In recent years, many of our fellow citizens have developed a new hobby called feng shui. Feng Shui literature is abundant in bookstores. There are many websites dedicated to him on the Internet. In general, we can say that feng shui is in vogue these days. But how deeply do those who are fond of it understand the nature of feng shui? How many are able to clearly answer the question: what is it - science, religious doctrine or another superstition? Where are the roots of feng shui? The author will try to answer these and other questions in the article. People who do not care what to believe in, and who, like a weathervane, turn towards fashionable hobbies, it is unlikely to be interesting. The article is intended for someone who is serious about his spiritual life and considers himself a Christian. And, first of all, for Christians who are pondering whether or not to let feng shui into their lives.
So what is feng shui? Feng Shui is translated from Chinese as "wind-water". This teaching appeared in China in the 9th century. It is interesting to note that Lillian Tu, a popular guru of modern feng shui dating from the 9th century, writes in another work: "The Chinese have been practicing feng shui for millennia." However, she does not explain where these "millennia" came from. However, as the author noted, in the writings of Lillian Tu quite often there are quite contradictory statements, with many of which we will get to know in more detail below. So, modern followers of Feng Shui claim that there are many of his schools, while "real Feng Shui is based on the same concepts." The differences in different schools of feng shui are only in practice. Trying to define feng shui, Lillian Tu writes:“Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese set of practical methods of living in harmony with our own environment, that is, with the structure and vibrations of the energy around us”; “Feng Shui is the art of the correct use of the cosmic breath, or qi, - the force circulating in the entire environment around us”; "Feng Shui is not only the science of" wind and water "energy (this is how the term Feng Shui is actually translated), but also the art of using, attracting and generating this energy." From all of the above, one can deduce approximately the following definition of feng shui: feng shui is a theory and practice with which a person attracts and generates some qi energy, and with the help of this energy he harmonizes his environment. What is all this for? To this, the following answer is given: “… the cycle of success and failure can be significantly changed,if you learn the secrets of earthly energies and how to manipulate them. " By luck, Lillian Tu means: money, health, power, in general, prosperity. Lillian Tu writes: "… increasing income is one of the human endeavors that is most easily satisfied with the help of Feng Shui"; “If you are not destined to become a great business tycoon, Feng Shui will help you get rich, but it will not make you fabulously rich. It all depends on your heavenly luck. "It all depends on your heavenly luck. "It all depends on your heavenly luck."
Considering that feng shui is based on the doctrine of qi energy, let's get to know this doctrine in more detail. So, qi is a kind of "vibrating" energy that is spread everywhere, it gives a person "strength and soul." Lillian Tu writes: “The Qi of a person is the spirit that controls his activities. The excess (or lack) of qi in the body determines the health and vital activity of a person … for different people qi differs in quality and quantity … the qi of the human body must be in harmony with the qi of its environment. " In another book, Lillian Tu adds: "It is qi that attracts abundance, wealth, prosperity, health, acceptance, popularity and happiness." Where did the qi teaching come from? From Taoism. If so, it will be useful to know the Taoist concept of qi.
It should be noted that Taoism is the national religion of China. Its origins lie in the practice of contemplation and meditation, which were used to gain a state of dispassion and peace, as well as to gain immortality. There is no point in introducing Taoist teachings in detail, since there are very good works on this topic, to which the author addresses all those interested in Taoism. For our purposes, it will be enough to get acquainted only with the classical Taoist teaching about qi.
Taoism is pantheistic. Qi is the energy that permeates the entire Universe. A classic example explaining the nature of qi is given by the ancient Chinese skeptic Wang Chun (1st century AD); he argued that matter and spirit are different states of qi, like steam and ice are different states of water. Matter is “frozen” spirit, spirit is “thawed matter”, ie in Taoism, matter and spirit are consubstantial, they have always existed and did not know the Creator. A person lives in qi. Qi surrounds him from all sides. The Taoists strove to merge with qi and through this gain immortality. At the same time, it should be noted that Taoism teaches not to control nature, but rather to give oneself to it. The goal is not to change the world, but to merge with it. How did the Taoists know about qi? Through meditation as a result of mystical insights.
What is feng shui for its followers: religion or science? Lillian Tu answers this question in the following way: "We regard Feng Shui as an applied science, since the laws of Feng Shui were formed on the basis of empirical data collected over the centuries." So, the followers of feng shui refer to science. As for the religiosity of Feng Shui, the answer is: “Feng Shui is not a religion”; “… There is nothing spiritual or mystical in the practice itself. You will not be required to compromise on religious beliefs or ideological principles, since no prayer, sacrifice or faith is required to practice. " Lillian Tu does not attribute her hobby to magic either: “… Feng Shui is not magic. It is also not a spiritual practice that requires great faith in the power of Feng Shui or belief in its effectiveness."
Unfortunately, the author must point out that Lillian Tu's claim that Feng Shui does not require faith is false. Lillian Tu writes: "Until you have a need to believe in feng shui, while doubts nest in you, you fill the space around you with negative energies"; “If you want to use feng shui to improve your life, try not to give a lot of will to disbelief. After the necessary knowledge “falls into place”, it may even seem strange to you how you could not pay attention to all these things that were said in the feng shui theory”; "Feng Shui will work best if you maintain a serene attitude towards it." These quotes refute rather than confirm Lillian Tu's statement that belief in feng shui is not required.
Now let's see how learned Feng Shui is. Lillian Tu writes: "I must confess that I am not able to explain exactly how feng shui works." Revealing the question of the relationship of modern science to feng shui, she continues: “The theory behind the recommendations of feng shui may seem strange to representatives of the Western scientific school. For example, there are numerous references to the Yin and Yang aspects of energy. It is also supposed to accept the fundamental premise that the entire universe and everything in it was created from the Five Elements - Earth, Water, Wood, Metal and Fire - which are in a relationship of mutual destruction and generation. " If feng shui meets the standards of academic science, why do scientists reject it, as Lillian Tu herself admits? And if they reject him, then why should Lillian Toe mislead her readers,claiming that feng shui is scientific? What is this science that scientists deny? It should be noted that science is built on a paradigm from which the scientific picture of the world is derived. Feng Shui is based on the religious teachings of Taoism, which, as far as the author knows, has not yet become the basis of the scientific picture of the world. It is interesting to note that in the preface to one of Lillian Tu's books, her admirer writes: "Feng Shui is a complex subject that requires a deep knowledge of Chinese metaphysical sciences." But the Chinese metaphysical sciences have nothing to do with academic science. At the end of the preface it says: "Feng Shui is also concerned with the manifestation of dynamic forces and energies that science has yet to discover - on a scale from earthly to universal." If science has yet to discover these forces,maybe then you shouldn't declare it a fait accompli and classify feng shui as a scientific discipline? Maybe it would be more honest to say that the theoretical basis of feng shui is built on Chinese mysticism, which is Taoism?
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The author has already cited above Lillian Tu's assurance to his readers that there is no religiosity in feng shui, and that anyone can practice it without any compromises for their faith. It should be noted that this statement is not true either. As mentioned above, the theoretical basis of feng shui is based on the religious doctrine of Taoism. Is it possible to simultaneously believe in Taoism and at the same time be, for example, a Christian? Not. To do this, it is enough to compare their creeds. Christianity is monotheistic, Taoism is pantheistic. Christianity teaches about the Personal God - the Creator, in Taoism there is no God at all. For the Taoist, Cosmos is God and God is Cosmos. The idea of creating a world out of nothing, inherent in Christianity, is also rejected in Taoism. In Taoism, there is no idea of an immortal soul that is present in Christianity. Taoist perceives the world as a continuous process of flow of some forms and modes of qi energy into others. This process is eternal and impersonal. In general, Taoism and Christianity are so different that only a person who does not know them can talk about the compatibility of these two worldviews. In addition, as Lillian Tu writes: "… the best approach to using feng shui is to develop a true reverence for the energies of the Earth and for Mother Earth herself." But shouldn't a Christian only be in awe of God and keep the earth? The main goals of feng shui also raise doubts, which, according to the Christian doctrine, can be classified simply - money-grubbing! Christianity is not against material well-being, but it does not set it as its goal. A Christian seeks first of all for the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 6:33), and only then for earthly well-being, and then, only on conditionif it does not interfere with the main goal. This is clearly stated in the Holy Scriptures: “… what is the use of a person if he gains the whole world, but damages his soul? or what ransom will a man give for his soul? " (Matthew 16:26). And the idea of an all-consuming concentration on the achievement of wealth, which Lillian Tu calls for, is completely alien to Christianity. For example, it is difficult to imagine that the advice that Lillian Thu gives to her disciples can be given to someone by a Christian: “To successfully create abundance, you must crave it. You must be saturated with this desire, fully focusing on it. … The more clearly you visualize the type of luck you are striving for, the sharper and more efficient the energies you create will be. " And how should a Christian take the following recommendation from Lillian Tu: “Get used to seeing the world around you through the eyes of Feng Shui. Develop sensitivity to powerful, albeit invisible energies around you”; “… You should try to feel your personal qi, which belongs only to you. Only then will you be able to tune in to your force field and the cosmic breath within you. " This is a good recommendation for a psychic school, but completely unacceptable for Christianity. They are used in feng shui and meditation practices, which are also completely incompatible with Christianity, and although Lillian Tu criticizes them, she admits that they are used by feng shui masters: “Experienced feng shui practitioners know secret methods that allow them to master a large number of personal qi, which they use to enter a meditative state for specific feng shui counseling. These methods are different for different masters, and judging by what I personally saw, they are closer to shamanism,than feng shui techniques. " Lillian Tu is probably not aware that shamanism is the father of Taoism, on the theoretical basis of which feng shui itself is based, and therefore feng shui masters who practice shamanism are not an anomaly, but a norm. Feng Shui is magical, as well as Taoism, and despite the fact that Lillian Tu refuses to classify it as magic, she still writes: “Feng Shui is really akin to magic: it often seems that some mystical power comes into play. ". And if we consider that Lillian Tu admits that she does not know how feng shui works, then what reasons does she have for not admitting the possibility of the real presence of "mystical power"? Admits feng shui and karma teachings that are completely incompatible with Christianity. How will readers like the idea of "transcendental feng shui"? As Lillian Tu writes about him:"… transcendental feng shui … is based on special visualization techniques and chanting of mantras." Lillian Tu herself uses mantras from Buddhism in her practice, but does not mind that her readers use Christian prayers for "purification". And how does “transcendental feng shui” help? As Lillian Too writes: “People suffering from incurable diseases like AIDS, cancer and other life-threatening illnesses may present these manifestations of ill health as powerful blockages in their system. Draw them in your imagination as obstacles that need to be removed … imagine in your mind that the blockages within you dissolve. So, are you sick with AIDS, cancer? No problem, mentally imagine that your illness is just an "obstacle" inside your body and calmly go to the cemetery. Where do you have every chance of getting,if you trust feng shui and ignore medicine.
At the very beginning of the article, Lillian Tu was quoted as saying that one of the main goals facing practitioners is to achieve material well-being; however, it adds: "It all depends on your heavenly luck." And if "heavenly luck" is against it? An interesting logic turns out: if you achieve wealth, then you practice feng shui correctly, and if not? As Lillian Too writes: “I think the best way to recognize true feng shui experts is to study biography. When someone offers their services to you as a feng shui master, see if feng shui helped that person himself achieve the things he promises to do for you. If this person himself clearly did not benefit from good feng shui, you should look for another. When used correctly, feng shui always works (our emphasis - VP). "The logic that Lillian Tu uses is purely sectarian. The system is always right. If the system doesn't work, the person is to blame. This means that if a Feng Shui follower spent a lot of money and time to acquire literature, scrupulously followed the advice of Feng Shui and did not get any results, then he is to blame. The system is always right! With this approach, you can prove the truth of any system.
Here are some tips that you can read in feng shui books. For example, readers can learn that "… the grave of Mao Zedong's grandfather was" in the palm of the heavenly moon goddess, "that is, the location of the grave was so favorable that it brought great luck to his grandson, in this case, the great helmsman Mao." How simple: a well-located grave brought a person to the pinnacle of power. Or, another case: Lillian Too writes that she went to business school, and she needed money to pay for her studies. To receive them: “I moved my bed to align my sleeping position to receive favorable Qi and good luck in the best direction. The method did not fail me and I was able to get a UN scholarship to attend a business school. " I wonder if the application for this scholarship has not been submitted? The author, for example,I sat without money for a long time, tried to work, at the same time moved the bed and - lo and behold - the money appeared. Question to readers: is the work or the bed to blame for this "miracle"?
What can you say at the end of the article? Let's summarize what we've learned about feng shui. Many statements by feng shui guru Lillian Tu contradict themselves. Feng Shui has nothing to do with science. Its foundations lie in the religious doctrine of Taoism. At the same time, if Taoists seek to merge with qi, modern Feng Shui people are clearly trying to manipulate it. Modern feng shui is essentially a parody of Taoist teachings. Feng Shui is not compatible with Christianity. And if we take into account that Feng Shui gives advice for the treatment of AIDS and cancer, then it can be deadly if a person who believes in the advice of Feng Shui masters turns his attention away from medicine and "heals" only with Feng Shui methods. In the opinion of the author of the article, modern feng shui is a typical superstition. Those who deal with it can be addressed with the words from the Holy Scriptures: “Turn away from worthless and woman’s fables,but train yourself in godliness …”(1 Tim.4: 7). Well, let the readers decide for themselves whether to admit feng shui into their lives or not.
Author: Pitanov Vitaly Yurievich