2. The Supreme Being

When Heaven and Earth were not yet separated, in the existing space, there was only the essence of Nothingness.

It's called the essence of Nothingness because to human eyes, it appears as emptiness. In truth, within that emptiness, there existed an unformed source of life called the Self-Existent Being, meaning it exists on its own. There was nothing before it to give birth to it.

Within Nothingness, there was already a source of life, so it is said that from Nothingness ("Không"), there arose Something ("Có").

Humans have given various names to this source of life out of reverence. These names include titles like God, the Supreme Being, the Creator, the Divine Emperor, Allah, Jehovah.

That original source of life pervades the vast, miraculous, and profoundly clear universe. When this source of life began to stir, the form of the universe changed, creating a difference between two states:

• One in motion and
• The other previously still and obscure.

The process of creation began, and with it came the concept of time, with past and future.

The original, vague form of the universe transformed into two opposing states known as the "Thái Cực sinh Lưỡng Nghi" (Supreme Ultimate divides into Dual Principles), one being Yin and the other Yang.

Yang represents movement, while Yin represents stillness.

To say that "From Nothingness, a Master was born" means that within the emptiness of Nothingness, there was already an original source of life referred to as the Master.

"The Master's seat is the Supreme" means that this source of life rules throughout space. The seat refers to the place where it resides.

These are metaphorical expressions conveying a simple understanding of the origin and essence of the universe, commonly used in religious discourse. As for the phenomenon of how the past unfolded to shape the universe as it is today, it remains speculative in human knowledge.

So, in Caodaism, the term "Supreme Being" or "Master" refers to the original source of life in the universe. From this origin, all living beings, including humans, emerged.

The essence of Nothingness is truly divine and profoundly enlightened, hence it is referred to as the Divine Spirit, with the addition of "Master" to express reverence.

The "Divine Spirit" is God.