 The conscious spirit inhabits the body as a flame does a candle. If the candle is properly tended and turned so that it follows the flame need not be extinguished until the candle is all used up. Of course, if the candle has no flame, it cannot become active in the void, nor can its ashes be lighted later. (fragment from Hongming Ji 5.18, Pokora [trans.] 1975: 76–77).