The Reiki Method
Empowerments in Reiki and associated modalities
A Reiki History
Reiki is a system of natural healing developed by Mikao Usui (1865-1926)
Mikao Usui
Mikao Usui is often referred to as Dr. (i.e. Dr. Mikao Usui), however, this is an honorific title used in the west as a substitute for Sensei (Japanese for 'he who comes before' or in other words, teacher).
The word Sensei is a title of great respect in Japan and Mikao Usui was worthy of the title. He was born on August 15, 1865 in Taniai-Mura (village) in Yamagata district of Gifu prefecture, Japan. After having endured personal hardships in his life, his business failing and leaving him in great debt, Usui decided, after consultation with a Zen Master, to go up to the top of Mount Kurama (Kuramayama) to start an 'ascetiscism' (a strict process of spiritual training involving meditation and fasting). At the beginning of the twenty-first day of this process, Usui felt a 'large Reiki' over his head and 'comprehended the truth' (Usui Memorial Inscription, Saihoji Temple, Tokyo, Japan).
After having tried the result of the process upon himself and his family with good results, Usui moved to Harajuku, Aoyama, Tokyo, founding, in 1922, the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai (Usui Reiki Methods Society)
September 1923 saw the Kanto earthquake in Japan, Usui Sensei travelling around the city daily to treat the injured survivors.
In February 1925, Usui Sensei moved to Nakano (today a part of Tokyo) and was, due to his fame, invited to other cities in Japan. It was while in Fukuyama that Usui Sensei passed on, aged 60.
As it states upon the Usui Memorial Inscription, 'the main purpose of Reiho (spiritual method) was not only to heal diseases, but also to have right mind and healthy body so that people would enjoy and experience happiness in life'. The Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai (also known today as Usui Kai) in their meetings (according to Hiroshi Doi, a member) practice methods which include recital of the Meiji Emperor's poetry and what are known as The Usui Precepts:
In Japanese:
Shou fuku no hiihou
Manbyou no Rei yaku
Kyo dake wa Ikaruna
Shinpai suna Kansha shite
Gyo wo hageme Hito ni shinsetsu ni
Asa yuu gassho shite kokoro ni neji
Kuchi ni tonaeyo
Shin shin kaizen, Usui Reiki Ryoho
Chosso
Usui Mikao
In English:
Inviting blessings of the secret method
Many illnesses of the spiritual (heavenly) medicine
Today only anger not
Worry not With appreciation
Do work To people be kind
In morning at night hands held in prayer think in
your mind
Chant with mouth
Mind body change it for better Usui Reiki method
Founder
Usui Mikao
It is these Precepts that if held to and acted upon in daily life, to the best of our ability, enable us to stay in tune more easily with the 'spirit' of Reiki for 'right mind and healthy body'. The ultimate aim of Reiki, as mentioned above, is said to be Anshin Ritsumei or 'Enlightenment'.
A more modern and widely used version of The Usui Precepts in the west can be stated as follows:
Just for today
Do not worry
Do not anger
Work hard (on yourself)
Be grateful (for your blessings)
Be kind to others
The Usui Precepts are also known as Gokai or Gainen.
The Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai’s first President was, of course, Mikao Usui Sensei. The Gakkai exists to this day and the following Presidents were and are:
Juzaburo Ushida(1865-1935)
Kan’ichi Taketomi (1878-1960)
Yosharu Watanabe (???-1960)
Houichi Wanami (1883-1975)
Kimiko Koyama (1906-1999)
Masaki Kondoh (current President)
In Japan, the three degrees of Reiki are called Shoden, Okuden and Shinpiden (pronounced Show-den, Okoo-den and Shin-pea-den (other level names and sub-level names have also existed)). Mikao Usui Sensei created at least 16 Shinpiden, one of which was Chujiro Hayashi (1879-1940).
Chujiro Hayashi (also known as Dr. Chujiro Hayashi due to his being a Japanese Navy Taisa (Doctor)), after having been given at least Shinpiden from Usui Sensei, opened his own clinic in Shinano-machi, Tokyo. After the passing on of Usui Sensei in 1926, Hayashi Sensei left the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai and established his Hayashi Reiki Kenkyukai (research centre).
Dr. Chujiro Hayashi
Hayashi gave Shinpiden to 13 students including his wife Chie Hayashi (2nd President of Hayashi Reiki Kenkyukai) and a Hawaiian named Hawayo Takata (1900-1980).
It is by way of Takata Sensei that Usui Reiki (up until recently) passed to the west. She gave Reiki Master level to 22 persons, among whom where her Granddaughter Phyllis Furumoto, Barbara Weber Ray and Iris Ishikura (also known as Iris Ishikuro).
Hawayo Takata
Phyllis Furumoto was later given the title of 'Grand Master' and 'Lineage Bearer' of 'Usui Shiki Ryoho' although these titles are not accepted as valid by everyone practicing Reiki and there has never been a Grand Master of the Gakkai, nor even of the Hayashi Reiki Kenkyukai, the school that taught Hawayo Takata who in turn taught Phyllis Furumoto.
Keizo (Kozo) Ogawa's Son, Fumio
There are today also lineages of Reiki going back to Mikao Usui that do not include Hawayo Takata :
Jikiden Reiki (created by Tadao Yamaguchi)
Komyo Reiki Kai (created by Hyakuten Inamoto)
- both of these are from Chiyoko Yamaguchi in origin who was a student of Dr. Chujiro Hayashi.
Gendai Reiki Ho (created by Hiroshi Doi)
- includes neither Dr. Chujiro Hayashi nor Hawayo Takata in its lineage.
I personally also have another Usui Reiki lineage that includes neither Hayashi nor Takata (Mikao Usui - Keizo (Kozo) Ogawa etc.).
