Medicine Dharma Reiki

Medicine Dharma Reiki

The purpose of this Medicine Dharma Reiki Web Page is to help the public have a better understanding of Men Chhos Rei Kei, based on information available in April 2003, so that anyone considering studying the MDR material realizes the truth of the origins of the material, and can make the decision of whether to pursue such studies adequately informed.
Until January 2003, Medicine Dharma Reiki (Men Chhos Rei Kei) was posted as a healing discipline said by its head, Richard Blackwell, to be based on ancient Buddhist texts and the actual written notes of Mikao Usui. The book Medicine Dharma Reiki, written by Richard Blackwell, states Mikao Usui's notes were rediscovered in 1994 among other Buddhist texts purchased by Richard Blackwell's father in Japan after World War II. Not mentioned in the book, and unknown by most, is that since the inception of Men Chhos Rei Kei (Medicine Dharma Reiki) in 1994, research has been on-going in an attempt to verify the teachings from both within the student group and from outside. Requests to have Mikao Usui's papers examined by an independent party, or even viewed by anyone other than Richard Blackwell and the "translation committee" in Taiwan, were repeatedly denied. Even requests to examine photocopies of the papers have been denied, and always answered for 9 years with the reply that the papers would be available "next year," when the translations were complete. When the next year arrived, there was always an excuse for the papers to not be available until the following year, and continued questioning resulted in a wrathful response. In December 2002, Richard Blackwell claimed the actual papers would all be available for review in May 2003, but in March 2003 he changed the date to the summer of 2003.
In the last few months of 2002, the investigations reached a climax as students and previous students world wide came together for the first time as a group to question the origins of the material and to share new information and information that had been collected in previous investigations. Unfortunately, no direct evidence or documentation was forthcoming to prove the existence of Dr. Usui's papers, notes, letters and texts. In fact, evidence to the contrary appeared. In November 2002, a witness from 1994 shared that Richard Blackwell originally said the material was obtained via channeling, and that shortly thereafter the story about the original papers was developed to make the material more easily accepted by the Reiki community. According to the witness, the question of ethics was mentioned in creating such a story and the benefits outweighing the questionable origin was given as a reason to continue with the story that actual papers existed. In January 2003, another individual shared copies of tapes containing "the channeling" by Richard Blackwell. The tapes have been verified by several students as being Richard Blackwell's voice and on the tapes Richard Blackwell clearly states it is Dr. Usui speaking, now disincarnate, in at least one location, and on another he talks about his student Dr. Wantanabe, and he clearly states that the "original papers" were "destroyed in the burning of Tokyo", (see later link), and that the channeling is a reproduction of the material that was contained on those papers. Therefore, at this time, the conclusion of the investigations to date is that the papers do not exist in the physical realm, but in the mind. And it would also appear unlikely that it is Dr. Usui being channeled, if the story about actual papers was conceived as a cover story after the channeling began.
Despite the fact that many of the previous MDR students found value and benefit from the Medicine Dharma Reiki teachings, not to mention "miracles" occuring for some students and their clients after starting the practice, there are serious doubts about the material actually being channeled from Dr. Usui for numerous reasons that become evident when listening to the tapes. To most who reviewed the tapes, it appeared the material was simply dictated and created by Richard Blackwell, with brief episodes of a Scottish type accent that quickly reverted back to Richard Blackwell's own voice. Overall the tapes appeared to be a compilation of information learned from his years of Buddhist and other studies, as well as Richard Blackwell's innate understanding of the healing fields, and perhaps some channeling from an unknown source, although the latter is much in doubt. Repeated requests have been made for Richard Blackwell to explain the details of the origins but as of March 2003 he still claims the papers are real, and denies the existence of the tapes, although in March 2003 he admitted that the papers did not come from his father. (see his Rinpoche's letter in response to an excerpt of the tapes being placed on this site)
Since some individuals still want to study and teach the MDR material, it is hoped some day the exact details of the origins of each part will be provided by Richard Blackwell so that the real origins of Reiki will not be confused by these stories, and those who are using the information will know where it really came from. This is especially important when presented as Buddhist teachings. The material was of benefit to many, and advertising it as coming from Dr. Usui was perhaps a disservice to the material and to Reiki. It could have been allowed to stand or fall on its own, especially if it is considered of such benefit that the benefit justifies a teacher fabricating the origins to their students, some of whom spent tens of thousands of dollars and traveled around the world to receive the teachings. Even after the witness testified Richard Blackwell said it was channeled, many had trouble believing/hoping it was not from Mikao Usui until hearing the tapes, as the material worked so well for so many to aid their healing practice. However, it is now believed that it helped because much of the early material was based on Buddhist practices which have been around thousands of years, and are still around because they worked. Similar practices can be studied numerous places, not just in MDR, and at much less cost.
Therefore, based on current information, the following is a more appropriate definition of MDR and UHR than those previously indicated on the original official Medicine Dharma Reiki web site, maintained by students, which was closed in November 2002. It is also suggested that anyone considering studying the system review the letter Richard Blackwell sent to MDR students in response to student investigations and this web site. According to the new MDR coordinator, Richard Blackwell asked that this letter be posted, so we are including it on this site. The letter lists some of the previously undisclosed rules one is demanded to adhere to if studying and teaching the system, as well as giving you a glimpse of some of the challenges of studying with such a teacher. As was noted on the original official MDR web page prior to 2003, Richard Blackwell is known to be challenging and difficult. Students were originally told this was part of being a wrathful Lama, or a crazy wisdom Lama, now it is not certain what to say, except do the proper research before studying with a teacher and be informed. At this point all attempts to independently validate his training as a Lama and recognition as a Rinpoche have found no record of him, and requests to Richard Blackwell for the proper information to validate his authority to teach following normal Buddhist protocol, i.e. the information needed to contact his teachers, have been denied. More is contained in this site on that topic. Also, the school he claims to have received his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from in the 1970s, Georgetown University, did not begin giving Ph.D.s in clinical psychology until the mid 1980s. So they said they could not have given him a degree in that field under any name before the 1980s, and even then, they only had the degree program for a short time. Titles and degrees are not important for developing a beneficial healing system, Mikao Usui did not have them, but this certainly complicates the situation for anyone who may be considering studying with such a teacher. Is this a lesson to see past the illusions of titles and degrees and origins of teachings, or is this a significant indication of a serious problem? It should at the very least be a sign to look deeper. Pursuing teachings with such an individual may offer many more lessons than one expects, in many areas, on many levels.
However, the overall goal of this page is to attempt to help those who may be considering studying MDR know what students previous to 2003 did not know, the origins of MDR, so that those individuals can determine if they wish to pursue the MDR studies based on MDR's own merit, and not because they believe the material is based on original papers from Mikao Usui. So that MDR can rise or fall on its own merit.
Suggested definitions April 2003
Medicine Dharma Reiki is a healing discipline developed by its founder, Richard Blackwell. It appears to be based on a combination of Buddhist and other healing practices, lectures on healing theories formulated from Richard Blackwell's years of researching Buddhist and other healing practices as well as his own experience with same, and possibly some channeled information. It includes 3 levels of attunements developed / channeled by Richard Blackwell.
Universal Healing Reiki is a healing discipline developed by Richard Blackwell, as a secular system drawn from Medicine Dharma Reiki through research into Reiki, its history and / or channeling. This system reflects and emulates the 3 levels of traditional Reiki.

(Answer to FAQ: Richard Blackwell has had Reiki attunements from a recognized (Alliance) Reiki Master, but we do not know to what level he was attuned. MDR was developed several years before he received the attunement. He agreed to allow the attunement when students in the late 90's insisted he must have an official Reiki attunement in order to have an official connection with the Reiki lineage.)
Open To:
Excerpt from one of the channeled tapes with Richard Blackwell stating actual papers from Dr. Usui do not exist
Letter from Richard Blackwell in response to this web page, lists current official contact person for MDR
Article from the German Reiki Magazin relating to the cancellation of publication of Medicine Dharma Reiki
Additional Information

Web site with information about Medicine Buddha and locations to receive teachings on Medicine Buddha. This is not related to Men Chhos Reiki, but is a place one can seek further information about learning about Medicine Buddha and Buddhist Practices .
Tibetan Medicine Resources
Description: Traditional teachings, spiritual basis of Tibetan medicine, news, resources. Maintained by Terry... Category: Health > Alternative > Tibetan Medicine www.dharma-haven.org/tibetan/medicine.htm- 25k - Cached - Similar pages

Book suggested by previous MDR students
For anyone who wishes to continue their Buddhist / healing practise, a book we would highly recommend is "Ultimate Healing" by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Wisdom Pubs. ISBN 0-86171-195-5 $16.95. This book covers the Medicine Buddha teachings in a simple eloquent way, and even includes a blessing of water for use in healing It is an excellent book which we recommend to anyone interested.

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