The term Pudu (超度, sometimes translated as “Deliverance of Souls” or “Transcendence Ritual”) is likely familiar to most people, but what exactly is it? What are the forms of Pudu? What is the purpose of Pudu? And what are the steps involved? Many people who hire a Daoist priest for a Pudu ritual don’t truly understand its use, so it is extremely important to clarify what Pudu is. Only by understanding it can one make the correct choices.
1. What is Pudu?
In Daoism, Pudu is the process by which a priest, through inner cultivation, connects with the Daoist patriarchs or deities to rescue the souls of the deceased who are sinking in the underworld or lingering in the human realm. The hope is that the spirits will then be guided by the deities to ascend to the Eastern Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss (Qinghua Jile Shi). The principal deity typically worshipped during a Daoist Pudu is Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun (太乙救苦天尊, the Heavenly Venerable of Great Unity Who Rescues from Suffering).
2. Forms of Pudu
Generally speaking, the forms of Pudu can be divided into three categories:
First Category: Pudu of the Ten Directions (Shifang Pudu)
What is the Pudu of the Ten Directions? This is a ritual where the altar is set up to summon all types of solitary and wild ghosts from the surrounding areas for a unified deliverance. Large-scale temple fairs or ceremonies often include this type of Pudu. Its main purpose is to deliver the ten categories of lonely souls, accumulating immeasurable merit for the priest and ensuring they are not disturbed by these spirits while conducting the rite. Zhengyi (Orthodox Unity) priests commonly use the Lingbao Jilian Ke (Scripture on the Spirit-Treasure Ritual of Refining), while Quanzhen (Complete Perfection) priests often use the Qingxuan Jilian Yankou Tieguan Shishi Ke (Scripture on the Azure Mystery Ritual of Refining, Flaming Mouth, Iron-Jar Feeding).
Second Category: Ancestor Deliverance (Xianren Pudu)
Also known as Deliverance of the Deceased (Wangren Pudu). When ancestors pass away and are still dwelling in the Yin realm or the underworld, their descendants hope they can be freed from the suffering of hell and quickly ascend to the realm of Ultimate Bliss. Thus, they hire a priest to perform a deliverance for these specific deceased souls. A dedicated Pudu liturgy (Chaodu Ke) is typically used for this type of spirit.
Third Category: Grievous Souls (Yuanhun)
This category includes wrongfully killed ghosts, aborted fetal spirits (Yingling), and karmic creditors from past lives (Yuanqin Zhaizhu). These souls are generally more difficult to deliver because various reasons often keep them lingering in the human world. Therefore, the ritual services (Keyi Fashi) for this category are more varied and complex.
3. Purpose of Pudu
The purpose of Pudu aligns with the three forms mentioned above:
First Category: This is generally an act of compassion by the priest, delivering the lonely souls of the ten directions, which accumulates immeasurable merit (Gongde Wuliang).
Second Category: The main purpose is the hope that the ancestors can be freed from the sea of suffering in the underworld and quickly ascend to Ultimate Bliss. This is a filial act for the descendants, and it is also believed to positively influence the descendants’ fortunes and life paths.
Third Category: Individuals entangled by wrongfully killed ghosts, aborted fetal spirits, or karmic creditors usually experience bad luck. The purpose of this Pudu is to change the individual’s fortune by resolving the spiritual entanglement.
4. Steps of Pudu
I. Fasting and Purification (Zhaijie): Before conducting the ritual, one must generally observe a fast and cleanse the body (bathe) to purify the mind and body. This ensures that the ritual’s efficacy can reach the heavens.
II. Setting Up the Altar (Shetan): Before setting up the altar, one must prepare the soul-summoning banner (Zhaohun Fan) and other flags. Both a Yin Altar (for the spirits) and a Yang Altar (for the deities) must be set up. The Yin Altar requires placing the memorial tablet of the deceased, fresh flowers and fruit offerings, three types of tea and four types of wine, three meat dishes and four vegetarian dishes, incense, candles, rice, and steamed buns. Of course, various paper money and offerings to be burned must also be prepared.
III. Ascending the Altar and Performing the Rite (Dengtan Zuofa): After ascending the altar, the priest will typically first perform the Altar Purification Ritual (Jingtan Fashi) before commencing the main Pudu service.
IV. Chanting Scriptures (Songjing): Numerous scriptures are chanted during the service. Common Daoist texts include the Taishang Dongxuan Lingbao Jiuku Bazui Miaojing (The Supreme Mysterious Scripture of the Numinous Treasure for Rescuing from Suffering and Removing Sins) and the Yuanshi Tianzun Shuo Fengdu Miezuijing (The Scripture Spoken by the Celestial Venerable of Primordial Beginning on Eliminating Sins in Fengdu). If the deceased is a woman, the Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun Shuo Bodu Fengdu Xuehu Miaojing (The Scripture Spoken by the Celestial Venerable of Great Unity Who Rescues from Suffering on Deliverance from the Bloody Lake in Fengdu) must be added.
V. Dispensing Food and Burning Offerings (Shishi Huabao): After the priest completes the main ritual, tea, wine, and rice must be scattered in all directions for the hungry souls to consume. Paper money must also be burned; some people also burn various paper effigies.
Delivering the souls of the deceased and allowing them to achieve transcendence is an act of immeasurable merit for both the priest and the ritual sponsor (Zhaizhu). A correct understanding of Pudu enables us to choose the proper way to perform this virtuous deed.
Fusheng Wuliang Tianzun! 福生无量天尊 (May the Heavenly Venerable of Boundless Fortune Bless You!)
