The first Interfaith encounter of the New Year 2014
The year 2014 welcomes the Interfaith Dialogue community with an Interreligious encounter Caodism, Buddhists and Catholic.
The Association’s Chief Minister of Vinh Nguyen Temple, Rev. Hoang Mai has invited Fr. Francis Xavier Bao Loc and the Committee on Interfaith Dialogue to grace the occasion commemorating the 100 years death anniversary of Le Dao Long and the 105 years foundation of Vinh Nguyen Temple at Long An, Giuoc District, Long An Province. The late Master Le Dao Long was the founder of the historic temple of Cao Dai. This momentous encounter was held in January 3, 2014 (December, the 3rd of the Snake Year).
The offering of incense and the presentation of the life and teachings of the Founder, Le Dao Long as well as the report on the charitable activities of Vinh Nguyen Temple for the year 2013 signaled the commencement of the celebration. After which Reverend Fr. Francis Xavier Bao Loc presented his talk as their keynote speaker.
Hereunder is the content of Fr. Bao Loc’s sharing
of the Board of Interreligious Dialogue in Vinh Nguyen Temple:
Dear Parishioners, Members of the Board of Vinh Nguyen Temple, priests, brothers, sisters, Director of Cao Dai Community, government representatives coming from all levels, guests and friends:
Today, I am honored to be here with my 7 brothers and sisters of the Catholic Laity. They are members of the Committee on Interfaith Dialogue of the Archdiocese of Ho Chi Minh City and for many years we were acquainted with the Chief Minister Hoang Mai of Vinh Nguyen Temple.
It is not only due to our familiarity with Professor Hoang Mai from 20 years but I could traced it in the closeness of the family . The maternal side of my family came from Long An and my grandfather, Bien, Le Van , lived near the Elephant Bridge .
I was struck by the Chief Minister’s statement as she said : " Religion is not only clannish or for a family patronage but is open to everyone”. The feeling is as close to home . One has to read and listen to the life and teachings of 44 years by Master Le Dao Long. (3/12 Year of the Rooster [Oct., 1st, 1970])
A message for the youth: Let your mind and heart be at peace
Don’t keep division, love and hate in your heart
Because they are causes of sufferings
Just live in peace and harmony with creation and nature
1. First, I wanted to share with you my brothers, sisters and guests. It was here that I understood and saw the connection of the cosmos, the earth, the humanity and God.
This is the reason why we celebrate the 100 years death anniversary of the late Master Le Dao Long who chose this land to build Vinh Nguyen Temple as the memorial and historic pilgrimage site of Cao Dism. Like the Catholic Christians, they have also La Vang Shrine as their pilgrimage site here in Vietnam.
The land of Long An has holy and good people and one among them is Master Le Dao Long. However, if one depends on the humans alone, we are bound to fail because to gain success is to need the intercession of heaven”. The Vietnamese in us believes that no matter what religious beliefs we confess; we concur that success is from heaven ".
This was precisely why the late Master Le Dao Long taught that one has to live harmony with nature.
2. Secondly, after listening to the preaching of Professor Hoang Mai and the talk about te integration of the heart and mind, I felt that there is a connection of the past, present and future. We just heard about the presentation of the 100 years (the death anniversary of the late Master Le Dao Long) and the 105 years (the foundation of the Vinh Nguyen Temple) and his disciples talked about the life of meditation, the practice of the values /virtues of charity and peace for self-development.
What would be the future? No one knows but we do know that there is continuity because we have anticipated his desire to that future. But at this moment, it is the most sacred moment because it brings about the past, present and the future.
Spring is coming and this special gathering provides us with the opportunity to make connections and deepen our relationships with one another and among members of communities.
I wish to reiterate the wisdom of Master Le Dao Long: “How to make Spring come alive again and forever?” How would it be? When I read his poem, I found the answer based on the name of this land which is Long An.
The “Long” for me is an invitation on how to live in a higher level because we are the sons and daughters of the Dragon and Fairy. It means on how to sublimate our human life into a spiritual being. Vinh Nguyen Temple is the sacred place where we can strengthen our spiritual center. This is the power of this pilgrimage site, the , meditation and practice make “Long” to the highest level of spirituality.
The word “An" means Inner Peace. The Vietnamese people usually wish for peace to everyone at every spring time. "An" is also the yearning of all people and “An Hoa" also signifies Harmony .
However, only God, or "Heaven" can help us attain “Long An” or Inner Peace. When I heard Professor Hoang Mai speaks about “Emptiness is Existence and Existence is Emptiness” I think we can experience and practice Long An through meditation and the secret is the silent intervention of God.
This aspiration is the wish of Director Hoang Mai for everyone especially to all nuns, monks and to all who embrace the life of meditation.
It is also my ardent and heartfelt wish for everyone.
Translator: Sr Fenecia
