The Tai Shang Lao Jun Jie Jing 太上老君戒经

The Tai Shang Lao Jun Jie Jing 太上老君戒经

Paul Peng
Scripture of the Precepts of Lord Laozi the Supreme (Tai Shang Lao Jun Jie Jing) has no recorded author and was probably compiled during the Northern and Southern Dynasties.

The Three Caverns Pearl Bag (San Dong Zhu Nang), Vol. 9, compiled by Wang Xuanhe of the Tang Dynasty, quotes The Text of Lord Laozi’s Precepts—this is presumably the very text in question.

The original work, one volume in length, is included in the Commandments Category of the Mystery of the Caverns Section (Dong Shen Bu) of the Daozang (Taoist Canon), though the text is incomplete at the end of the volume.

In addition, The Seven Bamboo Tablets of the Cloudy Satchel (Yun Ji Qi Jian), Vol. 39, also contains an excerpt of this work, titled Lord Laozi Expounds the Five Precepts.

This scripture recounts that Lord Laozi traveled westward to India, and on his way through Hangu Pass, imparted to Yin Xi the 5,000-character Classic of the Way and Its Virtue (Dao De Jing).

After receiving the scripture, Yin Xi further asked about the methods of cultivating one’s conduct and upholding the scripture. Lord Laozi then bestowed upon him the Five Precepts, and explained the ways to observe these precepts as well as their importance.

The Five Precepts are: refraining from killing, refraining from stealing, refraining from sexual misconduct, refraining from false speech, and refraining from drinking alcohol. It is stated that these Five Precepts are the foundation of cultivating one’s conduct and the root of practicing the Dao; observing them enables one to attain the Dao and become an immortal, while violating them will result in various karmic retributions.

According to the Secret Catalogue of the Southern Song Dynasty and Comprehensive Records of the Grand Historian (Tong Zhi), both record a one-volume work titled Scripture of Lord Laozi’s Precepts attributed to Ge Hong—it remains unclear whether this refers to the present text.
Paul Peng — Zhengyi Taoist Priest, Longhu Mountain

About the Author

Paul Peng

Paul Peng is a Zhengyi Taoist priest from Longhu Mountain, Jiangxi — the ancestral home of the Celestial Masters' tradition. Ordained at 25 after a dream from the Celestial Master, he has practiced for 25 years under Master Zeng Guangliang. He is the curator of this store, which is officially authorized by Tianshi Fu. All items are consecrated at the temple by the resident priest team.

Read his full story →
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