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Reiki was discovered almost accidentally in 1914. Mikao Usui, who had travelled extensively and enjoyed careers in business, politics, journalism and missionary work, was training as a Zen Buddhist when he asked his Zen teacher how he could achieve Sattori' (enlightenment).
His life was not going well at the time and he wondered what the ultimate purpose of it was. Taking his teacher's advice, he decided to experience 'shyu gyo' - a 21 day lifestyle discipline using meditation and fasting, a strict process of spiritual training which he thought would help him to achieve Sattori.
It is believed that on the 21st day of this meditation, Mikao Usui lost consciousness but when he recovered, 'he felt a great energy above his head and a spiritual awakening.' He had found Anshim Ritsumei - 'a total peace of mind and the knowledge of what to do with his life, bothered by nothing'.
Running back down the mountain, he ripped his toenail. Without thinking, he placed his hand round his toe - the bleeding stopped and the pain disappeared. He realised he had also found an energy that healed - Reiki.
After further study, he found a way to transfer this energy whenever he chose to. He decided that this 'gift' was so special it had to be 'freely available to all people'. Hed a clinic and founded the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai (society) which is still in existence today. He wrote a teaching manual which did not involve a belief system or spiritual discipline of any kind in order that the method could be used by everyone.
Until recently, this information was not available to us. One of Doctor Usui's student/Masters - Chujiro Hayashi continued to practice and teach Reiki after Doctor Usui died and he in turn trained Hawayo Takata who was destined to bring Reiki to the West. Various schools of Reiki have evolved since the 1980's - all of which work beautifully - many following the teachings of Hawayo Takata, some adopting additional symbols, others using 'channelled' material.
It was thought for a long time that some information was withheld from Hawayo Takata because she was a woman and because she was a foreigner (not Japanese - she was born in Kauai, Hawaii). It was also believed that Reiki was an oral tradition - that there was nothing in writing to tell us exactly how Doctor Usui himself had taught Reiki.
Both of these beliefs have proved to be a fallacy. With the translation of Doctor Usui's own manuals and the research work of Frank Arjava Petter, his wife Chetna and others like Mr Hiroshi Doi, Rick Rivard and Andrew Bowling - the original teachings and principles of Usui Reiki Ryoho are nowy available. It is the sheer simplicity that shines out - equally appropriate for adults or children.
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