FULL
TEXT OF A SHORTCUT TO TRUE
SELF-CULTIVATION
[At an evocation seance, the following sutra was bestowed by the Jade
Emperor (Caodai the Immortal, the Mahabodhisattva Mahasattva), who called
Himself “I”.]
After My order to
open nine heavenly palaces, I am leisurely contemplating the spring scenery
outside the heavenly gate.([1]) If those in higher positions set good examples which
lower ones should emulate, both higher and lower individuals acquire merit of
selfless service. When the Heaven’s Way widely spreads, it is advantageous (for
sentient beings).([2])
1.
I have arrived and
sat on the precious throne in the White Jade Palace. After receiving audiences
and congratulations from Divinities, I Myself have arrived in Vietnam. Firstly, I would like to observe the Three Teachings as
worshipped by the Vietnamese people, also known as the descendants of Immortals and Dragons.
2.
For numerous kalpas,
I have tirelessly toiled to teach sentient beings to revere Buddhas and worship
Heaven. Pitifully, due to mankind’s collective karma, they despise My
teaching but trust in the demon king’s
enticement.
3.
Most people
disregard the three bonds and five constants as their principle of virtue, as
the righteous way to follow, and they tend to think first of brutality. Witnessing
the deterioration of humanity, I have deeply considered the Third
Universal Salvation plan for the whole world this time.
4.
My words are to
withdraw the thick veil of ignorance (to enlighten
sentient beings). The sutra I am bestowing is carved in jade
and inlaid with gold,([3]) and it is like a torchlight leading sentient beings out
of the ignorance darkness. You should etch
My teaching into your memory
and consciousness.
5.
It is recorded in
many books that Heaven’s net is
vast and extensively spread. Whether severe or mild, sooner or later, the
karmic retribution is impartial. Don’t
say that the retribution is defective
because Heaven’s eyes are all-seeing.
6.
I have bestowed plentiful teachings of eternal truth, but you are so heartless and indifferent to Me. If you are unscrupulous, I cannot bear to
disown you. If you are scrupulous, I am satisfied.
7.
It is always heard
that God in the heaven has eyes. It is often read that Heaven is formless.
Though residing in the great, immense, and spacious heaven, God always
thoroughly examines every situation on earth.
8.
I have
descended, using the beaked basket to write and bestow a few short lines of
wondrous words from My heart.([4]) Don’t
consider that My words are not superb or profound. I advise you to keep your
heart and mind and never ever be mistaken.
9.
Parents have the
benevolence of giving birth to and rearing children. A proverb says that every
tree has its roots, and every stream has its source. Lush vegetation thrives
year-round due to an ample water supply; that is to say, children become good
and helpful individuals thanks to their parents’ nurturing and care.
10.
Don’t ape and flatter your friends. Don’t
wheedle your siblings. When seeing the elite and
influential, don’t wish for
their lives. When witnessing those who are in
adversity, don’t ignore them.
11.
The Dao of the
superior man originates in the marital love. Descendants originate from the
husband-wife bond. Spouses must be faithful and steadfast. As married couples,
you should always affectionately teach and advise each other.
12.
Coming from the same
mother’s womb, siblings should
share the same bloodline love. Don’t
hatch a sinister plot to separate your own siblings. As siblings, you should
remain affable with one another and then will have good fame disseminated.
13.
In terms of the principle of royal courtiers [or government officials today], you should strive to fulfill your assigned duties or tasks. In terms of the righteousness of royal courtiers [or government officials
today], you should strive to protect both your status and reputations by
refraining from illegal acts that could harm them. You should try hard to win success and fame.([5]) You should attempt to have your names recorded in the
annals of history for ever.
14.
The Creator’s scales or the way that Heaven
maintains order and justice in the world
encompasses multiple aspects difficult to comprehend.([6])
The cosmos operation encompasses manifold
difficulties to challenge humans. Travelling
by waterways, you can use a long rod to sound the water depth. [Likewise, you
should assess your situation to prevent risks.] You shouldn’t play in the deep sea or
the rip current [i.e., you shouldn’t
engage in dangerous circumstances].
15.
Divinities have
taught you how to live fair and honestly. Sages have added a burden of benevolence and righteousness to your duty. Alas! Ungrateful for their teaching grace, sentient beings disparage holy
teachings and have a condescending attitude.
16.
To have jade, one
must explore remote and uninhabited mountains. To
find gold, one must soak in deep seas.([7]) To win honour and
wealth as well as high social positions, you
should be determined and willing to endure challenges and difficulties.
17.
Instead of dreaming
about kowtowing to Buddhas in the West, why don’t you pay homage to Heaven in the holy house? For your sake, I have
come here and poured My heart out to you about all advantages and
disadvantages.
18.
Accumulating virtuous deeds and cultivating benevolence must be your
first priority. You must deliberately cultivate yourselves and do compassionate
deeds with diligence and frequency. Above your heads are Heaven, Buddhas, and
other Divinities who hold the scales of reward and punishment fairly and
impartially.([8])
19.
Don’t think that darkness can conceal everything. Don’t think that the
right and the wrong are not observed by Heaven. The Doctrine of the Mean
reads, “In the production of things, Heaven is sure to be bountiful to them
according to their qualities. The tree that is flourishing, Heaven nourishes,
while that which is ready to fall, Heaven overthrows.” ([9]) Like the ebb and flow of the
tide, the ups and downs in life or the positive and
negative events on earth change alternately in harmony with the Creator’s operation.
20.
Like the earth which
is watched over by the sun and the moon day and night, human thoughts and deeds
are being observed or examined by Heaven all
the time. Yin-yang (or Dao) operates uninterruptedly. The absolute
impartiality of heaven and earth neither
exempt any tiny wrongdoing from punishment nor neglect to reward any
tiny gooddoing.
21.
Don’t think that humans can use a piece of chiffon
to cover a Saint’s eyes. Don’t
dream that human strength is beyond Heaven. Pitiful and laughable to say,
humans disrespect Heaven due to their arrogance.
22.
Out of compassion
and mercy, I am writing a few more paragraphs to give you some more
explanations. My children, do keep My teaching etched on your heart, and commit
no mistakes. You shouldn’t neglect My teaching even though it is lengthy.
23.
You should refrain
from extramarital sex and excessive indulgence in sexual pleasure to safeguard
your health, career, fame, and ancestors’
honour. Sex-related harm is extremely devastating. Heaven and Buddhas never
tolerantly forgive this sin.
24.
Though hidden
virtuous deeds ([10]) abounded in your former lives, they are lessened or
vanish due to sexual indulgence in your present ones. You not only harm
yourselves but also your families, careers, and even your afterlives.
25.
Driven by cruelty, immoral
people delight in devising evil plots to exploit chaos and misfortune. To
enrich themselves, they lay wicked schemes to ensnare honest people. Their
victims cannot escape, even if they could dive as deeply as fish or soar as
high as birds.
26.
To the cunning and
those who abuse their authority or influence, Heaven has reserved a path for
them to pay their karmic debts. Though they have rejected all responsibilities
for their misdeeds,([11]) karmic retribution will come
sooner or later. [For instance,] they may have to beg for food in vain even as
their contented laughter still rings.
27.
There are ungrateful
people neglecting anniversaries of death of their ancestors, grandparents, and
parents, who are the source of their existence. Relying on their own fully
fledged condition, they show no gratitude to their grandparents and parents.
28.
The unfilial whose
love for their parents has faded will inevitably be punished. The impartiality
of Heaven’s law is obvious, isn’t it? Between two parallel rows of swords in
hell, the unfilial are brought in and have bellies and livers opened wide
first.
29.
There are cheating
bosses who do business dishonestly. There are disloyal and greedy employees who
cut into profits and drive up losses of their employers. There are those who
say honeyed words for deception, underpay and force their employees to work
overtime. According to the law of cause and
effect, all such people will have their bellies pierced with daggers in hell.
30.
There are
unfathomably cruel packs who intentionally prepare sweet baits to lure their
victims. Woe to those who hatch bottomlessly cruel schemes! They will suffer
karmic retribution sooner or later, and then, any cry for Heaven’s rescue will be too late.
31.
There are those who
are always baring their fangs and claws. There are those who are always
inciting others to sue. How indescribable are their cunning plots and evil
schemes! They intentionally manipulate both opponents for their own advantage.
32.
Corrupt mandarins
always rely on their power and pretend to be of noble, wealthy, and influential
lineage. They are clever at using their eloquence to manipulate the common
people for unfairly possessing antiques and other precious objects bit by bit.
33.
The tears of sighing
and complaining victims are as plentiful as rain, and their mournful voices are
as loud as thunder. While alive, those who cause countless catastrophes to
others will, after death, be reincarnated from one life to another to repay
their karmic debts.
34.
Carrying
out fake salvation ceremonies, fraudulent monks and priests dare deceive
Buddhas and Divinities. Coaxing followers, they abuse
donations intended for repairing pagodas or temples. However, out of sincere respect for Buddhas and the Sangha, enthusiastic donors
contribute generously, regardless of the amount.
35.
Acting as spirit
intermediaries (or shamans) disrespects and offends Deities. Burning male or
female effigies in the hope of warding off one’s bad luck and performing ceremonies to “scoop up” drowned souls are superstitious.([12])
36.
The aforementioned
wrongdoers do not understand that form is emptiness and emptiness is form. They
will be imprisoned in bottomless hell until the judgement day of the whole
world.([13])
37.
For packs of
flatterers, corrupt officials, traitors to their friends, sycophants, and those who undermine their nation, they all will be handed
over to hell to be overwhelmed by suffering.
38.
Plentiful are packs
of selfishness and gangs of evil schemes. Having satisfaction of harming
others, they are unaware of intolerant flaming pits hell which is awaiting
them.
39.
Do abstain from
alcohol and meat. Try to refrain from debauchery. Sex, gambling, alcohol, and
drugs harm not only your health but also your career as well as reputation. Do
cultivate yourselves, recite prayers, worship Heaven and Buddhas.
40.
Do trust what I teach
you. Do obey what I advise you. Do cultivate yourselves so well that all Caodai
families consist of loving parents and filial, upright children. This is how to
glorify the name Caodaism.
41.
Be indifferent to the
gangs who disrespect the Great Dao. Be unconcerned with the packs who curse
Caodai God. Let them arrogantly boast of themselves and fabricate slanders.
After paying for their sins in this life, they will see Heaven on the judgement
day.
42.
Heavy karmic
obstacles prevent you from forging ahead. Habitual hesitation and delay hinder
you from enjoying heavenly life of ease. You should always be unshakeable and
devote yourselves to self-cultivation to shorten your path to
43.
Too absorbed in the
dream of becoming deities, you fail to focus on cultivating your own character
and mind. Self-cultivation truly means nurturing
your innate root of goodness, as well as perfectly living a life of loyalty,
filiality, righteousness, and benevolence.
44.
Self-cultivation
means salvation for oneself, one’s own ancestors and descendants. It includes
efforts to save all beings. Self-cultivators also pray for the transformation
of the wicked and the eternal peace of the homeland.
45.
You should cultivate
yourselves so well that you can earn the admiration and respect of invisible
powers, that you can transcend all ordinary
worldly concerns. Achievement, fame, authority, nobility, ranks, and honorary
titles are all impermanent, just like scattering clouds and flowing water. So,
are they truly worthy of your strong desire?
46.
It is often heard
that instead of arduous and useless self-cultivation, striving for high
official positions and wealth is much better. Why do they not consider deeply
and carefully to realise that their present favourable consequences result from
good karma of previous lives?
47.
If fertiliser is
frequently added, trees will be lush. If the roots are always healthy, the
sprouts will be green and vibrant. To
ensure lush foliage, the tree base must be large and sturdy. Similarly, if you
cultivate yourselves first, you will undoubtedly enjoy heavenly ease later.
48.
I feel sad and pity for the foolish ones who want to
succeed in self-cultivation but are wasting their time by wandering for pleasure. Experiencing eight tribulations,([14]) the Buddha did not give up the Dao. I have worked diligently and
endured great hardship for countless kalpas.
49.
For those who have
achieved high social status but live immorally instead of improving their
virtue, their success will no longer flourish, just as trees fail to produce
sprouts or flowers when their roots have been eaten by white grubs.
50.
On the path of
improving your virtue, you must remain steadfast as the demon king always aims
his arrows at self-cultivators. Once struck by one of his swift and poisonous
arrows, you will be almost impossible to remove it.
51.
The poison the demon
king coats his countless arrows includes frothy spirits, pretty girls, and pure
gold. Struck by such a fatal arrow, the victim must lose his soul.
52.
As self-cultivators,
you must not be impatient and hasty. You must also distinguish right from
wrong, good from evil, and true from false. If you manage to behave in this
way, Heaven and Buddhas will confirm your true self-cultivation.
53.
Families of
self-cultivators must include loving parents and filial children. Amongst
siblings, the elder love the younger, and the younger respect the elder.
Females observe four virtues and three dependencies.([15]) For males, their prerequisite is a life of benevolence,
righteousness, faithfulness, and filiality.
54.
My above teaching is
often misconstrued as mere guidance for the Way of Man, but it is actually the
solid foundation for the Way of Heaven. If you
neglect to strengthen the foundation of the Way of Man, your success on the Way
of Heaven is illusory.
55.
The Buddha has taught
humans to observe the Three Refuges and the Five Precepts; however, their
disobedience harms their Primordial Spirit. Out of love for you, I explain
everything in detail and solicitously advise you on every aspect.
56.
The Dao you follow is
extremely correct and true; thus, every holy teaching
should be deeply embedded in your heart and mind. FIRSTLY, be respectfully sincere and devout. SECONDLY,
adhere to the teachings of Confucius,
Laozi, and Shakyamuni Buddha.
57.
THIRDLY, keep in mind the achievements and
virtues of your ancestors. FOURTHLY, behave in accordance
with the three bonds and the five constants. Maintain
appropriate relationships with your parents, teachers, friends, and spouses.
58.
FIFTHLY, be grateful
to farmers for their back-breaking cultivation
of paddies such as ploughing deep, transplanting rice seedlings, and fertilising soil, to produce rice. SIXTHLY, feel compassion for painful sericulturist women who exchange
their arduous efforts for raw silk thread.
59.
SEVENTHLY, as
siblings from the same womb, maintain frequent contact [to prevent “out of sight, out of mind” status]. EIGHTHLY, never
flatter powerful or influential families. You should live in such a way that
you earn praise and widespread good fame that you are virtuous figures worthy
of respect and consideration.
60.
NINTHLY, do not despise orphans and widows. TENTHLY, you should willingly forgive others’ mistakes. You should not be angry
with anyone. Feel compassion for those who are in adversity, and save those who
suffer hunger and coldness.
61.
After accomplishing My
ten pieces of advice mentioned above, you can be deservedly called cultivators
of character or temperament. After having successfully cultivated your
character or temperament, you can decide to start your cultivation of mind. The more you practise
self-cultivation, the more you realise the lofty and profound dharma. The more
you practise self-cultivation, the more you recognise your own past mistakes.
62.
When recognising your mistakes, you should rectify them as soon as
possible ([16]) so that you can promptly nurture
your innate root of goodness. Able to do so, you
are deservedly referred to as self-cultivators and prove yourselves to be
enlightened.
63.
You should be
cautious as much as possible. My ten pieces of
advice are as sweet as if they were soaked in sweet dew. Despite your
recitation of prayers and “namah” day and night, if
you fail to act on My advice, your root of goodness will wither and die.
64.
I will be happy to
see some signs of your self-cultivation progress. Then, I will trickle cool and
fragrant holy water over you. [Thanks to this,] your self-cultivation will be as
fruitful as abundant fragrant flowers and sweet fruit all year round.
THE GATHAS SAY:
I.
During the evocation
seance, I clearly explained the operation of the universe mechanism and My words were recorded
on some pages.
The three bonds and five constants are ethical values
that constitute the stable foundation of every society. Righteousness,
benevolence, loyalty, and filiality are basically the profound beginning of all
sages.([17])
Becoming Immortals
necessitates accumulation of immeasurable blessings and virtuous merits.
Moreover, attain-ment to the Dao is contingent upon Heaven’s great amnesty.
You should be determined to be true self-cultivators so that your good fame can
spread for ever in the Third Universalism.
II.
As self-cultivators,
you should avoid cruelty and wickedness to prevent the spread of your notoriety
for eternity.
There are those who
plot to kill others by secretly installing lethal spikes. Pitifully, their
naked eyes cannot perceive even a vague speck of the karmic retribution net
which Heaven has spread out.
Death fears neither
heroes nor rulers; everyone must die.
Good will be
rewarded, and evil will be punished in the end, because everyone always reaps
what they sow. It is certainly not a mistake to assert that Heaven has eyes.
III.
Ensure that you faithfully
act on My ten pieces of advice, then your names
will be included in the list of Terrestrial Immortals.
To
enjoy and maintain future good outcomes, it is essential to consolidate predestined good conditions.
As the proverb says,
everyone should avoid evil and do good. Naturally, fertile soil produces dense
green foliage.
If you devote
yourselves to transcending the worldly realm and attaining the holy one, do
cultivate your fields of mind diligently.
[PROSE I] ([18])
My children, A Shortcut to True Self-Cultivation is
My guidance for you to follow the right path and avoid the wrong one.
While I am
transmitting the Dao here, many Divinities are accompanying and supporting Me;
thus, the sky is covered with auspicious
clouds and filled with propitious air. Furthermore, the God of Culture and Literature is recording My
teaching in a golden and jade book for preservation in the Precious Library of Sutras.
The three gathas
should be etched in your heart and soul. Instead of being neglected, they
should be recited day and night because all representatives of the Four Gods of Timekeeping
([19]) always listen to your recitations and record your merits.
I have instructed
each Primordial Spirit of yours to examine whether you follow My guidance to
improve your virtue in your free time. My children, obey Me and do not complain
that I have not warned you before.
[GATHA IV] ([20])
Value and preserve whatever I have taught you to enhance your virtue and conduct. Never neglect My teachings but
regard them as gold and jade.
Respect
is the foundation of morality. Arrogance, in reality, is the root of evil.
Primordial Spirit
favourably influences impartial and honest people. Karmic obstacles impede the progress of cunning and deceitful
ones.
Do not mistakenly
think that Heaven, being so far and high, can be deceived. As bright as
lightning, divine eyes leave nothing concealed.
[PROSE II] ([21])
My children, if
whoever outside the Caodai gate wishes to
discern the taste of My teaching, you should consider guiding them in studying this “Shortcut”.
[GATHA V] (22)
Advising people to
abandon evil and follow good is also how self-cultivators help sentient beings.
You should literally and figuratively elucidate holy
teachings so that worldly beings can well distinguish between right and wrong.
Due to unfavourable conditions, sentient beings are indifferent
to religion. Burdened by substantial karmic obstacles, they are not likely to
practise self-cultivation.
[As mahāyāna self-cultivators] rowing the salvation boat
together, instead of competing with or envying each other, you all should
harmoniously navigate the boat smoothly and steadily.
THE END
([1]) A Shortcut to True Self-Cultivation was
bestowed on Sunday night, 22 April 1930; then, it was still in the springtime.
([2])
Caodai God says, “A day’s delay in Caodai development means
a day of suffering for sentient beings.” Thánh Ngôn Hiệp
Tuyển (An Anthology of Holy Sayings). Vol. I. Evocation seance on midnight
22 and into the early hours of 23 April 1926.
([3])
Before concluding A Shortcut to True
Self-Cultivation, Caodai God says, “While I am transmitting the Dao
here, many Divinities are accompanying and supporting Me; thus, the sky is
covered with auspicious clouds and filled with propitious air. Furthermore, the
God of Culture and Literature is recording my teaching in a golden and jade
book for preservation in the Precious Library of Sutras.”
([5]) This is the Confucian ideal to fulfill the filial duty to
parents. The Classic of Filial Piety says, “The
ultimate goal of filial piety is to establish oneself in the world and make
oneself famous in the future, so as to glorify one’s parents.”
([8]) Quran
(6:160) reads, “Whoever
comes (before Allah) with a good deed will be rewarded tenfold. But whoever
comes with a bad deed will be punished for only one. None will be wronged (by
Allah).”
([9]) In this way,
those who know how to cultivate themselves will be supported by Heaven; those
who live in wickedness will be abandoned by Heaven. This is the very law of
karma.
([10]) About “hidden virtuous deeds”, Jesus says: “Be sure you do not do good things in front
of others just to be seen by them. If you do, you have no reward from your
Father in heaven. (...) 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. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Mt 6:1, 3-4)
([11]) An
example from the Bible: Pontius Pilate
took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this
man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!” Then he had Jesus flogged,
and handed him over to be crucified. (Mt 27:24, 26)
([12]) 1/ For “spirit
intermediaries” (or shamans), see
illustration. – 2/
Called “đồ thế” in Vietnamese, these
effigies are printed images representing
unlucky men or women who are praying to ward off their bad luck. The man
chooses a male effigy; the woman, a female one. The effigy is burned after the
ceremony. This superstition comes from
([13]) The
judgment day is mentioned throughout the Bible, for instance: Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 20:11-15; Hebrews
9:27; Acts 17:31.
([14]) The
legend goes that the Buddha encountered eight following tribulations: 1/ A
Brahmin cursed and humiliated Shakyamuni Buddha, who told the rude man to take
his “gift” back because it was not accepted. – 2/
Another Brahmin stepped behind the Buddha, continuously insulting Him, who
remained unaffected. – 3/ A wealthy Brahmin offered his pretty
daughter for marriage, but the Buddha declined, calling her just a vile skin
bag. Being furious, the girl vowed revenge. Later, she became a king’s con-cubine,
and one day the Buddha came to her husband’s kingdom. She sent soldiers
to force the Buddha away, but He could convert them. – 4/
Pretending to be pregnant, a hired prostitute failed to frame the Buddha, who
forgave and converted her. – 5/ A Brah-min forged evidence to accuse the
Buddha of murdering his daughter, but the royal court investigated and
exonerated the Buddha. – 6/ The Buddha’s cousin named Devadatta
released a wild elephant to attack Him, who could easily tame the beast. – 7/
Devadatta rolled a rock down a mountain, injuring one of the Buddha’s
toes. – 8/ For the Buddha’s last meal, a
blacksmith accidentally offered Him some food containing poisonous mush-rooms.
([15]) Four
virtues include moral conduct;
proper speech; modest appearance, and diligent work. Three dependencies consist of the dependency of a female on her
father before marriage, on her spouse during marriage, and on her son after her
spouse’s death.
([16])
According to The Analects (6:3),
Confucius praised his disciple Yan Hui for never making the same mistake twice.
In other words, he never repeated a mistake.
([17]) It means that every sage must first be a
person of benevolence, righteousness, loyalty, and filiality. In other words,
without these virtues, no one in the world can become a sage.
