Yes, we relate to the experience of your Master. I am glad that you have a Master whose capability of showing results is consistent. More importantly, that we are liked-minded towards practitioner-client relationship. 以人為本

A few months ago, a Shanghai subject, Bing, asked us about the chance of her parents who were both down with Lung cancer. Vin did something out of character – he told her that they would pass on before Coming of Spring. Her parents resisted Feng Shui so we could not help to relief their physical pain. All we could do was to prepare her emotionally so that she could treasure the little time left with her parents. We share her pain when her mom passed on in December 09 and her dad 4 hours before Geng Yin year starts.

This event reminds us that even if one’s BaZi proficiency is great and could predict death accurately, that is still not real help when we couldn’t apply Feng Shui for the subjects in the most effective, humane, and unbiased manner.

Those who practice the art & science in a consistent manner need to consider practicing it in a traceable and accountable manner before the pseudo practitioners dilute the public confidence further.

Thus, I see the issues of your Masters as a happy problem borne out of being consistent in his work. Just to share – business wise, our core focus is on urban planning & corporations/ businesses for 3 reasons:-
1. The results benefit tens, hundreds, thousands of employees. Infrastructures affect millions.
2. Feng Shui is getting ‘legitimate’ in business spending. Some do have a ‘budget’ for Feng Shui.
3. Business people are direct, and results oriented. They don’t waste our time to ‘test’ us. We only need to show results.

There are always going to be petty personalities. If the intent of the client is to cheat (which really happened only once for us), we will drop the project immediately and are unlikely to demand for payment.

Running a Feng Shui consultancy isn’t like any other business to us. While, we are not running a charity, karma has a play. We are only messengers and executors in improving their situations. Sometimes for a fee, other times free when we serve charities. Regardless, it is their own destiny they are cheating in the end when honesty & sincerity is missing.

As for the practitioners, this is what I opine:

As you would know, getting to a level where one can advertise tangible results is not only by hard work. There are many very hardworking researchers and learners searching for consistency for years, and, some decades. When I look back at the events that led me to where I am (i.e. the little proficiency I posses today), it is not by chance but by sincerity.

Not mine. Rather, it is the sincerity & the teachings of my mentors, esp. Vin that opened my eyes and heart to what Yin-Yang 5 elements is all about. I might have paid lots for many courses and books. I might be assault by those who resist my humble path. In the end, true knowledge was given free to me. Karma has a part to play. We must treasure and spread this goodness of Feng Shui science when we can.

In cases where the party involved is insincere, we should walk away and keep our time / services for the next person / subject in genuine need. (The same applies to the learners and practitioners who knock at our doors.)

And, it is for the NEXT person who needs the services of your Master that I am imploring you to please try to convince your Master again.

As for the ups & downs of direct Reviews (incl. being pressured by subjects who can’t wait to see results) – please share with your Master that it is a path of Humility. Whether it is direct or indirect Reviews, we all experience stress from our subjects who cannot wait to see results Hence, why not just embrace it as part of the package? ☺

We live in 21st century where the environment is polluted and humanity is deteriorating more than ever. We must apply ourselves and adapt this science in traceable and accountable manners for the consumers to benefit.

Kenneth, we should have that coffee soon. I sincerely wish you success in convincing your Master to spread good Feng Shui! Happy Geng Yin year!

Best,
Zoe

Happy Solar Geng Yin!

As I was in T&D and Counseling for the past 5 years, I kept urging my Master to hold structured Goal Formulation and Reviews. After spending a full-month in my Master’s office, I came to realize why he refrained from holding official Reviews.

He explained that in the Ancient Eastern way, there was Humility, Sincerity, Respect and Trust; even in business. Due to the influence of the Movement of “Me-First” and “Capitalism”, the above-mentioned values have been forgotten and/or watered-down.

In some cases clients answer, “No leh… Nothing leh.” to our queries on improvements after implementation; even when there were significant improvements (we asked their neighbours). The reason for this: They want to get more out of the audit. They have the belief that, “Master always have something else better up his sleeve that can bring my business to better heights.” We found that indirect Reviews were great for such clients.

There are also some prospects that demand a guarantee after implementation. At first we thought of waiving-off the audit fee and structure a stake of 10% of net profit per month for such clients. But a regular client feedback to us that we should refrain from doing that because clients can always make the books look like there was a loss even though there was a profit. Thus we chose to not work with clients who demanded a guarantee, because clients who do so are usually full of distrust and do not think win-win.

Thus direct Reviews are pretty challenging unless the business relationship started from a mutual Ancient Eastern platform/understanding on Day 0. This is due to the lack of principle/value-centered business philosophy in the modern-day Singaporean society. Westerners have realized the absence of these values in their business-relationships and have recently (in the mid 70s) emphasized value-centered business management and development philosophies.

With the return of the Ancient Eastern philosophies under the “rebranding” movement of the West (e.g. “Law of Attraction”, “Givers Gain”, “Power of the Mind”, etc), I believe more of us will benefit from the inculcation of the values of Humility, Sincerity, Respect and Trust. Both Qi (Intent/Values/Principles) and Form (Business Practices) must be congruent and aligned in order to achieve highest efficacy.

In the law of Nature, there will always be alignment and opposition. Borrowing what Robin Sharma said, “Just do our best and let Nature do the rest.” Usually Practitioners under a lineage that embraces Ancient Eastern philosophies already have an established code of ethics and regulatory system that safeguards the interests of would-be clients (it is ironical that Ancient Eastern Practitioners always viewed their “clients” like their own flesh-and-blood rather than as mere “clients”). 顺天行道。