The term Cao Dai literally means "High Tower or Palace",
that is, the place where God reigns over the Universe. "Cao Dai"
refers to God the Father (The Supreme Being, the Creator, the Ultimate Reality
of the Universe). The followers of Duc Cao Dai are thus called
Caodaists (Duc means venerable).
The Cao Dai Religion's (or Caodaism's) official name is Dai Dao Tam
Ky Pho Do. Translated directly it means: The Third Great Universal
Religious Amnesty. (Dai Dao - "Great Way", Tam Ky
- "Third Period", Pho -"to announce" and Do
- "to save"). It will be a period of intense religious activity that
will see God and Humanity united in ways not yet imagined. The Third Amnesty
establishes a new Great Way for salvation. And the fundamental objective of
the Third Amnesty is the unity of all religions.
Throughout human history God the Father has revealed His Truth many times.
His Divine Message has been translated through the mouths of many great
prophets, but always these messages have relied on human frailty. The Age has
now come where He speaks to humanity directly.
The previous two Religious Amnesties saw the rise of Hinduism, Judaism,
Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity, Islam etc. Caodaism as the
embodiment of The Third Amnesty comes to unite the traditions of these Two
Periods. It does so guided directly by Duc Cao Dai (God the Father)
and the Divine Beings.
One of the early messages received from Him went as follows,
Formerly people of the world lacked means of transportation, therefore
they did not know each other…. Nowadays, all parts of the world are
explored: humanity, knowing itself better aspires to real peace. But
because of the very multiplicity of religions, humanity does not always
live in harmony. That is why I decided to unite all these religions into
One to bring them back to the primordial unity. (1926)
In the nineteenth century Spiritism re-awoke the religious life of Europe.
Great souls such as Madam Blavatsky, Alan Kardec and Victor Hugo opened new
vistas of religious possibility. In Vietnam the age-old traditions of Asian
divination and Taoist mediumship began to mix with the new traditions of
European Spiritism. This meeting of Eastern and Western traditions caused an
evolutionary leap in humanity's spiritual quest. Thus a strong communication
link was established between Heaven and Earth. It was through this special
link that God granted His Third Amnesty directly. Though it was announced to
the humble and grateful nation of Vietnam, The Third Amnesty is a gift to all.
Emphasising this objective of unity, inside every Cao Dai Temple, is a
representation of the Divine Contract of The Third Amnesty (The Third
Alliance). This contract between Heaven and Earth is written and presented to
humanity by the Venerable Saints, Victor Hugo, Sun Yat Sen and Trang Trinh
Nguyen Binh Khiem. Their mission is to guide humanity into the way of the
Third Amnesty. The contract is written in French: Dieu et Humanité Amour
et Justice; and in Chinese: Tian Shang Tian Xia Bo Ai Gong Ping.
This translates into English as: "God and Humanity [for] Love
and Justice."
Some History
From 1921 His Venerableness Ngo Van Chieu, a district head of the French
administration in Cochinchina, was the first disciple to worship and receive
messages from Duc Cao Dai. He received a vision of the Divine Eye
which is now the symbol for Duc Cao Dai as well as the focus for
worship on all Cao Dai altars. The Eye is a universally potent symbol of the
Divine. For each Caodaist the eye represents our spiritual heart. Thus
emanating from the eye is the light of the universe. This light is our spirit,
a part of God.
On Christmas Eve 1925 God identified Himself to the first group of Caodaist
mediums which included their Highnesses Pham Cong Tac, Cao Quynh Cu, and Cao
Hoai Sang. These great souls were to play an essential role in the growing
religion.
On 7 Oct 1926 His Excellency Le Van Trung (a former elected official of the
Colonial Council of Cochinchina and a member of the Conseil de Gouvernement de
l'Indochine), and a leading group of 27 Caodaists, the first disciples of Cao
Dai, signed the "Declaration of the Founding of the Cao Dai
Religion" and presented it to the French Governor of Cochinchina. The
declaration also contained a list of 247 believers.
On Thursday 18 November 1926 (14th day of 10th month of the Year Binh Dan/Year
of the Tiger/Shengxiao) an inauguration ceremony took place at Tu Lam Pagoda,
Go Ken (Tay Ninh Province, South Vietnam). The ceremony was planned for three
days, but the arrival of an overwhelming number of people who responded to the
call of the New Religion, caused the ceremony to last for three months.
From this auspicious beginning, Caodaism expanded and was welcomed with
much ardour by the people of Vietnam. In the first four years, the Religion
attracted half a million people. This demonstrated that the world was ready to
receive The Third Amnesty into their hearts.
Communication with the Spiritual Realm is made possible by special seances
held in the Great Divine Temple. Such techniques as ouija-board and corbeille-ŕ-bec
(spiritualist writing instrument) are operated by a number of especially
selected mediums and together they convey the words of the Divine World to the
Religion.
Today Caodaist communities are spread across Asia (Cambodia, Japan), North
America, Europe, and Australia . . . . Believers now number about five
million.
Organisation
The Phap-Chanh-Truyen (The Religious Constitution of Caodaism) was
delivered to the Religion as a series of Divine Messages. The Tan-Luat
(The New Canonical Codes), was corrected and approved by the Spiritual Realm.
These are the guiding texts of the Religion's organisation. Caodaism is
organised into three powers. The first power is the Bat-Quai-Dai.
This is the heavenly council, that is, the Spirit and Soul of the new
religion. This Council is directed by Duc Cao Dai (God the Father). The
Hiep-Thien-Dai is the medium's branch of the religion and the
Legislative Body. Headed by the Ho-Phap (protector of the laws and of
justice), this section communicates with the spiritual realm directly in order
to receive Divine Messages. It also deals with the complaints of the
disaffected in order to ensure justice in the Religion. The third, or
Executive Body, is called the Cuu-Trung-Dai which takes charge of the
administration of the Religion and its missionary activities. This branch is
headed by the Giao-Tong or Pope.
All Caodaists are able to be involved in the priesthood and executive of
the Religion. This includes both men and women who are of a virtuous and
upstanding nature. The process of election to these positions is based on
democratic procedures which have to be sanctified by the Spiritual Realm.
The Holy City of Caodaism
Ninety kilometres north-west of Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) in Tay Ninh
Province is the Caodaist Holy See. This Great City of God is an incredible
demonstration of Universal Love. At the centre of this city stands the Great
Divine Temple. This Temple, like the Religion, is a fusion of world
influences. As well as being a major centre of pilgrimage, the Caodaist Holy
See is also one of Vietnam's major tourist attractions.
There are also many splendid local temples throughout Vietnam and around
the world.
The Fundamental Principles of Caodaism
From a moral point of view Caodaism reminds people of their duties
towards themselves, their family, their society (our broader family), and
humanity (the universal family).
From an ethical point of view Caodaism encourages us to renounce our
attachment to the material world, while still maintaining a balance between
our duties to humanity and the planet, and the following of the Way.
From a spiritual point of view, Caodaism confirms, in harmony with all
religions, the existence of our souls and the spirit world. Furthermore
Caodaism offers a step-by-step path that leads to full spiritual completeness.
Worship
Caodaists worship God the Father and the Divine Beings with all their
heart. They also venerate the great religious prophets of history and honour
the ancestors.
There are four daily ceremonies, that is, at 6:00, Midday, 18:00 and
Midnight either at the temple or in front of the home altar. More important
ceremonies are held at the beginning and middle of each lunar month. There are
special aniversary ceremonies for: God the Father (Duc Chi Ton, Duc Cao
Dai), Universal Mother (Duc Phat Mau), the founders of the
world's faiths and the original dignitaries of the Religion.
Ceremonial prescriptions such as actions, dress and music were organised in
detail by God the Father. These include ceremonies for initiations, marriages
and funerals. Particular attention is paid to death and it has been revealed
to the religion how the soul journeys towards heaven and how, on earth, co-religionists
can pray for souls to help them on their way.
Life of a Caodaist Adept
Caodaism does not encourage its adepts to renounce the world, rather
it suggests that, in parallel with their religious obligations, they discharge
their familial and social duties before they dedicate themselves completely to
the faith. At the most fundamental level, adepts are asked to follow the basic
values of all world religions as summed up in the five interdictions: do not
kill living beings, do not be dishonest, do not commit adultery, do not
over-indulge - especially in alcohol, and do not deal in falsehoods. Adepts
must observe a vegetarian diet of six days a month (for the first six months
after becoming a believer) and thereafter for ten days a month. Those in the
more elevated sections of the Religion (Thuong-Thua) must practice
vegetarianism at all times
In addition to the above interdictions Caodaism encourages social harmony
through the ancient Confucian values: Ren/Nhan a highly regarded
Confucian term meaning benevolence, where one must understand his or her
position in life and pay respect to one's fellow beings, Yi/Nghia that
is, the upholding of righteousness and honesty in all that we do in both
business and affairs of a personal nature, Li/Le which refers to the
revered rituals of politeness and respect that encourages social harmony, Zhi/Tri
that is, moral knowledge where one must know right from wrong, and Xin/Tin
which is faithfulness - where we must all be faithful to our promises and to
our filial and social duties.
To translate these ideals into reality, Caodaists are asked to contribute
their good works to the Religion and its charity organisations (Lap Cong),
spread the word of the Third Amnesty (Lap Ngon), and uphold the
Religion's virtues (Lap Duc).
Ultimately bringing all these principles into balance, as a guide for a
fulfilling religious life, allows the adept to move onto the next phase of
spiritual, or esoteric, development. This esoteric stage allows each adept to
seek unity of purpose, through meditation, in the Three Treasures ( San Bao /
Tam Buu) of our nature. These are elements of our selves: our body (vitality,
the root of essence and life/ching/tinh), our energy (mind, life-force,
the gateway of life and death/chi/khi), and our soul (spirit , director
of our life/shen/than). When all these treasures of our nature are
unified, the adept can then break through the cycles of karma and
reincarnation, and be united with the Divine.
Some Sacred Texts
· Kinh Thien Dao Va The Dao (Prayers of the
Heavenly and the Earthly Way) - These are prayers for Worship and for Daily
Living.
· Phap Chanh Truyen (The Religious Constitution
of Caodaism) - Contains information on the election of officials, their powers
and ritual dress.
· Tan Luat (The New Canonical Codes) - These are
the laws regulating religious, secular and monastic life.
· Thanh Ngon Hiep Tuyen (Compilation of Divine
Messages)
· The Sermons of His Holiness Ho Phap Pham Cong Tac
In Summary:
- Caodaism is a Great House of Faith that welcomes in all peoples of the world
for the establishment of a universal brother-and-sisterhood without
distinction of creed, race, sex, social background or colour.
-
Caodaism is organised and administered on both Divine and Democratic
principles.
-
Men and Women play an essential part in both the administration and priesthood
of the Religion.
-
Caodaism preaches world unity. It spreads the offer of peace made by God
through the Third Alliance.
-
Caodaism presents the world with a real chance for Unity and understanding
between the Great Cultures of East and West.
-
By offering a way of life that concentrates on the harmony of all religions,
Caodaism can also offer harmony to a troubled world, providing spiritual
solutions for significant world problems such as racism, intolerance and
ignorance.
-As a Great House of Faith, Caodaism combines the teachings of all the great
religious traditions and opens before us the Great Way to paradise.
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