Fun things to do in Tinh Tay Ninh

At noon every day there is a great mass. Worshippers are separated by their gender with women on the left and men on the right. The women, as well as the lay followers, wear white robes while the Men who hold the rank of a priest or higher wear solid colours. The colours represent the different religions within the Cao Dai. Yellow is for Buddhism and virtue, Blue is for Taoism and pacifism and Red is for Confucianism and authority.

Women enter the temple from the left and remain on the left and the Men enter from the right and pray on the right. When festivals are being celebrated, all the worshippers wear all white.

The priests practice spiritual purification which includes meditation, prayer and vegetarianism. They believe that eating meat not only pollutes the body, but obstructs other life forms during their quest for enlightenment.

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Other Masses are held at 6 am, 6 PM and midnight, however most tourists planning to visit the temple arrive for the noon mass. There is a balcony that runs along the walls halfway up where you can watch the service. Its quite a spectacular sight.
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There is an orchestra of about 10 musicians who’s music is very Vietnamese. A choir of about 20 lead the congregation in the prayers. The mix of the hymns are very unusual with the blend of Western and Vietnamese.
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At the front of the temple is the Devine Eye in the triangle of Justice. It is surrounded by lotus flowers on the Cosmic Globe. On the altar there are three glasses of wine, a cup of water and a cup of tea.
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The Bishops and Cardinals stand out because of the eye which adorns on their headpieces. These positions are chosen by an election, with the exception of the Pope. Men and women can hold equal power but only a man can be pope.
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Cai Dai literally translated means high tower or palace. This temple is about 5km to the southeast of Tay Ninh and was built between 1933 and 1955 as the home of the religious Cao Dai sect.

Above the portico of the temple is the symbol of the all-seeing eye. The eye became the religions symbol after appearing in a vision to Ngo Van Chieu.
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