A Brief History of Reiki
The original Reiki techniques come to us from Dr. Mikau Usui who was a Japanese
Statesman, equivalent to our Secretary of State, from Kyoto Japan who rediscovered
them in the late 1800’s. He was a devout Buddhist who, for many years, pursued a
quest to discover, as both Buddha and Jesus had promised, how we could learn to
heal. Reiki is also known as the "laying-on of hands". As the quest continued, a
Buddhist priest in Kyoto gave him access to their archives in which were stored
Tibetan Sutras, which are sacred ancient texts; on life-force healing. And there the
beginning of the answer began to unfold. This led him to make a pilgrimage to Mount
Kuriyama, a Japanese holy mountain. After fasting and meditating for 21 days, he was
struck by a powerful overwhelming light. And, the light had a consciousness; he heard
a voice which said to him; “These are the keys to healing. Learn them; do not forget
them; do not allow them to be lost.”
It soon became apparent that Dr. Usui now had the power to heal; now he needed to
learn how to use it. He traveled to the beggars’ quarters in Kyoto to begin healing the
sick there. He healed the young and the old, the sick and infirm. However, after about
a year, the beggars began to return, once again ill. Out of Dr. Usui’s meditations on
this challenge, the precepts and principles of Reiki were born.
The original five principles of Reiki are:
1) Just for today, do not anger.
2) Just for today, do not worry.
3) Honor your parents, teachers and elders.
4) Earn your living honestly.
5) Show gratitude to every living thing.
The original two precepts are:
1) Never do healing work without the permission of the recipient. The free will of all
human beings is sacred.
2) There must always be an exchange of energy to insure each person’s active
involvement in their own healing process.
History (cont.)
Reiki cannot be learned only through books or traditional educational techniques.
It must be passed on through an 'attunement' or 'initiation' process. Dr. Usui passed it
on to Dr. Hayashi who opened the first Reiki clinic in Tokyo in the early 1900’s.
Reiki was also taught in Japan to students as part of their medical training.
Mrs. Hawayo Takata brought Reiki to the United States just before WWII.
She lived in Hawaii on a sugar cane plantation and became very ill with a tumor,
gallstones and a stomach ulcer and immediate surgery was recommended. At this time
in her life, circumstances brought her back to Japan, where the diagnosis and prognosis
were confirmed.
She chose not to have the recommended surgeries and was put in contact with Dr.
Hayashi who healed her completely through intensive Reiki treatments over a period
of months. Ultimately, Mrs. Takata was initiated as a Master and brought this elegant
healing art form back to Hawaii.
Through a series of events related to WWII, she eventually became the only teaching
Reiki Master in the world and is widely considered to be the Mother of Reiki in this
country.
The Usui systm of Reiki continues to be taught today by Reiki Masters who are trained
in the original traditions and whose personal and professional lives are committed to this
healing art and the lifestyle it engenders. My Usui Reiki training was with Jan
Hauenstein of Try4Life Yoga, as shown in our lineage tree below.
Dr. Mikao Usui
Dr. Chujiro Hayashi
Mrs. Hawayo Takata
Iris Ishikuro
Arthur Robertson
Jan Hauenstein
Teresa George
In addition, my Karuna® Reiki Training was with William Lee Rand at The
International Center For Reiki Training.
For more information about workshops and training, click here.
The original Reiki techniques come to us from Dr. Mikau Usui who was a Japanese
Statesman, equivalent to our Secretary of State, from Kyoto Japan who rediscovered
them in the late 1800’s. He was a devout Buddhist who, for many years, pursued a
quest to discover, as both Buddha and Jesus had promised, how we could learn to
heal. Reiki is also known as the "laying-on of hands". As the quest continued, a
Buddhist priest in Kyoto gave him access to their archives in which were stored
Tibetan Sutras, which are sacred ancient texts; on life-force healing. And there the
beginning of the answer began to unfold. This led him to make a pilgrimage to Mount
Kuriyama, a Japanese holy mountain. After fasting and meditating for 21 days, he was
struck by a powerful overwhelming light. And, the light had a consciousness; he heard
a voice which said to him; “These are the keys to healing. Learn them; do not forget
them; do not allow them to be lost.”
It soon became apparent that Dr. Usui now had the power to heal; now he needed to
learn how to use it. He traveled to the beggars’ quarters in Kyoto to begin healing the
sick there. He healed the young and the old, the sick and infirm. However, after about
a year, the beggars began to return, once again ill. Out of Dr. Usui’s meditations on
this challenge, the precepts and principles of Reiki were born.
The original five principles of Reiki are:
1) Just for today, do not anger.
2) Just for today, do not worry.
3) Honor your parents, teachers and elders.
4) Earn your living honestly.
5) Show gratitude to every living thing.
The original two precepts are:
1) Never do healing work without the permission of the recipient. The free will of all
human beings is sacred.
2) There must always be an exchange of energy to insure each person’s active
involvement in their own healing process.
History (cont.)
Reiki cannot be learned only through books or traditional educational techniques.
It must be passed on through an 'attunement' or 'initiation' process. Dr. Usui passed it
on to Dr. Hayashi who opened the first Reiki clinic in Tokyo in the early 1900’s.
Reiki was also taught in Japan to students as part of their medical training.
Mrs. Hawayo Takata brought Reiki to the United States just before WWII.
She lived in Hawaii on a sugar cane plantation and became very ill with a tumor,
gallstones and a stomach ulcer and immediate surgery was recommended. At this time
in her life, circumstances brought her back to Japan, where the diagnosis and prognosis
were confirmed.
She chose not to have the recommended surgeries and was put in contact with Dr.
Hayashi who healed her completely through intensive Reiki treatments over a period
of months. Ultimately, Mrs. Takata was initiated as a Master and brought this elegant
healing art form back to Hawaii.
Through a series of events related to WWII, she eventually became the only teaching
Reiki Master in the world and is widely considered to be the Mother of Reiki in this
country.
The Usui systm of Reiki continues to be taught today by Reiki Masters who are trained
in the original traditions and whose personal and professional lives are committed to this
healing art and the lifestyle it engenders. My Usui Reiki training was with Jan
Hauenstein of Try4Life Yoga, as shown in our lineage tree below.
Dr. Mikao Usui
Dr. Chujiro Hayashi
Mrs. Hawayo Takata
Iris Ishikuro
Arthur Robertson
Jan Hauenstein
Teresa George
In addition, my Karuna® Reiki Training was with William Lee Rand at The
International Center For Reiki Training.
For more information about workshops and training, click here.
THE HISTORY OF REIKI
