Great Law of the Numinous Treasure of the Highest Clarity

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The 66-volumed Great Law of the Numinous Treasure of the Highest Clarity( 《上清靈寶大法》 Shangqing Lingbao Dafa ) transmitted by Ning Quanzhen, the Wise Man of Pervasive Subtlety and Perfect Man of Light and Salvation ( 洞微高士開光救苦真人 Dongwei Gaoshi Kaiguang Jiuku Zhenren ), was compiled by Wang Qizhen, the Highest Clarity Disciple of the Three Grottoes ( 上清三洞弟子 Shangqing Sandong Dizi ) and the Succeeding Master of Numinous Treasure ( 嗣師 SiShi ). It has The Ancient Preface and The Mysterious Preface. Vol. 1 "The Theme" says: The Great Way of Highest Clarity and Numinous Treasure, penetrating the Three Grottoes and containing all dharma, was told by the Primeval Lord of Heaven. For the salvation of people, it transformed into 36-sectioned lofty scriptures of 18000 books. Eight Inspirations ( 八明 Baming ), Five Interpretations ( 五譯 Wuyi ), Seven Longitudes ( 七經 Qijing ), Eight Latitudes ( 八緯 Bawei ), Ten Obscure ( 十奧 Shiao ) and Forty-seven Chapters comprise one section. Eight Inspirations imitate the eight openings of heaven to light the darkness. Five Interpretations imitate the transformations of five eons to generate five agents. Seven Longitudes point out the directions to the great way. Eight Latitudes define the instructions. The Ten Obscure expounds the ten mysteries. Forty-seven Chapters explains the outline from beginning to the end. These comprise one section illustrating the mystery in consistent chapters. Collected in the Orthodox Oneness Section ( 正一部 Zhengyi Bu ) of the Daoist Canon of the Zhengtong Era, the book is a valuable reference for the study of Daoist rituals and thoughts of cultivation. Relevant are the Catalogue of the Great Way of Highest Clarity and Numinous Treasure ( 《上清靈寶大法目錄》 Shangqing Lingbao Dafa Mulu ) and the Great Way of Highest Clarity and Numinous Treasure in 44 volumes.