Cao Dai Temple of New Orleans

Information about this center is no longer updated. This data was last updated on 9 March 2012.

Phone: 504-362-5191
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Introduction

Cao Dai is a new, syncretistic religion founded in 1926 in southern Vietnam. Founded by Mr. Le Van Trung as a result of messages received in a series of visions, the movement posits three time periods of revelation for humankind. The first era consisted of the messages of Buddhism, Taoism, Judaism and other systems. The second brought the historical Buddha, Confucius, later Taoist teachings, Christianity and others. Finally, God inaugurated "the third era of religious amnesty" with the teaching of Cao Dai. The religion acknowledges spiritism as a primary means of receiving God's messages. Ethically, the Cai Dai espouses nonviolence, vegetarianism, a somewhat ascetic orientation, the veneration of ancestors and overall moral behaviour. Salvation is rejoining God the Father in Heaven, with the further goal understood as freedom from the cycle of birth and death. For further information see the Cao Dai Web site.

History

In 1986 five Cao Dai members founded the current temple, including the current Leader, Mr. Long Thua Nguyen, Mr. Louis N. Washington and Mr. Hat V. Tran. They broke ground on the present site without any help from a professional builder. No ceremonies were held in the area until the construction of the orginal Cao Dai temple was completed in 1989. The building looks similar to a modest house. This contrasts sharply with the current temple under construction. Began in 2001 this temple's design is distinctively Vietnamese. It is modelled after the religion's main temple in Vietnam which attempts to synthesize elements from Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism and Western religions, particularly Catholicism. Members have worked steadily on the temple during weekends and holidays over the past five years. In November of 2006 they plan to open the temple with a ceremony involving some 250 Cao Dai members from temples around the country. They will also host guests from five or six foreign countries. Worldwide there are about 5 million members in Cao Dai.

Activities and Schedule

Every Sunday at 12:00 noon. Special ceremonies are held on the full moon and new moon dates each fortnight. Occasionally special services are held on weekday nights at 7:00 p.m.

Sunday Ceremony

Members wear special attire for the ceremony. For the eight women present this consisted of a long, loose gown made of light blue silk or synthetic material. The two men each wore white ceremonial robes and had identical black caps. The ceremony began with the leader using a large striking stick to sound the temple's bell. He recited an invocation in Vietnamese as he sounded the bell several times. The women were lined up against a side wall during the invocation, and then they moved to the center of the hall and faced the altar. They stood before small light blue cushions on the floor which they then used while kneeling. One of the women was asked to stand next to me in the back of the prayer hall. She answered my occasional questions and alerted me in advance to significant parts of the ritual. The main altar is dominated by a photo of a human eye set in a decorative background and framed. (See photo no. 5) Below the framed icon are about eight red tablets that stand on the altar. Incense is burned in front of the tablets. To each side is a large cylinder made of colored paper. They serve to frame the entire altar. Another altar stands at the rear of the room. Five sticks of incense is also burned at this altar during the ceremony. Oil lamps stand at each side of all three altars: in front, at the back and back left. The flames represent solar light (at right) and lunar light (at left). The back-left altar to the female element (photo no. 3) is located in a slightly separated area to the left at the back, almost a separate wing of the prayer hall. It is located to the left as one enters, beyond the imposing temple drum. Two vases of flowers adorn each altar. The flowers represent an offering of a devotee's body; they are of five colors to represent the wide variation found in the physical word. They also represent the yang element of the cosmos. Other substances represent a devotee's mind and heart. Cups of tea represent the yin. Small cups of wine are also placed on the altar to represent the vital energy of the universe. A paper was held up to the altar by the leader in a decorative case. The paper was then removed and read in a beautiful stylistic way by a woman. The leader explained to me later that it was his task to write intentions on the paper for this part of the ceremony. After reciting these prayers the paper was placed into a bowl and brought to the altar. There it was set aflame and it burned for about a minute while the members collectively recited prayers.

Youth Group

The Cao Dai Youth Group consists of about twenty children. They are taught about the religion in regular sessions. The Youth Group occasionally visit places of local interest, including a nearby Vietnamese Buddhist temple and the City Hall of New Orleans. Mr. Washington noted that many of the youth have become doctors or work in the health care industries. He observed that very few Vietnamese have become lawyers.

Vegetarianism

Cao Dai encourages vegetarianism. All food served in the temples is vegetarian. Beginning members should observe six days of each month as vegetarian. Regular members are required to observe ten days as vegetarian days. Those who hold higher office become complete vegetarians. When asked about the food which members eat together after the service, Mr. Long Thua Nguyen observed that Cao Dai food is distinctive. In Vietnam, Buddhist temples also serve vegetarian food, but they do not use garlic or other spices in their food. So the food at Cao Dai temples, which has garlic and mainy spices, is known for being especially flavorful.