Doumu Heart Sutra: Mother of the Big Dipper

Lord Laozi said: In the great celestial treasure moon, where the brilliant light of Doumu (the Mother of the Big Dipper) shines in perfect radiance, there stands a Qian Tree (a celestial tree). Its color glistens like colored glaze, and the Jade Rabbit (a celestial creature) resides there, forever refining the great celestial elixir. Whenever the cosmic energy of heaven and earth declines or flourishes abnormally, the sun, moon, and stars deviate from their orbits; when rain and sunshine, darkness and brightness come out of season; when wind, cold, heat, and dampness lose their proper rhythm—leading to severe droughts, floods, fires, plagues, fierce disasters, even wars, locust infestations, goblins, ghosts, evil spirits, diseases that harm life, disputes that disrupt peace, and all kinds of inauspicious events—all these are caused by disharmonious qi (vital energy).

Doumu bestows the great celestial elixir and universally extends the merit of healing. She regulates the Five Elements (metal, wood, water, fire, earth), balances the ascent and descent of the Two Qis (yin and yang), resolves stagnation, removes blockages, dispels darkness, and eliminates evil. For those who miss their proper time, she helps them meet it; for those who lose their way, she guides them back. She safeguards fetal development, cures illnesses, nourishes the roots of life, restores the warmth of yang qi to the seasons, nurtures the birth of humans and all creatures, refines and delivers ghosts and spirits, disperses and averts all troubles, supplements the Eight Yang Principles, upholds orthodoxy and perfects the Dao, summons harmony and prolongs blessings. She secretly exerts the power of the elixir, holding the sacred duty of the Heavenly Healer. She gives birth to the radiance of all celestial moons and is the mother of all stars in the Big Dipper. The Dipper is her ethereal soul, and water is her essence—she governs the birth of human bodies, her radiance condenses into the water of nature, all waters converge into one moon, and all moons gather into one light. All sentient and insentient beings equally receive her sacred radiant Dao qi; each and every one is nurtured, protected, and guarded by her. Her kindness is profound and her virtue great, yet few can truly comprehend it. Hence, the human face has seven orifices, internally connected to the heart; the soul has seven true essences, which are derived from Doumu.

Doumu’s revered titles are: The Primordial Lord, Grandmother of Golden Essence, of the Nine Spirits, Supreme Wonder, White Jade Turtle Platform, and Lunar Radiance; also The Primordial Lord of Doumu, Ethereal Qi of the Central Heaven; The Heavenly Venerable of Golden Truth and Sacred Virtue, Purple Radiance, Wise Insight, Compassionate Kindness, and Supreme Purity; she also transforms into the Moonlight King of Great Perfection and is known as The Compassionate Saviour Lord of the Eastern Florescence and the Great Sage Heavenly Healer. Her titles are numerous, and she presides over the Celestial Treasure Pavilion of the Central Heaven. In the primordial kalpa (cosmic cycle), she cultivated the Mysterious Spirit and Wondrous Dao in the Heaven of Profound Brightness and True Purity, diligently revering the Primordial Supreme Lord. Her wisdom incense curled in mist, and her lamp of enlightenment shone brightly. She often made supreme vows: to give birth to sacred sons who would supplement the work of creation and govern heaven and earth. Her vows remained firm, unwavering from start to finish.

Once, while bathing in the Nine-Bend Splendid Pond, a divine throne of white jade turtle platform and xixie (a mythical beast of justice) emerged. Doumu ascended this throne, nurturing her true spirit, refining her essence and soul. She gently drew in qi, which merged into the profound mystery of the Dao; the qi moved in harmony with the sacred wind, and the purple void swirled with vitality. Having attained the Mysterious Spirit and Wondrous Dao, she emitted boundless subtle radiance that penetrated the Splendid Pond, giving birth to nine lotus buds of golden brilliance. After seven days and nights in the human world, the radiance in the Splendid Pond grew increasingly intense. Suddenly, it soared upward into the Nine Splendors Heaven, transforming into nine great celestial treasure pavilions. Within these pavilions, the sacred ethereal qi of the Nine True Essences merged and condensed, naturally forming an inscription that read:

"Before them stands the Tiangang (the Big Dipper’s handle, representing cosmic order), spreading its light to reveal the secret characters— The characters glow with sharp, brilliant radiance."

These nine chapters embody the life-giving power of the spirits and manifest the Dao-body of the Nine Sovereigns (corresponding to the nine stars of the Big Dipper). The first is the Heavenly Sovereign Star, the second the Purple Micro Star, the third the Greedy Wolf Star, the fourth the Giant Gate Star, the fifth the Prosperity Storage Star, the sixth the Literary Quill Star, the seventh the Honest and Upright Star, the eighth the Martial Melody Star, and the ninth the Breaking Army Star.

The Heavenly Sovereign Star and the Purple Micro Star—two revered imperial stars—reside in the Sala Upper Palace at the mouth of the Big Dipper. Their true radiance is as vast as a chariot wheel. Those who behold this radiance shall attain eternal life, achieve the status of true immortals, and never be trapped in the cycle of reincarnation. The remaining radiance of these two stars transforms into the Left Assistant, Right Assistant, Unyielding Goat, and Dharma Wheel Stars. Their divine transformations are boundless, and they command the orthodox vital qi of the universe (xuanhuang, the primal forces of heaven and earth).

The Seven Primordial Star Lords (the seven main stars of the Big Dipper) govern the changes of yin and yang and the work of creation. Their merit extends to the Three Realms (heaven, earth, and the underworld), and their virtue nourishes all living beings—their power of merit is beyond comprehension.

For those who cultivate the great elixir of "Nine Returns and Seven Transformations" (a core Daoist alchemical practice), upholding this sutra will lead to sudden enlightenment of the Mysterious Gateway. When the sacred radiance appears before them, the thirty-nine segments of life will naturally thrive, and they will attain the Dao of the Supreme Mystery and the Three-in-One (the unity of heaven, earth, and humanity). They will understand and uphold the inherent truth of their original nature, strengthen their true body, and further refine themselves in great meditation—until both body and spirit reach profound perfection, uniting with the Dao in truth. They will ascend to the Jade Capital (a celestial realm of immortals) and live in eternal freedom.

In this way, generation after generation, their primordial ancestors and relatives will all be liberated, sharing in the mysterious grace of the Dao. They will deliver both the living and the deceased—this is the profound wonder of the sutra. Those who wholeheartedly uphold and practice it, dwelling in tranquility with the celestial pivot (the Big Dipper), will keep their inner visions free from the taint of the Six Sense Organs (eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, mind) and their outer perceptions from sinking into the myriad phenomena of the world. They will remain in perfect clarity and purity, for the Dao is right before them. Thus, they shall pay homage to Doumu’s true form.

The Reverence Mantra says:

"May the Mysterious Spirit flourish, preserving eternal life. May the Supreme Mystery and the Three-in-One guard your true form. May the divine lords of the Five Viscera (heart, liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys) all find peace. Swiftly, in accordance with the divine command!"