Detailed Introduction
The Scripture of Constant Clarity and Stillness (full title: "The Scripture of Constant Clarity and Stillness as Spoken by the Supreme Lord Lao"), commonly known as the Qingjing Jing, is one of the most important daily recitation scriptures in Taoism. At only about 400 characters, it distills the core Taoist philosophy of "clarity, stillness, and non-action" (qingjing wuwei). In Taoist temples throughout Taiwan, the Qingjing Jing is a fundamental text in morning and evening liturgy.
Core Philosophy
The Qingjing Jing opens: "The Great Tao has no form, yet it gives birth to heaven and earth; the Great Tao has no feeling, yet it moves the sun and moon; the Great Tao has no name, yet it nourishes all things." This reveals three attributes of the Tao -- formless, without sentiment, and nameless -- yet it gives birth to heaven and earth, governs the movement of sun and moon, and nurtures all living things. Those who cultivate the Tao should emulate its nature of clarity and stillness: "Looking inward at one's heart, there is no heart; looking outward at one's form, there is no form; looking far at things, there are no things. Having realized these three, one perceives only emptiness." Through inner contemplation, one recognizes that heart, form, and phenomena are all fundamentally empty and still, thereby attaining the state of clarity and stillness.
The scripture further states: "The reason sentient beings cannot attain the True Tao is that they possess deluded minds." The root of all affliction lies in the "deluded mind" -- false discrimination and attachment. If one can "banish desire, and the mind naturally becomes still; clarify the mind, and the spirit naturally becomes clear," then "naturally the six desires do not arise and the three poisons are extinguished," ultimately reaching "constant response, constant stillness, constant clarity and stillness."
Methods of Recitation
- Daily practice: Recite once each morning and evening, requiring approximately five to ten minutes. Before reciting, burn incense and bow three times to the Three Pure Ones.
- Tempo and intonation: Recitation should be slow and solemn. Taoist scripture recitation has its own distinctive rhythm and tonal pattern ("dao qiang" or Taoist chant), with each ritual altar having its own characteristic style.
- Seated meditation: After recitation, sit quietly for a period to experience the state of "clarity and stillness."
- Scripture copying: Similar to the Buddhist practice of copying the Heart Sutra, Taoist devotees also practice copying the Qingjing Jing as a form of cultivation.
Comparison with the Buddhist Heart Sutra
Interestingly, the Taoist Qingjing Jing and the Buddhist Heart Sutra share notable similarities in length, function, and core philosophy:
- Length: The Qingjing Jing has about 400 characters; the Heart Sutra about 260 characters. Both are short, essential core scriptures.
- Function: Both serve as daily recitation texts that settle the mind.
- Core concepts: The Qingjing Jing speaks of "emptiness" and "clarity and stillness"; the Heart Sutra speaks of "emptiness" and "freedom from hindrance" -- different paths to the same destination.
This similarity reflects the deep tradition of Buddhist-Taoist synthesis in Chinese religious culture.
Practice in Taiwan
Taoist temples across Taiwan (such as Zhinan Temple in Taipei, the Altar of Heaven in Tainan, and Lecheng Temple in Taichung) recite the Qingjing Jing during morning and evening services. Many Taoist devotees make the Qingjing Jing their daily practice, reciting it in the morning to settle the mind and in the evening to cleanse the day's afflictions. In Taiwanese folk religion, the Qingjing Jing is also regarded as a form of "protective scripture" -- carrying a small booklet of the Qingjing Jing or having the text engraved on a protective amulet is believed to ward off evil and ensure safety.