Not
that the critics of the subject are silent. If any, their voices
have grown shriller. They accuse the ‘Vaastu pundits’ of taking
advantage of the gullibility of the masses. I recently read a report
that an astro-scientist while criticizing Vaastu had offered to stay
in any defective building to prove that it could not affect him.
Another architect complained loudly that Vaastu pundits were
arresting the growth of young architects from exhibiting their ideas
and talent.
These are extreme positions. Fortunately no one takes them seriously.
And rightly so. If one has to be taken seriously one has to adopt
a scientific approach to disprove a statement. For that the
following steps are necessary:-
a)
Understanding
the concept
b)
Extensive
verification studies
c)
Conclusions
based on statistics
That
is the accepted scientific route. But the critics never followed
this method and completely relied on their shrill voices only.
Justifiably the public has rejected them
outright.
One
should not try to force one’s views on somebody only because one
holds a position of authority. Neither should one criticize a
subject or a concept because of one’s own prejudices. These people
cannot be taken as scientifically tempered. They should be just
ignored.
Proving
Vaastu as a subject without foundation is not at all a difficult
task for the gentlemen who want to do just that. All that have to do
is to come out with a list of at least twenty five buildings which
do not follow the rules of Vaastu but where the occupants or users
of the building are happy, healthy and prosperous over several
decades and another twenty five buildings several decades and
another twenty five buildings which are conforming to Vaastu but are
witness to great familial problems. If they can publish their
findings and can establish that the results are indeed contrary to
what Vaastu claims to achieve, then the subject of Vaastu will
really disappear once and for all. A study of this type is truly
scientific and those who complain about Vaastu will have to
necessarily undertake this study before proclaiming that it is not a
science.
I
believe the subject is a science and that it holds tremendous
potential to enrich our lives. I have kept an open mind on the
subject and my studies show that here indeed is a science, which is
consistent with results. I, therefore, recommend this wholeheartedly
for one and all.
Before
we proceed further we will briefly run through the methodology of
Vaastu. We have to first know how it works. Only then understand we
can how the defects come in the way of getting Vaastu
benefits.
Basically
Vaastu is all about the interaction of various forms of energy in a
structure. As you are aware the whole universe is one expanding mass
formed at the time of the big bang. The expansion still goes on
churning out more and more galaxies and star systems. From all these
astral bodies various types of radiations are being emitted. All
radiations are again a form of energy. Although we classify various
forms of energy as heat, light, magnetic, electric etc., each can be
converted to other and hence all forms of energy are fundamentally
the same. There are some forms of energy, which we can see, or feel
like ordinary light and sound. As our senses operate in a limited
spectrum we do not perceive the other forms of energy like
ultraviolet rays or infrared rays or supersonic sounds, but they are
as much real as the other forms we perceive. As matter is also
condensed form of energy, we can easily see that all we perceive as
matter or energy is in fact energy only. Thus we ourselves are a
part of this energy field.
In
Nature the conversion of one form of energy to other is a continuous
process. For example, the sun’s energy is absorbed by the plants to
prepare the food, which is later taken by animals and humans. Thus
the light energy of the sun is used by the plants to produce food,
which is in the form of mechanical energy. When it is consumed by
humans and animals it is converted into muscular energy, which helps
them to sustain themselves.
Further
any form of energy under a set of circumstances produces a sense of
comfort or uneasiness in an organism. For example, a cool breeze on
a hot day is very pleasant but on a chilly day is quite
uncomfortable. A glowing hearth on a chilly night has a soothing and
cozy effect, but on a hot day is decidedly
uncomfortable.
Music
played on an instrument helps a person to relax and ease his
tension, but the continuous noise of passing traffic can set the
nerves of a person on the edge.
Thus
we see that for any energy to have the best effect on a living
person it is necessary that it be supplied at a level, which the
organism cherishes. We loosely term places, which have a calming
effect on us as ‘atmosphere’. Many a time we classify various
structures as having ‘good’ or ‘bad’ atmosphere. If someone asks us
to explain the term ‘atmosphere’, we may be at a loss for words. It
is not the lighting or ventilation. It is not the wall colors or the
polished flooring. It is not the painting on the wall or the Persian
carpet on the floor. It is not the gentle music or the comfortable
furniture. Still we understand the term ‘atmosphere’ and nod our
head wisely although we are unable to explain
it.
It
is probably instinctive and lies beyond comprehension. It cannot be
measured or compared with other entities. But we all know that it
exists and various from place to place.
If
you have a pet you will notice how sensitive it is to what we call
atmosphere. In your house it searches for a specific place where it
will curl to relax. Take it away from that place but it will return
again and again to the same place. Dogs and cats are endowed with
this instinctive ability to find the right atmosphere. We are
certainly not as sensitive as they are but all the same we are
affected by the atmosphere of a place to some
degree.
Vaastu
is basically all about creation of this subtle conducive atmosphere
in a structure. You have entered houses where you find the
atmosphere pleasant. Automatically you relax and are at your witty
best. Your responses are cheerful, careful, sensitive and measured.
The house brings cheer to you and you in turn bring cheer to others
because you are cheerful. And then there are those gloomy houses,
dull classrooms, dark laboratories, stinking offices where you start
counting your minutes to get out at the first opportunity. People
throng to holy places, sacred temples, sea beaches, waterfalls and
lakesides, all because of this ‘atmosphere’. Hence we have to
concede that every place has an ‘atmosphere’ which either is
positive or negative. While a human being thrives in a positive
atmosphere he is bogged down by negative emotions in a ‘negative’
atmosphere.
A
‘positive’ atmosphere brings out the best in us. Our mind is calm
and relaxed and the body feels healthy and strong. This atmosphere
makes us think positively, makes our approaches positive and hence
positive results automatically follow. Everyone coming under the
influence of this atmosphere is a happy family and everything in
there lives goes so smoothly that we come in the conclusion that
they are blessed. Take the family in an ‘negative’ atmosphere and
you find that for no fault of their’s they undergo tension and
mental torture. The body is tense, prone to illness of one type or
other. The mind is tense leading to strained relationships, which
forms a vicious cycle around them and aggravates all kinds of
sufferings.
Thus
if we are successful in creating this ‘good atmosphere’ inside a
structure we will succeed in ensuring the health and happiness of
the inhabitants. The same principles apply for a shopping
establishment, industry or a business center. In all these places,
the workers are cheerful, their approach is positive and the plans
are put into faultless execution ensuring an all-round growth of the
enterprise.
