The Tai Shang Tian Zun Shuo Ji Ku Jing 太上洞玄灵宝天尊说济苦经

The author of this scripture remains unknown.

Judging from its content and wording, it was presumably composed by followers of the Celestial Master Taoism during the Northern and Southern Dynasties.

Zhen Luan, a Buddhist monk of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, already cited this scripture in his Treatise Ridiculing Taoism.

Consisting of one scroll, it is included in the Text Category of the Cave Mysterious Section of the Daoist Canon.

In addition, there are four incomplete Dunhuang manuscripts of the text, titled The Scripture of the Numinous True Precept for Eradicating Birth and Death and Relieving Suffering, which contain several more lines than the version in the Daoist Canon.

The scripture is divided into six sections, in which the Heavenly Venerable is depicted delivering teachings and propagating the Dao to instruct Taoist believers and deliver them from suffering. For example, in the first section, the Heavenly Venerable states: “I possess the seven Dao methods, namely Concealing Light, Dwelling in Light, Concealing Form, Manifesting Concealment, Concealing Transformation, Concealing Truth, and Great Virtue.”

If believers in the mortal world encounter illness or disaster, they can recite the names of these seven Dao methods and invoke the Heavenly Venerable. Upon hearing the invocation, the Heavenly Venerable will lead his disciples to come to their aid, rescue the sick, expel evil demons, and protect their homes and families. In the sixth section, it is further stated that if Taoist followers recite and copy this scripture, they can ensure the stability of their residences, the prosperity of their families, and an abundance of clothing and food.