The Natural Purification Ritual
Author unknown; it is believed to date from the Tang Dynasty.
It was not included in the Zhengtong Daozang (Orthodox Daoist Canon).
According to Shinji Ohuchi’s Catalog of Taoist Texts from Dunhuang, three fragmentary copies of this text are preserved among the Dunhuang manuscripts—namely P3282, S6841, and P2455—with a combined total of over 270 lines of scripture. As one of the six retreat methods of the Taoist Lingbao Sect, the Natural Retreat is primarily intended to absolve sins and exempt transgressions for the people and all sentient beings, pray for blessings and longevity, and relieve hardships and calamities. This text describes the ritual procedures for performing the Natural Retreat, embodying the Taoist pursuit of harmony between humans and the Dao.
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