The Precious Repentance of Patriarch Lu

The Precious Repentance of Patriarch Lu ( 《呂祖無極寶懺》 Luzu Wuji Baochan ) or in full The Infinite Precious Repentance of Perfect Sovereign Lu the Master and Minister of the Nine-Heaven All-Embracing Jade Capital ( 《九天大羅玉都師相呂聖真君無極寶懺》 Jiutian Daluo Yudu Shixiang Lusheng Zhenjun Wuji Baochan ), is usually simply titled as Patriarch Lu's Precious Repentance of the Infinite. According to legends, the book appeared in Xiqiao, Guangdong, in the end of the Qing (1644-1911). Also some say it was revealed through Planchette Writing ( 扶乩 Fuji ). This book is widespread among Daoist temples in Guangdong. The Precious Repentance of Patriarch Lu, a ritual popular in contemporary Daoist temples in Hong Kong, uses this scripture as its ritual text.

Though titled "Repentance", the book contains mainly odes to Patriarch Lu and his teachings. The "Precious Admonitions of Patriarch Lu" ( 呂祖寶誥 Luzu Baogao ) in the book contains Patriarch Lu's stories, great deeds, legends, which come from the Complete works of Patriarch Lu ( 《呂祖全書》 Luzu Quanxhu ). Besides, the book also includes the Precious Declarations of Patriarch Zhong (Liquan), Patriarch Xu (Xun), and Patriarch Sa (Shoujian). The Perfect Book of Dao and its Virtue of the Sagely Perfect Sovereign Lu, the Master and Minister in the Nine-Heaven All-Embracing Jade Capital ( 《九天大羅玉都師相呂聖真君道德真經》 Jiutian Daluo Yudu Shixiang Lusheng Zhengjun Daode Zhenjing ) illustrates Patriarch Lu's view about life and Dao, persuading people to "empty their profane desires and keep to pure perfection", and thus make the body like dry wood and the mind like cold ashes. It holds that Dao is not queer, and whatever is queer is not Dao. Man should cultivate merit at anytime "knowing the kindness or evil of each idea" and eventually unite with the Great Dao. Some contents of the book come from the Immortal Scripture of the First Eight Chapters ( 《前八品仙經》 Qian Ba Pin Xianjing ) of the Complete works of Patriarch Lu; others come from the Book of the Supreme Numinous Treasure Orthodox Seal of the Pure and Bright Origin of Dao ( 《太上靈寶清明道元正印經》 Taishang Lingbao Qingming ). With many contents telling people to see through the harmfulness and falseness of desires, worldly cleverness, and profane prosperity in the form of historic and immortal stories, the book is an artistic work of literature.

Originally, the book was widespread in Daoist temples for people's free reading. In 1996, at the proposal of Mr. Luo Zhiguang and Mr. Kuang Guangqiang, Long You and Ding Changyun co-operated and finished the Commentaries on the Precious Repentance of Patriarch Lu ( 《呂祖無極寶懺注》 Luzu Wuji Baochan Zhu ). The Ching Chung Taoist Association of Hong Kong. published the book in 1997. Two years later, the Fung Ying Seen Koon published the second edition. 呂祖寶懺