8 Ways to Increase your luck for the Dragon Year

Chinese New Year is very near and everyone is talking about how to increase their luck 升運 or 開運. I am will keep it short and straight to the point. Here are 8 ways to increase your luck for the coming Dragon Year.

1. Charity. Most of the time when a person tries to increase their luck through spiritual means, they will encounter obstacles or difficult to complete the required practice. This has to do with the person's individual merit in their destiny. Just like borrowing from a bank, everyone has their credit rating. If you don't consistently increase your merits, you will definitely encounter no result when you try to achieve it through spiritual means. Charity of any kind is a good start to increase your luck, once you increase your capacity for good luck, it will be easier to ask for divine intervention!
   
   
2. Increase of luck can also be done through REQUEST with specific Deities in Taoism. Base on your Chinese Zodiac sign, there is a specific deities within the Taoist pantheon that is responsible to 'look after' you for this particular year. Therefore you have to ask in the right places. Below are the list on which Taoist Deity to request for an increase in luck for Dragon Year.
   

   

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Sponsor a Buddhist or Taoist statue in temple. Sponsoring of statue in temple is like a fixed deposit that keeps on growing. Because as long as the statue is in the temple, and it is benefiting others through its image or inherent spiritual energy, parts of the merits will go to you. Sponsoring of big statues are difficult because not everyone has the first hand information in order for you to contribute your share. Therefore sponsoring even a small statue that will be place in a temple is a good way to keep the flow of good luck to you.
   
   
4. Feng Shui ready your house and office. Living and working in harmony with the surrounding energy of your home and office is one way to increase your luck. Using the environment energy to suit your own destiny make up is like a plane flying with a strong tail wind, you will arrive at whatever goals you set much faster, easier and effortless.
   
   
5. Before knowing how to live in harmony with your environment, you must first able to know what are your own personal cycles and timing. Check your Destiny through a good analyst, find when you should go all the way, and when to just lay low is winning more than half of the game in your individual destiny.
   
   
6. This method is long and tedious for some, but it works. Chant specific Buddhist mantra in thousands or millions – it will definitely help eliminate your past baggage of bad merits.
   
   
   For Ways 7-8, I will talk on short term boost that you will see in the shortest time possible. 
   
   
7. 
   Take a Flower Shower! :) Buy 7 or 9 types of flowers, the flower itself must not have torns and Lily is a MUST in your flower grouping. Theory of the Flower Shower is simple, flowers are Yang and vibrant energy, shower with it and it will wash away any 'foggy' energy that you have stuck in your own energy field. If you are really foggy, best is to add some Epsom salt into the mix. Both of this will definitely cleanse and recharge your own energy field.
   
   
8. During Chinese New Year, on the first day – travel to a favorable Qi spot base on 奇門遁甲 – harness the energy of that bi-hour then you are set for the following week. For this year, on the first day of Chinese New Year from 9am – 11am you can travel to a NORTH location from your house for your Chinese Year visit. This will gather a boost of Qi for yourself in that week.
   
   
   Have a great and prosperous Chinese New Year. 新年快樂！

Papa, I saw white shadows

On Dec 10 evening, I receive an SMS from Jack who is now a temple member.(Earlier accounts of Jack's encounter) He told me that her 6 years old daughter have been telling him that for the past few days she dreamt of ghost in her dreams. And also dreamt a white ghost sleeping next to her.

And according to him, the daughter cried while relaying her experience. He asked me to 'investigate' for him whether there is any truth in her story. Because Jack and his wife are now chanting certain Buddhas mantra in their daily practice. So for him, he cannot feel any spirit in his surrounding which is why he is suspicious of his daughter's story. Nevertheless, during this period, his daughter would 'stick' to them like glue whenever they are in the house. And she would feel miserable if left alone, when she is out of the house, she was instantly more cheerful.

I went into meditative stabilization the next morning and indeed saw what his daughter have seen or what she have dream. When I am conscious, I double check with my Metal Shell oracle and my Deities also confirmed my findings. Initially, I was thinking of maybe just remotely handling the 'case' for Jack and that would not require any ingestion of talisman. However, when I double confirm with my Deities, they instintively let me know that I cannot be done remotely.

Photos from newhumanist.org.uk

I immediately drawn up 3 Liu Ren Talisman 六壬除邪符 for clearing evil and bad qi. Jack came by and took it back for his daughter to be burn and drink consecutively for 3 days. 

After 3 days, I receive a call from my wife whom have met up with Jack's wife. My wife told me that Jack's daughter is still crying. I was very puzzled, because after ingesting 3 talisman - everything should have cleared. Then I've told Jack to bring her daughter to our temple on Thursday evening on the same week. However by afternoon, Jack's wife message me again saying that her daughter is quite back to her old self.

Just to make sure, I asked them to bring the daughter to the temple as arranged. When I saw the little girl in temple, first quick glance, I saw a very light green patch of qi on her forehead. This is one of the tell tale signs that she have had a brush with spirits. It is not very evident, meaning it is just and encounter and nothing very serious.

I have specifically drawn up another talisman for her to ingest in the temple, and make sure she drank the whole of the small cup. What majority of the peoples' perception when comes to drinking burn talisman in water is that, they have idea that a little sip would be enough. In actual fact, one should drink the whole cup including all the residue. When I give specific talisman for ingestion to my disciples, they would need to drink 'everything'. That is to guarantee the passing of the Taoist Fa into the body.

After ingesting the talisman, I've also use a paper cutout as representation of the girl. Then using Tao Fa, to transfer all the bad qi onto the paper representation.

Paper cutout as a body double

Then I inscribe certain specific mantra on her forehead and put a deities seal on it. All of this of course cannot be seen with the naked eye. 

I have followed up with Jack and his wife after few days, and according to them their daughter is back to her old self and willing to sleep in her own room.

How was the little girl expose to spirit? Well it happens that the parent had to go for relatives wedding that was held out of Penang. And after the wedding, they did not stay for the night but did a late night trip back to their home. She must have been exposed during the trip. Children are more susceptible is because their Yang Qi is not at their peak yet.

Can cultivate both Taoism and Buddhism together?

When friends and relatives visit my home, the are often puzzled by 2 dominant altars that are located in my altar area. Primarily I have Taoist altar of 六壬 Liu Ren 風火院 Feng Huo Yuan and 伏英館 Fu Ying Guan. My Buddhist altar has many Tibetan Buddhist Statues.

Some who are outspoken will sometimes ask "How come you have 2 altars, will you get confuse?" Often, I just replied smilingly "Don't worry, the one who is praying is not confuse" and did not explain further or inform them how two can come together.

Well now, I am going to write a bit more on how these 2 can combine together. My initial lineage transmission is from Taoist Feng Huo Yuan. Then I have got interested into Buddhism and took refuge under Gelugpa lineage in Tibetan Buddhism from Tibetan Gurus. I have also took refuge with Gurus who have Nyingma and also Sakya lineage transmission.

Why didn't you give up on Taoism since you have already took refuge in Tibetan Buddhism? One of the most important teachings in Tibetan Buddhism is Guru Devotion. My first Guru are all the Deities in Taoism, without them I would not have discovered and took serious upon Buddhism. It is through their guidance, that I took refuge in Triple Jewels.

Deities in Taoism practice are actually all my Dharma protectors, if you look from a Buddhist perspective. Dharma protectors help cultivators overcome obstacles in life so that they can practice better without mundane disturbance of daily life. And I have a lot of Dharma protectors that have 'spiritual response' towards me. Spiritual response is a term used in Tibetan Buddhism for a person who have succeed in their practice with either Vajras, Boddhisattvas or Buddhas (elaboration of spiritual response need a whole new article to get into detail).

Therefore in our Taoist Temple 金洞山 Kam Dong San, everytime when we do distribute wealth enhancing talismans (招財符） or benefactors talisman（貴人符）. I have always followed by giving and explaining about merits, karma and the need to do some form of donations after they have obtain a spiritual response through the talisman.

Primary role of Deities in Taoism is to create more merits in their own cultivation. When we setup a temple for all the deities, public and members that have obstacles in life can and would come to ask for assistance from the Deities. If it is matter of righteousness or against evil, the Deities would act swiftly in solving those problems. 

When it pertains to wealth matters, and asking for more wealth then Deities would evaluate on what is are the merits of the person and their karmic 'accounts'. When wealth is granted in Taoism, it is through converting of ones merit. Therefore, when we obtain more wealth through spiritual means, 99% of the time it is for you to gather even more merits with those wealth. Therefore it is crucial to maintain the momentum in an upward spiral, instead of spending all your merits from previous life. Money is also a form of energy, it cannot be created or destroyed - but it can be transform from one form to the other.

Hence, Taoist Deities allowed a person to request for help in life's daily problems. When we obtained the help, then we have to do more meritorious activity with our expanded financial capabilities. That is being congruent in our request and also our cultivation as a Taoist.

As a Buddhist, I have to do my daily practice that was passed down to me by my Gurus. Keeping strong Guru Devotion and Boddhisattva Vows. Help other sentient beings whenever possible, with 道法 Tao Fa, I can help more people and also brings them to a path of cultivation.

So back to the question, can I cultivate both Taoism and Buddhism together? Of course, if you can keep your vow, devotion, practice and promise. Otherwise you are threading into deep water....

Tao Fa 道法. You are wishing or you really want it?

This year, I have started to take in disciples that have affinity to learn Tao Fa 道法. As our temple foundation principle is based on non-money demands for Taoist process, most of the disciples have to go through strict selection process. Therefore not many pass the selection process.

In Feng Shui career to date, I have about 400 students globally. Also not many when base on officially started teaching about 6 years ago.

Learning Tao Fa is different from those that are learning Feng Shui, Ba Zi or Qi Men Dun Jia. Because in teaching Taoist Fa, disciples ultimately have to rise up to the Deities expectation. Of course as a teacher, I too have my expectations on them.

Thinking back to the days, when I started learning Tao Fa – all my friend informed me was that the temple in Ipoh (about 120km from Penang), will be having their deity celebration. My friend Eddie said “It will be a good opportunity for you to meet the Master, will you come to Ipoh?” Without any hesitation, in less than a day's notice, I drove all the way from Penang to Ipoh in the evening. When I arrived at the temple during Jin Ying Zu Shi 金英祖師 celebration， all the master did was look at me. He told me that he will not go into meditative stabilization to seek approval for my discipleship, because he already had some alcohol.

3 Main Deities of Kam Dong San - this is their original statues in Ipoh, Malaysia.

With that, I was already very glad that I had a chance to meet and at least enquire the possibility. And because of the late night, I have to stay in Ipoh for a night before driving back to Penang the next morning. After I was initiated, every Friday evening I would drive to Ipoh to meet with him and learn, and about 10:30pm at night – I would drive back to Penang again. This goes on for about 6 months or so. Never in my mind, did I view it as a chore or hassle because of the need to travel in the night to learn Tao Fa.

During the weekdays, I would need to do meditation on my own. Requirements on me was to meditate in the wee hours of the morning, 3am-4am every day. I just do it without any excuses whatsover. Bearing in mind, that when I was initiated, one of the prime directive in using Tao Fa is that I must not take any form of monetary reward for it. So all these work and effort that ultimately cannot bring any form of money or career into my life. Thinking back, most likely it is a past life imprint, for to have so much interest and passion for something you cannot earn money with.

Anyhow, my disciples now have it very much easier than what I went through. For one, they do not have to travel and secondly they touch base with me almost everyday either online or through the phone.

They also have a big place to gather in Kam Dong San Temple, plus we have so many activities going on each month. Possibility to learn is almost endless. Everything is provided for them, and as a Master, I am not holding anything back.

Kam Dong San Temple, Penang.

My only regret is that, after taking in disciples, I have finally understood and experienced that Tao Fa is not for everyone. I am also in  agreement with previous masters that why in the olden days, our lineage ancestors have so much restrictions and also extremely difficult selection process. As the person using real Tao Fa have to shoulder the responsibility of not only themselves but also of nature and the Tao.

If you do not have enough merits in your life, even if a master agree to teach you, undoubtely you will have many obstacles that appear such as event or people diverting you away from your learning. Some people will have their bad habits magnified in times that they need to have disciplines in their life.

It is in these times, the power of the will is one of the way for the person to overcome their learning obstacles. They will also need to do a lot of merit earning activities so that they will be able to advance their study.

You will be face with the true reality of whether you are just wishing you can learn Tao Fa? or you really want to learn Tao Fa? Your answer is not how nice you can answer BUT it is in your ACTION.

This posting is dedicated to all my current and future disciples of Tao Fa.

Grandma, we are glad that you like your new blouse

During the lunar 7^th month, I was in Bangkok with temple members doing coffin donation charity for ourselves and also on behalf of temple members and their family. Penny (one of our close friend and temple member) have casually mentioned to us that she dreamt of her late grandma. I have casually told her that maybe her grandma needed some provision on the other side.

When we got back to Penang, it was close to end of the lunar 7^th Month, at that time suddenly I've also got some hints and decided to ask Penny whether she had bought provision to burn for her grandma.

Within the day, she went to the joss sticks shop and bought all the necessary provisions including new paper clothes, gold papers, powders, rebirth mantra papers etc in preparation to offer for her grandma.

Penny asked me whether anything she should recite or say when burning those offerings for her grandma because the ancestral tablet was not with her in Penang. I have just told her that to think about her grandma when she burn those offerings, and added that why don't you ask Peter to help you out. Her husband, Peter is a disciple of our Kam Dong San Temple.

Therefore the next morning after our conversation, Peter helped her burn those offerings by requesting our Temple Deities to help in the confirmed delivery to her grandma.

Peter posted on my Taoist Disciple page the same day after burning the offering.

After the offering, Penny did wonder whether her grandma did receive it. She told me that she didnt dreamt of her grandma anymore.

Anyhow, about 2 months after, Penny's dad dreamt of her grandma wearing a beautiful floral blouse. Penny's dad is also a Taoist cultivator. Her parent asked around the family on whether anyone burn any offering to their grandma. But nobody have burn anything matching the description of what his dad saw in the dream.

Then Penny realized that the blouse description matches exactly one of the blouse which she offered to her grandma, of course her dad have no idea what she burned for her grandma as the offering was done in her own home.

Peter relayed to me last week, that when he burn the offering and request the help of our deities, he did it with 100% trust and faith that they will help him. Faith and trust in Kam Dong San deities have again show the efficacy of all the deities in helping members and disciple.

Is there another world after we move on? I will leave that for you to decide.....

Cheng Huang and Kam Dong San Deities, I bow with full respect

3 days ago, I received a call from a temple member. She was very happy that finally her shop have been sold.

She own the shop-lot for more than 12 years in a building that does not have any crowd traffic. She has been trying to sell the shop ever since 5 years ago. I have tried to negotiate with the local earth gods in the area to help her sell off her unit. After the negotiation, she did have a surge of people coming to look at her shop-lot but did not turn into a sale.

Her shop is also hard to sell, because the developer had failed to obtain a strata title for their own individual units after all these years. And she refuse to pay the maintenance to the management due to this. As she was involved in court case with them. Finally they decide to sue her personally. She went to Kam Dong San Temple and request from Cheng Huang (City God) to help her out. She requested that Cheng Huang took up her case and help her solve big problems to become small problems and if small problems to become neutral. She also requested Kam Dong San Main Deities to help her.

Within 2 weeks, the shop that she tried to sell off for more than 5 years, suddenly have someone who is interested and immediately paid her a deposit for her shop-lot. Not only that, they paid her above market price for her unit. All in a time that she needed the money to settle with the management of the building.

I am very glad that it turn out wonderfully for her, as she is a long time supporter of our temple. Once again, Cheng Huang office works with super efficiency! I bow fully with great respect! 城隍和金洞山众位仙师大显威灵！

Newborns

Recently there have been quite few friends who have met with unhappy situations regarding their new born. Some have met with 'confinement nanny' who are incompetent which resulted in their babies experienced 'traumatic' care during their first few weeks in physical world.

Some encountered baby that have medical complications 1-2 weeks after being born. Nothing serious, but persistent problems. 

In Taoist rituals, when a baby is being born into a family – the father of the child usually would have to do a simple praying and offerings to own ancestors as a form of notification and also request of protection for the newborn in their first month of birth.

Prayers and offerings items would include

1. 5 types of fruits
2. Local cakes and desserts
3. Vegetarian dishes
4. Paper offerings

The person can include different sets of offerings as above for all the household deities.

For Buddhist rituals, the best is to do animal liberations and dedicate the merits to the newborn baby. Due to his or her birth, lives have been spared – this will generate merits for the child and also parent to help them alleviate sickness in their first few months after birth.