Reiki after Dr Usui

Dr Mikao Usui did not believe that one person should have claim to the Reiki method of healing and so he attuned and taught anyone who was interested. He envisioned the Reiki method of healing being shared globally, however he didn't bargain on the Japanese mind-set that Japanese things were solely for the Japanese people. Following Dr Usui's death in 1926, this mind-set caused divide between those who were "traditionally minded" and those with a more liberal attitude.

Dr Usui's tombstone states that he founded the Reiki Society, the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai and acted as its first president, however this is unlikely. It is more likely that the society was founded after his death by Juzaburo Ushida (1865-1935), who had named Dr Usui as the first President out of respect for the Founder. The Gakkai was open to people who had studied Usui's Reiki and this Society still exists today. Ushida was the author of the Usui memorial.

There have been six Gakkai Presidents and these are:
Juzaburo Ushida (1865 - 1935)
Kanichi taketomi (1878 -1960)
Yoshiharu Watanabe (unknown - 1960)
Hoichi Wanami (1883 - 1975)
Kimiko Koyama (1906 - 1998)
Masayoshi Kondo

Dr Hayashi and Mrs Takata introduced Reiki to the West in the 1930's, causing further divisions between the Eastern and Western Schools. Dr Hayashi and Mrs Takata have no links to the presidency of the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai and Mrs Takata created her own organisation "The Reiki Alliance".

Dr Hayashi was one of Dr Usui's disciples and so was attuned by Dr Usui himself, Mrs Takata visited one of Dr Usui's clinics for treatment and was later attuned to Reiki by Dr Hayashi.

It is thought that Mrs Takata often told her students that she was the only living Reiki Master and that all of the others had died during the War. Until the 1970's Mrs Takata only attuned people to the Second degree, when she began attuning people to Third degree or Reiki Master she set the high price of $10,000. She gave her students sparse information about the system, which has resulted in a near mythical history about the Founder Dr Usui's background.

Reiki is a power method of healing which works anywhere in the world. Although the Japanese Reiki and Western Reiki are now two very separate entities they originate from the one Founder Dr Usui, and both are equally valid and work to bring universal love and compassion to any situation, to heal, strengthen and empower any individual. Western Reiki has been de-spiritualised and merged with other often conflicting philosophies, while original Reiki has roots in Eastern Mysticism, Estoteric Buddhism and Folk Shinto.

While Reiki was never intended to become a religion it can be a spiritual journey. It honours the life force in all things and is rooted in quasi-religious techniques such as; meditation, secret symbols and initiation rituals.

Dr Mikao Usui - Founder of Reiki

There are several versions of how Dr Mikao Usui came to rediscover Reiki. I say rediscover as the symbols used within Reiki can be found within the teachings of Esoteric Buddhism, Dr Mikao Usui spent time reading the texts and then he experienced something quite special whilst meditating on Mount Kurama. I would like to detail the history as it has been given to me. 

Mikao Usui was born in Yago in the Yamagata district of Gifu prefecture on the 15th August 1864. He attended the Tendai Buddhist school, where he was a diligent student. He had a number of business during his life however in his later years he returned to his spiritual interests and studied various faiths and spiritual methods. He had practiced a Japanese form of Qigong called Ki ko from an early age and his healing ideas were based on Daoist principles and Zen philosophy. 

He researched many Esoteric Buddhist texts for a healing method. During this research he spent 21 days on Mount Kurama meditating upon teachings within the texts and on the 21st day he saw a light in the distance coming toward him, once it touched the crown of his head the Reiki symbols were shown to him in this light and at this point he was attuned to Reiki energy.

Upon receiving the Reiki attunement he first used the energy to heal himself and then practiced on his family and friends. He later went on to run seminars and give lectures on this healing system. In 1921 he established clinics where high profile people from all over came to receive Reiki. In 1923 the Kanto earthquake occurred in Tokyo and devastated the city. Dr. Usui went out into the streets helping the sick and injured and for this he was honoured by the Emperor Meiji. He toured many places across Japan where it is thought that he taught more than two thousand people, and it was during one of these tours that on 9th March 1926 in Fukuyama, Dr Mikao Usui died following a stroke at the age of 62 years old. 

"An Introduction to meditation" class set up.

I've recently expanded my list of services to include Meditation instructor. I am setting up an introduction to meditation group to meet monthly until the end of this year at  least to allow people to explore different meditation methods to find one that suits them. I thought I'd share the details here. If you are interested in this class or having 1 to 1 or small group tuition please contact me for details.