To Play Tic-Tac-Toe Or Simply Eat The Pie?

Overlaying The Flying Stars Chart Over Your Floor Plan: Different Feng Shui Masters' Perspectives.

DIRECTIONAL QUADRANTS METHOD (ALSO KNOWN AS NINE GRID METHOD)
The method: The floor plan is equally divided into nine parts.
Use by:
1. Larry Sang (he uses the Pie Method also but only when locating personal directions and external features).
2. David Twicken

EIGHT PIE WEDGE METHOD
The method: The center point of the house is located; the eight compass directions are then overlaid.
Use by:
1. Joseph Yu
2. Vincent Koh
3. Raymond Lo
4. Dong Nong Zheng
5. Pak Hok Ming
6. Heluo (a.k.a. Roel Hill)

BLOCK SEGMENTATION METHOD
The method: The house is divided into nine parts but the walls of the house are taken into consideration. Thus each area will not be equal in size.
Reasons: Since Qi enters by doors and windows, and that it is blocked or guided by internal walls. It is a mistake to think that the theoretical lines of Qi are stronger boundaries than the physical walls already present.
Use by:
1. Eva Wong
2. Lillian Too
3. Joey Yap (he uses the Pie Method also but only when locating personal directions and external features).

One thing to note is that if the Sitting / Facing of the house is on a Tian Yuan Long (center Mountain within each trigrams, e.g. Qian Mountain); the sectors demarcated using one method will coincide with the other method more or less. However, if the Sitting / Facing falls on a Ren Yuan Long (e.g. Hai Mountain), the charts will be the same as the Tian Yuan Long chart and the sectors will most likely not coincide among the two methods. That means a bedroom maybe under the influence of a palace but another method will mean it is in another palace.

Regards Alvin Chua

Written by Alvin Chua. All rights reserved. Copyright @. Not for commercial use of any kind.

Is the color of my main door or gate important?

Yes, the element of the color should match the directional element where the door or gate is located. Or else, the occupants will face health problems or general bad luck. The color used must also be suitable based on the Flying Stars chart. All these are applicable to the color of doormat also, if any.

Feng Shui is plain Superstition!

There have always been endless debate about whether Feng Shui is scientific or simply superstition. I think this phrase sums it all up:

" For a believer, no amount of evidence is required.
For a non-believer, no amount of evidence is adequate".

Which side of the fence you stand will be dependent on your personal experiences and convictions. Probing deeper, you realised that debate is actually not about whether Feng Shui is science or not but instead rooted in one's prejudice. Faced with a hardcore skeptic, laying out all possible explantions of Feng Shui from a scientific perspective will only get yourself being scoffed at. Period.

Warm Regards
Alvin Chua

新的八宅派风水

作者: 刘立强

我的改运技术主要依靠风水来实施的，而我所用的风水是和八字结合的八宅派风水。

关 于八宅派风水，可说是流传最广的一门，但其危害也是最广最深的。很多人以杨公真传人自居，每见于此，我不觉失笑，杨公真传？反正杨公早就仙逝了，你爱怎么 说就怎么说，但流传的杨公其理论是非常粗浅的，可谓漏洞百出，故后学者多白首而不得灵验妙法。《八宅通书》、《阳宅三要》、《八宅周书》、《八宅明镜》为 古代八宅经典著作，立论相同，皆漏洞百出，致使后学者，错上传错，贻害甚广。

广为流传的八宅 派虽错误百出，但并非全部都错，其有周易八卦为根基轮廓，河图洛书为佐，其立论根基是正确的，只是在具体操作上走进了难以弥补的误区！根据八宅派的理论依 据--周易八卦、河图洛书，我创立了一套相对完善的改运技术，从2000年开始研究，到今年也7年多了，理论上已经基本成型，实践案例也多如牛毛，应验率 很高，而且见效极快，很多布局的朋友当天或第二天效果即可显现。因为我创立的改运技术和八宅派的立论根据基本相同，故而也算八宅派的一支。

八宅派的基本理论：八宅派按人出生的年份来划分出东西四命，讲究命宅相配，东四命人宜居东四宅，西四命人宜居西四宅，东四命人忌居西四宅，西四命人忌居东四宅。

　　八宅除讲究命宅相配的原因，是与游星有关，八宅游星共有八颗，有四颗是吉星，另有四颗是凶星，不论门、主、灶，都宜安在吉星内，忌安在凶星内，这吉凶是没有时间性限制的，只要布局下来，此宅便不论年期可居住下来。

按人出生的年份来划分出东西四命，同一年出生的人又何止千万，不可能这么多人命运都一样，适合的环境也不可能一样，这是八宅派不灵验的致命所在。

我创立的新八宅派的基本理论：按人出生的日子来划分东西四命，再配合八 宅游星的流年、流月运转等来进行环境调整，效果奇佳！为何要按人出生的日子来划分东西命呢？传统子平八字预测中以日干代表自己，实际上日干支只是代表自己 住的家，而不是真正的自己，但是可以理解成大自己，所以传统子平八字都用日干代表自己来预测。每当日干支受到冲合的时候家就要变了，搬家或装修、盖房等， 调阳宅风水主要是调自己住的地方，当然要找个代表自己家的来划分东西四命了，那就是日干支了，那么到底是用日干还日支来划分呢？这个就留给爱好者自己思考 吧，否则我都点破了，爱好者也学不深，养成思考的习惯是学习最好利器，这样才能学的深，理解的透。

传统八宅派用年来划分东西四命的理论源自古代以年干代表自己来进行预测的最初八字算命理论，当然也有可能以年干代表自己的八字算命理论是源于八宅派风水，总之他们的具体思路是一致的，他们都用年来代表自己。

阳宅三要阳宅法

许多人将“八宅明镜”与“阳宅三要”二者搅混在一起，虽然两者八宫九星的名词相同，翻卦掌的取法也相同，但用法上仍有很大的差异。“八宅明镜”是以人的 “年命”为主轴，所谓若专论山向而不论命者大凶，论命而不论山向者小凶，合命又合坐向者永福。可见重点在年命，不论安床、开门、灶、而、神位、书房等，都 要配合年命。但夫妻或子女东西四命不同者，配置上就有困难，若勉强以宅主为主，亦甚牵强不合理。其宅命的九星配置，是以宅坐山为伏位，由坐山翻卦，灶座须 压宅命或年命的凶位。

而阳宅三要则是提供较宽广的方向，较不重视年命，而是以房子的大门、主屋（主卧房）、灶位，三者之间的宫位生克论吉凶。九星的配置是由大门起伏位，大门不 论开在何方，永远是伏位，也就无所谓的吉与凶，其吉凶的产生，必须视主屋的灶位的配置而定。配置得当，一家大小不论东四命、西四命，皆能获福吉祥。而其灶 座的位置须压在吉方（以大门为伏位），这与东西四命、东西四宅，灶位须压凶方之最大不同。

阳宅三要门、主、灶。
一、门：是指宅的大门，若是大型的宅院、工厂、公务机关、有围墙围起来的，则是指围墙出入的总门。门乃进出之路，气口也，以小太极论之。房门、厨房门、厕所门等，所有的门皆有动气，故影响人生之祸福。因为风水重点论述吉与凶重于动、吉者动则吉上加吉、凶者动则凶祸更烈！

二、主：是指宅主居住的卧房。若是整座的公务机关，多厢房或多排层的宅院，大型工厂等，则是指最高大的主屋，或是行政中心之大楼，主管的办公室等。而有些派别则是以宅命，即是宅的坐山宫位为主。

三、灶：是指厨房的位置。不是仅以厨房的灶位而言之。

阳宅先看大门，次看主房门，有东四西四之分。而主房却无定位，高大者即是。只要门主相生，即以吉断，相克即以凶断，此看阳宅必然之理也。至于厨灶乃养生之 所，所关甚大，第一与门相生，其次与主相生。若仅仅以厨灶为重，直断祸福，轻去门主相克之理，亦非定论。须要门主灶三者，各得其所，门生主，主生灶，灶生 门，三者互生无克或相比和又合宅主之生命之福元，则人丁大寿，福寿双全。

因此阳宅的吉凶推论最简易的法则，莫如阳宅三要门主灶的相互比和，若此三个宫位五行是相同或相生，即可不必考虑宅主年命或游年等，此阳宅基本是能获福吉祥的。若是大门与主屋，或大门与灶位，其后天八卦之宫位五行呈相克者，此阳宅则易遭凶而不吉。

八宅派风水学书籍

八宅派风水学书籍：

经典古籍：《八宅明镜》、《阳宅三要》、《陽宅十書》、《陽宅撮要》、《陽宅集成》、《陽宅大全》、《陽宅愛眾篇》、《金光斗靈經》。

陳澤真著的《八宅明鏡詳解》

顧吾廬著的《八宅明鏡求好運》

張覺明著的《八宅明鏡精解》

白鹤鸣著的《易学易用八宅风水》

谢天诠著的《八宅风水十日通》

黄一凤著的《八宅造福周书》

苏民峰著的《家宅風水基本法》、《風水天書》、《風生水起：理氣篇》、《風生水起：巒頭篇》、《風生水起：例证篇》。

八宅明镜用法探讨

作者：罗林洪

八宅明镜的核心内容是以人出生的年命配成命宫，分东四命与西四命。论婚姻东四命找回东四命的人做妻子或丈夫，西四命的人找回西四命的人做丈夫或妻子，这样 做就能白头到老，永不分离云云……假如东四命找了西四命的，呵呵，你等着那一天，上法庭离婚或者妻子跟别人走了，落得个半路夫妻的结局。这种配婚法我经过 研究，可靠性十分有疑问，因为我托朋友从离婚庭中找来了二十多对离婚的男女，发现符合东四命配东四命，西四命配西四命的大半，足以证明了这种婚配法之荒 谬，我曾经就此法写在一台湾的网站，此“板主”马上反对，呵呵，尊重古人是对，但我们学习东西不能狼吞虎咽，不假思考，应以继承与批判的角度去看待古人的 文化遗产。

在这里我还顺道提出一个问题，就是夫妻年命天克地冲也并不见得是凶，我去年曾经与人择日，发现一对年老夫妻的年命是天克地冲，当时我十分奇怪， 就有意地问他们，你们婚姻有没有问题？答没有，我再问你们平时关系如何，答曰我们之间可以说是村里有名的模范夫妻，看着他们的恩爱样子，我相信他们的话。 所以说，如果命局里面没有婚姻不顺的信息，凭上面的八宅明镜的婚配法和古气的白马怕青牛等断语是根本站不住脚的。

今天的主题我重点放在风水上的思考。 八宅明镜里说以年命找命宫，分东四命与西四命，比如你是东四命应找东四命的房子，灶要坐煞朝吉，即是灶要在乾坤艮兑方位面向震巽坎离的方向，西四命亦是如 此。 前几天我看了一宅风水，女主人是丁亥命，命宫落在兑。灶在离宫，坐巽向乾，符合坐煞朝吉，房间在兑宫，阳台在乾，纳乾气，结果此女主人依然病魔缠身。 记得02年，我与一患病之人风水调理，将灶摆向其年命之天医位，结果无效。 这样的例子很多，用八宅明镜的方法去调理，我发现无效的多，是我的方法错误，还是其理论不合时宜呢？ 我的看法还是那一句：阴阳平衡才是风水的真谛！所以“易经”说“一阴一阳之谓道。

Tips on Finding a Good Feng Shui Consultant

The following are adapted and compiled from similar articles I found online. Hope everyone find it useful in their search for the right consultant.

1. Is he able to tell you the Feng Shui method he uses?
Most practitioners use the Eight House (Bazhai) or Flying Stars (Xuan Kong Fei Xing) method. They should also be well versed in the physical Forms aspects of your house internally and externally.

2. Does he know the Yin-Yang, Five Elements concepts very well?
All Feng Shui theories and remedies are based on this theory. Knowledge of this is necessary and it is a very basic requirement.

3. Is he knowledgeable in Chinese history and culture?
Anyone that has spent a good deal of time studying Feng Shui will definitely be reasonably good at these.

4. Is he professionally certified, or at least able to name his teacher or school?
Certificates can help verify authenticity of their knowledge but many old masters do not issue certificates also. Thus, ask about the background of his teacher or school.

5 How long and to what level did he train with his master?

6. Is he affiliated with any professional Feng Shui associations?
It will be better if he is. One needs to fit certain criteria before being accepted as a member of such professional bodies.

7. Is he able to provide any client testimonials?
If not, go online and do a search on him. Some famous masters are known to provide bad service and the clients actually share their experiences on Internet forums.

8. Does he have a reasonable quality of life?
Otherwise, it is unlikely that he or she will be able to help you since his knowledge is not helping himself.

9. Are you comfortable talking to him?
He should be sincere in helping you and you should have confidence in his abilities. The reason being he is potentially the person you will turn to for future consultation for other aspects if you find he is good in what he does.

10. Does he use a traditional Luopan (Chinese compass)?
No traditionally trained practitioners do Feng Shui without it.

11. Does he ask for the following details?
1. The birth dates of the occupants.
2. The date the building was built and date of any major renovations.
3. A proportional floor plan.

12. Does he go on-site to actually see the building?
Externally Forms have to be assessed and measurements have to be taken on-site. These cannot be done using a floor plan. Advice can be given based on the floor plan but it is very limited and can be inaccurate.

13. Is he willing and able to explain the logic behind his advice and remedies?
There is no such thing as "it's a secret" or "you wouldn't understand". You are paying good money and you are entitled to know why a certain action/remedy/advice is given to you. Their answers should satisfy your queries, making you feel confident about their skills. By the way, don’t expect every problem to have a remedy, especially for apartments. Sometimes, the only way is to move out.

14. How long does he take to audit your house on-site?
A thorough Feng Shui audit should take at least 1-2 hours. Nothing can be achieved in less than an hour. I myself take 2 hours to do an on-site audit and a 1-2 weeks after that to do up the report. A famous practitioner did it in 45 minutes but she does return for a second review.

15. Does he provide a report after the consultation?
This is necessary as there will be too many things for you to note down on the actual audit day. A report will summarized everything and acts as a guide for you to follow. This should be included in the package and shouldn’t be at an additional cost.

16. Does he suggest strange or expensive remedies?
Feng Shui should be a subtle thing. And who says it has to be expensive? Most remedies are recommended based on the five elements theory, thus the price has no standing. If he insists, he is probably just trying to sell you his products. Many Feng Shui objects are purely decorative in nature and do not have any effect on the environmental energy.

17. Are the fees competitive?
There are many Feng Shui practitioners around; hence the fees should be competitive. Exorbitant fees may mean good service but not the effectiveness.

18. Any follow-up services provided?
Auspicious date selection is important especially if you have not move in or you are going to renovate the house. As for follow-up sessions, some practitioners do it but some do not. Those who do not should make it up by the provision of a report. Some practitioners also provide a month of free follow-up consultation on the implementation of the Feng Shui remedies. Check if these services are chargeable.

Regards
Alvin Chua

Fu Lu Shou Statues

A relative of mine recently told me that her friend has consulted a Feng Shui Master and was told to place the Fu Lu Shou statues (figures of the 3 traditional Chinese deities in charge of Fortune, Wealth and Longevity) in her bedroom to promote health. The master himself was in the pink of health for many years and he attributed it to the Fu Lu Shou statues in his bedroom. Hence, he now recommends it to his client.

I was asked if there is any basis on the advice and frankly replied that the statues are solely for decorative purposes. The statues need to be blessed if one is to worship the deity but seldom do people worship the Fu Lu Shou in the first place. And if it were indeed blessed, the bedroom would be the last place to have the statues.
The master is healthy maybe because he has not wasted his Jing (seminal essence) for a long time due to the lack of action with his wife. Imagine doing the do with the three old folks smiling at you. Anyway, it is not in line with classical fengshui but I do not deny the possibility of the psychological factor. Maybe it does work but will require more case studies to substantiate its efficacy.

Regards
Alvin Chua

Meeting with a Master

Had a meeting with Wilson Yong (http://www.taoistsecret.com/index.html) last Saturday at Bugis Junction. It was a crowded day and proves much difficulty getting a quiet place to have a drink and nice chat. He was invited to be present for some SPI (Singapore Paranormal Investigators) event that evening but we managed to squeeze in some time to talk about the Metaphysics.

Wilson was humble enough to share his knowledge and experiences, which is an eye-opening moment for me. It is a pity that we are short on time but nevertheless a fruitful chat (especially for me). Wilson, if you are reading this, thanks for meeting up and sharing your knowledge. Really appreciate it and also your gifts. Cheers and do visit Singapore more often.

Regards
Alvin Chua

Bazi Vs Feng Shui

Many masters now advocate the practice of Feng Shui alongside the use of Bazi. A local master even juxtapose his Xuan Kong Feixing analysis with Ziwei Dou Shu (Purple Star Astrology) and he did it well since he is an expert in both systems. Nevertheless, if you have not noticed, Bazi astrology are never mentioned in Feng Shui ancient texts. Does it tell you something about the necessity for the use of Bazi amid the practice of Feng Shui?

A client did not find any improvement after implementing a Master's Feng Shui recommendations and after anal...ysing his bazi, the Master attributes this to the client's bad luck period. Is this the case? What can we infer from this? i think it's very true indeed the client is suffering ill luck which resulted in him engaging the service of this incompetent Master. Do you see the irony? If Feng Shui really renders no help to you from the onslaught of Destiny and Luck, why bother?

Mr Eric Teoh of Central Academy of Feng Shui said this in his blog (http://ericklteoh.blogspot.com/), which I find is very true:

"Must a Feng Shui audit be done with Ba Zi charts? Can it be done without Ba Zi? If you’re going through bad luck, can the Feng Shui really help? If bad luck already, then no need Feng Shui lah? Or if the Feng Shui doesn’t work, then one will have an excuse to say, “Because you’re going through bad luck now, that’s why the Feng Shui didn’t work. It’s your bad luck lah.” Aiyoyo! So if you’re going through good luck, then you definitely don’t need Feng Shui lah. Feng Shui masters better resign then. Got any vacancy ah?"

Regards
Alvin Chua

奇缘风水研究 开办风水课程 传承风水文化

研究风水超过25年，拥有近1000学生的奇缘风水研究的周载胜老师，9月2日将再次开办理论与实践相结合的风水课程，普及风水知识，传承风水文化。消息传出，便接到公众的踊跃报名，场面火爆。目前正在南洋理工大学修读硕士文凭和中医专业文凭的周老师，开办风水课程培训最高峰达到一周五班的佳绩，已吸引了上至60岁的老人，下至南洋理工大学的青年学子的积极报读。周老师以生动通俗的语言，以古书为纲，引经据典，正本清源介绍风水的历史与来源，探讨风水各派系之间的关系，传播风水文化，还亲临学员家中，运用现代建筑结构的实例，现场讲学，引起了强烈的反响。周老师说，许多人对中华风水文化了解不多，现在的风水市场又存在良莠不齐的现象，一些似是而非的理论，以及以讹传讹的伪风水学，加深了人们对风水一知半解的盲从，这就必须要通过科学的、正规的教育，普及正确的风水知识，提高风水文化的社会认知度，从科学、逻辑学、历史学的角度，传承风水文化，避免出现风水界后继无人，甚至断层的局面。周老师说，学习风水并不难，只要学生有兴趣，听得懂或看得懂华文就可以了。想要参加课程的公众，可以致电63393616询问详情，也可亲临福禄寿大厦#02-05奇缘风水研究咨询。

寻求本地旅游机构合作 开通风水文化游学之旅周载胜15岁开始研究风水，至今超过25年.为了拜师学艺,他曾多次远赴中国、台湾等地求学，也积极报读各类课程充实自己。周老师说，风水学是一门综合的学问，除了要饱览古书，还必须结合现代社会学，必须理论和实践紧密结合。其中了解风水的历史，感受风水的文化和背景，是十分必要的。对于这次报名参加风水课程的学生，周老师决定带他们到中国安徽、浙江、江西等地，走一趟风水文化游学之旅。为了考察行程，周老师4次前往中国各地，寻根溯源，确定了有600年历史的安徽宏村,浙江诸葛八卦村等地作为文化游学的首选地。

周老师现正四处寻求本地旅行社的合作,他通过本报，向本地旅行社抛出绣球，寻求合作。“我希望全力打造新加坡风水市场的拳头产品----风水历史文化游 , 为新加坡的风水文化注入新的活力。”

玄空飞星专业风水文凭课程
开课日期：02/09/2007上课时间：星期天3.00pm--5.30pm上课地点：149 Rochor Road #03-11 Fu Lu Shou Complex

吃牛奶真的就不杀生了吗？

A interesting article I found online.

吃牛奶真的就不杀生了吗？听到很多因不愿意杀生而吃素的朋友仍喝牛奶。原因是喝牛奶不杀生。喝牛奶真的就不杀生了吗？以下是我的一个美国朋友告诉 我在美国的情形。我没有台湾的乳牛业的资料，但我想养所有的殖业的目的都是赚钱，在减少成本增加利润的前提之下，台湾的情形不会比美国好到哪去。如果有哪 位知道台湾乳牛养殖业的情形，或哪里可以找到台湾乳牛养殖业的资料，敬请赐教。

养乳牛的目的是供奶，为了要让乳牛持续的有奶，就必须不断的让它怀孕生小牛，一只乳牛一年之中有9个月是在怀孕。但是乳牛妈妈生出来的小牛有百分 之五十是公牛。无论是小公牛或小母牛，只能吃到2天的母奶，在出生2天后就被从牛妈妈身边偷走，因为牛妈妈的奶要给养殖业者赚钱用，当然不能浪费在小牛身 上。(顺带一提，为什么让小牛吃2天的母奶呢，并不是业者有任何的慈悲心，原因只是刚生产的母牛的头2天的奶味道不好，无法卖去赚钱，且母奶中含有营养及 抗体可让小牛如后较少生病。所以让小牛吃2天的母奶并不会使业者利润降低。)

牛宝宝被偷走会造成年妈妈很大的心理伤害，牛妈妈会不停地痛苦悲嚎二天。小母牛会步入乳牛妈妈的后尘被养大成为日后生产牛奶的乳牛，小公牛的命运 有二，直接被卖作肉牛(由于年龄太小，有些小公牛进拍卖场时身上还挂著脐带)。或是再花些许成本养大些被培养成柔嫩的粉红色小牛肉(veal).(再顺带 提一提，小牛肉的养成过程极其残酷，要使肉质柔嫩就不能让它长肌肉，因此小公牛们被关在小到无法转身的栏中，脖子上绑著绳链子限制它们站起。它们的空间小 到必须拱其背才能勉强卧下。要肉质成粉红色就必须让它们缺铁，因此它们的饲料中绝对不能含一点点铁，关它们的栏子绳链也不能是铁制品，因为缺铁的小公牛会 去舔任何的铁制品。为小牛肉培养的小公牛只有3至16周的生命就会进入屠宰场。)由于大部分的乳牛在其一生中至少生2至3次，乳牛养殖业因此有太多的小 牛。在 2002年美国的乳牛生出了超过8百万只小牛。而其中进入屠宰场的小牛都是乳牛业的衍生产品。

因此当我们今天吃牛奶的同时，我们就是在支持乳牛养殖业，而我们买到的每一杯牛奶中都含有无数乳牛的鲜血。第二，母牛的产奶年龄有限，它们的牛奶 产量在生前二胎时最好，当一只母牛的产奶率下降后，养殖场当然不会一直浪费钱继续养著它们。它们约6岁就会被送往屠宰厂。因此唯一不杀生的牛奶，就是将母 牛和它的兄弟子女们养在自己家(根据公母一比一的比例，只要运气不太坏，养一只乳牛只要再养一只公牛即可)，且要让它们颐养天年自然死亡,即使母牛老了无 法产奶时也不会把它作成牛排。而它的公牛兄弟则一辈子天天玩耍，也可快乐终老不会被炖成牛肉汤或黑椒牛柳。并且母牛生的小牛也要一直养下去。在乳牛养殖场 的乳牛平均活6岁，而如果让它们颐养天年的话，它们平均可活到20岁。这样生产的牛奶成本甚巨，可想成本乳牛养殖业当然不会这样做啦。牛奶固然含钙很多， 但是不是多喝就好也尚无定论。而喝牛奶的同时，也无可避免的吃进饱和脂肪，胆固醇和注入牛身体的贺尔蒙及抗生素。况且很多蔬果中也含大量的钙。人类对有些 蔬果中的钙的吸收率甚至超过牛奶。例如，牛奶中钙的可吸收率是百分之32(WeaverCM,PlaweckiKLDietarycalcium: adequacyofavegetariandiet,AmJClinNutr美国临床营养杂志1994May;59(5Suppl):1238S- 1241S)，根据美国饮食协会的立场文件(positionpaperof American Dietetic Association)绿花椰菜，大白菜，秋葵及甘蓝(collard)中钙的吸收率是百分之49至百分之61，石膏豆腐中钙的吸收率是百分之31。钙 片也很容易买到。且经常作负重运动(weightbearingexercise)和不抽烟都对骨骼健康很有帮助。这些都是我们应该自己负责做到的。我们 实在没有必要为一己之私剥削乳牛，抢走本该给牛宝宝吃的牛奶，还把牛宝宝自牛妈妈身边拖走送入屠宰场。

General Fee Guide to Feng Shui Consultation

Recently I went to Hougang Mall and was given a pamphlet of Feng Shui services offered by a local company. It lists the consultation fees they charge for the various types of building and gave me the idea of compiling a list of my own of most of the fees charge by most Feng Shui consultants (at least six) in Singapore. This will give everyone a rough guide on how much they will be expected to pay shall they engage a consultant and prevent people from being overcharged. Many times, these consultants will ask you to buy their feng shui products to improve your luck. Some will be genuine while mostly, it will be just a sales item to increase their profit margin. You see, many of them are professionally-run feng shui businesses. They have salaries to pay to their workers and high rental to be paid very month, so the high consultation fees are needed to keep their business profitable. Anyway, you can see for yourself that the fees are quite exorbitant and I wonder how people can afford to pay them.

Non On-Site:
Auspicious Directions Selection (based on Life Gua): S$68

Fax Floor Plan Review (based on floor plan): S$100 – S$168


On-Site (Residential):
House Directions Selection: S$288

HDB 2-rooms Flat (Already moved in): S$150 – S$588
HDB 2-rooms Flat (Yet to move in): S$250 onwards

HDB 3-rooms Flat (Already moved in): S$150 - S$688
HDB 3-rooms Flat (Yet to move in): S$250 onwards

HDB 4-rooms Flat (Already moved in): S$250 – S$880
HDB 4-rooms Flat (Yet to move in): S$350 onwards

HDB 5-rooms Flat (Already moved in): S$250 – S$980
HDB 5-rooms Flat (Yet to move in): S$350 onwards

HDB 6-rooms Flat / Exec Apt / Exec Mansionette (Already moved in): S$350 – S$1080
HDB 6-rooms Flat / Exec Apt / Exec Mansionette (Yet to move in): S$450 onwards

Private Apt / HUDC (Already moved in): S$350 - S$1088
Private Apt / HUDC (Yet to move in): S$450 onwards

Executive Condo 2 Rooms and Below (Already moved in): S$350 - S$1580
Executive Condo 2 Rooms and Below (Yet to move in): S$450 onwards

Executive Condo 3 Rooms and Above (Already moved in): S$350 - S$1860
Executive Condo 3 Rooms and Above (Yet to move in): S$450 onwards

Penthouse (Already moved in): S$450 - S$1388
Penthouse (Yet to move in): S$550 onwards

Shop House: S$788 – S$988

Terrace House less than 2000sqft (Already moved in): S$450 – S$1388
Terrace House less than 2000sqft (Yet to move in): S$550 onwards

Terrace House more than 2000sqft (Already moved in): S$450 –S$2200
Terrace House more than 2000sqft (Yet to move in): S$550 onwards

Semi-Detached House (Already moved in): S$550 – S$2600
Semi-Detached House (Yet to move in): S$650 onwards

Bungalow less than 5000sqft (Already moved in): S$650 - $3388
Bungalow less than 5000sqft (Yet to move in): S$750

Bungalow up to 6000sqft: S$3088 – S$3388

Detached House: S$1188


Finding a home (from the best of 5): [House type] x 2

Building a house: [House type] x 3

Moving In Process: S$260


On-Site (Office / Business):
Office Cubicle/ Room: S$150

Business Premises less than 1000 sqft: S$2300 or below or US$728

Business Premises less than 2000 sqft: S$1088 – S$3200 or US$728

Business Premises between 2000 to 2999sqft - S$1488 – S$3200 or US$998

Business Premises between 3000 to 5000 sqft - S$2488 or US$1688

Factories / Showrooms: S$1.20 per sq foot, minimum of S$500 upwards.



Date Selection:
Choosing Dates for Marriage: S$168

Choosing Dates for Cesarean: S$688


Written by Alvin Chua. All rights reserved. Copyright @. Not for commercial use of any kind.

What is Daoism’s concept of the soul?

Another extract from my book on Daoism.

What is Daoism’s concept of the soul?

Unlike the single soul concept in many religions, Daoists do not believe that only one soul exists in every individual. In fact, we believe that an individual is made up of a committee of ten spirits. These ten spirits are divided into Yin and Yang and together they rule over different aspects of the human. The Yang components are called Hun and there are three of them. They are Shuangling, Taiguang and Youjing. Plants are said to possess only one Hun while animals are given two. Having only one Hun gives plants the minimal requirement for existence as a living thing but lacks the power of locomotion and intelligence. With two Hun(s), animals are endowed with the basic intelligence to hunt, breed and avoid danger in order to survive. It is with mankind who have the three Hun(s) and the functions of a highly developed intelligence and consciousness that makes it possible for him to rule over the rest in the ecology. The Yin counterparts on the other hand have seven of them and they are Shigou, Fushi, Queyin, Tunzei, Feidu, Chuhui, and Bichou. They are often associated with the negative aspects of human nature.

Daoists believe that a human life is conceived when the three Hun(s) are merged together. However the fetus is still not fully formed until the seven Po(s) come in and reside in the body. This process will take forty-nine days, as one Po will enter the fetus every seventh day from conception until all seven of them are consolidated in its body.

Since the universe is made up of the Yang and Yin, it is only natural that the ancients had the concept of a soul with dualistic compositions. As tradition has it, the world in its primordial state consisted of Qi, the energy essence. With the gradual concentration of this Qi, a major part of it started to take Xing (Form) and in the process was given Zhi (Substance). Via the same process, the Hun(s) and Po(s) were created with the former as the manifestation of Qi and the latter as Xing (Form) and Zhi (Substance). In the human body, the Hun(s) are said to control our ability to think and judge, giving us the power to reason, in other words the mental aspect. The Po(s) are then the ruling force behind our somatic aspects. Daoists believe that when a person dies, he or she will become a Shen (divine being) if the Hun(s) are stronger. If the Po(s) are stronger instead, he or she will become a Gui (ghost).

Death occurs when all the three Hun(s) leave our body at the same time. However, if only one or two of them were ousted from the body, the person will immediately fall into a trance-like state since the Hun(s) control our psychological abilities. Such events can happened due to a shocking accident or untimely exposure to powerful Yin energies in places the person had gone before. If the Po(s) are lost alternatively, the person will lose control of his body. Either way, rituals will have to be performed at the site where the Hun-po was believed to be lost in order to have them back and restore the person’s physical and mental health.

Regards
Alvin Chua

Written by Alvin Chua. All rights reserved. Copyright @. Not for commercial use of any kind.

What about joss papers? What is the history behind it?

Below is an extract from a book on Daoism that I did not managed to finish writing. Nevertheless, I have put it up here to share the parts I have written on joss papers since now is the seventh lunar month aka Ghost Month.

What about joss papers? What is the history behind it?

The earliest record of the use of joss papers is found to be during the Six Dynasties. Life in ancient China was extremely difficult. The people lived simple life and most were farmers. Most of them toiled year after year without enough to eat and wear. To fulfill their desires and hopes for a good fortune, a great harvest, a baby boy, an official promotion, or simply freedom from the corrupt authorities, the Chinese people and the rural population in particular created various deities to suit their needs. Literally everything can be deified and worshipped, be it a beast or a historical human figure. Through the indigenous form of early printmaking called Zhi Ma (literally means paper horse), these hopes and desires were then expressed. Zhi ma was also called Jia Ma (first horse). Images of deities, gods and immortals that the Chinese worshiped were carved onto blocks of wood which was then used to print on paper. These prints were then burned as offerings and sacrifices. This ancient form of paper joss was called paper horse as many had images of horses on them.

Eventually, these beliefs were complied and presented as two scriptures, which were claimed to be direct celestial instructions from Lao-zi in Heaven. The two Daoist scriptures are generally known as the Shou Sheng Jing (The Rebirth Classic). Like many other texts, the authors were never mentioned nor were there any indications of the time they were written. ‘Shou’ here means to receive and accept while ‘Sheng’ stands for birth. Together, they represent the acceptance of undertaking a human life. Tradition has it that before we are born into the human realm, we are given certain amount of wealth from the spirit world’s treasury for us to use once we successfully take up our human forms. This amount of wealth must be returned to the treasury during our lifetime. Failure to do so will bring forth illnesses and catastrophes upon oneself. And the method to return the wealth will be to burn paper money. A later Buddhist imitation of these scriptures also appeared with the word ‘Shou’ changed to the one meaning longevity. This new version preached a similar theme as that of the original Daoist version.

But why the use of paper and not other materials? Well, there is a tale on how it all started. A man named Cai Lun invented paper, however the people did not take a fancy to what he created. He pondered very long on how to market his invention and came up with the idea to collaborate with his wife to stage his death and bury him for seven days. Breathing through a tube while buried in a coffin, Cai Lun managed to stay alive for seven days, all the while his wife was burning away his stockpiles of paper. She pretended to blame the husband’s death on the paper because he was depressed about not being able to sell his invention and his health deteriorated. On the seventh day, Cai Lun miraculously came back alive from his grave and everyone attributed his resurrection to the burning of his invention, paper. And from then on, the belief spread far and wide among the Chinese. Whether this event actually happened, no one knows for sure.

In present day Daoism, there are many types of paper joss but mostly are representations of money in forms of gold and silver ingots. Paper josses of gold ingots are offered to celestial gods while silver ones are meant for deceased family members. There are also josses for requesting favors as well as paying back the deities for any tasks performed by them. Stemming from the belief that the netherworld is an exact replication of our world and to fulfill families’ obligation of filial piety, joss images of daily essentials and luxuries like clothes, cigarettes, cars, houses, handphones, etc are sold as offerings to be burned for deceased relatives. All for the sake of giving them a good life in the netherworld that they probably were unable to do so while still alive.

Regards
Alvin Chua

Written by Alvin Chua. All rights reserved. Copyright @. Not for commercial use of any kind.

Feng Shui Mirrors in Thailand

Talking about the use of mirrors in Feng Shui, do you know that this practice is very much alive in Northern Thailand? In fact, in a trip there few years back, I managed to see probably the largest Feng Shui mirror in the world (at least, in my limited perspective). Many of the houses located at a T-junction are equipped with a concave mirror hanging above the main entrance to face the onslaught of the traffic Sha (attack of the menacing Qi). And guess the size of the mirror? 2 to 3 feet in diameter! I think the reflected light will blind drivers at the junction and cause accidents instead. Pity I don't have a camera with me, if not i can take some pictures of them.

Regards
Alvin Chua

Joey Yap's Apartment Seminar

I spent the whole of yesterday at Raffles City Convention Center, attending Joey Yap's seminar on Apartment / Condominium Feng Shui. A few hundred people were present for the event and as usual, JY blew the crowd away with his witty Cantonese lines and humourous suggestions. Contentwise, I don't think I will attend any other future seminars of his. In fact, I felt like going through a revision class that I have went through umpteen times before. I am not saying it's not good but rather it is targeted at those in the beginner level and the general populace. I was so tempted to buy his new Xuan Kong Flying Stars book (the 1st in a 3 books series) though but resisted as I am saving up to further upgrade my Feng Shui knowledge.

One thing interesting however is that I saw a few Masters from another Feng Shui institution. I recognised Master Chew from Way OnNet Geomancy and his associates. I think more than 5 of his students came for this seminar too. They are probably from Way OnNet Geomancy's Ziwei Doushu class since WayOnNet do not conduct any Feng Shui classes at present. Are they there to do espionage work? Beats me...

Regards
Alvin Chua

hi small fut,

It's meant to be tongue-in-cheek. Not to be taken seriously. I respect them too as learning the Five Arts is a arduous journey for anyone to undertake and make it their life's calling. Anywy, thanks for visiting. Cheers.

Alvin Chua

The Feng Shui History of Singapore's Hyatt Hotel (Updated!)

I believed many of you have heard of the story about Singapore Hyatt Hotel's application of the Castle Gate Method (Chen Men Jue) on its doors (that's why they are tilted diagonal in relationship to the facing of the building) and the inconspicuous water feature in front of the building. This story was told also by Lilian Too if I am not wrong. The work was attributed to the late Venerable Hong Choon, a famous Buddhist monk that was popular with some political figures in Singapore. Grand Hyatt Hotel was said to have the building analysed by him and the Castle Gate method was a suggestion from him.

Here's an extract I found online from Frommer's website:
"Despite its fantastic location, this hotel was doing pretty poorly until they had a feng shui master come in and evaluate it for redecorating. According to the Chinese monk, because the lobby entrance was a wall of flat glass doors that ran parallel to the long reception desk in front, all the hotel's wealth was flowing from the desk right out the doors and into the street. To correct the problem, the doors are now set at right angles to each other, a fountain was built in the rear, and the reception was moved around a corner to the right of the lobby. Since then, the hotel has enjoyed some of the highest occupancy rates in town."

The grand staircase at the main lobby has 32 steps, which when spoken in the Cantonese dialect, sounds the same as "business".

A few months back, I spoke to a colleague (a bellhop working in my company) and discovered that he used to work in Hyatt Hotel for more than 20 years since 1976. He was there when the feng shui audit was being done (around 15 to 20 years ago) and he told me it was not the monk, Hong Choon who did it but rather a layperson, a feng shui master. He said many monks were invited to blessed the place (Venerable Hong Choon was probably one of them) but not to do feng shui. My colleague told me that the feng shui master was very particularly about the room he was staying during the consultation period. Only one room was selected and he would only use that room. As for the name, my colleague is unable to provide as the incident had happened so long ago.

However, I have passed by Grand Hyatt hotel along Scotts Road today and had noticed the partial closure of the main entrance for renovation. On the wooden partition (put up to enclose the construction work inside) was a notice saying that the renovation was done so as to reap the feng shui benefits for period 8 and 9. The notice also states that the original feng shui design was done by the Venerable Sek Hong Choon for Period 7. The main door now requires to be tilted to face 313 degrees and the fountain to be raised to the height of 1.35 metres for the current period. Go down and take a look if you have the time. Some said its Castle Gate but many practitioners say its nonsense. I myself think that it is not Castle Gate method because the correct way will mean relocating the entrance so that it falls in a different palace in the flying star chart altogether, which can't be achieved simply by tilting the door. I didn’t manage to measure the facing of the building so can’t draw up a flying star chart for it. This is a great case study for Feng Shui practioners.

So based on the notice outside Hyatt hotel, the information I was given by my colleague was not accurate. It was indeed the monk Hong Choon who did the Feng Shui audit. But who exactly is Venerable Sek Hong Choon?. Here's what I found on the internet:

"Venerable Sek was born in 1907 (2nd Age), came to Singapore in 1938, thereafter went to Penang in 1943 to be the abbot of Mio Hiong Lim Temple where he met Wu-Chang Sect Geomancy Grand Master Yu Xi-yin. This chance encounter made the Grand Master accept the Venerable as his selected disciple to impart the Xuan Kong geomancy theories.

Therefore in 1965, Venerable Sek officially returned to Singapore to take charge of the building of Phor Kark See Temple. Venerable Sek Hong Choon devoted his time to the Buddhist faith. It is a great loss for not imparting his geomancy skills to any of his close disciples. We could only induce from the geo-design of Bright Hill Monastry, the theory of his geomancy methods."

In addition: Just discovered yesterday that the recent Feng Shui audit of Grand Hyatt was done by Master Victor Li, a famous Wu-chang Style Feng Shui Master from Hong Kong but currently residing in Singapore. His office is in Fu Lu Shou Complex. Since Victor Li is a Xuan Kong Da Gua expert, thus I believe this is the actual method used in tilting the main door since Xuan Kong Da Gua is known for using precise measurements in compass directions. As for Venerable Sek, he has a fellow brother disciple from the same Tan Yang Wu's lineage by the name of Master Francis Leyau, currently teaching in Kuala Lumpur at Central Academy of Feng Shui.

Regards
Alvin Chua

Written by Alvin Chua. All rights reserved. Copyright @. Not for commercial use of any kind.

Online Feng Shui Course

A few months back I took up a Online Feng Shui Course from a famous Feng Shui institute. I wanted to get some form of certification for my knowledge and the course was kind of expensive but still affordable. There are three levels and they require me to start right from the foundation level. Once I embarked on the course, I was kind of disappointed as the content is too basic. Even the Advanced level’s syllabus seems too elementary for me and I felt that my money could have been spent on something more worthwhile. Students are given 2 months to complete their studies of the Beginners level but I finished the whole thing in less then 45 minutes. Haiz…what a waste of my $$$. Thus, I figured that I should look somewhere else to further my Feng Shui knowledge.

Regards

Alvin Chua