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JOURNEY TO TAIWAN BY THE SACERDOTAL COUNCIL OF CAO ĐAI TAY NINH HOLY SEE (PART 2)

JOURNEY TO TAIWAN BY THE SACERDOTAL COUNCIL OF CAO ĐAI TAY NINH HOLY SEE (PART 2)

Updated 2013-07-31 15:33:31

(Reported from Taipei on July 21^st, 2013 by Archbishop Thai Con Thanh and Archbishop Ngoc Hong Thanh – Pictures taken by Nguyen Tri Luc- Translated by Tuan Em)

Second day of the journey to Taipei (July 21^st, 2013)

In the morning of July 21^st, 2013, the Sacerdotal Council delegation came to visit Hsing Tian Kong Temple (Hsing Tiên Cung) which is a place to worship Guan Gong (a historical person who lived in China during the Three Kingdoms period). This temple is highly respected by Taipei residents because of its holiness. Then, the delegation visited Luang Shan Temple (literally translated in to English: Mountain Dragon Temple – This is a 300-year old Temple worshipping Her Mother Goddess). Even though it was on early Sunday morning, the two temples were crowded with people and covered by incense smoke. This indicates that Taipei residents are really devout believing in His Holiness Guan Gong and Her Holiness Mother Goddess.

At 2:30 pm on the same day, the Cao Đai delegation headed for a very famous place called Sung Đuc Monastery – Headquarters of I-Kuan Tao religion, which is located on a slope of a mountain in the city called New Taipei. After a 60-minute journey from city center and through high hills, the Cao Đai delegation arrived at this place.

Leading Dignitaries of I-Kuan Tao welcomed the Cao Dai delegation right at the entrance of their headquarters. Among the hosts, there was H.E. Lee Yu Chu, Chief Executive Officer of I-Kuan Tao who came over from Tainan, 200 km away, to welcome the delegation.

The Cao Đai delegation was guided to the guest hall and after a brief welcome and introduction, His Eminence Lee Yu Chu invited the delegates to try a special drink invented by the late founder of I-Kuan Tao, Her late Highness Chen Hong-Zhen. This drink has been sold in the supermarket and this is a product which financially supports Yi-Kuan Tao activities. Then, each of the Cao Đai delegates was presented a set of I-Kuan Tao books. His Eminence Cardinal Thuong Tam Thanh introduced the delegation, explained about the purpose of the visit and presented a souvenir framed photograph of the Cao Dai Tay Ninh Holy See.

After that, H.E Lee Yu-Chu invited the delegation to a meeting room and introduced the history and doctrine of I-Kuan Tao. The Cao Dai delegation also had an opportunity to watch a well-made video about the fifth anniversary of the death of Her Holiness Chen Hong-Zhen.

Then, His Eminence Cardinal Thuong Tam Thanh, Head of the Cao Đai delegation thanked H.E Lee Yu-Chu and fellow dignitaries of I-Kuan Tao for their warm welcome. He explained about the doctrine and organizational structure of the Cao Đai religion in Tay Ninh - Viet Nam from central level to local one. He emphasized the motto of Caodaism that there is no discrimination of race, skin colour and nation. All people are treated like brothers and sisters. Humanity and equity are highly respected. Cao Đai prays for peace to come to this world; all living beings can enjoy true peacefulness, stable and permanent development and share their love and help under-privileged people and disaster or flood victims. Through exchanges of religious affairs, it is noticed that Cao Đai religion and I-Kuan Tao have a lot in common; both religions consider God as the Divine Father and all human beings as brothers and sisters. The two religions need more exchanges in order to understand each other’s religious doctrines better.

After having dinner hosted by H.E Lee Yu-Chu, the Cao Đai delegation returned to their hotel and prepared for the next morning attendance of a ceremony at Tao Yuan Headquarters on Monday, July 22^nd, 2013.

(To be continued)