The Manifestations of the Supreme Lord Lao

The Profound Primordial Lord Lao original: "Xuanyuan Laojun" is also titled the Elder of Divine Treasure original: "Shenbao Zhangren." This title identifies Laozi as the third of the Three Pure Ones, the deity associated with the "Numinous Treasure" scripture.. According to the Scripture of the Sacred Records of Lord Lao, the Supreme Lord Lao resides in the Realm of Supreme Purity. He is the ancestor of the Nine Breaths Jiuqi: The nine primordial cosmic energies that Taoists believe formed the universe. and the fundamental root of Heaven and Earth.

Existing within the state of ultimate silence and ultimate void, before the eras of the Great Beginning and the Great Starting, he alone governed the movements of destiny. He spread the cosmic breath and blended the essence of existence to initiate the transformation of Heaven and Earth. The cycles of creation and destruction he has witnessed through the Three Images original: "Sanxiang," referring to the massive kalpas or eons of cosmic time. are beyond all calculation.

His incarnations pervade worlds as numerous as grains of dust and sand; they are beyond count or limit. After the opening of the world, he observed the moral decline of the passing ages. According to the needs of each era, he established teachings and served as the Imperial Preceptor Dishhi: A divine teacher who guides the earthly emperor. for successive generations, continuously instituting laws and social orders.

These teachings either flowed through the Nine Heavens or were transmitted across the Four Seas. From the time of the Three Sovereigns The legendary god-kings of China's earliest pre-history. onward, the emperors of every dynasty have all honored and worshipped him. Thus, it is known that within the "Breath of the Way" throughout all that is above and below the heavens, all things are manifestations of Lord Lao.

He has handed down hundreds of millions of laws to save all beings. He benefits the common people in their daily use and survival, yet they remain unaware of his influence.

Laozi The deified historical philosopher. said:
"I was born before form existed, rising before the Great Beginning. I moved through the origin of the Great Simplicity Taisu: The stage of the universe where matter exists but has not yet taken shape., standing at the edge of the Great Obscurity. I float within the deep void, passing in and out of the gates of the dark and mysterious."

Thus, the preface to the Way by Ge Xuan A famous 3rd-century Taoist alchemist and legendary figure in the Lingbao tradition. states...