Why Can't Others Read Tarot or Feng Shui for You?

A question was asked: My son is taking the graduate entrance exam in December, and I'm so worried. What should I do? He is switching majors to study theoretical physics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, which is very challenging. Can you help set things up? Previously, someone asked: My elderly father is very ill; can you take a look? Now that I have some time, let’s discuss this issue.

I have a principle in divination and feng shui: I do not read for others. In other words, if you are taking the exam or if you are ill and come to ask me, I will give you some advice. However, if it’s not you, I have no advice and will not look. Why is that? There are probably two reasons:

First, cause and effect.

Everyone has their own fate and their own cause and effect. This is something that cannot be violated or interfered with by anyone. A famous case is the massacre of the Shakya clan by King Lichiri. The foremost sage, Maudgalyayana, was unable to bear it and used his powers to save 500 people from a pot. However, when they were released, all 500 turned into blood. Maudgalyayana was perplexed and went to ask the Buddha what had happened. He wondered why his powers didn’t work this time. The Buddha explained that in a previous life, the villagers had fished all the fish out of a pond to eat. Now, King Lichiri and his army were the fish that had been eaten, and the slaughtered Shakya clan were the villagers from that time. Cause and effect is such that supernatural powers cannot overcome karma.

I Ching divination is a form of supernatural power and naturally cannot violate cause and effect. Everyone has their own fate, and regardless of how they live, it is based on two reasons: past karma and present effort. Heaven is very just; as Einstein discovered, energy is conserved. The amount you put in will equal the amount you get back. This will not be more or less.

However, there is another story about Guanyin saving her mother. Once there was a girl named Guanyin whose mother had done many bad deeds and went to hell after death. Guanyin was very filial and worried that her mother would not receive good rewards after death, so she wanted to know where her mother went. Due to her sincere heart, the spirits guided her, and Guanyin descended to hell to see her suffering mother. After returning to the human world, she performed great merits, and as a result, her mother ascended to heaven. Guanyin is the previous incarnation of Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva.

This story suggests that through one’s own efforts, one can change another person’s karma, right? Doesn’t this conflict with the story of Maudgalyayana? There is no conflict; pay attention to the details. Guanyin “performed great merits,” do not overlook this point.

The scriptures record: “At that time, Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva was a Brahmin girl. Her mother, who did not believe in the Three Jewels and practiced evil ways, fell into hell after death and suffered. This Brahmin girl sold her family property and widely sought incense and flowers, greatly offering to the Buddha’s stupa and temple. With utmost sincerity and respect, she eliminated distracting thoughts and wholeheartedly recited the Buddha’s name. Her mother, benefiting from the merits created by her filial daughter, was able to leave hell and ascend to heaven.” This passage clearly explains how to perform great merits.

In Buddhism, this is called “transferring merits,” where one does not keep the merits for oneself but dedicates them to another person. Generally speaking, if one performs ten merits, the person to whom they are dedicated can receive only two or three, which is a very small portion. Therefore, it’s not that one cannot help others; it’s just that doing so requires several times the effort.

Now let’s discuss the second reason for not reading for others—everything is a manifestation of the mind. What does this mean? Everything is created by the mind; all things are manifestations of one’s own heart. Therefore, to change a person’s fate, one must change their heart. When the heart changes, the fate will change; if the heart does not change, one will only remain in the same place.

I repeatedly emphasize that I Ching and feng shui are merely techniques, temporary measures. What is the ultimate purpose of using these methods? It is to directly address the heart and change a person’s mind; this is my goal in practicing these arts. Thus, when I read for someone, whether you are aware of it or not, I am using my methods to guide you, to change you, and to lead you towards the right path. Once you understand the truth and follow the path, your fate will change; this cannot be replaced. Helping family or others, I cannot change their hearts; that is like scratching the surface and will not have a real effect.

We must pay special attention to one point: we should respect a person, respect their success, and also respect their failures; respect their health and also respect their illnesses. This means that even if someone is not doing well, we should respect them; even if they are suffering from illness, we should respect them. To respect means not to interfere and not to worry. I have mentioned before that worrying is a form of curse. You can bless them; blessing is a form of support. It is easier to respect a person’s success and health than to respect their failures and illnesses. For example, when parents are ill, I say, let them be sick; you don’t need to worry. Many people cannot accept this. For instance, if a child is sick, I say, you don’t need to worry; let them be sick. Many people also cannot accept this. At such times, I feel the powerlessness of words; I don’t know how to express my meaning. Let me give an example that I hope will inspire everyone:

When Hellinger dealt with family constellation issues, the participants cried uncontrollably, even collapsing on the ground, exhibiting various painful behaviors. Hellinger quietly observed throughout. He said that pain and suffering are the steps given by God for people to grow, just like the pain of childbirth; only by experiencing it can one become stronger. Therefore, when someone is crying, the best thing to do is not to comfort them but to let them cry it out.

If you don’t let them cry and force them to hold it in, it can lead to illness. If you don’t let them suffer and help a cicada out of its shell, it will lose its ability to fly.