據《云笈七(qi)簽》引《洞真(zhen)大洞真(zhen)經》稱,靈寶天尊(zun)系(xi)“玉(yu)(yu)晨之精(jing)氣(qi),九慶之紫煙,玉(yu)(yu)輝煥耀,金(jin)映流真(zhen),結化含秀,苞凝元神,寄胎(tai)(tai)母氏,育形(xing)為人”。《靈寶略記》則稱“太上大道君以開皇元年(nian)托胎(tai)(tai)于(yu)西方綠那玉(yu)(yu)國,寄孕于(yu)洪氏之胞,凝神瓊胎(tai)(tai)之府三千七(qi)百年(nian),降誕于(yu)其國郁察山浮羅(luo)之岳丹玄之阿側,名曰器(qi)度,字上開元。及(ji)其長,乃(nai)啟(qi)悟道真(zhen),期(qi)心高(gao)道,坐于(yu)枯桑之下,精(jing)思(si)百日而元始天尊(zun)下降,授(shou)靈寶大乘之法十部妙經”。
靈(ling)寶天尊是大道(dao)(dao)化身之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)一。《大洞(dong)(dong)真(zhen)經》云:“上(shang)清高圣太上(shang)大道(dao)(dao)君者,蓋玉(yu)宸之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)精(jing)氣,慶云之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)紫煙,玉(yu)暉(hui)曜煥(huan),金映流(liu)真(zhen),結化含(han)秀(xiu),包凝立神,道(dao)(dao)君即(ji)廣宣經箓(lu),傳(chuan)乎萬世。”《云笈(ji)七(qi)簽》卷三(san)亦云:“玉(yu)宸道(dao)(dao)君者乃大道(dao)(dao)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)化身也(ye),言其(qi)有(you)不(bu)可以(yi)(yi)隨迎,謂(wei)其(qi)無復存(cun)乎恍惚(hu),所以(yi)(yi)不(bu)有(you)而有(you),不(bu)無而無,視之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)無象,聽之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)無聲(sheng),于妙(miao)有(you)妙(miao)無之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)間大道(dao)(dao)存(cun)焉(yan),道(dao)(dao)君即(ji)審(shen)道(dao)(dao)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)本(ben),洞(dong)(dong)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(bian)寫(xie)的(de)《真(zhen)靈位業圖》列靈寶天尊在第(di)二神(shen)階(jie)之(zhi)中(zhong)位,僅次于第(di)一神(shen)階(jie)中(zhong)位之(zhi)元(yuan)始天尊。
自(zi)元(yuan)始天(tian)(tian)尊(zun)處受經法以后,上清靈寶天(tian)(tian)尊(zun)即輔佐元(yuan)始天(tian)(tian)尊(zun),居(ju)三十(shi)六天(tian)(tian)之第二高位上清境,在三十(shi)四(si)天(tian)(tian)之上,治蕊(rui)珠日闕,管(guan)七映紫房,金童玉女(nv)各侍衛(wei)三十(shi)萬。萬神入拜,五德(de)把符,上真侍晨(chen),天(tian)(tian)皇抱圖。
靈(ling)(ling)寶(bao)(bao)天尊以靈(ling)(ling)寶(bao)(bao)之法,隨(sui)(sui)世度(du)人。自元(yuan)始開光,至(zhi)于赤明元(yuan)年(nian),經九千九百億萬劫,度(du)人有(you)如塵沙(sha)之眾(zhong),不可(ke)(ke)勝量。凡遇(yu)有(you)緣(yuan)好(hao)學(xue)之人,請問(wen)疑難,靈(ling)(ling)寶(bao)(bao)天尊即(ji)不吝教誨。天尊有(you)三十(shi)六變(bian)、七十(shi)二化,人欲見之,隨(sui)(sui)感而應,千萬處可(ke)(ke)分(fen)身即(ji)到。
道教宮觀里的三(san)清(qing)殿中,靈(ling)寶(bao)(bao)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)尊(zun)常以(yi)手捧如意之(zhi)像居元(yuan)始(shi)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)尊(zun)之(zhi)左(zuo)側位(wei)。在道教大型(xing)齋(zhai)醮禮儀中也多設有(you)三(san)清(qing)神(shen)位(wei),以(yi)靈(ling)寶(bao)(bao)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)尊(zun)居元(yuan)始(shi)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)尊(zun)之(zhi)左(zuo)位(wei)。靈(ling)寶(bao)(bao)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)尊(zun)之(zhi)神(shen)誕日為夏至日,約(yue)在農(nong)歷五月中。民(min)間于夏至日之(zhi)供奉(feng)常以(yi)靈(ling)寶(bao)(bao)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)尊(zun)為主神(shen)。