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2. The Eternal Life in the Divine Realm
I will continue to discuss the concept of Eternal Life in the human experience and how we can attain it.
The methods for transcending the mortal realm and entering the divine have been extensively taught by the leaders of various religions to their disciples. The religious scriptures left behind for humanity are a treasure trove of knowledge, containing countless teachings. It's impossible that one could spend their entire life studying these profound doctrines to the end.
In the context of Cao Dai, His Holiness Pham-Ho-Phap also taught for fifteen years, but he eventually stopped due to the spiritual limitations of the dignitaries and the laypeople who were present at the Holy See. They were still unclear about the mystical and profound teachings, and therefore, he had to pause his teachings.
It's a regret for me that he did not continue his teachings that day because even if only one person was there to listen and understand, he could have continued.
These teachings were not meant only for the contemporary audience but for future generations to use over an extended period in history. The teachings on these profound methods have been recorded by the Scribes Board and have been printed as books.
Today, I won't reiterate what he taught, but I'll share with you the things I witnessed and experienced, the things I saw with my own eyes and heard clearly in the spiritual journey of a fellow Daoist. I am firmly convinced that after leaving his physical body, his Divine Spirit (Spiritual body) will enter the Eternal Divine Realm.
Throughout his lifetime, this fellow Daoist followed the practices of the Third Epoch of Universal Redemption (Tam Kỳ Phổ Độ), serving as a divinely ordained dignitary at the Executive Board - under the branch of Lao Tzu.
I won't mention his name here, but I can assure you that his life was exceptionally virtuous and humble, without accumulating any material wealth from worldly beings. He only owned a simple mud-wall cottage, surrounded by bare land, and possessed a straightforward and upright character.
Throughout his spiritual journey, he remained unwavering in the face of adversity, never succumbing to evil influences.
Eventually, he passed away in what is known as a "dying unexpectedly" state. His sudden death on that night left a profound impact on the minds of the Caodaist believers. I was present to accompany his Divine Spirit as it returned to reunite with Divine Supreme (Đức Chí Tôn).
During the Requiem ceremony (lễ Cầu Siêu) at the Holy Temple, I witnessed a spiritual manifestation within the Divine Spirit of my fellow Daoist while his casket was still on the ground.
As the Requiem ceremony began, his Divine Spirit (Spiritual body) became distinctly visible, majestic, appearing above the casket, clad in the Great Ceremonial Robes. Three incense sticks (not the nine used in The Ritual of Salvation and Ascension - lễ Hành Pháp Độ Thăng) spontaneously manifested, each approximately 70-80 cm tall, their diameters are nearly the size of a big toe, emitting thick fragrant smoke.
This is not a real incense stick but a spiritual image that I perceived within the Divine Spirit. The incense stick represents the divine power of the Supreme Being, as well as that of the Spirits and Saints, which has manifested in this form. It is a concentrated mass of spiritual energy, a life force designed to assist the soul at the moment of leaving the physical body.
His Divine Spirit (Spiritual body) sat in a cross-legged posture above these three incense sticks, about half a metre apart, with the incense smoke enveloping his image.
After a while, the smoke dissipated, and his Divine Spirit stood up, facing toward the Heavenly Globe, specifically the Seance Temple (Cung Đạo), where the Octogonal Divine Palace (Bát Quái Đài) is located, to pay respects to the Divine Supreme.
Unlike other spirits that often enter the Seance Temple (Cung Đạo) that I knew before. His Divine Spirit simply remained above the casket after paying respects to the Divine Supreme. Then, he gradually ascended to the zenith of the Dome of Canonisation (Nghinh Phong Đài) and continued ascending into the sky.
The vast space around the Holy Temple at that moment was filled with an extraordinary solemnity and filled with divine vitality. I could sense and see his Divine Spirit ascending slowly and steadily from a distance.
He ascended to such a height that it almost made my eyes weary. Then, a large, white cloud suddenly appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. It naturally materialized, and his Divine Spirit stood atop that cloud, causing a slight depression in the cloud beneath.
I understood why there was a depression in that spot. This cloud was a divine manifestation of the Saints, transforming to support his ascent upon leaving the physical body. It was not an actual cloud.
While standing on the cloud, he turned his face towards the congregation gathered below, who were performing the memorial service at the Holy Temple for his elevation. He made a gesture of farewell and gratitude to the assembly.
I felt a sense of bliss within my spirit, perhaps that happiness was bestowed upon me due to the merits of my fellow Daoist's successful journey in his cycle of life, attaining enlightenment, and now returning to the Eternal Divine Realm graciously granted by the Divine Supreme. It seems that even the wealth and fame we may have in this earthly realm cannot compare to that abundant blessing.
During the Triều Thiên ceremony (Ascending to Heaven or Attending to the Audience of God ceremony), in the initial part of sending off his Divine Spirit, I witnessed the spiritual manifestations. I can confidently tell you that he has entered the Eternal Divine Realm.
I narrate this story as a witness to convey that the secret to his enlightenment was quite simple:
Throughout his life, he wholeheartedly fulfilled the duties of a divinely ordained dignitary, characterized by immense compassion, purity, without any worldly attachments. This was the secret to his attainment of Dao, which I witnessed and share with you today.
This strongly indicates that if we wholeheartedly obey the teachings of the Divine Supreme, fulfilling our spiritual duties, we will surely return to His side and experience happiness in the Eternal Divine Realm. The happiness is beyond words; the teaching can only reveal a fraction of it.
We must enter the realm of the spiritual world and live in harmony with it to fully understand its meaning, this is the path to spiritual ascension.
Next lecture, I will discuss with you the cycle of reincarnation for retribution.