CAODAI FOUR-TIME DAILY PRAYERS (full text)

 

CAODAI FOUR-TIME DAILY PRAYERS

Translated by HUỆ KHẢI

1. OFFERING INCENSE

2. OPENING THE PRAYERS

3. EULOGY TO THE JADE EMPEROR

4. EULOGY TO DIPANKARA THE ANCIENT BUDDHA

5. EULOGY TO THE SUPREME ANCESTOR OF DAO

6. EULOGY TO SAGE CONFUCIUS THE FIRST TEACHER

7. OFFERING THE THREE PRECIOUS ONES:

– OFFERING FLOWERS

– OFFERING WINE

– OFFERING SPIRITS

– OFFERING TEA

8. THE FIVE VOWS

*

1. OFFERING INCENSE

[The South Pole Holding Religion]

Dao consists in sincerity, faith, and harmony.

The incense smoke lifts our souls up to the sky.

Aloeswood fragrance soars and flies at the same time.

May our reverence be recognised by Powers Divine.

May Heavenly Beings take crane rides,

Descend to our world, and quickly set carriages aside.

We the disciples earnestly pray at this moment.

May our devotion be acknowledged across the nine heavens.

Making wholehearted praying with expectation,

May we be bestowed blessing by Heaven.

NAMAH CAODAI THE IMMORTAL,

THE MAHABODHISATTVA MAHASATTVA.

(Three kowtows, four nods with each kowtow,

and one recitation with each nod.)

*

2. OPENING THE PRAYERS

[Patriarch Lu]

This life’s like a boundless sea of suffering,

But the sun always shines in the east.

Revered across times are the Three Teachings Founders,

Whose deep merits to humanity are fathomless.

As handed down by the Three Teachings,

Self-cultivation consists in good doings.

Buddhism recommends mercy and sincerity towards others.

Daoism shows how to cultivate humans’ true nature.

Confucianism makes Doctrine of the Mean well clarified.

As one single root produces three branches alike,

Three different teachings convey the same core only.

Humans should comprehend this deep verity,

Then purify heart and souls to recite prayers holy.

(Bowing head.)

*

3. EULOGY TO THE JADE EMPEROR

God is the Heavenly Emperor,

The Supreme Ultimate, and the Holy Sovereign.

He produces, transforms, and nurtures all sentient beings,

Governing and controlling all kinds of creatures.

Vast and magnificent is His Gold Palace.

Truly imposing is His White Jade Capital.

Displaying cosmic changes,

whether seen or unseen, God says nothing.

Formless or with forms, not obstructing their own course,

God commands all sacred beings.

Riding six dragons, God travels without rest.⁽¹⁾

Yin and Yang generate the Four Forms,⁽²⁾ and the cosmos

revolves outwards, then inwards, without limit.

God is mighty and wise, with all-seeing eyes

observing every good or bad deed.

His law is fair and just;

misfortune and fortune are swiftly determined.⁽³⁾

God rules over thirty-six heavens

and a triple-thousand worlds above,

Controlling seventy-two globes

and four great continents below.

Both the former and later heavens are equally nurtured

by the Father of Great Mercy.

From past to present, as the Ancestor of all dharmas

God is revered for His universal salvation.

God is the Lord of the sun, moon, stars, and constellations.

He is also the Master of Saints, Deities, Immortals,

and Buddhas.

The Dao of God is profound, quiet, genuine, expansive,

and dignified.

Through endless transformation, God repeatedly transmits

precious scriptures to awaken humanity,

With immeasurably sacred power, He always bestows

divine teachings for mankind’s benefit.

Of grand dignity and mercy,

God is the supreme and ultimate.

Of sublime holiness and vow,

He is greatly creative and compassionate.

He is Caodai God of the Mysterious Canopy,

Known as the Jade Emperor,

who bestows blessings and forgives sins,

Also as the Greatly Revered One of the Heavens.

NAMAH CAODAI THE IMMORTAL,

THE MAHABODHISATTVA MAHASATTVA.

(Three kowtows, four nods with each kowtow,

and one recitation with each nod.)

Translator’s Notes:

^([1]) This line figuratively means that the vigorous Heavenly Law unceasingly operates in harmony with all circumstances.

⁽²⁾ According to Yi Jing (the Book of Change), the Four Forms symbolise the four directions (north, south, east, and west), and the four seasons (spring, summer, autumn, and winter), among others. The Four Forms generate the Eight Diagrams, which in turn generate sixty-four hexagrams symbolising all manifestations or phenomena in the universe. Therefore, “Yin and Yang generate the Four Forms” means that the Supreme Ultimate (Yin-yang) generates countless kinds of existence in the universe.

⁽³⁾ This sentence conveys the idea that everyone’s life, negative or positive, is influenced by his bad or good deeds, in accordance with the law of karma.

*

4. EULOGY TO

DIPANKARA THE ANCIENT BUDDHA

The Honoured Teacher amidst chaos,

The Lord of heaven and earth,

Gathers the universe in the primordial breath,

And holds it in His hands.

His everlasting wisdom lamp illuminates thirty-six heavens.

His unceasing dharma enlightens

ninety-two hundred thousand original humans.⁽¹⁾

Dao is boundlessly lofty.

Teaching expounds Its utmost mystery.

Exhaled breath turns into a rainbow,

becoming a pillar to support the heavens.⁽²⁾

A sword is transformed into a measuring ruler

with three inches to back the earth.⁽³⁾

His merit joins the Supreme Ultimate,

disclosing the door to the Mysterious Pass.⁽⁴⁾

His nature accords with wu-wei,⁽⁵⁾

uniting profound hidden meanings

of the three powers (heaven, earth, and man).

He bestows numerous favours,

Saving countless humans.

Of great mercy, great vows, great holiness,

and great compassion,

Of the primordial true Dao,

Dipankara the Ancient Buddha is

the Heavenly Revered One,

who expounds the teaching in wuwei manner.

NAMAH DIPANKARA THE ANCIENT BUDDHA,

THE HEAVENLY REVERED ONE

EXPOUNDING THE TEACHING IN WUWEI MANNER.

(Three kowtows, three nods with each kowtow,

and one recitation with each nod.)

Translator’s Notes:

^([1]) According to a Daoist Scripture in Chinese titled The Golden Basin of the Jade Dew, the Buddha Mother sent ninety-six hundred thousand original humans to the human world (the earth). After the First and the Second Universal Salvations, four hundred thousand original humans returned to the Buddha Mother, and the rest are expected to return during the Third Universal Salvation. (The term “original” indicates that the origin of those "humans" is the heavens.)

⁽²⁾ “Exhaled breath” implies exhalation during inner self-cultivation practice. The “rainbow” symbolises the practitioner’s curled tongue tip touching the front part of the roof of the mouth, while the “pillar to support the heavens” symbolises the practitioner’s upright backbone.

⁽³⁾ This metaphorical line implies that, during inner self-cultivation practice, the practitioner’s breath circulates through the Lower Field of Cinnabar existing below the navel about “three inches”.

⁽⁴⁾ The act of “disclosing the door to the Mysterious Pass” implies that the practitioner’s breath circulates through the Mysterious Pass, whose location is shown differently in various Daoist books.

⁽⁵⁾ The term “wu-wei” in this sentence might be interpreted as “the invisible world of Heavenly Powers”.

*

5. EULOGY TO

THE SUPREME ANCESTOR OF DAO

The primordial breath transformed;

The Supreme Lord of Dao arose.

His sacredness is unfathomable;

His merit is indescribable.

Before the universe formation, He already existed;

After the universe formation,

He transcends all other true beings.

Dao is sublime and conceived as one breath,

Which transformed into the Three Purities wondrously.

His virtue illuminates the divine realm;

His dharma surpasses all holy beings.

On the fifteenth day of the second lunar month,

He separated His nature to take on a human form;

His single body mysteriously assumes

infinite transformations.

Arriving from the east together with the purple breath,

He let His Book of Dao and Its Virtue be spread;

Crossing the shifting sands (of the Gobi) to the west,

He transformed His dharma into an organised faith.

His teaching on cultivating the inner self is too enigmatic

to be dissected with mere analysis.

Before the formation of heaven and earth,

He existed primordially, and

His Dao transcends across countless epochs.

The movement of heaven and earth directs

the sun and moon light;

The all-inclusive dharma of Dao passes

through immeasurable time.

His compassion and blessing are praised

across the vast world;

His benevolence and virtue are forever revered

by all sentient beings.

Of great divinity and great holiness,

He is the supreme and most revered.

As the Primordial and Right One, the Supreme Lord of Dao

is the Heavenly Revered One presiding over Daoism.

NAMAH THE SUPREME ANCESTOR OF DAO,

THE THREE PURITIES, THE RESPONDING

AND TRANSFORMING HEAVENLY REVERED ONE.

(Three kowtows, three nods with each kowtow,

and one recitation with each nod.)

*

 

6. EULOGY TO

SAGE CONFUCIUS THE FIRST TEACHER

Residing in the Cinnamon Fragrance inner hall,

Inside the Literature Beginning noble palace,

Ninety-five times He planted good fruit trees

in the literary garden.

Through countless transformations, He nurtured the

cinnamon tree in the field of hidden good deeds.⁽¹⁾

The thunder crash after the invention of Chinese characters

was more miraculous than the appearance of a phoenix

on a mountain peak.⁽²⁾

His good will and thoughts were of utmost compassion.

His foundation of cultivating moral values in humans

lies in sincere filial piety towards parents.

His primary principle for a long-lasting country is rooted

in unwavering loyalty to the homeland.

Nourishing aspiration for protecting life,

He had responding dreams,⁽³⁾

As divine guidance for Him who compassionately

had sympathy with suffering people.

As the Sage of great benevolence and filial piety,

Of utmost holiness and compassion,

Of wondrous literary and martial skills,

Of illustrious virtue and loyalty,

He was the kings’ guest offering strategies for help,

And society became civilised

thanks to His guiding principles.

As the Illustrious Learning One in charge of happiness,

As the Lord of great benevolence,

As the Observer of purity, reality, and righteousness,

He is the Heavenly Revered One

of precious light and compassionate help.⁽⁴⁾

NAMAH SAGE CONFUCIUS THE FIRST TEACHER,

THE HEAVENLY REVERED ONE

FOR RUISM DEVELOPMENT AND WORLD PROSPERITY.⁽⁵⁾

(Three kowtows, three nods with each kowtow,

and one recitation with each nod.)

Translator’s Notes:

⁽¹⁾ “He nurtured the cinnamon tree in the field of hidden good deeds” is a metaphorical sentence. In Chinese literature, a successful candidate is compared to a man who holds a cinnamon branch. Besides, his success results from not only his excellent learning but also his concealed good deeds. Thus, this metaphor implies that Sage Confucius provided His disciples with not only knowledge or skills but also morality. The concept of “hidden good deeds” is expressed by Jesus as follows, “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret.” (Matthew 6:3-4)

⁽²⁾ According to Chinese legend, there was a crash of thunder after the invention of Chinese characters, and a phoenix appeared on a mountain peak to herald the advent of a sage. Sages are rare in society, but thanks to Chinese characters, their teachings can be multiplied and spread across ages; and this is the implication of the phrase “more miraculous than the appearance of a phoenix”. The miraculous invention of Chinese characters is mentioned in this eulogy because Sage Confucius used these characters to compile numerous books and teach His disciples.

⁽³⁾ Sage Confucius deeply admired the Duke of Zhou and often dreamt of this figure. However, one day He said, “I have not dreamt of the Duke of Zhou for a long time.” (The Analects, 7:5)

⁽⁴⁾ Sage Confucius is honoured as “precious light”. The term “light” reminds us of what Jesus Christ told His apostles, “You are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:14)

⁽⁵⁾ “Ruism” means “Nho Giáo” or 儒 教. “Confucianism” means “Khổng Giáo” or 孔 教.

*

 

7. OFFERING

THE THREE PRECIOUS ONES

OFFERING FLOWERS

Fresh flowers in five colors, of natural beauty

Bowing heads we offer them respectfully

To thank Caodai God for watching over us

Compassionate Saviour, be present here please.

NAMAH CAODAI THE IMMORTAL,

THE MAHABODHISATTVA MAHASATTVA.

(One kowtow, four nods,

and one recitation with each nod.)

*

OFFERING WINE

From grapes or sugarcane this western wine is made

In these cups, it’s full of fragrance and delicious taste

With sincere devotion, we disciples offer up the wine

May joyful Caodai God grant us good fortune divine.

NAMAH CAODAI THE IMMORTAL,

THE MAHABODHISATTVA MAHASATTVA.

(One kowtow, four nods,

and one recitation with each nod.)

*

OFFERING SPIRITS

How fragrant, oh how spirits are fragrant

We bow our heads in humble reverence

May Caodai God watch the elegant scenery

Sincerely we disciples offer cups full of fragrance.

NAMAH CAODAI THE IMMORTAL,

THE MAHABODHISATTVA MAHASATTVA.

(One kowtow, four nods,

and one recitation with each nod.)

*

OFFERING TEA

So fragrant, so delicious, here’s green tea

We bow our heads in humble reverence

May Caodai God watch the elegant scenery

Sincerely we disciples offer cups full of fragrance.

NAMAH CAODAI THE IMMORTAL.

THE MAHABODHISATTVA MAHASATTVA.

(One kowtow, four nods,

and one recitation with each nod.)

*

8. THE FIVE VOWS

Namah:

First, may the Great Dao spread far and wide.

Second, may all sentient beings be saved.

Third, may all our sins be forgiven.

Fourth, may the entire world live peacefully.

Fifth, may all holy houses enjoy tranquillity.

NAMAH CAODAI THE IMMORTAL,

THE MAHABODHISATTVA MAHASATTVA.

(Three kowtows, four nods with each kowtow,

and one recitation with each nod.)

*