據《云笈(ji)七(qi)簽》引《洞(dong)真(zhen)大洞(dong)真(zhen)經》稱,靈寶天尊系“玉晨之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)精(jing)氣,九慶(qing)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)紫煙,玉輝煥耀,金映流(liu)真(zhen),結化含秀(xiu),苞凝(ning)元神,寄胎(tai)母氏(shi),育(yu)形(xing)為人”。《靈寶略記》則(ze)稱“太上大道君以(yi)開(kai)皇(huang)元年(nian)(nian)托胎(tai)于西方綠(lv)那玉國(guo),寄孕于洪氏(shi)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)胞,凝(ning)神瓊胎(tai)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)府三千七(qi)百年(nian)(nian),降誕于其國(guo)郁察山浮羅之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)岳丹玄之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)阿側,名(ming)曰器(qi)度,字上開(kai)元。及其長,乃啟(qi)悟道真(zhen),期(qi)心高(gao)道,坐(zuo)于枯桑之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)下,精(jing)思(si)百日(ri)而(er)元始(shi)天尊下降,授靈寶大乘之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)法十部妙(miao)經”。
靈寶天尊(zun)是大(da)(da)道(dao)(dao)(dao)化身之(zhi)(zhi)一。《大(da)(da)洞真經(jing)》云(yun):“上清(qing)高圣太上大(da)(da)道(dao)(dao)(dao)君(jun)(jun)者,蓋玉(yu)宸之(zhi)(zhi)精氣,慶云(yun)之(zhi)(zhi)紫(zi)煙,玉(yu)暉曜煥,金映(ying)流真,結化含(han)秀,包凝立神,道(dao)(dao)(dao)君(jun)(jun)即(ji)廣宣經(jing)箓,傳乎(hu)萬世。”《云(yun)笈(ji)七簽(qian)》卷(juan)三亦云(yun):“玉(yu)宸道(dao)(dao)(dao)君(jun)(jun)者乃大(da)(da)道(dao)(dao)(dao)之(zhi)(zhi)化身也,言其有不可以隨迎(ying),謂其無(wu)復(fu)存乎(hu)恍惚,所(suo)以不有而(er)有,不無(wu)而(er)無(wu),視之(zhi)(zhi)無(wu)象,聽之(zhi)(zhi)無(wu)聲,于妙有妙無(wu)之(zhi)(zhi)間(jian)大(da)(da)道(dao)(dao)(dao)存焉,道(dao)(dao)(dao)君(jun)(jun)即(ji)審道(dao)(dao)(dao)之(zhi)(zhi)本,洞道(dao)(dao)(dao)之(zhi)(zhi)元,為道(dao)(dao)(dao)之(zhi)(zhi)炁。”
陶弘景編(bian)寫的(de)《真靈位業(ye)圖》列靈寶天尊在第二神階(jie)之(zhi)中位,僅次(ci)于第一(yi)神階(jie)中位之(zhi)元(yuan)始天尊。
自元始(shi)天尊處受(shou)經法(fa)以后,上(shang)清靈寶(bao)天尊即輔佐(zuo)元始(shi)天尊,居三十(shi)六天之第(di)二(er)高位上(shang)清境(jing),在三十(shi)四天之上(shang),治蕊珠日闕,管(guan)七映紫房(fang),金(jin)童(tong)玉女各侍衛三十(shi)萬(wan)。萬(wan)神入(ru)拜,五德把符,上(shang)真侍晨,天皇抱(bao)圖(tu)。
靈(ling)寶天尊以靈(ling)寶之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)法,隨世(shi)度人(ren)。自元始開光,至于赤明(ming)元年,經九千九百億萬劫,度人(ren)有(you)如塵沙之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)眾,不(bu)可(ke)勝(sheng)量。凡遇有(you)緣好學之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)人(ren),請(qing)問(wen)疑難,靈(ling)寶天尊即不(bu)吝教(jiao)誨(hui)。天尊有(you)三(san)十(shi)六(liu)變、七十(shi)二化,人(ren)欲見之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi),隨感(gan)而應,千萬處可(ke)分身即到。
道(dao)教(jiao)宮觀(guan)里的(de)三清(qing)殿中,靈寶(bao)(bao)天(tian)尊常(chang)(chang)以手(shou)捧如意之像(xiang)居元(yuan)始天(tian)尊之左(zuo)側位(wei)(wei)。在(zai)道(dao)教(jiao)大(da)型齋醮禮儀中也(ye)多設有三清(qing)神(shen)位(wei)(wei),以靈寶(bao)(bao)天(tian)尊居元(yuan)始天(tian)尊之左(zuo)位(wei)(wei)。靈寶(bao)(bao)天(tian)尊之神(shen)誕日(ri)為夏(xia)至(zhi)日(ri),約在(zai)農歷五月中。民間于夏(xia)至(zhi)日(ri)之供奉常(chang)(chang)以靈寶(bao)(bao)天(tian)尊為主神(shen)。