Articles on Reiki Ryoho Page 9
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Japanese Reiki Techniques part 2 Japanese Reiki Techniques part 3 The History of Reiki - Japanese style What Is Reiki... Really? Defining Reiki |
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Japanese Reiki Techniques part 2 Japanese Reiki Techniques part 3 The History of Reiki - Japanese style What Is Reiki... Really? Defining Reiki |
PREVIOUS ARTICLES |
Japanese Reiki Techniques part 2 Published in the November 1999 issue of "The Messenger"
This is the second article referencing the Reiki workshop attended by Light and Adonea in Vancouver, BC in August, ’99.
On Saturday morning, we learned the empowerment that is very close to Usui Sensei’s original one that he used to connect his students to the energy stream of Reiki. There was much discussion and questions about the differences and similarities between it and the westernized attunements. Of course, the symbols of Reiki were brought up numerous times, and Mr. Doi answered simply. He said that the Japanese teachers in the Gakkai do not give much attention to symbols. They do indeed attune a student to the symbols, but they downplay their importance, stating that they are but tools in helping students to feel/sense the energy should they not be so sensitive to subtle energies. The symbols were compared to ‘training wheels’ on a bicycle. Helpful at first, but if not removed later, they become a hindrance, and limit a student’s sense of feeling. It was further explained that symbols are mostly used on students who are not sensitive to energy, and by drawing the symbols and intending to feel the difference of vibrations between them, that student is then developing his/her sense of feeling, and therefore weaned away from the symbols immediately. The Japanese feel that western practitioners place too much importance on the symbols, and that they seem to be a source of contention between practitioners. We then were given an opportunity to practice the empowerments, which are called Rei-ju. At first, I can personally say that I didn’t feel much, but each empowerment that I received, the energy kept building, and after a few, I felt it like ‘gang-busters’. We were taught the seven hand positions that are taught by the Gakkai, but then found out that Usui Sensei originally had five positions. We also learned and practiced the paired hand positions... when two practitioners are treating one recipient. That was interesting, because there are some positions that are very different from any that we have seen, even as taught in the states.
Throughout the remainder of the Saturday and Sunday class, we learned techniques that are taught to students of Reiki to assist the spiritual growth, as well as speed their sensitivity to Reiki. Perhaps the most important techniques was Hatsurei-ho (strengthens energy channels and raises vibrational rates). This is taught to second level students and is performed at all gatherings/classes. Students are also urged to practice this technique often each day to help them to increase the quantity of energy they can access and pass on. Here is the step-by-step procedure:
There will be more information from the workshop in next month’s publication.
Japanese Reiki Techniques part 3 Published in the December 1999 issue of "The Messenger"
This is the third and last article referencing the Reiki workshop attended by Light and Adonea in Vancouver, BC in August, ’99.
Some of the techniques that we saw and learned were: Hand Positions, Byosen Reikan-ho (detecting energy sources of diseases), Hatsurei-ho (spiritual energizing/practiced in every level), Nentatsu-ho (communicating with subconscious), Jakikiri Joka-ho (purifying negative energy), Kenyoku-ho (dry bathing or brushing off), Chakra Kassel Kokyu-ho (breath-Chakra activation), Hikari no Kokyu-ho (light breathing), Gassho Kokyu-ho (Gassho breathing), Hanshin Chiryo-ho (half body treatment), Reiki Shower; Tanden Chiryo-ho (de-poisoning), and Heso Chiryo-ho (navel healing). Ketsueki Kokan-ho (Blood exchange), [The underlined names are the three most important techniques taught to students for treatment purposes]. Distance Healing is taught in Okuden-Koki, our 3a or Personal Mastery. Other techniques taught in the Japanese lineage of Reiki are: Reiji-ho (placing hands according to intuitive guidance), Koki-ho and Gyoshi-ho (healing with breath and eye-staring), and Giving Reiki to crystals, charms, etc. There are a few more techniques that help to intensify a Reiki treatment: there is Seiheki Chiryo-ho (variation of Nantatsu-ho), Self-Cleansing Healing, Sending Light to Cells of Body, and Solar Image training (integrating symbols); Advanced information about energy healing, understanding ‘enlightenment’, how to use Reiki more efficiently in everyday life, working with Reiki meditation and Usui Sensei’s Reiki Principles, advanced techniques of Uchite Chiryo-ho (patting with hands), Nadete Chiryo-ho (stroking with hands), and Oshite Chiryo-ho (finger pressure). Additionally Sekizui Joka Ibuki-ho (Cleansing the spinal cord with breath), Hado Kokyu-ho (Hara Breathing), Hado Meiso-ho (deep vibrational energy breathing) are learned as advanced techniques that will greatly help a student’s healing methods.
It was stressed strongly, that Reiki in the lower levels of training is taught as a healing technique; to be used primarily on Self to clear blockages in the physical body, and to attain the ability to hold greater amounts of energy within. A student earns the right to gain access to Reiki techniques and higher levels of training through understanding and accomplishment of each of the techniques taught, ability to hold increasing amounts of energy (as determined by the teacher) and the responses of clients to the energy of Reiki. Additionally, students must attend monthly gatherings/classes where they continue to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of what they have learned to date, practice Hatsurei-ho and Meditation, and receive on-going Rei-ju empowerments. There is a greater commitment by the teacher to guide the student step-by-step through each level and to make sure that each student understands the importance of the techniques so later they can be a good teacher. In the upper level of Shinpi-den, Reiki practice continues but more as a discipline that will lead to Enlightenment. It is instilled that Reiki has helped to prepare the body/mind/spirit to be able to access the energy for self-healing purposes, while helping other in their healing process, in greater preparation of gaining Enlightenment. Usui Sensei worked hard at trying to gain Enlightenment and it is only through effort, practice, and commitment that it can be reached. With Usui’s true history finally available, every Reiki practitioner around the world now has the steps that one man used to achieve Satori, showing us that we too can follow in his footsteps and do the same. I commend you, the reader, this path that will lead you to fulfilling your True Purpose as you move back toward the Creator and the Oneness from which we came.
We are now teaching these techniques that are the original instructions of Reiki. We also commit to each student we teach to do on-going work with them, in-person, through the computer internet, or through old-fashioned correspondence. We want to instill in each practitioner of Reiki the principles and knowledge that Usui Sensei received through his Enlightenment, that every practitioner has the same opportunity to reach this most worthy goal.
The History of Reiki - (according to Japanese research) Published in the January 2000 issue of "The Messenger"
"Someone who studies hard and works assiduously to improve body and mind for the sake of becoming a better person is called 'a man of Great Spirit'. People who use that Great Spirit for a social purpose, that is, to teach the right way to many people and do collective good, are called 'teachers'. Dr. Usui was one such teacher. He taught the Reiki of the Universe. Countless people asked him to teach them the great way of Reiki and to heal them." (Taken from the memorial to Usui's virtue. Saihoji Temple, Tokyo)
The story begins on August 15, 1865 with the birth of Mikao Usui (his pen name was Gyoho) in Taniai-mura (now Miyama-cho) Yamagata-gun Gifu-ken. His father was Uzaemon Tsunetane (a military commander) and his mother was from the Kawai family. His ancestor’s name was Tsunetane Chiba (a very famous Samurai from the 8th century). Note to Reiki students: Usui was born in the mid-1800’s; Reiki was not re-discovered by him until much later. In 1869, at the age of 4, it is believed that Usui was sent to a Tendai monastery, where he remained for a period of years. During this time he studied Qi Gong (called Ki-Ko in Japan) to a high level and was able to do projection healing. He also used to meditate regularly at Kurama Yama Temple (near Kyoto). Historic point: Kurama Yama: Yama means mountain and Kurama means horse saddle. Mt. Kurama (570 Meters above sea level) is 12 kilometers due north of Kyoto Imperial Palace. The Kurama Temple, founded in 770 as ‘the guardian of the northern quarter of the capital city’ (Heiankyo). Is located halfway up the mountain. The original buildings have been repeatedly destroyed by fire and subsequently rebuilt. The Main Hall was last rebuilt in 1971. The temple formerly belonged to the Tendai sect of Buddhism, but since 1949, it has been included in the newly founded Kurama-Kokyo sect as its headquarters. Temple schools were quite common prior to this time, but were losing popularity. Usui was extraordinarily gifted academically, but studied under great adversity. He had a very hard life and often lived in poverty. His memorial states that "he traveled abroad to China, US and Europe, was a talented hard-working student who liked to read, and his knowledge of medicine, history, psychology, Shinsen Jutsu, and the religions of the world, including the Kyoten (Buddhist Bible), were vast". Before settling down Usui-San worked as a businessman, missionary, government officer, journalist, and secretary to a high-ranking politician. He lived a free man, quite different from the life of a monk (as stated in Westernized history). Periodically he would visit the prisons (thought to be part of his missionary work). He married Sadako Suzuki and they had two children, a son Fuji (1908 - 1946), and a daughter (unknown name and date). Even with all of his life experiences Usui still felt unfulfilled. Thus, began his quest for the meaning of life.
In 1919, Usui began training as a Zen Buddhist. In 1922, after working at Satori for 3 years and not achieving it, he asked his Zen Master what to do. The answer he received was "Die one time". In March, distraught with his life, seeking answers, he followed his Zen Masters advice, he began a fast on Mt. Kurama until he became enlightened or died. It was not uncommon for Usui to fast as he made regular trips to the mountain to seek answers. This is a common practice called ‘shyu gyo’ a spiritual discipline, where the disciple fasts and meditates for 21 days as part of their strict spiritual training. His memorial reads that the last morning of his fast 'he felt one great Reiki over his head'. He became enlightened (or received Satori) and acquired healing abilities which he called Reiki Ryoho. This is also when he discovered the purpose of life was 'Anshin Ritsumei' or "The state of your mind being totally in peace, knowing what to do with your life, bothered by nothing". He took this gift home and worked on himself and his family. It is said that his wife was ill and Reiki cured her. Usui decided not to just keep Reiki for his family but to make it 'freely available to all of the people' (a direct quote from the ‘Usui Reiki Hikkei’ - one of his teaching manuals).
In April 1922, Usui-San founded Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai (Usui Method of Natural Healing Society) and opened his first clinic in Aoyama, Tokyo, where he practiced Reiki and gave workshops on the techniques publicly. After further study in Shinto and Mahayana (Mikkyo) Buddhism techniques, he discovered Rei-ju (Empowerment method) and Hatsurei-ho (Cleansing process for body mind and spirit). The first record of Usui giving was in Harajuku, Tokyo, in 1922. Usui made the first level teaching (Sho-den) available to anyone who desired it. It seems Usui taught only 7 hand positions, mostly on the head, stopping at the midsection of the body. Initially, it is also possible that he may have only worked on the areas of imbalance (painful areas).
On September 1, 1923, shortly before noon a great earthquake hit Tokyo and Yokohama, measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale. Over 100,000 deaths were reported. The epicenter was about 50 miles from Tokyo. This is reported to be the greatest natural disaster in Japanese history. During this emergency Usui Sensei's way of giving relief was to 'reach out his hands of love to suffering people' and he helped many of the victims. Soon Usui became quite famous and his success and reputation with Reiki were known all over Japan. Note to the Reiki student: The earthquake could be the account Takata was referring to when she talked about Usui working in the beggar village. The 7-year time frame is incorrect however.
In February 1925, he outgrew his center and moved it to larger quarters in Nakano, outside of Tokyo. His travels with Reiki had taken him all over Japan, often visiting many naval bases. On March 9, 1926, Usui-San died of a stroke (one of several he suffered), in a town called Fukuyama in Hiroshima-Ken. He had been on a tour bringing Reiki to the people of Kure, Hiroshima and Saga. He was 62. The night before he died, it is reported that he practiced Reiki.
In February 1927, Usui Sensei’s students erected a memorial to his memory, located in a graveyard at the Saihoji Temple, Tokyo, Japan. . Much of the information on his history was taken from it. Usui Sensei only practiced and taught Reiki for a total of 4 years, but in that short time, he taught Reiki to more than 2,000 students
What is Reiki... Really? Published in the February 2000 issue of "The Messenger"
Ask most Reiki practitioners and/or teachers to describe Reiki and the answer most often returned is "it is a healing technique". Similarly, ask most practitioners and most teachers how long they studied Reiki, and the general reply is less than 2 years... from first level (beginner), all the way through the Master/Teacher level (teaching). Another interesting phenomenon is that most practitioners have only read one or two books published on Reiki. So I often wonder why it was that Usui spent most his life seeking spiritual awareness, and in the Western countries, we often think that we know a subject like Reiki without putting in a sufficient period of self-practice and study, yet often advertising ourselves as "healers".
Since we have taken the Japanese training, as Usui Sensei taught Reiki, in the same way that his successors teach today, and since we have voluntarily agreed to re-write the manual that we received, we have learned much more about Reiki than we previously knew. As we look at the techniques that are taught in Japan, we have seen that most of them have the purpose of clearing a practitioner’s energy channels, to open them to the increasing flow of Reiki and to raise the vibrations of the physical body. It is only after quite a bit of disciplined practice time that one can transfer enough energy to actually effect a permanent change within their energy bodies and physical body, then impacting the overall health/balance of any/all organs and systems that have been out-of-balance and not working properly. I know that this sounds like "healing", but let me explain how this is a bit different from our westernized ideals.
Usui Sensei was an unfulfilled man; he was raised in poverty, unsuccessful at a personal business, worked numerous jobs, not in sync with his divine purpose. He studied various sects of Buddhism, and Zen, but with no true satisfaction of life. It was then that his Zen Teacher told him to "go die once". Usui took this literally, and went up on Mt. Kuramayama, determined to fast and meditate until he received Divine enlightenment, or he died trying. At the end of 21 days without food and ample rest, he received Satori or Enlightenment. All the years of disciplined study, worldly travels, broad education, religious practice, had led to his deep inner-commitment to put his life on the line to reach spiritual awakening. It was at that moment that he felt "one big Reiki over his head"… in other words, he recognized this specific energy that he called Reiki, with all of its subtle levels of vibrations. He knew instantly that this is what he had been searching for, and he understood what he was to do with this energy. Because of his Satori, he felt himself filled with Spirit, found deep joy for the first time in his life, and realized his purpose… to help all people to find purpose in their own lives.
It was then that he began teaching this state of consciousness to others. He laid his hands on his students, and they could feel the energy that Usui had found. He taught techniques to them that helped to purify and clear blocks that restricted the free-flowing of this energy. He developed rituals that helped students to more strongly feel the fullness of the energy. He helped his students to understand what Reiki could do in bringing complete and permanent change to their own lives and to the lives of others on who they laid their hands. He taught his students to teach others how to do the same.
But the incident that gave Usui Sensei recognition and popularity was the Great Earthquake in the Kanto region of Tokyo in 1923. This was the worst natural disaster in the history of Japan, killing almost 140,000 people, and injuring thousands more. There were not enough medical professionals available to assist the multitudes of people who needed attention. So Usui took his newly found energy into the Kanto District, laying his hands on approximately 5000 people. The Reiki helped to calm the nerves and the emotions of the injured. It helped to give the survivors extra energy with which to keep going, to find hope for living, to draw upon so they could help their family and friends. Reiki directly helped those who were seriously injured to find some relief of pain, so they were not focused on their injuries. This helped their immune systems to strengthen so the innate process of healing would get a jump-start. Reiki also helped Usui to feel great compassion for the great loss of life and property, and this further gave survivors a sense of feeling loved and useful. What Usui had realized from his enlightenment, he was able to pass on to others. What he did for the survivors of the Kanto Earthquake was no less than a miracle to those who had survived this devastating catastrophe. With hope, a sense of importance, a feeling of being cared for, anyone can overcome a disease, can desire healing so strongly, that healing will be realized.
Many people gave the credit for their survival to the treatments that Usui had given. It was from the survivors and their families and friends that Usui drew so many students who wanted to learn Reiki. It is easy to understand how it was given the title of a "healing technique", but in truth, it is a technique that can bring into one’s physical experience, a very high vibration that can help anyone to overcome any set-back that might befall them…. disease, injury, loss of loved ones, failed business, loss of fortune, surgery, and more. So, does Reiki heal, and can we call ourselves "healers"? I think not, but we can say in truth that we Reiki practitioners can give energetic support to whatever processes we and others may be going through, and if the will-to-live is strong, any disease/imbalance can be arighted. We have said that Reiki is Spirit, and when we bring more Spirit into the physical body, then healing is a by-product of right-thinking and right-living. , of course, with the continued practice of Reiki self-treatments.
Defining Reiki Published in the March 2000 issue of "The Messenger"
As Adonea and I continue to write manuals, answer email, talk to people, chat via computers with on-line practitioners and those who want to learn more about Reiki, and peruse mail-list postings, one challenge experienced by practitioners and non-Reiki people alike, is how to define Reiki. I have heard and read answers that were so varied that I had to write this article for the benefit of all.
I will try to give several definitions to make Reiki easily understood, should someone ask for a definition. I know that when we first took Reiki, we were convinced that it was a verifiable energy-form, but when we tried to define it, in our excitement we often struggled with words. We actually bought many books on Reiki, talked to many Reiki practitioners of all levels, even wrote down key-phrases and catch-words that we could repeat for our own understanding. So this article is an overview of that understanding and I hope it helps you to better describe Reiki to those seeking a good definition.
The answer most often recounted is "Reiki is a healing technique" and that is not an untruth. But in my mind, that conjures up a somewhat incorrect assumption that anyone who has been attuned to Reiki is a healer... and that is not necessarily true. Reiki cannot be used to heal those people who choose to live a life out-of-balance. Reiki can, however, aid someone who accepts the responsibility of their thoughts and actions as the causation of imbalances and the resulting diseases that occur. I can no more heal you, than you can heal me.
So, what is Reiki, then?
I hope this explanation is helpful to everyone. Reiki is one of the easiest systems of energy to use, but it must also be explained in such a way that it is understood and acceptable to everyone, regardless of faith or belief. Reiki is a spiritual discipline that assists one in his/her spiritual awakening and growth. It helps a person to become aware of their individual purpose, helping to create a peaceful environment to better experience the fullness of Who They Are as s/he relates to the Divine Plan. Reiki is Life... and it is a gift of Creator. And as co-creative agents, we are to pass it to everyone who desires to be whole in their relationship to the All That Is. Use it wisely on your individual and collective journey back to the Source. Blessings to you and yours, and Reiki ((((HUGS)))).
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