Ways of Serving in Caodaism

 

Within the structures mentioned above, after becoming followers, adherents have many ways of serving which Religious Laws reserve for them. They may enter either the Cuu-Trung-Dai/the Executive Body or the Hiep-Thien-Dai/the Legislative Body. According to Phap Chanh Truyen (The Religious Constitution of Caodaism), followers may be elected and hold a post if they can prove their capacity in terms of deeds, words and virtue. Nominations and promotions in the episcopal hierarchy are first submitted to the Popular Council/Hoi Nhon Sanh. Then they are submitted to the Sacerdotal Council/Hoi Thanh. They are also submitted to the High Council/Thuong Hoi, and finally must be approved by God or by the Spiritual Pope Li T'ai Pai (Duc Ly Giao-Tong). Almost all the positions in the Caodaist hierarchy can be replaced by election, except those titles directly appointed by God (Duc Cao-Dai) or Divine Authority through spiritism (co but). The high dignitaries of the Legislative Body (Hiep-Thien-Dai) such as Ho-Phap, Thuong-Pham, Thuong-Sanh, and the twelve Lords of the Zodiac (Thap Nhi Thoi Quan) are directly appointed by God.

According to Phap-Chanh-Truyen/the Religious Constitution of Caodaism - "The dignitaries of the two Colleges (of Men and Women) of the Cuu-Trung-Dai/Executive Body are invested in the Temple of the Divine Alliance (Hiep-Thien-Dai), either through their own merit, or through designation by means of a medium (direct investiture), or through an organised election before the dignitaries of the Hiep-Thien-Dai, in order to avoid all fraud or partiality. What is more, with the assistance of these dignitaries it is permissible to consult the Spiritual Pope or Our Divine Master to know whether those elected are worthy of their rank. Thus before official notification, all dignitaries must be presented for the approval of the Giao-Tong/Pope or of our Divine Master".

  • - "The Papal Throne/Giao-Tong is in the power of Legislative Cardinals/Chuong- Phap and the Cardinals/Dau-Su through the universal vote of the adepts, except when the Giao-Tong/Pope is chosen by our Divine Master (direct investiture)".

  • - "The Cardinals/Dau-Su are elected to the rank of Legislative Cardinals/Chuong- Phap through the vote of their colleagues (the other two Cardinals)".

  • - "The Archbishops/Phoi-Su are elected to the rank of Cardinal by the vote of their thirty-six colleagues".

  • - "The Bishops/Giao-Su are elected to the rank of Archbishops by the vote of their seventy-two colleagues".

  • - "The Priests/Giao-Huu are elected to the rank of Bishops by the vote of their 3000 colleagues".

  • - "The Student-Priests/Le-Sanh are elected to the rank of Priests by the vote of all their colleagues".

  • - "The disciples who aspire to the rank of Student-Priest are elected by the vote of all Faithful, except in the situation when dignitaries are chosen by Divine Voice".

  • - "The Chanh-Tri-Su are elected by the vote of Pho-Tri-Su and Thong-Su. The Pho- Tri-Su and Thong-Su are elected by the vote of the adepts".

Under Hiep-Thien-Dai/Legislative Body, Phuoc Thien /the Charitable Organisation is another way of serving in Caodaism. That is the path of twelve divine ranks (Minh Duc, Tan Dan, Thinh Thien, Hanh Thien, Giao Thien, Chi Thien, Dao Nhon, Chon Nhon, Hien Nhon, Thanh Nhon, Tien Tu, Phat Tu). The total number of dignitaries in each rank of the Charitable Organisation is unlimited. A follower who has fulfilled his/her duty for three years may be raised to the next rank. The Charitable Organisation is the major agency for social services. At the Holy See, the Charitable Organisation has responsibility for and supervision of a hospital, homes for the elderly, an orphanage, the high school, musicians, acolytes and choristers. The Organisation's official representatives operate at the same levels as the Executive Body, and each local congregation has a "local charitable committee" (Ban Cai Quan) whose responsibility is to care for the social needs of the local community. The "local charitable committees" with believers normally build Dien Tho Phat Mau/Holy Mother Temples for the dedication of worship of the Holy Mother (Universal Mother/ Duc Phat Mau).