據《云笈七簽》引(yin)《洞真大洞真經》稱,靈(ling)(ling)寶(bao)(bao)天(tian)尊系“玉(yu)(yu)晨(chen)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)精(jing)(jing)氣,九慶之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)紫煙,玉(yu)(yu)輝(hui)煥耀,金映(ying)流(liu)真,結化含秀,苞(bao)凝(ning)元(yuan)神(shen)(shen),寄胎母氏(shi),育形為(wei)人”。《靈(ling)(ling)寶(bao)(bao)略記》則稱“太上大道(dao)(dao)君以開皇元(yuan)年托胎于(yu)(yu)西方綠那玉(yu)(yu)國(guo),寄孕(yun)于(yu)(yu)洪氏(shi)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)胞,凝(ning)神(shen)(shen)瓊胎之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)府三千(qian)七百年,降誕于(yu)(yu)其國(guo)郁察(cha)山浮羅之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)岳丹(dan)玄(xuan)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)阿側,名曰器度,字上開元(yuan)。及其長,乃啟(qi)悟(wu)道(dao)(dao)真,期心高道(dao)(dao),坐于(yu)(yu)枯桑之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)下,精(jing)(jing)思百日(ri)而元(yuan)始天(tian)尊下降,授靈(ling)(ling)寶(bao)(bao)大乘之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)法十(shi)部妙(miao)經”。
靈寶天尊是大道(dao)(dao)化身之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)一。《大洞真經》云:“上清高(gao)圣太上大道(dao)(dao)君(jun)者(zhe),蓋玉宸之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)精氣,慶云之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)紫煙,玉暉曜(yao)煥,金(jin)映流真,結化含秀(xiu),包凝立神,道(dao)(dao)君(jun)即廣(guang)宣經箓,傳乎萬(wan)世。”《云笈七簽(qian)》卷三(san)亦云:“玉宸道(dao)(dao)君(jun)者(zhe)乃(nai)大道(dao)(dao)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)化身也,言其(qi)有不(bu)可以隨迎,謂其(qi)無復(fu)存(cun)乎恍惚,所以不(bu)有而有,不(bu)無而無,視之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)無象,聽之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)無聲,于妙(miao)有妙(miao)無之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)間大道(dao)(dao)存(cun)焉,道(dao)(dao)君(jun)即審道(dao)(dao)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)本,洞道(dao)(dao)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)元,為道(dao)(dao)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)炁。”
陶弘景(jing)編寫的《真靈位(wei)業(ye)圖(tu)》列靈寶天尊在(zai)第二神(shen)階(jie)之(zhi)中(zhong)位(wei),僅次于(yu)第一(yi)神(shen)階(jie)中(zhong)位(wei)之(zhi)元始天尊。
自元始天(tian)尊處受經法(fa)以(yi)后,上(shang)清靈(ling)寶天(tian)尊即輔(fu)佐(zuo)元始天(tian)尊,居三(san)十(shi)六(liu)天(tian)之第二高位上(shang)清境,在三(san)十(shi)四天(tian)之上(shang),治蕊珠日闕,管七映紫房,金童(tong)玉(yu)女各侍(shi)衛三(san)十(shi)萬。萬神(shen)入(ru)拜,五德把(ba)符,上(shang)真侍(shi)晨(chen),天(tian)皇(huang)抱圖(tu)。
靈(ling)寶天(tian)(tian)尊(zun)以靈(ling)寶之(zhi)(zhi)法,隨世(shi)度人。自元始開光,至于赤明(ming)元年(nian),經九千九百億萬劫(jie),度人有(you)如塵沙(sha)之(zhi)(zhi)眾,不可勝量。凡(fan)遇有(you)緣好學之(zhi)(zhi)人,請問疑難(nan),靈(ling)寶天(tian)(tian)尊(zun)即(ji)不吝教誨。天(tian)(tian)尊(zun)有(you)三十(shi)六(liu)變、七十(shi)二化,人欲見之(zhi)(zhi),隨感而應,千萬處可分(fen)身即(ji)到。
道(dao)教(jiao)宮觀里(li)的三(san)清(qing)殿中,靈(ling)寶(bao)(bao)天(tian)尊(zun)常以(yi)(yi)手捧如意(yi)之(zhi)像(xiang)居元始天(tian)尊(zun)之(zhi)左側位(wei)(wei)。在道(dao)教(jiao)大型齋醮禮儀中也多設有(you)三(san)清(qing)神(shen)(shen)(shen)位(wei)(wei),以(yi)(yi)靈(ling)寶(bao)(bao)天(tian)尊(zun)居元始天(tian)尊(zun)之(zhi)左位(wei)(wei)。靈(ling)寶(bao)(bao)天(tian)尊(zun)之(zhi)神(shen)(shen)(shen)誕日(ri)為夏(xia)至(zhi)日(ri),約在農歷五月中。民間于夏(xia)至(zhi)日(ri)之(zhi)供奉常以(yi)(yi)靈(ling)寶(bao)(bao)天(tian)尊(zun)為主神(shen)(shen)(shen)。