The Scripture of Confession and Protection 太上洞玄灵宝宣戒首悔众罪保护经

The author is unknown.

It was probably compiled during the Northern and Southern Dynasties. Consisting of three volumes (the original first volume is missing), it is included in the Precepts category of the Dongxuan Section in the Daozang.

Falsely attributed to the Supreme Lord expounding the method of repenting all sins to the Celestial Master Zhang Daoling, the scripture mentions: "This method of repentance is from the Scripture of Ascending to Mystery"; "It follows the supreme heaven-ruling perfect pact of the true Scripture of Ascending to Mystery Inner Teaching"; and its title is also given as "Supreme Numinous Treasure Ascending to Mystery Inner Teaching Scripture of Proclaiming Precepts, Repenting Sins and Protecting the Conditions of Life". From this, it can be known that the scripture was originally part of the Shengxuan Neijiao Jing (Scripture of Ascending to Mystery Inner Teaching). The scripture proclaims that the sins committed by all living beings in past and present lives are innumerable. There are always sin-inspecting deities residing in the human body, who report people’s good and evil deeds to heaven and earth at all times. Heaven and earth mete out retributions according to the number of sins committed, which are divided into seventeen grades ranging from 120 to 3,600 sins, with each grade corresponding to different retributions. For example, 120 sins constitute a "ke (mark)", bringing people more misfortunes and fewer benefits; 360 sins constitute a "lou (leak)", making people prone to illnesses; 1,080 sins constitute a "huo (disaster)", causing people to die an untimely or violent death; and so on. When the number of sins reaches 3,600 (a full mark), the soul of the sinner will be interrogated after death and sink into the three evil paths and five sufferings. The scripture asserts that only by repenting sins and mending one’s ways, showing sincerity to heaven and gaining the trust of earth deities, can people be pardoned from sins. Alternatively, inviting a Taoist master to one’s residence to hold a ritual retreat, perform Taoist practices and recite the repentance texts from the Shengxuan Jing can also merit the approval of celestial beings, and the mysterious authorities will erase the sin marks. This method of repentance can dispel disasters, cure diseases, increase blessings, prolong lifespan and even enable one to become an immortal and ascend to heaven.

The Scripture of Confession and Protection

The book contains five repentance texts taught by the Supreme Lord, as well as the ritual for ordinary people to go to a Taoist master to swear allegiance and receive the "supreme pact for ascending to heaven and ascending to mystery".