History of Reiki

Dr. Mikao Usui: Dr. Usui was a Christian minister in Japan , though Japanese. He was the head of a Christian Boys School in Japan. One day some of the students asked him if he believed in the miracles which Jesus did (healing, etc). Being a Christian minister he answered "Yes". They asked if he knew how Jesus had done this, "No" he said

With this he resolved to find the way in which Jesus had healed. This  set him on a journey of many years. He studied first at Christian schools in the US thinking this was the best place to learn about Jesus. But, of course, the methods Jesus used were not taught there.  It was suggested he study Buddhist writings since the Buddha had also healed. So he spent years studying at a monastery in the Orient. He didn't find the answers for which he was looking there either.   In Japan he toured many temples asking for knowledge of how the Buddha had healed. At each one the priests said they were more concerned with spiritual than physical well being. In one small monastery he found some ancient Sanskrit writings from India (or perhaps Tibet). [Diane Stein's research suggests he found the sutras to invoke the Medicine Buddha, the invoking of this Buddha is a common practice in Tibetan Buddhism] After a few more years of study, he felt he had come to an understanding and that to go further required in depth meditation.

He declared to the monks of this monastery his intention to fast and meditate for 21 days at a nearby mountain and that if he did not come back they should come and get his body. He traveled to the holy mountain of Kori-Yama where he fasted and meditated for twenty one days.
 

He set out twenty one stones in front of himself and removed one with each day that passed. He then stood up just before dawn in the dark of the night Looking out to the horizon he saw a point of light coming towards him. As he looked at the light he realized there was a consciousness which was communicating with him. This light had the healing power he had been looking for. It was communicating to him that if he wanted the light to touch him. it would strike with a power which may kill. He decided that what he most wanted to do was help heal the sick and the ray of light struck him in the forehead, knocking him unconscious.

Rising out from his physical body he was shown beautiful bubbles of light filled with colours. In the bubbles were symbols. As he contemplated each symbol he received an attunement for that symbol and knowledge of its use tor healing

He was initiated into the use of the Ray of healing Light. He infinite source of Rei and Ki the power behind all living things in the Universe. Dr Usui continued his spiritual path. healing and meditating. During one such meditation he learned that tor healing to last there must be a commitment also to help ones self. The recipient of healing must take an active part and the ReiKi healer must also take commitment to work on their own healing and self development.

Before passing on Dr Usui taught the system to Dr Hayashi who took on 13 apprentices. Mrs Takata was his last apprentice. following her 1st degree she spent two and half years in practice with him before receiving her masters.

Dr. Hayashi was a retired naval officer. He received the Reiki Master initiation from Dr. Usui about 1925 at the age of 47. Before Dr. Usui died, he asked Dr. Hayashi to accept the responsibility of preserving Reiki so that it would not be lost as it had been in the past. Dr. Hayashi accepted this responsibility.

Up to this point, the Usui system of healing consisted of the energy itself, the symbols, the attunement process and the Reiki ideals. This was what Dr. Usui had received during his mystical experience on Mt. Kori-yama. Dr. Hayashi went on to develop the Usui system of healing.
He opened a Reiki clinic in Tokyo and kept detailed records of the treatments given. He used this information to create the standard hand positions, the system of three degrees and their initiation procedures.

Dr. Hayashi sensed a great war coming, and knew that most of the men would be called. In order to make sure Reiki would be preserved, he decided to pass the complete teachings on to two women: his wife and Hawayo Takata. Mrs. Hawayo Takata: Mrs. Hawayo Takata was born in Hawaii, on Kauai, on Christmas Eve 1900 of Japanese descent. In the 1930's she went to Japan to visit her family there, and inform them of the death of her sister. While there she became very sick and was in the hospital. The doctors were going to operate, and as she was being prepared she kept hearing a voice saying "Operation not necessary". Eventually she jumped off the table asking "Is there another way?". The doctor had a sister who had been cured of dysentery at Dr. Hayashi's clinic and suggested to Mrs. Takata she talk with his sister. The sister brought Mrs. Takata to the clinic and her treatments there began.

Mrs. Takata Born in 1900 in Hanamaulu, Kauai, to the late Mr. and Mrs. Otogoro Kawamura, immigrants from Japan, Mrs. Takata was named "Hawayo" after the Territory of Hawaii. In 1935 when she was 35, she suffered from several illnesses, the major one being asthma. She entered a hospital in Tokyo for an operation. While there she heard about Reiki and decided to try it first. While under the care of Reiki master Chujiro Hayashi for four months, Mrs. Takata recovered. She remained in Japan for one year and mastered the art of healing. Mrs. Takata told us that Reiki helps attain health, happiness and security which leads to the road of longevity. When a student is ready to accept it, he is shown the way. With the first contact or initiation the hands radiate vibration to the ailing spot. If there is pain, it registers on your fingertips and palms. The ailment disappears when the body responds to the treatment.

A proper diet enhances the treatments. Vegetables and fruits are excellent foods, but never eat when you're worried. Go to the table only when you're in a pleasant mood. We came into this world for a purpose so we must have health and happiness to achieve our goals. I owe my good fortune to my late husband, Saichi, who was a guiding light until his death in 1930."

She also said, "I believe there is only one Supreme Being - the Absolute Infinite - a dynamic force that governs the world and the universe. It is a universal force from the divine spirit and is available to anyone interested in learning the art of healing." It really sounds to me as if she's talking about God, here.

Between 1970 and her transition on December 11th 1980, Mrs. Takata initiated twenty-two Reiki Masters.  Each Western Reiki student can trace his/her lineage back through Mrs. Takata to Dr. Mikao Usui.