Root of reiki

When we really think deeply, roots won’t grow unless they are planted. This is exactly how the system of Reiki works. We need to look deeply into the teachings both ancient and recent, Mikao Usui planted the roots of Reiki and from that and even before, we have understood much more about the system of Reiki.

When we look at Hawayo Takata’s teaching and Chujiro Hayashi’s teaching, we can see that changes were made, and therefore they can’t be seen as Mikao Usui’s teachings, the roots were disturbed so they became unreliable and weak.

Chujiro Hayashi’s teachings also changed, at first he planted the roots of Mikao Usui’s teachings and followed them, however, he together with Takata changed them to become more accessible to the West as the second world war changed people’s views on Japan and its people.

We all know that Chujiro Hayashi couldn’t be true to himself when he was called up to practice in the Japanese Navy (he was a retired consultant\doctor) and consequently he decided to commit suicide rather than becoming someone he wasn’t. This was an honorific death in Japan, witnessed by the people he chose.

The Reiki Gakkai in Japan, which was and is a committee for Reiki, you could say it was a secretive organisation, however, after Mikao Usui’s death, the Gakkai also changed, Chujiro Hayashi had great influence over this. A new style of Reiki was introduced, instead of a Reiki treatment on a couch it was done on a chair in a sitting position and a few people instead of ‘one’ were involved in the treatment and hand positions were established. Also ‘Attunements’ were introduced, the system became Hayashi Method and not Usui method of healing, so again the roots were weakened and squashed.

Many changes occurred when Takata took the system of Reiki to the West, whereas before (in Mikao Usui’s teachings) there were no labels, no ‘grand masters’, no ‘lineage bearers’ no ego, no power. Hawayo Takata declared herself to be the Grand Master of Reiki, and omitted practices such as Buddhism, Tendai and Shugendo etc. when she brought Reiki to the west.

So we can see the changes and disturbed roots, the original teachings diminished and became a different system. Reiki stands for ‘true self’ and Ryo stands ‘to heal’ and Ho stands for ‘teaching’ ‘Dharma’ or ‘Method’.

So, in reality, Reiki is not only a healing method, or ‘hands on’ it is our ‘whole self’ that is involved, enlightenment and the bright light are so much more effective. Respecting the founder Mikao Usui’s teachings and understanding the Ancient practices and Esoteric teachings, we become the roots. Many names have been introduced such as Takata’s “Shiki Ryoho, or Hayashi Reiki Ryoho Kenkykai.

At the end of the day, you must make up your own mind about how to practice Reiki, it all works, but, simplicity is the key.

I think we must not be judgemental, which is very difficult when 'passion' takes over. I started many many years ago in the Western teachings but it wasn't com portable for me, I couldn't accept Ego and Power, Reiki Master, absolutely not a Grandmaster! I am simply a Reiki Teacher in the Original System of Reiki, and I feel liberated and free.