The Splendor of the Dragon-Heaven Tablet

A first-person spiritual testimony by Xu Chuanying (許傳營), a Yiguandao lecturer, recounting his childhood encounters with the spirit world, his soul-journeys through the courts of the underworld, and his eventual discovery of the Dao. The narrative moves from a child's innocent questions about death, through visionary encounters with the City God, the ten courts of King Yama, and the hells of copper serpents and iron hounds, to the revelation that receiving the Dao — the pointing of the Mysterious Gate by an Enlightened Teacher — can register one's name in Heaven and remove it from the books of the dead.

This text is unique in the Yiguandao corpus: not spirit-writing revelation or doctrinal instruction, but personal testimony — a practitioner's account of what he saw with his own eyes in the world beyond. The Dragon-Heaven Tablet (龍天表), presented during the initiation ceremony, is shown here from the other side: in the underworld, it arrives as a document the size of several buildings, and the names written upon it are struck from the ledgers of death. The teaching is simple and direct: seek the Dao, receive the pointing, and your name — and the names of your ancestors nine generations above and seven generations below — will be freed.

Chinese source text from taolibrary.com (善書圖書館). First English translation.

Today I have come to speak about Heaven, Hell, the Dragon-Heaven Tablet and its power in the underworld, and about how, once the Dragon-Heaven Tablet has been used in the courts below, it is sent back up to the Heavenly Court — and where our names are placed when it arrives. I will explain all of this in detail.

When I was a child, I lived in Chiayi. My family was very poor. Until I was eight years old, I had never once asked my parents for money. My health was poor from birth. When my mother tried to nurse me, I would not take her milk — I only cried. In the end, they had no choice but to feed me rice water instead. (This was the karmic root of my vegetarian destiny — my constitution could not tolerate meat even as an infant.) My parents thought I was a difficult child to raise, so they sent me to live with my aunt, who ran a phoenix-writing hall and had kept a vegetarian practice for many years. My aunt had no children of her own, so she loved me dearly. Eight years passed. When it was time for me to begin school, my parents brought me home. Back among the neighborhood children, I discovered for the first time that they could play card games and shoot marbles. I wanted to play too, but I had no money and could not buy cards or marbles — I did not even know you could ask your parents for money. When I told my parents that the other children were playing cards, they felt sorry for me and gave me one jiao. I did not know what to do with it. I asked them: "What is this for?" You can see how innocent I was at eight years old — I had never once asked for even a jiao or five fen.

Once when I was small, I fell ill, and my mother pushed me in a baby carriage to the Rende Hospital on Guohua Street in Chiayi. The doctor used an enormous syringe to give me an injection. I was terrified and cried the entire time. After we got the medicine, my mother wheeled me home. On the way, suddenly in the northwest sky, a seven-colored cloud appeared. In its center stood the Three Stars of Blessing, Wealth, and Longevity. On either side were Cloud-Treasure Attendants, each holding an enormous banana-leaf fan, and they were coming straight toward me. I had seen opera as a child, and I thought: why is someone performing opera in midair? As they drew closer, a fragrance reached me — wave after wave of incense, so beautiful. The Three Stars descended until they were right before my face, gazing at me, and the Cloud-Treasure Attendants on either side laughed aloud. I did not know what they were. I just stared. Then, slowly, they drifted away.

After I smelled that sandalwood incense, my whole body felt clear and light. When my mother brought me home, I leapt out of the carriage. She said: "You were just sick — why are you up?" I said: "Mother! Did you see them? Three old immortal figures, and the performers could ride the clouds — how amazing!" My mother said: "No. I only smelled a fragrance. I didn't see anything." I said: "They were there!"

One Qingming Festival, my father took me to sweep the graves for the first time. Our ancestral tomb was at Lantan in Chiayi. Many people were there — I saw the gravestones, row after row, and watched people pulling weeds and making offerings. My father said: "This is where people are buried after they die."

I said: "People die?"

He said: "Yes. When people get sick or grow old, they die, and then they are buried here."

I said: "Everyone dies?"

He said: "Yes."

I said: "Then why haven't I died yet?"

He said: "You're not old. Why would you die?"

I said: "Father, why haven't you died?"

He said: "My body is still strong. Of course I haven't died."

I said: "So someday Mother and my brothers and sisters will all die too?"

He said: "Where there is birth, there is death. Today I brought you to visit your grandmother. She is buried here. For eight years I have come alone — this is the first time I've brought you."

I said: "It's so hot today. Don't the dead people lying underground feel the heat?"

He said: "They're already dead. How could they feel heat?"

I said: "When they died, didn't their families feel sad?"

He said: "Of course."

I said: "So when Mother and Father die, the whole family won't be able to enjoy being together anymore."

He said: "That's right."

I thought: if I die, Father will be so sad. Why must people die? Why can't they just keep living? When my father led me into the graveyard, I was afraid to follow. The ground tingled under my feet, and I was certain that if I stepped on the mounds, the dead people's insides would spill out. I told my father: "When I grow up, I am going to take a hoe and dig up every single one of these dead people and ask them: why did you die? Don't die! Go home and be with your family!" From that day on, my heart was often filled with sorrow. Before, I had not known what life and death were. But after returning from the graveyard, I understood that everyone must pass through death. I would not leave the house. My mother thought it was strange: "You usually love to play. Why won't you go outside?" I said: "I'm afraid that if I go out to play, you might accidentally die while I'm gone, and I wouldn't know what to do."

From that time on, the question of life and death never left my mind. Why must people die? Why can't they keep living? How can you escape death? I could find no answer. My temperament became solitary and withdrawn. (From then on, a compassion for all living things took root in my heart.)

One night, while I was sleeping, I suddenly rose up and became a small child — and I could see my own body lying on the bed. I thought: isn't that me? I shifted slightly and passed through the wall. It was strange and frightening — I thought I had died. Another night, I woke again and went outside. In the streets I saw many people: some carrying their own heads as they walked, some holding severed feet, some clutching severed hands — so many of them. I walked and walked until I came to a temple. It was the City God Temple of Chiayi. Inside were many deities — the City God, the Prince, spirit soldiers and spirit generals. Because I had grown up in a phoenix-writing hall, I knew to bow before divine images, so I knelt and prostrated with sincere reverence.

Suddenly I heard a voice: "Benefactor! Benefactor! Your merit is greater than mine — I cannot bear your prostration." I looked up. Every single statue had risen to its feet! Even the spirit soldiers and generals on both sides were standing, and I could hear the clanking of their iron chains — so loud. It was the City God himself who had spoken from the back of the hall. I was so frightened my legs went weak, and I had to crawl out. Behind me were the spirit soldiers and generals and all the gods, and before me at the gate stood two enormous deities — one with a black face and a long beard, holding a segmented whip, and one with a golden face, holding a sword, coming straight toward me. Their feet were massive — if they stepped on me, I would surely be crushed. But my legs had given way, and I could not walk. The two of them came before me and bowed. I was terrified. I crawled out as fast as I could, and then — I woke up. I was back in my bed at home. My soul had left my body.

Early the next morning I opened the door. These were the same streets I had walked the night before — but where was everyone? All those people from last night, where had they gone? I followed the same path until I reached the City God Temple. I went inside. The two enormous figures at the gate — they were the Door Gods! Inside, I prepared to bow before the City God as before. But as I put my palms together, I remembered: last night, when I bowed with both hands, the City God said my merit was greater than his. So this time I would bow with only one palm. (That was a child's logic.) Then I walked into the rear hall. Behind were the Eighteen Arhats, each seated in a grotto. They were so solemn. I thought: if I could bring one down and stand in his grotto, how wonderful that would be! Suddenly one of them — an arhat with very long eyebrows — smiled at me. When I looked closely, he had vanished. He was sitting cross-legged in his grotto. After I went home, I imitated him: when I wanted to be still, I sat; when I wanted to sleep, I slept.

One night, I rose again and walked out. After walking a long way, I came to a black bridge. I bent down and looked — the river below was pitch dark, so dark you could not see your own hand. The bridge was old and in disrepair. I hesitated: should I cross?

Suddenly a figure appeared — wearing a kasaya robe, holding a staff. (This was Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva.) He did not speak. He simply pointed at the bridge. I walked slowly across. When I looked back, the monk had vanished.

Beyond the bridge were fields and narrow paths between them. I walked along the field paths for I don't know how long, until I came to a ravine. A group of old men were sitting and talking. I asked them: "Where is this place?"

They said: "How did you get here? Your yang-energy is so strong."

I said: "I don't know. What is this place?"

They said: "This is the border between the world of the living and the world of the dead."

I thought: then I must be dead. Fear seized me and I cried aloud.

They said: "You cannot go back from here."

I said: "What is up ahead?"

They said: "Ahead is the Ghost Gate of the underworld."

I looked: before me stood an enormous city. In the world of the living, we think the Ghost Gate opens only during the seventh lunar month, when the hungry ghosts come out to beg for food. But at the Ghost Gate, ghosts were coming and going constantly — the gate was open day and night, not only in the seventh month. I thought: since I am here, I might as well look.

At the Ghost Gate, I saw many ghosts entering. Ox-Head and Horse-Face, the Seventh and Eighth Lords, were dragging ghosts in on chains. Those being brought in were shackled at wrists and ankles. Yakshas behind them jabbed with forks and struck with clubs, driving them forward. Some were chased in by dogs that bit at their heels. Some were gored in by the horns of bulls. Some walked in on their own. Some were carried in on palanquins. I thought: everyone else is going in — I want to go in too.

A figure came out and asked: "What do you want?"

I said: "I see others going in, so I want to go in too."

He said: "Benefactor, you are not dead. Your yang-energy is so strong — how did you come here? This is the Ghost Gate. It is no place for play. Once you enter, you cannot leave the border between the worlds."

Then a man in a judge's robes, holding a vermilion brush and a ledger, came out and said: "Star Lord, by order of the Ten Courts of King Yama, you are summoned."

I said: "I am no Star Lord. My name is Xu."

The judge said: "Star Lord! The Ten Courts of King Yama request your presence." A group of attendants ushered me inside.

I saw that the ghosts who had passed through the Ghost Gate were resting briefly, and then tokens were distributed: such-and-such person, a black token; such-and-such person, a yellow token. Those with red tokens emanated red light; those with black tokens emanated black light. They were separated. Nearby were many buildings — those with red tokens went to the red buildings, those with black tokens to the black buildings. The black-token holders were all grief-stricken. The ghost officers said to them: "You did every kind of evil in the world of the living. Once you pass through the Ten Courts, you will have suffering to spare!" The red-token holders were smiling. The officers treated them well — they had done many good deeds in the world above.

Those with yellow tokens were people who had taken refuge and recited the Buddha's name. Behind their buildings, immortals and buddhas were lecturing on the scriptures — they could listen to whatever teaching they wished. Some of these people had faint white wisps above their heads, like steam. I asked: "What is that?" They said: "Those are people who received the pointing of the Mysterious Gate from an Enlightened Teacher while they were alive, but who did not cultivate afterward. They have no merit, no virtue, and no transgression. So they come here as steam — unable to coalesce into a solid white light." I asked: "What happens to them?" They said: "They do not need to pass through the Ten Courts. They go directly to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva."

Then I followed them toward the First Court. The path ran between a cliff on one side and a sheer wall on the other, wide enough for only two people abreast. The judge and I walked along the mountain path. Suddenly I heard a great many people screaming: "Save us!" I looked ahead: an open area where ghost officers with forks were chasing prisoners in chains. Those too slow were stabbed and thrown off the edge. Below were copper serpents and iron hounds. The prisoners who fell were bitten and torn and screamed without ceasing. The judge said: "This is the Hell of Copper Serpents and Iron Hounds."

Suddenly a group of ghost-souls broke free, still wearing their chains, pursued by ghost officers — trying to escape. I told the judge: "This is terrible! The path is only wide enough for two, and hundreds of people are running toward us. If we're not careful, we'll fall into the hell below. We must go!"

Before I could finish, they were upon us. They saw the judge and fell to their knees. The judge said: "You committed crimes, and still you—" They cried: "Save us! Save us!" I said: "Why are you crying for help?" They said: "If we are caught and sent back, we will face not only this punishment but the Hell of Tongue-Cutting and the Hell of Heart-Rending. We summoned all our courage to escape. Please save us!"

I said: "I can barely save myself. How can I save you?" I asked the judge what was happening. He said: "These are the souls of people who died. In the world of the living, they did not live properly — some ran brothels, some kept gambling dens, some robbed and murdered. They are all being punished in the Hell of Copper Serpents and Iron Hounds. Today they somehow escaped. If they are caught again, they will surely perish."

I remembered: when I was a child, I had vowed to dig up the dead and send them home to their families. Now they were before me, begging. If I could not save them, then what was my vow worth? I said: "If I can save you today, I will jump into the Hell of Copper Serpents and Iron Hounds myself."

The moment I leapt, a white lotus flower rose beneath me. The prisoners saw it and jumped onto the lotus, one after another. The white lotus radiated seven-colored light, sealing the hell below. With a great sound, everything vanished. Silence returned. The ghost officers cried: "It's over! It's over!"

I said: "What happened?"

The judge said: "The prisoners escaped from the hell on their watch. These officers will be punished."

I said: "Then let King Yama judge me instead. Where did the prisoners go?"

The judge said: "They have already been reborn."

I said: "Then throw me down there in their place."

And so I followed them to the First Court, the court of King Qinguang. King Qinguang was in the middle of hearing a case. A yaksha reported: "The prisoners have escaped." Then a ghost officer threw a prisoner to the ground — and where there had been nothing, a vat of boiling oil appeared. The prisoner fell in and was scorched instantly. Seeing this, I was terrified.

After I entered, King Qinguang said: "Suspend all punishments." Then he asked: "From ancient times until now, no prisoner has ever escaped the Hell of Copper Serpents and Iron Hounds. Why did this happen today?"

The ghost officer said: "They ran with everything they had, and then they encountered this benefactor. They knelt before him and begged. He jumped into the hell — and a white lotus flower appeared. When the prisoners saw the seven-colored light, they all jumped in, and in an instant they were gone."

I told King Qinguang: "What happened? When I was a child, I made a vow — I only wanted the dead to live again and be reunited with their families. But I could not do it. So I jumped. It was my fault. Please do not blame the officers."

King Qinguang said: "Perhaps this is Heaven's will. I will report to the Jade Emperor." Then he said: "Wait here a moment." He summoned the ghost officers and said: "A certain person in the world of the living — their lifespan has ended. Black and White Impermanence, the Seventh and Eighth Lords — go and bring them in at once."

I asked: "May I come along?"

King Qinguang said: "You may."

I set out with the Seventh and Eighth Lords. They went to Taichung, turning through the streets. It was seven or eight in the evening, and people sitting together chatting heard the sound of chains and scattered in fear. The Seventh and Eighth Lords stopped before a tile-roofed house. The Seventh Lord stood still and did not move. I was puzzled. I went inside and saw an old grandmother lying in bed. Her son was at the bedside, reciting scripture to her.

The Eighth Lord asked: "Why aren't you going in to take her?"

The Seventh Lord said: "That person is reciting the True Scripture of Maitreya, and there is a point of light on his head. King Yama has said that those who recite scripture are good people, and the light on his head means he has received the pointing from an Enlightened Teacher. We must wait until he finishes. We waited and waited, until the time had passed, and we returned to the underworld empty-handed."

King Qinguang asked: "Did you bring the person?"

They said: "No. The person's son was reciting the True Scripture of Maitreya. You told us: anyone reciting scripture, teaching the Way, or with light on their head may not be taken. If we had taken her, would that not violate the laws of Heaven?"

King Qinguang said: "Then go again tomorrow." I asked to accompany them until the case was resolved. The next day, the Seventh and Eighth Lords returned to the same house. Because the sound of chains the night before had been so loud, the neighbors all knew something was coming — by evening, they had all fled. The grandmother's son thought: my mother is ill — could it be...? But again the Seventh and Eighth Lords stood at the door without moving. The son was reciting the True Scripture of Maitreya again. Still they could not take her.

King Qinguang asked: "Did you bring her?"

They said: "No."

He said: "Why not?"

They said: "The son was reciting the True Scripture of Maitreya."

I was very curious. I asked King Qinguang: "Why is it that when someone recites the True Scripture of Maitreya and has even a small point of white light on their head, you cannot take them?"

King Qinguang said: "There is a reason. In the world of the living, there is an Enlightened Teacher. Anyone who receives the pointing of the Enlightened Teacher may be registered in Heaven and removed from the books of the underworld."

I did not believe it. I had to understand. On the third day, I went again.

That day in Taichung, an Enlightened Teacher happened to remember that the grandmother's son had not come to the temple for a long time. Upon inquiring, he learned that the son's mother was ill, and that the neighbors had been hearing chains at night — the underworld might be coming for her. The son had been guarding his mother's side. When the teacher learned this, he brought many people to the grandmother's house to teach the Way. The Seventh and Eighth Lords were coming to take her, but they stopped several hundred meters away and could not move. The positive energy of all those people was too strong — even the Seventh and Eighth Lords dared not approach. For the third time, they returned empty-handed.

The next day, the teacher sent people to bring the grandmother to the temple to receive the Dao. The Seventh and Eighth Lords did not know — they were still waiting for orders. King Qinguang said: "This person has now received the Dao. Her name is removed from the underworld and registered in Heaven. She need not come to the underworld to be punished."

In that moment, a light dawned in my heart. I understood: in the world of the living, there are Enlightened Teachers who can transmit the Dao. Once you receive the Dao, you can transcend the three realms of reincarnation.

On another occasion, King Yama was hearing cases when suddenly an envoy arrived from the Three Officials. King Yama went out to receive him. The envoy carried a Dragon-Heaven Tablet and read its contents aloud. In the world of the living, the Dragon-Heaven Tablet we see is just a small piece of paper. But in the underworld, the Dragon-Heaven Tablet is as large as several buildings. After King Yama received it, he ordered the civil and military judges to bring the Ledgers of Life and Death. Then, reading the names from the Dragon-Heaven Tablet, he struck each name from the ledgers. The Ledgers of Life and Death are made of bamboo and are as large as mountains.

I was astonished. I asked King Yama what was happening.

King Yama said: "Wait a moment. Let me finish." When he was done, he issued a decree throughout the underworld: except for the unpardonably wicked — murderers and arsonists — all ancestors whose descendants' names had been removed from the Ledgers of Life and Death would, from this day forward, be exempt from punishment. As it is said: "When one child receives the Dao, ancestors nine generations above and seven generations below all share in the light. When one child achieves the Dao, ancestors nine generations above and seven generations below all ascend." Because their descendants had received the Dao, the ancestors could share in that grace.

King Yama summoned all the ancestors of those who had received the Dao to his court, congratulated them personally, and said: "From now on, you need not suffer punishment in the Ten Courts, because your descendants have received the Dao. The Dao was sent down by the Eternal Mother of Heaven. It reaches upward to save the stars of the Milky Way, outward to save the faithful in the world of the living, and downward to save the souls in the dark realms of the underworld. Today your descendants have received the Dao. You need not be punished here any longer. Each of you will receive a white lotus flower. From now on, you may go to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's hall to hear the scriptures."

At Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's hall, there is a lecture chamber. The departed souls there are divided into three ranks. The third rank are those whose descendants received the Dao: the Dragon-Heaven Tablet was sent by the Three Officials to the underworld, their names were struck from the Ledgers of Life and Death, their ancestors nine generations above and seven below were freed from punishment, and each one received a white lotus flower. They came to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's lecture hall to hear the teaching — but they had no chairs. If, after receiving the Dao, the descendant cultivates sincerely for a year or two, their ancestors may advance to the second rank. If the descendant keeps a vegetarian practice or establishes a Buddha hall and becomes a hall master, the ancestors may advance to the first rank, where Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva teaches them personally.

When I visited the lecture hall, I noticed some people hanging their heads. I thought it was strange and asked: "You should be happy. Why do you hang your heads?"

They said: "We were happy at first. Our descendants in the world of the living received the Dao and the pointing of the Enlightened Teacher. But after cultivating for a few years, they became complacent — old hands who go through the motions. We are ashamed. That is why we hang our heads."

I asked: "Why don't you appear to them in dreams?"

They said: "We cannot. Five minutes in a dream costs a great deal of merit. If they do not understand the message, our merit is wasted — and we have no merit left to spend."

I told them I would spread the news of the three ranks of the underworld to the world of the living. But King Yama would not let me know where in the world of the living the Enlightened Teachers could be found. I assumed they must be monks, so I searched all over the Chiayi area and could not find the Dao.

One day, I went out searching again. I traveled from Chiayi to Guanziling, through Qiancaopu, and arrived at Daxian Temple. I asked the monks: "Do you have the Dao?"

They said: "Rice is the Dao." (In Taiwanese, "rice" and "Dao" sound alike.)

I said: "No, no! I mean the Dao where an Enlightened Teacher gives you the pointing, and you are registered in Heaven and removed from the underworld!"

I stayed until dark. The monks urged me to stay overnight: "It's dark. The mountain roads are dangerous. Aren't you afraid?" I said: "No — your mountain god will protect me." I left, and as I descended, I saw the sunset light — the guardian spirits had all come out. The light followed me until I left Guanziling, and then it faded. And so I searched everywhere for the Dao, for the Enlightened Teacher...

Eighteen years later, after completing my military service, I worked at Xinya and traveled the province doing charity medical work. One night, in a dream, I saw eighteen celestial beings carrying a building four stories tall. I asked: "What is that?" They said: "These are karmic debts." I asked: "Whose debts are so heavy?" They said: "Yours." I said: "Impossible! I have kept a vegetarian practice my whole life and have done nothing unforgivable. How could I have so many debts?" They said: "These are debts you have taken on for others." I said: "If they are my debts, I will carry them myself." They said: "You cannot. The Eternal Mother has decreed that these debts be carried back for you." Then I woke.

One day, a friend invited me to Douliu to treat patients. I arrived on the second day of the seventh month — a typhoon day. I finished my shift and reached Douliu past one in the morning. I remember that the Seven Tigers baseball team was playing that night. I told my friend: "Wake me at five to watch the game."

After I fell asleep, I became a small child again, wearing colored sashes — and I realized my soul had left my body. I rose from the bed, and with every step, a lotus flower appeared beneath my feet. I crossed a great ocean, then walked across a plain of gold. On either side were wondrous flowers and grasses. Suddenly I arrived at a great hall. Six young attendants were sweeping the floor. When they saw me, they said: "Elder brother, you've come home!"

I said: "Who are you?"

They said: "You only went down a little over an hour ago, and you've already forgotten us!"

I said: "I don't know why I'm here."

They said: "The True Lord is inside. He wants to see you."

I went in. It was vast. On both sides stood many deities. In the center were three Buddha-lamps. In the middle sat a figure, his entire body radiating white light.

I asked: "Who are you? Why have I come here?"

He said: "I am so happy today!" And he laughed — a great, rolling laugh. I laughed with him.

He said: "I am the True Lord of the Sun."

Then I woke.

On the third day of the seventh month in the sixty-eighth year of the Republic — a typhoon day, wind and rain lashing — we could not go out for the charity clinic. My friend said he would take me somewhere. My Transmitting Teacher reported to the Senior Elder, who gave his approval, and the ceremony began. When the Transmitting Teacher held up the Dragon-Heaven Tablet, he asked me: "Do you know what this is?"

I said: "Yes. This is the Dragon-Heaven Tablet of the underworld. In the underworld it is enormous — why is it so small in the world of the living?"

I knelt and sincerely received the Dao. The moment the Buddha-lamp was lit — though the storm had been raging — a great sun broke through. The black clouds vanished entirely. During the pointing, I looked at Transmitting Teacher Lin, and he transformed into Ji Gong, the Living Buddha, who came before me and touched my forehead. A beam of light shot forth, then was gathered back in — and Ji Gong vanished. When the Three Treasures had been fully transmitted, the storm returned.

After receiving the Dao, I went out one day to treat patients. I was so tired I fell asleep. Suddenly an immortal appeared and told me to get up. He gave me a Dao-robe and a pair of straw sandals and told me to put them on. The robe was too big — I was not used to it. Then he gave me a seven-storied crystal pagoda. When I put it on, I grew tall in an instant, and the robe fit perfectly. I followed Guanyin Bodhisattva at tremendous speed — the scenery on both sides was a blur.

We arrived at the Nine-Nine Purple Yang Pass. Outside, many people were standing in line.

I asked Guanyin Bodhisattva: "What are they doing?"

She said: "They are verifying the Three Treasures."

If you have forgotten the Three Treasures after receiving the Dao, you cannot pass the Nine-Nine Purple Yang Pass. Guanyin Bodhisattva and I passed through the gate and entered the Southern Gate of Heaven. Beyond it, the Heavenly Court held one hundred and twenty-four celestial prisons. Inside each was a Mirror of Repentance. If, after receiving the Dao, you committed evil in the world of the living, the Mirror of Repentance would reveal everything. Inside were many beautiful pavilions. Guanyin Bodhisattva said: "If you pass through here for three days and three nights without awakening, all your karma from three lifetimes will be returned to you. If you awaken, you pass." At the Nine-Nine Purple Yang Pass, if you cannot pass the test of lust, you must remain and cultivate. There is also the test of gambling — if you enter and feel no urge, you pass. After three days and three nights, you reach the Bee-King Celestial Prison. If your mind is free of stray thoughts, you pass easily. But if a single thought arises, the bee-king will come and sting you — this is the tempering of your nature. The Nine-Nine Purple Yang Pass tempers the nature of all who walk the Way.

Beyond the pass, I saw a great hall. On the dragon pillars, living dragons moved. Above the door, the inscription read: Palace of the Infinite. It was vast. Guanyin Bodhisattva led me inside. Many people were eating — they were eating peaches of immortality. The peaches dissolved upon touching the lips, and their fragrance was beyond description. In the center, a figure sat on a dragon-head throne, holding a dragon-head staff. I could not make out the figure's face — the light was too bright. The figure sat there, weeping.

I asked: "Why is this person weeping?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva bowed before the figure, and I hurried to bow as well.

Guanyin Bodhisattva said: "This is the Eternal Mother of the Infinite — the one who gave birth to Heaven, gave birth to Earth, and gave birth to our very spirits."

After we paid our respects, I saw people eating peaches of immortality and wanted one too. Guanyin Bodhisattva said: "If you want one, ask the Mother." I said: "Mother, I would like a peach of immortality." The Mother had attendants bring me a cup of jade nectar. After I drank it, my whole being felt clear and light.

I said: "Another cup!"

Guanyin Bodhisattva said: "How can you be so greedy?"

I said: "I don't care — I want more!"

Then several attendants brought a whole pot. I poured a cup and drank — and cried out: "I don't want it! I don't want it!" It was sour, sweet, bitter, and astringent all at once — every flavor mingled, and it was terrible.

Guanyin Bodhisattva said: "You must drink it."

They held my hands and feet, pinched my nose, and poured it in. I cried and cried. Then I saw a figure with a child's face and a great round belly, wearing battle armor, laughing and laughing. I laughed with him. It was Maitreya.

The Mother said: "You have never been here before. Look around, and then go back."

Guanyin Bodhisattva took me touring, and afterward we left.

We came to a place wrapped in mist and cloud. I could not see even Guanyin Bodhisattva. She said: "Of course your eyes cannot see here." She placed a few drops of water in my eyes, and my vision burst into radiance. I saw a performance — a green dragon in front, a phoenix behind, a qilin, celestial maidens scattering flowers — it was beautiful beyond words.

I said: "I should have come here long ago."

Guanyin Bodhisattva said: "To see this, you must wait until after the Universal Salvation of the Three Realms, when the Dragon-Flower Assembly is convened. Then everyone may come and eat the peaches of immortality. All the ten thousand immortals, ten thousand buddhas, and ten thousand bodhisattvas may come."

Then we came to another place. When the door opened, it was the Merit Hall of Heaven. The tablets inside were enormous! Some glowed faintly. Some shone brightly. Some were half-dark and half-light. Some had small black spots.

I asked Guanyin Bodhisattva: "What is this? Why does it have only a faint glow?"

She said: "That person received the Dao in the world of the living but did not cultivate."

I asked: "What are the black spots?"

She said: "After receiving the Dao, that person committed evil deeds. Each evil deed adds a black spot. When they return to Heaven, these will be reckoned."

I asked: "What about the half-dark, half-light ones?"

She said: "Those people received the Dao years ago but still have not begun to keep a vegetarian practice or establish a Buddha hall."

I asked: "And the bright ones?"

She said: "Those are people who established Buddha halls and cultivate with sincerity. They will attain the fruit of bodhisattva."

Today, in the world of the living, those who have received the Dao and the pointing of the Enlightened Teacher are registered in Heaven and removed from the underworld. When the Dragon-Flower Assembly is convened in the Heavenly Court, we will all see our tablets. I hope that all of you will cultivate with sincerity, take fewer lives, and accumulate merit — so that our tablets will shine with light.

That is what I have to share with you today.

Colophon

This text is a lecture by Xu Chuanying (許傳營), a Yiguandao practitioner, on the significance of the Dragon-Heaven Tablet (龍天表) — the document presented during Yiguandao's initiation ceremony that registers the initiate's name in Heaven and removes it from the underworld's Ledgers of Life and Death. The lecture weaves together Xu's childhood encounters with the spirit world, his soul-journeys through the courts of King Yama, and the theological teaching that receiving the Dao from an Enlightened Teacher (明師一指點) frees oneself and nine generations of ancestors from the cycle of suffering.

First English translation. Translated from Classical and vernacular Chinese in the gospel register by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026. Twenty-third Yiguandao text in the archive.

Compiled and formatted for the Good Work Library by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026.

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Source Text: 天榜掛號地府除名——龍天表之殊勝

Chinese source text from taolibrary.com (善書圖書館). Presented here for reference, study, and verification alongside the English translation above.

許傳營講師講述

今天後學來講天堂、地獄、龍天表在地府的作用，及龍天表在地府用過之後將再送回天庭，而我們的名字將放在天庭的何處呢？待會兒後學會詳細的講解。

後學小時候住在嘉義，家中非常貧困，直到八歲，都還不會向父母要錢。後學小時候身體不好，在後學出生的時候，母親餵奶給我吃，我都不吃。只會一直哭，後來沒辦法，只好以米漿餵我(宿命慧根不能葷食)。當時後學的父母覺得這個小孩子不好養，只好把我送到嬸母那兒去(嬸母開設鸞堂，並持齋多年)交給嬸母管教。當時嬸母並沒有子嗣，所以對我疼愛有加。經過八年，直到後學要讀書之時，父母親才將我帶回家。回家之後，與鄰居小孩在一起玩，才發現為什麼他們可以玩紙牌，玩彈珠？我想與他們玩，但是我沒錢，買不起紙牌、彈珠，也不曉得要向父母親要錢。回家告訴父母親鄰居小朋友都在玩紙牌，父母不忍，於是給了我一角，而我並不知道要如何使用這一角，還反問父母：「這個要作什麼？」由此可知，後學在八歲的時候還很單純，從未向父母要過一角或是五分。

在後學小時候，有一次生了病，母親用嬰兒車將我送到嘉義國華街的仁德醫院，醫生用一個很大的針筒幫我打針，後學很害怕，一直哭，直到針打完為止。拿了藥，母親又用嬰兒車帶我回家，在半路上，忽然在西北角，出現了七彩雲，中間站著福祿壽三位仙佛，兩旁是雲寶童子，手中各拿著一把很大的芭蕉扇，一直朝後學而來。後學小時候曾看過歌仔戲，心想為何有人在半空中演歌仔戲呢？當祂們愈靠近時又有一股香味，陣陣的傳過來，讓我覺得好香哦！福祿壽三仙一直降到我面前，一直看著後學，而雲寶童子在兩旁，哈哈大笑。我也不知道祂們是什麼，只一直看著祂們，後來祂們才漸漸飄遠。

自從聞過那陣檀香之後，我整個人覺得非常的清爽。母親將我帶回家後，我就從嬰兒車上跳起來，母親說：「你人不舒服，怎麼起來了呢？」我連忙問：「阿母，你剛才有沒有看到，有三尊老公仔標，演戲的人會騰雲駕霧，好厲害哦！」母親說：「沒有啊！我只聞到一陣香味而已，什麼也沒看到。」我說：「有啦！」

有一次清明節，我第一次與父親去掃墓，我家的祖墓在嘉義蘭潭。清明節有許多人都會去掃墓，我看到墓碑一具一具的很好奇，又看到有些人在割草、有些人在拜拜。父親說：「這是人死之後埋在這兒。」後學說：「人會死？」父親說：「會啊！人生病或是年紀大了就會死，而死了之後就要埋在這兒。」後學又說：「大家都會死喔？」父親說：「對啊！」我又說：「那我為何還沒死？」父親說：「你又不老，怎麼會死。」我說：「爸爸，那你為何還沒死？」父親說：「我身體還很健壯，當然還沒死。」我又問：「那以後母親，及我的兄弟姊妹都會死喔！」父親說：「人有生就有死！今天帶你來拜祖母，你祖母就埋在這兒。八年來都是我自己一個人，今天才第一次帶你來。」我說：「今天天氣這麼熱，那死人躺在地下不會覺得熱嗎？」父親說：「死都死了，哪會感到熱。」我又問：「他們死了，難道他們的家人不會感到傷心嗎？」父親說：「會啊！」我問：「那母親和父親死了，他們一家人就無法享受天倫之樂。」父親說：「對啊！」

我心想：我若死了，父親一定會很傷心，人為何一定要死？為何不能一直活下去呢？父親帶我進入墓園時，我不敢進去，因為我踏著地，腳底會癢，而且還認為踩到那凸出的地方，死人的腸會流出來，因此我不敢跟著父親進入墓園。那時我告訴父親：「我現在要把自己的身體照顧得很強壯，等我長大後，我要用鋤頭把這些死人一個一個挖出來，問問他們，你為何要死？你不要死，你回家享受天倫之樂。」從此之後，我的心經常感到傷痛。本來不知生死是何物？但是從墓園回來之後，知道人都要經過死亡，回家之後，我就不敢出去，母親覺得很奇怪，問我說：「你平時不是很愛玩嗎？為何現在都不出去了呢？」我回答說：「我怕我出去玩，若是妳不小心死了，我都不知該如何？」

自那時開始，我心中常想到生死的問題。人為何要死？為什麼不能繼續活著？怎樣才能不會死呢？心中一直找不到答案。從此以後，我的個性就變得很孤癖(從此就有一種悲天憫人的胸襟)。有一天，我在睡覺，睡到半夜，突然爬起來，變成一個小孩子，我看到我自己躺在床上，心想那不是我嗎？身體稍微一動，竟然穿牆而過，我覺得很有趣也很害怕，以為我已經死了。又有一次，我在半夜又醒過來，走到外面去，在外面看到很多人，有人提著頭在走、有人抱著腳、有人拿著手，看到非常多這種人。我就一直走，竟然走到一間廟裡頭，原來那就是嘉義的城隍廟。裡面有許多的神，有城隍爺、太子爺、陰兵、陰將，因為我小時候在鸞堂中長大，看到神像很自然的就會禮拜，我就跪下低著頭，虔心的禮拜。忽然聽到有人說：「施主啊！施主啊！你的功德比我大，我禁不住你這樣的禮拜。」我抬頭一看，哇！所有的神像都站起來了！連兩旁陰兵陰將都站起來，只聯到祂們手中鐵鍊的聲音，鈴…非常大聲。原來是後面的城隍爺在說話，我一害怕，腳都發軟了，只好用爬的出去。但後面有陰兵陰將及眾神，而外面又有兩尊好高好大的神，一尊黑面長鬍子，手中拿著一節一節的鞭；一尊是金面的，手中拿著一支劍，朝著我迎面而來。我一看，祂們的腳好大，若是被踩到，準死無疑。可是腳已發軟，走不動了，祂們兩人走到我的面前，向我行禮，但我非常害怕，只好硬爬出來，爬出去之後，就醒了，原來我還在我家的床上(靈魂出竅)。

一大早我起床，打開門一看，這些都是我昨晚走過的路，可是為什麼都沒人？昨晚那麼多人都到哪兒去了呢？我沿著昨夜走過的路，一直走到一間城隍廟，進去一看！原來昨晚的兩尊是門神啊！進到裡面，照例要向城隍爺行禮，當我雙手合十，正要拜時，忽然想到，我昨晚用兩手拜城隍，祂說我的功德比祂大，那我就用單掌拜好了(那時是小孩的想法)。後來我走進後殿，後面有十八羅漢，還有許多的洞天，那時看到十八羅漢感到非常莊嚴，心想，若是把羅漢請下來，而我站到祂們的洞內，那該有多好！忽然有眉毛很長的一個人對我笑，待我仔細看時，祂又不見了。原來祂盤腳坐在洞內，回去之後我就學祂的模樣，想靜時就靜坐，想睡時就睡覺。

有一天晚上，忽然之間我又爬起來，走了出去。走了很遠之後，看到前面有座黑橋，我彎下身一看，河裡很黑，伸手不見五指，那座橋已年久失修，我心裡正在猶豫著，到底要不要過橋呢！忽然，有一個人身穿袈裟，手拿著一支杖(地藏王菩薩)，祂並未跟我說話，只是用手指著橋，而我就慢慢走過黑橋，當我回頭看時，那個修行人已經不見了。過了橋，看到很多田，還有田間小路，我沿著田間小路一直走，不知走了多久，有一個溪谷，看到一群老伯伯在那聊天，因為我不知道身在何處，就問老伯伯：「這是哪裡？」老伯伯說：「你怎麼能來這呢？你陽氣好重。」我說：「我也不知道，這到底是什麼地方呢？」老伯伯說：「這就是陰陽界。」我心想，那我不就死了。一想到此，我心裡害怕，放聲大哭。老伯伯說：「這裡你也無法回去。」我又說：「那前面是哪裡？」他說：「前面是地府鬼門關。」

我一看，前面有一座好大的城。在陽間，我們都認為鬼門關有貪吃鬼、餓死鬼，要等到農曆七月才能出來討食。但在鬼門關來來往往的鬼好多，不只在農曆七月才開鬼門關，而是日夜都開著。我心想，既然來了，就看一看再說。來到鬼門關，看到有很多鬼出入，而牛頭馬面、七爺八爺用鏈子栓著將鬼背進去，而進來的人都是腳鏈、手鏈鎖著，夜叉在後面用叉子或棍子，打著叫那些人進去；也有人被狗追咬著進去；也有人被牛的角撞進去。那時看到好多人，也有人用走著進去；也有人用驕抬進去，我心想別人進去，我也要進去。忽然有一個人走出來，問我：「你要幹什麼？」我說：「我看別人進去我也要進去。」他說：「施主你還沒死，陽氣這麼重，怎麼會來這兒呢？」我說：「他們可以進去，為什麼我不可以進去？」他又說：「這是鬼門關，不是玩耍的地方，你進去之後就不能出陰陽界。」

這時，有一個身穿判官衣服的人，手持朱砂筆及簿子走了出來。他說：「星君，奉十殿閻君之命，有請。」我說：「我不是星君，我姓許。」判官說：「星君啊！十殿閻君有請。」有一群人請我進去。我看到剛才那些過鬼門關的人，有人告訴他們休息一會兒，然後開始發牌子，某某人黑牌、某某人黃牌。拿紅牌的人，身上發出紅氣，拿黑牌的人，身上則發出黑氣…。那些人分開之後，不遠處有好多的房子，紅牌的人就去紅房子，黑牌的人就去黑房子。拿黑牌的人，一個個都愁眉苦臉，鬼卒說：「你們在陽間做盡壞事，經過十殿，你們就有苦吃啦！」拿紅牌的人滿面笑容，鬼卒對他們很好，因為他們在陽間做了許多善事。而拿黃牌的，是皈依唸佛的人，屋子後面有仙佛在講經，他們想聽什麼經就可以去聽什麼經。有的人，頭上有一點一點白白的，好像是水蒸氣。我問：「那是什麼？」他們說：「那是他們在世時，受過明師一指點，但是卻不知修行，無功無德也無過，所以來到這兒，都是水蒸氣，無法結成一片白光。」我又說：「那他們來這做什麼？」他們說：「這不必經過十殿，直接到地藏王菩薩那兒。」後來，我跟著他們往第一殿的方向走去。那條路一邊是懸崖，一邊是峭壁，只可供兩人並肩而行，我和判官沿著山路一直走。忽然聽到很多人大喊「救命！」我抬頭一看，前面有一個很大的空地，有些鬼卒拿著叉子一直跑，而一些被鐵鏈、腳鏈綁著的犯人就趕緊跑，跑得慢的人，被鬼差用叉子叉著一一往下丟，下面都是銅蛇鐵狗，被丟下之人，被銅蛇鐵狗咬得直叫，判官說這叫「銅蛇鐵狗地獄」。忽然有一群鬼魂，拿著手鏈、腳鏈，被鬼差追著，準備要逃獄。我告訴判官：「慘啦！這條路只能兩人並肩走，而前面有幾百個人往我們的方向跑來，稍有不慎，我們兩人就會掉到銅蛇鐵狗地獄去，我們趕快走吧！」話才說完，那群人已來到面前了。

那群人見到判官，趕緊下跪。判官說：「你們犯罪，還…。」那些人一直叫「救命啊！救命啊！」我說：「你們為何叫救命？」他們說：「我們這次被抓回去，不止受這些刑而已，我們還要受割舌地獄、割心地獄…，我們這次是提起很大勇氣才跑出來，你要救救我們啊！」我說：「我自身難保，怎麼救你們？」我問判官：「這是怎麼回事？」判官說：「這是人死後的靈魂，這些人在世的時候，不好好的做人，有的賣娼、有的開賭館、有的搶劫殺人，都在銅蛇鐵狗地獄受刑，今天不知何故跑了出來，一旦被抓回去穩死無疑。」我心想，以前我曾經說過：「以後長大要將他們從墳墓中一個個抓起來，讓他們回家享受天倫之樂。而現在他們在我的面前求我，若我無法救他們，那…。」我說：「我今天若能救你們，我現在就跳到銅蛇鐵狗地獄。」當我往銅蛇鐵狗地獄跳下去的時候，忽然一朵白色的蓮花浮現出來，而那群犯人看到那朵蓮花，紛紛跳到蓮花上去，那朵白色蓮花發出七彩豪光，封住銅蛇鐵狗地獄，轟一聲全都不見，此時四周恢復平靜。鬼差直喊：「完了！完了！」我說：「怎麼啦！」判官回答說：「今天他們讓犯人逃出銅蛇鐵狗地獄，他們(指鬼差)要受苦刑。」我說：「不然我讓閻君審判好啦！那些犯人跑去哪兒啦？」判官：「他們已經去投胎了！」我說：「不然你們將我丟下去好啦！」於是我就跟著他們到第一殿秦廣王那兒去。當時秦廣王正在辦案，夜叉稟告秦廣王：「犯人逃跑了。」忽然一個鬼卒將一個犯人丟到地上，本來空無一物的地上，卻出現一個油鍋，而犯人一掉到油鍋馬上就焦了。我看到這一幕，感到非常害怕。我走進去之後，秦廣王說：「現在停止刑罰。」接著又問：「從以前至今，從未發生犯人跑出銅蛇鐵狗地獄事件，為何今日會發生？」

鬼卒說：「因為他們拼命跑，加上遇到這位施主，他們跪下求他，沒想到他就往銅蛇鐵狗地獄跳下去，此時竟浮現一朵白蓮花，而那些犯人，見到白色蓮花現出七彩豪光，紛紛往裡跳，一下子就不見了。」我問秦廣王：「這到底是怎麼一回事呢？因為我小時候曾發願，我只是想讓他們再復活，能夠與他們的家人團聚，可是我做不到，所以我才會往銅蛇鐵狗地獄跳，這都是我的錯，您不要怪他們。」

秦廣王說：「這莫非是天意，我會奏明玉皇大帝。」忽然，秦廣王對我說：「你在這裡坐一會兒。」旋即召來鬼差說：「陽間某人，陽壽已盡。黑白無常、七爺八爺速將人抓來。」我問：「我可以跟去嗎？」秦廣王說：「可以。」

我和七爺八爺隨即出發。他們在台中一直轉，因為那時剛好是晚上七、八點，那地方有許多人在一起聊天，聽到了鐵鍊聲，紛紛躲起來。忽然七爺八爺到一間瓦房之前停了下來，他倆站在屋外不動，我覺得納悶，走到屋內一看，一位老婆婆躺在床上，他的兒子在床前唸經給阿婆聽。

七爺站著不動，八爺問：「為什麼不去抓人？」

七爺說：「那個人在那兒唸的是彌勒真經，而且他的頭上有一點光。閻羅王曾說過，唸經的人是善人，而且那人頭上有光，表示經法師點過。要等他唸完才能抓人。我們一直等，等到時間超過了，才空手返回地府。」

秦廣王問說：「人抓回來了嗎？」

七爺八爺回答說：「沒有。因為那個人的兒子在唸彌勒真經，您不是說過，凡是在唸經或在講道理的及頭上有光的人，都不能抓，我若抓豈不是犯了天條嗎？」

秦廣王說：「那明天再去抓！」我隨即要求能夠跟隨，直到辦完案為止。隔日，七爺八爺又來到那戶人家門前，因為昨日鐵鏈聲很大，左右鄰居都知道該戶人家有事將發生，一至傍晚，鄰人紛紛走避。而那位阿婆的兒子想，我母親正在生病，難道…。結果七爺八爺還是在門口站著不動，原來阿婆的兒子又在唸彌勒真經，還是不能抓。秦廣王又問：「抓回來了嗎？」七爺八爺回答：「沒有。」秦廣王說：「為什麼不抓？」七爺八爺說：「因為他的兒子在唸彌勒真經。」此時我很好奇，就問秦廣王：「為何唸彌勒真經的人，他的頭上有一點小的白光即不能抓？」秦廣王說：「這是有原因的，在陽間有一個法師，凡是受法師指點的，即可天堂掛號、地府除名。」我不相信，一定要弄明白。第三天，我又跟去了！

這日台中有位法師忽然想起阿婆的兒子很久沒來佛堂，究竟是為何？詢問之下，才知道原來是母親生病了，而且最近鄰人常聽到鐵鏈聲，可能是地府要來抓人，他怕母親發生不幸，故一直守在母親身邊。法師知道後，即帶了許多人來阿婆家中講道理。而七爺八爺正要來抓人，沒想到在幾百公尺外即停住不動了。原來那些人的善氣太強，連七爺八爺也不敢太靠近。第三次七爺八爺又空手而返。隔日，法師即派人去接阿婆來佛堂求道，七爺八爺不知道，還在等秦廣王下令抓人。秦廣王說：「今日這個人已經得了道，能夠地府除名天堂掛號，不必再來地府受刑。」此時我的心中忽然乍現光明，知道在陽間有法師可以傳道，得了道之後，就可以超出三界輪迴。

又一次，閻羅王正在辦案，忽然三官大帝派人駕到，閻羅王即出去迎接。來人拿著一張龍天表，讀著龍天表的內容。我們在凡間看到龍天表是小小的一張，可是在地府的龍天表有好幾間房子大，閻羅王接表之後，即叫文、武判官將生死簿拿過來，接著龍天表內之名字，將其姓名自生死簿中刪除。生死簿是用竹子做的，好似山一樣的大。我很懷疑，問閻羅王，這究竟是怎麼一回事？

閻羅王說：「稍等一下，等我畫好。」畫好之後，又發了一道令到地府，除了十惡不赦、殺人放火的人之外，只要其子孫在生死簿去名之人，從今天起都免在地府受苦刑。所謂「一子得道九玄七祖盡沾光，一子成道九玄七祖盡超生。」因為他們的子孫已經求了道，所以他們可以沾光。閻羅王將那些求道之人的祖先，全部召集到閻羅殿上，親自向他們道賀，並告訴他們：「從今以後你們不必在十殿中受苦刑，因為你們的子孫得了道，道是上天老母所降，上渡河漢星斗，中渡人間善信，下渡地府幽冥。今天你們的子孫得了道，你們不用在地府受刑了，一人發一朵白蓮花，自現在起，你們可以到地藏王菩薩那兒聽經。」

地藏王菩薩那兒有一個講經堂，那兒可分三級亡靈。第三等級的是子孫得了道，龍天表由三官大帝派人送至地府，名字在生死簿上刪除，九玄七祖不必在地府受刑，而且每人身上戴朵白蓮花，都來到地藏王菩薩的聽經所，聽地藏王講經說法，但是沒椅子可坐。求了道之後，認真的修行一年半載，你的九玄七祖即可進入地府第二級亡靈處。若是在世子孫持齋或是開設佛堂，成了壇主，九玄七祖即可進入地府第一級亡靈，由地藏王菩薩親自講經說法。我到了地藏王菩薩的講經堂時，看到一些人老是頭低低的，我感到很奇怪，就問他們說：「你們來此應該高興啊，為何頭低低的呢？」他們說：「我們本來也是很高興，子孫在陽間能夠得了道，受明師指點，但是，他們修了幾年之後，變成老油條，我感到不好意思，頭才會低低的。」

我問他們：「為何不向子孫們託夢？」他們說：「不行！我們託夢五分鐘，須用好多的功德換來，萬一他們不知曉，我豈不是白費苦心，而且我已經無功無德，怎可輕易用功德去換呢？」我告訴他們，我一定會將地府中三級亡靈的消息傳佈出去。但是閻羅王並不讓我知道，在陽間何處有法師(指點傳師)可傳道。我以為法師一定是出家人才有，所以找遍嘉義一帶，都找不到道。

一日，我又出去找道。我從嘉義到關仔嶺，經過千草埔到了大仙寺，即問寺內的僧人說：「你們有沒有道？」他們回答說：「稻子(台語)即是道。」我說：「不是啦！我是要問法師幫人一指點之後，可以天堂掛號地府除名的『道』啦！」我一直待到天黑才回家，裡面的和尚一直留我下來，說：「天黑了，山路難走，難道你不怕嗎？」我說：「不怕，你們的山神會保護我。」說完之後我就下山了，結果看到夕陽西下的景緻，原來他們的護法神都出來了，直到離開關仔嶺，那片光才消失。我就這樣到處尋找「道」、尋找法師…。

十八年之後，我當完兵回來，在新亞做事，經常在全省義診。一日，在夢中忽然見到十八個天人抬著四層樓的房子。我即問：「這是什麼？」他們回答：「這是冤欠。」我又問：「是什麼人的冤欠這麼重啊！」

他們說：「這是你的冤欠。」我連忙說：「不是！不是！我一生都在持齋，又沒做十惡不赦的事，怎麼會有這麼多的冤欠？」他們說：「這是您幫人家擔的。」我說：「既然是我的冤欠，我自己擔好了。」他們說：「你擔不動的，老母下旨要將你這些冤欠擔回去。」之後我就醒了。

一日，友人找我去斗六看病，七月初二即去斗六，那日剛好是颱風天，我加完班到達斗六已經是一點多鐘了。記得當天是七虎隊打棒球，即告訴友人，凌晨五點鐘要叫我起來看棒球。

睡著之後，不知不覺又變成一個小孩子，身繫彩帶，這時才發覺靈魂又出竅了。從床上起來，每一步都有一朵蓮花，經過一個大海，又經過一遍黃金地，旁邊是奇花異草，忽然到了一個大殿，有六個小童在那兒掃地，他們見到我即說：「師兄你回來了！」

我說：「你們是什麼人？」

他們說：「你才下去一個多鐘頭，回來就忘了我們啦！」

我說：「我不知道為何會來到這兒。」

他們告訴我：「真君在裡面，祂要見你。」

我走進去，裡面好大，兩旁站了許多神，中間有三盞佛燈，正中央坐著一個人，全身發出一片白光。

我問：「您是誰？為何我會來此？」

祂說：「我今天非常高興！」隨即哈哈大笑，我也跟著哈哈大笑。

祂又說：「我是太陽真君。」之後，我就醒來了。

民國六十八年七月初三日颱風天，風雨交加無法去義診。友人說帶我去一個地方，我的點傳師即稟報老前人，老前人答應之後，才開始辦道。當點傳師拿著龍天表時，問我說：「你知道這張表嗎？」我說：「知道，這張就是地府的龍天表。地府好大一張，為何在人間這麼小呢？」隨即跪下，誠心求了道。當佛燈一點時，本來風雨交加，忽然出了好大的太陽，黑雲全不見了。點道時，我一看林點傳師，竟變成了濟公老師，來到我面前，在頭上點了一下，忽然一道光射出，又將它收起來，連濟公老師也不見。直到三寶講完，天氣又是風雨交加。求道之後某日，我出外替人看病，因為太累了，所以睡著了。忽然來了一位仙佛，叫我起來，拿了一件道袍、一雙草鞋叫我穿上。我一看道袍太大了，實在不習慣。他又拿了一座七層玲瓏塔給我，玲瓏塔戴上，一下子我的人忽然變得好高，道袍也變得剛剛好，我隨即跟著觀世音菩薩，用好快的速度，兩旁的風景都看不清…。來到了九九紫陽關，外面有許多人在排隊。

我問觀世音菩薩：「他們在做什麼？」

觀世音菩薩說：「他們在核對三寶。」

求道之後，三寶若是忘記了，就不能過此九九紫陽關。觀世音菩薩和我過了九九紫陽關，從南天門進入之後，天庭有一百廿四個天獄，裡面有一個懺悔鏡，修道之後在陽間做了壞事，懺悔鏡一照，全部顯現出來。進去之後，看到許多樓閣好漂亮，我邊走邊看，有許多人進出。觀世音菩薩說：「若是你在這裡經過三天三夜還不能覺悟，你的三世因果即還給你，若是能覺悟，即算過關。」在九九紫陽關，若是色關過不了，即須在那兒修煉；還有賭關，一進去有許多賭具，若是無賭念，即算過關。經過三天三夜之後，即可過蜂王天獄，若是無雜念，可輕易過關；若是雜念一起，蜂王即會過來叮你，這就是在煉我們的性。所以在九九紫陽關煉修道人的性。

過了九九紫陽關，看到一座大殿，龍柱上是真龍在行走，門上匾額寫著「無極宮」。無極宮好大，觀世音菩薩帶我進去，裡面有好多人在吃飯，他們吃的是仙桃，仙桃入口即無，味道非常香，中央有一個人坐在龍頭椅上，手拿著龍頭拐，我都看不清楚祂的模樣，祂的光好亮，祂坐在那兒一直哭。

我問：「這個人為什麼一直哭？」此時觀世音菩薩向祂頂禮，我也連忙向祂頂禮。觀世音菩薩說：「這位是生天生地生我們靈性的無極老母啊！」禮拜完畢，我看到有人在吃仙桃也想吃。觀世音菩薩說：「要吃就跟老母說。」我隨即說：「老母我要吃仙桃。」老母即叫人拿了一杯瓊漿玉液給我，喝下去之後，整個人變得好清爽。

我就說：「再來一杯！」

觀世音菩薩說：「你怎麼如此貪心？」

我說：「不管，我就是要喝！」

此時有幾個童子抱了一壺給我，我連忙倒了一杯，一喝下去，即說：「我不要喝！我不要喝！」因為裡面酸甜苦澀、百味雜陳，好難喝哦！

觀世音菩薩說：「不可以不喝！」

即叫人抓住我的手腳，捏著我的鼻子用灌的。我一直哭，忽然看到一個孩子臉，肚子大大的人，身穿一件戰甲，一直哈哈大笑，我也跟著祂哈哈大笑，原來祂就是「彌勒祖師」。老母說：「你不曾來過這，參觀過後再回去吧！」觀世音菩薩即帶我四處參觀，之後才回去。

又走到一個地方，那兒都是雲霧，連觀世音菩薩也看不見。觀世音菩薩說：「你的眼睛當然是看不見。」就在我眼睛中點了幾滴水，我的視野大放光明，看見人家在演戲，青龍在前，鳳在後面，又有麒麟，也有仙女散花實在是好美！

我向觀世音菩薩說：「我早就該來這裡看了。」

觀世音菩薩說：「要看這個，三曹普渡之後，要開龍華大會，每個人都可以來此吃仙桃，以後萬仙萬佛萬菩薩都可以來此。」後來又來到一個地方，剛要進去，一打開原來是天堂的功德殿，那個牌子好大啊！有的牌子有一點光，有的很亮，有的半暗半明，有的有一點一點黑黑的斑點。

我問觀世音菩薩：「這是什麼？為什麼只有一點光？」

觀世音菩薩說：「這是某某人在陽間，得了道卻沒有修。」

我又問：「那一點黑黑的是什麼？」

觀世音菩薩說：「那是在陽間得了道之後，又做了壞事，做一件惡事即點一點黑點，以後回天之後再來算。」

我又說：「那半暗半明的又是什麼？」

觀世音菩說：「這是求道好幾年了，還不知持齋開設佛堂。」

「那好亮的又是什麼呢？」我問。

觀世音菩薩說：「那些就是開了佛堂，且虔心修道，以後都得菩薩果。」今天在陽間得了道，受了明師一指點，可以天堂掛號地府除名，以後我們在天庭開龍華大會，就可以看到我們的牌子，希望各位前賢都能誠心向道，少殺生，多行功德，以後我們的牌子就會閃閃發光。今天後學參參差差的講到這兒！

Source Colophon

Chinese source text from taolibrary.com (善書圖書館), category 9 (一貫道善書). The source text contained approximately 22 Big5 0x5C encoding corruptions (Microsoft Word artifacts) that were reconstructed contextually during the source-gathering phase (Session 124). The text is presented as a lecture (講述) by Xu Chuanying (許傳營), a Yiguandao practitioner and traditional healer. The taolibrary.com site states: 歡迎轉載，上傳，翻印，流通 — "Welcome to reprint, upload, reproduce, and circulate."

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