The Dong Xuan Ling Bao Dao Yin San Guang Miao Jing 洞玄灵宝导引三光妙经

Referred to in short as The Scripture of Guiding the Three Luminaries.

It is one of the ancient Numinous Treasure Scriptures of Taoism, which was roughly compiled during the Northern and Southern Dynasties.

This scripture had already been quoted in Wang Xuanhe’s Precious Bag of the Three Caverns and Records of Supernatural Events in Shangqing Taoism of the Tang Dynasty.

It was also recorded in Jiang Shuyu’s Catalogue of Scriptures for Pacifying and Safeguarding the Altar of Fasting.

The original text consists of one scroll and was included in the category of "Original Texts" in the Cavern True Section of the Daozang (Taoist Canon). However, in the Daozang version, it is divided into two parts: the first part is titled The Supreme Wonderful Scripture of Guiding the Three Luminaries and Treasuring the True Essence, and the second part is titled The Supreme Wonderful Scripture of Guiding the Three Luminaries and the Nine Transformations. The scripture is pseudonymously presented as a teaching imparted by the Primordial Heavenly Venerable to the Perfected One of Universal Virtue and Wonderful Conduct, expounding the Taoist method of guiding the Three Luminaries (the sun, moon and stars).

The first part begins by describing the formation of the sun, moon and stars. It states that the Great Dao is subtle and profound, differentiating into clear and turbid qi: the clear qi rises upward to form heaven, and the turbid qi condenses downward to form earth. The two qi separate into yin and yang, and the purest essence of yin and yang coalesces into the sun and moon; the scattered essence of the sun and moon forms the stars. It also claims that there are official palaces within the sun, moon and stars respectively, where the natural eight-part jade texts are hidden in the three palaces.

If a Taoist practitioner receives the scripture and practices the technique of "guiding the Three Luminaries and absorbing the true qi" in accordance with the method, they will achieve success and attain the Dao after eighteen years, their qi will merge with the Dao, and they will enjoy infinite lifespan.

The second part of the scripture discusses the method of practicing the guidance of the Three Luminaries, also known as "the Dao of fixed light and true eternity". The method stipulates that in the six yang months (the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, and 11th lunar months), practitioners should first recite memorials and swallow talismans, and then successively chant the true names of the eight celestial beings: Liujing, Zeying, Faqi, Yangyu, Yunhua, Daoxian, Jiubian, and Dingguang.

It is said that long-term practice of this Dao allows one to return to the true and eternal state, rise and fall with qi, unite mystically with the Dao, achieve immortality and indestructibility, and exist forever through countless kalpas.