The massive earthquake and tsunami that devastated the northeastern coastline of Japan on March 11, 2011 is a powerful and sobering reminder that the Earth is in a constant, shifting state of change. As a practitioner and teacher of Komyo Reiki Kai (a style of traditional Japanese Reiki) as well as a long-abiding interest in Zen Buddhism, I am experiencing deep pain for the Japanese people and their plight. I am grateful and relieved that my teacher, Hyakuten Inamoto, reported he is safe.

The Japanese have a long history of enduring earthquakes and tsunami, because they sit on one of the most seismically active areas in the world. While Hokusai Katsushika’s iconic woodblock print from the 1830s, “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” (Kanagawa Oki Nami Ura), is not specifically depicting a tsunami, it has often been associated with one, and it’s easy to see why.

An earthquake also figures prominently into the history of Usui Reiki Ryoho. The Reiho Choso Usui Sensei Kodoku No Hi (Memorial of the Merits of Usui Sensei) mentions the great Kanto earthquake of 1923 and how Mikao Usui used the healing art of Reiki to provide comfort and healing to survivors:

In September of (1923), there was a great earthquake and a conflagration broke out. Everywhere there were groans of pain from the wounded. Sensei (teacher), feeling pity for them, went out every morning to go around the town, and he cured and saved an innumerable number of people. This is just a broad outline of his relief activities during such an emergency.  (translated by Hyakuten Inamoto)

It’s easy to feel frustrated and helpless that most of us are not in position to provide direct assistance, as Usui did for his people. We can still do our part to help:

• Reflect on the Reiki Principles/Precepts. What does that tell us about the nature of change and how we should conduct ourselves in times of adversity?
• Dedicate prayers, healing intentions and Reiki (if you are Level II/Okuden or higher.) Positive spiritual energy can help facilitate change as a cumulative process.
• Contribute financially to disaster aid programs to assist with recovery efforts. See Charity Navigator for a thorough list of reputable charities and aid organizations.

 In a similar vein, I appreciated Tricyle: The Buddhist Review’s post, “Three Practices for Japan.”  The quote from Thanissaro Bhikkhu, originally written in response to the September 2011 tragedy, is especially appropriate:

So take heart. Do what you can to help the living, and dedicate the merit of your practice to the dead. We may be powerless to change the past, but we do have the power to shape the present and the future by what we do, moment to moment, right now.

This tragedy is far from over. Like previous quake and/or tsunami survivors in Indonesia, Chile, Haiti and New Zealand, they will experience years of healing, clean-up and recovery. One of the benefits of Reiki is that distance is no barrier. Love, compassion and Oneness are our natural state of being, and actualized through Reiki. We are not simply “sending to” the Japanese people. We are present and at one with them in their time of tragedy and loss.

In gassho.

As a Reiki teacher, I believe it is very important to accurately relay the facts we know about the history and development of the system of Reiki (Usui Reiki Ryoho.) The founder of Komyo Reiki Kai and my teacher, Hyakuten Inamoto, continually stressed in his training that we should only provide information we know to be true about Reiki history and practice.  That means saying, “I don’t know” when confronted with a question about the history that is, as of yet, unanswerable.

It is not necessary to know the history in order to technically perform hands-on healing or other spiritual practices associated with the system of Reiki. It is simply a matter of respect for its founder and to have proper historical and spiritual context where these practices originally derived. To do any less is a disservice to Mikao Usui and other influential teachers – Chujiro Hayashi, Hawayo Takata and Chiyoko Yamaguchi - responsible for furthering the system of Reiki and making it more widely available.

Just recently, I opened up a copy of a local wellness magazine and saw a featured promotion for a Reiki class being taught by a colleague. It contained the following description: “Reiki is an ancient Japanese science, documented in 2,500-year-old Sanskrit sutras.”  With all due respect to my colleague, this is not correct. Reiki is a modern practice. Usui Reiki Ryoho was developed roughly a century ago by Mikao Usui. He synthesized a number of different spiritual practices derived from Japanese Buddhist, Shinto and related folk/esoteric traditions well-known in his day, combined with his own mystical experience on Kurama-yama (Mt. Kurama) in 1922.

There is no evidence to support that Usui “re-discovered” the system of Reiki from other ancient spiritual traditions. There is also no evidence to support if Usui was intimately familiar with other spiritual practices outside of Japan. To be specific, the modality of hands-on healing is an ancient practice present within many cultures and religious traditions. However, Usui Reiki Ryoho is a relatively new practice, and one inspired by a profound spiritual event.

In the Reiki Ryoho Hikkei (workbook given by Usui to his students), there is a Q&A section with statements made by Usui regarding how his practice works. He emphasizes:

I have not been taught this art of healing by anyone under the heavens, not have I studied in order to obtain this mysterious ability to heal. I accidentally realized that I was given this mysterious healing ability when I felt the great power and was inspired by the mystery during a period of fasting. Therefore, even as the founder, I find it difficult to give a sure explanation.

It should also be noted that chakras, meridians, crystals, angels or other practices, including the addition of symbols/mantras are also not traditionally associated with the practice of Usui Reiki Ryoho. They were added in during the past few decades by practitioners from the West who were familiar with other “New Age” spiritual/energetic practices. Use of any of these additional practices is a personal choice, but reputable Reiki teachers should be sure to let their students know that they are not part of the original system taught by Mikao Usui, Chujiro Hayashi or Hawayo Takata.  

 There are still many things we do not know about the history of Reiki. Scant written evidence exists, aside from the Reiki Ryoho Hikkei and the Reiho Choso Usui Sensei Kudoko No Hi (Memorial of the merits of Usui Sensei.) A number of Reiki teachers, including Frank Arjava Petter, William Lee Rand, and particularly Bronwen and Frans Stiene, have done an incredible job of unearthing and verifying facts and information from a few remaining students and practitioners taught by Usui and Hyashi in Japan. Their efforts have helped us bridge the gap between what Usui originally taught and how the system evolved with Hayashi’s and Takata’s teachings.

We may never know everything with regard to Usui’s spiritual practices and motivation, and we have to be able to sit with not knowing by maintaining a degree of equanimity and acceptance. Adding in unverifiable “facts” does not help us understand the practice. It only occludes what we do know and makes it harder for new practitioners to synthesize basic concepts. A practice does not have to be “ancient” to be valuable. It just has to be of benefit to others and able to adapt to changing times. Usui Reiki Ryoho has done both.  

For more information on Reiki history and practice, see the International House of Reiki’s article, “What is (and isn’t) Reiki?“

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Whether you are looking to achieve greater emotional and physical balance or embark on a deeper spiritual connection, Reiki can help. Reiki is more than just hands-on healing; it is a system of practice that brings about greater mind-body wellness, energetic balance, emotional clarity and a deepened connection to spiritual life-force energy. It only takes a day to learn the basics, but with regular practice the benefits stay with you for a lifetime.

I am a Reiki Teacher (Shihan) trained in both traditional Japanese Reiki (Komyo Reiki) and ”Western” Usui Reiki (Takata style, or Usui Shiki Ryoho.) I incorporate practices and techniques from both traditions in my classes, so that students have a thorough understanding and context for their Reiki practice.

My Reiki classes and workshops provide plenty of opportunity to practice working with Reiki energy healing on yourself and others. Along with the necessary energetic attunements, students will receive all the information, tools and ongoing guidance to practice Reiki with confidence. I love teaching and providing support for students as they develop their practice. I have seen a number of students make amazing transformation in their lives as a result of their commitment to Reiki. The potential for miracles is literally in your hands!

Upcoming Reiki classes:

• Reiki I: Sat. March 19, 2011 (10 AM – 5:00 PM)
• ART/Master Training (Part I): Sun. March 20, 2011 (11 AM– 5 PM)
• Reiki I: Sat. April 30, 2011 (10 AM – 5 PM)

 For more information on what is covered in each class, pricing and registration, please visit my Reiki Classes page. All classes are taught at Candler Park Chiropractic in Atlanta, GA unless otherwise indicated.

(Photo credit: www.istockphoto.com)

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