Counterargument Against Professor
Janet Hoskins' Perspective on the Eighth Religious Decree.
May
22, 2025.
Dương Xuân Lương.
|
God
has chosen Vietnamese as the official script of Đại-Đạo Tam-Kỳ Phổ-Độ, making
its philosophy, laws, and teachings fundamentally rooted in this language. To
spread God’s teachings, translating them into English is necessary. I have
asked Copilot and Google for assistance, ensuring that the spirit of the
doctrine is preserved. Despite great care, errors are inevitable. Translation
is never perfect due to cultural differences, yet it remains an essential
bridge for understanding. In all cases, please refer to the original script
for clarification. Respectfully. |
Translated into English from Vietnamese on Vietnam Times.
https://vietnamthoibao.org/vntb-phan-bien-quan-diem-giao-su-janet-hoskins-ve-dao-nghi-dinh-thu-tam/
After
the Opening Ceremony of the Cao Đài religion, some high-ranking dignitaries
continued to serve as officials under the French government, and leading to
internal divisions. By 1930, Đức Lý Giáo Tông sought to enforce discipline
through legal measures, but Đức Thượng Đế did not approve, preferring to teach
through love and compassion. Unable to govern effectively, Đức Lý Giáo Tông
resigned. Đức Hộ Pháp was uncertain about which path to choose and remained
contemplative for six months. Eventually, Đức Hộ Pháp decided to follow legal
principles and collaborated with Đức Lý Giáo Tông to submit a petition to Bát
Quái Đài (The Eight Trigrams Platform). Đức Thượng Đế accepted the decision,
though with sorrow, and instructed that a formal ceremony be held to reinstate
Lý Giáo Tông to power.
I/- The Importance of Legal.
Pháp Chánh Truyền (The Sacred
Constitution) serves as the constitution of Đại-Đạo Tam-Kỳ Phổ-Độ (ĐĐTKPĐ) and
is strictly prohibited from being modified in any form.
Pháp Chánh Truyền Chú Giải (Commentary on the Sacred Constitution), page 64, 1932
edition:
“…From here on, no one shall
infringe upon their own authority, because their authority is also the Master's
authority. Even if there remains only one follower, the Holy Church shall still
uphold the authority of the Holy Church…” (End of quote)
Accordingly, in any circumstance,
the Holy Church has the duty to strictly uphold religious law. Đạo Nghị Định
Thứ Tám (The Eighth Decree) was established to ensure that the Holy Church has
sufficient authority to govern the religious foundation. (1)
Objective of the rebuttal
Provide a correct and fair
perspective on the Đạo Nghị Định Thứ Tám (Eighth Decree).
Present evidence that the
unification process of the faith was carried out from 1969 to 1975,
demonstrating that the Đạo Nghị Định Thứ Tám (Eighth Decree) did not
hinder this process.
Point out the errors in Professor
Janet Hoskins' writings, where she claimed that the Eighth Decree obstructed
the sects' reunification with the Tòa Thánh Tây Ninh (Tây Ninh Holy See).
II/- Đạo Nghị Định Thứ Tám (The
Eighth Decree) (August 25, 1934).
1/- First Article:
Any sects that originate from Đại
Đạo Tam Kỳ Phổ Độ but are not established under the directive of the Holy
Church shall not be recognized by all beings as belonging to Chí Tôn (God) and
must be determined as heretical and deviant doctrines. (End of quote).
2/- Analysis.
2.1/- Individuals who separated from Tòa Thánh Tây
Ninh—if they took away tangible or intangible assets of the religion (tangible:
Thánh Thất, Điện Thờ, etc.; intangible: religious titles such as Lễ Sanh, Giáo
Hữu, Giáo Sư, etc.).
2.2/- Those who split off and established a Holy Church
without the directive of the Cao Đài Holy Church at Tòa Thánh Tây Ninh shall be
considered as a heretical and deviant sect.
2.3/-
The term sect
in ĐĐTKPĐ is solely determined based on a single legal factor: whether it has
the directive of the Cao Đài Holy Church or not. The Eighth Decree does not
evaluate doctrines, rituals, or worship practices. Sects and Heretical Teachings are
closely linked. This is the distinctive identity of a legally governed
religion.
III/- Assessment of the Eighth
Decree (August 25, 1934).
In reality, Buddhist vegetarianism
differs from Catholic practices. To evaluate the practice of vegetarianism in
each religion, one must base the assessment on the theological and legal
framework of that specific faith.
Similarly, the Eighth Decree must
be examined and evaluated within the system of Đại Đạo Tam Kỳ Phổ Độ through
three aspects: legal, doctrinal, and historical. It is a serious, fair
approach.
1/- Legal Aspect.
1.1/- Legality of the Spiritual
Séance.
Mediums: Đức Hộ Pháp Phạm Công Tắc
and Tiếp Đạo Cao Đức Trọng were the two mediums chosen by Đức Chí Tôn (God).
Location: Cung Đạo (Spiritual Hall), Tòa Thánh Tây Ninh (Tay Ninh Sacred
Temple).
Participants: Đức Quyền Giáo Tông,
Cao Thượng Sanh, Cao Tiếp Đạo, Lê Tiếp Thế; Thái, Thượng, Ngọc Chánh Phối Sư,
Nữ Chánh Phối Sư, along with male and female followers. In essence, the Sacred
Body of Đức Chí Tôn was present.
1.2/- Consideration of Authority
(Content).
On December 23, 1931, God taught: "I
have bestowed My Supreme Authority upon the two who lead the Holy Church—Giáo
Tông and Hộ Pháp. Thus, My Supreme Authority is fully realized when Giáo Tông
and Hộ Pháp unite." (Thánh Ngôn Hiệp Tuyển “TNHT” Vol. 2, page 188,
1972 edition).
Therefore, Giáo Tông and Hộ Pháp
had the rightful authority to establish the Eighth Decree.
1.3/- Legal Authority Granted.
On December 23, 1931, God taught: "I
have established My tangible form, meaning the Holy Church of Đại Đạo as it
exists today. Therefore, I must also grant My complete authority to this form
so that it may fully guide and save all beings..." (“TNHT” Vol. 2,
page 188, 1972 edition).
Thus, the Eighth Decree possesses
full legal legitimacy.
1.4/- Divine Acknowledgment.
The evidence is that after the
issuance of the Eighth Decree (and the establishment of the Ban Chỉnh Đạo
sect), God bestowed four exemplary blessings.
1.4.1/- Establishment of the
Seven Ranks of Hiệp Thiên Đài Clergy.
In March 1935, Đức Chưởng Đạo
Nguyệt Tâm Chơn Nhơn descended through a spiritual séance and instructed the
establishment of seven ranks within Hiệp Thiên Đài: Sĩ Tải, Truyền Trạng, Thừa
Sử, Giám Đạo, Cải Trạng, Chưởng Ấn, Tiếp Dẫn Đạo Nhơn
1.4.2/- Granting the Scriptures of
Thiên Đạo and Thế Đạo (Scriptures of the Heavenly Way and the Worldly Way).
In August 1935, Đức Cao Đài
instructed the granting of the Scriptures of Thiên Đạo and Thế Đạo to the Cao
Đài Holy Church.
1.4.3/- Instruction to Build the
Holy See Over 20 Years.
In 1936, the construction of the
Holy Temple continued. The Holy Church began the project with an initial fund
of $1.46 (with the price of rice at $0.20 per giạ, in Piastre currency).
In June 1941, the French
authorities arrested Đức Hộ Pháp along with several clergy members, exiling
them to Madagascar (Africa) and taking control of the Holy See.
By August 1946, Đức Hộ Pháp
returned and resumed the construction of the Holy Temple. Since no
architectural drawings were available, Đức Lý Giáo Tông guided the construction
step by step over a 20-year period.
Finally, in February 1955, the
Inauguration Ceremony was held.
1.4.4/- Construction of Châu Thành
Thánh Địa.
God instructed the implementation
of five strategies: housing, livelihood, education, infrastructure, and
religion to elevate moral character, intellect, and quality of life. These
efforts aimed to create a harmonious and prosperous society, foster ethical
values, promote righteousness, mutual support, and solidarity among the people,
while shaping a way of life rooted in the Cao Đài cultural identity. The
planning of Châu Thành Thánh Địa was intended to establish it as the religious
capital. (2)
These four pieces of evidence
affirm that God recognized the legitimacy of the Eighth Decree. Various sects
later replicated the ranks of Hiệp Thiên Đài clergy and the scriptures of Thiên
Đạo and Thế Đạo for their own use.
2/- Doctrine.
The Eighth Decree aligns with four
fundamental teachings.
2.1/- God's Teaching: The Sacred
Oath (April 22, 1926).
"What is your name? ... What
is your surname? ... Swear that: From now on, I acknowledge ONE Cao Đài
Religion of the Jade Emperor, remaining steadfast and loyal, united with fellow
disciples, preserving the laws of Cao Đài. If I ever waver, Heaven shall
condemn me, Earth shall reject me."
(Thánh Ngôn Hiệp Tuyển Q1, page 15, 1972 edition)
"From now on, I acknowledge
ONE Cao Đài Religion of the Jade Emperor..." The word ONE is singular, meaning
only one, signifying that there is only ONE Cao Đài Religion founded by the
Jade Emperor in 1926.
Thus, if another Cao Đài Religion
were to exist, it would clearly not be of God's creation.
The Eighth Decree is a direct
consequence of the Sacred Oath. Since the oath was taken, one must recognize
the legitimacy of the Eighth Decree.
2.2/- God's Teaching on April 24,
1926
"All disciples are equal; none
shall form factions or create separate groups. If anyone commits this offense,
I shall expel them from the faith to prevent disorder." (TNHT Q1, page 46, 1972 edition)
Establishing a Holy Church without
the directive of the Cao Đài Holy Church constitutes factionalism. God expels
such individuals from the faith. The Eighth Decree serves as the instrument to
concretely enforce this teaching.
2.3/- God's Teaching on August 14,
1926.
"Therefore, my children, when
you hear people speaking of Cao Đài here and Cao Đài there, do not be quick to
believe and fall into the schemes of deceit."
(Phổ Cáo Chúng Sanh, page 6, published October 13, 1926)
The Eighth Decree was established
to uphold this teaching and protect the faithful.
2.4/- Teachings of God on October
29, 1926
Đ… Q… all of Thầy’s disciples must
recognize only one path, never two; whoever harbors the intent to create
factions and divisions is an enemy of Thầy. Do you understand? (TNHT Vol. 1, Page 47, 1972.)
The Eighth Religious Decree
concretizes this teaching, guiding followers to avoid becoming adversaries of
God.
3/- History
Examining three phases: formation
and impact; signing of the Nine Unification Conditions (1969); implementation
of unification until 1975.
3.1/-
Formation and Impact
Internal
affairs: In 1930, some high-ranking
dignitaries did not abandon secular life for religious service. As a result,
Đức Lý Giáo Tông and Đức Hộ Pháp established six Religious Decrees (November
22, 1930) to stabilize internal affairs and promote development.
Societal
context: The French government suspected
Cao Đài of opposing colonial rule, leading to repression of the Holy See. Đức
Quyền Giáo Tông Thượng Trung Nhựt was imprisoned in 1934, and Đức Hộ Pháp,
along with several other dignitaries, was arrested and exiled to Madagascar in
1941. The French authorities encouraged, supported, and pressured dignitaries
to form sects.
Minh Chơn Lý Sect (1931).
The Fifth Religious Decree (1930)
required dignitaries to abandon secular life for religious service. Phối Sư
Thái Ca Thanh requested to return to his hometown to make arrangements for his
religious duties. However, instead of fully committing to his religious
mission, he remained in his hometown and founded the Minh Chơn Lý Sect in Cầu
Vỹ, Mỹ Tho.
Minh Chơn Đạo Sect (1932).
Ngọc Chưởng Pháp Trần Đạo Quang
collaborated with Thái Ca Thanh to establish Minh Chơn Lý. Later, Trần Đạo
Quang separated and founded the Minh Chơn Đạo Holy See in Hậu Giang.
Tiên Thiên Sect (1932).
Châu Tri 67 (widely known 67),
issued on December 31, 1930, by Ngọc Chánh Phối Sư Ngọc Trang Thanh, addressed
the issue of Giáo Hữu Ngọc Chính Thanh practicing talismanic magic and
attempting levitation. By 1932, these individuals came together to establish
the Tiên Thiên Sect.
These were the three sects that
separated from the Tây Ninh Holy See before the Eighth Religious Decree was
enacted.
When the Eighth Religious Decree
was enacted, Thượng Tương Thanh and Ngọc Trang Thanh established the Ban Chỉnh
Đạo sect in Bến Tre in December 1934. However, since March 1933, both had
repeatedly attempted to overthrow Đức Quyền Giáo Tông Thượng Trung Nhựt and
take control of the Holy See but were unsuccessful. (3)
From 1935 until the dissolution of
the Cao Dai Holy Council in 1983, no new sects
emerged. After the dissolution (1983), the 1997 sect was established at the Tây
Ninh Holy See. These facts have been verified. (4)
The Eighth Religious Decree
successfully prevented the formation of new sects by separating from the Holy
See. However, from the original four sects, many additional sects have emerged
over time.
3.2/- Signing of the Nine
Unification Conditions (1969)
In May 1964, Trần Văn Quế, the head
of the sect delegation, contacted the Cao Đài Holy Council to discuss the
unification process with the Tây Ninh Holy See. (5).
Official Record 1: On May 7, 1964, the Cao Đài Holy
See held an internal meeting in preparation for May 9, 1965.
Official Record 2: On May 9, 1965, an official
meeting was held with the sects at the Tây Ninh Holy See.
Đạo Huynh Trần Văn Quế delivered a
presentation on the purpose of today's gathering, discussing with the Tây Ninh
Holy See the efforts to unify Cao Đài sects and, in particular, the plan for
sect unification… (end of excerpt).
Official Record 3: On August 23, 1964, the Cao Đài
Holy See held a meeting with the sects at Nam Thành Thánh Thất in Saigon.
Ông Huệ Lương delivered the opening
speech… The entire council unanimously elected Tiếp Pháp Trương Văn Tràng,
representing the Tây Ninh Holy See, as the Chairman… (end of excerpt).
Official Record 4: The Vạn Pháp Tông Truyền
delegation (Thủ Đức) met with the Cao Đài Holy See on July 19, 1966, at the Tây
Ninh Holy See.
The record states: “… from now
on, all actions shall be carried out in accordance with the Tây Ninh Holy See’s
regulations…
We establish this official record
to be applied within the framework of Đại Đạo Tam Kỳ Phổ Độ from this day
forward.” (end of excerpt).
Official Record 5: The grand assembly at the Holy See
took place on February 24, 1969. The session was presided over by Đức Thượng
Sanh Cao Hoài Sang, Chief Administrator of Hiệp Thiên Đài.
Ngài Phan Khắc Sửu, former National
Leader, led the delegation, representing 14 sects with a total of 72 members.
Giáo Hữu Ngọc Chính Thanh presented
the Nine Unification Conditions concerning the Tây Ninh Holy See and proceeded
with the signing process. Only four members from the sects did not sign. (5)
3.3/- Implementation of Unification.
Thánh Thất Từ Vân officially
unified on June 3, 1972.
The semi-monthly publication THÔNG
TIN, issue 54, released on June 20, 1972, reported that Thánh Thất Từ Vân,
located at 100 Thích Quảng Đức, Phú Nhuận, Saigon, had unified with the Tây
Ninh Holy See. (6)
Sects Meeting at the Holy See
(November 22, 1972)
The semi-monthly publication THÔNG
TIN, issue 65, released on November 30, 1972, reported that representatives
from nine sects gathered at the Ban Thế Đạo Hall of the Holy See on November
22, 1972.
The purpose of this meeting was to
accelerate the unification process. (7)
Thánh Thất Mỹ Hiệp Unified (March
23, 1975)
The semi-monthly publication THÔNG
TIN, issue 119, released on April 21, 1975, reported that Thượng Chánh Phối Sư
Thượng Nhã Thanh officially accepted Thánh Thất Mỹ Hiệp, which was offered to
the Tây Ninh Holy See by Lưu Thanh Hóa (Ban Chỉnh Đạo) on March 23, 1975. (8)
Following this, on April 30, 1975,
significant historical events unfolded, marking a turning point.
Thus, the Eighth Religious Decree
is legally comprehensive, aligned with doctrinal teachings, and the unification
process was carried out from 1969 to 1975. These facts have been verified.
IV/- Professor Janet Hoskins on the
Eighth Religious Decree.
Vietnamese: The Person and Theological
Creativity of Phạm Công Tắc. (9)
The Crime of Religious Schism and
Its Punishment: The Path to the Eight Religious Decrees (Pages 9-11)
… Some time later, in response
to religious defection and the establishment of new branches, Phạm Công Tắc
issued the Eight Religious Decrees, excommunicating the schismatic groups and
treating them as apostates.
Co-signed during a séance with
"Giáo Tông Vô Vi" Lý Đại Tiên, this document proved to be one of the
greatest obstacles for decades to efforts aimed at reuniting the various Cao
Đài sects. (Page 10).
English: A Posthumous Return from
Exile: The Legacy of an Anticolonial Religious Leader in Today’s Vietnam. (10)
Schisms and Sanctions: The Road to
the Eighth Decree (pages 229-232):
Some time later, in response to
defections and new branches, Phạm Công Tắc issued the “Eighth Decree,” which
excommunicated schismatic groups and treated them as apostates. Co signed in a
séance by the “Invisible Pope” Lý Đại Tiên, this document has proved to be the
greatest obstacle to many decades of efforts to re-unify the various branches
of Caodaism. Members of many smaller groups have pledged to try to achieve a
new unity, but they have failed to draw Tây Ninh leaders to their meetings in
any official capacity, Phạm Công Tắc’s position, which cast a great shadow over
his successors, has been that the “mother church awaits the return of her
errant children,” but the “children” cannot start re-uniting themselves. (Page 232)
The above two excerpts show that
Professor Janet Hoskins has misunderstood the Eighth Amendment.
1/- Four Verifiable Errors
Error One: Legal Validity.
Professor Janet completely
overlooked the legal validity of the Eighth Religious Decree within Đại Đạo Tam
Kỳ Phổ Độ, despite it being the fundamental and most crucial aspect. (See
III, 1: Legal Validity).
Error Two: Doctrinal Teachings
The Lời Minh Thệ (Sacred Oath) states:
From this moment on, recognize only ONE Cao Đài religion under Ngọc-Đế…
The word ONE is singular, meaning exclusive, signifying that only ONE
Cao Đài religion was established by Ngọc-Đế in 1926. This forms the fundamental
premise of Đại Đạo Tam Kỳ Phổ Độ.
The Eighth Religious Decree is a
direct consequence of Lời Minh Thệ. (See III, 2.1)
Additionally, Professor Janet's
writings misinterpret other teachings as well. (See III, 2.2; 2.3; 2.4).
Error Three: Historical Accuracy
Professor Janet wrote: “… this
document proved to be one of the greatest obstacles for decades to efforts
aimed at reuniting the various Cao Đài sects…”
The truth is that the unification
process was successfully carried out from 1969 to 1975, and this has been
verified (see III, 3.2; 3.3). History demonstrates that the Eighth
Religious Decree did not hinder sects from unifying with the Tây Ninh Holy See.
Thus, Professor Janet’s statement
is factually incorrect.
Regarding Research Methodology:
Professor Janet wrote that the
Eighth Religious Decree hindered unification efforts… but did not specify: The
identity of the organization that attempted unification? When did they carry it
out? Where? How did the Eighth Decree hinder them?
That is, the Professor did not
provide evidence when making his argument.
In summary: Professor Janet Hoskins made three
fundamental errors in writing about the Eighth Religious Decree: Neglecting its
legal foundation; Misinterpreting the core doctrine regarding the singular
nature of Cao Đài; Misrepresenting historical facts about the unification
process from 1969 to 1975
Error Four: Misinterpretation of
"Nhánh" as "Chi Phái"
Professor Janet incorrectly equated
Nhánh (Branch) with Chi Phái (Sect).
Within Đại Đạo Tam Kỳ Phổ Độ,
Thượng Đế and Divine Beings never taught that Nhánh refers to Cao Đài sects.
Throughout the Three Eras of
Universal Salvation, God established only four Nhánh (Branches): Phật
(Buddhism); Tiên (Taoism/Immortalism); Nho (Confucianism)
These were the three branches
during the First and Second Eras of Universal Salvation.
*(Reference: Kinh Thiên Đạo và
Thế Đạo, Opening Prayer, Line 10: “Một cội sanh ba NHÁNH in nhau.” / "One
root gave rise to three identical branches.")
TNHT Q1, Page 7 (1972):
"The branch you belong to is
the branch that I Myself govern; you will understand later."
The term "Cái NHÁNH" (The
Branch) is singular, indicating that there is only one branch, named Đại Đạo
Tam Kỳ Phổ Độ.
During the Third Era of Universal
Salvation, Thượng Đế established only ONE branch, called Đại Đạo Tam Kỳ Phổ Độ,
and did not establish a second branch. God never delegated the authority to
create new branches to anyone.
Within Đại Đạo Tam Kỳ Phổ Độ, the
Cao Đài sects (Chi Phái) do not qualify as Nhánh (Branches).
Professor Janet wrote falsely about
the BRANCH in the Đại Đạo Tam Kỳ Phổ Độ. (11).
2/- Consequences
Professor Janet Hoskins teaches at
the University of Southern California, meaning the inaccuracies mentioned above
have been conveyed to students, presented in seminars, and disseminated
throughout society.
As a result: Students, scholars,
and conference attendees have received incorrect information regarding the
Eighth Religious Decree.
The distortion of the Eighth
Religious Decree has become a reference material, creating a "Falsehood
Perpetuates Falsehood" effect, causing misinformation to spread widely.
Evidence of "Falsehood
Perpetuates Falsehood". The Luật Khoa Journal propagated the statement: "…
This document has become the greatest obstacle to the efforts to reunify the
Cao Đài sects for many decades…" (12).
V/- Conclusion
The Eighth Religious Decree
represents the legal identity of Đại Đạo Tam Kỳ Phổ Độ, the legitimacy of the
Cao Đài Holy See, and serves to protect the unity of the religion. To
accurately understand the Eighth Religious Decree, one must consider its legal
foundation, doctrinal teachings, and historical context within ĐĐTKPĐ. Since
the Cao Đài sects successfully unified with the Tây Ninh Holy See from 1969 to
1975, the decree did not hinder unification efforts.
Professor Janet Hoskins wrote about
the Eighth Religious Decree but failed to consider three fundamental factors:
its legal foundation, doctrinal teachings, and the historical unification
process from 1969 to 1975. As a result, she misunderstood its significance. Her
claim that the Eighth Religious Decree hindered the unification of Cao Đài
is factually incorrect. Furthermore, her errors have spread widely throughout
society, following the "Falsehood Perpetuates Falsehood" effect.
Cao Đài followers have the
responsibility to preserve and clarify the pure identity of Đại Đạo Tam Kỳ Phổ
Độ. My fellow disciple, Victoria, and I are ready to respond, participate in
discussions, and attend seminars to shed light on this truth."./.
Dương Xuân Lương.
Email: hoabinhchungsong220313@yahoo.com
Notes.
(1)/- https://khoinhonsanh2014.blogspot.com/2025/04/5795-anh-chup-phap-chanh-truyen-chu.html#more
(2)/- https://khoinhonsanh2014.blogspot.com/2020/07/3116-tuyen-tap-chon-phap-cao-ai-q1-tt-11.html#more
(3)/- https://khoinhonsanh2014.blogspot.com/2024/11/5496-tieu-su-ngai-thuong-tuong-thanh.html#more
(5)/- https://khoinhonsanh2014.blogspot.com/2015/12/885-05-vi-bang-hop-voi-cac-chi-phai.html#more
(6)/- https://khoinhonsanh2014.blogspot.com/2020/01/3031-phai-ao-tu-van-qui-nhut-1972.html#more
(7)/- https://khoinhonsanh2014.blogspot.com/2020/03/3086-ban-nguyet-san-thong-tin-so-65.html#more
(8)/- https://khoinhonsanh2014.blogspot.com/2025/01/5633-ban-nguyet-san-thong-tin-so-119-21.html#more
(9)/- https://khoinhonsanh2014.blogspot.com/2025/01/5624-con-nguoi-va-kha-nang-sang-tao.html#more
(10)/- https://englishkyoto-seas.org/wp-content/uploads/010202.pdf
(11)/- https://vietnamthoibao.org/vntb-phep-thu-ve-nhanh-trong-dao-cao-dai/
(12)/- https://luatkhoa.com/2023/02/pham-cong-tac-va-nhung-tu-tuong-tranh-dau-cua-dao-cao-dai/
