8. Mind Refining and Purifying  

For anyone trapped in the cycle of birth and death, carrying this mortal body, inheriting blood from their parents, they must bear the ancestral debts passed down and must eat to live and clothe themselves to be well. It's not easy to break free from the demands of the body's worldly desires.

This mortal body, due to the bloodline of one's parents, takes its form. Even one's wise and intelligent mind must be opened up by the sacred authority. The act of spiritual cultivation is to harmonize the body and soul in order to develop in a balanced way the three elements of Essence, Energy, and Spirit, known as "luyện kỷ".

The practice of "luyện kỷ" is a proactive way to follow the third path of the "Đại Đạo" (Third Great Universal Amnesty), with the ultimate goal of opening the "Bát Quái Đài" (Octogonal Divine Palace) in this world, where the divine spirit has the power to leave the physical body and connect with the Great and Holy Beings to attain liberation.

Those who follow this path must reduce their karmic burdens through serving all living beings in greate efforts, adhere strictly to moral principles for themselves to avoid creating new negative karma.

They must also preserve the vital energy, making it strong, pure, and tranquil, allowing the Divine Light to illuminate their earthly selves, guiding them back to the sacred origin, which is Heaven.

Each individual has hidden secrets within that must be explored and continuously learned to awaken true wisdom.

The development of consciousness each day allows for the gradual acquisition of the mystical powers of Creation, until one day, the Supreme Being determines that this mortal body has enough spiritual essence and virtues to become a Bodhisattva, Immortal, or Saint. Then, the spiritual cultivation of a lifetime will not be in vain.

Understanding the laws of God even a little is not enough to easily gain access to the Divine and Holy Beings through vague and pessimistic methods without any action.

Life and Dao are just the two sides of the same hand, that is the essence of existence. Whether one lives according to worldly desires or follows the inner spiritual light, it all falls within the cycle of creation and repayment.

It's like an exam; if you don't take the exam, how can you expect to pass? The challenge for practitioners is to have the great efforts of serving sentient beings, as without it, resolving worldly conflicts would be challenging.

Only then can one find the light with minimal meditation practice. Enlightenment! Enlightenment! Only His Holiness Chí Tôn can bestow upon us such a spiritual essence.

From the stage of struggling in making life living, dealing with life, family, spouse, and children, to the moment Phạm Công Tắc follows the spiritual light leading the way into the Dao, delicating wholeheartedly in serving all living beings.

His Holiness Phạm Công Tắc has created a path and deeply pondered the hidden truths in the meditation practices of the ancient religeous, adapting them to suit the psychological nature of human beings, expressing them clearly in written form to prevent the wandering and delusional thoughts of a mind full of fantasies from obscuring the truth of His Holiness Chí Tôn.

Therefore, in the path of the Third Great Universal Amnesty, it is only by adhering to the humane philosophy of Confucius passed down that we can interact with one another to make the practice complete.

The practice of refining the:

is the affair of devoted believers. The Dao continues to be applied and propagated among the faithful.

People often create vague and illusory stories from their own minds, false ideas that result from their own thoughts. They seek to achieve such ideas through intensive meditation, urging sentient beings to abandon the reality of worldly misery, which torment countless suffering souls. However, this is still a dreamlike method, an unrealistic portrayal.

In reality, humans must eat to live, learn to know and search to understand. The good and clever aspects of life that the spiritual intellectual passed on to make it clear that humans are advancing step by step, both in body and soul transformation.

Unfortunately, these superstitious and delusional concepts, originating from within religious practices, have produced countless misunderstandings, so how can one avoid the blame from the Great Loving Father?

In the end, philosophy is a path, guiding the spirit, and if one cannot shine brightly enough, who else can one expect to help them? That inner spiritual light can only be obtained through diligent practice, not through daydreaming.

Meditation practice, to be effective, must be infused with virtuous deeds to dispel the illusions. It must purify the spiritual essence, free from the turbidity of worldly emotions, so that the mind can become clear and be called the divine illumination of the spiritual essence.

The figure of the Supreme Being in Caodaism is the divine abode of conscience, a radiant and luminous spirit, a refined and pure energy, a fusion into the sacred substance of the Supreme Being that paves the way for all beings.

It is with this presence that true meditation is achieved; without it, it is merely an external form, lacking the inner essence of true practice.

For the practitioner to truly meditate, they must perform virtuous deeds, whether in silence or openly, maintain righteous and virtuous conduct, and embrace compassion like an all-encompassing wave. Only then can this be considered true meditation.

In Caodaism, His Holiness Phạm Công Tắc, originally a follower of the Catholic faith, was a compassionate figure who renounced secular life in pursuit of spiritual liberation.

For 34 dedicated years, he actively engaged in the mission of spreading the teachings, never ceasing to contemplate and reflect on the suffering of the children of the Supreme Being, tirelessly seeking ways to alleviate their distress.

He adapted his guidance to the ever-changing circumstances of the world, with a firm belief that his actions resonated with boundless love for all sentient beings, shining the spiritual light to guide countless lost souls onto the path of enlightenment.

Incorporating the timeless wisdom of ancient religions, he inscribed on paper profound yet simple instructions for a lifelong spiritual journey.

These teachings applied to everyone, starting from the moment they sought the path of righteousness. No matter how turbulent the human mind, the light of the spiritual essence shone there, offering guidance and illumination.

This is a method of meditation that renovates the title, replacing the concept of the "Tam giáo" (Three Great Religions) with the Cao Dai term.

Firmly establishing faith in the singular power of the Supreme Being, the Holy Mother, and revering righteousness as the means of harmonizing the spiritual realm with the path of the Dharma.

Through this practice, one can break free from the prison of the physical self and live a life of eternal happiness.

The method is further conveyed through the following principles:

•  1. Learn to love and empathize with all beings, seeking the causes of the Myriad of Souls and the Supreme Soul.

•  2. Be generous and forgiving.

•  3. Maintain serenity, avoiding extremes.

•  4. Stay calm, meaning not being swayed by external circumstances, whether joyful or sorrowful (practice detachment from external influences).

•  5. Practice moderation, tolerance, and forgiveness.

•  6. Be cheerful, composed, self-disciplined, and decisive.

•  7. Keep the spirit pure, and maintain reverence for the Supreme Being and the Holy Mother.

•  1. Faith and wisdom are precious treasures; all else is of no value.

•  2. Holding grudges against one's enemies makes it difficult to maintain a clear conscience.

•  3. Conquering hatred is the greatest triumph for mankind; thus, a righteous person doesn't harbor hatred or resentment.

•  4. Holding back one's anger prevents causing anger in others.

•  5. Embrace goodness and reject evil. Promote benevolence and prevent cruelty. Cultivate generosity to expand a narrow mind. Uphold righteousness and shun evil. This is the path of loving-kindness and compassion.

• 1. Consume pure food and drink.
• 2. Cultivate pure thoughts.
• 3. Maintain a strong faith in the Supreme Being and the Holy Mother.
• 4. These are the keys to unlocking the Bat Quai Dai in this world.