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Reiki is a non-invasive healing art. Reiki (pronounced Ray-key) is a Japanese kanji meaning (rei) universal, all that is or all-knowing and (ki) life force energy. Ki energy is unlimited. It flows through every living thing. A form of relaxation therapy, Reiki stimulates our body’s own, natural self-healing abilities.
Recipients of Reiki have reported feeling more relaxed, a decrease in pain, an increase in creativity, quicker recovery times following illness or surgery, an increase in energy and feelings of joy, more restful sleep patterns and a decrease in stress.
HISTORY OF REIKI
The founder of Reiki was a Buddhist monk named Dr. Mikao Usui. In the beginning Reiki was passed from teacher to student with little or no written records. Thus, there has been much confusion and controversy over some of the details but what follows here is a summary of events pieced together as they were passed on to me from my teacher and from further research of various sources.
Dr. Mikao Usui was a Japanese Buddhist Monk. He was born August 15, 1865, in Taniai, Japan. He sought the truth about the ancient ways of healing through spirituality. He practiced Kiko, a set of breathing exercises, meditation and movement. He studied medicine, psychology, spirituality and religion. He was a member of Rei Jyutu Ka, a metaphysical group. He travelled extensively. Dr. Usui was a secretarial assistant to Shinpei Goto (head of Health and Welfare who later became Mayor of Tokyo). He began a business, which did not succeed.
He was 49 years old when he became a Buddhist Monk, 1914.
Dr. Usui embarked on a 21-day fasting retreat on Mt. Karuma or Kurama. On the final day of the retreat, he channelled or received a spiritual awakening in the form of an intensively strong bolt of Reiki energies. During this event, he was attuned to the Universal Life Force Energies and was intuitively shown the symbols and how to use them.
As he hurried to return to the temple to share this discovery, he stubbed his toe on a rock. He placed his hand on his toe and it healed very quickly. He stopped at an inn and ordered a very large meal. After a 21-day fast, eating such a large meal would have made anyone ill. Dr. Usui ate his meal without any trouble. A lady at the inn was sick. Dr. Usui healed her using his newfound knowledge of Reiki. He found his teacher bedridden on his return to the temple. Dr. Usui was able to heal his teacher as well. These are known as the 4 miracles.
In the beginning, Dr. Usui went to the poor and deformed and healed many of them. It is reported that he became discouraged because he found that many of the poor would rather remain ill and beg for a living than be healed. It is from this period that it is purportedly where the idea of an ‘energy-exchange’ emerged. He had people bring him a gift, no matter how small, in exchange for the gift of his time spent healing or teaching them his method of healing.
Dr. Usui moved to Tokyo in 1922, with his wife and children, where he founded a healing society called “Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai”. Not long afterward, he opened a clinic in Harajuku where he gave Reiki sessions and taught classes.
On September 1, 1923, the Kanto earthquake struck killing over 140,000 and leaving thousands injured and homeless. Dr. Usui and his students worked day and night giving Reiki aid to as many as possible. Mikao Usui was honoured by the Emperor for his dedication to his country.
He opened a larger clinic in Nakano in 1925 at the age of 60. Dr. Usui crossed over on March 9, 1926 from a massive stroke. Dr. Mikao Usui is buried at Saihoji Temple in Suginami-ku, Tokyo.
His students erected a memorial to Usui Sensei, describing his life and work. His dream was that this simple, gentle healing technique be made available to everyone, everywhere. He had taught some 2,000 students and trained 16 teachers.
One of these teachers was named Chujiro Hayashi, a retired naval officer who was deeply interested in spirituality. He became a Reiki master at the age of 47 and opened a clinic in Tokyo. His students worked in groups on clients. Dr. Hayashi established the hand positions and the three levels of Reiki, designing an initiation for each level.
Mrs. Hawayo Takata was born on Kauai on December 24, 1900. Her parents were Japanese immigrants to Hawaii. Her father worked in the sugar cane fields. She married Saichi Takata, the bookkeeper for the plantation and had two daughters. Her husband died in 1930.
Life for her was not easy. She developed nervous exhaustion and severe abdominal pain. When one of her sisters died, she traveled to Japan to give the news to her parents. Her physical condition worsened. It was reportedly discovered that she had a tumour, gallstones and appendicitis.
While she was being prepared for an operation, she asked the doctor if there was any other way she could be healed. The doctor told her about Hayashi’s clinic. Mrs. Takata received daily treatments. Four months later, she was healed. She received her level one degree in 1936. She worked with Dr. Hayashi for one year before receiving her second degree. She returned to Hawaii.
Soon after her return to Hawaii she received her master level from Dr. Hayashi.
Mrs. Takata crossed over December 11, 1980 having initiated 22 Reiki masters.
copyright (c): Maureen Blakeley, B.A., B.Ed., R.M., R.H. (INHA)
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