and Ultimate True Ones. After attaining the Dao, preserve heaven long-lasting; in harmony, unite with the Dao in truth.

On this noon court, ascending the altar and processing the Way, we invite the ritual assembly to offer the third pinch of incense; may this incense smoke rise straight through the air, offering to the supreme Ultimate True Master Treasure. We servants take refuge in body, take refuge in spirit, take refuge in life, bowing head to the ground. Looking up to rely on the Supreme Three Honored Ones and the many sages of the ten directions, may the merit of this incense-offering offer fortune to disciple so-and-so’s family’s nine spirits and seven ancestors, all dark numinous ones. We humbly hope that the black registers’ book is cast out, the green palace is entered in the register, the hun and po spirits refined at Dano, riding cloud canopies at Purple Tenuity, bringing fortune to the living and spreading fragrance for ten thousand generations. May so-and-so’s disasters dissolve in the five movements, sins extinguished in the three entanglements, six palaces open in harmony, hundred passes regulated. Deep grievances and old wrongs, all smoothed with the repentance’s washing; old adversities and new disasters, all ceased in response to the petition. Then six relations and five clans, fortune and blessing broadly supporting; nine nights and three paths, auspiciousness universally spread. Now therefore we burn incense, taking refuge in the Master-honored Great Sage multitude and Ultimate True Ones. After attaining the Dao, forever preserve long-lasting; in harmony, unite with the Dao in truth.

Repentance of directions, commanding demons, three openers, three bows.

Re-state the ritual ranks.

We servants of complete rank, such and such, together with the officers and multitude present at the altar, carefully and with one heart announce upward to the Three Pure High Sovereigns, the ten extremes’ high true ones, the three realms’ sacrifice feast, the two ranks of lined sages, respectfully hoping the great compassion will fully descend with bright discernment. We servants privately consider that the ultimate sage hangs writings, the high true ones flow transformation; the eight writings expound the marvelous, the three caverns open light; the pure capital magnifies the form of deliverance, the yellow register and cinnabar tablets record the form of repentance and petition; where sincerity reaches, response and resonance can be expected. Disciple so-and-so, dwelling in the dusty world, name-bound in the net of convention, raising the heart and attaching thought, not accord with the true and upright, acting and moving the body, much contrary to the Great Dao; or in past lives and accumulated worlds, not encountering the mysterious scriptures, heaping up sins and faults, never having repented and washed them away; or through the six emotions and three karmas, the transgressions deeply faulted; or old debts and past grievances, the examination and responsibility delayed—so that disasters fierce in fortune, illness and adversity entwined, six palaces disharmonious, hundred passes not at peace; reflecting on the wind and dew, the worry and anxiety doubly acute. Thus we dare to draw out sincerity and open the heart, establish the pure fast to seek blessing, following the immortal perfected ranks, open the eight-scene Daoian altar, carefully prepare incense and lamps, and devoutly extend the repentance and thanks. We humbly hope that the Jade Clarity’s many sages, the Golden Gate’s many true ones, will discern and receive the cinnabar sincerity, descend and flow mysterious protection, so that the longevity-honoring historians open the cinnabar register to prolong life; the adversity-averting august spirit turns the purple text to bring fortune. Settle the five spirits in the five organs, correct the three qi in the three fields. The Southern Heaven’s tally for increasing fortune, the Eastern Dipper’s book for prolonging years. The Northern Palace registering out of death, the Western Prefecture entering in the name; spirit and qi leisurely harmonious, disasters and calamities extinguished; earth without summons for response, water ending alliance words; ghosts cutting grievances and enmity, humans dissolving schemes and plots. The stars and constellations’ movements, without the fierceness of approaching illumination; the natal star and year’s movements, without the faults of punishment and hindrance. The numinous pill secretly bestowed, the marvelous medicine divinely aided, swiftly achieving recovery and peace, forever hoping for safety and calm. The pure altar’s great fortune, the Yellow Register’s precious form’s special merit. Above assisting the imperial map, forever prospering heaven’s fortune; beside supporting the territory, truly securing peace and safety. Outside ceasing weapons of war, inside without miasmas and pestilences; in the nine dark night palaces, the six destinies’ special conditions, all enjoying fortune’s cause, together ascending Dao’s bank. Dragon spirits guarding, the realm and dwelling healthy and suitable, carefree in the Dao’s wind, bathing in the shower of grace. Above clarify the Tianzun’s great compassionate bestowal, below fulfill our servants’ sincerity of repentance and thanks. Carefully reporting as heard.

The Chime-holder announces: the twelve vows.

The Chief Reciter announces: visualize the spirits and burn incense.

The High Merit Master closes the censer.

Incense Official messengers, left and right Dragon and Tiger Lords, the incense-attending various numinous officials—may it be that where we servants have just now in this noon court ascended the altar and processed the Way, there naturally arise golden liquid, cinnabar and azure, lingzhi blossoms and hundred numinous ones, the many true ones intersecting, before this incense fire censer. May the ten directions’ immortal children and jade maidens receive and attend the orchid smoke, and transmit the sincerity of what we servants have just petitioned, so that it swiftly arrives directly at the Ultimate True Limitless Great Dao, the Three Pure High Sages, and before the Jade Emperor of Limitless Heaven.

The Chime-holder announces: the verse for leaving the hall.

Exit the door, led to the Hall of Six Curtains.