I've read in great admiration Venerable Dr K Sri Dhammananda's article on the relationship between Buddhism and Astrology. This aligns well with my theories on the relationships between the Universe, its celestial bodies and its cosmic energy, our observed system of Feng Shui, and their influence on us. Hence, I've decided to pen down my thoughts on the subject.
Many Feng Shui enthusiasts are skilled in understanding and executing the Feng Shui theories passed down from our ancestors. Upon deeper examinations, however, the theories are really procedures in themselves. The more skilled the practitioner, the better he is in execution of these procedures. This is the "how" part of things. But who really has the answers to the "what" and the "why". Not many in the modern age. That is why we still have very limited understanding on the subject.
I'm not convinced when ignorant people tries to brush off Feng Shui as mere superstitions. Science is a result of experimentation and observation. So is Feng Shui and the study of the influence of the celestial bodies in the Universe. In fact, the latter has been studied for so much longer. So why has Feng Shui not received the credibility that it deserves - its because we have not succeeded in explaining our observations like Science had.
My humble and personal definition of Feng Shui is the study of the relationships between the universal celestial bodies and our environment on the various aspects of our lives at different points in time. How and when we get there (in terms of time and space) is then a function of unknown forces that we have been trying to decode through our respective beliefs.
Simply put, as an extension to the theories brought forward by Venerable Dr K Sri Dhammananda's article on the relationship between the celestial bodies and man, I'm introducing the third factor here, which is our environment, and prompting thoughts from our readers with two questions:
1. Do we receive the same type and intensity of cosmic energy everywhere?
2. Do we receive the same type and intensity of cosmic energy everytime?
Its likely that in the mind of the wise readers like yourself, the answer is no to both of the questions.
Earth is a tiny and invisible speck in the grand universe. It is influenced by the external celestial bodies surrounding it through the cosmic energies that each of them bring. The cosmic energies is what we collectively interpret as Qi. Some call it ions, some call it energy. I shall call it Qi, for the simple reason that I don't know for sure what this is.
In Earth where we dwell, we each live on and operate within different space. Feng Shui theories state that we are affected by our environments, e.g. where we spend the most time, the position of our beds, doors, windows, stove and so on. Thus affecting the cosmic energy that we receive.
Remember Guo Pu's definition that lead to the term Feng Shui? Qi is brought by Feng and stopped by Shui (boundary of water).
Remember Guo Pu's definition that lead to the term Feng Shui? Qi is brought by Feng and stopped by Shui (boundary of water).
External landforms are important, as they influence how much of the cosmic energy from the various directions we receive. Now go think why does good soil for a burial ground matter. Or the landforms that determine the back, front, sides, and water points.
From the study of Traditional Chinese Medicine, we are also aware that Qi flows in our bodies too. Ancient Chinese have derived the various meridians and points, invisible to the human eyes, but proven effective beyond doubt to have great influence over the body.
This Qi changes, depending on our interaction with the external environment, either through food and water intake or even the air that we breathe. The inner Qi interacts with the external Qi, resulting in different physiological and psychological outcomes. Some would argue that it influences our every thoughts and actions, that translates into our destinies.
This Qi changes, depending on our interaction with the external environment, either through food and water intake or even the air that we breathe. The inner Qi interacts with the external Qi, resulting in different physiological and psychological outcomes. Some would argue that it influences our every thoughts and actions, that translates into our destinies.
Feng Shui ancestors have decoded, through observations and thoughts, on the:
1. Effects of being in the right place and direction relative to your dwellings
2. Effects of initiating certain actions at a particular time
3. Effects of having natural landforms in your surroundings
This combines the theories of location, direction, time, and external landforms of Feng Shui, with the destiny of man as determined by influences of celestial bodies, and the celestial bodies themselves.
As long as we are not able to understand the celestial bodies and the true nature of their cosmic energy, we will never truly understand the concept of Feng Shui. But it does convince me, and hopefully you at some point in time, that Feng Shui does exist and affects us in ways that we can imagine (to a certain extent).
Now try to think about the Feng Shui ornaments that you might have bought - are they making less sense to you now?
