The Ten Golden Precepts: Daoist Path to Immortal Purity

Taishang Dongxuan Lingbao Jieye Benxing Shangpin Miaojing (The Wonderful Scripture of the Supreme Grade on the Fundamental Conduct and Karmic Precepts of the Numinous Treasure of the Cavernous Mystery of the Supreme Oneness), the author of which is unknown.

Judging from its content and wording, it should have been written by Taoist priests during the Southern and Northern Dynasties or the Sui and Tang dynasties.

Jiang Shuyu recorded Dongxuan Lingbao Jinzhen Falun Jieye Benxing Shangpin Miaojing (The Wonderful Scripture of the Supreme Grade on the Fundamental Conduct and Karmic Precepts of the Golden True Dharma Wheel of the Numinous Treasure of the Cavernous Mystery) in his Zhaitan Anzhen Jingmu (Catalog of Scriptures for Securing the Retreat Altar), which refers to this very text.

It consists of one scroll and is included in the Text category of the Cavernous Mystery section of the Daozang (Taoist Canon).

The scripture is pseudonymously attributed to the Primordial Heavenly Worthy expounding the karmic causes and conditions of past lives, delivering gods and humans, and instructing people to cultivate the "Supreme Golden True Precepts for Karmic Purification".

The so-called "Golden True" refers to immortal and indestructible true immortals. To attain the status of true immortals, one must practice the supreme-grade karmic precepts, eliminate the roots of the ten evils, and observe the precepts of the ten good deeds.

The ten good precepts are as follows:

Be kind, filial, and respectful to all things;
Cherish and care for all sentient beings;
Have faith in and uphold the scriptures and precepts;
Almsgive treasures and goods;
Accumulate extensive merits and virtues;
Abstain from killing and stealing;
Release living beings and rescue those in distress;
Make offerings to the Three Jewels (the Dao, the scriptures, and the Taoist priests);
Cherish and respect the national sovereign;
Single-mindedly perform good deeds.