• Home

  • Caodaism Overview

  • Library

  • Media

  • News & Events

  • Love

  • Justice (Dharma)

  • Filial Piety

  • Happiness

  • Compassion

  • Justice (Issues)

  • Peace

  • About us

  • Contact us

  • The Holy See

  • Cao Đài Temples

  • Other Sections

    Center

    for the

    study of the

    Cao Đài Religion

    © 2015 by Center for Study in the Cao Đài Religion

    • Facebook Black Round

    The Coming of God

    What does 'Cao Đài' mean?

    Vision & Mission

    A Brief History

    Unifying Principles

    Religious Laws & Constitution

    Organization Structure

    Worship

    Rituals

    Prayers

    Liturgical Calendar

    The

    Great

    Faith

    of

    the

    Third

    Universal

    Amnesty

    Caodai, divine eye, God

    God

    and

    Humanity

    ​

    Love

    and

    Justice

    Religious Service

    Bibliography & References

    Outline of the Canonical Chapters:

    Chapter I - Hierarchy of Religious Dignitaries

    Chapter II - On Believers

    Chapter III - Establishment of A Parish

    Chapter IV - The Five Prohibitions

    Chapter V - The Four Great Commandments

    Chapter VI - On Education

    Chapter VII - Sanctions

    Chapter VIII - On the Promulgation of the Law and Regulations

    Secular Rules

    The House of Meditation

    Outline of the Constitutional Sections and Clauses:

    Part One. Powers of Cuu Trung Dai

    Part Two. Religious Vestments - Ceremonial Dress of Dignitaries in the College of Men of the Cuu Trung Đai

    Part Three. Dignitaries of The College of Women

    Part Four. Law for the Election of Dignitaries of the Cuu-Trung-Đai

    Part Five. Powers of the Hiep-Thien-Đai

    Part Six. Religious Vestments: Ceremonial Dress of Dignitaries of the Hiep-Thien-Đai

    Canonical Codes

    The principal aim of the Cao Đài Religion is to synchronise the teachings of the three main Religions. For this reason, in establishing the Codes for the Faith, the Sacerdotal Council intentionally adopted their key rules and laws, while also adjusting these to be in line with human evolution. According to the Collection of Divine Messages, the Codes were reviewed and approved by the Divine Beings, especially the Spiritual Pope Li Tai Pei and the Supreme Being.

     

    The following sermon demonstrates how Divine and integral the Codes are to the religious organisation:     

    “The Sacerdotal Council convenes to draft the Canonical Codes like the way the Lords of the Twelve Heavens devise Divine laws. The twelve Lords submit the laws to Me; so will the Sacerdotal Council. The New Canonical Codes and Divine Laws shall have the same value. If the Hộ Pháp violates any of the Codes, He shall be summoned to the Tribunal of the Cửu Trùng Đài (the Nine-Divine-Plane Body). His Divine title shall have no bearing; He shall be considered a regular disciple. Likewise, if the Pope violates any of them, He shall be summoned to the Tribunal of the Hiệp Thiên Đài (the Divine Alliance Body) in the same way with other disciples.” (His Holiness Hộ Pháp, Holy See, 1928)

    View the Canonical Codes Scripture

     

    Religious Constitution

    The Consitution consists of fundamental principles upon which the Cao Đài Religion is organized and governed. It states clearly the duties and rights of each dignitary and disciple in the religious organization, including administration, propagation, legislation and judiciary. Despite the large dedication to establishing order in the central organization, it governs matters in both Spiritual and Temporal regards thanks to the roles of the sub-dignitaries. Sovereignty is distributed on a federal basis because each state has the right to adjust certain laws in case they are not in line with local customs. However, critical decisions still have to be made at the unitary and central level, because of the principle of unity. Equal standing is stipulated for the female college in comparison to the male, but each is to function separately without any infringement upon each other’s authority. Detailed commentaries accompany each clause in the Constitution to add clarity, comprehensibility and granularity. In addition, there is an entire section dedicated to religious vestments for each role with very vivid and detailed description.

     

    According to religious scriptures, the core clauses in Constitution were stipulated by the Supreme Being Himself after the inauguration ceremony in 1926. Under instruction by the Divine, His Holiness Hộ Pháp added detailed commentaries and explanation to each clause, which were then reviewed and revised by the Divine Beings, especially His Holiness Li Tai Pe. Like the Faith itself, the Consitutional clauses were devised on the core principles of Love and Justice.

    View the Religious Constitution Scripture

    Next Page