Vastu in 10 Simple Lessons [Paperback]

Bilkis Whelan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2002

Vastu is an ancient Indian science concerned with the arrangement and organization of living and working space. Its aim is to create harmony between people and their environment. Like their feng shui counterparts, Vastu practitioners believe that people should try to fit into the natural flow of universal energy, and that everyone's life can be enhanced by the knowledge and practice of certain key principles. However, that's where the similarity between these two sciences end. Vastu combines architecture, mathematics, geometry, astrology, and philosophy to form an intriguing scientific template that anyone can use to enhance their life. Vastu in 10 Simple Lessons shows readers how to use ancient Vastu principles to arrange their workplace for productivity and prosperity, "clear the air" with incense and herbs, create a Vastu-inspired courtyard in their gardens, and incorporate their unique individiual style within the family home. They'll also learn the best arrangement of living rooms, dining rooms, and bedrooms, as well as the best places in the home for staircases, doors, and even storerooms and garages. Entertaining and easy to understand, Vastu in 10 Simple Lessons is the first book with a jargon-free approach to an age-old science that aims to fill every reader's life with happiness, harmony, and peace.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Vastu shastra, which originated in Hindu traditions, aims to provide comfortable homes through a systematic approach to building and design. Whelan breaks down the principles of Vastu in a way that clearly and succinctly explains their use in the home, garden, and workplace. For a more comprehensive treatment of the subject, Kathleen Cox's Vastu Living is recommended, but this book is useful as an introduction to this design system. Recommended for large public libraries.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Bilkis Whelan has been working as a Vastu consultant for over 10 years. She also practices feng shui, so she is ideally suited to compare and contrast the two principles. She is a regular contributor to I magazine and is working to set up the first international Vastu website. She lives in London, England.

Product Details

• Paperback: 142 pages
• Publisher: Watson-Guptill Publications (April 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823055914
• ISBN-13: 978-0823055913
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 8.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,153,014 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A starter book, October 15, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Vastu in 10 Simple Lessons (Paperback)

Indian philosophy believes in living in harmony with all elements of nature. There is also a belief that a natural flow of energy exists which should not be blocked and that all elements- living or non-living- should be aligned in a way to facilitate this flow of energy.

Vaastu shastra is an old Indian text that contains the principles of building construction and placements of objects within it, in accordance with the principles above. But in view of the religious nature of the Indian people, this text explains these principles more in terms of Gods rather than energy. It uses eight directions instead of just the cardinal four. This ancient text contains instructions on things like the shape of the plot, timing of construction, placement of various rooms around the house, home decoration and even the direction in which the inhabitants sleep.

"Vastu in 10 simple lessons" has been written as a starter book. Ancient Indian text allows some flexibility and suggests some alternatives, but only to a certain degree. The author, on the other hand, allows wide latitude- maybe rightly so. After all, the rules of vaastu are not binding but are suggestions. The more principles the readers incorporate, the better- vaastu shastra claims- will be their life. The author explains various principles in context of their traditional significance and relevance to modern day life. Some people confuse Vaastu shastra with feng shui. In spite of the goal being the same, the principles in these two tomes are entirely different and may be at conflict with one another. The practitioners can practice one or the other but not both. This books would be a decent starting point for anyone interested in the science of vaastu.

2.0 out of 5 stars Ne pas habiter les espérances de upto, September 5, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Vastu in 10 Simple Lessons (Paperback)

J'a acheté ce livre avec beaucoup d'espoir et espérance. J'ai lu beaucoup d'autres livres de vaastu et ceci était un autre celui dans le feuilleton. Malheureusement ce livre n'habite pas jusqu'à les espérances. En premier lieu, ce vaastu de marques de livre très flexible et permet à l'utilisateur pour faire comme il/elle plaît. Ce livre semble geared vers plaire l'auditoire et donner les une illusion qui ils practicing vaastu tandis qu'ils en fait ne sont pas. Le généreux pages, caractères et images sont signifié impressionner l'utilisateur. Une autre inexactitude, que je considère une insulte à la religion de Hindu (Hinduism est où Vaastu est venu de), était qu'il montre un symbole Nazi et dit le lecteur qui c'est un symbole de Hindu. Ce livre n'est pas recommandé. Mieux dépense cet argent sur les livres de vaastu plus authentiques.

2.0 out of 5 stars Does not live upto expectations, September 5, 2002

By 

Recipedelights-dot-com-chef (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vastu in 10 Simple Lessons (Paperback)

I bought this book with a lot of hope and expectation. I have read many other vaastu books and this was another one in the series. Unfortunately this book does not live up to expectations. For one thing, this book makes vaastu very flexible and allows user to do as he/she pleases. This book seems geared towards pleasing the audience and giving them an illusion that they are practicing vaastu whereas they actually are not. The lavish pages, print and pictures are meant to impress the user. Another inaccuracy, which I consider an insult to Hindu religion (Hinduism is where Vaastu came from), was that it shows a Nazi symbol and tells the reader that it is a Hindu symbol. This book is not recommended. Better spend that money on more authentic vaastu books.