EXPLORING A SHORTCUT
TO TRUE SELF-CULTIVATION
by
HUỆ KHẢI & LÊ ANH MINH
FROM
HEART TO HEART
1. According to Daoist Bishop (Thượng Giáo Sư)
Phạm Văn Liêm, the Caodai Missionary Holy Assembly conducted an evocation
seance to seek divine guidance for the compilation of Bửu Chương Pháp Đạo (Precious Chapters of Caodai Dharma). Responding
to their goodwill, on Saturday, 12 November 1988, Caodai God descended and
said:
The Precious
Chapters of Caodai Dharma, which I have instructed you to compile, is also known
as the Caodai Tripitaka.
In
agreement with invisible Divinities and your thoughts, I have given you an
outline of twelve chapters, on which you can rely to carry out the compilation.
This mission cannot be accomplished through human effort alone. Therefore, you
have My support whether it is seen or unseen in My speechless cosmic changes. At
times, the compilation may be passed from one person to another without
hindrance. I require that all of you must forget yourselves for the sake of
Dao, and maintain a pure, tranquil mind and soul so that this holy mission can
be fulfilled.([1])
2. Before concluding A Shortcut to True Self-Cultivation, Caodai God says:
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 文昌帝君 is recording my teaching in a
golden and jade book for preservation in the Precious Library of Sutras.
(...)
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”.([2])
3. Now,
Huệ Khải and Lê Anh Minh have collaborated on revising the sutra (by correcting
misspellings), explaining the terms (in Vietnamese, Chinese, and English),
elucidating the sutra (verses and prose), and translating the whole sutra into
English. We hope that our effort may help disseminate the precious sutra
bestowed by Our Master over ninety years ago, and that it may aid Caodai
followers near and far in comprehending the “shortcut to true self-cultivation”
as the sutra title says. Besides, this book serves as our humble contribution
to the compilation of the Caodai
Tripitaka 高臺大藏, known as Bửu Chương Pháp Đạo 法道寶章
(Precious Chapters of Caodai Dharma) of the Caodai Missionary Holy Assembly.
With
deep sincerity.
Nhiêu Lộc, 04 August 2023.
HUỆ KHẢI
& LÊ ANH MINH
