Mikao Usui (1865-1926), a lifelong practitioner of Tendai Buddhism and dedicated spiritual aspirant, formulated the roots of what has come to be called Reiki in early 20th century Japan
- He trained in a monastery as a young boy, and practiced martial arts from age 12, achieving mastery in several disciplines
- Perhaps because of Usui's background in Buddhism, Reiki is often referred to as an ancient Tibetan technique, although there is no evidence that this is true
- Mikao Usui clearly referred to himself as the founder of Reiki and Tibetan medicine does not include hands on energetic healing
Those who approached Usui for healing were given a few minutes of light healing touch before being instructed in his method of spiritual self-development
- The first level of teaching was freely given. Thereafter, students had to earn other levels through disciplined practice
- Each student was taught according to his nature, dedication, and accomplishment
- Usui's philosophy was non-dualist, and he stressed spiritual unfolding through regular practice of spiritual techniques which included the use of symbols in ways reminiscent of Taoist talismanic healing images. His teaching was a system of spiritual practice; any physical, emotional, or mental healing that might occur was seen as a natural by-product
- Students referred to the teachings as Usui- Teate (Usui Hand Touch or Usui Hand Healing)
- Usui stressed the importance of peaceful mental demeanor, and offered his students 5 precepts to guide them:
- Just for today,do not anger
- Just for today, do not worry
- Be humble
- Be honest in your work
- Be compassionate to yourself and others
In the last year of his life, Usui was approached by his student Chujiro Hayashi (1878-1940), a retired naval officer, with a request to develop the therapeutic aspects of the system separate from the stringent meditative practices. Usui agreed.
- After Usui's death, Hayashi further developed the system as a practical healing technique without the perceived encumbrance of spiritual practices. He called his technique Hayashi Shiki Reiki, and although Usui sometimes used the word, it is likely from Hayashi that the system came to be called Reiki, Rei meaning universal or highest and Ki meaning subtle energy, like the Chinese chi. (It should be noted the vibration accessed in Reiki arises from nondual primordial chi, or Tao, as distinguished from the bioenergetic level of chi stimulated by therapeutic acupuncture.)
- Although Hayashi's technique was simplified from Usui's system of spiritual practices, his use of the word Reiki implied that even with his modifications, the healing technique remained rooted in spirituality, that he was accessing the same non-dual conscious vibration for healing.
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