The 1999 tour to China, Tibet and India

This coming April, an international group of feng shui students, practitioners, writers,teachers, architects, designers and enthusiasts will meet in Hong Kong to begin the third international feng shui study tour.

The tour has been designed by Roger Green and is based on a refinement of the previous two tours he has sponsored. Having a close relationship with the teachers involved, he has overseen the curriculum materials and sites being visited.

 

 

Actually being there with the differing cultures and teachers, you can absorb the very essence of fengshui. Meeting new people from all over the world with a common interest generates a powerful vortex of new ideas and expressions. Learning first hand how these practitioners work, creates the experience of getting this amazing knowledge into your bones.

At present there is still a lot of knowledge not accessible in the west, so we are focusing on the theoretical and practical applications of all the feng shui methods. In each destination, one day is allocated to site visits and free time, the evenings are free to enjoy the local culture and ambience.

 

April/May in terms of weather, are the best times of the year to be travelling in Asia. Temperatures are moderate, and there is a good chance of clear skies and sunny days most of the time.

The tour has 3 stages to it, giving you the flexibility to choose your time preference and locations. You can do individual stages, all three, or combinations.

 

Teachers

Roger Green is one of the most prolific feng shui educators and consultants in the world today, having taught in over 12 countries and 24 cities. He has been a major influence in promoting fengshui. principles into the western community for over 10 years. He runs professional training programmes in Europe, UK, America and Australia. In 1996 he sponsored the firstfeng shui tour to China, followed by an international study tour of India in January 1998.He is the director of the feng shui design studio in Sydney, Australia, and is a senior faculty member of several feng shui schools, through which he has trained hundreds of fengshui. students worldwide.

 

Dr.Michael Paton was conferred a doctorate by the University of Sydney for his research into the history and philosophy of science in China. Michael is our official translator, and is probably one of the most qualified persons for the job in the world, as he was the first person to translate important classical texts into English. The research was based on full translations of five of the feng shui classics of the form school. Dr Paton works in the Faculty of Economics at the University of Sydney.

 

Michael Chiang is a well-known Hong Kong based feng shui consultant and architect. He is the Executive Director of the Architectural firm LCT Associates. Michael has trained hundreds of feng shui students, and teaches many aspects of feng shui applications. He is teaching an intensive three-day course for us that includes such subjects as the Zi wei astrology, a topic that is practically hard to obtain information on in the west. Other subjects are from the realm of the Lo yang school: Tai Yue numbers, the mystic door and vanishing gar, and the yuen hung.

 

 

Richard Tsui has been devoted to the study of Feng Shui for over 50 years. He has gained vast knowledge and experience in the field of feng shui, palmistry, physiognomy and divination. Richard was the original teacher of Derek Water, the well known English author on feng shui. Richard is a member of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain , of which all the follows are world renown professors and authors of works on divinations. He lives and works in Hong Kong, and at 82 still travels and teaches feng shui around the world.

 

 

Mr Ho Chin-Chung is the founder and director of the Heaven and Earth FengShui Design Society, based in Taipei. Mr Ho will be teaching aspects of feng shui that are totally unique to his school, including a system of feng shui luck descriptions based on the flow of water directions from your house. He has requested that all participants in his 5 day workshop bring a scaled floor plan of their house, and he will personally analyse it. The system is called "Diagnosis of the house in terms of destiny, career, health and finances." Mr Ho, on the last day of his seminar, will accompany us on site visits around Taipei, including the study of the yin zhai, or burial grounds, where a lot of fengshui. knowledge was develop in the past. Mr Ho is considered a national treasure by his government, as he is from 65 generations of feng shui practitioners.

 

Professor Cheng is a expert on the lo pan compass. In the beautiful setting of Guilin on the river Li, we will be studying for 4 days the application of the lo pan compass, and on the last day go on a 6 hour trip down the spectacular River Li. It is considered in China that there are only 4 experts on the lo pan, and Prof. Cheng is one of them!

 

Professor Wang Yu de the head of the Historical Research department at Wuhan University. He was the main teacher on the 1996 study tour and has written many books on feng shui published in China. Prof Wang joins us in Tibet where he will travel with us overland to Kathmandu. Study landscape feng shui and dragon lines on the roof top of the world, with one of the top feng shui scholars in the world!

 

 

Nimish and Parul Patel established their architectural firm over 20 years ago. Top students from the Vastu Shilpa Research Foundation School of Architecture, they began their study of the ancient way of building science aligned with the cosmic order called Vastu Shastra. For many years they lived in Udaipur, closely working with the local crafts people learning the indigenous styles of building. They have pioneered not only heritage restoration work in Udaipur, but also the integration of indigenous building material and Vastu designs into modern buildings. They are leading lights in energy efficient designs and ecological considerations in India, and have successfully incorporated these principles into many major projects.

 

Sashikala Ananth holds a degree in architecture and has spent the last 20 years assimilating traditional knowledge including indigenous materials and vernacular building styles. Sashikala was involved in intense theoretical study with the Vastu texts,and has worked with traditional artisan communities. At present she is working on different projects where the wisdom of the vastu shastra's are incorporated into modern dwellings. She wrote the script for an award winning film on the traditional sculptor in1991 called The living tradition. Sashikala was one of the most popular teachers with the group on the 1998 vastu study tour of India. She will be teaching a 6 day workshop in Goa,where amongst many other topics, we will be learning a astrological system of proportional measurements that are used in traditional design principles along with ancient techniques and cures for space clearing. 

 

raylo.jpg (34996 bytes)Raymond Lo is teaching advanced 4 pillars and flying stars. He is the author of several books on feng shui, and is an accomplished lecturer on many feng shui subjects. His in-depth knowledge makes him one of the most sought after consultants in Hong Kong.

 

 

 

Itinerary

Stage 1: China

 

Stage 2: Tibet and Nepal

 

Stage 3: India

 

Detailed Itinerary

Stage 1: China

Hong Kong A 5-day seminar with Roger Green, Dr Michael Paton, Michael Chiang, Raymond Lo and Richard Tsui. Hong Kong with its magnificent harbour, steep peaks and surrounding islands, is geographically one of the world's most interesting cities.Architecture enthusiasts will find Hong Kong's Central district fascinating; it's famous for its buildings laid out in accordance with feng shui principles. Take time to see the Bank of China, Hong Kong and Shanghai banks, Citibank Plaza, the Lippo Centre, Repulse and Aberdeen Bay. Victoria peak has magnificent views of Hong Kong and a series of walkways as well. The former governor's residence was designed completely with feng shui principles.The two lions that guard the entrance to the Shanghai Bank were precisely placed in their position at an auspicious time by a local geomancer. Visit the Wong Tai Sin Temple and have your destiny read, where one of our teachers, Richard Tsui, has a shop along with hundreds of other fortune tellers, feng shui practitioners, palm and face readers. And ofcourse, you can shop to you drop in Hong Kong! Finally, party on at the top of the Peninsula Hotel, where you can watch a spectacular light display from the ambitious modern buildings over looking the harbour.

Taipei

A 5-day seminar with Mr Ho Chin-Chung.
Taipei is the heart of Taiwan. Visit the National Palace Museum, which holds the world's largest collection of Chinese artefacts, including ceramics over 5000 years old. There are many Taoist and Confucius temples in the city, including the popular Lungshan temple where the air is always thick with incense burning Two blocks away is the famous Snake Alley, a fascinating place with a carnival atmosphere. Snake soup anyone? Taipei comes alive at night, (so put your party hat on!) We will take a visit to Mr Ho's Feng Shui School and Society and on the last day we will visit some of the famous burial sites and study the principles of the 'yin zhai'.

Guilin

5 days with Professor Cheng
Guilin is located on the spectacular Li River. The surrounding landscape is beautiful, and the shape of the hills is very unique to the area. Take a walk to the Seven Star Park,dozens of caves and seven great peaks arranged in the shape of the Great Bear (Big Dipper)constellation. The Li River cruise, is a one-day journey of 85 km between Guilin and Yangshuo through the finest scenery, which for most people is the highlight of their trip to China. We will pass scores of grotesquely shaped hills with exotic names. Along the way notice the cormorant fisherman on bamboo rafts, they train these birds to dive for fish,an age-old practice in southern China. Guilin's restaurants are of good quality, and there are plenty of theatres offering traditional opera and ballad singing.

 

Stage 2: Tibet and Nepal

Tibet


A timeless journey with Professor Wang de Yu Lhasa begins our stage 2 journey 'The Roof top of the World'.  This is the world famous traveller's destination, and it is said, that eventually everyone needs to come to Tibet at least once to face their karma - or so the story goes!

We will be joined in Lhasa by our feng shui scholar Prof. Wang whom will take the journey with us to Kathmandu, giving us the chance to 'trace' the dragon energy in the shapes of the mountains and valley's. We will also be studying I Ching readings and form school principles with Prof. Wang.

In Lhasa we have two full days of sight seeing planned. We will visit the Jokhang Temple, the most sacred and active and oldest temple in Tibet. Barkhor Bazar famous for its Tibetan handicrafts, antiques, street performers and its push and shove market economy. Potala Palace, is a vast white and ochre fortress, a sight that has heralded the marvels of the holy city to traveller's for three centuries. It is one of the wonders of Eastern Architecture. A short distance away on the west side of town are the important Gelugpa monasteries of Drepung and Sera, being the largest in Tibet. In their heyday they were home to over 10,000 monks. We will also visit the Norbulingka, former summer palace of the Dalai Lamas. Although we are staying in the top end accommodation at the Holiday Inn, we suggest a evening drink at the famous backpackers Tibetan-run Yak Hotel in the Barhor area-we may even get a chance to sing a few rounds of 'Knock knock knocking on Heavens door'!

We depart for Gyantse in a jeep/coach, on a scenic drive called the Friendship Highway.On the way we will visit the beautiful Lake Yamdrok Toso. Gyantse is an ancient fortress city and is home to the Kumbum Pagoda, a magnificent tiered structure that is now unique in Buddhist architecture. The stupas are surmounted by a gold dome with four sets of eyes that gaze out in the cardinal directions of the compass, inside are interesting wall frescoes based on Tibetan Buddhist art.

After lunch we depart for Shigatse, which is about 3 hours drive. Shigatse is the second largest town in Tibet and has long been an important trading town. The Tashilhunpo monastery is the seat of the Panchen Lama. Walking into the monastery you will see an impressive site, an entire building is hollowed out to house a 26-metre image of the Maitreya, the future Buddha, covered in gold and precious stones.

We depart for Xegar and en-route we visit the thick walled Sakya Monastery, with watchtowers on each of its high walls. Arrive Hotel Everts in Xegar. From Xegar we depart for Zhang Mu, and along the way we will see breath taking panoramic views of the Himalayas and Mt. Everest. The Tibetan name for Everest is Qomolangma, and some 27,000 sq kms are designated to a surrounding nature reserve. Zhang Mu is a pleasant little town on the border with Nepal. The smell of curry is in the air and the sound of fresh spring water streams flow through the town. After our night at the hotel, we cross the Friendship Bridge and drive to Kathmandu.

Kathmandu

The 1998 Vastu tour visited the stunning Newari architecture of Patan, across the river from Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. A great deal is accessible by foot,including the courtyard squares that are the centre of life in this fun town. Decorated with carved windows and doorways, statues and shrines, Kathmandu is a remarkable synthesis of art and life. Kathmandu ends our stage 2 tour. From here we fly to Udaipur, set on a lake and often called the Venice of India.

 

Stage 3: India

The Vastu Shastra Study Tour

Udaipur

Arrive Udaipur for a series of workshops with Nimish and Parul Patel. Udaipur is set around the vast Pichola Lake and dominated by dramatic palaces. It is one of the most atmospheric and picturesque cities in the world. High whitewash houses and narrow alleys give it a medieval charm. Set on a shimmering lake, it epitomises Rajasthan's romantic allure. The 1998 Vastu group fell in love with Udaipur, and promised to return.Our teachers and guides, Nimish and Parul, 20 years ago threw their architectural books away and re-learn the art and science of Vastu Shastra with the crafts people of Udaipur.We join them for a 5 day adventure, discussing Vastu techniques, principles of indigenous building and working close at hand on some practical projects. We will also take the opportunity to explore the town's temples, palaces and scenery in the nearby valleys.

Goa

In Goa, we begin our intensive 6 day training with Saskhikala Ananth. In thee vening we can enjoy the beach and atmosphere of this famous retreat town. Mesmeric sunsets, good food and climate make it a popular spot to unwind and enjoy the pleasures off line. Goa's 450 years under Portuguese domination produced a unique exotic blend of eastern and western culture.

 

About Feng Shui

Feng Shui has been hailed as the environmental science of the 21st century. It is the art of arranging homes and work places in such a way that the occupants feel in harmonic with the environment. It has been used in the orient for over 3000 years and is based on underlying principles of universe cosmology and cycles of change. It is the study of the vital connection between Heaven, Earth and Humanity. Some schools of feng shui we will be studying on the tour include the following.

 

About Vastu Shastra

According to Indian manuals on architecture and town planning, the Vastu Shastras, some ofwhich are over 2000 years old, state how a dwelling and city had to function as a mandala,or sacred diagram. Mandalas were governed by precise dimensions and proportions, repeating in miniature form the mathematical scheme of the cosmos. Zones within the mandala represented different levels of the universe, and were identified with particular symbology. Vastu philosophy states that everything is fundamentally 'shabda' or sound,which is the basic pulse of energy which is then woven into design. Vastu Shastra (Indian Feng Shui) provides extensive knowledge about design principles following the laws of the universe. Collectively, these underlying rhythms are sympathetic to human needs, enhance good health and prosperity, are known to radiate positive energy, and represent ecologically sustainable environments.

Registration Information

You are required to purchase your own Health Care insurance and at all times be responsible for the general well being of yourself and the group. Participants need to be in sound health and have an active sense of self responsibility. Please check with your doctor for any medical requirements. Where we make all efforts to keep to the advertised schedule, the organisers reserve the right to vary the itinerary at anytime as required by local conditions. Your fee covers internal travel, accommodation, meals based on breakfast and lunch, with some evening banquets, and all tuition fees as stated in the itinerary.Accommodation is based on twin spare, single room supplement is available. The organisers are also providing a booklet on various Feng Shui and Vastu Shastra methods.

What to Bring

Summer clothes with warm jacket, good walking shoes, notebook, camera, toiletries and small first aid kit. Bring your choice of tea bags and condiments eg miso. Bring also some good quality natural energy snacks. Swim gear, suntan lotion, tape recorder,sunglasses, and some formal dress. Hat, compass, and your adventurous spirit! Make sure you have a current passport and check on your visa requirements. Register early with your local sponsor, as places are limited.

Costs (All prices are in US$)