The

Power
of
Vastu

1
Creating

the Energy

of Prosperity
 CHAPTER 1: THE POWER OF VASTU

As a result of a series of foreign invasions the knowledge of Vastu was

lost. For thousands of years, portions of this valuable knowledge were retained
for the exclusive use of the upper echelon of India’s society. Recently, as
Westerners have begun seeking out new ways to improve the quality of life,
the enormous benefits of Vastu have once again become available through
Vedic translations to people worldwide.

The far-reaching influence of Vastu can be seen in great architectural

monuments that have withstood the ravages of time and the elements: the
Egyptian and Mayan pyramids, the Roman Coliseum, the Greek Parthenon,
and the Taj Mahal. In every respect these monuments were built according
to the principles of Vastu: in shape, proportion, measurements, and align-
ment to the cardinal directions.

As Westerners
have begun
seeking out new
ways to improve
the quality of life,
the enormous
Within the Vedas, there In 1922, archeologists
benefits of Vastu
is a sacred science of under the direction of
have once
R.D. Banarjee, began
building called Vastu again become
excavating Mohenjo-
Shastra (vastu means available
Daro, an ancient city
building; shastra means
through Vedic
in the Indus Valley. It
translations
science). It explains how was determined that
to people
to create an environment the city was at least 5,500 years old and that worldwide.
it had been built using the principles of Vastu.
in accordance with the Greek Parthenon
Mohenjo-Daro had been an advanced and pros-
laws of nature, so that one perous civilization featuring elaborate architec- About three thousand years ago monks crossed over the mountains
experiences support and ture and sophisticated works of art. Streets were from India, through Tibet and into China, carrying with them this ancient
prosperity in life. It is the set up in a grid system running north-south, Vedic knowledge. In China the science of Vastu Shastra was adapted to local
east-west, at right angles to each other, with climatic and cultural conditions. In this way, Vastu gradually evolved into
science that reveals why
open space and a temple at the very center of the various schools of Feng Shui, the ancient Chinese art of placement and
we feel uneasy in some design that results in improving the flow of energy in an environment.
the city. The homes were built according to a
environments and why in rectangular design with a cooking area in the
others we are uplifted. southeast and an open central courtyard.

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 THE WAY OF VASTU CHAPTER 1: THE POWER OF VASTU

how vastu shastra works
The seers and sages of ancient India carefully observed the effects of the
five elements (earth, water, fire, air, and space) on the human organism and
environment. In a natural environment all five elements are in balance. As
soon as the environment is altered by the introduction of a structure, how-
ever, this balance is disturbed. Any such disturbance then affects the health,
wealth, and happiness of those who live and work inside the building. Over
thousands of years the sages collected such observations of natural balance
and imbalance within environments. The resulting body of knowledge is the
science of Vastu Shastra.
In a sense, Vastu is yoga for the home or office. Yoga balances the five
elements in the body through postures and breathing exercises that elimi-
nate stress. Vastu extends this principle by balancing the five elements to
eliminate stress in a physical environment. Using the principles of Vastu, you
can bring any building into balance, attract beneficial energy, and enhance
prosperity and abundance. In this way, your home or office will become a
haven, a sanctuary where you feel productive, healthy, and at peace.
People seldom think of their homes as living entities, but the ben-
efits of understanding this premise are truly life-changing. Vastu Purusha is
affected by energies that come from different geographic directions. These
energies are of two kinds. The magnetic energies of the north and the
solar energies of the east (ultraviolet rays) exert positive, supportive influ-
ences, while the south (infrared rays) and the west (gamma rays) exert
influences that are not life-supporting. For this reason in ancient India,
buildings were designed to receive the abundant, life-enhancing energies
from the north and east, while shielding their inhabitants from the gamma
and infrared rays of the west and south. The positive energies from north
and east flowed around the structure without obstruction and collected in
the southwest area of the building, where they supported the health and
well-being of the people inside.

The ancient seers

NW NE
air water observed that every
building is a living
CENTER
space organism having its own
energy field. They called
SW SE the spirit of the building Man influenced by the forces of nature
earth fire
Vastu Purusha.
The four directions and the Vastu Purusha
Over time, people lost touch with the importance of living in harmony
In any structure the five elements must be in balance to gain the sup- with the natural environment. Our homes and places of work have gradually
port of nature. Each of these elements is associated with a particular direc- become filled with unnecessary stress and strife. Very simple adjustments,
tion (earth, southwest; water, northeast; fire, southeast; air, northwest; space, using tools that return the five elements to balance, will often alleviate this
the central area). The interplay between these elements and the directions stress. Such adjustments can be made economically, without disturbing your
affects you on every level of existence. Each of the five elements, together environment, and it is the purpose of this book to show you how. When you
with the directions north, south, east, and west, has a specific planetary honor and enliven Vastu Purusha, the spirit of your building, the result is
influence as well, making a subtle but profound impact on your daily life. greater health, prosperity, and happiness for all who enter.

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 THE WAY OF VASTU CHAPTER 1: THE POWER OF VASTU

seeing everything as energy the fi rst law of nature:

The Way of Vastu speaks of the laws E V E RY AC T I O N B E G E T S A N OT H E R
of balance and harmony, which can
be felt through the natural flow of This is also known as the Law of
universal forces. Most cultures recog- north Karma: you get back whatever you
nize these unseen forces—forces that put in. As ye sow, so shall ye reap.
AIR WATER
shape the world of the seen and the What goes around comes around.
unseen—understanding that life is an From any action, another arises. We
west SPACE east can see this universal principle at
intricately woven pattern of energy and
form. Life-force energy permeates the work in every aspect of the world,
cosmos, our earth, and nature (includ- EARTH FIRE including its creation. Western
ing our bodies) with its essence. The science has revealed that first there
south was sound (the Big Bang), and from
Japanese call this life-force energy Ki
and the Chinese call it Chi. In India it sound came ether or space (which
is called Prana. The Romans called it Spiritus and the Greeks knew it as is alive with possibility and consciousness). From ether/space came air (the
Pneuma. It is known in Hebrew as Ruah and in Arabic as Rhor. This energy, life force). From friction in the air came fire (the spark of intention) in the
known throughout the world by many names in many cultures, can become form of lightning. From excessive heat, water (the creator) was generated.
blocked or stagnant within an environment. When blocked it causes stress, From water came earth (the sustainer). Thus, each of the five elements was
leading to disease and limitation in the body, mind, and emotions. Such life- created in sequence.
The Japanese
energy blockage wreaks havoc with our ability to manifest prosperity and The science of Vastu links the body (the
prevents us from feeling productive in the world.
call this life-
microcosm) and the universe (the macrocosm) together
force energy
with the five elements. The body occupies space; it
as above, so below comes from the same subtle level of possibility and
Ki and the
Chinese call it
consciousness that created the universe. The lungs fill
From the level of the tiny atom to the vastness of the cosmos, the same laws Chi. In India it
with air, life-force energy. Fire, in the form of heat,
of nature are reflected. They form intricate connections between our human brings warmth and stimulation to all systems of theis called Prana.
body, the environments in which we live and work, our greater world, and body. The body is composed of 80 percent water. The Romans
the universe at large. In its natural state, every inch of the earth is in perfect called it
This water, in the form of bodily fluids, creates vitality
harmony with cosmic order. The elements of earth, air, water, fire, and space Spiritus and the
and harmony through the blood and bodily secretions.
exist in pure balance, pristine and undisturbed. If you have ever walked in a Earth gives the body shape through bones, tissues, Greeks knew
forest or lush meadow, along a stream or rushing river, or on the shores of an it as Pneuma.
muscles, skin, and hair. According to Vastu, then, we
ocean or lake, you may have felt a sense of peace and serenity, an expansive are each a blueprint of the universe as seen through
It is known in
sense that all is right with the world. When you are in harmony with the the five elements. Hebrew as Ruah
world, this is your natural state.
When we enter the world, we are alive with and in Arabic
possibility and potential. Through our actions and as Rhor.

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 THE WAY OF VASTU
reactions in the world, we create karma, which manifests in our lives physi-
cally, emotionally, and spiritually. Through the Way of Vastu, you will learn
how to support the five elements within your body as well as in your living and
working environments. Doing so, you will experience a dramatic change in
your perception of yourself and in the world you create. The intense lessons
and effects of karma will be replaced by a healthy, happier you. In perfect
balance with nature, your world will become filled with imagination, vitality,
and abundant opportunity.
the second law of nature:
ALL THINGS IN THE UNIVERSE
A R E I N T E R CO N N E C T E D
At its basic level, everything is energy and vibration. Everything is
interconnected in a constantly shifting balancing act whose goal is ideal
harmony. There is harmony between earth and water, between the sun
(fire) and the moon (air), between the stars and planets. The energies of
all things are connected and moving in a precise universal dance. Even
natural calamities such as earthquakes, excessive rains and flooding, hur-
ricanes and tornados are simply nature’s attempt to make an adjustment,
to restore universal harmony.
When a home or office is built, this universal balance gets disrupted.
In many parts of the West, especially, the importance of living in harmony
with the natural forces is an alien concept. We have moved ever farther away
from understanding how the elements affect us, as throughout history we
have attempted various means of controlling our environment and the forces
of nature. As the human race transitioned from natural environments to man-
made structures, our connection to the natural world was lost. Over time we
created congested, artificial environments filled with synthetics, which were
designed to add ease and comfort. Vastu was the first science to encourage
green building and the use of natural materials.
Unfortunately, despite new and expanding methods of construc-
tion and widespread technological advances, we have only recently begun
to consider the impact that these physical structures might have on the
body, mind, and emotions. Many people have allergic reactions to build-
ing materials and artificial lighting, which severely limit their productivity
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CHAPTER 1: THE POWER OF VASTU
Over time we created congested, artificial
environments fi lled with synthetics, which were
designed to add ease and comfort. Vastu was the
fi rst science to encourage green building and the
use of natural materials.
and emotional well-being. A building can be friendly to its inhabitants or
unfriendly, depending on how it is constructed and maintained. Just as a
chiropractor helps people by aligning their physical anatomy, the Way of
Vastu heals your environment by aligning its energetic anatomy.
We now understand the dramatic destructive effects that technologi-
cal advancements have had on our world. Global warming and deterioration
of the ozone are creating high levels of skin cancer and severely affecting
plant and animal life all over the planet. When we disregard our connection
to the natural laws of our world and universe, we create stress and dis-ease,
both in our bodies and in Mother Earth. In contrast, the Way of Vastu honors
the interconnectedness of all things: healing stress and dis-ease in the micro-
cosm of our bodies and homes also heals Mother Earth, the macrocosm.
The Way of Vastu will balance the five elements within your living
and working environment so that you experience maximum levels of success
and productivity. By better understanding how the five elements influence
your life, you can restore your connection to the abundant universal support
of the cosmos. Remember that everything is interconnected! You are made
of the same energy as everything else that exists in the universe. What you
do to your world, you do to yourself.
the energy and
power of money
Money is energy. It is the result of your actions—your karma and free will—
and the environment where you live and work. A harmonious environment
aligned with the forces of nature easily supports your financial growth. As you
evolve in life and become more connected with the universal flow, you will
find fulfillment in being in alignment with your true nature. Such fulfillment
may come in the form of money, or it may manifest as other opportunities
that allow you to grow and to feel more abundant. Money is not the only form
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 THE WAY OF VASTU CHAPTER 1: THE POWER OF VASTU

of abundance the universe offers, but for many people it is an important whole, the entire flow of life is disrupted. Working together with nature brings
symbol of success and worth in the world. success. Attempting to conquer or control it is an invitation to failure.”
Money is magnetic; its influence comes from the positive, magnetic
north. This direction attracts prosperity and abundance. For this attraction to When we investigate the invisible mechanics
occur, energy needs to flow and circulate in an environment so that it is open
of nature, we find that everything in the
in the northern direction. In the same way, money must also flow and circulate
in your life, in an ethical way, to continue to stimulate your prosperity and to universe is directly connected to everything
bring opportunities to others as well. Abundance is not plucked out of thin air; else. Everything is constantly being influenced
it is created by tapping into this magnetic, circular flow that already exists. Since
everything is interconnected, when you create wealth you are not taking it from
by everything else. No wave in the ocean is
someone else. Rather, you simply become part of the natural flow of giving and independent of any other.
receiving that is in constant circulation throughout the universe.
When the flow of money is disrupted, many areas of your life begin to —Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
break down. This can create stress, but it is also a fertile time for self-inquiry and
reflection. Any challenge can create growth when it is seen as an opportunity.
If you experience obstacles to creating stability and continued growth around
money in your life: take time for meditation, for contemplation. Assess your
focus in the world. Are you aligned with your true nature? Are you aware of your
heart’s deepest desires? Is your environment supportive of growth, abundance,
and fulfillment? If not, then your thoughts will not be aligned with the source of
universal abundance, and you will experience dis-harmony.

the mystic and the king

Once a great Sufi mystic was visited by a king bearing a gift. The gift
was a beautifully made pair of golden scissors, quite valuable and rare.
The mystic took the scissors, but he immediately returned them to the
king, saying, “Sir, many thanks for the present you have brought me. It
is lovely indeed, but utterly useless to me. It would be better if you had
given me a needle.”

This confused the well-meaning king. “I don’t understand,” he said.

The mystic replied, “Scissors cut things apart and needles bring
things together. I teach people to live in harmony with nature, to be one with
the Divine. Whenever you attempt to do a thing alone, separate from the

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