This is the story of how Jikiden Reiki came to be…
Dr Usui (1865-1926) was a principle of a University in Kyoto, Japan. At the time he was a Christian. He was not rich but instead a well-travelled and well experienced man. One day, a student asked him to show a method of healing as it would have happened at the time Jesus was alive. Following this, he began a lifelong quest to find out why healing in this form had disappeared from the world. He travelled to try and find the answers. He went to America and worked in the University of Chicago. Here he obtained his doctorate degree in Theology. However, he didn’t find the answers he was looking for!
On his way back to Japan, he realised that Buddha had performed similar miracles to what Jesus had done. He spoke to lots of Buddhists and felt the answers were still unclear. He ended up at a Zen monastery where he spoke to a monk. The monk explained that they heal the spirit as priority over healing the body. He stayed at the Buddhist monastery where he studied. Still no answers!
He learnt Sanskrit so he could read traditional writings that were not translated into any other language. Doing this he found that the answers to healing were symbols, formulas and the description of how Buddha had healed. At this time, he thought he knew how to heal but didn’t have the power to. After speaking to a friend, he went to Mount Kumara to meditate and fast. He hoped to find spiritual clarity. Other versions of this story suggest he was preparing for life beyond this earth.
Dr Usui climbed the mountain and found a place to sit that faced East. Each day he threw a stone off the side of the mountain to keep a track of his fast and meditation. On day 21, he woke up, but it was all dark. Dr Usui prayed for enlightenment and threw the 21st stone off the side of the mountain. A light appeared and was getting brighter while coming closer towards him. Initially he was scared but then accepted the enlightenment. The light became so big and then hit him directly in his 3rd eye. He thought he had died! Following regaining consciousness, he was euphoric. He saw Sanskrit letters which communicated the secret formula to life force and how to connect with it. He memorised each one. He was full of energy even following his long fast.
He was so excited to tell his friend and started to run down the hill. On his way, he stubbed his toe and it started bleeding. When he went to touch his toe he realised his hands felt different and the bleeding along with the pain stopped rapidly. His hands became very hot. He continued to make his way down the hill. He had his first meal following his fast and also healed a young girl from swelling and pain.
He spent years giving out reiki treatments for free. He also worked out that the symbols he saw helped reiki students become attuned to the energy. He passed on reiki to others and trained 16 teachers in Japan. One of his students, Dr Hayashi continued Dr Usui’s teachings. Dr Hayashi set up a reiki clinic in Tokyo and also trained 2 women who continued the legacy. One of these women was called Takata. She carried on the teachings and trained 22 reiki masters. From here, reiki spread throughout the world. Dr Usui hopes that we can find the ultimate purpose of life which is to find complete peace of mind.
References:
Jikiden Reiki Training Shoden and Okuden
Reiki Training Level 1 and 2