What is Reiki: Introduction

• Reiki is universal life force energy; originally used by Tibetan monks for self healing.
• In the mid 1800's, the healing Reiki energy was rediscovered by Mikao Usui, who developed the techniques used today for Reiki treatment.
• Reiki is a bio-energetic technique. The practitioner draws the energy into his/her body and then transfers this energy into the body of another.
• The ability to flow the Reiki energy is acquired through a process (attunement or initiation) done by the Reiki Master.
• The energy is safe and non-invasive and transferred by lightly placing hands on or above the body.
• Reiki energy will go through your clothing and will feel warm and relaxing.
• Reiki increases energy, helps balance body/ mind/ spirit, supports and accelerates the body's natural healing system, and promotes peace and well-being.
• Reiki is good for stress reduction, chronic pain, disease, breaks, emotional or mental upset, PMS, etc.

Ancient Origins of Reiki and its History & Development

Reiki has its origins in ancient Tibet. Tibetan lamas meditated on symbols that raised their consciousness, heightened their awareness, and purified their body and mind. The techniques were passed on by word of mouth from monk to monk.

Mikao Usui became a Buddhist monk teaching in Kyoto, Japan and had was fluent in Chinese, English, and Sanskrit. He also attended the University of Chicago and was unsuccessful in finding information in Christian writings about hands on healing techniques. Mikao Usui rediscovered the Reiki symbols in a Sanskrit text and was the founder of the Usui Shiki Ryoho.

He returned to Japan and decided to travel to the Holy Mountain Kurimaja to fast and meditate for 21 days, hoping to gain contact with a level of consciousness that he had discovered in some Sanskrit formulas and old Buddhist sutra symbols.

At the top of the mountain, Mikao Usui placed 21 stones in order to mark the passage of time. He spent his time on the mountain reading the sutras, singing, and meditating each day discarding one stone over the mountainside. Nothing unusual happened until the final day when he saw a shining light moving towards him at great speed. It became larger and larger until it hit him in the center of the forehead. Mikao Usui was conscious of millions of little bubbles in all the colors of the rainbow, and a great white light appeared he saw the little known Sanskrit symbols in front of him glowing in shining gold. This was the birth of Reiki as we know it under Mikao Usui.

When he returned to a normal state of consciousness, the sun was shining brightly and he felt an elation of spirit, a sense of strength and energy despite the fact that he had been fasting for three weeks. In his rush off the mountain, Mikao Usui stubbed his toe harshly on a rock and fell to the ground as his toe began to bleed.

Instinctively the monk grabbed hold of his foot with both hands, and in a few minutes the bleeding and pain disappeared miraculously.

Finally at the base of the mountain, Mikao Usui stopped at an inn to eat his first meal in 21 days. The innkeeper was well aware of the dangers of eating a large meal after fasting and warned Mikao Usui to be mindful of this fact. However, Mikao Usui was able to eat a large Japanese breakfast without any adverse affects whatsoever. This was the second miracle, to complete a trio there was one more to come that day.

It seems the inkeepers granddaughter had been suffering from a bad toothache for the past few days. Remembering how easily his toe had healed using touch, Mikao Usui laid his hands on the child's swollen face and she immediately felt better.

Elated with his finding Mikao Usui returned to his monastery, but soon decided he would go to the beggar's part of Kyoto to treat their illnesses and help them lead better lives. He spent the next seven years with them, successfully healing the community. However, one day Mikao Usui noticed that the same old faces kept returning. Baffled, he asked the healed beggars why they had not begun a new life, and was told that working was too troublesome, that it was better to go on begging.

Mikao Usui was deeply shaken and wept. He suddenly realized he had overlooked something of great importance in his healing work: namely to teach the beggars gratitude. In the following days he thought out the Reiki principles as we know them today.

Soon afterwards, Mikao Usui left the beggars' quarters and returned to the main section of Kyoto , where he kindled a large torch, and dramatically posed with it in the streets. When people asked what he was doing, he replied, he was looking for people in search of the true light, people who were ill and oppressed, and longed to be healed. This was the beginning of a new part of Mikao Usui's life where he travelled around teaching Reiki to those who would listen.

What is interesting to remember is that per Mikao Usui, that Reiki calligraphy was used only for self-development in meditation and spiritual purification. With Mikao Usui's discovery and also since then, the reiki system has undergone many changes. Although the calligraphy has remained basically the same, revisions have been done to make them appeal to the Western mind.

Mr. Mikao Usui is now buried in a Kyoto, with the story of his life written on his gravestone. It is said that his grave was honored by the Emperor of Japan. One of Mikao Usui's closest followers was Dr. Chijiro Hayashi, who succeeded Usui as Reiki Grand Master. Until 1940, Hayashi ran a private Reiki clinic in Tokyo , where unusually severe illness and disease were treated with Reiki. This clinic is where Hawayo Takato first received Reiki treatments that led to her study with Dr. Hayashi. After these studies, Takata returned to Hawaii and was made a Reiki Master by Hayashi when he visited her in 1938 and she became the third Grand Master upon his death. Takata lived and healed in Hawaii and began training Reiki Masters when she was 74. In 1980, Takata passed away leaving 22 Reiki Masters in the U.S. and Canada . She was succeeded as Grand Reiki Master by her granddaughter Phyllis Furmoto.