top of page

The Enduring Scripture of Awakening the World by Sage Lord Guan 關聖帝君覺世真經

  • Writer: Xing Shen
    Xing Shen
  • 5 days ago
  • 7 min read

Updated: 3 days ago


Image from iStock of a towering statue of Sage Lord Guan.
Image from iStock

帝君曰。人生在世。貴盡忠孝節義等事。 方於人道無虧。可立於天地之間。

若不盡忠孝節義等事。身雖在世。其心己死。是謂偷生。


Sage Lord Guan imparts: When a person walks through this life, what truly matters is living with loyalty, filial love, integrity, justice, and other enduring virtues. Only by living this way can a person carry out their duty as a human being without shame and stand with steadfast honor before others and beneath Heaven. But if someone turns away from loyalty, filial love, integrity, justice, and other enduring virtues, then even if their body still breathes and moves, their conscience is dead. This is called a stolen life—a life without honor, a life without meaning.


凡人心即神。神即心。無愧心。無愧神。若是欺心。便是欺神。  


The human conscience is the living voice of the divine spirit, and the divine spirit speaks through the conscience. To stay true to your conscience is to honor the divine within. To lie to your conscience is to reject the very spirit that gives life its light and meaning.


故君子三畏四知。以慎其獨。勿謂暗室可欺。屋漏可愧。


That is why the virtuous hold three things in deep reverence and remember the four that always know. For this reason, they remain watchful over what they think and do—even when they are alone. They do not believe that darkness can hide their actions, nor do they think they can do wrong without the weight of shame—as if standing in a dark room where light still pours through a broken roof.


一動一靜。神明鑒察。十目十手。理所必至。況報應昭彰。不爽毫髮。


At all times—whatever they do or refrain from doing—the divine spirit sees all and knows all. It is as if ten eyes are watching and ten fingers are pointing. In the end, truth will rise, and the conscience will come to light. Above all, the law of karmic retribution is just and sure—it misses nothing, not even the smallest trace. 


淫為萬惡首。孝為百行原。但有逆理於心有愧者。勿謂有利而行之。凡有合理於心無愧者。勿謂無利而不行。若負吾教。請試吾刀。  


Lust and overindulgence stand at the head of all evils. Filial love is the root from which all good virtues grow. If something goes against what is right and brings shame to your conscience, do not choose it—even if it promises gain. And if something is right and brings honor to your heart, do not turn away from it—even if it offers no reward. Whoever turns away from this teaching must be ready to face the blade of truth.


敬天地,

 
禮神明,
 
奉祖先,

 
孝雙親,
 
守王法,
 
重師尊,

  

愛兄弟,


信朋友,
 
睦宗族,
 
和鄉鄰,
 
別夫婦,
 
教子孫。
 
時行方便,
 
廣積陰德,
 
救難濟急,
 
恤孤憐貧,
 
創修廟宇,
 
印造經文,
 
捨藥施茶,
 
戒殺放生,
 
造橋修路,
 
矜寡拔困,
 
重粟惜福,
 
排難解紛,
 
捐眥成美,
 
垂訓教人,
 
冤讎解釋,

斗秤公平,

親近有德,

遠避凶人,

隱惡揚善,

利物救民,
Revere Heaven and Earth with gratitude, and strive to reflect their ways.
 
Respect the divine spirits—follow their example.
 
Honor your ancestors: carry their good, and make right their wrongs.
 
Love your parents and treat them with deep respect.
 
Do what is right under the law.
 
Respect your teachers and cherish the wisdom they pass down.
 
Love your siblings—elders with kindness, youngers with respect.
 
Hold truth and trust at the heart of every friendship.
 
Live in harmony with your family and kin.
 
Show kindness and goodwill to your neighbors.
 
Honor the sacred balance between spouses.
 
Guide your children and grandchildren with virtue.
 
Step in when help is needed.
 
Sow virtue through quiet and humble deeds.
 
Come swiftly to those in urgent need.
 
Stand by the forsaken, and lift up the poor.
 
Build and restore places that honor the sacred.
 
Print the scriptures so that the truth may endure.
 
Give medicine to the sick and rest to the weary.
 
Protect all living beings; free them where you can.
 
Lay bridges and mend roads for safe passage.
 
Care for widows, orphans, and all in hardship.
 
Treasure every grain; give thanks for every blessing.
 
Meet trouble with peace and conflict with calm.
 
Support what is just and beautiful through your giving.
 
Teach what is true – in both word and action.
 
Let go of resentment; make peace where it is needed.

Be fair in measure and honest in all things.
 
Walk beside the kind and the virtuous.
 
Turn away from those who sow harm.
 
Speak praise and lift up the good in others.
 
Do good for all living things, and help those in need.


回心向道,改過自新,滿腔仁慈,惡念不存,一切善事,信心奉行,人雖不見,神已早聞,加福增壽,添子益孫,災消病減,禍患不侵,人物咸寧,吉星照臨。

 

As long as you set your heart again on the path of virtue—correct your faults and begin anew, moved by love and guided by compassion, keeping your mind free from immoral thoughts, doing what is right with a sincere heart and unwavering resolve—then even if no one sees your kindness or pure intent, the divine already knows. Blessings will come. Your days will be long, and your family will prosper. Troubles will fade, illness will lift, and misfortune will turn away. Peace will settle over all things, and the light of Heaven’s grace will shine upon you.

 

若存惡心,不行善事,

 

If your heart turns from virtue, your actions will soon stray from what is good. You may -

淫人妻女,
 
破人婚姻,
 
壞人名節,
 
妒人技能,
 
謀人財產,
 
唆人爭訟,
 
損人利己,
 
肥家潤身,
 
恨天怨地,
 
罵雨呵風,
 
謗聖毀賢,
 
滅像欺神,
 
宰殺牛犬,
 
穢溺字紙,
 
恃勢辱善,
 
倚富壓貧,
 
離人骨肉,
 
間人兄弟,
 
不信正道,
 
奸盜邪行,
 
好尚奢詐,
 
不重勤儉,
 
輕棄五穀,
 
不報有恩,
 
瞞心昧己,
 
大斗小秤,
 
假立邪教,
 
引誘愚人,
 
詭說升天,
 
斂物行淫,
 
明瞞暗騙,
 
橫言曲語,
 
白日咒詛,
 
背地誅害,
 
不存天理,
 
不順人心,
 
不信報應,
 
引人作惡,
 
不修片善,

行諸惡事,
fall into sexual impurity,
 
break the sacred bond of another’s marriage,
 
bring shame upon another’s name and honor,
 
grow jealous of the gifts others have,
 
plot to take another’s wealth,
 
stir conflict for selfish gain,
 
seek personal advantage at the cost of others,
 
build comfort for your family through unjust means,
 
cry out in bitterness against Heaven and Earth,
 
raise your voice in anger against the wind and rain,
 
speak falsely of saints and the virtuous,
 
scorn or destroy what is sacred,
 
slay the loyal creatures that once served you well,
 
treat the written word as if it held no worth,
 
abuse your power to strike down the kind,
 
use your wealth to oppress the poor,
 
tear children from their parents’ arms,
 
set siblings against one another,
 
turn away from the path of truth and virtue,
 
fall into betrayal, theft, corruption and desire,
 
seek a life of excess, built on lies,
 
ignore the worth of hard work and simple living,
 
squander the harvest that sustains life,
 
fail to show gratitude to those who helped you,
 
choose comforting lies over honest reflection,
 
cheat with unjust measures,
 
twist sacred teachings to lead others astray,
 
feed on ignorance for your own gain,
 
claim enlightenment only to seek praise,
 
take what is not yours to enjoy luxury and vice,
 
lie in public while plotting in secret,
 
speak in ways that divide and deceive,
 
curse others openly without shame,
 
betray those who placed their trust in you,
 
act against the moral laws of Heaven,
 
ignore the voice of the people,
 
doubt that every deed has its reward or consequence,
 
tempt others to walk the path of wrong,
 
refuse even the smallest act of good,
 
and live a life shaped by wrongdoing and vice.

官詞口舌,水火盜賊,惡毒瘟疫,生敗產蠢,殺身亡家,男盜女淫,近報在身,遠報子孫,神明鑒察,毫髮不紊,善惡兩途,禍福攸分。行善福報,作惡禍臨

 

Those who do wrong will not escape the fruit of their actions—trouble with the law, endless conflict, sudden disaster, loss, illness, or disease. They may raise children who bring shame to the family and waste its wealth. Some bring death upon themselves; others bring ruin to their households. The men may fall into theft, and the women may walk the path of disgrace. For some, the weight of retribution falls in their own time; for others, it passes like a shadow to their descendants. The divine sees all. Nothing is hidden. No thought, word, or deed goes unseen. Good and evil do not end in the same place: good brings blessing, and evil brings punishment.

 

吾作斯語,願人奉行,言雖淺近,大益身心,戲侮吾言,斬首分形。有能持頌,消凶聚慶,求子得子,求壽得壽,富貴功名,皆能有成。凡有所祈,如意而獲,萬禍雪消,千祥雲集。諸如此福,惟善可致。吾本無私,惟佑善人。眾善奉行,毋怠厥志!

 

I share these words in the hope that they will be followed. Though simple, they bring great benefit to both body and mind. Those who mock this teaching will face serious consequences—including death or dismemberment. By reciting these words and living by them, you may avert misfortune and invite blessings. Those who seek children, long life, or success will receive them. What you wish for will come true—bad luck will fade, and good fortune will follow. Such blessings come only through goodness. I am fair and help only those who do what is right. Those who walk the path of virtue will be protected—but they must remain steadfast in fulfilling their moral duty.



If you want to read along with the video.

 

 

This is a humble attempt at translation. May any merit from this work be dedicated to those suffering in the realm of hungry ghosts.


© 2024 Eastern Philosophy Repository

 All rights reserved.

bottom of page