Walking The Long Path - The Art of Genuine Reiki Practice

Throughout humankind's history of healing therapies,				wrong understanding. It's brilliant! However, it is, by reiki
such as Theraputic Touch, and their often attendant				standards, incomplete; it is only a physical
Eastern mystical practices, such as reiki, charismatic				measurement. In reiki, we accept this physical
individuals have contributed to the path of healers'				measurement, yet we learn to intuit a broader
development.				measurement - one that changes the meaning of
Mikao Usui wrote a manual of his teachings on reiki in				"energy," "potential," and "life force." Einstein, when
1920. In April of 1922, he opened his first "Seat of				questioned about his work in physics, showed his
Learning" in Harajuku, Tokyo. His teachings inspired the				spiritual intuition developed during a lifetime of
senior population, who experienced this learning as a				contemplating energy. He answered, "I am only chasing
return to the older "spiritual practices."				God's footprints, trying to understand how God works."
Reiki is a healing art evolved from Eastern visions of				In the Eastern sense, when we speak of "seeing
what our universe is and how it functions. Today,in the				energy," we speak of using the physical flower to see
West, we grow master teachers, who, like their				beyond the boundaries of that flower's obvious
patients and students, have rushed up the ranks				presence. This is transcendental vision. To see beyond
through an "instant" reiki system of weekend seminars,				the physical is to see the metaphysical. If reiki healers
offering little, if any, foundation in Eastern thinking, and				are to accomplish their work wholistically and with
who are continuing to churn the master-making				direction, in accordance with the manner in which
machinery.				energy works, they must meld a basic Western
Is reiki a valid complementary healing modality? Yes.				understanding of the physical universe with an Eastern
Are there honest, serious master teachers? Yes.				understanding of the metaphysical. The genuine reiki
However, qualified reiki masters are rare, and the				healer perceives our universe in transcendental terms.
responsibility of learning to navigate the legitimate reiki				How does one describe the metaphysical and
path belongs to the student.				transcendental universe? Reiki, having its roots in
I believe that background knowledge in Eastern				Buddhism, would say the universe is "empty." This point
disciplines and concepts is a prerequisite for both a				is critical. If each element - including the human element
genuine master teacher and for serious students who				- in the universe grows from all that the universe was,
wish to achieve a deep, committed reiki practice. The				is, or will become, then each element is a part of every
truly qualified master teachers have accomplished a				other element, and the universe uses itself to
change in their world view that is all encompassing, and				transcend itself - one energy, many manifestations!
a student using a solid background in Eastern				If each element is a part of every other element, then
philosophical and spiritual views is more likely to				the universe is empty of "thingness," of "selfness;"
recognize this quality in a prospective master teacher.				nothing (no-thing) exists in the universe, however,
Attaining a stage of authentic personal change in any				simultaneously, everything exists, and exists as the
Eastern discipline along The Path demands that a				universe; a flower is not a flower, then again, it is a
seeker prepare for a five to ten year journey of				flower. It is important to understand on the deepest
intense intellectual study, and another five to ten years				level that a reiki healer never works on a patient, but
of actual practice: in all, approximately twenty years of				always works on the universe, then again, a reiki healer
mental, emotional, and spiritual practice precedes an				works on a patient.
actual change in awareness - and changing one's				Healing the universe is not a small responsibility, and this
awareness, the perspectives that guide one's life, is the				article or a three-day seminar can only disseminate
first step along The Path.				knowledge; it can't teach wisdom or compassion. Our
Eastern traditions:				three-day seminar will not create a change in
Because a strong historical case can be made that				awareness, unless we have practiced the years of
modern reiki is a rediscovery by Mikao Usui Sensei of				work that precede that moment of change.
an ancient Tibetan practice known as Medicine				The students' path to healing wisdom:
Buddha, I will sketch a few Medicine Buddha basics,				On The Path, a student seeks her teacher. However,
seeking a credible foundation, from an Eastern				the responsibility of accomplishing the groundwork lies
viewpoint, speaking to contemporary reiki practice.				with the student. The work we speak of is meditation,
Tibetan medicine is rooted in India's Buddhist system,				and while one usually begins with a period devoted to
taught as early as the sixth century BCE. From the				experimenting with various meditation styles in order to
Buddhist mind-set, physical disease is a dynamic,				learn the technique of directed contemplation(this
energetic manifestation of mental, social, and spiritual				period often taking years), the meditation style we are
disorder.				concerned about here is reiki.
Buddhism is a directed contemplative or meditation				Reiki meditation utilizes a system of esoteric
practice on the universal level of "correct living" and				archetypal symbols as graphic visuals, and
involves tapping into mental, social, and spiritual healing				mantras,which are spoken sounds.
energy as it peels away layers hidden behind the				Earlier, we arrived at a point of understanding that the
diseased physical manifestation. Essentially, these are				genuine reiki healer uses their practiced, intuitivesense
the identical attitudes taught in today's genuine reiki				of energy's natural, universal characteristics to heal the
practice.				universe. Any conscious actions - including healing
Within this Indian Buddhist foundation, the Tibetans				actions - begin with awareness. One must be aware
broadened their healing practices adding various				of a disturbance in the patient's energy field, in the
treatments and medications. The Tibetan Buddhists				universal energy field, in order to open the patient to
created a healing system, called Medicine Buddha:				healing. To heal the universe, one must practice
respecting spiritual contemplation, meditation, intuitive				universal awareness. Again, the genuine reiki healer
mystical healing methods - including hands-on energy				learns and then practices. Learning what defines
manipulation - all coalescing as a healing system based				universal awareness and practicing it is referred to as
on the Buddhist precepts of "right perception" and "right				meditation.
action", and of health being a harmonious balance				We already know a good-sized chunk about the
between humankind's integral relationship connecting				universe: that it is essentially empty; that nothing
our physical, mental, spiritual, and natural worlds as				(nothing, including our selves) exists in the universe, yet
various manifestations of one energy or life force. The				all things exist as the universe. Therefore, you and I are
intent of Medicine Buddha practice is to manifest one's				the universe. When we observe the universe, we are
natural energeticpotential.				the universe observing itself, being aware of itself. If
Healing through the Medicine Buddha takes place via a				our bodies exist, and we are the universe, we are also
series of empowerments designed to awaken the				our bodies. Our bodies are flesh and spirit aspects of
innate healing energy that lies within. Practicing the				the universe in space and time. Here comes the
Medicine Buddha meditation, and receiving				physical-metaphysical pitch; the universe is dynamic,
empowerments from a qualified Buddhist meditation				energetic, aware, and being transcendental, it
master, go hand in hand for both the healer and				possesses the potential to map itself in aspects:
patient. In modern reiki, the reiki master imparts				energy creating itself in a fashion that enables it to
empowerment to the patient or student or fellow				evolve and be aware of its evolution. This is what we
healer in levels called "attunements." Attunements open				mean when we say, "We are not born into the
the subject to their innate energy potential in stages.				universe, we are born out of it!" The universe uses
Barely scratching the surface then, we have sketched				itself to create itself, and this is what we mean when
a case for the historical development of today's reiki				we say, "The universe is transcendental."
by visiting the sixth century Buddhist teachings of the				You and I can't be expected to heal others and
Tibetan Medicine Buddha:				ourselves without understanding where we came
1. Medicine Buddha involves a laying-on of hands similar				from, how we arrived, or where we are going. Now,
to Reiki.				we know the direction of our journey, and we must
2. The ability to perform Medicine Buddha healing is				practice.
transmitted to the student through an empowerment				When we act, when we incorporate symbols and ritual
given by the teacher, similar to a reiki attunement.				in our lives, the universe is in the process of mapping
3. The views and attitudes of Medicine Buddha				itself. To the extent that our aspects perform this
practice closely parallel the system now known asreiki.				activity consciously, we become aware of, and
A Twenty-year, three-day seminar:				awaken to the universal map.
Reiki is composed of two Japanese characters. The				Meditating through the use of esoteric symbols and
top character, "rei," is defined as "spirit." The bottom				mantras is the process of discovering and practicing
character "ki," is defined as "energy." It is fair to say				universal awareness. Like the words on this page,
that the term "reiki" means "spirit energy" or "life force."				symbols aid us in reading and conceptualizing the
However, if I contemplate these words in the Western				universe. As our awareness grows, so the universe
sense, I cannot grasp their true meanings. It is				grows; meditation is transcendental in nature; the
imperative for the Western student of reiki to				universe uses itself to transcend itself.
understand that they are embarking on a journey to a				Symbols and mantras, like the rest of the universe, are
place in our comprehension where we come into				energy forms, and they work because being aware of
direct contact with, and are changed by, the dynamics				them they are able to communicate: their energy to
of language.				our energy - one energy. When this conscious, aware,
Learning to use everyday Western terms in an				communication takes place, the symbols become the
Eastern sense, to conceptualize in a "reiki" style, is key				universe's way of perceiving itself. Knowing that, in the
to understanding how reiki healing succeeds. Without				Western sense, energy follows conscious thought, and
this knowledge of the difference between Eastern and				in the Eastern sense, energy is conscious thought,
Western concepts of energy or life force, we can be				helps us to understand the parts that "thought and
given the tools of the energy healing profession but will				intention" play in healing.
not possess the ability to take instruction on utilizing				If a patient is in the room with us, we can have a
them; the nomenclature, esoteric symbols, meditation				hands-on reiki session. However, because thought is
instruction, and information coming to us through				energy - and as genuine reiki healers we have long
meditation practice will be misinterpreted.				practiced directed contemplation - we may heal
After our three-day reiki seminar, we will frame our				through space and time, and reiki often is used in
certificates and open our notebooks. But we will				distance healing. This is an important
encounter symbols and meditation instructions through				physical-metaphysical point to grasp; because energy
our Western conceptions of what the Eastern				is one and whole, space and time do not exist inreiki
symbols and instructions are offering us. The symbols,				healing.
mantras, and instructions are meant to communicate				The spirit worlds:
aspects of life force energy in the reiki sense, in the				Arriving at an Eastern understanding of energy, our
Eastern sense - but we have no idea what that				universal bodies, thought, and universal awareness, it is
means!				time to mention the unmentionable - an important point
A Few Words About Reiki's Founder:				concerning healing style versus culture: the Medicine
Two versions of Mikao Usui's life, and his discovery				Buddha practice was not only mystical in its intuitive
and development of the system known today as Usui				style, but also metaphysical in its appeal to The Four
reiki, are running the race of legend. The earlier story is				Devas, or what today we call the spirit guides.
a popular mystical version originally espoused in the				Consulting with spirit guides is the unmentionable
West by Mrs. Hawayo Takata, and further popularized				element in the reiki healer's medicine bag. It is often
by Mr. William Lee Rand in his book, Reiki; The Healing				used in secret.
Touch.				Keeping this part of reiki healing subdued is largely a
The recent version, without the bells and whistles of				cultural demand. Were I a Native American Indian
mystical visions, is far less colorful. It is gleaned from				speaking of having completed a vision quest and
information made available by Mikao Usui's actual				finding my spirit guides, I would be a popular person
descendents who are alive and well, and working				amongst my peers, within my culture. However, being
today in Japan. Confirmation of this less popular				of Eastern European ethnicity, with flesh the color of
version comes from Tatsumi Sensei, a student of				day-old oatmeal, if I mention speaking to the spirit
Chujirou Hayashi, one of Usui's personally trained				guides, many in my culture may ridicule my healing art
masters. Tatsumi Sensei passed away in 1996, at over				and myself.
ninety years old. Mikao Usui's story - according to				Our mainstream culture is focused through
Tatsumi Sensei - runs thus:				conventional science on that aspect of the world
Mikao Usui was born on August 15, 1865 to a highly				which can be measured in a laboratory, largely ignoring
spiritual, Tendai Buddhist family of the Samurai class in				metaphysical perceptions measured by intuitive
Kyoto. Young Mikao Usui showed himself to be a				knowing and trusted through faith in the transcendent.
serious and fierce student rising into the robes of a				We are taught six days a week to live by the table of
Tendai Buddhist Monk. He studied with and attended				weights and measures, and the table of periodic
many spiritual groups, and on numerous occasions he				elements. The seventh day is reserved for broadening
endured grueling twenty-one day "Lotus Repentance				one's faith in the unseen and unmeasured - which for
Meditations." He performed this meditation once on				most of us includes God, and may also include Christ,
Mount Kurama, where it is said he experienced a				saints, and perhaps angels. Spirit guides are an
mystical vision while standing under a waterfall and				historical part of the reiki tradition beginning with the
received the esoteric reiki symbols and teachings.				Medicine Buddha.
However, this mystical vision legend is not borne out,				Speaking within this tradition, Lama Zopa Rinpoche
because the meditation session in question actually				said, "...You will receive much support, not only from the
occurred late in his life, long after he started teaching				Eight Gone to Bliss Ones but from the four clairvoyant
his healing system that came to be known as Usui				devas. These devas help you diagnose and
reiki.				understand the right method to heal..."
Mikao Usui embodied the traditions of the Samurai				With a slight twist, Thrangu Rinpoche said, "In the
class. As described by one of his students: "He was				vajrayana tradition, we regard the blessing and the
physically big, quiet in manner, and extremely powerful.				power and the qualities of the deities as being innate,
Mikao Usui did not suffer fools willingly and became				as being within one's own mind."
quite abrasive at times. He often grew righteously				After a period of time practicing meditation and
angry and impatient, particularly with people who				learning to read and interpret the universal energy map,
wanted results but were not prepared to work for				many reiki healers discover their psychic abilities, the
them."				ability to be aware of subtle forms of energy, to
Although he did not have a title for his teachings, he				become expert map-readers. The reiki healer uses all
referred to them as a, "...method to achieve personal				energy, and will use whatever the universe offers to
perfection." The term "reiki" seems to have been				heal a person, including spirit guides.
introduced by Usui's student, Chujirou Hayashi, Reiki				Observing this practice through Western eyes, we
Master. The title used by Usui's original students was				cannot validate using spirit guides, because in the west
and still is, Usui Teate (Usui Hand Touch) or "Usui Hand				our science, healing, and medicine have become
Healing." The title, reiki, is unknown by Usui's students.				laboratory measuring skills, with only rare
Mikao Usui Sensei died from a stroke in Hiroshima in				acknowledgment of the intuitive arts of healing.
1826. The famous reiki healing hand positions were				However, if we fully engage in the practice, rather than
recorded on paper just before Usui died, by Chujiro				observing from the sidelines, we soon leave behind our
Hayashi. Today, an impressive monument to Usui				laboratories and find ourselves measuring and
Sensei stands in Tokyo.				validating through a functional point of view; if it
Since his death in 1826, there have been five				intuitively feels right and works, use it.
successors in Usui Shiki Ryoho Gakkai in Japan. The				Transformations through reiki practice:
current successor is Ms. Kimiko Koyama. Not until 1980				As our meditation deepens, our universal perspectives
was reiki popularized in the West.				change. One's life takes on a different panorama, and
"The secret art of inviting happiness,				the genuine reiki practitioner finds his ethics naturally
The miraculous medicine of all diseases,				changing. Ethics evolve into a set of rules through
Just for today, do not be angry,				which the healer may express compassion, and life
Do not worry and be filled with gratitude,				becomes a meditation on compassion. Compassion is
Devote yourself to your work and be kind to people,				knowledge melded to wisdom, and it develops at its
Every morning and evening join your hands in prayer,				own pace. It cannot be forced, and must not be
Pray these words to your heart,				confused with kindness. True compassion is kind when
And chant these word with your mouth,				it can afford to be, and harsh when the occasion calls
Usui Reiki Treatment for the improvement of body and				for such action, because true compassion seeks to
mind."				heal. Compassion is an awareness practice.
Mikao Usui Sensei				Reiki is a healing modality expressive of the highest
How do Western students of Eastern thought begin to				quality that the universe offers - unity. The reiki healing
fathom our familiar language in a new and unfamiliar				session is a wave running through our space-time
way? The answer lies in the question; we begin				continuum that integrates patient, disease, healer, and
understanding as "beginners." We learn to see the				method: all being equally responsible and actively
world as if looking at it for the first time. To heal using				striving together towards an improved quality of life.
energy, one must grasp energy intuitively. My first				The entire event occurs within a framework of
yogic teacher, Eden Ahbez, taught that the world's true				consciously recognizable, equalized ownership. The
path to healing is revealed through nature. The historical				buck may not be passed - no one party or element is
Buddha, Gotama, also understood this truth. One day				credited for the healing; reiki is humble. Like all science,
he was asked the meaning of his great teaching. He				medicine, and healing modalities East and West, reiki is
answered by holding up a flower.				not a panacea. It is first, the study of a learned practice
The reiki student sees a flower; the reiki healer also				which is always in progress; next a complementary
sees the flower, however, the reiki healer sees the				therapy; and always, the art of genuine reiki is a
entire universe in a single flower. The genuine reiki				journey on the eternal path.
healer grasps one universal energy through a				Namaste
long-practiced, wholistic vision. If we wish to think in an				(My energy and your energy, honored as one energy.)
Eastern sense, we would not call the flower a flower.				Bibliography:
We must perceive its true energy and think, "moon,				Reiki Fire: New Information About the Origin of the
sun, rain, cold, warmth, light, photons, soil,worm castings,				Reiki Power: A Complete Method ; Frank A. Petter ;
nutrients, cells, molecules, atoms, electrons, protons, and				Paperback ; Lotus Light Publications ; 1997.
neutrons - and we can take this list back to the				Reiki: Universal Life Energy ; Bodo J. Baginski and
moment preceding the Big Bang, if we so desire,				Shalila Sharamon ; Paperback ; LifeRhythm ; 1988.
because one who understands energy knows that the				Reiki: Hawayo Takata's Story ; Helen J. Haberly ;
flower was never planted on the earth. It grows out of				Archedigm Publications ; 1990.
the earth, all that is the earth. The earth is not only an				Essential Reiki: A Complete Guide to an Ancient
orbiting planet, but also a dynamic, integral piece of the				Healing Art ; Diane Stein ; The Crossing Press Inc.; 1995.
universe; which universe is born of infinity. Since there				A Complete Book of Reiki Healing : Heal Yourself,
is no word that can describe infinity, the answer to				Others, and the World Around You ; Brigitte
"What do you call a flower?" is simply that you do not!				Muller,Horst H. Gunther ; Liferhythm ; 1995.
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flower in silence, and not a word passed between				Home, Hospital and Hospice ; Libby Barnett,Maggie
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words are here to stay and we will continue using				Press ; 1996.
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flower, then again, it is a flower." This is also a reminder				LifeRhythm ; 1992.
that the genuine reiki healer lives simultaneously in two				Reiki : A Torch in Daylight ; Karyn K. Mitchell ;
worlds, the esoteric and exoteric, the mystical and				Paperback ; Mind Rivers ; 1994.
mundane, the metaphysical and physical; and the truth				Reiki: The Healing Touch ; William Lee Rand ; Vision
of each world is to be found in the midst of the other.				Publications ; 1991.
Energy is a single quality offering itself through				Abundance Through Reiki ; Paula Horan ; Lotus Light
innumerable variations on a dynamic theme: one				Publications ; 1995.
energy, many manifestations! Thus, we embark on the				The Reiki Handbook ; Larry Arnold and Sandi Nevius ;
journey of seeing energy through fresh, wholistic eyes,				PSI Press ; 1982.
beginner's eyes.V				The Challenge to Teach Reiki ; A. J. Mackenzie Clay ;
Energy is one and many. Energy is whole, and this				New Dimensions ; 1992.
means we are an expression of energy, and not only				One Step Forward for Reiki ; A. J. Mackenzie Clay ;
our physical bodies, but our mental and emotional				New Dimensions ; 1992.
selves - these also are referred to as energy bodies.				Reiki: The Usui System of Natural Healing ; Paul David
Remember, one energy, many manifestations. When				Mitchell ; The Reiki Alliance ; 1985.
reiki healers offer healing, they heal the whole individual.				The Reiki Factor: A Guide to Natural Healing, Helping
Many times, this extends to the individual's outer				and Wholeness ; Dr. Barbara Weber Ray ; Expositions
environment: family, friends, the workplace, living space,				Press ; 1982.
etc. We are whole as the flower is whole; while its				Reiki and Other Rays of Touch Healing ; Kathleen
roots touch the earth, its petals touch the sky.				Milner Paperback ; Kathleen Milner ; 1994.
Saying that energy is dynamic, means that energy is				Hands of Light: A Guide to Healing Through the Human
potential. If energy is potential - a dynamic force - what				Energy Field and Light Emerging: The Journey of
direction is it moving in? As expressions of energy,				Personal Healing ; Barbara Ann Brennan ; Bantam
how can we hope to heal ourselves if we have no				Books ; 1993.
notion of where we have been, how we arrived at this				The Teachings of the Compassionate Buddha ; E. A.
time and place, or where we are going?				Burtt ; Mentor Books ; 1955.
When a reiki master feels energy, the master senses				The Double Mirror: A Skeptical Journey into Buddhist
a direction. From the seed to the flower, the flower to				Tantra ; Stephen Butterfield ; Berkeley: North Atlantic
the field, the field to the forest, and beyond to infinity -				Books ; 1994.
energy moves from the simple to the complex. Arleta				Meditation in Action ; Chogyam Trungpa ; Berkeley:
Soares, Reiki Master, of the Usui and Karuna systems,				Shambhala Publications, Inc. ; 1969.
and a healer of deep insight and considerable power,				Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior ;
teaches that healing with reiki is a peeling of the onion				Chogyam Trungpa, ed. by Carolyn Rose Gimian.
from the obvious manifestation of the disease to the				Boulder ; Shambhala Publ., Inc.; 1984.
multiple levels and often complex roots of that disease.				Awakening the Buddha Within: Tibetan Wisdom for the
Reiki heals in the same direction that energy moves,				Western World ; Lama Surya Das ; Broadway Books ;
from the simple to the complex. Reiki heals using				1997.
energy as energy uses itself, as an expression of the				Thunder and Ocean ; David Swick ; Pottersfield Press;
whole.				1996.
In the Western sense, Albert Einstein defined energy				END
as mass times the speed of light, squared. This is not a				Thank you for your comments!

Ommani Jewelry

Walking The Long Path - The Art of Genuine Reiki Practice