The Eight Great Taoist Spiritual Chants

Ba Da Zhen Zhou

Te Eight Immortals

51 Taoist Chanting & Recitation

First Chant Spiritual Chant for Purifying of the Heart Jing Xin Shen Zhou1

Recite in Chinese:2 !•Tai • • •• "•Shang • • • • • • • • " Tai " " •• Tai Shang 3 of the • • • • " Xing Star Terrace, !"•Ying • • •• "•Bian • • •# • • • • • " Wu " " •• # without cease responds • " Ting! to all transformations, •Qu •Xie •Fu •Mei eradicates all demons by binding them with magic charms. •Bao •Ming •Hu •Shen Protecting a person’s body, he defends life. •Zhi •Hui •Ming •Jing His wisdom is pure and illuminating, •Xing •Shen •An •Ning and brings spiritual peace to the mind.

52 The Eight Great Taoist Spiritual Chants

•San •Hun •Yong •Jiu Forever eternalizing the Three Heavenly Spirits, •Po •Wu •Sang •Qing and so defeating and causing all the Earthly Po Spirits to flee. "•Ji •Ji "•Ru •Lu "•Ling These mandates I will expediently follow.

1 Purifying the Heart chant and the next two chants, Purifying the Spirit and Purifying the Body, are essentially meant to attract good spirits to help protect the body, mouth, and mind from malignant influences. This particular chant protects against external negative influences from entering.

2 Wooden fish symbols show the chanting pattern for the first two lines of each chant, as well as the beats for the remaining lines. Listen to the Eight Great Taoist Spiritual Chants at the Sanctuary of Tao’s website: sanctuaryoftao.org.

3 Honorific deity title for Lao Zi.

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Second Chant Spiritual Chant for Purifying the Mouth Jing Kou Shen Zhou1

!•Dan • • •• "•Zhu • • • • • • • • " Kou " " •• Dan Zhu (Cinnabar • • • • " Shen Elixir), the spirit of the mouth. !"•Tu • • •• "•Hui • • • • • • • • " Chu " " •• Expelling the unclean • " Fen! and eliminating ill vapors. •She •Shen •Zheng •Lun Zheng Lun (Correct Order), the Tongue Spirit, •Tong •Ming •Yang •Shen enhances life and nourishes the spirit. •Luo •Qian •Chi •Shen Luo Qian (A Thousand Gatherings), Spirit of the Teeth, •Que •Xie •Wei •Zhen guards the True by sending away demons.

54 The Eight Great Taoist Spiritual Chants

•Hou •Shen •Hu •Bi Hu Bi (Bright Tiger), the Spirit of the Throat, •Qi •Shen •Yin •Jin  entices the saliva of Qi and spirit. •Xin •Shen •Dan •Yuan Dan Yuan (Primordial Elixir), the Spirit of the Heart, •Ling •Wo •Tong •Zhen decrees my penetrating the True. •Si •Shen •Lian •Ye Lian Ye (Refining the Secretions), the Spirit of the Mind, •Tao •Qi •Chang •Cun eternally keeps to the Tao of breath. "•Ji •Ji "•Ru •Lu "•Ling These mandates I will expediently follow.

1 Qi dissipates from the mouth, so this chant for Purifying the Mouth protects the cultivator from losing qi through excessive and wrongful speech. This chant brings forth spirits who help protect and guard against speech-related transgressions.

55 Taoist Chanting & Recitation

Tird Chant Spiritual Chant for Purifying the Body Jing Shen Shen Zhou1

!•Ling • • •• "•Bao • • •# • • • • • " Tian " " •• Heavenly Worthies of • • • • " Zun the Numinous Treasury, !"•An • • •• "•Wei • • •# • • • • • " Shen " " •• calming and comforting • " Xing! the bodily form, •Di •Zi •Hun •Po# and its disciples, the Hun and Po. •Wu •Zang •Xuan •Ming# Dark and mysterious are the Five Viscera. •Qing •Long •Bai •Hu# The Green Dragon and White Tiger •Dui •Zhang •Fen •Yun# engage in chaotic battle. •Zhu •Que •Xuan •Wu# The Vermilion Bird and Mysterious Warrior

56 The Eight Great Taoist Spiritual Chants

•Shi •Wei •Wo •Zhen# 中 attend to and guard my True.2 "•Ji •Ji "•Ru •Lu "•Ling# These mandates I will expediently follow.

1 The Purifying the Body chant is primarily used for protecting the body against disease and for the healing of others who may be suffering from an illness.

2 Zhen () indicates a person’s true nature, original spirit, and primordial essence.

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Fourth Chant Spiritual Chant for Comforting the Earth Spirit An Tu Di Shen Zhou 1

!•Yuan • • •• "•Shi • • • • • "• • • " An " •• The Primordial One • • • • " Zhen calms and guards !"•Pu • • •• "•Gao • • • • • • • • " Wan " " •• by universally • " Ling! requesting a myriad of immortal spirits, •Yue •Du •Zhen •Guan 起 and the True Officials of Yue and Du.2 •Tu •Di •Zhi •Ling Paying spiritual respect to the Earth God. •Zuo •She •You •Ji Earth God on the left and the God of Grain on the right. •Bu •De •Wang •Jing )? Having no false fears, •Hui •Xiang •Zheng •Tao I return to the Correct Way.

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•Nei •Wai •Cheng •Jing Being clear and pure, both internally and externally. •Ge •An •Fang •Wei Everything is fixed in their respective positions, •Bei •Shou •Tan •Ting and the Shrine Hall is prepared and guarded. •Tai •Shang •You •Ming , Having a mandate from Tai Shang, •Sou •Bu •Xie •Jing all nefarious influences are seized and captured. •Hu •Fa •Shen •Wang Protecting the law of the spirit kings. •Bao •Wei •Song •Jing Protecting the recitations of the scriptures. •Gui •Yi •Da •Tao Seeking sanctuary in the Great Tao.

59 Taoist Chanting & Recitation

!"•Yuan !"•Heng • • !" Li !" Zhen Originating, persevering, advantageous, and resolute.3

1 The Spiritual Chant for Comforting the Earth Spirit is used primarily to seek favor with the Earth Spirit in order that blessings and good fortune may be acquired for oneself or others. This chant should be recited on Keng Shen days.

2 Yue are the five sacred Taoist mountains, and Du are the four great rivers of China.

3 Yuan, Heng, Li, and Zhen are the Four Great Virtues according to the Book of Change’s Qian Hexagram, A. See note 2, p. 74.

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Fifth Chant Spiritual Chant for Purifying Heaven and Earth Jing Tian Di Shen Zhou 1

!•Tian • • •• "•Di • • •# • • • • • # " Zi " " •• The naturally-just-so • • • • " Ran of Heaven and Earth. !"•Hui • • •• "•Qi • • •# • • • • • # " Fen " " •• Disperses all filthy • " San!# # vapors. •Dong •Zhong •Xuan •Xu Within the grotto of the Mysterious Void. •Huang •Tang •Tai •Yuan The Supreme Origin is dazzlingly bright. •Ba •Fang •Wei •Shen Courageous spirits of the eight directions, •Shi •Wo •Zi •Ran Bring to pass the naturally-just-so, •Ling •Bao •Fu •Ming and the talismanic decrees of the Numinous Treasury.

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•Qian •Luo •Ta •Na Qian Luo Ta Na 2 •Dong •Gang •Tai •Xuan In the Pole Star’s Grotto of the Ultimate Mystery •Zhan •Yao •Fu •Xia he executes evil beings and binds up demons. •Du •Ren •Wan •Qian Crossing over tens of millions of people. •Zhong •Shan •Shen •Zhou Chanting to the spirits on Central Mountain. •Yuan •Shi •Yu •Wen The Jade Writings of the Primordial Causation. •Chi •Song •Yi •Bian Hold onto and recite it once •Que •Bing •Yan •Nian and it will prevent disease and prolong life. •An •Xing •Wu •Yue

62 The Eight Great Taoist Spiritual Chants

He travels over the Five Mountains •Ba •Hai •Zhi •Wen and is heard over the Eight Seas. •Mo •Wang •Shu •Shou Bound are the hands of the Demon King. •Shi •Wei •Wo •Xuan 中 Attending to and guarding my carriage, •Xiong •Hui •Xiao •San eliminating and dispersing malevolent filth. •Tao •Qi •Chang •Cun The Qi of Tao will merge and exist eternally. "•Ji •Ji "•Ru •Lu "•Ling These mandates I will expediently follow.

1 Spiritual Chant for Purifying Heaven and Earth is mainly used for the protection of one’s home and property, but it’s also chanted for the prevention of war and other hostilities.

2 Transliteration of a Sanskrit name for a Deity General.

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Sixth Chant Spiritual Chant of the Golden Light Jin Guang Shen Zhou1

!•Tian • • •• "•Di • • • • • • • • " Xuan " " •• The Mysterious • • • • " Zong Ancestor is Heaven and Earth. !"•Wan • • •• "•Qi • • • • • • • • " Ben " " •• Being the root • " Gen! causation it has myriad vapors [Qi]. •Guang •Xiu •Yi •Jie Through vast cultivation for tens of millions of kalpas •Zheng •Wu •Shen •Tong my spiritual penetrations are confirmed. •San •Jie •Nei •Wai Internally and externally of the Three Realms

64 The Eight Great Taoist Spiritual Chants

•Wei •Tao •Du •Zun the Tao is the only sole Worthy. •Ti •You •Jin •Guang , Its body has a Golden Light, •Fu •Ying •Wu •Shen completely reflecting upon my body. •Shi •Zhi •Bu •Jian ) Looked at, it cannot be seen. •Ting •Zhi •Bu •Wen ) Listened to, it cannot be heard. •Bao •Luo •Tian •Di Embracing Heaven and Earth together, •Yang •Yu •Qun •Sheng it nourishes all living beings. •Shou •Chi •Wan •Bian Recite and hold this chant ten thousand times

65 Taoist Chanting & Recitation

•Shen •You •Guang •Ming , and the body will be brightly illuminated. •San •Jie •Shi •Wei 中 The Three Realms will guard and protect. •Wu •Di •Si •Ying The Five Sovereigns and Controller will come to greet you •Wan •Shen •Chao •Li and myriad deities will pay obeisance. •Gui •Yao •Sang •Dan The ghosts and demons will tremble in fear •Jing •Guai •Wang •Xing and evil spirits will lose their forms. •Nei •You •Pi •Li ,會 Internally the sound of thunder is heard, •Lei •Shen •Yin •Ming revealing the hidden name of the Thunder God,

66 The Eight Great Taoist Spiritual Chants

•Dong •Hui •Jiao •Che and the wisdom of the grotto will be transmitted. •Wu •Qi •Teng •Teng The Five Qi will soar, •Jin •Guang •Su •Xian a Golden Light will manifest immediately •Fu •Hu •Zhen •Ren to cover and protect all True Persons. "•Ji •Ji "•Ru •Lu "•Ling These mandates I will expediently follow.

1 Spiritual Chant of the Golden Light has two purposes: First, it’s used by meditation practitioners to aid in bringing forth an internal golden light and then eventually project that light externally. The second purpose is to help those who have just passed from this world, a way of encouraging them to seek the golden light to direct their spirit to an immortal paradise.

67 Taoist Chanting & Recitation

Seventh Chant Spiritual Chant for Offering Incense Zhu Xiang Shen Zhou1

!•Tao • • •• "•You • • •# • • • • • " Xin " " •• # The Tao is learned • • • • " Xue in the heart !"•Xin • • •• "•Jia • • • • • • • • " Xiang " " •• and the incense passes • " Zhuan! on the [wishes of the] heart. •Xiang •Ruo •Yu •Lu 動 The Jade Urn is warmed by the incense. •Xin •Cun •Di •Qian The heart resides before the Sovereign. •Zhen •Ling •Xia •Pan The True Immortal watches from above. •Xian •Pei •Lin •Xuan 現 The banner of the immortals arrives before the carriage,

68 The Eight Great Taoist Spiritual Chants

•Ling •Chen •Guan •Gao informing that the reports of people are closed. •Jing •Da •Jiu •Tian Directly communicating with the Nine Heavens. "•Ji •Ji "•Ru •Lu "•Ling These mandates I will expediently follow.

1 Many chants are used in incense offerings, but the Spiritual Chant for Offering Incense is used for ensuring that the offering is received by the spiritual realms, or the particular spirit on which the cultivator is focusing. This chant should especially be used on any Keng Shen Day.

69 Taoist Chanting & Recitation

Eighth Chant Mysterious Gathering Chant Xuan Wen Zhou1

!•Yuan • • •• "•Zhuan • • • • • • • • " Tai " " •• The Cloud Seal • • • • " Xu of the Great Void. !"•Hao • • •• "•Jie • • • • • • • • " Zhi " " •• Existing since the • " Chu! beginning of a great kalpa. •Zha •Xia •Zha •Er Suddenly near and suddenly distant. •Huo •Chen •Huo •Fu Perchance sinking or perhaps floating. •Wu •Fang •Pai •Huai Moving back and forth through the Five Directions. •Yi •Zhang •Zhi •Yu Of the numerous solitary elders,

70 The Eight Great Taoist Spiritual Chants

•Tian •Zhen •Huang •Ren the True Heavenly Emperor •An •Bi •Nai •Shu writes in his book with brush, •Yi •Yan •Dong •Zheng to reveal the Seal of the Grotto •Ci •Shu •Ling •Fu and the Book of Divine Talismans. •Yuan •Shi •Xia •Jiang The Primordial Cause descends •Zhen •Wen •Dan •Fu to bravely teach the true texts. •Zhao •Zhao •Qi •You , Illuminated when existing, •Ming •Ming •Qi •Wu obscure when empty. !Chen Ke Neng Zi !"•Quan 事時 Serious illnesses can be self-healed.

71 Taoist Chanting & Recitation

!Chen Lao Ni Ke !"•Fu Supporting those drowning in toil and Earthly dust. !You Ming Jiang You !"•Lai , Assistance will come for those imprisoned in desire. !You Shi Sheng Xian !"•Du Bringing ascension into the Immortal Realms.

1 The Mysterious Gathering Chant’s purpose is to attract beneficial immortal spirits to surround you while engaged in any spiritual practice, such as meditation, qigong, or when performing any type of ceremony. These spirits come to aid in self-healing, elimination of suffering, and warding off unwanted states of desire. The chant is also used for helping others with the same purpose.

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