History of Reiki
MEANING OF REIKI: In Japanese the kanji (or character) Rei means holy, nature, spirit, sacred, gift. The kanji for Ki translates to energy. While there are several schools of Reiki, the style we practice is called Usui Shiki Ryoho, which roughly translates to "Usui's method of natural healing".
THE STORY OF THE MIRACLES:
Reiki was popluarized or rediscoverd by Mikao Usui in the late 1800s and early 1900s. There are many stories about how Sensei Usui gained his knowledge of reiki, but most agree on certain things: He was a Buddhist Monk in Japan during the Meiji Restoration. On the final day of a 21-day fasting retreat on Mt. Kurama, he had and epiphany. He saw the Reiki energy coming straight towards his third-eye. It struck him,leaving him unconcious or in an altered state of mind, and he was shown the sacred healing symbols and how to use them. He awoke, and while he was running back to his temple to tell his teacher of his discovery, he stubbed his toe on a rock. He instinctively put his hand on the toe and it healed very quickly, with the pain and bleeding stopping almost immediately (Miracle 1). On the way to the Temple he stopped at an inn and, against the advice of the innkeeper, ordered a very large meal, one that should have made him ill after fasting for 21 days, but he remained healthy (Miracle 2). A lady working at the inn (possibly the innkeepers granddaughter) was sick from an infected tooth and he healed her in thanks (Miracle 3).
Some stories tell of a fourth miracle, where upon arriving at his temple he found his teacher to be bedridden, and healed him as well.
WHAT FOLLOWED:
Orangized religion outside of Shintoism was banned at this time, and practicing Buddhism or Reiki publicly could have landed him in jail, or worse. Usui Sensei quietly developed a system for using and teaching his "palm healing". He catered to the poor and deformed and healed many of them physically, and taught his students in secret. Eventually he was able to travel throughout Japan and China, healing and teaching his people. He opened many clinics because of the overwhelming number of people interested in learning Reiki. Dr. Usui spread this system of healing to many people. It is said that he was a very warm, generous, and caring man. Dr. Usui died of a stroke in 1926, after having taught approximately 16 'Masters' or Teachers. One of them was a navy officer, Dr. Chujiro Hayashi.
Dr. Hayashi, with his wife, opened a clinic where he focused on the hand positions (i.e. what hand position helped what ailment), and the "three level" system of reiki training that we commonly use now. War World II was coming and Dr. Hayashi knew that he would be called to war. Because of his peaceful nature and desire only to heal others and never harm another, he is said by some to have simply left his body during his final workshop, and by others to have commited Seppukku, a traditional method of honorable suicide by dosembowelment. Before he died (in 1940) he had trained 13 Master Teachers, including Hawyao Takata.
REIKI IN AMERICA:
THE STORY OF THE MIRACLES:
Reiki was popluarized or rediscoverd by Mikao Usui in the late 1800s and early 1900s. There are many stories about how Sensei Usui gained his knowledge of reiki, but most agree on certain things: He was a Buddhist Monk in Japan during the Meiji Restoration. On the final day of a 21-day fasting retreat on Mt. Kurama, he had and epiphany. He saw the Reiki energy coming straight towards his third-eye. It struck him,leaving him unconcious or in an altered state of mind, and he was shown the sacred healing symbols and how to use them. He awoke, and while he was running back to his temple to tell his teacher of his discovery, he stubbed his toe on a rock. He instinctively put his hand on the toe and it healed very quickly, with the pain and bleeding stopping almost immediately (Miracle 1). On the way to the Temple he stopped at an inn and, against the advice of the innkeeper, ordered a very large meal, one that should have made him ill after fasting for 21 days, but he remained healthy (Miracle 2). A lady working at the inn (possibly the innkeepers granddaughter) was sick from an infected tooth and he healed her in thanks (Miracle 3).
Some stories tell of a fourth miracle, where upon arriving at his temple he found his teacher to be bedridden, and healed him as well.
WHAT FOLLOWED:
Orangized religion outside of Shintoism was banned at this time, and practicing Buddhism or Reiki publicly could have landed him in jail, or worse. Usui Sensei quietly developed a system for using and teaching his "palm healing". He catered to the poor and deformed and healed many of them physically, and taught his students in secret. Eventually he was able to travel throughout Japan and China, healing and teaching his people. He opened many clinics because of the overwhelming number of people interested in learning Reiki. Dr. Usui spread this system of healing to many people. It is said that he was a very warm, generous, and caring man. Dr. Usui died of a stroke in 1926, after having taught approximately 16 'Masters' or Teachers. One of them was a navy officer, Dr. Chujiro Hayashi.
Dr. Hayashi, with his wife, opened a clinic where he focused on the hand positions (i.e. what hand position helped what ailment), and the "three level" system of reiki training that we commonly use now. War World II was coming and Dr. Hayashi knew that he would be called to war. Because of his peaceful nature and desire only to heal others and never harm another, he is said by some to have simply left his body during his final workshop, and by others to have commited Seppukku, a traditional method of honorable suicide by dosembowelment. Before he died (in 1940) he had trained 13 Master Teachers, including Hawyao Takata.
REIKI IN AMERICA:
Suggested Reading
The Japanese Art of Reiki: A Practical Guide to Self Healing
The Original Reiki Handbook of Dr. Mikao Usui
Healing Wise
Reiki for Beginners
Reiki for the Heart and Soul: The Reiki Priciples as Spiritual Pathwork
Shamanic Reiki: Expanded Ways of Working With Universal Life Force Energy
You Can Heal Your Life
Hands of Light
Wheels of Life, A User's Guide to the Chakra System
Reiki for Dummies
Essential Reiki: A complete Guide to an Ancient Healing Art
The Original Reiki Handbook of Dr. Mikao Usui
Healing Wise
Reiki for Beginners
Reiki for the Heart and Soul: The Reiki Priciples as Spiritual Pathwork
Shamanic Reiki: Expanded Ways of Working With Universal Life Force Energy
You Can Heal Your Life
Hands of Light
Wheels of Life, A User's Guide to the Chakra System
Reiki for Dummies
Essential Reiki: A complete Guide to an Ancient Healing Art
Copyright 2012 MaryBeth Haslam-Houck and Hands of Light Reiki - Use with permission.