by Dongbin Lü
First published 1991
This esoteric treatise preserves ancient wisdom that traveled from Persian Zarathustra traditions through Egyptian Hermetic teachings to eighth century China. Lu Yen, a Taoist adept also called "Guest of the Cavern," recorded these oral teachings on wooden tablets after centuries of transmission by word of mouth. The Religion of Light, which Lu Yen led, maintained these practices that reportedly enabled Lu Tzu to join the Eight Immortals. The text presents methods and ideas that bridge Eastern and Western mystical traditions, tracing a lineage from Zoroastrian Persia through Hermetic Egypt to Chinese Taoism. Readers encounter teachings that span continents and centuries, offering practical approaches to spiritual transformation rooted in this cross-cultural synthesis of ancient wisdom.
Genres: alchemy, religion, spirituality, eastern-philosophy, ancient, mysticism
Vibes: atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: lineage, practical-approaches
Setting: China, Persia, Egypt
Period: 8th Century
162 pages · Hardcover · Routledge & Kegan Paul