The Primordial Moral Cultivation Scripture FULL NAME IS
The Scripture of the Original Vows of Emperor Zitong Preached by the Primordial Celestial Worthy
The author is unknown. It was probably compiled during the Yuan Dynasty.
It consists of one scroll and is included in the Benwenlei (Scripture Text Category) of the Dongzhenbu (True Grotto Section) in the Daozang (Taoist Canon).
Falsely attributed to the Primordial Celestial Worthy as the speaker, the scripture is divided into three chapters: Upper, Middle and Lower. It mainly advocates the Three Cardinal Guides and Five Constant Virtues, exhorting people to rectify their minds and cultivate their moral character to eliminate disasters and calamities. It holds that "man is the spirit of all creatures, and the mind is the master of the whole body" — the human mind is inherently pure, quiet and free from desires, and naturally inclined toward loyalty and filial piety. Later, however, because people’s minds became distorted, they showed disrespect to the Three Jewels, acted disloyally and unfilially, indulged in lust and greed, and harbored treachery and malice, committing all manner of sins. Thus, they suffered disasters and endured all kinds of hardships.
Out of compassion for all living beings, the Celestial Worthy ordered Emperor Zitong to enlighten the mortal world, teaching people to purify their hearts and rid themselves of delusions, to be loyal to the sovereign and filial to parents, to fraternize with siblings, to maintain harmony between husband and wife, and to handle affairs with fairness. If people can rectify their minds and cultivate their moral character in accordance with these teachings, disasters will dissipate naturally.
The scripture also contains various texts of praise, wishes and repentance.
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