Q: There are many feng shui books out there. Also there are many courses available. Isn't it the same when I DIY myself after learning?
Ans: When you realise there is the effectiveness and power of feng shui, you'll accept the fact that good, auspicious or bad luck, inauspicious, mishaps etc will result. In this case, one has to be sure that the knowledge is applied correctly and accurately. In the event if it is applied wrongly, very serious consequence may occur.
With the above understanding, we look into the available books whether they will be good enough for you to take a risk. First we talk about basic, elementary books. These books only serves as an introduction. It is only able to provide you with an 'awareness'. Next, those feng shui books that are more specific on certain subjects (whether English or Chinese). Actually before anyone takes on specific subjects or teachings from certain school of practise, their foundation must be sound.
A specific subject is built on the foundation knowledge of the writer or common foundation. When a person hasn't fully understood the intricacy of the knowledge converting to useful art or skill, usually ends up in the wrong direction. Either he may end up frustrated or spent a long time heading nowhere or cheat himself by faithfully acknowledging apprenticeship of a certain school. That is the reason why there are so many conflicts between different schools of martial arts and other schools of practises of feng shui proclaiming their authenticity since history.
In addition, we must scrutinize if the writer has achieved the master standard in the field. This mastery is through the experience over many years of countless repetition of successful application of working skill. For example, there are many marketing, business, investments, health, nutrients or sales books writers out there. If you read carefully, many were written by people who had such qualified knowledge from study or titled in PhD. However, very soon you'll realise the most practical book is the one that the Author himself had many years of successful practical experience before writing. Such books are precious. If you can learn one thing from "Mr Wee" or "Mr Lee" is better than you take years to learn from mistakes (on your own) or learn a thousand things from self-proclaimed people or writers. You can never learn how to do business from the advise of a 60 year old retired "failed businessman". Nowadays, any person with certain knowledge can write a book, autobiography or blog.
One English author commented about the formation Qi of a building in Arab country and lamented the lack of backing. Quoted some classics from 'Xue Xin Fu" or "Ping Yang". This is as a lack of practical cumulative experience in a given situation. If he stays long enough in a given similar situation, he will understand “乾坤成列”and shouldn't be too quick to penned it down.
Another Chinese author (or many) wrote books about placement of things to prevent 'sha' or placements of things to activate wealth etc. However, those examples given were based on a specific situation. There were missing ingredients here and there too. Many people adopting such methods as read are still confused. Some specific methods or formulas written but failed to link up the essence of that which works leading to many people assuming that they have picked up gold. This self-deception depending on each individual will soon comes to light. Fortunate ones will be that it hasn't done much damage. The unfortunate would be too confused or entangled to come out of it. As a summary, knowledge is stringed and linked together. If there's a missing link here or there, it will never be complete.
When in history, the classic scripts were tampered with in order to bring disasters to the invaders who acquired it, sifting the chaff from the wheat needs time and due diligence.
Moreover, to understand classic chinese writing is another hurdle.
In addition, the calibre, maturity and exposure of the writer: A philospher is always a theorectical loudspeaker. An IQ with 110 cannot be compared to a master with an IQ of 135. A master filled with greed cannot be compared with one filled with humbleness. An adamant one cannot be compared with a persuant of eternal endless acquirement of knowledge. Knowledge is endless, we are but not even dust among the stars. No master/practitioner should make any claims or iterate that they are "there". Masters should be magnanimous in the continuance to help people with the skill and to excel by pursuing further. If the skill is not tested and proven, they should refrain from using or putting in books.
Whether books or courses are quite similar. Firstly if a master is that good, he will have very little time to write books or teach because he should be spending time helping people (On the contrary, old masters who penned down their experience are very valuable). Ask the genuine master straight away to 'swear' and give you the actual working formula and most of them will not give up the secret easily which they took years or decades to discover themselves (as an example). In fact their learning and discovery process went through with much hardships and numerous practical experience to see it working. Also many good masters are concern how these skills are being used. That is why, great masters have few students because the heart and conscience of their potential students need to be observed and tested. It is feared that such skills be used for personal gain and evil doings.
Lets talk about courses. There are many being conducted in Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia, China and etc. Many schools have claimed lineage with different reputable 'masters'.
Many 'teachers' in these courses charge from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousand of dollars teaching from just one course and/or a few advance courses. So what's the implications? Obviously the master/teacher's objective is to make money. Poor students! Are you learning the translations and explanations or learning the secrets that work and the unrevelling of the scripts? And should you be charged at such a high price?
One may wonder why 'masters' became teachers/lecturers instead of using the skill to help people. One possibility is that teaching is easier because its all theory without having to prove the results immediately. In addition, if the teacher give references to classics scripts, then on what and who's standardised authority is the translation be based on? There were countless examples of a passage of a script that each and every master disagree with. Some even corrected the script or change the words instead to suit their interpretation. One of the suggestion to students is to ask their teacher to demonstrate on student's life or home before commencement of course. Usually, most results can be observed from immediate to within 2 weeks. Thus, a master who teaches may not be an effective master on the ground. It is more appropriate to look for a master who practises what he teaches. To show a student real life experiences on the ground, how to apply the theories rather than just pure "talk". So be careful of what you learn in a classroom or course. Whether it works or not will be in question.
Secondly, we must honestly examine ourselves whether we have the cut/ calibre to learn something. Some people went into investments, investing in properties, buying stocks and shares when they saw other people making money. In which the basic criteria, they didn't understand and fulfil the need of foundation on discipline, controlled greed, timing of the market, planning of their cash flow and etc leading to heavy losses ultimately.
A student who learns internal boxing does not have the basic understanding first to understand quietness before movement will never have the patience to finish the course. Otherwise, he will always complain that internal boxing cannot be used to spar.
In my personal view, masters who knew the truth have immense responsibility towards writing or teaching others. (And those who are not sure should not anyhow write their interpretations). Keen learners shouldn't be too quick to judge nor condemn on any masters or practitioners too (who are not greed driven). There are still some honest, hardworking, not so gifted, with a sincere heart master still out there. They should be applauded for their efforts and not be underestimated due to their lack of marketing or advertising exposure.
As for Masters with long practising experience and fame, shouldn't be too proud nor greedy either. By tagging the consultation or course with a high fee, such masters integrity is questionable. There is always the saying, “一山还有一山高”.
Therefore any DIY should be done under the watchful eye or approval of a skilled master.