Immortality, Immortality?

Question: "Old sir, can you live forever if you do this?" The old gentleman asked: "Is it possible that the flame of the lamp will stay on?" The answer: "Just add oil and refill the core." The man shook his head: "When the oil runs out and the lamp dries up, it will be vain. Do you know that heaven and earth are furnaces, creation is work, yin and yang are charcoal, and all things are copper?" Then he was given a white jade and gilded lamp, with a flame as bright as a bean. "Go and look after this lamp. When you understand what true immortality is, look at your original mind again." Spiritual energy nourishes all things. Is it sentient by heaven, or will it eventually become ashes? When a mortal cultivates immortality, is he cultivating his own path, or is he cultivating destiny in the palm of others' hands?