Honoring the Stars – 礼斗

“Běidǒu jīng 北斗经”, the Scripture of the North Star, can prolong life, bring many benefits and prevent harm and calamities to the practitioner.

Requirements for Taoist chanting

The path of scriptures is also the path of Taoism, and it is one of the three treasures of “Tao, scripture, and master”. Chanting scriptures is one of the common methods of Taoist practice.

Taoist chanting has its own rules, which mainly include the following:

1. Before chanting

one needs to learn the scriptures and ask a Taoist priest to “Guò jīng 过经” meaning “Go through the scriptures”. That means, the master teaches the method of reciting scriptures: including the pronunciation of characters and the “way of recitation” of individual characters—some words are not According to the original sound, pronounced in special pronunciation. As well as the inner cultivation methods of scriptures, such as developing special skills, cultivating Qi, etc. After “Guò jīng 过经”, one is ready to recite the scriptures.

 

2. When chanting scriptures, it is necessary to choose

a quiet environment or a quiet room for practice.  The environment is conducive to quietness of mind, and quietness of mind is conducive to chanting scriptures. Therefore, it is necessary to choose a quiet room for chanting. Chanting in a noisy place is not recommended.

 

3. Fasting for body and mind, first being respectful 

Classical texts and scriptures should not be placed in disrespectful places. For example, the kitchen, toilet, bed, chair, floor,  etc. and also should not be mixed with ordinary books. The scriptures should be placed alone on the table in a clean place, and the scriptures should be covered with red cloth to avoid dust. Or wrap the scriptures with red cloth and place it high in the book cabinet.

Before chanting scriptures, one should develop a devotion and respect, clean hands and mouth, being clean and dignified, calm down and become still, and then recite the scriptures. It is best to have a vegetarian diet to have a clear body.

Do not recite scriptures in bedrooms, bathrooms, or other places with heavy filth.

When chanting scriptures, you should calm your mind, gather your thoughts, and focus on the scriptures. Let the continues repetitions of the scriptures slowly let you reach the state of “the scriptures are one with me”, Cultivating Taoist skills is difficult and we cherish the opportunity to read the scriptures.

 

4. Other situations that scriptures should not be recited

In Taoist chanting, it is necessary to avoid the collision of bad Qi. Therefore, it is not suitable for women to chant scriptures during menstruation, mourning, pregnancy, and postpartum. It is not advisable to recite scriptures within 24 hours of attending a funeral or entering and leaving the delivery room.

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Bei Dou Jing

1. What is the Bei Dou Jing?    

The “Tài shàng xuán líng běidǒu běnmìng yánshēng zhēn jīng 太上玄灵北斗本命延生真经”, usually called “Běidǒu jīng 北斗经”, is collected in the Taoist Canon “Zhèngtǒng dàozàng 正统道藏” in the “Dòng shén 洞神” department and often seen as part of the so called “Sì pǐn xiān jīng 四品仙经”, the four immortal scriptures.

It is said in the scriptures that “Běidǒu qīxīng 北斗七星”, the Big Dipper is the cardinal of creation, the master of human beings and gods, has the power to bring back life and death, and the power to eliminate disasters and save from evil. The five bodies [Wǔtǐ 五体, meaning tendons (Jīn筋), vessels (mài脉), flesh (ròu肉), bones (gǔ骨), hair/skin (máopí毛皮)] of mortal life (Xìngmìng wǔtǐ 性命五体) are all under the control of the Star Sovereign officials of the personal fate (Běnmìng xīng guān 本命星官). Therefore, people are required to purify their bodies and minds, burn incense and recite scriptures, bow down to the Star Sovereign of the personal fate (Běnmìng xīng jūn 本命星君) , and make offerings on their birthdays and fasting days.

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2. The origin of the Bei Dou Jing

On the seventh day of the first month of the first year of Yongshou in the Han Dynasty, in the Holy Land of Taiqing, “Tài shàng lǎo jūn 太上老君” saw that all beings were sinking into a sea of ​​misery and could not extricate themselves. Because of pity for all beings, the incarnation descended in “Chéngdū 成都” , and he ascended to pass on the Beidou Scripture to the Celestial Master (Tiān shī 天师), so that the scriptures can be widely circulated and benefit all sentient beings.

At that time, in addition to the Beidou Jing, “Tài shàng lǎo jūn 太上老君” also taught other scriptures to the celestial master: on the seventh day of the first month of the first year of Han Yongshou, he gave the “Běidǒu xuán líng běnmìng zhēn jīng 北斗玄灵本命真经”, and on the fifteenth day of the first month, he gave the “Nándǒu liù sī yánshòu duó rén miào jīng 南斗六司延寿度人妙经” and “Wǔdǒu zhēn jīng 五斗真经”. On the seventh day of the first lunar month in the second year of Yongshou in the Han Dynasty, the “Dōng dòu chángshēng hù mìng zhēn jīng 东斗长生护命真经” was uploaded, and on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the “Xī dòu dàjì hù shēn jīng 西斗大计护身经” was also transmitted. Body Protection Sutra. Later, because “Tiān shī zhēnrén 天师真人” could follow the scriptures, “Tài shàng lǎo jūn 太上老君” taught the “Zhōng dòu bǎomìng yánshēng xuán zhēn miào jīng 中斗保命延生玄真妙经”.

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3. When to recite Bei Dou Jing?

The time for reciting the Bei Dou Jing is “Sān yuán bā jié 三元八节” (3 Yuan and 8 Season-Festivals),  “Běnmìng shēngchén 本命生辰” (Personal Fate Days), “Běidǒu xià rì 北斗下日” (when Bei Dou Officers descend to human realm) and “Běidǒu chūyóu rì 北斗出游日” (days when the Bei Dou officers are travelling in the human realm).

San Yuan 三元 are: Shang Yuan Jie 上元节 (15th day of 1st lunar month)，Zhong Yuan Jie 中元节 (15th day of 7th lunar month), Xia Yuan Jie下元节 (15th day of 10th lunar month).

Ba Jie八节 are: Li Chun立春、Chun Fen春分、Li Xia立夏、Xia Zhi夏、Li Qiu立秋, Qiu Fen秋分, Li Dong立冬, Dong Zhi冬至. (Beginning of Spring, Spring Equinox, Beginning of Summer, Summer Solstice, Beginning of Autumn, Autumn Equinox, Beginning of Winter, and Winter Solstice.)

Additionally we offer the scriptures to our Star Sovereign of the personal fate (Běnmìng xīng jūn 本命星君) on “Personal Fate Days”  according to our birth year and date (Běnmìng shēngchén 本命生辰)

Explanation: The “sign” of the year of birth is the “fate sign”. In other words, the “fate days” refer to the date of birth. For example, people born in the year of Ox are born in the year of Xin Chou, then when they encounter Xin Chou day, it is the “Personal Fate Day”. Check the Taoist almanac for your “Personal Fate Day”

We also offer the scriptures on honoring days and birthdays of deities, days of immortals realized Dao and special Daoist festivals.

Bei Dou officers descend to human realm (Běidǒu xià rì 北斗下日) during the 3rd and 27th day of every lunar month.

Bei Dou travel days (Běidǒu chūyóu rì 北斗出游日) are:

• 25th and 26th of the first lunar month
• 2nd, 7th, 23rd and 26th of the second lunar month
• 26th of third lunar month
• 17th and 27th of fourth lunar month
• 5th,13th and 20th of the fifth lunar month
• 4th and 8th of the sixths lunar month
• 4th and 24th of the seventh lunar month
• 2nd, 11th, 19th and 27th of the eighth lunar month
• 3rd and 18th of the ninth lunar month
• 10th and 26th of the tenth lunar month
• 1st, 9th, 17th and 25th of the eleventh lunar month
• 20th of the twelfth lunar month.

(正月二十五、二十六，二月初二、初七、二十三、二十六，三月二十六，四月十七、二十 七，五月初五、十三、二十日，六月初四、初八，七月初四、二十四，八月初二、十一、十九、二十七，九月初三、十八，十月初十、二十六，十一月初一、初九、 十七、二十五，十二月二十日）

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4. Preparations before reciting the Bei Dou Jing

In addition to preparing according to the requirements listed above, seven lamps (Dòu dēng 斗灯) or seven candles should be prepared before reciting the “Bei Dou Jing”.  It can be seven lamps standing alone, seven lamps placed on a chandelier, or place seven lamps in the shape of a Big Dipper and connect them with rice grains. If you don’t have the conditions to prepare a lamp, you can also prepare a bowl of clean water.

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Merits of reciting the Bei Dou Jing

 

The five bodies (Wǔtǐ 五体) of human life belong to the Star Sovereign of the personal fate (Běnmìng xīng jūn 本命星君). The Big Dipper is not only in charge of people’s lifespan, but also of people’s fortune. Therefore, those who can adhere to the ritual of Honoring the Stars have the following benefits.

 

1. The Great Sages of the Big Dipper can solve the twenty-four calamities

Bei Dou Jing original text:

大圣北斗解厄应验曰Dà shèng běidǒu jiě è yìng yàn yuē

As to speak the great holy north dipper untie difficulties must examine the call.

大圣北斗七元君能解三灾厄dà shèng běidǒu qī yuán jūn néng jiě sān zāi è

Great holy north dipper seven original true officers, are able to untie the difficulties of three calamities.

大圣北斗七元君能解四煞厄dà shèng běidǒu qī yuán jūn néng jiě sì shā è

Great holy north dipper seven original true officers, are able to untie the difficulties of four slaughters.

大圣北斗七元君能解五行厄dà shèng běidǒu qī yuán jūn néng jiě wǔ xing è

Great holy north dipper seven original true officers, are able to untie the difficulties of five elements.

大圣北斗七元君能解六害厄dà shèng běidǒu qī yuán jūn néng jiě liù hài è

Great holy north dipper seven original true officers, are able to untie the difficulties of six harms

大圣北斗七元君能解七伤厄dà shèng běidǒu qī yuán jūn néng jiě qī shāng è

Great holy north dipper seven original true officers, are able to untie the difficulties of seven injurie

大圣北斗七元君能解八难厄dà shèng běidǒu qī yuán jūn néng jiě bā nàn è

Great holy north dipper seven original true officers, are able to untie the difficulties of eight difficulties.

大圣北斗七元君能解九星厄dà shèng běidǒu qī yuán jūn néng jiě jiǔ xīng è

Great holy north dipper seven original true officers, are able to untie the difficulties of nine stars.

大圣北斗七元君能解夫妻厄dà shèng běidǒu qī yuán jūn néng jiě fū qī è

Great holy north dipper seven original true officers, are able to untie the difficulties of husband and wife.

大圣北斗七元君能解男女厄dà shèng běidǒu qī yuán jūn néng jiě nán nǚ è

Great holy north dipper seven original true officers, are able to untie the difficulties of man and woman.

大圣北斗七元君能解生产厄dà shèng běidǒu qī yuán jūn néng jiě shēng chǎn è

Great holy north dipper seven original true officers, are able to untie the difficulties of giving birth.

大圣北斗七元君能解复连厄dà shèng běidǒu qī yuán jūn néng jiě fù lián è

Great holy north dipper seven original true officers, are able to untie the difficulties of continues return.

大圣北斗七元君能解疫疠厄dà shèng běidǒu qī yuán jūn néng jiě yì lì è

Great holy north dipper seven original true officers, are able to untie the difficulties of epidemic ulcer.

大圣北斗七元君能解疾病厄dà shèng běidǒu qī yuán jūn néng jiě jí bìng è

Great holy north dipper seven original true officers, are able to untie the difficulties of suffering decease.

大圣北斗七元君能解精邪厄dà shèng běidǒu qī yuán jūn néng jiě jīng xié è

Great holy north dipper seven original true officers, are able to untie the difficulties of evil spirit.

大圣北斗七元君能解虎狼厄dà shèng běidǒu qī yuán jūn néng jiě hǔ láng è

Great holy north dipper seven original true officers, are able to untie the difficulties of tiger and wolfs.

大圣北斗七元君能解虫蛇厄dà shèng běidǒu qī yuán jūn néng jiě chóng shé è

Great holy north dipper seven original true officers, are able to untie the difficulties of worms and snakes.

大圣北斗七元君能解劫贼厄dà shèng běidǒu qī yuán jūn néng jiě jié zéi è

Great holy north dipper seven original true officers, are able to untie the difficulties of being taken by thief.

大圣北斗七元君能解枷棒厄dà shèng běidǒu qī yuán jūn néng jiě jiā bàng è

Great holy north dipper seven original true officers, are able to untie the difficulties of scaffold punishment (Public humiliation).

大圣北斗七元君能解横死厄dà shèng běidǒu qī yuán jūn néng jiě hèng sǐ è

Great holy north dipper seven original true officers, are able to untie the difficulties of sudden death.

大圣北斗七元君能解咒誓厄dà shèng běidǒu qī yuán jūn néng jiě zhòu shì è

Great holy north dipper seven original true officers, are able to untie the difficulties of curse and swear.

大圣北斗七元君能解天罗厄dà shèng běidǒu qī yuán jūn néng jiě tiān luó è

Great holy north dipper seven original true officers, are able to untie the difficulties of heavenly net.

大圣北斗七元君能解地纲厄dà shèng běidǒu qī yuán jūn néng jiě de gāng è

Great holy north dipper seven original true officers, are able to untie the difficulties of earthly net.

大圣北斗七元君能解刀兵厄dà shèng běidǒu qī yuán jūn néng jiě dāo bīng è

Great holy north dipper seven original true officers, are able to untie the difficulties of knife and soldier.

大圣北斗七元君能解水火厄dà shèng běidǒu qī yuán jūn néng jiě shuǐ huǒ è

Great holy north dipper seven original true officers, are able to untie the difficulties of water and fire.

The twenty-four “Fú 符” symbols to solve calamities:

 

When encountering the above disasters, you can burn incense and recite the scriptures, and you can use the “Fú 符” symbol during the ceremony to solve the disaster. They can be painted in the air with the third eye, or painted on paper with cinnabar ink and then burned and put in water.

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2. Recognize the true Star Sovereign

When encountering the above-mentioned difficulties, it is urgent to report to the Officials of the Big Dipper. Burning incense, praying to the deities and reciting this scripture. Recognize the Star Sovereign of the personal fate (Běnmìng xīng jūn 本命星君). Only then can you get peace.

The most important thing is to sincerely repent and recite the scriptures according to the method, rather than mere formality.

 

This is the “Personal Fate Deity” of people born in year of:

Zi Rat – Běi dǒu dì yī yáng míng tān láng tài xīng jūn

Chou Ox & Hai Pig – Běi dǒu dì èr yīn jīng jù mén yuán xīng jūn

Yin Tiger & Xu Dog – Běi dǒu dì sān zhēn rén lù cún zhēn xīng jūn

Mao Rabbit & You Rooster – Běi dǒu dì sì xuán míng wén qū niǔ xīng jūn

Chen Dragon & Shen Monkey – Běi dǒu dì wǔ dān yuán lián zhēn gāng xīng jūn

Si Snake & Wei Sheep – Běi dǒu dì liù běi jí wǔ qū jì xīng jūn

Wu Horse – Běi dǒu dì qī tiān jiē pò jūn guān xīng jūn

 

The way to recognize the Star Sovereign is reciting the following:

北斗第一阳明贪狼太星君，子生人属之

Běi dǒu dì yī yáng míng tān láng tài xīng jūn, zǐ shēng rén shǔ zhī

北斗第二阴精巨门元星君，丑亥生人属之

Běi dǒu dì èr yīn jīng jù mén yuán xīng jūn, chǒu hài shēng rén shǔ zhī

北斗第三真人禄存贞星君，寅戌生人属之

Běi dǒu dì sān zhēn rén lù cún zhēn xīng jūn, yín xū shēng rén shǔ zhī

北斗第四玄冥文曲纽星君，卯酉生人属之

Běi dǒu dì sì xuán míng wén qū niǔ xīng jūn, mǎo yǒu shēng rén shǔ zhī

北斗第五丹元廉贞罡星君，辰申生人属之

Běi dǒu dì wǔ dān yuán lián zhēn gāng xīng jūn, chén shēn shēng rén shǔ zhī

北斗第六北极武曲纪星君，巳未生人属之

Běi dǒu dì liù běi jí wǔ qū jì xīng jūn, sì wèi shēng rén shǔ zhī

北斗第七天街破军关星君， 午时生人属之

Běi dǒu dì qī tiān jiē pò jūn guān xīng jūn, wǔ shí shēng rén shǔ zhī

北斗第八洞明外辅星君

Běi dǒu dì bā dòng míng wài fǔ xīng jūn

北斗第九隐光内弼星君

Běi dǒu dì jiǔ yǐn guāng nèi bì xīng jūn

上台虚精开德星君

Shàng tái xū jīng kāi dé xīng jūn

中台六淳司空星君

Zhōng tái liù chúnsī kōng xīng jūn

下台曲生司禄星君

Xià tái qū shēng sī lù xīng jūn

 

Each of the nine star officials has the following “Fú 符” symbols, and you can wear your own life star “Fú 符” symbol with you. It should be written with cinnabar ink on a “Fú 符” paper.

 

Explanation: The Star sovereign of the of the personal fate (Běnmìng xīng jūn 本命星君) of people born in the year of the rat (zǐ 子) is “Běidǒu dì yī, yáng míng tān láng tài xīng jūn 北斗第一 阳明贪狼太星君”. The Star sovereign of the of the personal fate (Běnmìng xīng jūn 本命星君) of people born in the year of the cow (chǒu 丑) and the year of the pig (hài亥) is “北斗第二阴精巨门元星君 běidǒu dì èr yīn jīng jù mén yuán xīng jūn”, and so on.

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3. Recite the “Bei Dou Jing” to keep internal and external at peace

The original text of the Bei Dou Jing:

家有北斗经。本命降真灵。

Jiā yǒu běi dǒu jīng. Běn mìng jiàng zhēn líng.

家有北斗经。宅舍得安宁。

Jiā yǒu běi dǒu jīng. Zhái shě dé ān níng.

家有北斗经。父母保长生。

Jiā yǒu běi dǒu jīng. Fù mǔ bǎo cháng shēng.

家有北斗经。诸厌化为尘。

Jiā yǒu běi dǒu jīng. Zhū yàn huà wéi chén.

家有北斗经。万邪自归正。

Jiā yǒu  běi dǒu jīng. Wàn xié zì guī zhèng.

家有北斗经。营业得称情。

Jiā yǒu běi dǒu jīng. Yíng yè dé chēng qíng.

家有北斗经。阖门自康健。

Jiā yǒu běi dǒu jīng. Hé mén zì kāng jiàn.

家有北斗经。子孙保荣盛。

Jiā yǒu běi dǒu jīng. Zǐ sūn bǎo róng shèng.

家有北斗经。五路自通达。

Jiā yǒu běi dǒu jīng. Wǔ lù zì tōng dá.

家有北斗经。众恶永消灭。

Jiā yǒu běi dǒu jīng. Zhòng è yǒng xiāo miè.

家有北斗经。六畜保兴盛。

Jiā yǒu běi dǒu jīng. Liù chù bǎo xīng shèng.

家有北斗经。疾病得痊瘥。

Jiā yǒu běi dǒu jīng. Jí bìng dé quán chài.

家有北斗经。财物不虚耗。

Jiā yǒu běi dǒu jīng. Cái wù bù xū hào.

家有北斗经。横事永不起。

Jiā yǒu běi dǒu jīng. Hèng shì yǒng bù qǐ.

家有北斗经。长保亨利贞。

Jiā yǒu běi dǒu jīng. Chǎng bǎo hēng lì zhēn.

 

English translation:

Having the scripture of Bei Dou (northern dipper) at home, one´s fate descend true soul

Having the scripture of Bei Dou at home, residence house obtaining peace and serenity

Having the scripture of Bei Dou at home, protect the parents long life

Having the scripture of Bei Dou at home, all dislikes change to dust

Having the scripture of Bei Dou at home, ten thousand evils return to normal by them-self

Having the scripture of Bei Dou at home, business obtains success

Having the scripture of Bei Dou at home, all doors become peaceful and healthy by themself

Having the scripture of Bei Dou at home, children and grandchildren are protected and flourish

Having the scripture of Bei Dou at home, five roads are smooth by them-self

Having the scripture of Bei Dou at home, masses of evil will forever vanish

Having the scripture of Bei Dou at home, six domestic animals raised thriving

Having the scripture of Bei Dou at home, suffering illness will be healed and recover

Having the scripture of Bei Dou at home, finances will not be use up

Having the scripture of Bei Dou at home, crossing affairs will not rise

Having the scripture of Bei Dou at home, long protected smooth lucky virtuousness

 

This paragraph actually has two layers of meanings. On the one hand, it means that the Bei Dou Scripture can protect the family and the house. If the Bei Dou Scripture is enshrined in the home, it can get the support of the ancestors, and the feng-shui of the house and family relationships will be improved; on the other hand, it refers to the Bei Dou Scripture. You can protect your body (Taoism believes that the body is the house of the spirit), and enshrining the Bei Dou Scriptures can make people clean physically and mentally, eliminate disasters and obstacles, strengthen the original spirit, and become fortunate and virtuous.

More important is that we must follow the content of the scriptures to conduct events and practice, empty worshipping scriptures is like worshipping empty textbooks. It is impossible to learn knowledge and ability.

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4. Reciting the Bei Dou Jing brings support by the patriarchs ten precepts

“At that time, the celestial master received a wonderful decree from Lao Jun, saying: “If there are men and women who are upheld, read and recited, I should support it with the immortal officials of the Ten Precepts.”

The support of the patriarch and the immortal officials of the Ten Precepts. Blessing the people, their fortunes will increase, their lives will be long, their bodies will be healthy, their families will be harmonious, their descendants will be prosperous, and they will not losing their lives.

Get the fruit of a true immortal ,if people accept, uphold, read and recite, and promote this supreme teachings, so that the whole world can reach the realm of benevolence and longevity, and obtain the fruit of true immortals, it is an even more extraordinary merit.

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The complete 北斗经 Bei Dou Jing – Scripture with Pin Yin

 

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Written by XuanMenJun 玄門君