Chapter 24 : The Inflow and Outflow of Water

Written by : Master Sheng-yen Lu
Translated by : Janny Chow

In household feng-shui readings, modern geomancers often employ the following systems in their analyses: "Eight Orientations and Twenty-four Mountain Directions," "Four Eastern Life Dwellings and Four Western Life Dwellings," "the Determining of a Favorable Orientation According to the Year of Birth," etc...

For a residence, a yang abode, the most important factor to consider is the site?|s ability to gather "sheng-chi," or life force. For a burial site, a yin abode, the most important factor is the site?|s ability to absorb "ti-chi," or earth energy.

A geomancer not only inspects the terrain surrounding a building, but must also consider the number of stories and rooms and the partitioning of the rooms. He must carefully survey all the doors in the building and distinguish them by type-i.e. main doors, side doors, fire escapes, etc?K

The "money-reserve spot" is located in the living room at the site accumulating, absorbing, and storing the most chi.

A bed should be positioned according to the location of doorways or openings that allow chi to enter and exit a room.

The orientation of the kitchen stove should be in accordance with the three auspicious orientations of the owner of the home.

A bathroom, preferably inconspicuous, should be located in unfavorable directions and balanced by potted plants.

Any well on the site should be located in a favorable direction.

Many geomancers have, however, neglected to consider the effects of the inflow and outflow of water into and away from a home. The entry and draining away of water from a house is quite important. In feng-shui, water is equivalent to money-fluid and always coursing. The movement of water generates a powerful influence upon its surroundings.

In my opinion, problems arising from the unfavorable flow of water are difficult to manage. It can be very hard for people living in such homes to avoid injury or death.

I had once inspected a home with a waterfall installed on the second story balcony. The waterfall was designed so that water pumped to the top of a pile of boulders cascaded down into a shallow pool. The owner was quite proud of the waterfall, which he himself had designed, so I felt reluctant to point out faults with the structure. After my departure, I informed his friend, the individual who had brought me to the house, of the problem.

"The rocks and waterfall are located at a spot correlating to the owner?|s neck. Please tell him to dismantle the waterfall, or some very serious disaster will result."

Despite the warning, the owner of this residence did not dismantle the waterfall. Three years later, he discovered a hard lump on his neck which medical tests revealed to be a malignant growth. The tumor on his neck in many ways resembled the rocks and waterfall in his home. He died soon after. At the time, this individual was the president of several factories and owner of a larger restaurant. Young and already successful, he had a highly promising business career ahead. After receiving his diagnosis, he had come to see me. I gave him my blessings but shook my head, knowing it was too later for anything to be done.

In large buildings, water is often present in the decorative form of water fountains. When designed by expert geomancers to produce a calming, pleasing atmosphere, the introduction of water can increase customers and business.

In ordinary household, however, it is almost always inauspicious to dig pools or install fountains or waterfalls inside the home. If done merely for personal pleasure, such undertakings are unnecessary. There is usually no place inside a house favorable for such an extravagant introduction of water.

Ponds, swimming pools, and fountains built outside the home are acceptable. However, to ensure that such projects are installed in favorable positions-the northeast and southwest positions should be avoided for example-consult an expert geomancer.

There are two principles guiding the inflow and outflow of water:
1. Water entering the home should be noticeable, and water exiting the home should be hidden. Stated another way, water should flow in via overt ditches and flow out via covert ditches.

2. Water flowing toward the home should be a direct, straight stream. Water draining away should flow out by a winding, indirect channel.

These two principles concern the "harnessing" of wealth. A direct inflow of money with slow, indirect expenditures results in savings and abundance.

In the past, I, Living Buddha Lian-sheng, surveyed the feng-shui of a factory that conducted big business and had a huge gross income. Its expenditures, however, were astonishing. Despite the direct inflow of water chi at the front of the building, there was a large drainage ditch behind the building that was too straight and exposed. To rectify the situation, I recommended the building of a bridge above the ditch. Such a bridge serves three functions:
1. compensation for the over-exposure of the ditch
2. the slowing and "locking in" of flowing water
3. improvement of foot traffic in the area.

The proper analysis of inflow and outflow of water requires a great deal of training and study.

Source:
http://www.padmakumara.org/books/book69/chap24.shtml