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.
|