[[4.] Chinese Altar: Good position for Guanyin altar at new home & dangers of constantly breathing joss fumes]

Dear Master, thank you for your kind advice, let me summarize as follows to make sure I'm getting it right:

1. position A is most ideal (as it looks out into the balcony?), but because of the limited space - 43cm wide by 24/43cm deep, it may not be a comfortably large enough space for Guanyin.

2. Position B is second best, only cons is the incense fumes going into the rooms. I'll like to assure that we offer incense twice a day - most people will be out in the morning, and not back yet in the evening when this happens. We would also make sure all windows are opened for better air circulation when there are people in the house.

3. Position L can also be considered although it's in the balcony (it'll be against a concrete wall, no balcony windows on the right, perhaps only outdoor blinds) and we may dry clothes at the balcony, say position Y?

4. Position C is not preferred at all.

Considering the above, we may go for position B.
Appreciate your kind advice, thanks.

Quote

On 3/8/2015 7:51:40 PM, Anonymous wrote:
These are some considerations:
In my opinion, it is
considered inauspicious for an
altar to face "inwards" into
the home. For example, if one
visits or pass by any of SGP's
Minister's landed property
home; the Gurkha Guard is
always "facing" outwards but
not into the home.
Thus, drawing a parallel; this
is why marking "B" is a
politically correct position.
Just imagine; the "guards =
god(s)" is not looking into
the home i.e. the kitchen, the
bedrooms - where some sort of
business is done or "see into
the toilet(s)".
Is like when one walks into
the room; the guard(s) or god
"stand at an attention and
even "salute" with their
rifle. Thus on paper marking D
and X and Y are again
"politically correct"
locations also. And share the
same significance as what was
mentioned, above - similar to
marking "B".
However, as you have pointed
out; because of the afternoon
sun; it is considered
"disrespectful" for the god to
be placed a locations "X" and
"Y".
The last resort is locatio
"L". Even if it seems to be
facing into the house as in
"C". But because it is at the
balcony. here we should expect
the "god" to know what to do.
As one has given her; an
alternative view. She can look
to her "right" and this
position is also considered as
"sitting on mountain facing
water (virtual water) air".
The best position WAS marking
"A". But this is too tight for
an altar be it the width and
the depth. As often, you need
also to pray with fruits etc..
And no way the God can be
place here "comfortably". Else
if the depth is to deep; as a
traditional altar table depth
is around 24". And the
minimium is 16". I believe
those "egged" shaped or oval
shaped wall mounted "Guan Yin"
altar may not have enough
width clearance also.
Avoid placing shoes or shoe
cabinet in the lower cabinet
of the altar.
Another last resort is placing
the altar at "E" within a
partition facing the main
door. But, there are several
criticisms for this:
1. If main door directly faces
neighbour's door; some Chinese
neighbour may suddenly place a
convex ba gua mirror above
their door; as to some; this
is considered a "threat" to
their home. Thus some may take
such "counter-measures".
2. Some may consider that this
is disrespectful to the god as
one is "deploying" the god as
a "door keeper" e.g. a guard
much like a condo guard;
"taking down" one's
particulars before the guest
enters into the home.
3. In addition, this unit is
too small and the partition
can be like knife slicing
towards the dining table or
dining chair. And this
partition should not "slice"
towards any of the foyer hall
into the bedroom.
4. Position "B" seems no
choice. As if one do a search
in the internet for "lung
cancer + lighting up joss
sticks" can find an article of
a study done in Singapore when
it was found that there was
some correlation to lung
cancer and "frequent lighting
up of joss sticks".
If intends to light up (alot)
at "B"; and if there are
elderly family or (even young)
staying in the house most of
the time; then this is a
concern as some of the smoke
from the joss sticks wil
certainly flow into the
bedroom(s). Some say they use
electronic joss sticks? To
some may not be acceptable.
If one hangs or intends to
hang cloths to dry in the
yard; then looks like there is
limited area to place an urn
etc... But, if one uses say a
washing machine dryer and hang
clothes to dry only at the
balcony and there is no altar
at A or Y; then could be
considered. In the past, there
is space above the fridge;
leave some gap; then an
"altar" can be placed there
except for things like Guan
Yin or Guan Kong etc...
Please see attachment

Quote

On 3/8/2015 7:20:57 PM, Anonymous wrote:
Dear Master
We'll be moving to a new flat
soon, and would like to
consult you on a good altar
position for our Guanyin which
we'll be moving over from
current house. Pls see our
unit layout as attached.
There are 3 potential
positions we're looking at:
A: right next to main door,
with adjacent DB (databox)
which cannot be relocated.
Width is only 48cm between
main door and DB.
B: with bomb shelter as
backing, outside kitchen.
C: immediate position adjacent
to main door when it's fully
opened
All positions do not get the
sun.
Other questions:
1. Is it not advisable to have
the shoe cabinet next or under
the altar? Really tight on
space to entertain this
thought.
2. We also have a small
?V????
(which we offer incense twice
daily) that we currently place
at our balcony, sheltered from
rain. New unit's balcony will
not be sheltered, so we
thought of moving it to our
service yard, which will have
a window that protects it from
natural elements. Is it
advisable to place it at the
service yard? There will be a
washing machine opposite it,
and clothes hanging to dry
next to it, but not over it.
Alternatively, can we do away
with it totally?
Appreciate very much your kind
advice on the above, thanks.

[[4.] Chinese Altar: Good position for Guanyin altar at new home & dangers of constantly breathing joss fumes]

Dear Master
We'll be moving to a new flat soon, and would like to consult you on a good altar position for our Guanyin which we'll be moving over from current house. Pls see our unit layout as attached.
There are 3 potential positions we're looking at:
A: right next to main door, with adjacent DB (databox) which cannot be relocated. Width is only 48cm between main door and DB.
B: with bomb shelter as backing, outside kitchen.
immediate position adjacent to main door when it's fully opened
All positions do not get the sun.
Other questions:
1. Is it not advisable to have the shoe cabinet next or under the altar? Really tight on space to entertain this thought.
2. We also have a small (which we offer incense twice daily) that we currently place at our balcony, sheltered from rain. New unit's balcony will not be sheltered, so we thought of moving it to our service yard, which will have a window that protects it from natural elements. Is it advisable to place it at the service yard? There will be a washing machine opposite it, and clothes hanging to dry next to it, but not over it. Alternatively, can we do away with it totally?
Appreciate very much your kind advice on the above, thanks.