The first three letters, also the three vowels, of the Vietnamese alphabet. They were used by God as His assumed name in several séances, where He tried to contact and teach His first disciples.
Note: During this period, God came, under the name of A Ă Â, answering all of His potential disciples’ questions, most of which were usually about ancient unsolved literary puzzles. No one could give better solutions than He did, which deeply interested the ones who turned out to be the first Caodaist disciples. God did not reveal who He really was until Christmas 1925, when He announced He was God, coming to save human beings.God also told the first disciples to establish a new religion: Cao Dai.
Chinese: 阿彌陀佛
An ancient Buddha’s name. Originally, it is अमिताभ or Amitabhâ in Sanskrit, meaning Amita Buddha or the Buddha of Endless Light and phonetically transcribed into A Di Đà Phật by Vietnamese scholars.
Chinese: 阿羅漢
Originally, it is अर्हत् in Sanskrit, meaning “one who is worthy” or “a perfected person”, and phonetically transcribed into A La Hán by Vietnamese scholars.
Note: Legend has it that Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha, sent 18 Arhat to other countries to teach his doctrine. That is why Buddhist pagodas now worship the statues of 18 Arhat.
Note:
"Mantra" (Sanskrit: मन्त्र) means a sacred utterance, sound, syllable, word, phonemes, or group of words believed to have spiritual power. A mantra may or may not have literal meaning, but its spiritual value comes when it is audible, visible, or present in thought.
Chinese: 阿難
A Nan is one of the Buddha’s disciples. A Nan means “extreme happiness” in Sanskrit. He was known to have an excellent memory. He was also the Buddha’s attendant for 20 years. Therefore, he could memorize all of Buddha’s lectures.
Chinese: 阿耨多羅三耀三菩提
It is originally “anuttarā samyak saṃbodhi” in Sanskrit, and phonetically transcribed into A Nậu Đa La Tam Diệu Tam Bồ Đề in Vietnamese. It means Supreme Perfect Enlightenment, which is the highest level a Buddhist priest can achieve.
Note: Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, is said to have achieved this state.
Chinese: 阿修羅
It was originally असुर in Sanskrit, meaning the demon and phonetically transcribed into A Tu La in Vietnamese. According to Vedic Texts, A Tu La is among a group of power-seeking deities. However, the word is eventually used to refer to an evil deity. Caodaiists call him Kim Quang Sứ.
Chinese: 阿鼻
It is Avici in Sanskrit or Hell, phonetically transcribed into A Tỳ in Vietnamese. This is the place for immoral people after death. Avici means “interminable”. It is believed that the spirits sent there will stay and be punished there eternally.
Chinese: 亞獻禮
Á: Second. Hiến: Offering. Lễ: a rite. Á hiến lễ means the second offering.
In a Caodai rite, flowers, wine and tea are offered to God. Especially in a funeral, they are offered three times. A rite announcer sings out the phrase whenever an offering is presented.
Chinese: 阿片
Opium.
Note: Cao Dai’s New Canonical Codes prohibit believers from selling or taking opium.
Chinese: 惡行
An immoral act.
Chú Giải Pháp Chánh Truyền:
Tỷ như nguyên nhân là khi Khai Thiên rồi, thì đã có chơn linh ấy, còn hóa nhân là chơn linh vật loại, đoạt đến phẩm vị nhơn loại, còn quỉ nhân là hai chơn linh kia xu hướng ác hành mà bị đọa đày vào quỉ vị.
Footnote to Caodaist Constitution:
Nguyên nhân are the spirits born in the Creation. Hoá nhân are the spirits who have evolved from materials to humans. Quỉ nhân are nguyên nhân and hóa nhân, who have been punished for their immoral acts.
Ác: a crow, representing the sun. Lố: rise. Ác lố means sunrise.
The same as Ác lố.
Ác: a crow, representing the sun. Lồng: appear. Ác lồng means sunrise.
Chinese: 惡孽
Cruel.
Natural disasters caused by geological transformation like earthquake, landslide, etc.
Natural disasters caused by bodies of water such as flood, tsunami, etc.
Chinese: 哀悲
Miserable, unhappy, sad.
Chinese: 哀止
To restrain one's tears or stop crying.
Note: In a Cao Dai funeral, when the phrase“Cử ai.” is sung out, all family members begin to cry. When the phrase “Ai chỉ.” is sung aloud, the family stops crying to prepare for other rituals.
Chinese: 哀祝
To recite the Prayers for the Dead in a funeral.
Note: In a Cao Dai funeral, when the rite announcer sings out this phrase, the choirboys and choirgirls begin to recite the Prayers for the Dead.
Chinese: 哀弔
A eulogy or a speech praising the dead person in a funeral.
Chinese: 愛河
The river of love. In ancient Vietnamese literature, sexual love is symbolized by a river and considered the cause of human sorrow.
Chinese: 愛慕
To admire somebody.
Chinese: 愛恤蒼生
To feel or show compassion for people who are suffering and desire to help them.
Ái: love. Tuất: help. Thương sanh: common people.
Chinese: 隘關
A checkpoint at a border.
Chinese: 暗昧
Dubious, dishonest, shady.
Chinese: 安邦濟世
To govern a country and to provide aid for the public.
Chinese: 安貧樂道
An: secure, peaceful. Bần: poverty. Lạc: pleasant. Ðạo: ethics.
An bần lạc đạo means to lead a poor ethical life in a merry way.
Chinese: 安靈
An: safe, secure, peaceful. Linh: holy, miraculous.
Chinese: 安御
An: safe, secure, peaceful. Ngự: sit, rest, stay.
Chinese: 安心醒智
To feel secure and have an alert mind.
Thánh Ngôn Hiệp Tuyển:
Muốn an tâm tỉnh trí và đè nén lửa lòng, cần phải có một nghị lực vô biên, một tâm trung quảng đại, thì mới khỏi bực tức với những trò đã vì mạng lịnh thiêng liêng phô diễn ở nơi thâm hiểm nặng nề nầy.
The Collection of Divine Messages:
Generosity and a will of iron are what you need to feel secure and to have an alert mind in order to restrain yourself from getting mad at the silly earthly things, which happen under divine orders.
Chinese: 安靜
Stay away from strong feelings such as excitement, anger, hatred, etc.
Tân Luật: (Tịnh Thất) Phải giữ cho Chơn thần an tịnh, đừng xao xuyến lương tâm.
Cao Dai’s New Canonical Codes: (Meditation House) Keep away from strong feelings as much as possible and try not let anything or anyone upset yourself.
Chinese: 安位
To make a place your permanent home or to put something carefully in a position so that it does not move.
Note: The Altar Inauguration Ceremony: After the construction or restoration of a Cao Dai Temple, the new altar is accordingly arranged and solemnly presented to all disciples in The Altar Inauguration Ceremony (Lễ An Vị).
Chinese: 按三才
To align three (things) horizontally.
Note:In a Cao Dai rite, five joss sticks are put into an incense burner in a specific arrangement.The back line includes three joss sticks called án tam tài, standing for Heaven, Earth and Humans. The others are put in front of these and the five sticks together are called Tượng Ngũ Khí.
Chinese: 案節
The details of a court case.
Chú Giải Pháp Chánh Truyền: Tiếp Ðạo là người tiếp cáo trạng, án tiết thì phải quan sát trước coi có oan khúc chi chăng.
Footnote to Caodaist Constitution: Tiếp Ðạo, who receives the indictment, has to investigate the case details to see if there is any injustice.
An exellent piece of literary work.
Note: when His Holiness Giáo Tông reviewed the Footnote to Caodaist Constitution, prepared by His Holiness Hộ Pháp, He made many praising comments:"Excellent! Excellent piece of literary works! I like these!"
Chinese: 嬰孩
A baby.
Chinese: 英豪
A hero.
1. Chinese: 瑛珞 - Gemstones.
2. Chinese: 瑛樂 - pleasant, understandable.
Chinese: 英靈
A miraculous soul.
Chinese:嬰兒
Babies, children, sons and daughters.
Chinese: 英風
A nobleman.
Chinese: 英俊
Talent, competent.
Chinese: 映至靈
The light of God, that is God's teachings.
Chinese: 映洪鈞
God's light.
Mysterious light.
Chinese: 映太陽
Sunlight.
Chinese: 映舍利
The light from the Buddhist relics.
Note: Xá lợi, Śarīra in Sankrit, is a generic term referring to "Buddhist relics", although in common usage it usually refers to pearl or crystal-like bead-shaped objects that are purportedly found among the cremated ashes of Buddhist spiritual masters. (Wikipedia: The aureola of Buddha.)
Chinese: 七寶池
The pond of seven precious things, The Jeweled Pond.
Note: According to Buddhism, this Pond exists in the Land of Ultimate Bliss. Its Holy Water brings humans good health, pure minds and noble souls.
Note: In Tây Ninh, Việt Nam, His Holiness Hộ Pháp had a pond constructed next to Đoạn Trần Bridge in 1951. It was named Ao Thất Bửu or The Jeweled Pond. According to Caodaiists, a follower should have a bath there to wash away his miseries of human life. Then he crosses Đoạn Trần Bridge, which symbolizes a decisive action of giving up his secular life. Finally, he enters Trí Huệ Cung, one of the Meditation Houses, practicing esotericism to achieve the state of enlightenment.
In 1998, the pond was seriously damaged, so a Restoration Group was established on May 5th 1998 and after four months it became as good as new again.
Chinese: 懊惱
The mood of melancholy.
To have a vegetarian diet.
Note:
Caodai's New Canonical Codes
Article 12: After the Entry Rite, a person becomes a Caodaiist. A Cao Dai believer is classified as one of the two categories:
1. Ordinary believers - who continue their normal life (that is, to get married, have a family, and go to work) like everyone else, but have to be vegetarian for 6 or 10 days a month. These believers have to observe The Five Prohibitions and the Secular Rules issued by Caodai's Religious Council. These believers are considered Caodai beginners.
2. Advanced believers - who practice vegetarianism permanently, avoid deliberate killing, and strictly observe The Four Great Commandments.
Article 13: The ordinary believers, who have been vegetarian for 10 days a month and above, are allowed to enter the Meditation House to practice Esotericism under the supervision of an esoteric master.
Divine Messages on Vegetarianism
Thánh Ngôn Hiệp Tuyển:
“Chư môn đệ phải trai giới, vì tại sao? Chẳng phải Thầy buộc các con theo Cựu luật, song luật ấy rất nên quí báu, không giữ chẳng hề thành Tiên,Phật đặng."
The Collection of Divine Messages:
" All disciples are required to be vegetarian. Why? I do not want to force you all to obey the Old Codes. However, you cannot achieve your religious goal (that is, to become gods, saints, immortals, or buddhas) without observing those."
Thánh Ngôn Hiệp Tuyển:
"Nó (chơn thần) vẫn là chất tức hiệp với không khí Tiên Thiên, mà trong khí Tiên Thiên thì hằng có điển quang. Cái chơn thần buộc phải tinh tấn, trong ksạch, mới nhẹ hơn không khí, ra khỏi ngoài Càn khôn đặng. Nó phải có bổn nguyên chí Thánh, chí Tiên, chí Phật, mới xuất Thánh, Tiên, Phật đặng. Phải có một thân phàm tinh khiết mới xuất chơn thần tinh khiết.
Nếu như các con còn ăn mặn, luyện đạo rủi có ấn chứng thì làm sao mà giải tán cho đặng. Như rủi bị huờn thì đến khi đắc đạo, cái trược khí ấy vẫn còn, mà trược khí thì lại là vật chất tiếp điển, thì chưa ra khỏi lằn không khí đã bị sét đánh tiêu diệt. Còn như biết khôn thì ẩn núp tại thế mà làm một bậc Nhơn Tiên thì kiếp đọa trần cũng còn chưa mãn.
Vì vậy mà Thầy buộc các con phải trường trai mới đặng luyện đạo."
The Collection of Divine Messages:
"Chơn Thần, the spirit, is still material. It can travel around in Khí Tiên Thiên - the universe air, which contains lightning, so it can be struck and destroyed. The spirit has to be progressive, purified and light enough to travel beyond the cosmos. It has to have the qualities of Saints, Immortals, Buddhas in order to become a Saint, an Immortal or a Buddha. Only a completely purified body can produce a pure spirit.
If you practice esotericism without being vegetarian, you will not be able to recover after achieving the ultimate state. Although you might get the final state, your body is still too impure to be active in the universe air and will surely be eliminated by lightning. You may hide somewhere on earth to be a Nhơn Tiên, a Human Immortal, but that means you are still trapped in the incarnation cycle.
That is why I make you disciples have a vegetarian diet before practicing esotericism."
Thánh Ngôn Hiệp Tuyển:
"Ấy là một cái quan ải, các chơn hồn khi qui Thiên, phải đi ngang qua đó. Sự khó khăn bước khỏi qua đó là đệ nhứt sợ của các chơn hồn. Nhưng tâm tu còn lại chút nào nơi xác thịt con người, cũng nhờ cái sợ ấy mà lo tu niệm. Có nhiều hồn chưa qua khỏi đặng, phải chịu ít nữa đôi trăm năm, tùy chơn thần thanh trược. Chí Tôn buộc trường trai cũng vì cái quan ải ấy."
The Collection of Divine Messages:
"Âm Quang, the Dark, is like a border checkpoint, all spirits have to cross it before entering Heaven, which frightens them most. Therefore, humans try to practice a religion because of that fear. Some spirits have to stay there hundreds of years, depending on how much impure they are. That is why God require his disciples to be vegetarian while they are on earth."
To eat the bile and to lie on thorns (literally translated) - that is, to suffer many hardships, waiting for a favorable chance to gain something.
To be filled with remorse.
Chinese: 陰境, 陰宮, 陰臺, 陰司
Hell, where the spirits of immoral people are punished after death.
*Thái Ất Thiên Tôn - The legendary Chinese immortal described in Fengshen Bang, a 16th-century Chinese novel.
Chinese: 陰騭
All charity work you have done while still alive, which is believed to build up your status in Heaven.
Chinese: 陰功
1. The same as âm chất, âm đức.
2. Things used in embalming the corpses.
Tân Luật, Ðiều 16: Trong việc tống chung, không nên xa xí, không nên để lâu ngày, không nên dùng đồ âm công có màu sắc lòe loẹt, chỉ dùng toàn đồ trắng.
The New Canonical Codes - Article 16: Funeral procedures should not be too extravagant, lengthy, or showy. The only color recommended is white.
Chinese: 陰極陽回
When Yin reaches the extreme, Yang returns.
Chinese: 陰陽水
Water of Yin and Yang, that is Holy Water.
Note: in a Caodaist daily rite to worship God, especially at 6:00 am and 6:00 pm, Yin and Yang water is presented on the altar. A cup of tea symbolizing Yin water is put next to the dish of fruits. A cup of water symbolizing Yang is placed by the vase of flowers. After the rite, the two cups are mixed together to form Yin and Yang water, which can be used in other special rites.
Chinese: 陰魂
The soul or spirit that is believed to exist after a person dies.
Chinese: 陰曆 & 陽曆
Âm lịch - Lunar calendar. A lunar calendar is based on cycles of the lunar phases. There are many lunar systems, but in Vietnam, the Chinese lunar calendar is used.
Dương lịch - Gregorian calendar, used since 1582 in Western countries of arranging the months in the year and the days in the months and of counting the years from the birth of Christ.
Chinese: 陰光
One of the two major principles in dualism. The other is Dương Quang.
Note 1: Eighth Female Buddha's Explanation.
Thánh Ngôn Hiệp Tuyển:
“Âm quang là khí chất hỗn độn sơ khai, khi Chí Tôn chưa tạo hóa thì Âm quang được tích chứa nơi DTC. Cái khí Âm quang đó cũng tỉ như cái trứng của phụ nữ để tạo nên loài người. Khi Chí Tôn muốn tạo hóa, Chí Tôn đem khí Dương quang ấm áp chiếu tới, thì lúc đó, Dương quang phối hiệp với Âm quang mà hóa sanh vạn vật. Nơi nào ánh Dương quang của Chí Tôn chưa chiếu đến thì nơi đó chỉ có Âm quang nên phải bị tối tăm, mịt mờ, chẳng sanh chẳng hóa, và nơi đó gọi là cõi Âm quang."
The Collection of Divine Messages:
"Âm Quang was the original chaotic gas, which was contained in Diêu Trì Palace, before God finished creating the universe. That gas is like a human female egg that gives birth to a human. When God wants to create the universe, He shines Dương Quang on Âm Quang, then the two elements combine and form the universe. Wherever there is no Dương Quang, Âm Quang is only the inactive dark without materialistic things."
Note 2: Seventh Female Buddha's Explanation.
Thánh Ngôn Hiệp Tuyển:
“Cõi Âm quang là nơi Thần Linh Học gọi là Trường đình của chư hồn giải thể hay nhập thể. Ðại Từ Phụ đã định nơi ấy cho Phật gọi là Tịnh Tâm Xá, nghĩa là nơi của chư hồn đến đó đặng tịnh tâm xét mình coi trong kiếp sanh bao nhiêu phước tội. Vậy thì nơi ấy là nơi xét mình.
Chớ chi cả nhơn sanh biết xét mình trước khi thoát xác thì tự nhiên tránh khỏi Âm quang. Nói cho cùng, nếu trọn kiếp, dầu gây lắm tội tình mà phút chót biết ăn năn tự hối, cầu khẩn Chí Tôn độ rỗi thì cũng lánh xa khỏi cửa Âm quang, lại còn hưởng đặng nhiều ân huệ của Chí Tôn, là các chơn hồn đặng tự hối hay là đặng giáo hóa mà hiểu trọn chơn truyền lập phương tự độ hay là con cái của các chơn hồn cầu rỗi.
Ôi ! Tuy vân, hồng ân của Ðại Từ Phụ như thế mà vẫn thấy các chơn hồn sa đọa hằng hà, mỗi ngày xem chẳng ngớt, là tại thiếu kém đức tin và lòng trông cậy nơi Thầy. Ðó là mấy Ðạo hữu tín đồ bị thất thệ, phụ nữ lại là phần đông hơn hết."
The Collection of Divine Messages:
" Cõi Âm Quang, called a highway Rest Stop by spiritualists, is where souls or spirits take a break on the path of incarnation cycles. God the Father uses it as the House of Calm for Buddhas - that is, a place for all souls to rest, calm down and review whether what they have done in life is right or wrong.
If humans review their actions before death, they can surely avoid Âm Quang. In other words, despite your immoral life, you can not only avoid Âm Quang but also get a lot of privileges from God provided you regret what you have done wrong in the last minutes.
Alas! In spite of God's great pardon, loads of souls have been punished in Âm Quang because of a lack of belief in God. Especially, the believers who failed to keep their entry oath, most of whom are women.
Note 3: Seventh Female Buddha's Explanation.
Thánh Ngôn Hiệp Tuyển:
“Thưa cùng mấy chị em, em xin nhắc nhở điều này. Ngày hội Ngọc Hư Cung đặng lo phương tiếp pháp của Tây phương Cực Lạc truyền qua, em đã đặng nghe thấy những lời của Ðịa Tạng Vương Bồ Tát than thở rằng: Ngài là Phật, nên khó gần gũi các hồn nữ phái mà khuyến giáo cơ giải thoát mê đồ. Bởi cớ, nơi Âm quang, nữ hồn còn bị luyện tội nhiều hơn nam phái bội phần. Em lại nghe Người ước rằng: Chớ chi có một Ðấng Nữ Tiên dám đảm đương đến phổ tế mới mong tận độ chư vong của Phong Ðô thoát kiếp. Em mới để dạ lo lường, cả lòng lân ái đến đó. Em đã chán thấy nhiều tội tình chẳng trọng hệ, song có hồn chịu sầu thảm lạ thường. Em đã liệu nhiều phương thế cho từ đây mấy chơn hồn có bề dễ tránh khỏi cửa Âm quang hãm tội."
The Collection of Divine Messages:
"My sisters, let me bring this to your notice. In a convention in Ngọc Hư Cung on the reception of Cực Lạc Thế Giới (the Land of Ultimate Bliss) dharma, I heard Địa Tạng Vương Bồ Tát (Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva) complain that he hardly had access to female spirits to educate them because of his unfavorable position of a Buddha. In Âm Quang, more female spirits are punished than male. He wished to have a female Immortal responsible and devoted enough there to help liberate them all from Phong Đô (Hell). I have considered this and gone there. I witness some spirits too miserable to bear in spite of their minor sins. I have had a lot of strategies so that the coming spirits can avoid punishment from Âm Quang."
Chinese: 音聲色相
What humans can see or hear. Âm thanh sắc tướng is usually used to refer to the exoteric practice of a religion.
Chinese: 飲食精潔
A healthy diet in order to purify one's body.
Chinese: 慇勤
Be considerate toward and concerned about.
Note:
Quan Thế Âm: - Avalokistesvara Boddhisattva.
Chinese: 恩典
Favor, privilege granted by King or God. Grace of God.
Chinese: 恩厚
Great favor.
Chinese: 恩洪
Grace, kindness of God.
Chinese: 恩惠
Favor, kindness.
Chinese: 恩封
Ordination, religious promotion.
Chinese: 恩生
Survival thanks to God's kindness.
Chinese: 恩賜
(God) grants a favor to man.
Chinese: 印證
An event, a sign or any given occurrence that proves someone has achieved the ultimate religious goal.
Chinese: 印行
To publish.
Chinese: 印子
A special gesture made with the hands and fingers by Caodaists in religious ceremony.
Note: In a Caodai's rite, believers perform Ấn Tý. First, the tip of the left thumb is stuck onto the bottom of the ring finger. Then, the left hand is closed into a fist. Next, the right hand covers the fist with the tip of the thumb put onto the bottom of the left index finger.
This gesture, mark or seal implies that Heaven begins at Tý, Earth at Sửu, and man at Dần. Tý, Sửu and Dần are the three specific time of a day, according to the ancient Chinese way of telling time.
The left and the right hands stand for Yang and Yin respectively. Joining, they symbolize Yang and Yin's combination to originate the universe. They also represent a fruit, that is, the result of the First and Second Amnesty.
In the First Amnesty, Thái Thượng taught humans to join hands like a bud. In the Second Amnesty, Buddha showed humans to join hands like a flower in full bloom. Presently, it is the Third Amnesty, God told humans to perform Ấn Tý, which is the fruit or the effect.
Chinese: 隱名
To remain anonymous.
Chinese: 隱忍
To be patient, to restrain oneself.
Chinese: 隱身
To hide or conceal oneself, to retreat.
Chinese: 謳歌
To sing in a happy, cheerful way (due to enjoying a peaceful life).
Chinese: 幼稚院
A nursery school.
Chinese: 幼春
The time when a child is a baby, in infancy.