The true history of Reiki
There are many stories attached to the history of Reiki; some have been verified and some can't be. So what is the truth and what part do all of the versions lay in the development of this healing art? This article may prove controversial to those who have been taught to believe the history that was spread by Hawayo Takata when she brought Reiki to the West but please be assured that this is intended to honour the context of those stories while realising that they may no longer serve the purpose that they once had.
Much of the history of Reiki concerns the life and practices of its founder, Mikao Usui. You may also see his name written as Usui Mikao, this being the Japanese convention of placing the family name (Usui) first. He was born on the 15th August 1865 in Kyoto, Japan and is said to have been descended from a family of samurai. It is certainly true that he gained high proficiency in various forms of Martial Arts and this may have contributed to his gaining employment as private secretary and later the head of security and general administration to Shimpei Goto, Secretary of the Railroad, Postmaster General and Secretary of the Interior and State.
According to Usui's memorial stone, which stands in the grounds of the Saihoji Temple in Tokyo, throughout his life he studied in China, Europe and America, "knowing well in the wide range from history, biography, medical science, canons of Christianity and Buddhism and psychology up to magic of fairyland, art of curse, science of divination and physiognomy."
Having been born and raised a Buddhist of the Tendai sect, at some point in his life Usui became a "Zaike" or "lay preacher" - a Tendai Buddhist Monk/Priest who remained at home rather than at a temple. One day he climbed Mt. Kurama, a traditional place of reflection where a Tendai Temple (that has been included in the Kurama-Kokyo sect since 1949) also stood. He fasted and meditated for three weeks and then "suddenly on the twenty first day from the start, he felt a great Reiki over his head and at the same time as he was spiritually awakened he acquired the Reiki cure. When he tried it on his own body and members of his family also, it brought an immediate result on them".
As a point of interest, the word "Reiki" means "spiritual energy" and describes the energy itself and not the systems of healing that we in the West ascribe the name to. In Japan the practices are known as "Reiki Ryoho" or "spiritual energy healing method" and Usui's healing techniques were originally known as "Usui teate" or "Usui's hands-on healing".
The tradition in Japan would be to pass such teachings on to family members only but Usui felt that this should be freely given to all those that needed it so he moved to Tokyo in April 1922 and established an institute where the "Reiki cure" was taught and treatment given to the public. He helped with the relief work during the Tokyo earthquake of September 1923 and his reputation grew to the point that he was invited to various parts of the country. In March 1926, during one of these visits, he abruptly caught a disease and died of heart failure at the age of 62.
There are inconsistencies with Usui's life and the version that was told by Hawayo Takata and spread to the West. Many of them have been discussed and addressed at the International House of Reiki site:
http://uk.ihreiki.com/reiki_info/reiki_history/historical_reiki_inconsistencies/
A lot of the stories that were woven into the history of Reiki by Mrs Takata were intended to make the system more palatable to Western tastes. At the time (around the Second World War), anything Japanese was regarded as "the enemy" and Buddhism would also have been viewed with some skepticism given the prevalence of Christianity in America. As a result, many of the techniques, teachings and content of the systems of Reiki healing were removed. Even the Precepts, the philosophical foundations of the system, were rewritten for the Western audience.
If Takata had not done these things, it is probable that we would not be sitting here today discussing Reiki as it would not have spread as greatly as it has. The teachings in Japan are still held in near-secret conditions today and have been shown to "outsiders" only in the last couple of decades. However, the stories that were told by Takata no longer serve a purpose, except to discuss the historical context of her version and what it achieved at that time.
The "Western style" of Reiki, known as Usui Shiki Ryoho, focuses on the healing practice. As you connect with Reiki and practice the healing on yourself and others, a spiritual connection is improved and self-development may occur as a result. Since the focus is on the treatment, other traditions and practices may be added to the mix as appropriate. That's why there are such styles as Tera Mai Reiki, Crystal Reiki, Reiki that uses the Chakra system, etc. There is the flexibility to accommodate existing spiritualities and faiths too.
The Japanese style of Usui Reiki Ryoho is a reconstruction of Usui's original Reiki healing and spiritual practices and was developed by Doi Hiroshi, a member of the Gakkai mentioned above. This style includes the energy techniques, meditations and reflections that have been a part of Reiki in Japan since the beginning. There is an entire set of practices, mostly with a Buddhist flavour, and while this is a complete system in itself, it also works nicely alongside other perspectives. The emphasis here is on developing spiritual potential and energetic practice so that the healing treatment is more effective.
I teach both styles since there will be some people that suit one and others that are seeking the other. There is no "right way" or "wrong way" with Reiki since students will be drawn to whichever path is appropriate for them and this may even included the explorations of several different styles of Reiki. As a client, you need not concern yourself with these differences since every style is focused on the healing practice. After all, Reiki is Reiki! How you use and channel it however is a different story.
As a student and teacher, the emphasis on certain areas differs from style to style. The concepts of the symbols, the philosophies behind the Precepts, the understanding of the energy body and how it is composed, all of these are reflected in different ways. If something does not sit well within your being, then it probably isn't right for you. I myself was introduced to Reiki with a style that I found sacrificed spirituality for increased complexity. It wasn't right for me but I still honour the part it had to play in my own Reiki history as it led me on to other styles.
To quote from the Gospel of John: "then you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free". So reflect for a moment on what the true history of Reiki means and what challenges it may find within you. Do you seek comfort in stories that speak to your personal experience or do you seek for ways in which your opinion can be confronted by alternative possibilities? All of this is part of your own Reiki story and every step should be honoured. I wish you well on your journey!
Mark Barwell teaches Japanese and Western styles of Reiki. If you have already studied a system of Reiki and would like to learn another, Mark offers a 20% discount on each level up to and including your current level of learning. For more information, please visit the following pages on his website:
Reiki (1st Degree): http://markbarwell.co.uk/reiki_1_course.php
Reiki (2nd Degree): http://markbarwell.co.uk/reiki_2_course.php
Reiki (Master/Teacher): http://markbarwell.co.uk/reiki_3_master_teacher_course.php
Mark also offers Reiki healing treatments at venues around Southend-on-Sea or (if you live locally) in the comfort of your own home. For more details, visit the following page: http://markbarwell.co.uk/reiki_healing_treatments.php
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