The Cavern Mysterious and Numinous Treasure Scripture of the Dharma Candle
Author: Unknown
Judging from its textual content, this scripture is thought to have been composed in the late Northern and Southern Dynasties or the Sui-Tang period.
The scripture is divided into ten chapters, expounding the methods of cultivating the body and mind through fasting, abstinence, and quiet contemplation. It asserts that form, qi (vital energy), and spirit are the three core elements of human life, and they are interdependent—“when the spirit fades, the qi decays; when the qi decays, the form perishes”. Therefore, those who study the Dao should cultivate their bodies, rectify their minds, cherish their spirits, and guard their qi.
Its cultivation methods include:
- Fasting and abstinence combined with quiet contemplation
- Turning inward to listen and observe one’s inner self
- Maintaining inner purity and a solemn demeanor
The scripture also states that “pure fasting and uprightness” are the essential methods for governing the body and rectifying the mind: fasting serves to maintain solemnity, while uprightness serves to rectify the mind. It notes that “fasting and abstinence keep inner disturbances at bay, and proper demeanor guards against external harms”. This theory originates from The Cavern Mysterious and Numinous Treasure Fasting Discourse: The Rite of the Light Candle, Precepts, Punishments, Lamps, and Prayers by Lu Xiujing of the Southern Dynasties.
This scripture was adapted by later generations from the “Treatise on the Dharma Candle” chapter of that work, hence its name The Scripture of the Dharma Candle.
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