The Ling Bao Wang Sheng Jiu Ku Miao Jing 太上洞玄灵宝往生救苦妙经

Author: Unknown

It was probably compiled between the late Northern and Southern Dynasties and the Sui-Tang period.

It consists of one scroll and is included in the Original Text Category of the Cavern Mysterious Section in the Taoist Canon.

In addition, there is a Tang-dynasty manuscript from Dunhuang (No. P2348) titled The Wonderful Scripture of the Heavenly Venerable Preaching to All Beings on Rescuing the Living and the Dead from the Three Paths and Five Torments, Enabling Rebirth and Delivering Them from Hell. The content of this version is largely similar to that of The Wonderful Scripture of Delivering Beings from Birth and Death Through Rescuing Them from the Three Paths and Five Torments in the Cavern Mysterious and Numinous Treasure Scripture.

The scripture is framed as the Heavenly Venerable expounding the karmic causes and conditions of birth and death, as well as the retributions for sins and merits, to the Perfected Being of Left Mystery and Dharma Liberation. It asserts that all beings who die and fall into hell, suffering from the various torments of the Three Paths and Five Torments, are bound by such karmic consequences due to committing evils in past lives, indulging in greed and lust, being foolish and ignorant, having muddled spirits, and harboring anger and engaging in conflicts.

The methods for liberation and salvation require practitioners to observe long-term vegetarian fasts, burn incense and practice the Dao, invite Taoist masters to establish ritual altars, light lamps and hang banners, recite scriptures and repent of sins. They must also donate money, compile scriptures and make statues, relieve the poor, and atone for sins and remedy faults through the merits of five kinds of almsgiving.

Those who do so will surely obtain karmic blessings, eliminate the roots of sin, be delivered from hell, be reborn as they wish, and enjoy wealth, nobility and happiness.