Cao Dai Amid the End Times.

Greetings, Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Having been absent for quite some time on this platform, today I would like to humbly join you, dear devotees, to share some thoughts.

After many days of pondering and contemplating the current state of the world, my humble hands, though feeble, seek to offer some solace for the endless suffering of humanity.

With a heart devoted to the Divine, I wish to contribute alongside you, dear devotees, some reflections on the Great Faith of Caodaism in the face of the impending catastrophe that humanity is entering into, which I shall refer to as the "End Times". ("Lower Age Triad" or "Lower Epoch")

As we all know, our benevolent Supreme Being, out of boundless compassion for His children, opened a path of salvation through the miraculous "co but" (divine writing) for all sentient beings, irrespective of their religious beliefs or affiliations.

In our search for spiritual truth, I borrow the words of the Great Spiritual Leader of Caodaism (ĐỨC LÝ ĐẠI TIÊN TRƯỞNG GIÁO TÔNG ĐẠI ĐẠO TAM KỲ PHỔ ĐỘ) in a Divine Discourse:

"The doctrine of the Heavenly Way brings happiness to all, to every class of sentient beings, not exclusive to any group, religion, or faction. It is only exclusive to those who are driven by desires that harm the intellect".

Furthermore, the universal teachings of the Great Faith are not limited to any particular group. Anyone can follow them, as long as they understand its path, purpose, and noble principles.

This endeavor is not confined by age, whether one belongs to a Holy Church or Holy See, whether one has followed the faith for many years or is a newcomer to it, regardless of one's age in the faith.

It has come, it is coming, and it will come to those who are attuned to the Divine Will, who seek to learn the principles of the faith, who wholeheartedly propagate it.

In alignment with the Divine Will, the Cao Dai Historical Institute has expanded its forum with the intention of connecting the children of the Great Faith to serve together on the path of Holiness.

According to the cyclical laws of the universe, the transition between ages, known as "Ngươn" has now brought humanity into the final phase of the Lower Age Triad, preparing for a new Age, the Upper Age Tetra.

Throughout human history, people have witnessed the rise and fall of numerous civilizations, leading to an increasing sense of arrogance, self-conceit, and a relentless pursuit of power and personal gain.

The impending decline and destruction will come to humanity in the form of diseases, floods, fires, earthquakes, and failed harvests due to drought, regardless of the pinnacle of civilization that humans arrogantly consider themselves masters of.

Some individuals, driven by their desire for power, have resorted to heinous acts of genocide. Ethics have lost their place in a troubled society.

As humanity moves further away from the Divine, due to their self-destructive conflicts and never-ending animosity, according to the Law of Karma, that civilization must face its demise.

And the Supreme Creator must frown upon the calamities wrought by greed, hatred, and ignorance.

Out of His boundless compassion, our Heavenly Father could not bear to witness His children suffer through the cycles of birth, death, and suffering dictated by the Law of Creation, Preservation, Destruction, and Reintegration.

Therefore, He opened a third path known as the "ĐẠI ĐẠO TAM KỲ PHỔ ĐỘ" to save all sentient beings, allowing them to return to Him and reconnect with their sacred origins.

In the midst of a world gone astray, where humanity is in turmoil, the Supreme Being calls upon us to use love to alleviate all suffering, and the principles of Divine Justice are manifest through Cause and Effect in the world.

Many speak of Cause and Effect, but:

The subsequent cycles of reincarnation serve as lessons for humanity to evolve beyond their pain. Yet, some continue to carry the burden of hatred and jealousy from one lifetime to the next, donning the garment of "worldly ego".

How can humans return to their Original Source?

In the shared aspiration for return, Caodaist disciples do not discriminate based on religion, skin color, or ethnicity; they collectively ignite the spirit of Universal Love, illuminating the Great Faith's teachings through their own daily lives.

The principle of Oneness, "All things are of one essence" or "Myriad of differences all converge in unity" guides Caodaist disciples to the Source of loving energy, which is the primal energy from the vast universe that all sentient beings can partake in.

This loving energy is referred to as Buddha Nature in Buddhism, Supreme Reality in Taoism, and Caodaism understands this primordial energy as the Divine Radiance bestowed by the Supreme Being in every individual, known as the Lesser Divine Radiance.

Taoism calls this the Great Radiance, and Confucianism calls it the Heavenly Principle.

In essence, all religions converge in their philosophical pursuit to reunite humanity in the concept of "Reverting to the Original State."

By using love to eradicate hatred and understanding to dissolve the boundaries of "self" and "others" individuals must transcend the realm of worldly ego to demonstrate their spiritual progress.

The earthly plane is a place for learning and evolution, and in Caodaism, it is often said that the world is a school for reaping the results of karma. By incarnating and then transcending (Heavenly Dao), Caodaist believers must contribute and cultivate virtue.

Contribution here means serving fellow beings without waiting for divine blessings. While some ascetics may renounce material possessions, they still seek recognition and status among humanity. This is a form of exchange, and the desire remains.

True transformation, both in material and spiritual aspects, occurs when one sets aside personal ambition through selflessness.

Work involves self-improvement, learning, and studying the scriptures of the Faith to deeply comprehend its doctrines.

While refining one's character, individuals must also serve as shining examples for those around them through daily activities aligned with the tenets of the Faith.

Mastery involves nurturing the spirit through moments of connection with the Holy Beings (daily worship).

Bodhisattva Quan Yin once imparted the following in a Divine Discourse:

•  1. First, make sure that the perisperits are close to the Holy Beings to ensure their brilliance.

•  2. Second, earnestly implore the Holy Great Father forgive your sins and the sins of all sentient beings.

•  3. Third, when performing ceremonies, your heart must be filled with feelings. Feelings must come first, and then responses will follow naturally.

•  4. Fourth, when your heart is filled with feelings, your compassion will expand, and the enhancement of your intellectual and spiritual capacity will lead to enlightenment."

His holiness Hộ Pháp taught:

In the spirit of Unity with Heaven and Earth, guiding humanity back to its Sacred Source, Caodaist disciples are determined to undertake the mission of spreading the Great Faith, enlightening and liberating all sentient beings, and bringing about a world of Great Unity.

Today, I have shared some rudimentary thoughts, and I thank you, dear brothers and sisters.

I wish you all inner peace and spiritual clarity.

We pray that the Holy Divine Mother and Father bestow grace upon all sentient beings, delivering them from suffering.

Here is a poem titled "Divine Grace" manifests through Hien-Tai Đỗ Trường Quang: