據《云笈七(qi)(qi)簽》引(yin)《洞真大(da)洞真經》稱,靈(ling)寶(bao)天(tian)尊系“玉(yu)晨之(zhi)精(jing)氣,九(jiu)慶之(zhi)紫(zi)煙,玉(yu)輝煥耀,金(jin)映流真,結化含秀,苞凝元(yuan)(yuan)神(shen),寄胎母氏,育形為人”。《靈(ling)寶(bao)略(lve)記》則稱“太上(shang)大(da)道(dao)(dao)君(jun)以開皇元(yuan)(yuan)年托胎于西(xi)方綠那玉(yu)國(guo),寄孕于洪氏之(zhi)胞,凝神(shen)瓊胎之(zhi)府三千(qian)七(qi)(qi)百年,降誕于其(qi)國(guo)郁察山浮(fu)羅之(zhi)岳丹玄之(zhi)阿(a)側,名曰器度,字上(shang)開元(yuan)(yuan)。及其(qi)長,乃啟(qi)悟道(dao)(dao)真,期(qi)心高道(dao)(dao),坐于枯(ku)桑之(zhi)下,精(jing)思(si)百日而元(yuan)(yuan)始天(tian)尊下降,授靈(ling)寶(bao)大(da)乘之(zhi)法十部妙(miao)經”。
靈寶天尊是(shi)大(da)(da)(da)道(dao)(dao)化身(shen)之(zhi)一。《大(da)(da)(da)洞真經》云:“上清高(gao)圣(sheng)太上大(da)(da)(da)道(dao)(dao)君(jun)者(zhe),蓋(gai)玉(yu)宸之(zhi)精氣,慶云之(zhi)紫煙(yan),玉(yu)暉曜煥,金映(ying)流真,結(jie)化含秀,包(bao)凝立神,道(dao)(dao)君(jun)即(ji)廣宣經箓(lu),傳乎萬世(shi)。”《云笈七簽(qian)》卷三亦云:“玉(yu)宸道(dao)(dao)君(jun)者(zhe)乃大(da)(da)(da)道(dao)(dao)之(zhi)化身(shen)也(ye),言其有(you)不(bu)可以隨迎,謂其無(wu)復存乎恍惚(hu),所以不(bu)有(you)而有(you),不(bu)無(wu)而無(wu),視之(zhi)無(wu)象,聽之(zhi)無(wu)聲,于妙有(you)妙無(wu)之(zhi)間(jian)大(da)(da)(da)道(dao)(dao)存焉,道(dao)(dao)君(jun)即(ji)審道(dao)(dao)之(zhi)本,洞道(dao)(dao)之(zhi)元(yuan),為道(dao)(dao)之(zhi)炁。”
陶弘景編寫的《真靈位(wei)業圖(tu)》列靈寶天尊在第二神(shen)階之(zhi)中(zhong)位(wei),僅次于第一神(shen)階中(zhong)位(wei)之(zhi)元(yuan)始天尊。
自元(yuan)始天(tian)尊處受經法以后,上(shang)清靈寶(bao)天(tian)尊即輔佐元(yuan)始天(tian)尊,居三十(shi)(shi)六(liu)天(tian)之(zhi)第二高位上(shang)清境,在三十(shi)(shi)四天(tian)之(zhi)上(shang),治蕊珠日闕,管七映紫房(fang),金童玉女(nv)各侍衛三十(shi)(shi)萬。萬神入拜(bai),五德把符,上(shang)真侍晨,天(tian)皇抱圖。
靈寶天(tian)尊以靈寶之法,隨世度人(ren)。自元始開光,至(zhi)于赤(chi)明元年,經(jing)九(jiu)千(qian)九(jiu)百億萬劫,度人(ren)有如塵沙之眾,不可勝量。凡遇(yu)有緣好學之人(ren),請問疑難(nan),靈寶天(tian)尊即不吝教誨。天(tian)尊有三十六變(bian)、七十二化(hua),人(ren)欲見之,隨感而應(ying),千(qian)萬處可分身即到。
道教宮觀里的三清殿中(zhong),靈寶天尊(zun)(zun)常以手捧如(ru)意之像居(ju)元始(shi)天尊(zun)(zun)之左側(ce)位(wei)。在道教大(da)型齋(zhai)醮(jiao)禮儀中(zhong)也(ye)多設有三清神位(wei),以靈寶天尊(zun)(zun)居(ju)元始(shi)天尊(zun)(zun)之左位(wei)。靈寶天尊(zun)(zun)之神誕日為夏至日,約在農歷(li)五月中(zhong)。民間于夏至日之供奉常以靈寶天尊(zun)(zun)為主神。