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.

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