April 22nd and 23rd, 1926
March 11th and 12th, Bính Dần Year
THE JADE EMPEROR, OR CAO DAI TIEN ONG DAI BO TAT MA HA TAT, TEACHING THE WAY IN THE SOUTH
Listen to My instructions for the upcoming Heavenly Ordination.
Are you pleased?
Every day that the Way is delayed is a day that harms sentient beings. I am eager, but the Heavenly Timing cannot be defied, leading to many obstacles. Therefore, the three of you (Trung, Cư, and Tắc) proceed with these arrangements:
Trung, listen: Move the tablet of Li Bai beneath My image. Clean the altar thoroughly and place a chair next to it. Then, place a larger chair on top to serve as the seat for the Pope. Three more chairs should be arranged below for the three Cardinals. Ensure these four chairs are immaculate. Place the Pope’s Heavenly Vestment on the topmost chair. Place the Shangqing vestment in the center, the Yuqing vestment on the right, and on the chair to the left, write the character “THÁI” in large script on a piece of paper and affix it to the backrest.
In front of My altar, place a chair before the seats of the three Cardinals. On an ancestral tablet, have Lịch write the following:
“THE CELESTIAL LORD OF THE NINE HEAVENS, WHO RESPONDS TO PRAYERS, THUNDERS HIS DECREES, AND TRANSFORMS ALL BEINGS.”
Also, draw a “GOLDEN LIGHT IMMORTAL” talisman and hang it in the center where everyone can see it.
Place the table for the séance in front of the Five Thunders altar. After the séance, move it to make space for the two Cardinals to kneel and take their oaths.
Also, place another table between the window and the front entrance.
Cư, listen carefully: Instruct Tắc to bathe thoroughly (and cleanse him with incense). Have him choose a clean Western-style outfit, dress as usual, and wear a hat…
(Laughter)…
Ideally, he should wear armor like a theater performer, but because he is poor, I will not require it.
Have him stand facing the Pope’s seat and cover his face with nine inches of red cloth.
Lịch, write a “Subduing Demons” talisman and give it to him to hold.
From this day forward, maintain purity and eliminate all worldly thoughts, leaving no trace of impurity, for only then can the oaths be taken.
Cư, when you bring the three sets of Heavenly Vestments to place on the three thrones, you must perform automatic writing with incense as usual, so that I can imbue the vestments and the thrones with My Spirit. Then, summon the two Cardinals to kneel before their thrones, so that I can inscribe talismans on them. After the two Cardinals have paid their respects, they must perform the ceremony before My altar (twelve prostrations) and before the Pope’s seat (nine prostrations). Then have Giảng announce, “Return to your positions,” and the two will ascend and take their seats.
All disciples, divided into three groups, should kneel down. Have Tắc climb onto the table. You, Cư, perform automatic writing with incense at the Five Thunders altar, so that I can summon him. Then proceed to Tắc, and I will expel his Spirit. Remember to have Hậu and Đức cleanse their hands with incense. If he convulses or falls, support him.
Then, have the two Cardinals descend from their thrones and kneel before the Five Thunders altar, with their hands clasped on their heads, kneeling directly in front of the Golden Light Immortal talisman. Have them take the following oath:
“I, Lê Văn Trung, also known as Thiên Ân, the Superior Mediator of the Sun, and I, Lê Văn Lịch, also known as Thiên Ân, the Jade Calendar of the Moon, swear to the Yellow Heaven and the Earth, before the Five Thunders Dharma, that we will fulfill the Heavenly Way and guide all our younger brothers and sisters who are disciples of the Cao Dai Jade Emperor. We will strictly follow the commands of the Master and not dare to seize power and establish a deviant path. If we commit any transgression in the future, we swear that the Five Thunders will destroy us.”
At the Protector’s altar, have him also kneel and bow in the same manner, but with the following oath:
“If in the future, I violate the Heavenly Decree, may the Protector banish me to the Three Realms, unable to escape the cycle of rebirth.”
Then, have Giảng announce again, “Return to your positions,” and the two Cardinals will return to their seats. All disciples will then bow to each of them twice.
Next, have the disciples, one by one, come to the Five Thunders altar and take the following oath:
“[Your Name]… [Your Family Name]… swear that from this day forward, I acknowledge the one Way of the Cao Dai Jade Emperor, and will not waver in my loyalty. I will unite with my fellow disciples, uphold the laws of Cao Dai, and if I harbor any duplicity in the future, may Heaven and Earth punish me.”
Have them take the same oath before the Protector’s altar, and then bow to the two Cardinals.
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