THREE SERMONS * By: Hộ Pháp Phạm Công Tắc. Translators * Christopher Hartney and Từ Chơn

Acknowledgements

I respect and thank Dr. Christopher Hartney for giving me lots of help to complete this translation work. As an English teacher in Vietnam for over 40 years, I still think my English is not enough for this project. Had it not been for his precious advice, I would never have been confident enough to finish it. I am extremely thankful

BÍ PHÁP. THE ESOTERIC DOCTRINE OF CAODAISM * TRANSLATORS CHRISTOPHER HARTNEY & TỪ CHƠN.

Acknowledgements

I respect and thank Dr. Christopher Hartney for giving me lots of help to complete this translation work. As an English teacher in Vietnam for over 40 years, I still think my English is not enough for this project. Had it not been for his precious advice, I would never have been confident enough to finish it. I am extremely thankful to him for providing such a nice support, although he had busy schedule in the university.

The Dragon Flower Assembly (The Final Judgment) * by His Holiness Phạm Ho Phap November 8-1948.

Here is a crucial matter to consider; why is it that our times are chaotic times? It is because we are living through Hạ Ngươn Tam Chuyển [The Third Period of the Third Transition]. The divine plan has already made preparations for the Dragon Flower Assembly (the Final Judgment). According to our Divine Teaching, the Supreme Being said: 'You children must come together to establish a Dragon Flower Assembly in order to create positions for those elevated souls of the Third Universal Transition,

A Sermon: By His Holiness Hộ Pháp Phạm Công Tắc - (Translator: Christopher Hartney and Từ Chơn)

Given in the Tây Ninh Temple on the 14 th day of the 2nd Lunar Month - Year of the Dragon (5 March 1928).

Divinely Ordained Dignitaries from the Cửu Trùng Đài [1] and Hiệp Thiên Đài, [2] ladies and gentlemen, On the occasion of this convention, I would like to humbly convey to you what I have learned from God for the sake of increasing your knowledge. [3] In this case, I think it is quite necessary for me to do this.

THIÊN THAI KIẾN DIỆN A VISIT TO PARADISE HỘ PHÁP PHẠM CÔNG TẮC Translators. Christopher Humphrey Hartney - Từ Chơn

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to express my very great appreciation to Dr Christopher Humphrey Hartney, Dept. of Studies in Religion, University of Sydney for his valuable cooperation. Thanks to his hard work despite his busy schedule at the university, my translation has been changed into the truly fantastic English verses.

Từ Chơn

The New Canonical Codes (Tân Luật)

NOTES CONCERNING THIS ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Due to the present special circumstances in Vietnam, an official permission from the Sacerdotal Council (Hội-Thánh), the Tây Ninh Holy See, cannot be obtained. For better understanding and practice, the browsers/readers should consult the text in Vietnamese (see Tân Luật).

Preface

All human beings should recognise what is existing over our heads. The infinite space over our heads is Heaven / Trời.

The Collection of Divine Messages - 1/7 (Tòa Thánh Tây Ninh)

Divine Teaching of the Jade Emperor, introducing Himself and announcing the names of the twelve disciples.

Christmas, 1925:

JADE EMPEROR, or CAO DAI TIEN ONG DAI BO TAT MA HA TAT,

TEACHING THE GREAT WAY FOR THE SOUTHERN QUARTER

I have reigned supreme for millennia.

Those who improve themselves spiritually will receive blessings.

The miraculous way has been taught and followed

Throughout the world for millennia.

Rejoice this day, the 24th of December, the anniversary of my arrival in Europe to teach the Way! Your allegiance brings much joy to me. Blessings will fill this house.

The Collection of Divine Messages - 2/7 (Tòa Thánh Tây Ninh)

Divine Orders commanding the first disciples to go to Can Giuoc to avert the evil that would otherwise befall His disciples there. God also establishes the three lords of the earth, provides their baptismal names and demonstrates how the ceremony for the taking of oaths should be arranged.

August 9, 1926

The first day of the seventh month of the Year of the Fire Tiger

JADE EMPEROR, or CAO DAI TIEN ONG DAI BO TAT MA HA TAT,

TEACHING THE GREAT WAY TO THE SOUTHERN QUARTER.

First Contact:

The Collection of Divine Messages - 3/7 (Tòa Thánh Tây Ninh)

* Divine Teaching explaining why one must take the Tao to heart rather than being led to confusion as one tries to walk the spiritual path waking too late to realize your own folly.

Monday December 6, 1926

The 2nd day of the 11th month of the year of the Yang Fire Tiger

Jade Emperor or Cao Dai Tien Ong Dai Bo Tat Ma Ha Tat

Teaching The Great Tao to The Southern Quarter

Greetings to all disciples, beloved daughters and guests.

Listen.

I, out of great love and mercy, have founded the Third Amnesty of the Great Way based on love of life,

The Collection of Divine Messages - 4/7 (Tòa Thánh Tây Ninh)

1 - What is the Tao?

Tây Ninh (Gò Kén temple) Year of Yang Fire Tiger 1926.

Here is your Master, children!

What is the world?

How are human beings like guests in this world?

Why are they called guests?

The world is a place full of sufferings where Saints and Immortals who committed crimes are exiled to pay their Karmic debts. If they succeed, they may return to their original home (Nirvana) from whence they came, if not, they have to reincarnate again to the world. That’s why their spirits are called guests.