History of Reiki The information known about the history of Reiki is changing constantly at present, as more and more new information comes to light from Japan. There seems to be a Western version of events and a Japanese version. However, before we all get caught up in the right and wrong versions of its history, we must remember that this energy is all about healing and love and that to stay true to the energy, we must just remain open minded. Dr Mikao Usui 1865-1926 Dr Mikao Usui was born on 15th August 1865 in Japan and was the founder of the Usui System of Reiki or Usui Shiki Ryoho. He is also often referred to as Usui Sensei, (Sensei meaning Teacher). He came from a fairly wealthy Buddhist family, who encouraged him to study, both academically and physically. Whilst finishing his studies at a traditional Japanese Tendai Buddhist Monastery, Usui also mastered Samurai swordsmanship and Kiko, the Japanese form of Chi Kung. Usui was interested in different types of medicine, energy movement and religions, reading widely on all subjects. Usui was looking to find a way to heal himself and others, using his hands, that didn't deplete his own energy levels and he devoted many years searching for a system. His open-minded approach towards other belief systems and religions this is why Reiki is accessible to everyone. Reiki is not attached to any religions. As part of his search, Usui travelled to China and the West to study their medicines and disciplines. He undertook a great many different types of work, eventually leading him back to Buddhism. Usui became a Tendai Buddhist monk and lived in a monastery near Mount Kurama-Yama, North of Kyoto, where he continued his studies. The 21-day Meditation It was whilst he was living at the monastery, that Usui decided to meditate and fast for 21 days, to seek enlightenment. This involved living on Mount Kurama, fasting, meditating and praying for the 21 days. It is said that 20 days passed uneventfully. Each morning he awoke before the sunrise and threw away one of the 21 stones he had placed in front of his meditation spot in order to count the days. Each day he medidated facing the East and fasted. However, on the morning of the 21st day, Usui awoken to a darkened morning. It was so dark; he found it difficult to find his meditation spot. He prayed fervently for confirmation of his findings before he threw his last stone off the mountain. As the stone fell, a light appeared far off in the east, it began to get closer and brighter. Usui was frightened but resisted running away. The light became very bright and streamed across the heavens, entering his third eye. Usui thought he had died and he had ascended to heaven. He had never before experienced such euphoric state. His entire field of vision was a rainbow of colour. Out of the rainbow came bubbles of gold, white, blue and violet. Within each of the bubbles contained the symbols (which we now use as Reiki symbols) the message to him was “These are the key to healing, learn them, do not forget them and do not allow them to be lost.” Usui gave his word and then the vision disappeared and he realised he was still on the mountain. In a euphoric mood, he gathered his belongings and hurried down the mountain to return to the monastery with his findings. The First Reiki Self-Healing In his excitement, Usui lost his footing and badly injured his leg. He bent down and placed his hands on the wound. He was amazed that the pain and bleeding stopped almost immediately. He realised his hands had become very hot and he noticed that the energy coming from his hands was very different. After his leg was healed, he continued down the mountain and entered a teashop. The First Reiki Exchange Usui ordered a large meal of rice. Although he had fasted for 3 weeks, he felt no sickness or discomfort from eating such a large meal. His resistance was strong. Whilst he was eating, he noticed the owner of the teashop’s daughter was complaining of a toothache. Encouraged by his phenomenal pain relief, Dr Usui offered to heal the girl. He accepted gladly and within a short time of placing his hands around the girl’s jaw, the pain and swelling began to subside. The teashop owner was very grateful and offered the meal as payment. Usui accepted the meal in exchange for the healing. After recounting his story to the monk back at the monastery, Dr Usui decided to return to Kyoto and for the next seven years he gave healing for free to the poor. He was very dedicated and extremely disciplined- working from early morning till late at night. He did not discriminate and healed anyone who asked for his help. He began to understand how Reiki flowed through him and into the healee. He devised a system of hand positions in order for the healee to get the most benefit from the Reiki. The Five Principles One afternoon. Dr Usui was out walking, when he came across a beggar who recognized him. “do you not remember me? I was the first people you healed”, said the beggar. Usui was shocked to learn that although the man had received healing from him and had changed his life temporarily- he had managed to get a job and a wife-eventually the responsibility had been too much and he had decided that it was easier to go back to a life of begging. Dr Usui was very disturbed with this account. He realised that he had been giving healing for free, without requiring the healee to take any responsibility whatsoever. There had not been an exchange of energy for the services rendered. Through spiritual guidance and common sense, he devised a set of Five principles designed for Reiki healers to incorporate into their daily lives. The way the healer acted, responded, understood and gave advice to others changed from one sided “ego-based” exchanged to more universal, holistic approach. From 1922 Dr Usui practiced and taught all over Japan including Tokyo and Fukuyama. By the time of his death on 9th March 1926, Usui had trained around 16 Reiki Master, one of whom was Dr Chujiro Hayashi. Usui's main teachings were very focused on how to heal yourself, first and foremost, which continues today in the First Degree of Reiki (Reiki One). His belief being that to be able to heal others, you first need to have healed yourself. This would guarantee that Usui's healing system would live on.
Dr Chujiro Hayashi 1878 – 1940 Dr Hayashi had been a naval officer in Japan but once introduced to Reiki, set up a healing clinic in Tokyo. He became a Reiki Master when he was 47 years old and it would seem that he began to make alterations to the original teachings, with the blessing of Usui. Dr Hayashi developed further the Usui healing system, introducing additional hand positions to cover more of the body and altering the attunement process. He compiled his new teachings into the Hayashi Healing Guide. By the time of his death, Dr Hayashi had trained about 14 students to become Reiki Masters. One of these people was Mrs Hawayo Takata, a Japanese-American woman, who originally went to Dr Hayashi for Reiki healing. Mrs Takata was the reason that Reiki became known in the West.
Mrs Hawayo Takata 1900 – 1980 Mrs Takata was born on 24th December 1900 in Hawaii, to Japanese parents. During her life in Hawaii, events occurred that resulted in Mrs Takata becoming ill. However, at this point, she needed to travel to Japan on a family matter and decided that whilst there, she would visit a Japanese hospital for treatment.
In 1935, Mrs Takata arrived in Tokyo and was told that her condition was very serious and that an operation would be needed to heal her. However, before the operation, Mrs Takata heard a voice inside her head telling her repeatedly that the operation wasn’t necessary and that there was another way. She decided against the operation and asked the doctors if there was any other way to treat her condition. The doctor told her about Dr Hayashi’s Reiki Clinic in Tokyo and so Mrs Takata arranged to go there for treatment, although she had not heard of Reiki before.
During these treatments, which were carried out daily, Mrs Takata was amazed at the warmth that flowed out of the practitioner’s hands and found the experience very relaxing. Within months, the healing sessions cured Mrs Takata of all her ailments. It was at this point that she approached Dr Hayashi and asked him to teach her Reiki and over the next year, he taught her the First and Second Degrees of Reiki (Reiki One and Reiki Two).
Mrs Takata now returned to Hawaii and practiced Reiki regularly over the next two years. It 1938, Dr Hayashi visited her in Hawaii and attuned her to Reiki Master. Not long after, he asked Mrs Takata to visit him in Japan, where he chose her to be the person to continue spreading the word of Reiki. He imparted all his knowledge from Mikao Usui and elected her his successor before he died. Due to World War II, it is said that Mrs Takata altered the teachings of Reiki to be more acceptable to the West. Japan was at war with the West and all things Japanese were then seen as hostile. This is how Reiki has survived in the West to this day. However, more and more Reiki Masters are returning to the original Usui teachings. By the time of Mrs Takata’s death on 11th December 1980, she had attuned 22 Reiki Masters. These Reiki Masters have continued to teach and the Reiki Lineage grows longer every day. Reiki is the fastest growing complementary therapy being taught in the world today and this fact speaks volumes about this fantastic healing energy system. Healing Hands | TEL: 07961746567 | Email: healinghand@live.co.uk
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