At that time, the Supreme Lord Lao, on the Shangyuan Festival (Fifteenth night of the first month) of the first year of the Yongshou era, descended once more at the place in Chengdu where the Jade Maiden of Taihao cultivated the Elixir. The earth spirits again caused the Jade Tribunal precious throne to surge forth, and Lord Lao ascended upon it.
He declared to Daoist Patriarch Ling (Zhang Daoling): "The True Texts of the Nine Heavens and Eight Assemblies, and the Supreme Way of the Three Caverns and Three Purities, were originally practiced by the Celestial Venerable of Primordial Beginning through countless kalpas, encompassing the beginning and end of heaven and earth, the life and death of humanity, the transformations of the five phases, and the rise and fall of all things. The Celestial Venerable, dwelling in serenity above the Auspicious Clouds in the realm of Supreme Clarity, cultivated the Ultimate Truth, propagated the Wondrous Dao, and, compassionate towards all living beings, never abandoned his great mercy. I received and transmitted this scripture in the past, and now I shall bestow it upon you. You must select those who sincerely venerate the Dao and are diligent in practice."
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"When the Yang of Heaven and the Yin of Earth united, they generated the two luminaries, the sun and the moon. The movements of these two luminaries and the five planets traversing the celestial sphere constitute the Seven Governors, which are the Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper and the Nine Origin [stars]. The pointer always follows the established lunar month, pointing out the twenty-four solar terms and the twenty-eight lunar mansions, corresponding below to the seventy-two pentads and the thirty-six [symbolic] creatures. Among the mansions lies the constellation Dipper, with its six stars. This is what is called the Southern Dipper's Six Offices. They share duties with the Northern Dipper's Seven Governors, jointly ordering the Three Powers (Heaven, Earth, Man), the Six Harmonies, the Eight Trigrams, and the Nine Palaces. They have general jurisdiction over all officials, both within and without the court, and are the capital registrars of the two poles, the Purple Tenuity and Great Tenuity [enclaves]. Above, they connect with the celestial spirits of the twelve divisions; below, they command the terrestrial deities ruling the twelve earthly branches, the four rivers and five peaks, the nine provinces and eight boundaries, the famous mountains and great rivers, the city gods and earth altars. In the middle realm, they govern humanity, all categories of beings, and the myriad things. There is nothing whose register they do not hold in their grasp."
"The Northern Dipper's position resides in the Palace of Kan (North), its name corresponds to the Moon's luminary. Its spirit descends into humans and is called the 'Po' (corporeal soul). It governs the bureaus of the underworld, controls the water source, and acts to aid the living masses. Its merit is immense indeed!"
"The Southern Dipper's position resides in the Palace of Li (South), its name corresponds to the Sun's luminary. Its spirit descends into humans and is called the 'Hun' (ethereal soul). It governs the bureaus of the Yang realm, controls the Fire Emperor, and acts to aid activity and function. Its virtue is immense indeed!"
"From the existence of Heaven and Earth until now, these two Bureaus, these Two Poles, have together molded and shaped the myriad kinds, generating and completing the ten thousand things. They determine the ranks and emoluments of celestial and human officials, increase or decrease the salaries and fortunes of scholars and commoners, prolonging or shortening lifespans, removing or retaining disaster and blessing. None are outside their power to grant or take away. The reason for this is knowing that the Yang Sun and Yin Moon, the Southern and Northern Bureaus, the Chiefs and Guides of the Dippers, receive their nature from Water and Fire, and embody the qualities of Yin and Yang. They assist Heaven and Earth in nurturing beings and embody the Dao and its Virtue in radiating light. If things achieve abundance, who but they can do this? If humans attain life, who but they can accomplish this?"
"Therefore, the Celestial Venerable, earnest and compassionate, regards you sentient beings just like newborn infants. He opens the way for rescue and protection, enabling you to preserve your innate nature. The method of rescue and protection is this: all good men and good women, regardless of status, should with utmost sincerity constantly practice reverence and respect. Whenever they see the Sun's luminary, the Moon's luminary, the Southern Dipper, or the Northern Dipper, they should solemnly knock their heads [in kowtow] and beg for protection and the bestowal of grace and blessings. They should call out, saying: 'Most Sacred, Most Honored, True Rulers, True Lords!' Implore pity for this ordinary multitude, forgive and pardon our transgressions and faults.' Then bow again. You must not harbor any contempt or disrespect, lest you instead incur misfortune."
Lord Lao said: "You men and women, if you can follow what I have taught and practice according to the instructions, if you have any petitions—wishing to dissolve calamities, overcome difficulties, increase blessings, prolong years, protect the unity of your households, pray for the peace and stability of your lands, or perhaps to quiet grave lawsuits, erase records of death and inscribe life—you should in all cases submit memorials, present petitions, and establish purgation ceremonies (Jiao). If you seek and request, you will not fail to attain your wishes."
Thereupon, Lord Lao proclaimed again for Daoist Patriarch Ling:
"The Southern Dipper's Fire Office removes venom and harm;
The Northern Dipper's Water Spirits annihilate inauspicious disasters.
All requests and sought desires will be successfully fulfilled;
Every kind of stagnation and anxiety will be thoroughly opened.
If able to follow the scriptural methods and wholeheartedly purify and offer,
Surely, your wishes will accord with the Divine Altar.
Whoever constantly pays homage with purity,
Calamity and adversity will have no means to dare approach."
Lord Lao said: "The subtlety of the Divine and True is difficult to express in the mortal world. Ordinary people are foolish and ignorant, valuing what is distant and despising what is near. What is near is their own body. Their eyes see the sun, moon, and stars; their ears hear wind, thunder, elegant music; their noses smell orchid, musk, stench, and foulness; their tongues distinguish sweet, acrid, sour, and bitter; their mouths speak words and sounds. As for hands grasping and feet walking, from birth until old age, none can be separated from Water and Fire. Now, ordinary folk see them as if not seeing, hear these words as if deaf. They simply do not realize that the establishment of their innate nature is truly bestowed by Heaven, Earth, Sun, Moon, and the Stars. They borrow the Four Elements [Earth, Water, Fire, Wind] and correct them through the One Qi. The life within living, the very essence of being alive, entirely depends on Water and Fire. Water and Fire can be compared to the true substance of the Dao. Therefore, they cannot be separated from even for a moment. That which can be separated from them and still survive is neither object nor person. I now earnestly exhort all men and women in the world, explaining this essential Dao, universally urging them to resolve their hearts to seek, request, offer purifications, and make offerings, to know that there are Divine Truths, and to believe my teachings and instructions."
"Furthermore, during the four seasons, at the beginning of months, on the eight nodes, the twenty-four solar terms, the Three Primes, the Three Assemblies, the Five La festivals, and one's own birth (Benming) day—all these auspicious times and fortunate days—one can submit memorials, present petitions, offer sincere prayers, request grace and blessings, confess faults, repent sins, and dissolve calamities. Light lamps, present fruits, make offerings, worship, and make requests. The blessings therefrom are immeasurable."
[The Six Southern Dipper True Lords:]
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The First Star: Heaven's Palace True Lord, Director of Fate, General-in-Chief, Guardian of the Nation.
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The Second Star: Heaven's Minister True Lord, Director of Registers, First Minister, Guardian of the Peaks.
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The Third Star: Heaven's Beam True Lord, Prolonger of Life, Protector of Destiny.
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The Fourth Star: Heaven's Unity True Lord, Augmenter of the Lifespan, Protector of Life.
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The Fifth Star: Heaven's Pivot True Lord, Deliverer from Hardship, Refiner of the Hun, Cultured Glory.
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The Sixth Star: Heaven's Machine True Lord, Director of the Records, Chief Minister of Great Order.
"To the right are six talismans. Write them in cinnabar. Men should carry them on the left, women on the right. They cause people to have long life, free from all kinds of calamities and harms."
The Dao proclaims: "The Six Star True Lords, the Six Star Youths, the Fire Bell General—if any person recites and chants this scripture, they must absolutely do so with utmost sincerity and devoutly pray. There will be no lack of response and efficacy. It depends solely on diligence. When you present memorials and petitions, the True Saints will personally descend, and you will certainly obtain prolonged years and the Dao-nature of long life."
Lord Lao said: "These Six Offices' True Lords have spirits of a swift and urgent nature. If you can wholeheartedly seek and request, there is no wish they will not grant. The Divine Truths respond to the human heart; according to the matter, all will harmoniously coincide."
"Moreover, the root of all practices, the foundation of one's body, lies in preserving and consolidating the physical life through the Dao's Qi. The preservation and consolidation of the physical life lies in the teachings and methods. The teachings and methods reside in the minutiae of the rituals and ceremonies. Sound issues forth and an echo responds; the body moves and the shadow follows; the form shifts according to the heart, from the first step taken. The Divine Spirits are subtle and mysterious."
"The Southern Dipper and Northern Dipper mold the Po and cast the Hun. Once the Hun receives refinement, it then transfers and enters rebirth. If humans can follow my teaching and methods, repent past wrongs, amend future shortcomings, wash away numerous disasters, and welcome a hundred blessings through worship—it depends solely on strict purity, reverence, exhausting one's will, and devoting sincerity. They will certainly attain the transcendent Way of world-transcendence, sharing the same years as the sun and moon."
"If there are people of deep faith who can cultivate and establish purgation ceremonies for both Poles and both Dippers together in one altar, creating images of the Dipper stars, erecting altar pillars, arranging incense and lamps, spreading pure straw mats, and presenting offerings of fruits and food—such as sugar cakes, oil cakes, lotus-steamed buns, milk-steamed buns, fried dates, soup, and fine tea (no meat or wine are needed)—this is the most essential Dao. Using this to welcome and invite the Divine Truths, the True Saints will joyfully descend and furthermore bestow their blessings and protection."
At that time, when Lord Lao had finished expounding this Wondrous Scripture, the Celestial Master Daoling and all his disciples bowed again, paid homage giving thanks, faithfully received it, and proceeded to put it into practice.
The Supreme Numinous Southern Dipper's Six Offices Scripture of Prolonging Life and Salvation
Original Chinese Text
太上说南斗六司延寿度人妙经
尔时，太上老君於永寿元年正月十五日上元之辰，再降於成都太昊玉女修丹之所，地神复涌玉局宝座，於是老君升于座中。告道陵曰：夫九天八会之真文，三洞三清之上道，乃元始天尊昔经历于七亿万劫，天地始终，人伦生死，五运迁变，万汇兴衰，而天尊於是宴居景云之上上清之境，修炼至真，敷扬妙道，愍念苍生，大慈不舍，吾昔得传付是经，今当授之於汝，汝宜选奉道之士，谨修行之人。
天阳地阴一合而生成日月两曜，两曜行度五纬周天，是谓七政，则七星九元北斗也，每以杓，随月建分，指节气二十四气、二十八舍，应下土七十二候、三十六禽，舍中有斗宿六星，是则号南斗六司，与北斗七政分职，共理三才六合八卦九宫，总辖中外百辟官品，乃紫微、太微两极都曹也，上系十二分次天真灵神，下统十二分野地祇主者，四渎五岳、九州八纮、名山大川、城隍社庙，中及人民群类万物，无不系其簿籍掌握。北斗位处坎宫，名同月曜，降神於人，名之为魄也，主司阴府，宰御水源，将济生聚，功莫大焉。南斗位处离宫，名同日曜，降神於人，名之为魂也，主司阳官，宰御火帝，将济动用，德莫大焉。
洎有天地，迄至于今，二司两极，同共陶铸万品，生成万物，注拟天人之爵秩，增减士庶之禄俸，延促年龄，去留灾福，莫不由其与夺也。所以然者，乃知阳日阴月，南北二司魁斗魒纲，受性水火，禀质阴阳，助天地而育物，体道德而垂光，物得而丰也，非此而孰能乎，人得而生也，非此而孰为乎。
是故天尊殷懃嗟愍，观尔含灵，一如赤子，开放救护，令保生性，其救护法，使一切善男子善女人，不以高卑，皆应至心常行，恭仰於所见时睹日曜月曜南斗北斗，则郑重叩头，请乞佑护，愿赐恩福，上言呼称：至圣至尊真宰真君。扲哀凡冗，宥赦过咎，即再拜，不得怀於轻慢，反招殃累。
老君曰：尔等男女，能依吾所授奉教而行者，若有所告请，欲消灾度厄，增福延年，保家属之团圆，祝封疆之宁谧，或兔息冢讼，削死注生，皆当上章投词设醮，求请无不如意也。於是老君为道陵重宣言曰：
南斗火官除毒害，北斗水神灭凶灾。
一切所求皆称遂，万般滞闷悉通开。
能依经法冥心醮，必当随愿契灵台。
凡在有清常顶礼，祸厄无因辄敢来。
老君曰：神真之妙，凡世难言，凡夫愚昧，贵远贱近。近者身也，目见日月星斗，耳闻风雷韶雅，鼻嗅兰麝腥臊，舌了甘辛酸苦，口宣言语音响，至於手执足行，自生及老，皆不可离于水火。今凡夫见之若不见，闻其言如甚聩，殊不知成立生性，实是天地日月星斗与之，假於四大，正兹一气，生生之生，全系水火，水火比於道之真体，故不可暂离，可离而获存者，非物非人。吾今叮咛与在世男女，说此要道，普令发心求请醮献，知有神真，信吾教示，更能於四时月旦、八节二十四气、三元三会、五腊本命，是诸良时吉日，皆可上章拜表，投词献款，请乞恩福，谢过忏罪消灾，然灯献果，供养拜请，其福无量。
南斗第一天府司命上将镇国真君
南斗第二天相司录上相镇岳真君
南斗第三天梁延寿保命真君
南斗第四天同益算保生真君
南斗第五天枢度厄文昌炼魂真君
南斗第六天机上生监簿大理真君
右符六道，朱书，男左女右佩带，令人长命，无诸灾害。
道言：六星真君、六星童子、火铃将军，凡人转诵此经，切须至诚，虔心祷祝，无不应验。唯在精懃，拜表上章，真圣自降，必获延年长生道性。老君曰：此六司真君，神性急速，能倾心求请，无愿不从，神真感人心，随事皆谐偶也。且夫万行之本，一身之根，在乎道气保固形命，形命保固，在乎教法，教法存乎科仪之细密，声发响应，形动影随，形从心移，发足动步，神灵微妙。
南斗北斗陶魄铸魂，魂既受炼，乃迁转生，人能依吾教法，谢已往之非，补将来之短，洗涤众灾，拜迎百福，唯在严洁崇敬，罄志投诚，必获度世之仙道，与日月之同年。若有深信之士，能修设两极二斗，同醮一坛，各像斗星，立坛柱，列香灯，铺排净茅，供献果食，可糖饼、油饼、荷蒸乳蒸煎枣汤细茶，不须酒脯。此最为要道，以斯迎请神真，真圣欢喜降临，还得赐其福佑。
惟时老君演此妙经既竟，天师道陵及诸弟子再拜礼谢，信受奉行。
太上说南斗六司延寿度人妙经
