The Peace Church
[REIKI] Part 2b: Traditional History of the Usui Reiki System - Myths Explored
THE REIKI MYTH EXPLORED
There are several parts of the story of Reiki which are quite contrary to both common sense, and the history of the period in Japan. To begin with, it is doubtful that any Japanese national would have been allowed to become the director of a Christian school during the period she spoke about in relation to Dr. Usui. Additionally, neither the school that she is alleged to have spoken of, nor the University of Chicago have any record of Dr. Usui. Both have made extensive assurances that their records are very accurate.
It is much more likely that Dr. Usui (a very common name similar to Smith in the United States) was a Buddhist monk. Records of him seem to be lost in the sands of time, however the system as named on Mrs. Takata's mastership certificate (which is notarized and on file in Hawaii) does bear his name, so it is likely that he did exist. Otherwise it would probably be called the Hayashi Reiki System of Drugless Healing. So, why the story of Christianity? The answer may be quite simple.
To unravel the mystery, we must take into account the fact that Mrs. Takata was a partially Japanese American living in the United States during World War II, a time when our country was rounding up citizens like her and putting them into camps in the desert as potential spies. It is likely that she escaped that fate by the skin of her teeth in the first place. Promoting a Buddhist healing system would most likely have been the final nail in her coffin. Once the word got out about how well Reiki worked, few cared about its origins. Fortunately for her, no one ever checked with the University of Chicago.
HOW THE REIKI SYSTEM BECAME DIVIDED
Upon Takata's death in December of 1980, a woman named Dr. Barbara Ray stood up and claimed that she was hand picked to succeed her as "Grand Master". Shortly after, Mrs. Takata's granddaughter, Phyllis Lei Furumoto stood up and proclaimed that she was the rightful heir, though clearly blood lineage has not played a role in Reiki's past. The thing that has never been resolved seems to be, the heir to what? It doesn't appear that the words "Grand Master" existed until Dr. Ray coined them. There is no record of Dr. Usui or Dr. Hayashi ever referring to themselves as "Grand Masters". Certainly the latter would have done so in the certificate he presented to Mrs. Takata upon making her a master. According to that certificate, she simply became, "one of the thirteen fully qualified as a Master of the profession". This certainly seems to suggest that in Reiki all masters are equal.
In recent years, some have also claimed to have "the only complete" system of Reiki. Our research has indicated that there are many forms of Reiki currently in use. I have taken great pains to research these different schools of Reiki and to obtain lineages back to as many as possible. The energy is essentially the same in every form, however differences do exist. Each master has a different consciousness, and consequently a different ability to carry the energy. My most complete attunement to date occurred with initiation into the direct Tibetan lineage of the energy by a student of a very accomplished Lama. This lineage is quite different in energetic make-up than the traditional "Tibetan" attunement that has spread throughout the United States in recent years. My research into the energy, however, continues.
This brings us to a very important point, money. Don't get tricked into paying extra for additional levels and symbols. Many masters use extra symbols and techniques which they have "found to enhance" the energy. That is perfectly fine and, in fact, desirable because it shows that the master is conscious of and continually trying to improve the service that he or she provides, but don't pay a great deal more for it. Reiki is one case in which you do not get what you pay for. Some of the world's best teachers are the lowest priced because they know how truly beneficial the energy is and want everyone to have access to it. The current cost for training generally falls in the range below:
First Degree practitioner Reiki I $ 75.00-200.00
Second Degree practitioner Reiki II $100.00-500.00
Third Degree - Master Reiki III $150.00-1,000.00
Fourth Degree (actually Reiki III) Master-Teacher $500.00-10,000.00
Another thing to be aware of is the argument that high prices are necessary in order to impress the value of what you are receiving upon your consciousness. There is a great deal of truth to be found in that statement, but only believe it from the mouth of a master who offers a sliding scale or a small "token" fee. Three hundred dollars for a level may be a great deal for you to pay and make quite an impression upon you. Someone else, however, may spend that amount casually for dinner and drinks. Value is subjective. Try to keep that in mind when selecting a master. It will help you to determine if the person is genuinely concerned about the growth of their students, or just after a larger paycheck and using this principle to justify it.
Also, keep in mind that just as your time is valuable, so is the time of the master you are contacting for classes. Many masters set their class prices with that in mind. How honest a master is in telling you this is an excellent thing to use in evaluating their character.
FACTIONAL CONFUSION
Aside from the primary factions, many others exist on smaller levels within the Reiki community because, as we have already mentioned, Mrs. Takata was extremely intuitive and seems to have frequently adjusted the "rules" to the consciousness of the class or person she was teaching at the time. It is also known that she would occasionally change symbols for much the same reason.
For a long time, there were only a handful of masters and practitioners, and they were scattered primarily throughout the United States. Though their symbols were very similar, they were not exact and many of the masters felt strongly that the power of Reiki came from the knowledge of, and ability to precisely trace, the symbols. Since some masters had slightly different symbols and were, subsequently, passing them on to their students, one can imagine the confusion that was created as Reiki grew and people began to compare their symbols!
Actually, this time of confusion was quite fortunate in that it created a lot of discussion about how Reiki actually works. If the symbols were the key, why did so many variations of them have the same effect?
In reality, there are two main kinds of symbols. Symbols which serve primarily as tools of communication, and symbols whose inherent geometric and energetic structure effect energy, objects, and space exposed to them. Today, the predominant belief is that the Reiki symbols are the former. They serve several purposes. First, they provide an excellent focus of intent. This intent allows a Reiki practitioner to more effectively communicate what energy she or he wants to use during the healing. This communication occurs with many different levels of consciousness. Reiki encompasses all belief systems, so it matters very little if you believe that your communication is taking place with angels, guides, god, other levels of your self, or the consciousness expressed through the current. All are valid, and are simply expressions of energy. I believe many of these words reflect the same (or different aspects of the same) thing, looked at from different perspectives. Therefore to me, the communication can be occurring on all these levels and many more.
Although the Reiki symbols are not the kind which radiate energy because of their design, the symbols themselves still have a powerful pool of intent built up behind them. Added to their innate power, this pool is comprised of the Reiki energy from the intent of everyone who has ever used the symbols. It is why for many years they have been viewed as sacred. Many thought that people uninitiated to the energy could affect this pool of intent in negative ways. Only since public release of Reiki symbols in a number of books has this been found to be in error. An attuned practitioner does, however, have the ability to tap into this pool of energy when they use the symbols, and they add Reiki energy to it each time they use them. Not long ago, I made a very concerted effort to determine the most used symbols so that I could integrate them into my classes. It was very important to me that I make available the most effective ones I could find.
Though the symbols vary from practitioner to practitioner, they are all very similar. Those familiar with one set can easily determine which symbol is which in the set of a practitioner from a different master or school. The consciousness which we communicate our intent to, which I will generally refer to as angels or Reiki angels from now on, has the same ease of recognition. Different symbols, attunements, or whatever can be used because the angels do all the work, as the masters and practitioners are simply pathways for the energy. As long as you are clear in your intent, in other words as long as your angels can tell what you are trying to do, the process gets carried out regardless of how poorly the symbols are traced, the words botched, or the "exact" procedure followed. Of course, it goes without saying that we should always do our best in tracing the symbols. Not only is this common courtesy, but it will also assist you in expressing your intent more clearly. This will make it much easier for your angels to work with, and through you.
Many of the masters which Mrs. Takata taught started other concepts which went on to have a life of their own, such as the idea of a required waiting time between attunements. Research suggests that when teaching, Mrs. Takata would often use her intuition to determine the level of her student's consciousness and its clarity. She made many of the people she taught wait before receiving their next attunement, but was also known to have initiated students through several levels all in one day. According to the official biography quoted earlier, it appears that she received her master attunement a very short time after being attuned to second degree.
As often happens, those who were made to wait, typically had their students wait, believing it was proper procedure. Those who were not made to wait for their attunements didn't for the same reason. Treatment procedure was another thing she extensively changed over time. Some people who took her classes were told to start at the head, others the feet. Some were even told to begin at the belly. The hand positions also appear to have gone through extensive modifications through the years.
SUMMARY
There is no question that Dr. Usui, Dr. Hayashi, and Mrs. Hawayo Takata have introduced and popularized a system which has made a huge change in our world. Likewise, because of Reiki's continual growth, that change will only expand geometrically with time. They have given our planet one of the greatest gifts that we have known and we owe them a great debt of thanks for it. Second Degree students are often encouraged to send energy to each of them regularly, in thanks. Since Mrs. Takata's death, a great deal has been written about Usui Shiki Ryoho, or Traditional American Reiki. Reiki is not about the words written in this book, nor any other. The only document known to exist within the system from Dr. Hayashi's time is Mrs. Takata's master certificate. Just as it now appears that the gospels were written years after the death of Jesus, so it appears that a similar condition is beginning to occur within the Reiki community. Keep in mind that nearly everything you read in this and many other books about Reiki was written years after her transition.
Try to avoid the literal and take the stories of Reiki as what they are, inspirational messages. They are important. As important as any myth, but they are not the absolute truth and shouldn't be taken as such. We have been left with one of the world's most effective healing energies and a lineage of very loving and devoted individuals who lived their lives spreading it throughout the world. The important thing is that we recognize the spirit present in these stories, and attempt to do them justice in our own lives. Learn from them. Give them, and the energy, the respect which they deserve.
There are several parts of the story of Reiki which are quite contrary to both common sense, and the history of the period in Japan. To begin with, it is doubtful that any Japanese national would have been allowed to become the director of a Christian school during the period she spoke about in relation to Dr. Usui. Additionally, neither the school that she is alleged to have spoken of, nor the University of Chicago have any record of Dr. Usui. Both have made extensive assurances that their records are very accurate.
It is much more likely that Dr. Usui (a very common name similar to Smith in the United States) was a Buddhist monk. Records of him seem to be lost in the sands of time, however the system as named on Mrs. Takata's mastership certificate (which is notarized and on file in Hawaii) does bear his name, so it is likely that he did exist. Otherwise it would probably be called the Hayashi Reiki System of Drugless Healing. So, why the story of Christianity? The answer may be quite simple.
To unravel the mystery, we must take into account the fact that Mrs. Takata was a partially Japanese American living in the United States during World War II, a time when our country was rounding up citizens like her and putting them into camps in the desert as potential spies. It is likely that she escaped that fate by the skin of her teeth in the first place. Promoting a Buddhist healing system would most likely have been the final nail in her coffin. Once the word got out about how well Reiki worked, few cared about its origins. Fortunately for her, no one ever checked with the University of Chicago.
HOW THE REIKI SYSTEM BECAME DIVIDED
Upon Takata's death in December of 1980, a woman named Dr. Barbara Ray stood up and claimed that she was hand picked to succeed her as "Grand Master". Shortly after, Mrs. Takata's granddaughter, Phyllis Lei Furumoto stood up and proclaimed that she was the rightful heir, though clearly blood lineage has not played a role in Reiki's past. The thing that has never been resolved seems to be, the heir to what? It doesn't appear that the words "Grand Master" existed until Dr. Ray coined them. There is no record of Dr. Usui or Dr. Hayashi ever referring to themselves as "Grand Masters". Certainly the latter would have done so in the certificate he presented to Mrs. Takata upon making her a master. According to that certificate, she simply became, "one of the thirteen fully qualified as a Master of the profession". This certainly seems to suggest that in Reiki all masters are equal.
In recent years, some have also claimed to have "the only complete" system of Reiki. Our research has indicated that there are many forms of Reiki currently in use. I have taken great pains to research these different schools of Reiki and to obtain lineages back to as many as possible. The energy is essentially the same in every form, however differences do exist. Each master has a different consciousness, and consequently a different ability to carry the energy. My most complete attunement to date occurred with initiation into the direct Tibetan lineage of the energy by a student of a very accomplished Lama. This lineage is quite different in energetic make-up than the traditional "Tibetan" attunement that has spread throughout the United States in recent years. My research into the energy, however, continues.
This brings us to a very important point, money. Don't get tricked into paying extra for additional levels and symbols. Many masters use extra symbols and techniques which they have "found to enhance" the energy. That is perfectly fine and, in fact, desirable because it shows that the master is conscious of and continually trying to improve the service that he or she provides, but don't pay a great deal more for it. Reiki is one case in which you do not get what you pay for. Some of the world's best teachers are the lowest priced because they know how truly beneficial the energy is and want everyone to have access to it. The current cost for training generally falls in the range below:
First Degree practitioner Reiki I $ 75.00-200.00
Second Degree practitioner Reiki II $100.00-500.00
Third Degree - Master Reiki III $150.00-1,000.00
Fourth Degree (actually Reiki III) Master-Teacher $500.00-10,000.00
Another thing to be aware of is the argument that high prices are necessary in order to impress the value of what you are receiving upon your consciousness. There is a great deal of truth to be found in that statement, but only believe it from the mouth of a master who offers a sliding scale or a small "token" fee. Three hundred dollars for a level may be a great deal for you to pay and make quite an impression upon you. Someone else, however, may spend that amount casually for dinner and drinks. Value is subjective. Try to keep that in mind when selecting a master. It will help you to determine if the person is genuinely concerned about the growth of their students, or just after a larger paycheck and using this principle to justify it.
Also, keep in mind that just as your time is valuable, so is the time of the master you are contacting for classes. Many masters set their class prices with that in mind. How honest a master is in telling you this is an excellent thing to use in evaluating their character.
FACTIONAL CONFUSION
Aside from the primary factions, many others exist on smaller levels within the Reiki community because, as we have already mentioned, Mrs. Takata was extremely intuitive and seems to have frequently adjusted the "rules" to the consciousness of the class or person she was teaching at the time. It is also known that she would occasionally change symbols for much the same reason.
For a long time, there were only a handful of masters and practitioners, and they were scattered primarily throughout the United States. Though their symbols were very similar, they were not exact and many of the masters felt strongly that the power of Reiki came from the knowledge of, and ability to precisely trace, the symbols. Since some masters had slightly different symbols and were, subsequently, passing them on to their students, one can imagine the confusion that was created as Reiki grew and people began to compare their symbols!
Actually, this time of confusion was quite fortunate in that it created a lot of discussion about how Reiki actually works. If the symbols were the key, why did so many variations of them have the same effect?
In reality, there are two main kinds of symbols. Symbols which serve primarily as tools of communication, and symbols whose inherent geometric and energetic structure effect energy, objects, and space exposed to them. Today, the predominant belief is that the Reiki symbols are the former. They serve several purposes. First, they provide an excellent focus of intent. This intent allows a Reiki practitioner to more effectively communicate what energy she or he wants to use during the healing. This communication occurs with many different levels of consciousness. Reiki encompasses all belief systems, so it matters very little if you believe that your communication is taking place with angels, guides, god, other levels of your self, or the consciousness expressed through the current. All are valid, and are simply expressions of energy. I believe many of these words reflect the same (or different aspects of the same) thing, looked at from different perspectives. Therefore to me, the communication can be occurring on all these levels and many more.
Although the Reiki symbols are not the kind which radiate energy because of their design, the symbols themselves still have a powerful pool of intent built up behind them. Added to their innate power, this pool is comprised of the Reiki energy from the intent of everyone who has ever used the symbols. It is why for many years they have been viewed as sacred. Many thought that people uninitiated to the energy could affect this pool of intent in negative ways. Only since public release of Reiki symbols in a number of books has this been found to be in error. An attuned practitioner does, however, have the ability to tap into this pool of energy when they use the symbols, and they add Reiki energy to it each time they use them. Not long ago, I made a very concerted effort to determine the most used symbols so that I could integrate them into my classes. It was very important to me that I make available the most effective ones I could find.
Though the symbols vary from practitioner to practitioner, they are all very similar. Those familiar with one set can easily determine which symbol is which in the set of a practitioner from a different master or school. The consciousness which we communicate our intent to, which I will generally refer to as angels or Reiki angels from now on, has the same ease of recognition. Different symbols, attunements, or whatever can be used because the angels do all the work, as the masters and practitioners are simply pathways for the energy. As long as you are clear in your intent, in other words as long as your angels can tell what you are trying to do, the process gets carried out regardless of how poorly the symbols are traced, the words botched, or the "exact" procedure followed. Of course, it goes without saying that we should always do our best in tracing the symbols. Not only is this common courtesy, but it will also assist you in expressing your intent more clearly. This will make it much easier for your angels to work with, and through you.
Many of the masters which Mrs. Takata taught started other concepts which went on to have a life of their own, such as the idea of a required waiting time between attunements. Research suggests that when teaching, Mrs. Takata would often use her intuition to determine the level of her student's consciousness and its clarity. She made many of the people she taught wait before receiving their next attunement, but was also known to have initiated students through several levels all in one day. According to the official biography quoted earlier, it appears that she received her master attunement a very short time after being attuned to second degree.
As often happens, those who were made to wait, typically had their students wait, believing it was proper procedure. Those who were not made to wait for their attunements didn't for the same reason. Treatment procedure was another thing she extensively changed over time. Some people who took her classes were told to start at the head, others the feet. Some were even told to begin at the belly. The hand positions also appear to have gone through extensive modifications through the years.
SUMMARY
There is no question that Dr. Usui, Dr. Hayashi, and Mrs. Hawayo Takata have introduced and popularized a system which has made a huge change in our world. Likewise, because of Reiki's continual growth, that change will only expand geometrically with time. They have given our planet one of the greatest gifts that we have known and we owe them a great debt of thanks for it. Second Degree students are often encouraged to send energy to each of them regularly, in thanks. Since Mrs. Takata's death, a great deal has been written about Usui Shiki Ryoho, or Traditional American Reiki. Reiki is not about the words written in this book, nor any other. The only document known to exist within the system from Dr. Hayashi's time is Mrs. Takata's master certificate. Just as it now appears that the gospels were written years after the death of Jesus, so it appears that a similar condition is beginning to occur within the Reiki community. Keep in mind that nearly everything you read in this and many other books about Reiki was written years after her transition.
Try to avoid the literal and take the stories of Reiki as what they are, inspirational messages. They are important. As important as any myth, but they are not the absolute truth and shouldn't be taken as such. We have been left with one of the world's most effective healing energies and a lineage of very loving and devoted individuals who lived their lives spreading it throughout the world. The important thing is that we recognize the spirit present in these stories, and attempt to do them justice in our own lives. Learn from them. Give them, and the energy, the respect which they deserve.
Tags: age, energywork, holistic, how-to, lightwork, manual, new, reiki, spirituality
Peace Church Congregations
© 2010 Created by Chris Tinney.
