Why different levels of Reiki training?
We have met many people who
have had every kind of training available: some are attuned to all
levels in one weekend, or have taken years to complete all the levels.
Some are given copious amounts of well structured class notes, and
others receive just the attunement. Some students have paid much money
for training, while others have received it for free. Some students
do a lot of hands-treatments on themselves before offering it to
others; and still there are many who skip the hands-on and begin doing
absentee treatments; and still others do not practice the technique,
but start teaching as soon as they can after their attunement to
mastership. Some people research Reiki extensively, reading all the
books, taking classes from different masters, seeking out details and
facts to support the origin/history of the system. Others could care
less about these matters, and just want to hang the certificates on
their wall. And some have found other modalities of healing, but
because of the current popularity of Reiki, have called these other
systems Reiki, so they can ride the wave of monetary gain from the
teaching of the modality. So, what can one expect to learn from the
many teaching styles? Is one way school or style of teaching better
than another? How does one pick out competent teachers and know that
they will receive valuable information? It seems that there are
ever-increasing numbers of Reiki branches popping up all over the
world. We have been asked if there is really anything to them or just
being formed to make money during this period of time when Reiki is so
popular. If Master/Sensei Mikao Usui was the re-discoverer of Reiki,
then you might also wonder how these other branches have a history and
lineage. I can best answer this with a symbolic story. If someone
traveling in another country were to see a healing technique taking
place and learned that process and really promoted it heavily
throughout the world, then all the attention would be on that
training/lineage/history (Usui). As people began to teach other, and
they in turn taught others, then all minds would be thinking in the
same line; the teaching would be popular. But if someone began to
research the system, traveling the world, tracking resources/people
that also do something similar, surely one or more researcher would
find teachers that teach differently from the masses. Most branches of
Reiki today can be traced through their lineage to Takata and
originally Usui, but someone, somewhere in the world, sometime or
other veered from the originally teaching, adding to or changing the
content and possibly some historical facts. They taught others who
taught others, and the system branched off and continued. And that is
the way of Reiki...some of the Usui/Hayashi/Takata students added
other information than what they originally learned, or found
techniques that were similar in content and style and perhaps thought
that the information must have come from the same source, so began
teaching the new information as part of the Reiki system. So, in our
opinion, there is validity in most (if not all) branches, and there is
content that can be very useful when added to what one already
knows/uses in performing the techniques. But let us also remember, it
is our minds/thoughts that are creative; we place value differences on
information according to how pertinent it is to our own
needs/desires. That does not mean that one bit of information is
better/more useful than another. We believe that anyone taking or
thinking about taking Reiki training, should spend some time in
discussion with the prospectivemasters/ teachers; asking questions,
checking certificates, finding out what is taught in classes,
inquiring about the reasons for the costs for classes. One should find
out as much information about the master/teacher as can possibly be
acquired, then compare this to other teachers in the area who have
also been investigated. And we strongly suggest that you incorporate
your sense of intuition/feeling about the masters that you question.
Do you feel comfortable with the master, feel s/he is competent,
knowledgeable, in service; do you feel a potential long-lasting
relationship that will be beneficial to your growth? Is this person
offering to assist you in learning how to teach Reiki, open to answer
your questions in the future, willing to help you in your on-going
application of Reiki practice and offer practical assistance to help
you set up your Reiki business? Does the master do self-treatments
daily; do they actively offer Reiki treatments in the area to people
in poor health; do they volunteer their services to local hospitals,
nursing homes, hospice programs, etc.? These are important questions
to help you assess one's professionalism in the field of Reiki, but we
have also found that many times, a master will be chosen because
there is a spiritual/intuitive connection with him/her; a bond that
can go beyond all the logical questions that one could devise and ask.
This is perhaps the first of the tests that can help you narrow the
field in searching for Reiki training.
The other important matter is
the question of the various Reiki branches; are they viable,
necessary, even helpful? We would have to say that we traveled
(without home) for 3 years, searching out Reiki information and
masters that we originators of some of the branches of Reiki popular
today. In our opinion, each person has some information that is key to
understanding the wholeness of Reiki. Each master who works with the
Reiki will receive some of the knowledge contained in the system; that
is the innate intelligence of Reiki. And if a practitioner wants to
really understand Reiki, s/he should search out information, knowing
that we all have a piece of the Truth. However, we would also say that
if a seeker would pay the prices to take all the classes that are
offered today, and that will continue to be presented, that involves
an investment of many thousands of dollars. It was our experience that
if you are a sincere seeker of Reiki knowledge, most masters of the
various Reiki branches will share a lot of their learning with you,
perhaps be willing to exchange research notes (books, class notes,
stories, personal experiences, knowledge of the history and lineage,
Reiki resources, etc.) and perhaps even an exchange of initiatory
attunements. One fact that remains consistent within Reiki (perhaps
other spiritual studies also) is there needs to be an even exchange of
energy for balance to occur. That means to us that whatever the
medium of exchange is (barter, treatments, attunements, information,
etc.), if you give as much as you expect to gain, then what you seek
will become available to you. All branches have some information that
is a part of the Truth of the system and about the process called
life. Not all are equal in substance; some are the platform for the
presentation of ego and greed, but within the knowledge can be found
some key information to help in the understanding of Reiki and its
origins. We further feel that if a student/seeker chooses one lineage
and takes all the levels of training it offers, and if they practice
the art of Reiki daily, continue to read all the information available
to the public, be a vessel through which the Reiki intelligence can
channel/flow, dedicate Reiki as service to a changing Humanity, to
remain open and accepting of all Reiki practitioners being in the
place that is best for them in the present moment, and aware that
there is not just one way to the Truth (in Reiki and all of life's
lessons), then they will be led to the people and resources that will
give the maximal useful teaching in the system that we know of as
Reiki. We honor the place that you are at this moment, and we know
that you will go as far in your understanding as is equal to the
energy that you are willing to expend to that end. Namaste' and
blessings in your journey of learning.
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