FENG SHUI AND RELIGIOUS PRACTICES

In and of itself, the discipline of feng shui is based on a spiritual foundation. The ideas are founded on metaphysical notions that are prevalent in Chinese culture as well as in other ancient civilizations. Additionally, feng shui is founded on the principles of common sense and excellent design; nonetheless, it is evident that there are a great deal of assumptions and applications that have not yet been proven by western science. Is there a problem between feng shui and any major religious tradition? The irony is in the fact that feng shui originated from a culture and country in which Buddhism is the prevalent religion. However, there are sects of Buddhism who are now trying to dissuade its followers from believing in any form of divination skills, including feng shui. One reason why this is paradoxical is because those who have just a cursory familiarity with feng shui sometimes believe that it is an essential component of Buddhism. Being a consultant for over twenty years, I have worked with customers that come from a wide variety of backgrounds. I have worked with customers who were mostly of the following religious persuasions: Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, and atheist, in an almost exact sequence. It is possible that the only customers I work with are those who do not adhere to the conventional practices of their own religions. Although I am aware that this must be the case with the customers who are Christian and Muslim, I have a strong suspicion that this is also the case with the customers who adhere to other faiths. I was brought up in a Jewish household, and it is my belief that the orthodox Jews in Israel do not even consider the reform Jews in the United States to be Jewish. When I was working with an observant Jewish client at her home, she expressed a great deal of discomfort with the suggestions I made when I was there. I had been suggested to her by a friend who was worried, and as a result, she grudgingly agreed to arrange a meeting with me. My intention was not to advise that she engage in any behavior that would be considered objectionable to the way that she had structured her family space. The fact that she was seeking counsel from sources other than the Torah was the only thing that might have confused her. Notwithstanding this, I have been invited to do an assessment of a Kabbalah center located in my city. In addition, I have had clients who came to see me while their spouse who had just become a Christian was not at home in order to avoid potentially contentious or confrontational situations. Of course, I find all of this to be quite depressing and absurd. From my point of view, regardless of the spiritual or religious views that you have, I am aware that the applications of feng shui can only serve to enrich whatever it is that an individual is doing in their life and in the name of their faith. There are feng shui concepts that may make the experience of praying or meditating more enjoyable, provided that you have a designated space in your house for such activities. I have even conducted an assessment of a few synagogues and churches. I believe that the majority of faiths emphasize the importance of family unity and see the body as a temple that ought to be revered. This involves maintaining a calm environment at home and protecting your health. Theories of Feng Shui are merely meant to supplement these objectives. Everyone, regardless of their religious affiliation, will admit the unique sensation that they experience when they are at their different places of worship. People desire to have the experience of being in these holy locations because they are intentionally designed to produce a sense of purity, sanctity, and calm. When we are all able to admit that a certain location has a holy atmosphere, we have a notion of, or know from personal experience, what it is like when the contrary is true. We may also realize that other forces are at work to impact us momentarily, if not permanently, as well, if we are affected by places in a religious, spiritual, or inspired environment. This is something that we can do if we are affected by spaces. Feng shui may address this component, in addition to the more mundane problems that the majority of people who practice feng shui have, which include money, health, and love. This is because a room can seem holy or “unholy,” at the same time. if someone perceives feng shui as a “occult” practice because we are manipulating the forces of nature, I simply want to go on record as stating that the one god of the universe would not allow us to influence the forces of nature unless he/she/it permitted us to do so. nothing occurs outside of god’s will, hence feng shui is part of god’s will. seeking treatments to kill illnesses is also controlling the forces of nature. my personal view of god is quite abstract and I enjoy the term g.o.d.: the producing, organizing, and destroying principles of the cosmos. feng shui is about living in harmony with nature. nature as we know it is a manifestation of god. kartar diamond has been practicing feng shui since 1992, referring to it as a natural earth science. for more information about kartar diamond’s world-wide consulting services, publications, ebooks and on line mentorship program, go to www.fengshuisolutions.net