Rediscovering the spirit of traditional Usui Reiki
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Reiki came to the West via Hawayo Takata, a Hawaiian lady of Japanese descent, in the 1920’s. She learnt the system from a Japanese Reiki teacher, Chujiro Hayashi, who was a student of the founder, Mikao Usui. The system Takata taught was very simple, consisting of three levels, the third being to instruct people in the art of being a Reiki teacher. As Reiki spread in the West, various teachers started adding on to Takata’s original system, ultimately leading to the development of a large variety of “new” Reiki schools, such as Karunaä, Tera Maiä, Shamballa, Usui-Tibetan, and many others. Some of the developers of these “new” systems believed that they had rediscovered lost Reiki teachings, making the system more powerful. In many instances the changes had to do with adding new symbols, each purported to enhance the system and allow for deeper healing and greater spiritual awakening.
When Takata started teaching in the West the message was spread that Reiki died in Japan with the Second World War. It was also thought that Takata was the only surviving master, which led people to consider her as the Grand Master of Reiki. In recent years it became known that Reiki didn’t die in Japan. In fact, the original society started after Usui’s death, continues teaching Reiki in Japan to the present day. This society is known as the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai (Usui Spiritual Energy Method Learning Society). The Gakkai is a closed learning society, only accepting members on invitation from current members. Although having its roots in Usui’s original teachings, the Gakkai does seem to have altered some of the older methods somewhat. It also seems likely that Gakkai members added certain practices into the system that may not have Usui as their originator.
It also became known that other Reiki streams exist in Japan, some teaching the traditional Usui methods and others having become influenced by Western Reiki schools. Most notable of the Japanese schools staying quite close to the Usui teachings, but being open to Western methods, is the Gendai Reiki Ho (Modern Reiki Method) school of Hiroshi Doi. Doi received instruction in Reiki from Mrs. Koyama, a former president of the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai, Hiroshi Ohta (an independent teacher of the Usui teachings) and others. Although teaching independently through his Gendai school, Doi remains a member of the Usui Gakkai.
Gendai Reiki Ho stays close to the original Usui philosophy, but has added other methods Doi either developed himself or learnt through other Japanese healing and meditation systems. In practice, the Gendai methods provide some insight into the way Reiki is taught by the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai. In 1999, Doi went to Canada on invitation of Rick Rivard, Tom Rigler and Andrew Bowling and taught a workshop on Usui Reiki. This proved to be both enlightening and perhaps somewhat shocking to Western practitioners of Reiki. Many of the “truths” of Reiki known in the West was shown by Doi to be Western additions to the system that had very little to do with the way Reiki is taught and practiced in Japan.
Other individuals, most notably Arjava Petter (a German Reiki Master living in Japan), Dave King and Melissa Riggal (Masters in their system known as Traditional Japanese Reiki) and Andy Bowling (a British Reiki Master) also made contact with Japanese Reiki teachers and also came to the realization that Western Reiki, especially the newer schools, have strayed quite far from the true purpose and practice of Reiki.
Further fascinating insights came via Chris Marsh and Taggart King. Marsh is a high level practitioner of a Japanese martial art. Due to his insight into the Japanese way of life and the respect he gained in Japan through his practice of the martial way, Marsh was allowed access to some of Usui’s original students still living in Japan. These individuals have chosen not to be identified and have no interest in becoming famous. They certainly would not want to be overrun by Western Reiki practitioners in search of the truth about Usui’s Reiki methods.
Through the developments as stated above a reasonably coherent picture had begun to emerge on the original practice of Usui Reiki as developed by the founder. One of the first insights is that the system was never called Reiki, but rather Usui Teate (Usui hand touch method). The purpose of the system was complete spiritual awakening (satori). In the West, Reiki is often seen as a form of alternative therapy. Yes, healing was a part of the system, but spiritual development was the true purpose. As such, various Buddhist sutras and meditative practices were an integral part of the system. One of these, the Lotus Repentance meditation, is said to be the meditation Usui practiced during his 21 day retreat at Mount Kurama. It is at Mount Kurama that he experienced his full awakening, after which he developed his healing methods.
A second insight is that Usui was not a Christian minister, as is said in Takata’s teachings. He was in fact a devout Tendai Buddhist. Tendai is a mystical sect of Japanese Buddhism. Usui was also well versed in various other practices, such as KiKo (energy work), martial arts, meditation, philosophy and more. It seems that he developed his Usui Teate through combining and distilling the best of some of the other systems he studied. This, in combination with his awakening on Mount Kurama, seems to have led to the development of what we now know as Reiki.
The healing side of Usui Teate also differs from what is known in Western Reiki. Usui apparently didn’t use standardized hand positions, apart perhaps from treating the head. He mainly made used of Byosen (energy sensing) and Reiji (spiritual guidance) when treating people. He also didn’t use both hands very often, but rather used an energy focusing technique with one hand to treat problem areas. Apart from this, various other practices, such as healing with the eyes and the breath were incorporated into his healing methods.
It is not fully clear how Usui taught his system. What seems to be the case is that he taught a three level system, consisting of different modules. Level one (Shoden – the first teachings) was about connecting to the Reiki energy and learning to use it for healing. A variety of meditative and energy practices were also taught. Level two (Okuden – the inner teachings) was divided into two sections. In the first section the focus and harmony energies were taught as well as Byosen and Reiji. In the second section, the connection energy and distant healing were taught. These three energies became the basis for the three second degree symbols taught by Takata. One of the biggest surprises about Usui Teate is that Usui didn’t use symbols. In fact, he taught the symbols to only three people, one being Hayashi. It is believed that he included the symbols as some kind of training wheels for individuals having difficulty connecting directly to the energy. Instead of symbols, he originally taught students to connect directly to the different energies. He also made use of meditations and sacred Shinto kotodama (seed sounds) to invoke the energies. In the West these were replaced by saying the “names” of the symbols three times. Level three (Shinpiden – the mystery teachings) was devoted to further spiritual awakening. It also consisted of two sections, the first being for spiritual development and the second for becoming a teacher of the Usui method. Usui apparently also gave certain higher empowerments to students who have completed level 3. There is not much known about these empowerments in the West, but they likely had to do with further spiritual awakening.
A further interesting insight is that Usui didn’t use attunements like we know in the West to connect students to the energies. He made use of a simple ritual known as Reiju. The word “Reiju” can translate as “giving or receiving blessings.” During Reiju, no symbols were used. Apparently Usui had frequent contact with his students. During each visit, Reiju would be performed. This led to a continual expansion in the student’s ability to use the energy as well as an increase in the level of spiritual awareness. In between these contacts between teacher and student, it was expected that students practice a special meditation known as Hatsurei Ho (method for cultivating the Spirit). Hatsurei Ho assisted students in their spiritual awakening and also facilitated an increased ability to channel the Reiki energy.
A final interesting insight is that Usui used crystals in his healing work. He made use of three crystals that were placed in various positions on the body of the patient. As those of us familiar with crystal healing would know, this facilitated a deepening of the healing and often led to profound trance states during healing.
In my own practice of Reiki, I had gone down many paths, often arriving at dead ends. I have studied many systems in the hope of finding that illusive something that would somehow lead to instant enlightenment or make me a master healer overnight. When I first discovered the Japanese methods via my friend, Keith McFarlane, I was astonished at both the depth and simplicity of the teachings and practices. Keith is a Master in Usui Reiki Ryoho and Gendai Reiki Ho. A while later I discovered the work of Taggart King, who led me deeper into the essence of Japanese Reiki. It is through him that I was taught some of the original Usui methods not often seen in the west.
Apart from the fact that my practical repertoire increased greatly, I now had meditations and healing methods not known to me before, something much more subtle started happening. The first subtle change I began to notice was a general feeling of well-being, contentment and inner peace. Although not dramatic, these feelings were definitely apparent. Furthermore, they lasted. It was as if something in my consciousness had been permanently transformed. I began to notice that people or situations that would previously have angered or frustrated me, now left me feeling centred and compassionate. I also came to a very important realization shortly after completing my Gendai Reiki Ho master level. I suddenly realized that my constant search for newer, more powerful attunements and systems had been driven by a deep sense of dissatisfaction with myself and with the world. Simply put, I have been deeply unhappy, searching for something out there somewhere that would make me happy. Instead, I realized, the answer lies within. I started doing the simple Japanese Reiki methods, such as Hatsurei Ho and reciting the 5 Reiki precepts, on a daily basis. Soon I began to notice that the principles became part of me, to such an extent that any thought or action not in harmony with them would stand out like a sore thumb. I began to realize the profound depths contained in Usui’s simple system: Regular practice of the Reiki principles and methods is indeed the “miracle medicine for all diseases,” as Usui used to say. The biggest disease, as I see it, is a feeling of dissatisfaction with life, based on a sense of being disconnected from the basic goodness of the Universe. Usui’s quest, which led him to Reiki, started at this very point. He felt dissatisfied with his life. He was seeking the secret of happiness, or perhaps enlightenment. One of his Zen teachers apparently told him that the secret can only be discovered through death. Usui, so desperate for the truth, vowed to find the truth or die. This lead to his 21 day retreat on Mount Kurama. During his meditation, in a moment of complete insight (satori), the answer came to him: Anshin Rytsu Mei – the state of your mind being totally at peace, knowing what your life’s mission is and being bothered by nothing. Through my practice of Japanese Reiki I have begun to realize that the Usui system is essentially a system designed to bring students to this same realization, or satori. After his awakening, Usui sought a way to bring others to this point of awakening. His answer was what we know in the West as Reiki. The ultimate purpose of Reiki, which is achieved through diligent practice of both the philosophy and techniques of the Usui method, is to discover inner peace, an awareness of our connection to and place in the Universe and an undisturbed mind.
I am in no way an enlightened master now, but, following the example of Usui, I have found a path to greater peace of mind, inner harmony and physical well-being. It is my wish that this article captures some of the true spirit of the Usui method. I leave you with these final words from Usui sensei himself.
The secret method to invite happiness
The miracle medicine for all diseases
For today only, do not be angry.
Do not worry, and be grateful.
Work hard and be kind to others.
With your hands held in prayer, in the morning and at night, say them out loud or in your mind.
The Usui Reiki method to improve mind and body.
The founder, Usui Mikao
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