Scripture of the Ocean-Empty Wisdom Treasury 太上一乘海空智藏经

According to Zhenglun (Treatise on Discrimination and Correction) written by the Tang-dynasty monk Xuanyi: "Since the Tang dynasty, Li Xing, a Taoist priest from Yizhou, and Fang Zhang, a Taoist priest from Lizhou, have jointly compiled the ten-volume Haikong Jing". Therefore, this scripture should have been written in the early Tang dynasty.

The existing version in the Daozang consists of ten volumes, included in the Benwen (Scripture Text) category of the Dongzhen Section.

Scripture of the Ocean-Empty Wisdom Treasury

In addition, there are nine incomplete Dunhuang manuscripts, for detailed information, refer to Dunhuang Daojing Mulu Bian (Compilation of Catalogues of Taoist Scriptures from Dunhuang) by Onoda Shunji. The entire text is divided into ten chapters: Preface Chapter, Lament Chapter, Dharma Characteristic Chapter, Universal Discourse Chapter, Inquiry into Illness Chapter, Precept-Observing Chapter, Equality Chapter, Offering Chapter, Renunciation Chapter, and Universal Record Chapter. The scripture is falsely attributed to dialogues between the Primordial Lord and the Perfected Person of Haikong Zhizang, expounding Taoist doctrines. Its core tenet is based on the Taoist thought of emptiness, tranquility and non-action, integrating the Mahayana Void School theory of Buddhism, repeatedly elaborating the true meaning of "Haikong Zhizang (Ocean-Emptiness Wisdom Treasury)", and describing the methods of receiving and upholding the scripture as well as its merits. Haikong Zhizang refers to the state of emptiness and tranquility of the body and mind. The scripture states: "The Three Realms are all empty; the Three Times are also empty. Knowing that the Three Times are empty, one knows that one’s own body is also empty; knowing that one’s own body is empty, one knows that all dharmas are also empty. Because all dharmas are empty, it is named Haikong (Ocean-Emptiness)." It further states: "The characteristic of Haikong is emptiness merging with emptiness—only thus can one comprehend emptiness. The emptiness that comprehends emptiness is emptiness without being empty; it is comprehension without deliberate comprehension. From this, one should know that it is named Haikong, and this is the Wisdom Treasury." Therefore, Haikong Zhizang is the state of emptiness, a realm without distinction, without beginning or end, without cause or effect, without birth or extinction—it also refers to the Dao nature. The scripture divides the fruition stages of Taoist cultivation into five levels, with the highest One Vehicle being the Fruit of Non-Action. "The Fruit of Non-Action is entering tranquility, the supreme Dharma gate. The reason is that the tranquil realm is non-action, and non-action is the tranquil realm. What is the tranquil realm? It is neither born nor dies, thus it can attain longevity; it is neither destroyed nor changed, thus it can adapt to all transformations." If ordinary people can believe in the Dao, practice almsgiving, eliminate afflictions, attain purity and freedom, and reach the realm of non-action and emptiness, they will attain the One Vehicle Haikong Zhizang. This scripture exerted a profound influence on the Chongxuan philosophy of Taoism during the Sui and Tang dynasties.