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Let
a thousand schools bloom
Friday,
December 03, 2010
In the second part of my response to the issue of uniting the various Fung Shui schools in Hong Kong under one umbrella body, I will look at the difficulties of any attempt to do so.
As
I have indicated in the first part, the motive for any such move is unclear as
only a few practitioners would profit.
Chinese
metaphysics can be covered under five categories: mountains, medical, life
reading, facial and predictive tools. They should go hand in hand.
In
Fung Shui alone, there are more than eight schools of thought, each with their
own mission, ideology, unique strategies and tactics.
It
is well nigh impossible to unify the schools due to their differing histories,
cultures, standards and organizations.
Traditional
Fung Shui methodologies were passed on from generation to generation for two
main reasons. In ancient times Fung Shui tools were meant exclusively for the
use of imperial rulers - ordinary people were prohibited from learning and
possessing such tools and knowledge in any form. Often, such knowledge was
taught orally and was treated as a closely guarded secret.
Secondly,
since such a powerful tool could be used to discern the future, responsible
masters would not have public classes but instead taught it in private to only
a select few.
Fung
Shui is a natural science, like Taoism, which should be allowed to mature over
time. This is
the eternal Tao. In years to come, more and more secrets will surface to help
not only the individual but countries as well. Generally, a good Fung Shui, or
life reading, master is always found through word of mouth. Therefore an
umbrella organization, as has been proposed, is unwarranted and unnecessary.
Thought
of the week: Liberate your mind and you liberate your world.
Complexity
clouds proposals
Friday,
November 26, 2010
Recently I have been interviewed by many prominent reporters, including one from The New York Times, asking my opinion on the formation of the Fung Shui Association.
The
recent commotion created in the industry following the Nina Wang case and
malpractices by certain Taoist sects of Mao Shan related to tax evasion,
molestation, sex seduction and other cases has put Fung Shui in the limelight.
This
is a typical example of one bad apple ruining the whole basket.
It
is common sense to say that if these are civil or criminal cases, we ought to
call the police.
Society
has authority figures to settle such cases and we do not need an association
to govern Chinese metaphysics. Indeed, who has the right to govern our biggest
Chinese heritage, namely Chinese metaphysics?
The
rationale behind the formation of such an association is simply commercial;
specifically to promote those in the association and help them harness the
rapidly growing market in the mainland. Of course, the organization is
charging handsomely for membership.
Who
is running the association? The current standing of the personnel running such
an organization is questionable. How and why they set the industry standard is
in doubt.
Those
who study and learn the craft will know that to understand Chinese metaphysics
is a complex issue - let alone the complexity involved in setting standards to
govern it.
To
my knowledge, there are eight traditional Fung Shui schools. They are not on
good terms with each other because of conflicting methodologies as well as
differing basic beliefs. As such, to set standards for the industry is
impossible.
From
the eastern Han to the Song era, the variation of different techniques and
schools was obvious. It varied from era to era and dynasty to dynasty in
accordance with time and space.
This
is clearly a time and space issue in which certain techniques must be working
in certain periods of time and not in other times.
Such
complex issues would lead us to wonder how they are going to run the
organization if basic questions - such as who is qualified to set the
standards, and who is going to set the requirements for member entry - cannot
be answered.
In
my view, until these questions and uncertainties are addressed, the current
proposals are merely hype for some to ride for more publicity and self
promotion.
Quote
of the week: Real true generosity is doing something nice for someone who will
never find out.
Watch
your mouth
Friday,
November 19, 2010
Steady
mouth, content heart is essential (穩口心藏)
Knowing
when to open and shut your mouth is an important aspect of learning the
traditional metaphysics.
Ancient
values such as filial piety and respect are deeply rooted in the Chinese
communities. The more you know, the more you will find out what you lack; the
only constant thing is learning and never be off your guard.
Passing
on knowledge via oral teaching (口授心傳)
Traditional
teaching was based on passing the real essence of knowledge through
face-to-face oral teaching.
This
was done to explain the crux of the message and its application.
Books
are the tools to understand the surface or meanings, and often oral teaching
will be able to make use of bilateral communication in a broader and in-depth
manner.
In
ancient texts, words have hidden knowledge, and one should read between the
lines, which carry metaphors that can only be explained by the author. That is
why when learning metaphors of any art, face-to-face oral teaching is
critical.
A
term that is often widely misused
One
phrase that people often apply to all of Fung Shui is "gathering the wind
and harnessing the energy." However, this phrase from an ancient text is
meant purely for yin Fung Shui application (as in a graveyard).
In
the old days, the graveyard was an extremely important place and was believed
to have impact on living beings.
A
good yin Fung Shui will ensure the younger generations live with good health
and prosperity. In searching for such a site, the basic yet difficult theory
of "gathering the wind and harnessing the energy" will apply.
The
rationale for such a theory is that the ancient Chinese believed in the
science of chemical reaction.
It
is believed that the bones of the dead, at some point in time, will react with
the earth below to form and radiate energy that will have an impact on living
beings. A good site will provide positive impact and vice versa. Such a term
is used for ying Fung Shui only.
For
yang Fung Shui, especially in house location, sunlight and good air
circulation are important. Without them, we will feel lethargic, uneasy and
depressed.
It
is common sense that these two factors will affect our thinking and
consequently our behavior. Too much darkness or poor ventilation will result
in poor behavior and such characteristics.
Note
that good air circulation is crucial in yang Fung Shui because we need to
breathe in clean air and have light breezes flowing by us.
The
notion of "gathering the wind and harnessing the energy" did not,
does not and will not apply in yang Fung Shui. Such interpretation is due to a
lack of in-depth understanding of the ancient terminology.
Thought of the week: One day your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it's worth watching.
Brace
for impact
Friday,
November 12, 2010
While
the year of the Golden Tiger was full of natural disasters, the year 2011 - of
the Golden Rabbit - will be one of man-made disasters.
Read
on to find out more and buckle up for a roller coaster of a year, as well as
find suggestions to help reduce disastrous impacts.
Main
events that will possibly occur:
Shortage
of food causes hike in food prices, triggering nationwide alarm.
Arguments,
disagreements, animosity and tensions among citizens and nations.
Demonstrations. Sabotage.
Spread
in never-before-seen diseases.
"Post
80s" people are more aggressive than ever before.
Brawling
at Legislative Council meetings, just like in Taiwan.
Henry
Tang elected chief executive.
Massive
changes in government Cabinet.
Spate
of resignations by key government personnel.
Interest
rate hikes everywhere, causing high volatility in the stock and property
markets.
Economic
figures are good both for both the mainland and Hong Kong.
Property
prices drop 15 to 25 percent.
Hong
Kong stock market peaks at 28,000.
Tensions
in the South China Sea could exacerbate.
What
can we do?
Return
to Dao and realize that humans are constantly assaulting Mother Nature,
destroying our lovely Earth. Be green and gentle toward our mother.
Hold
positive dialogues with the "post-80s" generation. Government must
not only be clean and proactive, but also be SEEN to be clean and proactive.
Be
alert toward the source of diseases and take serious action if they hit.
Accept
the fact that full democracy would have its disadvantages.
Hong
Kong is a small place. A focus on the economy is ideal as all our people ask
is to be able to live simple lives with a decent place to live and work.
Learn
when to keep one's mouth shut.
Be
thrifty; cut wastage and reuse whatever one can.
Live
with passion!
Right
times for your body
Friday,
November 05, 2010
Best
time for lunch
Goat
1pm-3pm: small intestine at work
The
function of the small intestine is to absorb the food after it is processed in
the spleen. It then transforms and distributes it to all the organs. If your
face is red and your chest is having difficulty breathing in this period, it
means the heart is malfunctioning.
The
heart and small intestine work closely. It is believed that a healthy lunch is
required to alleviate our hunger and at the same time satisfy our desire for
taste. This is the time our taste functions at its fullest.
Best
time to build strong memory
Monkey
3pm-5pm: bladder at work
The
bladder system is directly related to the brain via the bloodstream. It is
believed that in order to have a good memory, things that we learn in the
morning should be restudied during this period to strengthen our memorizing
ability. The bladder and kidney are interrelated organs. The function of both
is to determine the smooth flow of urine and bowel movement.
To
determine your alertness level
Rooster
5pm-7pm: kidney at work
The
kidney is the most important organ, according to the ancient Chinese. It
determines a person's activity level due to its storage and transformation
ability. The transformation acts as a catalyst for the normal functioning of
other organs. The storage determines the level of activity one can handle in a
day.
Best
time to relax
Dog
7pm-9pm: heart system at work
The
whole heart system ranges from the surrounding bloodstream to 7.5 centimeters
below the armpit. It runs through the middle path of our hand down to the
middle finger. Should our middle finger feel numb, there is a high possibility
that our heart is having a problem. The pressure point in front of our chest
will determine the level of our happiness as it is the control center of our
emotions. This critical point is in the center of our chest between the
nipples. Massage this area gently to relieve depression as well.
Best
time to have sex
Boar
9pm-11pm: San Xiao Ching at work
This
is the time to relax and prepare to sleep. But before we sleep, this is also
the best time for couples to make love. It is believed to be the right time
since the previous period sets the tone.
San
Xiao Ching is divided into three parts. The first governs the heart and lungs,
the middle governs the spleen and stomach and the last governs the liver and
kidney. The whole system includes tissues, tendons and the bloodstream
surrounding them.
Quote
of the week: intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at
death.
(features in Hong Kong Standard Newspaper every Friday)
Kerby
Kuek has published three books on fung shui. He specializes in yin and yang
fung shui, I-Ching, life analysis and astrology.
Website:
www.misterfengshui.com
E-mail address of Mr. Kerby Kuek : [email protected]
