Brief Ritual for Reading the Scriptures of the Three Caves

All first burn incense, arrange the ritual robes, and bow in accordance with the ritual: When unrolling the Dewdrop of the Dao De Jing, recite: Profound Profound, Supreme Dao's source; Highest virtue embodies the great origin. Though Heavenly Perfection is far and subtle, Near through affinity with the Lord of the Muddy Pellet. Palace halls all of seven treasures, Windows and doors divide of themselves. Through purity and stillness one often invites the True, Riding the scene, mounting purple clouds. Sun and moon illuminate left and right; Ascending to immortality, years complete. Seven ancestors ascend to heaven; Generation after generation of the Dao De gate. When reading scripture, first click the teeth thirty-six times and swallow saliva thirty-six times; first visualize in mind to the left the Azure Dragon, right the White Tiger, front the Vermilion Bird, rear the Dark Warrior; underfoot the bagua and thirty-six spirit turtles; lions crouching in front; headcloth with the Seven Stars; the five viscera generating the five qi; lattice patterns covering the body; the Three Ones attending the scripture, each with a thousand chariots and ten thousand cavalry; heaven and earth each have eighteen thousand jade maidens and jade boys guarding them. Then read the Dao De Jing. When unrolling the Dewdrop of the Dongzhen (Grotto Perfection) Scripture, recite: Subtle, subtle, gate of the Mysterious School; Bright and clear, penetrating the great void. The Supreme Dao comes from stillness and silence; Therein one sees the Palace of the Three Silvers. The Great Dao is completed here; Harnessing the scene, riding the cloud dragon. Left and right attend the scripture immortals— Jade maidens and jade boys. The body crosses the ford of deathlessness; Loosening netting, following the numinous wind. Seven ancestors return to embryonic birth; Generation after generation of the immortal lineage. When reading scripture, first click the teeth thirty-six times and swallow saliva thirty-six times; first visualize the Concourse of the Emperor of Wind-Returning, a hundred spirits and ten thousand true ones, then chant the Grotto Scripture. When unrolling the Dewdrop of the Dongxuan (Grotto Mystery) Scripture, recite: Still and still, the supreme source of no-ness; Empty and standing, kalpa-cliff bank. Open and falling, Grotto Mystery's writing—who can fathom this dark distance? Once entering the Great Vehicle road, who counts the many years and kalpas? Neither born nor dying; wishing birth, because of the lotus. Surpassing, darting the three realms' path— compassionate heart unties the world's net. The True Person has unexcelled virtue; age after age of the immortal house. When reading scripture, first click the teeth thirty-six times and swallow saliva thirty-six times; visualize the five-colored qi of the five viscera, rising to pour into the essence of the Five Stars, then read the scripture.