gistfile1.txt

mydata.lua:
return { n = 1 }

nginx.conf:
location /lua {
     content_by_lua '
         local d = require "mydata"
         d.n = d.n + 1
         ngx.say(d.n)
     ';
 }
 
# curl http://lua.cz/lua
2
# curl http://lua.cz/lua
3

(beer)