History of Reiki
Dr. Mikao Usui is the founder of the practice of Reiki. He was a physically large man and had a mild, gentle and humble nature by all accounts.
He liked to read and learn. His learning included a knowledge of considerable depth in history, medicine, theology, psychology, as well as some lesser known areas of study in the West: These included divination, science of direction, ju jitsu, incantations, physiognomy and the I Ching.
Dr. Usui was a life long Tendai Buddhist. (Reiki is not only for Buddhists, but for all people.)
Mikao Usui was born on August 15th, 1865. Despite all of his curiosity and learning, he often found himself in need and did not have an easy path. During a particularly difficult time, he decided to become a Buddhist monk.
He went on a spiritual retreat for meditation and fasting at Kuramayama. On the 21st day, he experienced Reiki (one translation of this is the spirit energy), and he comprehended the truth of it. He took this experience and developed a system to teach Reiki to others for the benefit of all living beings.
He began this teaching in 1922. In 1923, he took to going through the street of Tokyo after the Kanto earthquake and fire to heal those who were suffering. His fame rose dramatically over these years following his discovery of Reiki, and he was much sought after for Reiki healing and teaching. His path was still not easy but it was gratifying. He used his knowledge for healing and spiritual benefits for himself, his family, his community and the citizens of Japan. On March 9th, 1926, he suffered a stroke and died, while traveling to Fukuyama.
Fortunately, Dr. Usui had generously focused on teaching others about Reiki, and the spiritual and healing practice continues today in Japan.
Reiki was brought to the West by a Mrs. Takata who lived in Hawaii and held her self out as the only living Reiki Master at the time. She did an enormous good, however; we have her to thank for bringing Reiki to the West. The context of her presence, teaching and providing Reiki was the event of World War II; the deep suspicion Americans held toward the Japanese certainly must have affected her practice and her life in general. She made changes to the teaching to make it more palatable to those whom she lived with. She taught many people how to give Reiki and an elite group of practitioners developed.
One of her students, guided by her own spirit, decided to charge less money to teach others Reiki; This action allowed Reiki to spread very rapidly throughout Hawaii, the United States and the rest of the Western world.
This is certainly a very limited history of Reiki, and there is actually much that has occurred after this time period. Additionally, we can be sure that this spiritually guided energy has always been available, and that others - before Dr. Usui - used this loving energy for healing. But for now, I hope this gives you an idea of the origin of Reiki in our time.
Deirdre
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