Mikao Usui Sensei 1865-1926
Reiki traditionally is a Japanese form of hands-on healing treatment and a non-religious spiritual practise to invite health and happiness into your life. There are records from as long as 4000 years ago which state that working with the energy which courses throughout our bodies and the environment around us is vital to our wellbeing. In India this energy is know as 'Prana' and is addressed in Ayurvedic medicine and Yoga. In China it is known as 'Chi' and is utilised in martial arts, Qigong and Chinese medicine such as acupuncture. In Japan this energy is known as 'Ki' and with the added 'Rei' (meaning divine, spirit or higher self) you have Reiki.
Reiki in the form that we know it today was re-discovered and developed in Japan in the early 1900s by Mikao Usui Sensei. After years studying many subjects including medicine, psychology and religion, he concluded that the purpose of life was to obtain peace of mind. He spent time in monastery in Kyoto and discovered Reiki after his talks with his Zen Master and a period of fasting. Realising he had achieved the peace of mind he was looking for he also found that a wonderful side effect of this was the ability to encourage the body to heal itself.Today Reiki is mainly known as a healing treatment to aid all matters of physical, mental or emotional ill-health. Traditionally it is believed that a Reiki practitioner acts as a channel between the recipient and the Reiki source, connecting them both to an unlimited supply of natural energy. The body's own energy channels are cleared and revived and bodily organs restored with vitality. From a more modern perspective, we have scientifically proven evidence of the beneficial effects of meditative practise in encouraging accelerated healing within body and mind. Many also believe that just the process of safe human contact (something we seem to be short of in today's world) coupled with an hour's relaxation to recouperate and reconnect with oneself is what they find beneficial. Whichever your belief, it works! The recipient and practitioner are left with a feeling of both relaxed and energised at the same time.
Many people after receiving a Reiki treatment are so amazed with the benefits that they choose to receive an 'attunement' and learn how to treat themselves, treat others and how to use Reiki to benefit many aspects of their lives - find out more: Reiki courses
What religion is Reiki? Reiki has no religion. The name 'Reiki' is Japanese and it's founder Mikao Usui followed Shinto and Buddhist faiths, but the concept of a natural universally connecting or 'divine' energy within the body is acknowledged world wide, with each country or faith system just having a different name for it. The ancient greeks referred to it a Pneuma, American Native Indians knew it as Orenda. In China this energy is called Chi or Qi, in India it is called Prana. Jewish faith knows energy like this as Ruach, Islam mentions the Ruh, Rastafarianism refers to Livity, and so on. Most would liken this energy to something like 'the spirit'... for example when one would say someone is in 'good spirits' they would feel happy and lively, when somebody is in 'low spirits' they would seem depressed and poorly. (The word 'spirit' incidentally comes from the Latin translation for 'breath, soul, vigor' and this multiple meaning translates similarly in many of the other words mentioned above.) So you see, it doesn't matter if you are religious or not, or what faith you have or country you were born or live in... Reiki works for you in any language. |