據《云(yun)笈(ji)七簽》引《洞真(zhen)大(da)洞真(zhen)經》稱,靈(ling)寶(bao)(bao)天尊(zun)系“玉(yu)晨之(zhi)精氣,九慶之(zhi)紫煙,玉(yu)輝煥耀,金映(ying)流真(zhen),結化含秀,苞凝(ning)元(yuan)神(shen),寄胎(tai)母(mu)氏,育形為人”。《靈(ling)寶(bao)(bao)略記》則稱“太上大(da)道(dao)君以開皇元(yuan)年托胎(tai)于(yu)西方綠那玉(yu)國(guo),寄孕于(yu)洪氏之(zhi)胞,凝(ning)神(shen)瓊(qiong)胎(tai)之(zhi)府三(san)千七百年,降(jiang)誕于(yu)其國(guo)郁察山浮羅之(zhi)岳(yue)丹玄之(zhi)阿側,名曰器(qi)度,字(zi)上開元(yuan)。及其長(chang),乃(nai)啟悟(wu)道(dao)真(zhen),期心高道(dao),坐(zuo)于(yu)枯(ku)桑之(zhi)下,精思百日而元(yuan)始天尊(zun)下降(jiang),授靈(ling)寶(bao)(bao)大(da)乘之(zhi)法十部妙經”。
靈寶天尊(zun)是大(da)道(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)化身之(zhi)一。《大(da)洞真經(jing)》云(yun)(yun):“上(shang)清高(gao)圣太上(shang)大(da)道(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)君者,蓋玉(yu)宸之(zhi)精氣,慶云(yun)(yun)之(zhi)紫煙,玉(yu)暉曜(yao)煥(huan),金映流真,結化含(han)秀,包(bao)凝立神,道(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)君即廣宣經(jing)箓,傳乎萬世。”《云(yun)(yun)笈七(qi)簽(qian)》卷三亦云(yun)(yun):“玉(yu)宸道(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)君者乃(nai)大(da)道(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)之(zhi)化身也,言(yan)其(qi)有不(bu)可以(yi)隨迎(ying),謂其(qi)無(wu)復存乎恍惚(hu),所(suo)以(yi)不(bu)有而有,不(bu)無(wu)而無(wu),視之(zhi)無(wu)象,聽之(zhi)無(wu)聲(sheng),于(yu)妙(miao)有妙(miao)無(wu)之(zhi)間大(da)道(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)存焉,道(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)君即審道(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)之(zhi)本,洞道(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)之(zhi)元,為道(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)之(zhi)炁。”
陶弘景(jing)編寫的《真靈位(wei)業(ye)圖(tu)》列靈寶天尊在第(di)二神階之中(zhong)位(wei),僅次于(yu)第(di)一神階中(zhong)位(wei)之元(yuan)始天尊。
自(zi)元(yuan)(yuan)始天(tian)(tian)(tian)尊處受經法以后(hou),上清靈寶天(tian)(tian)(tian)尊即輔佐元(yuan)(yuan)始天(tian)(tian)(tian)尊,居三十六天(tian)(tian)(tian)之第(di)二高位上清境(jing),在三十四天(tian)(tian)(tian)之上,治(zhi)蕊珠日闕(que),管七(qi)映紫房,金童玉女各侍衛三十萬。萬神入拜,五(wu)德把符(fu),上真侍晨,天(tian)(tian)(tian)皇抱圖。
靈(ling)寶天尊以靈(ling)寶之(zhi)(zhi)法,隨世度(du)人(ren)。自元始開光,至于赤明元年(nian),經九(jiu)千九(jiu)百(bai)億萬(wan)劫(jie),度(du)人(ren)有(you)如(ru)塵(chen)沙之(zhi)(zhi)眾,不可勝(sheng)量。凡遇有(you)緣好(hao)學之(zhi)(zhi)人(ren),請問疑難(nan),靈(ling)寶天尊即不吝(lin)教誨。天尊有(you)三十六(liu)變、七十二化,人(ren)欲(yu)見之(zhi)(zhi),隨感而應,千萬(wan)處可分身即到。
道教(jiao)宮觀里的三清(qing)殿中,靈寶(bao)天尊常以手(shou)捧(peng)如意之(zhi)(zhi)像居元(yuan)始天尊之(zhi)(zhi)左(zuo)側位。在道教(jiao)大型(xing)齋(zhai)醮禮(li)儀中也多設有三清(qing)神位,以靈寶(bao)天尊居元(yuan)始天尊之(zhi)(zhi)左(zuo)位。靈寶(bao)天尊之(zhi)(zhi)神誕日(ri)為(wei)(wei)夏至(zhi)日(ri),約在農歷(li)五月中。民間于夏至(zhi)日(ri)之(zhi)(zhi)供奉常以靈寶(bao)天尊為(wei)(wei)主神。