Cao-Dai Rituals - Worship and Prayer
- Arrangement of the CaoDai Altar (God's Altar)

 

The following illustration is the basis pattern of God's Altar. Please see the picture of God's Altar under ILLUSTRATION. On the altar the following symbols are displayed:

 

- The Divine Eye / Thien Nhan is the single common characteristic of every CaoDai/God's Altar. The Divine Eye became the main worshipping symbol of the Religion after His Holiness Ngo Van Chieu, the first CaoDai Disciple, saw it in a vision at Phu Quoc (a small island in the Gulf of Siam) in 1919. God's message (25 February 1926) said: " The eye is the principle of the heart, from which comes a source of light. Light is the spirit. The spirit itself is God ". In addition the Divine Eye or the All Seeing Eye of God in the Cao-Dai Temples is normally formed within a triangle, and serves to remind the Cao-Dai believers that the Supreme Being/God witnesses everything, everywhere, all the time.

- The lamp (Den Thai Cuc) symbolizes the Universal Monad which is the eternal light of the universe (Ngoi Thai Cuc). It should be always lit.

- The three offerings are the three jewels (tam buu) or best elements of human beings. Flowers represent the essence of all matter/life matter/ching (Tinh). Wine represents the vital energy/life energy/chi (Khi). Tea represents the spirit/shen (Than). The three offerings (Dang Tam Buu) symbolize the main concern of the worshippers, that is the offering of their total self to God.

- The two candles represent Yin and Yang (female/negative/am, male/positive/duong). The two candles are lit at the beginning of the ceremony, the left (positive) must be lit first.

- The five incense sticks represent five primary elements of the earth - metal/kim, wood (plant)/moc, water/thuy, fire/hoa, earth/tho. The five incense sticks also represent the five different levels of spiritual development available to human beings for attainment: purity, meditation, wisdom, superior/universal knowledge, and karmic liberation.

- Worship

There are four daily ceremonies (Cung Tu Thoi): - 12:00 a.m. (Thoi Ty), 6:00 a.m. (Thoi Meo), 12:00 p.m. (Thoi Ngo), 6:00 p.m. (Thoi Dau). Tea is offered in the morning and evening, wine is offered at noon and midnight. On major ceremonial days (Dai Le or Tieu Le), and the 1st and 15th day of each lunar month, there are three offerings (dang tam buu): fruits and flowers, wine and tea. The four services must be observed in Temples (Thanh-That) as well as in homes. For believers a daily minimum of one act of obeisance before the God's altar is required. During the period of worship, the believers must wear distinctive white robes (ao dai trang) with the distinctive black head covering(khan dong den) for men. On ceremonial occasions, all dignitaries and believers must wear special ceremonial dress and head coverings which accord with their various hierarchies.

The following ceremonial is practised by worshippers at regular services:

1. Worshippers/Followers face and salute one another by bowing once. It is noted that when the believers worship in the temples, males worship on the left of God's Altar and females on the right of God's Altar.

2. Worshippers stand in position according to rank, before God's altar. They respectfully bow three times, with their hands joined together (bat an Ty). ( Bat an Ty - The thumb of the left hand is curved downwards into the palm to the base of the third finger. The fingers of the left hand are curved firmly around the thumb. The right hand is then clasped around the left, and the tip of the right thumb is then brought down onto the base joint of the left's index finger).The joined hands are raised to the forehead (symbolizing respect to God/Thien), then lowered toward the knees (symbolizing respect to Earth/Dia), and then rest in front of the chest (symbolizing respect to Humanity (Spiritual Community)/Nhon) at the end of each obeisance.

3. Worshippers kneel before God's altar. It is noted that instead of kneeling, worshippers are allowed to sit (cross legged) before God's altar at the Great Divine Temple/Den Thanh.

4. After kneeling/sitting, participants put their joined hands (bat an Ty) in the middle of the forehead and silently pray Nam Mo Phat (i.e. making a commitment of self to God/Duc Cao Dai). They then move their joined hands to the left and silently pray Nam Mo Phap (i.e. making a commitment to God's teaching, Dharma), and finally move their joined hands to the right and silently pray Nam Mo Tang (i.e. making commitment to Spiritual Community / Humanity)

5. Worshippers respectfully offer spoken greetings to God / Duc Cao Dai, the three Lords of the Earth (Tam Tran) who are representing three main religions (Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism), and to all Buddhas, Saints, Holy Ones, and Superior Spirits. They address their prayer in the following order :

- Nam-mo Cao-Dai Tien-Ong Dai-Bo-Tat Ma-Ha-Tat (God)

- Nam-mo Quan-The-Am Bo-Tat Ma-Ha-Tat (Kuan Yin Bodhisattava, Goddess of Mercy)

- Nam-mo Ly Dai Tien-Truong Kiem Giao-Tong Dai-Dao Tam-Ky Pho-Do (Spiritual Pope Li-T'ai-Pai)

- Nam-mo Hiep-Thien Dai-De Quan-Thanh De-Quan (Hsieh T'ien Ta Ti/Xie Tian Da Di Guan Sheng Di Jun/Guan Sheng Di Jun, Kuan Kung/Guan Gong)

- Nam-mo chu Phat, chu Tien, chu Thanh, chu Than (Buddhas, Saints, Holy Ones, and Superior Spirits ).

The worshippers should bow at the end of each prayer.

6. Incense is offered (Niem Huong)

7. Opening Prayers are offered (Khai Kinh)

8. Chants are sung to:

- God / Duc Cao-Dai (Kinh Ngoc-Hoang Thuong-De)

- Buddha / Nhien-Dang Co-Phat (Buddhism, Thich-Giao)

- Thai-Thuong Dao-Quan, Lao Tze (Tien-Giao, Taoism)

- Confucius (Confucianism, Thanh-Giao)

9. Prayers accompany the offering of flowers, wine and tea.

10. Closing prayers (Ngu Nguyen) are offered

- Nam-Mo Nhut-nguyen: Dai-Dao hoang-khai (May the Religion/Great Way be proclaimed widely)

- Nam Mo Nhi-nguyen: Pho-do chung-sanh (May all living beings be saved)

- Nam mo Tam-nguyen: Xa toi de tu (Grant forgiveness to all Your disciples)

- Nam mo Tu-nguyen: Thien-ha thai-binh (Peace for all mankind)

- Nam mo Ngu-nguyen: Thanh-That an ninh (Peace and security for all Temples/local congregations).

The following outlines the daily rituals, monthly rituals, and annual rituals of Caodaism:

DAILY RITUALS

12:00 midnight (Thoi Ty), 6:00 a.m.(Thoi Meo), 12:00 noon (Thoi Ngo), 6:00 p.m. (Thoi Dau)

MONTHLY RITUALS

1st and 15th days of each lunar month.

According to the New Religious Code (Tan Luat), "Twice a month, the first and the fifteenth day of the lunar calendar, the believers must meet at the Thanh-That (Temple, Holy House) of the local area to take part in the ceremonies and listen to the teachings. Exception can be made for those with reasonable excuses".

ANNUAL RITUALS

According to Kinh THIEN-DAO va THE-DAO (Toa-Thanh Tay-Ninh, 1975), the following ceremonies and anniversaries are held at the Temples. All ceremonies are followed in the lunar calendar except Aniversary of Jesus Christ in December.

- 1 Month 1: Ceremony of Nguon Dan /New Year (The return of Spirits)

- 9 Month 1: Anniversary of God (Duc Chi Ton, Duc Cao Dai)

- 15 Month 1: Ceremony of Thuong Nguon (Beginning of year).

- 15 Month 1: Ceremony of Ngai Truong Tiep-Phap

- 22 Month 1: Ceremony of Ngai Tran Khai-Phap

- 29 Month 1: Ceremony of Phoi-Thanh Bui-Ai-Thoai

- 15 Month 2: Anniversary of Duc Thai Thuong Lao-Quan

- 19 Month 2: Anniversary of Duc Phat Quan-Am (Quan Yin)

- 1 Month 3: Ceremony of His Holiness Cao Thuong-Pham

- 26 Month 3: Ceremony of His Holiness Cao Thuong-Sanh

- 8 Month 4: Anniversary of Duc Phat Thich Ca (Buddha)

- 8 Month 4: Ceremony of Ba Nu Dau-Su Lam-Huong-Thanh

- 10 Month 4: Ceremony of His Holiness Pham Ho-Phap (disincarnation)

- 5 Month 5: Ceremony of birthday of His Holiness Pham Ho-Phap

- 11 Month 5: Ceremony of Ba Dau-Su Nguyen-Huong-Hieu

- 22 May (Western Calendar): Anniversary of Duc Nguyet-Tam Chon-Nhon (His Eminence Victor Hugo)

- 22 Month 5: Ceremony of Ngai Cao Tiep-Dao

- 24 Month 6: Anniversary of Duc Quan-Thanh De-Quan (Kuan Sheng Ti Chun/Guan Sheng Di Jun, Kuan Kung/Guan Gong)

- 15 Month 7: Ceremony of Trung Nguon (Mid Year)

- 21 Month 7: Ceremony of Ngai Dau-Su Thai-Tho-Thanh

- 15 Month 8: Ceremony of Hoi-Yen Dieu-Tri

- 18 Month 8: Anniversary of Duc Ly Giao-Tong (Spiritual Pope Li T'ai Pai)

- 27 Month 8: Anniversary of Duc Khong-Thanh (Confucius)

- 4 Month 9: Ceremony of Ngai Bao-Van Phap-Quan

- 7 Month 9: Ceremony of Ngai Nguyen Bao-Phap

- 1 Month 10: Ceremony (Memorial) of Phoi-Thanh Pham-Van-Mang

- 13 Month 10: Ceremony of His Holiness Thuong-Trung-Nhut (First Caodaist Pope (interim))

- 15 Month 10: Ceremony of Le Ha-Nguon (End of Year), and Commemorarion of Dai-Dao Tam-ky Pho-Do (Opening/Anniversry of the inauguration of Caodaism)

- 19 Month 10: Ceremony of Ngai Ca Bao-Dao

- 25 December: Anniversary of Jesus Christ (Christmas)

- 24 Month 12: Ceremony of Dua Chu Thanh (departure of Spirits)

Caodaists have the duty to perfect their spiritual life everyday to let God's Teachings, universal love/God's love and equality permeate their thoughts. This is expressed by their thoughtful feeling and action. As mentioned above, many ways are available to help and guide the Caodaists to perfect their spiritual life. To follow the New Religious Code, Secular Rules and prayer in daily services and in the moment of doing different things will keep the Caodaists' thoughts and feelings close to the virtue of God and Divine Beings, as well as being awakening. Besides the prayers, chants which are chanted to glorify the Supreme Being, Holy Mother, Buddhas, Saints and Angels at 6:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m. and 12:00 a.m. in daily services; the Caodaists also practise other prayers such as: Prayers for Repentance (Kinh Sam Hoi), Prayers for Self-correction (Gioi Tam Kinh), Prayers for raising the work and virtue of Divine Beings (Kinh Xung Tung Than Thanh Tien Phat), Prayers at Marriage (Kinh Hon Phoi), Prayers at Funerals and after the Funerals [Kinh Khi Da Chet Roi, Kinh Tan-Liem, Kinh Cau Sieu, Kinh Khi Dua Linh Cuu, Kinh Ha Huyet, Kinh Khai Cuu, Kinh De Nhat( & Nhi, Tam, Tu, Ngu, Luc, That, Bat, Cuu) Cuu], Kinh Tieu Tuong, Kinh Dai Tuong, Prayers to Call for Divine Help when Facing Suffering (Kinh Cuu Kho), Prayers at Baptism of the Soul (Kinh Giai Oan ), Prayers When Getting Up (Kinh Khi Thuc Day), Prayers When Going Out (Kinh Di Ra Duong), Prayers when Coming Home (Kinh Khi Ve), Prayers Before Study (Kinh Vao Hoc), Prayers Before Eating (Kinh Vao An Com), Prayers After Eating (Kinh Khi An Com Roi), Prayers Before Go To Bed (Kinh Khi Di Ngu), Prayers for Beginning of Religious Meeting (Kinh Nhap Hoi), Prayers when Finishing a Meeting (Kinh Xuat Hoi), Prayers for Speakers Before Giving a Religious Teaching (Kinh Thuyet Phap), and others.