Feng Shui

Myth or truth?

by Lionel WIJESIRI

What do you know about Feng Shui - (pronounced fung shway) ? Not very much, I am sure. Most of you would have heard about it by now since it’s become very popular over the past few years in Sri Lanka.

A year ago, my knowledge of Feng Shui was limited to few brief sentences.

I knew that it is a Chinese art of arranging an environment and it works on the principle that people should be in harmony with nature and their surroundings. The words Feng Shui mean “wind and water” in Mandarin Chinese. Wind, or cosmic energy, and water are considered two essential aspects of nature in Chinese culture.

I have heard that Feng Shui was first used in China to determine the best position for burial sites. The belief was that positioning the graves of ancestors well would bring prosperity and good fortune to their descendants. From the gravesites, Feng Shui was gradually extended to villages and other spaces. It eventually transformed itself to be used in arranging a home, garden, room, office, or restaurant.

That was all I knew about Feng Shui until I met Chang Kun Lo in Singapore few weeks ago. Although we have come down to Singapore for two different reasons, we stayed at the same hotel for three days. He was a recognized Feng Shui master who has gained knowledge and experience from other Feng Shui masters and from traditional Chinese books and written teachings.

Fad or Religion

I started the discussion telling him that many claim Feng Shui is simply a fad and in a matter of time it will fade away.

Lo disagreed. He explained that Feng Shui is definitely not a religion or a fad. It draws its strength from Taoism, a Chinese philosophy which is very different from religion. Although Feng Shui results seem magical, it draws upon the laws of nature and science.

Lo explained further. “Taoism says that all things are connected and dependent upon each other. A seed sprouting the beginnings of a new tree comes from the bird eating the leftovers from the squirrel’s nut. The nut came from another tree where life began the same way. The tree is fertilized by the minerals of the earth, which are activated by the rains, and encouraged to grow from the sunlight. It’s a life force that works effectively because everything is connected.

The seed is a system in itself but cannot serve its purpose without other systems that connect together to make a whole other larger system.”

“As humans, we too begin as a seed and with the right conditions become a fully functioning system within the Universe. Each organ in our bodies is a system and they work together to maintain life.

Just like the seed of the tree, we cannot fulfil our purpose in life without the connection to other systems that help us thrive. These are our families, our friends, our co-workers, our cultures, our faiths, beliefs and our principles.

Disconnection from our support systems disconnects us from life. And that force, that underlying our connection to nature, is the system that Feng Shui adheres to,”

“Sadly, many people in today’s society live disconnected from many life-giving forces. Their dwellings lack any vitality within. They close themselves up in their homes. Their windows stay covered most of the time blocking their view of nature. There exist no portraits or keepsakes that might connect them with family or past memories. Absent are the aromas connecting them with pleasant memories of their past.”

Modern “masters”

I then asked Lo’s viewpoint about the present-day Feng Shui practitioners you find aplenty.

He said, “During the past two decades, a new trend in Feng Shui has gained popularity and has become a significant force in the market. Along with the growing interest, the number of self appointed “experts” exploded. In many cases, their training was dubious and misguided, leading to a creation of questionable applications,”

“Today, Feng Shui is associated with anything from haircuts to car design to mirrors and laughing Buddhas and crystals. It’s no wonder many are sceptical, rolling their eyes when they read some articles written by so called gurus.”

“First of all, there are a few myths worth unveiling when we address Feng Shui. When most people mention Feng Shui, they are usually referring to a westernized version that is a conflagration of simplified design psychology, superstitions, and religious symbolism, much of which has been adopted (or invented) over the past 20 years.”

“When using the term Feng Shui, I refer to an ancient form of geomancy, a discipline that was revered in many ancient cultures - Celtic, Egyptian, and of course Chinese - but was progressively forgotten as those ancient civilizations disappeared or evolved.

The Chinese geomancy was preserved through elite scholarship. Only well educated scholars were allowed to study and practice it, and only those of high social class were able to use it.

Feng Shui is composed of several theories and addresses multiple applications, including timing of construction, building orientation, and design and decoration.

An extremely dynamic science, it also considers compatibility between the building and the occupants.”

“This takes us to the second myth: the modern Feng Shui master. To acquire enough knowledge and experience to qualify as an expert requires years, especially when working under genuine masters and study complex architectural projects.

The title “Feng Shui master” was originally bestowed only upon individuals who practiced for 10 years or more. And, the title “Grand Master” was reserved for those individuals with at least 25 years of experience.”

Lo began to touch about his life. “When I became interested in Feng Shui fifteen years ago, I was very intrigued by concepts and questions of quantum physics. I also became quite passionate about “bio-compatible” and organic choices in nutrition, wellness, and the environment.”

“What I found when researching the geomantic principles of Feng Shui was that the root principles had much in common with other early scientific disciplines and were often developed in connection with them.

These include astronomy, meteorology, seismology which is the study of the Earth’s movements, Traditional Chinese Medicine and mathematics.

So, the scholars that developed this system for designing buildings, decorating and arranging the landscape were also well versed in mathematics, weather patterns and the internal motion of the Earth.”

“Furthermore all of these disciplines were rooted in the understanding of Qi - translated in English as Life-Force energy. Qi is the building block from which everything is made.

Different vibration patterns define different materials - a concept strikingly similar to those explored in quantum physics.

Feng Shui in Buildings

And then I asked Lo to explain how Feng Shui applies to the modern buildings. “Properly applied”, he said, “Feng Shui can preserve and improve the well being of a building’s occupants in multiple areas of their lives.

It can make sleep more restful, offices more focused and productive, and scholastic or financial achievements easier and more plentiful.Consequently, relationships between spouses, within families and among coworkers naturally become healthier and more supportive. And, this can all be achieved within any architectural style, design theme and location in the world.”

“The results, although sometimes miraculous, are not miracles. Rather they are natural manifestations of a balanced and supportive environment. Using the principles of Feng Shui, the existing life-force energy of the environment can be positively channeled through the building, creating a holistically healthy environment in which to live and work.”

“As a society, we are only just beginning to see the value of many ancient practices. Acupuncture, for example, was long thought of as a useless practice yielding no real benefits beyond the placebo effect. However, western science has placed the practice under scrutiny and found that the ultra thin needles do indeed work with the body’s nervous system.