The Seeing Eye Temple



The fantastic Cao Dai temple in Tay Ninh is home to one of the most bizarre religions on earth. Caodaism, a sect created in the 1970's, proclaims to be a synthesis of Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, and Christianity. Members are reported to receive messages from the great spirit Cao Dai, and an assortment of other historical figures, including Victor Hugo.



Big Brother has an eye on you

All around the temple, inside and out, the divine eye is keeping a watch on things. Mostly it is represented inside a triangle emitting beams of light, much like the back of a U.S. one dollar bill. It is also on the head garments of all the high priests. One way or another these dudes have sight of what's going down.



Worshipers in the Holy See

Following the Chinese duality of Yin and Tang, there is a male and female god up in their heaven, which probably explains why the men and women are split when they come enter the temple. The ceremony was mostly meditation and chanting, followed by some funky hand gestures and body contortions. What people will do under the spell of a third eye...



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