Reiki is generally described as an energy healing system, re-discovered in the early 1900s by Japanese scholar Mikao Usui.
Here are some key facts about how it works:
… and finally:
Although much has been written (and re-written) about the origins of Reiki, very little is based on proper scientific research.
Therefore, here are just a few – undisputed – facts.
We will dive deeper into the Reiki history during the courses.
Reiki was (re?-) discovered by Japanese scholar Mikao Usui.
Born in 1865, he was partially educated in a Buddhist monastery and developed a strong interest in spiritual matters at a very early age. He was also a keen martial arts practitioner – which may explain the emphasis on energy in the system of Reiki.
Besides pursuing various “worldly” careers throughout his life (as well as caring for a family), Usui dedicated much of his time to spiritual studies. Although a Buddhist throughout his life, he explored different traditions, including Tendai Buddhism and Zen Meditation, he seems to also have studied other religions. For a number of years, he even was a Buddhist monk, although he was allowed to stay with his family.
It seems that he was looking for a certain, deeper spiritual connection within himself, something he had apparently read about in ancient scriptures, but grew disappointed as he could not find what he was looking for.
After years of intense search, he finally embarked on a long period of fasting and meditation where he came close to death. On the last day of this retreat, he suddenly felt a big change in himself – and had found the spiritual connection he had been looking for.
It is generally assumed that he meditated on Mount Kurama, near Kyoto, when he experienced this moment of enlightenment, or Satori, as the Japanese say.
It is said that on his way back from his retreat, he met a number of people with physical illnesses, and placed his hands on them in a gesture of comfort. To his great surprise, the symptoms got better.
He explored this more and more, and eventually realised that his spiritual awakening, or connection, came with the “side-effect” of physical healing.
Back in Tokyo, he started teaching his method of opening a channel for a spiritual connection with oneself – with great emphasis on meditation and spiritual growth. But he also started to offer healing to people
This was the birth of the system that is now known as Reiki – all over the world.
What he taught was a 3-part system, consisting of meditation, principles for everyday life, and the cultivation of spiritual energy, that he simply called “My method” or “My method to achieve personal perfection”.
Mikao Usui brought the world nothing less than an amazingly straightforward system to achieve enlightenment.
The Reiki Academy London is dedicated to promoting and cultivating this great legacy.
Although we are spending quite some time at the courses to reflect on the meaning of each of the principles, and how to integrate them into our lives,
they originally came with very simple advice from Mikao Usui:
Sit every morning and every evening – with your hands clasped in prayer position – and repeat these principles aloud.
By simply repeating we will eventually memorize them so well that they pop up into our minds when they are needed.