alt=""/> Reiki raises self-awareness.
Reiki is new to the West although its origins stretch back to the latter part of nineteenth-century Japan, when its founder, Mikao Usui, was born on 15 August 1865.
Usui was born into a privileged class. He was highly educated, graduating with a doctorate in literature. He also spoke several languages and was knowledgeable on subjects such as medicine, philosophy and theology. Although he was a practising Buddhist, his memorial stone says that he was also well versed in Taoism and Christian scriptures. He read widely and travelled extensively overseas. Usui is believed to have studied both Japanese and Chinese healing techniques.
Usui married and had two children. He went into business whilst continuing to study medicine and spirituality in his spare time. This led him to become involved with a Buddhist group who had a centre located at the foot of Mount Kurama Yama. He began to conduct his own extensive research, much of which was undertaken in the libraries and monasteries of Kyoto. He learned many healing arts and in time became a knowledgeable and respected teacher. He taught many ways to treat the illnesses that were sweeping through Japan at that time. He also practised meditation and would regularly go on intense retreats for both solitude and spiritual development. Whilst on one particular retreat on Mount Kurama, he had an unusual experience which changed the course of his life.
It was during the early hours of his last morning on the mountain that he noticed a light in the dark sky. It seemed to be moving rapidly towards him. He was unsure whether to move out of the way. He decided to remain, even though he knew this was risky. The light came closer and seemed to hit his forehead. He began to see strange symbols appearing before his eyes. He became aware of information being imparted to him, as each symbol came into view. By the time the revelation ended, daylight was breaking and Usui found himself once again alone on the mountain.
He knew he had received insight into a powerful healing method. This was an exciting moment for him. Feeling energized and elated, he made his way down the mountain and returned to Kyoto. After assimilating the knowledge, Usui went on to develop it into a practical and accessible healing art. He first started practising on those closest to him, then began to offer treatments to those in need and to teach his new healing method to his students. In 1921, Usui opened a clinic in Tokyo and began to teach Reiki for the first time.
On 1 September 1923, a devastating earthquake ripped through Tokyo. Over 140,000 people died. Another 40,000 were killed when a fire tornado swept in from across the sea. Three million homes were destroyed. The city was in shock, with the collapse of public amenities such as water and sewers. Countless people were injured or homeless. Over 50,000 people suffered serious injuries.
Usui and his students offered Reiki to many people. In February 1924, he built a new larger clinic outside Tokyo to handle the throng of patients. Usui’s fame spread all over Japan. The Emperor honoured him for the way in which he and his students helped the victims of the earthquake. Many people wanted to learn Usui’s healing method, and to meet demand he began teaching a more simplified form.
In May 1925, a retired naval officer, Chirjiro Hayashi, became a student of Usui. He had studied with him for only nine months when Usui unexpectedly suffered a stroke and died. Hayashi remained with Usui’s school until 1931, when he left to set up his own clinic in Tokyo. Hayashi modified the system, creating a number of degrees to represent the different levels of learning, and also developed a more complex set of hand positions suitable for clinical use.
Although Reiki is still taught and practised in Japan today, it was through Dr Hayashi that the knowledge of Reiki came to the West. The transition occurred after Hayashi treated a Japanese-American, Mrs Hawayo Takata.
Mrs Takata lived in Hawaii with her husband and two young daughters. When her husband died at only 34 years old, her health began to suffer. It continued to deteriorate and some five years later, she decided to return to Japan for a series of operations. Before the first one took place, she heard a voice telling her the operation was unnecessary. After making further enquiries about alternatives to surgery, Mrs Takata was directed to attend Dr Hayashi’s clinic.
Mrs Takata was initially sceptical, having no prior knowledge or experience of Reiki. She was curious to know why such heat was being generated by the practitioner’s hands and demanded to know where electrical machinery was being hidden. Dr Hayashi explained the basic concepts of Reiki to satisfy her curiosity. She returned daily to the clinic and after several weeks, began to feel much better. In time, Mrs Takata successfully regained her health.
Following her treatment, Mrs Takata enthusiastically applied to become a student of Dr Hayashi. She was told that the technique was not taught to foreigners. After convincing him of her commitment, Dr Hawashi eventually relented.
Whilst living at his home, studying and practising at his clinic, Mrs Takata trained to be a practitioner. She returned to Hawaii in 1937. Dr. Hayashi followed her several weeks later with his daughter. He is believed to have stayed for several months to help build her practice. Before returning to Japan, he initiated her as a teacher or Master. Two years later, on 10 May 1940, Dr Hayashi died, having passed his knowledge on to a number of his Japanese students in addition to Mrs Takata, who is believed to have been the last Master he taught.
It wasn’t until the early 1970s that Reiki found its way to the West, when Mrs Takata left her home in Hawaii for mainland America. Before her death in December 1979, she had initiated 22 teachers. Each was taught on a one-to-one basis.
Following her death, it was not clear who should succeed her. Two of Mrs Takata’s 22 students claimed to be her sole successor. Barbara Weber Ray declared that Mrs Takata, who had passed on all seven degrees exclusively to her, had appointed her. Meanwhile Mrs Takata’s granddaughter, Phyllis Furomoto, stated that she alone was the true successor and the knowledge was contained within the three levels she taught.
The Reiki Masters who supported Phyllis Furomoto arranged a second meeting. They agreed to standardize the teaching and subsequently the Reiki Alliance was formed. Since that time, the Alliance has worked hard to encourage the international Reiki community to come into alignment with their understanding and views of the Usui System of Natural Healing.
Barbara