CONFIRMATION

THE THIRD GREAT UNIVERSAL RELIGIOUS AMNESTY
HISTORY OF THE WAY THROUGH SÉANCES
CONFIRMATION

For over 42 years since the birth of Caodaism, most clergy members have known that in the beginning, the Supreme Being used the miraculous mechanism of automatic writing to gather the high-ranking officials of the Hiep Thien Tai, who would then assist in establishing The Third Great Universal Religious Amnesty.

Before the Hiep Thien Tai officials were instructed to use the Great Jade Writing Instrument for disseminating the teachings, there was a period of leisurely amusement among three individuals who came together as friends, sharing a common passion for poetry and music.

This recreational activity was “table-turning,” and the three individuals were Cao Quỳnh Cư, Phạm Công Tắc, and Cao Hoài Sang (who were later ordained as Thượng Phẩm, Hộ Pháp, and Thượng Sanh, respectively).

As poets harboring deep sorrow for their nation under foreign rule, these three men engaged in table-turning, inviting the spirits of the departed to inquire about the future destiny of their homeland or to compose and exchange verses for entertainment.

Initially, they faced difficulties. On the first night, despite burning incense, offering prayers, and placing their hands on the table from 9 pm to 2 am, they received no response.

With persistent determination, they tried again the following night (July 26th, 1925). At precisely midnight, a spirit communicated through the table, tapping out a message that formed an eight-verse poem.

This was the “Self-Narrative” poem by Cao Quỳnh Tuân, the father of Cao Quỳnh Cư.

This Religious History vividly describes the astonishment and profound impact this event had on the three men.

A few nights later, the spirit of Đoàn Ngọc Quế communicated through the table, delivering a poignant “Self-Lament” poem, its verses filled with heartfelt emotion and profound beauty. (Đoàn Ngọc Quế was the pseudonym of Vương Thị Lễ, also known as the Immortal Maiden of the Dieu Tri Palace).

Witnessing the miraculous communication with the invisible realm, the three men became deeply engrossed in table-turning, gathering every night until three or four in the morning.

From then on, Immortals and Saints frequently communicated through the table, sometimes offering poetry or interpreting verses, sometimes providing insights into the destiny of the nation, striking a chord within the hearts of the three men and filling them with joy.

Whenever they received a particularly beautiful poem, after concluding the session, the three men would linger. Two would play musical instruments while the other recited the verses, sharing drinks and conversation in the late hours, their hearts filled with inspiration and reflection.

The night that filled the three men with the most profound emotion and excitement was November 10th, 1925. That night, the spirit of Lê Văn Duyệt, the revered historical figure, communicated through the table, delivering the following poem:

Through trials and tribulations, my spirit has soared, Who is to blame for our land being ignored? The people lament, our nation enslaved, Three eras of suffering, by Western forces depraved. Distant verses, a broken kingdom’s plea, The Southern land awaits, for its destiny. The nation’s burden, the people’s plight, nears its end, Oppression shall cease, and harmony transcend.

A few days later, Lê Văn Duyệt again communicated through the table, offering a second poem:

When harmony arrives, united voices shall rise, The nation’s fate, in our hands it lies. Many foes threaten, our sacred land to seize, Loyal hearts grieve, yearning for peace. The road is long, but with perseverance, we’ll strive, Through arduous steps, our spirits will thrive. Our vast homeland, from darkness cleansed and bright, With unwavering faith, we’ll reclaim our birthright.

Cao Hoài Sang inquired of the spirit, “In the current situation, should the Vietnamese resistance groups unite and rise up in revolution to break free from oppression?”

The spirit replied with a poem:

The strength and weakness of each side are clear, In twenty years, our nation’s fate shall be near. Be patient, observe the shifting tides of time, Avoid hasty actions, lest chaos climb.

(These three poems were not included in the “History of the Way through Séances,” so I have recorded them here).

Through table-turning, Cư, Tắc, and Sang learned the Way, cultivating their knowledge and wisdom until the day the Supreme Being, known as A.Á.Â., instructed them to face the Heavenly Altar in the courtyard, kneeling beneath the sky to pray for guidance (on the 1st day of the 11th month, Ất Sửu, December 16th, 1925).

These were the first three disciples accepted by the Supreme Being into The Third Great Universal Religious Amnesty (Tây Ninh).

Afterward, the Supreme Being gathered the dignitaries of the Hiep Thien Tai, the Head Priest Thượng Trung Nhựt, and the dignitaries of the Great Nine-Layered Heaven.

By the decree of the Jade Emperor Supreme Being, Thượng Phẩm, Hộ Pháp, and Thượng Sanh, together with the Bảo Văn Pháp Quân, Bảo Pháp, Hiến Pháp, Khai Pháp, and Tiếp Pháp, journeyed throughout the Southern provinces to spread the Way and gather followers.

This “History of the Way through Séances,” diligently compiled by Madame Hương Hiếu, the Head Priestess, is a comprehensive and accurate account, starting from the initial table-turning sessions of Thượng Phẩm, Hộ Pháp, and Thượng Sanh to the establishment of the Great Way through divine communication.

It is an invaluable treasure trove of information, revealing the origins of the Way of Heaven in Vietnam. Every clergy member and follower should read it to gain a deeper understanding.

Holy See, December 22nd, Đinh Mùi (January 21st, 1968)

Thượng Sanh (Seal)

CAO HOÀI SANG