Cao Dai religion of Vietnam By Yashwant Malaiya
One of the world's newest
religions is the Cao Dai religion of Vietnam. It was founded in 1926 as an
indigenous religion in Vietnam.
It is a synthetic religion based primarily on these three religions: Buddhism,
Taoism, and Confucianism. Thus it strongly depends on the Chinese tradition.It
has some other influences, for example the organization of the sect is somewhat
like the Roman Catholic church.
It is interesting to compare it with Jainism, one of the world's oldest
religions.
CaoDaism has two orders.
"The Secular Order consists of non-married and married persons who earn their
living as ordinary people. However, their religious duties consists in daily
practising the worship. They must observe a vegetarian diet of six days a month
(for the first six months after becoming a believer) and then ten days a month."
"The Superior Order / The Thuong Thua, consists of simple believers and
particularly dignitaries from the rank of Priests/Giao-Huu. According to the New
Religious Code (Tan Luat), the Superior Order consists of persons who have
practised a full-time vegetarian regime, and who have freed themselves from
killing."
The two are somewhat comparable to the Shravakas and the Shramanas among the
Jains.
Let us look at the five major rules for all CaoDaists:
"1- Do Not Kill. It is forbidden to kill living beings.
2- Do Not Steal. It is forbidden to commit robbery, banditry, to pilfer, to take
goods without authorization, to cheat, borrow without returning, or store stolen
goods, to appropriate objects dropped in the street, to covet the goods of
others or wish ill to others for one's own interest, or cheat in gambling.
3- Do Not Commit Lewd Acts. It is forbidden to commit adultery, fall into
debauchery, encourage others to act immorally, hold immoral or indecent thoughts
at the sight of beautiful persons, seduce by speech. (Relations
between spouse are not considered to be lewd acts).
4- Do Not Indulge in the Use of Alcohol and a luxurious life style. It is
forbidden to abuse the use of alcoholic drinks and meat and living well to the
point of losing rationality and disturbing public tranquility. It is also
forbidden to expect or covet unusual drinks and rich foods.
5- Do Not Lie. It is forbidden to use false words, to speak falsely, to boast in
order to deceive others. It is forbidden to expose another person's
faults, to turn wrong into right and vice-versa; to malign, to defame, to talk
ill about other people, to incite people to anger, hatred or to bring matters to
public trials; to swear or use vulgar language; to curse other people; to
blaspheme religion; to renege on a promise."
(New Code/Tan-Luat, Chapter IV, Article 21)
Compare these to the five mahavratas (for monks) and the corresponding five
anu-vratas (for laity) in Jainism:
1. Ahimsa
2. Satya
3. Achaurya
4. Brahmacharya
5. Aparigraha.
In Caodaism, the five principles have come through Buddhism.
Just like the Jains recognize the laukika dharma, the Caodai follow the
teachings of Confucianism, which is primarily
concerned with wordly conduct.
There are many differences between Jainism and Caodaism. Still it is surprizing
that after a synthesis of many beliefs, a
twentieth century sect, in a country so far away, would come so close to Jainism
in several aspects.