Cao Dai revised Essay Example

drunk, do not sin by word. He has to avoid eating meat for at least ten days every month. Vegetarianism purifies the body the spirit. It also promotes the avoidance of killing animals. The Cao Dai practitioner also has to worship the Supreme Being. He has to perform at least one ceremony at home at these times: 6:00 a. m. , 12:00 noon, 6:00 p. m. , and 12:00 midnight.

Central to the Cao Dai rituals is the altar, which has images of the divine eye (representing the supreme being), Sakyamuni (representing Buddhism), Lao Tse (representing Taoism), Jesus Christ (representing Christianity), Confucius (representing Confucianism) and Jhuong Thai Cong, which symbolizes Geniism. In worship, he has to offer tea, flowers and wine, symbolizing the three elements that compose all men: energy, spirit and intelligence. He also lights five joss stick which represents pureness, meditation, wisdom, superior knoweledge and freedom from the cycle of existence or Karma (the five levels of initiation).

Cao Dai disciples also worship their ancestors and other spirits. Ancestor worship, aside from expressive gratitude, affection and love, is seen as a bridge between the visible and invisible worlds. Esoterism In the course of practising esoterism, the Cao Dai practitioner may be guided with meditation. Cao Dai meditation aims to help the practitioner to develop the "divine element" within himself. The divine element replaces the inferior self, and ultimately enables him to be one with the Supreme Being.