SPECIAL ENERGIZING BUDDHIST, TAOIST, AND FENG SHUI RITUALS TO BRING FINANCIAL, CAREER, AND PERSONAL SUCCESS (2): TAP THE POWER OF BUDDHIST AND/OR TAOIST AUSPICIOUS AND SACRED SYMBOLS BY DISPLAYING THEM AT YOUR HOME OR WORKPLACE

Every religion carries with them a sacred symbol that brings with them a special energy or power to create auspicious blessings in the immediate vicinity where they’re located.

For Buddhism, the Eight Auspicious Objects are some of the best symbols that one can put. For example the Mystic Knot and the Victory Banner alone can give some very powerful blessing to ensure success.

Mystic Knot

Victory Banner also called as The Banner of Victory

For Taoism, displaying the Holy Gourd or Wulou can bring in financial luck, as well as health luck.

Wu Lou or Holy Gourd

For Feng Shui, Ruyi is a powerful tool to enhance career luck.

Ruyi

DO READ THE OTHER ‘SPECIAL ENERGIZING BUDDHIST, TAOIST, AND FENG SHUI RITUALS TO BRING FINANCIAL, CAREER, AND PERSONAL SUCCESS’ ARTICLES: (1) Tap the Power of the Sun’s Yang Energy; (2) Tap the Power of the Buddhist and/or Taoist Auspicious and Sacred Symbols by Displaying Them at Your Home or Workplace; (3) Upsurge the Yang Energy of Your Front Door and Living Room; (4) Wear Some Mantra or Seed Syllable as Jewelry; (5) Put Sacred Objects/Images in Your Home and Workplace; (6) Read Sacred Texts to Imbibe Different Kinds of Blessing; (7) Make Peace with the Spiritual Realms Through Incense, Holy Sound, and Mantras.

The Power of a Prayer Wheel: A Personal Testimony

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you’d know by now that I’m a great believer of the PRAYER WHEEL. In fact, I’ve written it a number of times, one of which is entitled – THE POWER OF A PRAYER WHEEL – and another time I shared about its power in a post entitled – A PERSONAL TESTIMONY: TAPPING INTO BUDDHISM, TAOISM, AND FENG SHUI FOR A POSITIVE OUTCOME OF A DELICATE SITUATION.

Today, I would like to once again tell you about a recent miraculous experience that I had about the powers of the Prayer Wheel.

I recently went to Cebu where we’re to have a big event. However, two days before the event we were told by the organizers that we haven’t been granted a permit by the mayor of Cebu City and Mandaue City. We need their permit because we are suppose to bike around both cities.

This created a lot of angry heads because all of us has been unintentionally misled that there’d be no problem in getting the permit. With two days before the event, and it being a Friday afternoon, our event is on a Sunday, everybody was hopeless and not very optimistic that we’ll still be able to get the permit.

Not pushing through with the event is going to be a big disgrace to all the companies involve because we’ve flown in some media from Manila to cover the event, invited all the media in Cebu also to cover the event, and most of all, the foreign principals of the companies involve flown in from their respective countries just to be at the event.

After some bickering and a number of threat to go to court, some of us has convinced the group to let cooler heads prevail and to discuss what we can do. The group agreed that there’s nothing else we can do except to go to the respective LGUs involve and ask for the permit. But then again we came to that decision because there’s really nothing else that we can do, but we also know that we’ve got nothing to lose in trying again. Nobody thought of verbalizing that it’s already a Friday afternoon (2pm).

It was decided that we’d separate ourselves into 2 groups. I together with one of my client will go to the office of the mayor of Cebu City, while my assistant and another group of client will go to the office of the mayor of Mandaue City.

I didn’t put up much hope that we’ll accomplish anything but as mentioned we’ve got nothing to lose. I’m just happy that I’m wearing my WISH FULFILLING AND BUDDHA’S BLESSING MANTRA PENDANT, which has the Victory Banner.

The Front Side of the WISH FULFILLING AND BUDDHA’S BLESSING MANTRA PENDANT

The back side of the WISH FULFILLING AND BUDDHA MANTRA BLESSING PENDANT has the images of the Victory Banner, Lung-Ta or Windhorse, the seed syllable of the Goddess Tara – TAM, and the symbolic script of the MEDICINE BUDDHA MANTRA, WISH FULFILLING MANTRA, and the NEGATIVE KARMA CLEANSING MANTRA.

As mentioned in my previous posts, the VICTORY BANNER or BANNER OF VICTORY is a very good Feng Shui tool of Buddhist origin to help ensure that we will be successful in our endeavors.

The Victory Banner

However, I also note, that the VICTORY BANNER is not really the charm for getting luck in last minute situations like this. Nevertheless, I’m also fortunate enough to be wearing my PRAYER WHEEL pendant!

So while we were on our way to the office of the mayor of Cebu City, I kept on spinning my PRAYER WHEEL pendant, at the same alternately chanting the mantra(if you want to know more about mantras, do read my post entitled - Mantra: The Instrument to Tap the Power of Symbolic Sound, Script, and Thought) OM MANI PADME HUM and mentally stating the intent, which is to be able to get a permit. My clients were asking me what am I doing, whether I’m trying to invoke some miracle, and all I said is that yes I’m trying to invoke some miracle. They laugh a little but also said that they hope it works.

Symbolic Script of the Mantra of the Buddha of Compassion

When we got to Cebu City Hall, we saw the mayor coming out of building. We felt compelled to approach him, thankfully he has very few security and they’re not very tight, and I was able to talk to introduce myself, tell him about our dilemma and that we desperately need a permit. He didn’t really ask for a lot of details but instructed a guy to call up the City Administrator to inform him that he the mayor has given the permit, all he they need to do is to prepare and expedite the paper works!!!

One down! My clients all said that the ‘magic’ seems to be working. We also decided that they will stay and wait for the permit and that I should join the other group who at that time was told that the mayor that they want to see is currently in a meeting and won’t be able to see them until early evening. Before I left, my clients jokingly told me to keep on spinning the pendant and create another magic.

On my way to Mandaue City, I decided to continuously spin my prayer wheel pendant and again I continuously chant the mantra of the Bodhisattva of Compassion, which is OM MANI PADME HUM, and alternately mentally stating the intent.

The biggest image of Kuan Yin in the world is in China. Quan Yin or Kuan Yin is better known as the Bodhisattva of Compassion.

 

When I got to Mandaue City Hall, I saw the other group still waiting to be escorted inside. At that time, there’s nothing else we can do but except to wait, and from time to time plead that we be allowed to see the mayor. After about 15 minutes after I got there, an elderly woman came out to ask us why do we need to see the mayor or the city administrator. My assistant explained the situation, and why do we need to have the event. She went inside again, telling us to wait while she checks out what she can do. Nobody went to see us again for the next 30 minutes and we were all losing hope, although, I still kept on spinning my prayer wheel. 45 minutes after the lady left us she came out with a piece of paper, and informed us that we have the permit!!!!

Needless to say everybody was happy! The event was very successful, and those who said hurtful things at the heat of the moment started apologizing. Those who were at the receiving end of the hurtful words accepted the apologies and there were two people who requested that I get them a prayer wheel and several of them asked me about the prayer wheel.

My prayer wheel pendant is from Nepal and has been with me for several years now. I’ve been thinking of replacing it for quite some time now because it is no longer in the best condition and the top has started to dislodge. Although, I must say that it is still very powerful and effective. However, on that same trip I went to Shangri-La Mactan, and while I was monkey-ing around with some friends at the beach side I lost balance got dipped in the water while still wearing my prayer wheel pendant. I guess that’s a clear sign that I should get a new prayer wheel…and I will because the Prayer Wheel is one of the most powerful Buddhist tools that can be use as a Feng Shui amulet, available to us!!!

The Fascinating Story of Chung Kwei, The Ultimate Catcher and Vanquisher of Hugnry Ghosts, Demons and Evil Spirits

In the past few posts, I talked about ‘THE DREADED HUNGRY GHOST MONTH’, and ‘THE EFFECTS OF THE DREADED HUNGRY GHOST MONTH’, of course; I also posted about ‘THE RITUALS TO APPEASE AND PROTECT ONESELF FROM HUNGRY GHOSTS’, and the ‘PRECAUTIONS TO TAKE DURING THE HUNGRY GHOST MONTH’.

But if there’s one thing that can totally ensure your safety and protect you from the harms of the hungry ghosts and any ghosts especially during the hungry ghost month, that would be Chung Kwei (also spelled as Chong Kwei, Chung Kui, Chong Kui, Zhong Kwei, Zhong Kui, Zhung Kwei, and Zhung Kui).

Chung Kwei is the ultimate catcher and vanquisher of not only hungry ghosts but also of evil spirits and demons!

But who is Chung Kwei?

Chung Kwei (in Foo Kien) or Zhong Kui (as pronounced in Mandarin) 鍾馗 is a historical figure but unfortunately is largely considered as a mythological figure by westerners because of the lack of historical data about him.

Chung Kwei was born during the Tang Dynasty at Zhongnan Mountain in Shensi Province. According to legend, Chung Kwei is actually the fourth son, however, all of his older brother died at a very young age. Because of the old age of Chung Kwei’s mother and the number of times she has given birth, she didn’t conceive for a very long time. Knowing that the absence of a son has caused great sadness to her husband, she encouraged him to get a concubine, something that is totally acceptable during that time. However, because he loves his wife so much, getting a concubine was out of the question for him.

It is said that out of desperation, he went to consult a famous powerful sorcerer that is rumored to be a demon. His wife was against his decision but he persisted and won over his wife’s protest.

Soon after visiting the sorcerer, his wife conceived again, but at about the same time they notice that a big black scary mountain panther was visiting them. They knew that this is a sign from the devil. Because of this Chung Kwei’s mom asked the help of a brother to go and visit a Kuan Yin temple to pray for them. The brother traveled for a month to visit this temple, and on his way back, he brought with him an image of Kuan Yin. Her brother gave this to her and told her that the Buddhist monk in the Kuan Yin temple did a divination and told her that she’s conceiving a child that is part demon. The only way to save the baby is if she and her husband will earnestly ask for Kuan Yin’s help and make sure that they dedicate the baby’s life to public service, which at that time is really servicing the emperor.

The husband realizing his folly earnestly prayed to Kuan Yin, and they would offer incense, recite mantras and sutras, write sutras for Kuan Yin every single day until the time she went into labor.

While giving birth to Chung Kwei, she went into trance and saw Kuan Yin riding on a Piyao, vanquishing the big black scary mountain panther. She knew then that her baby is going to be saved.

Chung Kwei was born as an ugly boy. It is said that he has a face of a black panther. However, no matter how ugly he is, he is a very nice and kindhearted boy. The only thing that he seem to have gotten from the big black scary mountain panther is the color of the skin, the looks, his size (because he is also a big boy) and the bravery, but other than that he seems to be a boy with a very unusual kindness.

Chung Kwei or Zhong Kui is also a very intelligent boy. His father hired the best tutor for him, but both his parents always ensure that he has a devotion to both Buddhism and Taoism and they instilled in him the importance of being in service to the public/emperor.

As a man, he has integrity, talented and profoundly learned. There was just one problem; the people who don’t know him ridicule him because of his looks.

Because of his intelligence and because he is a learned person, he was able to pass the exam to be of service to his emperor. This was in the time of Emperor Kao Tzu. However, because of his looks the judgmental and corrupt officials, in particular a treacherous minister name Lu Qi, refuse him entry to the imperial court.

Out of desperation to be of service to the public and to the emperor, Chung Kwei decided to commit suicide at the imperial entrance, not because he was depressed but because he believes that if he cannot be of service to the sovereign as a human, he’ll be of service to the emperor/sovereign in spirit. He committed suicide because he wants to fulfill his mortal wish to be of service to any reigning sovereign, which is equal to serving the public.

However, since he was a mere mortal at that time and has not achieved special skills in Taoism his spirit was captured by a Taoist priest so that he can be put to rest by sending the spirit to heaven through various prayers. That’s the last time they have heard of Chung Kwei.

If you have read my post entitled – GETTING TO KNOW ‘THE GREAT SAGE, EQUAL OF HEAVEN’, THE MONKEY GOD SUN WUKONG – you may remember the story of the Buddhist Monk Xuan Zang who went to get for the emperor some sutras and Buddhist texts in India for China. It is because of that journey or expedition that led to Sun Wukong’s Buddhahood. The emperor who tasked Xuan Zong to get the religious texts in India is Emperor Ming Huang (AD 712 – 742).

Anyway, Emperor Ming Huang during his reign, which was years after the suicide of Chung Kwei, succumbed to an illness that he has to be confined in his room. Even after consulting top doctors, he remained to be ill, worst, he soon started to get delusional and would always complain that he is unable get sleep in the evening because of unwanted supernatural visitors, which according to historical texts were described by Emperor Ming Huang as little devils. Thing soon got worse because they would hear his voice shouting out of fear and anger, and they thought that he was getting mad.

His top ministers then decided that they should see Emperor Ming Huang themselves so that they can decide whether they should appoint an interim ruler while Emperor Ming Huang’s son is not yet of age. This proved to be a fortunate matter for Emperor Ming Huang because his top ministers also saw the ‘little devils’ and they now know that he is not mad and is actually telling the truth.

They all decided to call some Taoist priest and Buddhist monks to exorcise the ‘little devils’. However, for quite sometime nothing worked. Out of desperation, one of the top minister called all palace guards and staff to offer the best vegetarian food and fruits to the Jade Emperor and Kuan Yin, for them to help exorcise the palace.

What follows is the most controversial, of what is already a controversial story, because it is said that this part came directly from Chung Kwei who conveyed it through a spirit medium.

The Jade Emperor having received the offerings and the ‘hu’ (a Taoist prayer tool), decided to intervene with the matter by sending another immortal to vanquish the little devils. However, Kuan Yin knowing of Chung Kwei’s desire to be of service to the sovereign, and also knowing about Chung Kwei’s fate (Chung Kwei at that time was in ‘heaven’ waiting samsara) decided to request the Jade Emperor to grant Chung Kwei special power so that Chung Kwei can be a deity and vanquish the little devil and be of service to the sovereign.

The Jade Emperor agreed to Kuan Yin’s suggestion, however, he clarified that while he can grant special deity power to Chung Kwei, the true test of Chung Kwei as a deity lies on his bravery, and good heart when he was still a mortal. Kuan Yin knowing of Chung Kwei’s character assured the Jade Emperor that Chung Kwei will succeed.

Meanwhile, Emperor Ming Huang is still being bothered by the ‘little devils’, and things has gotten worst because now the whole palace is affected by the ‘little devils’. The emperor is seriously considering relocating the palace, but for some reason the manifestations of the ‘little devils’ seemed to have simply and suddenly stop. Taking caution not to be optimistic about the sudden silence of the ‘little devils’, Emperor Ming Huang and the ministers decided to wait for a few days before they conclude that the haunting has stopped. Furthermore, Emperor Ming Huang was also miraculously cured of his illness.

When it was confirmed by everybody that the haunting has stopped, Emperor Ming Huang asked the imperial guardian deity (by praying to his image) to reveal to him as to who vanquished the ‘little devils’. That same evening, Emperor Ming Huang dreamt of a scary creature who look like a demon himself visited the palace, captured the little devils and vanquished them by devouring them.

Still in his dream, Emperor Ming Huang approached the vanquisher and asked for his name. Chung Kwei then introduced himself and told Emperor Ming Huang his story.

When he woke up, Emperor Ming Huang instructed his ministers for more information about Chung Kwei. He then was told of what happened to Chung Kwei, which is basically a confirmation of what was told to him by Chung Kwei through a dream.

Emperor Ming Huang then commissioned Tzu Wu Tao (also spelled as Tzu Wu Dao), a then well known and one of the most celebrated artists of his time, to paint Chung Kwei. Also through Emperor Ming Huang’s intervention and persistence, Chung Kwei was canonized by Taoists priest with the title – GREAT SPIRITUAL DEMON VANQUISHER!

Soon, Taoist priests would call on Chung Kwei to help them vanquish or exorcise a person or a place. They would also found out that a blessed image of Chung Kwei acts as an extension of Chung Kwei’s power.

So to this day, Chung Kwei remains to be the most powerful deity to protect us from any evil spirits, especially during hungry ghost month!

TO UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT THE HUNGRY GHOST MONTH, HUNGRY GHOSTS, IT’S EFFECTS, RITUALS AND PROTECTION READ THE FOLLOWING HUNGRY GHOSTS SERIES:

• THE DREADED HUNGRY GHOST MONTH
• EFFECTS OF THE DREADED HUNGRY GHOST MONTH
• RITUALS TO APPEASE AND PROTECT ONESELF FROM THE HUNGRY GHOSTS
• PRECAUTIONS TO TAKE DURING THE HUNGRY GHOST MONTH
• THE FASCINATING STORY OF CHUNG KWEI, THE ULTIMATE CATCHER AND VANQUISHER OF DEMONS, HUNGRY GHOSTS, AND EVIL SPIRITS
• TAP INTO THE POWERS OF CHUNG KWEI TO BE PROTECTED FROM THE EFFECTS OF THE HUNGRY GHOST MONTH

The Dreaded Hungry Ghost Month

One of the most famous Chinese festivals, other than Chinese New Year and Moon Cake Festival, is the Hungry Ghost Festival, which also happens to be one of the most dreaded festival and month of the Chinese.

The Hungry Ghost Festival happens on the 15^th day of the 7^th lunar month, however, unlike the other festivals, like the Chinese New Year wherein the changing of the Flying Stars happens on a specified time and date, the preparation and effect of the Hungry Ghost Month, as the term indicates, lasts for a month. It actually starts on the first day of the 7^th lunar month, peaks on the 15^th day, which is the Hungry Ghost Festival, and ends on the last day of the 7^th lunar month.

Every year, if you follow the Gregorian/Western calendar, the Hungry Ghost Month lands on different dates. Sometimes, it starts in July and ends in August, or starts in August and ends in September. But it always cuts across August of the Gregorian calendar. For this year (2012), the Hungry Ghost Month starts on August 17 and ends on September 15. The peak is on August 30, 2012, which is the date of the Hungry Ghost Festival.

But what is the Hungry Ghost Festival or Hungry Ghost Month?

Hungry Ghost Month is actually simply called Ghost Month (鬼月, Guǐ Yuè) in Chinese, the word Hungry is added in the words Ghost Months to clarify the nature of the ghosts that best characterized this season…they’re HUNGRY!

During this month, it is believed that the King of Hell opens the gate of hell to release and allow the spirits in hell or ghosts to be free and roam our world. It is believed that the hungry ghosts will visit families and other humans, thus it is said that there’d be more paranormal and ghostly manifestation during this month. Furthermore, hungry ghosts will also look for victims that they can bring with them to hell, and thus there’d be more accidents, more than that because of the strong yin and negative energy of this season, business becomes bad and it is highly advisable that one shouldn’t sign any contract, move to a new house, get operated on during the entire Hungry Ghost Month.

Why are they considered hungry?

Buddhism and Taoism both have a slightly different version of the Hungry Ghost. For Buddhism, Hungry Ghost is in one of the Six Realms of Existence, and they are simply a form of existence. However, for Taoism, Hungry Ghosts are (1) spirits of people who have not yet gone through a reincarnation and are largely forgotten by their descendants, (2) spirits of really bad people and they’re currently being punished, (3) spirits of really sad people who died of a violent death or suicide, (4) lost spirits who harbored so much yin energy or yin feelings while they were sill living.

They’re hungry because they are unable to get food from their living love ones because their violent or yin dominant death has blocked their connection with their loved ones, they don’t have any love ones on earth, or simply they have been forgotten. It is said that a deceased love one will have connection with us for a few more years, and depending on how we treat their spirits they may enter the samsara (cycle of life) immediately or go to hell as an hungry ghost. It is also said that ghost still needs sustenance in the other existence, and they get it from us in the form of offerings. These people not receiving any are then thrown into the pit of hell and become hungry ghosts.

Since most of these ghosts lived a negative life or died a violent death, many of them still harbor ill feelings towards their fate, so when they’re released they also try to do us harm. Thus all of us need to be extra careful.

TO UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT THE HUNGRY GHOST MONTH, HUNGRY GHOSTS, IT’S EFFECTS, RITUALS AND PROTECTION READ THE FOLLOWING HUNGRY GHOSTS SERIES:

• THE DREADED HUNGRY GHOST MONTH
• EFFECTS OF THE DREADED HUNGRY GHOST MONTH
• RITUALS TO APPEASE AND PROTECT ONESELF FROM THE HUNGRY GHOSTS
• PRECAUTIONS TO TAKE DURING THE HUNGRY GHOST MONTH
• THE FASCINATING STORY OF CHUNG KWEI, THE ULTIMATE CATCHER AND VANQUISHER OF DEMONS, HUNGRY GHOSTS, AND EVIL SPIRITS
• TAP INTO THE POWERS OF CHUNG KWEI TO BE PROTECTED FROM THE EFFECTS OF THE HUNGRY GHOST MONTH

Dealing with Depression with Feng Shui, Buddhism, and Taoism

A few days ago,  we talked about RECOGNIZING THE  SIGNS OF DEPRESSION and briefly talked about how one should deal with it. On an earlier post called SUICIDE IS NOT A SOLUTION, I also briefly discussed on how one can deal with suicidal tendencies and depression using Feng Shui, Buddhism, and Taoism.

Today, allow me to elaborate it a little on how can one use Feng Shui, Buddhism, and Taoism in dealing with depression. However, it should be noted that this is not an alternative or replacement, this is only a ‘supplement’ but if one is depressed one should always reach out to others and get professional help. That’s the most important thing one can do.

Having said that, allow me to briefly share that Feng Shui, Buddhism, and Taoism ways to dealing with depression.

FOR FENG SHUI.

Make sure that your room or house is well lit and please put about a tablespoon of rock salt or sea salt in all corners of the house or room. Make sure that when sleeping your head is not facing towards the window. Listen to positive, happy music.

FOR BUDDHISM.

Chant a full mala (108 times) of the mantra of the BUDDHA OR BODHISATTVA OF COMPASSION, KUAN YIN, as many times as you can with a minimum of three times a day. You can also do this for a person who is depressed. Buying a CD that chants the mantra repetitively also helps. To know more about it, read my previous posts about Kuan Yin – KUAN YIN: THE ONE WHO HEARS THE CRIES OF THE WORLD; UNDERSTANDING MERCY AND COMPASSION: THE TRANSFORMATION OF AVALOKITESVARA TO KUAN YIN; and PAYING HOMAGE TO KUAN YIN, THE BUDDHA OF COMPASSION.

Another mantra that you can recite is that mantra of the MEDICINE BUDDHA –TADYATHA OM BHEKANDZYE BHEKANDZYE MAHA BHEKANDZYE BHEKANDZYE RADZA SAMUGATE SOHA. Again you can recite this for yourself or for a loved one. Constantly playing the mantra will also help.

Wear a pendant with the image of KUAN YIN, MEDICINE BUDDHA, or SUN WUKONG.

Light some incense.

FOR TAOISM.

Take a bath in a tub with a cup of rock salt or sea salt. While in a tub you can also light some red or white candles and try to put flowers in your surrounding.

Offer some fruits and flowers to THE GREAT SAGE, EQUAL OF HEAVEN SUN WUKONG, as mentioned in my previous post, SUN WUKONG exist both in Chinese Buddhism and Taoism. SUN WUKONG, is a happy god and if you’re familiar with his life story, he always uplifts those who are with him. Wearing an image of SUN WUKONG also helps a lot!

Light some incense.

But remember these are just ‘supplements’ only. The best way to deal with depression is to reach out and get professional help.

The Curse of a Wandering Husband and a Missing Father!

A few weeks ago a reader sent a private email that sounded a little desperate. She said she needs to talk to me about a ‘family curse’. To be honest, I hesitated replying to the email because it sound a little melodramatic and the secrecy of the problem, which ‘can only be shared in person’ seems a little sinister. It’s okay for me to share this now because I actually mentioned this to M when I got to talk to her.

Two days after I’ve read the email, I decided to sent a reply and told M that I can only talk to her over the phone if she’s able to give me more information about the ‘family curse’ she mentioned on the email. I also clarified that my knowledge is limited to Feng Shui, and some aspects of Buddhism and Taoism if they are largely related to Feng Shui.

M emailed me again this time giving me more information, however, she said that she’d be able to express herself better through a conversation. She included her mobile number in the email and I decided to call her.

M is a widow of a politician; she is in her early 60s. Both M and her husband belong to rich, famous, devout Catholic families.

The first thing she mentioned to me is that she doesn’t really believe in Feng Shui but is quite desperate. She also clarified that she is a devout Catholic and that she’s an active member of various Catholic groups and personal friends with some of the most famous priests in the country. She also clarified that she has met then Pope John Paul II. I really don’t know how to react and part of me regretted that I called her. I wondered whether she’s one of those devout Christians and/or Catholics who would email me and tell me that I’m espousing evil worship. I cut her short and told her that I don’t see her point and that I would rather that she goes direct to the point. I heard her took a deep breath and told me that my blog was recommended to her by a friend and that she decided to email out of desperation. It was at that point that I realize that she’s not one of those anti-Feng Shui Christians that believes Feng Shui is the work of the devil. I also realize that I should give her time to talk. It’s a good thing that it was already evening and I don’t have to worry about a meeting or anything that might interfere with our conversation.

As it turns out, M believes that her family or her husband’s family is cursed to be unhappy. She said that her father-in-law, was a wandering husband, and had kids with other women; he also had violent early death. This cause great sadness not only to her mother-in-law, but also to the whole family. Her husband, was also a wandering husband and fathered three more children from two different women, furthermore, her husband also had an early death because of a heart attack. About a year ago, she discovered that her 30-year-old married son is involved with another woman. Her friend discovered this. She clarified that she loves her daughter-in-law but is unable to be honest to her about it. She confronted her son, and the son replied that it runs in the family. This sort of made her realize that it really runs in the family! She knows that her father-in-law was seldom home, her husband was also seldom home, and now his son, like his grandfather and father before him is also seldom home. She can’t understand what happened to his son; because when he was still single, her son showed signs that he can be a very good husband. The change started only when her son got married.

M was really desperate and believes that her family is cursed! She wanted immediate help. I asked her whether her son lives with her, and she said yes, she further added that they have been living in the house of her in-laws, which was inherited by her husband.

M wanted me to do a Bazi analysis of her whole family including that of her deceased husband and in-laws for me to see what’s the problem. Base on my discussion with her I told her that it won’t be necessary and doing a Bazi analysis of all of them will take a while and that I’m very busy with my business at the moment. I then told her that I suspect that her house might be missing its Northwest section. I told her to go to the center of the house, look for the Northwest and see what’s in there.

She called me up the following day and asked her daughter-in-law to talk to me. Before that she warned me that her daughter-in-law knows nothing of the real nature of M’s call to me and that she just told her she got interested in Feng Shui. Her daughter-in-law said that there house is almost a square shaped house, except that there’s nothing in the Northwest. What’s in the Northwest is an extension of the house that has become a storage room of their junk.

I knew then that it’s the problem. The Northwest represents the Patriarch. Traditionally, it refers to the father, however, in modern times some Feng Shui experts says that the Northwest also refers to women who acts as the head of the family. A missing Northwest is really bad because it means that there’s no head of the family. A missing Northwest, a dirty Northwest, or a big toilet in the Northwest is really bad because it will greatly affect the Patriarchal luck of the family. Some of its effects are the following:

WANDERING HUSBAND. The father or husband is usually the considered patriarch of the family. A missing Northwest will make the husband have relationships outside of his family.

BUSINESS COMES FIRST. It may also cause the patriarch to focus more on his work or business rather than the family.

WEAKEN PATRIARCH. It also may cause the family’s father to become a weakling. Unable to take care of the family properly.

MISSING FATHER OR HUSBAND. The worst effect of a bad Northwest may be that the father or husband will become sickly or worst is he may die a premature death cause either by an unexpected disease or illness, accident, or violence.

You must always ensure that you have a Northwest. Furthermore, you must always ensure that your Northwest is clean and avoid putting a big toilet in the Northwest.

I related this to M and told her that she has to fix her Northwest. She promised that she’ll do it immediately. I hope that it works.

A Hermit and A Monk: A Lesson on Reciting Your Mantra

Since I started writing about Mantras, I’ve received countless emails and sometimes phone calls asking me about the right intonation of a mantra. I know for people who have just been recently introduced to the power of Mantras, it may be a little daunting because some of the Mantras can be mouthful like the Medicine Buddha Mantra – TADYATHA OM BHEKANDZYE BHEKANDZYE MAHA BHEKANDZYE BHEKANDZYE RADZA SAMUGATE SOHA – or the Prajnaparamita Mantra – TADYATHA OM GATE GATE PARAGATE PARASAMGATE BODHI SOHA. The truth there are other mantras, such as the Cundi Avalokitesvara Mantra – NAMO SAKTANAM SAMYAKSAM BUDDHA KOTINAM TADYATHA OM CALE CULE CUNDI SOHA (I’ll write about Cundi Avalokitesvara soon), that are way longer than the mantras that I’ve talked about on this blog.

I realize that this might be causing a little worry to some of you thinking that your wish might not happen because you are not pronouncing it properly. Also, because you might be agonizing too much on the proper pronunciation that you tend to forget to concentrate on the intent why you’re saying the mantra.

‘A Hermit and A Monk’ is a story that was shared by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, one of the most revered monks of high status.

Lama Zopa Rincpoche is considered as the one strongly propagates Buddhism to people who otherwise wouldn’t have heard of Buddhism. His work with Lillian Too also helped bridge the gap between Buddhism and Feng Shui, which was largely considered to be a Taoist practice. He is also task by the Dalai Lama to lead the Maitreya Project. A very ambitious project that hopes to build the largest Maitreya Buddha – the Future Buddha, in the world.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche first shared this story with the members of the ‘Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition’, it was since then shared with other groups like the Amitabha Buddhist Center (a sub-center of FPMT), and he also shared this with Lillian Too.

A HERMIT AND A MONK…

A monk visited a hermit, who lived alone on an island doing retreat. The hermit had given himself three years to complete chanting ten million of the powerful six-syllable mantra of the Compassionate Buddha. The hermit had been told that attaining this level of practice would awaken his yogic powers. The mantra was “OM MANI PADME HUM”.

The monk listened as the hermit did his mantra and, with the best intention in the world, leaned over to him and whispered:

“I think you have got the pronunciation wrong. This mantra should be chanted this way…” and he proceeded to demonstrate. The hermit listened attentively and then watched as the monk walked back to his boat to leave the island.

Ten minutes later when the boat was halfway across the river the monk heard his name being called, and looking around, he spied the hermit and heard him call:

“Listen to this, have I got it right now?” and the hermit proceeded to chant the same mantra but with the monk’s intonation. Astounded, the monk turned around and saw the hermit walking on the water next to his boat. In that instant he realized that the hermit’s faith and sincerity had given his mantra recitation far more power than he had realized.

As you will see, the story state that what counts more is the faith and sincerity in reciting the mantra. This doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t strive hard to do our best to recite them properly, but let’s not agonize about it. If you have faith and sincerity then it’s simply impossible for it not to work!

Ji Gong: An Eccentric Buddhist Monk that Became a Taoist Wealth God

Today, allow me to share with you another powerful, thought not very famous, wealth god called Ji Gong or Che Kong (濟公). Also spelled as Ji Kong or Che Gong.

Ji Gong is known as the ‘Legendary Monk with a Magical Fan’. This is because he is usually portrayed as having a fan and sometimes with a bottle of wine.

I entitled this post as – JI GONG: AN ECCENTRIC BUDDHIST MONK THAT BECAME A TAOIST WEALTH GOD – because Ji Gong in reality was a Buddhist monk, was expelled from his monastic life and later on became a Taoist wealth god. The irony here, is that he’s not considered as a Buddha or a Bodhisattva in Buddhism, and it was only after the Taoist has adopted Ji Gong as a deity did the Buddhist started including him in their Koans.

(A Koan, for lack of a better description, is like a form of Sutra. It’s a fundamental part of the history and lore of Zen Buddhism and it consists of stories, dialogues, questions and statements, the meaning of which are said to be understandable through intuition or lateral thinking. )

Ji Gong was born to a famous and rich family during China’s Southern Song Dynasty. His father is a highly respected ‘businessman’ and military advisor. Ji Kong, the only son, and whose real name is Li Xiuyuan (李修元), came late in the family. His parents were actually told by a respected Feng Shui consultant that they don’t have descendant’s luck and that they will never have any children. This cause great sadness to both his parents, and considered this as one of their greatest misfortune. Since they are a religious couple they decided to make sure that they would go on various pilgrimage to different temples to ask for child.

Like most Chinese then and now, they don’t really make any distinction between Buddhism and Taoism and they would visit temples from both religions even if they were really Taoist.

It is said that in one of their pilgrimage to a Buddhist temple, they entered the hall of the 500 Arhats. Whereby the image of one of the Arhat, Mahakasyapa, fell off from the altar. It was taken as a sign that at that moment Mahakasyapa’s energy or spirit left ‘his’ image.

Not long after that, Ji Kong’s mom found out she was pregnant. They remembered the incident in the temple and believed that the baby in her womb was a gift from the Buddhas. They even began to think, that what she was carrying in her womb is the reincarnation of the Arhat Mahakasyapa!

At the age of 18, Li Xiuyuan decided to go to Hangzhou (a province in China), to enter the monastic life at the famous temple called Ling Yin Temple. After several years of studying Buddhism, he was finally ordained as a Buddhist monk and named Dao Ji Chan Shi. He was then normally called Dao Ji, thus this has become another common name of Ji Kong.

His monastic life proved to be short but memorable. Being born from a very rich family, he’s used to eating meat and drinking wine, and he was unable to give this up when he became a monk. Furthermore, he started showing some eccentricity and it is believed that he is slightly mad. However, they all agree that he is kind hearted and generous. Nevertheless, because Zen Buddhists strictly prohibits eating of meat and drinking of wine, they really didn’t have much choice but to expel him from the monastery.

After being expelled from his monastic life, Dao Ji or Ji Kong never really bothered to search for another monastery that can adopt him. He just roam on the streets and is often thought of as beggar monk, because he really didn’t gave up his Buddhist robes either.

His eccentricity continued to manifest on the streets, but so his kindness and compassionate heart. It is said, the even he looks poor he never really begged for money, and it is often a wonder as to where he gets money for food. Some say that it could be part of his inheritance, but if it were from his inheritance, it’s a mystery were he kept his wealth.

However, after a while, Dao Ji or Ji Kong started to manifest another eccentricity. Since he has a compassionate heart, he would often approach beggars on the streets and other poor families. He would listen to them, crack a joke, then murmur a prayer, after which he’ll use his fan to fan them a little. Soon after these incidents the recipient of his kindness and weird ritual will come to a good fortune. He thus earned a reputation for being a Buddhist magician, which, in turn earned him the title Ji Gong Huoto, which means the Living Buddha Ji Gong. Ji is derived from his Buddhist name Dao Ji, Gong, is a respect for a powerful elderly, and Huoto literally means living Buddha.

At his old age, Ji Kong was adopted by another monastery. This is where he passed away on the 14^th day of the 5^th Lunar month. Right after his death, Taoist immediately adopted him as their deity, and it is said the he continuously manifest his compassionate and magical powers to every one who keeps his image and go to him.

His image is usually pictured as a monk in rugged clothing, holding a bottle of wine and a ‘magical’ fan. He is always shown with a smiling face, because he has a very happy nature. Although, he is usually pictured wearing a hat with the word Fo, which means ‘Buddha’, Buddhist never really considered him as Buddha or a Bodhisattva. However, seeing how much he is revered in Taoism, Buddhist did include him in their Koans, some sub-sects even considers him as an Arhat.

This is a jade Ji Gong pendant. It's very similar to the one that I have.

Having an image of Ji Kong at home, and wearing his image as a pendant is a sure way to continuously tap into his blessings of wealth.

Heaven, Earth, Mankind: The Holy Trinity of Luck

Is Feng Shui everything?

It’s easy to simply focus on Feng Shui because its mysticism is quite alluring but more than that it’s really comforting and easy to rely with something that we can buy or with something that we can simply adjust. However, Feng Shui is not everything. Feng Shui is not the only thing that affects our luck…our destiny. The truth is Feng Shui is simply 1/3 of the equation. There are other factors that governs our destiny our life.

The three factors that determine our fate are the HEAVEN, EARTH, AND MANKIND LUCK, which is also called the HOLY TRINITY OF LUCK. The word luck here might be a little misleading or limiting, because, without the prefix bad, we usually associate luck with good things. LUCK here refers to either bad luck or good luck.

Each of the Holy Trinity of Luck all affects our destiny and as you will see after reading my explanation of each luck they are all interconnected with each other.

HEAVEN’S LUCK is something that is dictated by our birth and maybe the least of the 3 lucks that can be controlled. If you’ve been reading my blog, you now more or less understand that the principles of BAZI or Feng Shui states that our birth determines what kind of luck we’ll have or what kind of relationships are we going to have with our family and friends. In fact, it even defines our personality and character. Furthermore, it defines where we’re born, when we’re born, what kind of family we’re born into.  So this is something that’s beyond control, and this already dictates 1/3 of your life luck and may be hard to change. However, another school of thought states that our Heaven’s Luck is actually determined by our karma created in our past lives. This may be a little controversial for people who don’t believe in reincarnation, but Buddhism and Taoism both states that we do in our past life of past lives affects our present life, in the same manner, whatever we do now will have an effect on our Heaven’s Luck in our future life.

Also, in Buddhism, Heaven’s Luck refers to the intervention of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, thus the need to recite mantras, read and/or carry the Sutras, make offerings of incense, offerings of flowers, water, and food, etc.

The Taoist has a slightly different view regarding this matter, they believe praying to Taoist Gods, Deities, and Immortals can only bring so much help. Taoist believe that Taoist Gods can only help us up to the extent that is allowed by the luck determined by one’s Heaven’s Luck. Meaning, the power of Taoist Gods are not infinite when it comes to changing one’s karma. Our past deeds will have the final say as to the 1/3 Heaven’s Luck we have.

EARTH LUCK is Feng Shui. Most of you who have been reading my blog now will have basic understanding of how Feng Shui works, so I really won’t discuss EARTH LUCK here. However, I would like to say that we still don’t have full control of this because the truth is, although I really haven’t discuss it further on this blog, is that Feng Shui of our homes, office, neighbors, or personal Feng Shui are not the only Feng Shui that affects us. To a certain extent Feng Shui of the city, the province, the country and its relation to its location affects us also. As you will see this is also partly due to our Heaven’s Luck.

MANKIND LUCK is the thing that we may be able to totally control, but also more often than not it’s the thing that we neglect most. Mankind Luck refers to our thoughts, words, and actions that all create an immediate karma that also contributes to our over-all luck.  Furthermore, Mankind Luck basically refers to our everyday decision and course of actions on things that we do about every day matters like how we act or react on things done to us by our relatives, friends, colleagues, boss, or clients. It also refers on the things that we do on to ourselves, or on decisions regarding our work or business or career. Some Feng Shui teachers state that Mankind Luck is also defined by the actions of the people who surround us.

As you will notice these three lucks is not a stand-alone luck. They all work hand in hand. You might have a really bad Heaven’s Luck but because you practice good Feng Shui and create good MANKIND LUCK by creating good karma and by working hard you already have a 2/3 chance of a better life.

On the other hand, you can have very good Heaven’s Luck and may not be practicing good Feng Shui and/or continuously create bad Mankind Luck by being lazy or doing bad things. You would have obviously wasted your Heaven’s Luck.

In the same manner, you could be energizing your Earth’s Luck with good Feng Shui, however, you really have a bad Heaven’s Luck and continuously to create bad Mankind Luck by being lazy or pessimistic or by creating bad Karma. Then obviously Feng Shui won’t do anything long term or worthwhile for you. You would have negated all the good Feng Shui you created.

Furthermore, if you were to subscribe to the belief of karma and reincarnation, Mankind Luck will also have great effect on Heaven’s Luck. In the same manner that practicing good Feng Shui like what was suggested in my previous post about the Cicada will also help ensure a good rebirth, which is Heaven’s Luck.

I guess, what I’m trying to say is simple. Feng Shui works, but you need to work also. Furthermore, have faith in your God whatever religion you may have.

 

Feng Shui Tips to Activate Descendant Luck

One of the greatest aspirations of the Chinese is to ensure that they have good descendants, thus when looking for a spouse they consult Feng Shui experts to ensure that descendant’s luck of a couple is present. In fact, once the wife gets pregnant she is treated like a goddess, even the mother-in-law will definitely make sure that the pregnant daughter-in-law is taken care of properly to ensure a smooth pregnancy.

Also, in the old days much effort is given to ensuring that a boy is born, is to ensure the family’s lineage is well preserved. A girl is considered as a less important child because she is destined to be married off to another family, and thus considered as somebody else’s child. In fact, this practice or belief has become so bad that there are some Chinese families who don’t give names to their daughter because they’re destined to be known as the wife of so-so. Thus when addressing them in the household they’re simply called as First Daughter, Second Daughter, Big Sister, or Second Sister, or Third Sister. When addressed by somebody else other than their family they’re simply called as ‘First Daughter of Wong Family’ they’re simply defined by their family name and whether they’re the eldest daughter or the youngest, etc. When they get married they’re then simply defined by the husband’s family name. My own grandmother doesn’t even have her own name.

However, because I don’t believe that women are of a ‘lesser’ being compared to men, I will not write about Feng Shui tips in ensuring that the couple are to have a boy, rather, I’d like to share some Feng Shui tips to activate one’s Descendant Luck or Fertility Luck.

Several of the Feng Shui tips that I’m going to mention are things that I’ve recommended to friends and family.

RED KUAN YIN PENDANT.  Kuan Yin (also known as ‘Goddess of Mercy’, ‘Buddha of Compassion’) is a Bodhisattva revered both in Taoism and Buddhism. Kuan Yin grants the wish of having of babies. For this purpose a red Kuan Yin (also spelled as Kwan Yin, Quan Yin) is best to help you activate your Descendant’s Luck. It is highly recommended that both the husband and the wife wear a red Kuan Yin pendant. However, if this is not possible, then it is recommended that the woman wear the pendant. I have three different previous post about Kuan Yin. Get to know her by reading them. The first post is KUAN YIN: THE ONE WHO HEARS THE CRIES OF THE WORLD, the second post is UNDERSTANDING MERCY AND COMPASSION: THE TRANSFORMATION OF AVALOKITESVARA TO KUAN YIN, and the third post is PAYING HOMAGE TO KUAN YIN, THE BUDDHA OF COMPASSION.

RABBIT. A rabbit is a very powerful symbol of fertility. It’s believes that placing the image of a rabbit in the East section of the bedroom can increase the chances of fertility.

HAPPY FAT BUDDHA WITH CHILDREN. Having the image of the Happy Fat Buddha whose real name is Maitreya Buddha in your house helps increase your potential of having a good descendant luck. You can also know more about the Happy Fat Buddha by clicking here.

CARNELIAN BRACELET. Carnelian or Carnelian Agates or Orange Agates worn as bracelet is one of the best fertility charm. Carnelian is a stone or semi-precious stone that directly controls our sixth chakra – the sire where our reproductive organs are located. Wearing a carnelian as a bracelet will increase the wearer’s chance of being more fertile. This charm is also great for people who have found to have low sperm or egg count.

IMAGE OF KUAN YIN WITH A BABY. Placing an image of Kuan Yin with a Baby is another Feng Shui Descendant Luck enhancer. For this purpose, it’s best to place the image of Kuan Yin with a Baby on the west section of your house. If this is not possible you can also place the image of Kuan Yin with a Baby in the West corner of your living room.

A PAIR OF ELEPHANTS. This is one of the most effective Feng Shui cure and enhancer to activate one’s descendant luck. You should note that the trunk of the elephants should be down and not up. Place a pair of elephants with the trunks down on the west section of your room and if possible both couples should stroke the trunks of the elephant three times each night.

THREE PIECES OF CERAMIC OR PORCELAIN POMEGRANATE AND/OR PEACH. Both the pomegranate and the peach are powerful Feng Shui tools to enhance your descendant luck or fertility luck. In choosing a ceramic or porcelain pomegranate, choose the one that has a color of deep red. For ceramic or porcelain peach choose one that has a color of bright pink.

RECITE THE MANTRA OF GODDESS TARA. Goddess Tara or Green Tara is a Buddhist deity born out of Avalokitesvara or Kuan YIn’s tear drop. I’ll discuss more about Green Tara on a future post, however, allow me to say that calling on Goddess Tara by reciting her mantra is one way of activating one’s Descendant Luck. Furthermore, placing an image of the white manifestation of Goddess Tara called White Tara on the west section of your house also activates one’s descendant luck. Goddess Tara’s mantra is OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SOHA. Wearing her seed syllable TAM is also a powerful tool to activate one’s descendant luck. The seed syllable TAM is one of the featured symbolic syllable in the WISH FULFILLING AND BUDDHA’S BLESSING MANTRA PENDANT.