The History of Reiki

During the middle of the Meiji era in Japan, which covers the mid-1800’s, Dr Mikao Usui was the Dean of a small Christian university in Kyoto. This was an exciting period in Japan’s history and many changes were occurring throughout society. Dr Usui had adopted Christianity wholeheartedly, becoming a minister and then finally Dean of a Christian Seminary.

During a discussion with some of his students, Usui was asked if he believed literally in the Bible. When he replied that he did, his students reminded him of the instant healings of Christ. They mentioned that Christ stated, “You will do as I have done, and even grater things” … If this is so, they stated, “why aren’t there many healers in the world today performing the same acts as Christ?” “ In addition, he tells the apostles to heal the sick and raise the dead. If this is true” the students said “please teach us the methods”.

In traditional Japanese style, he was bound by his honour as Dean, to be able to answer their questions. On that day Usui resigned his position, and determined to find the answers to this great mystery.

He began his research and study at the University of Chicago in the theological seminary. He continued also to study the Japanese Lotus Sutras, went to several Buddhist monasteries, a Zen monastery.

Dr Usui was determined to find that it is possible to heal the physical body, as Jesus and Buddha had indeed done but for centuries all concentration had been focused on the Healing of the Spirit. He came upon a Zen monastery where the Abbot agreed that it must be possible to heal the body. He stated that “whatever was possible at one time, can be accomplished again”. He began a long study of the Sutras in Japanese and also began an in-depth study of the Chinese Sutras. He studied the Sutras of Tibet and the Sanskrit.

Shortly after this time, he made his trip to northern India to the Himalayas to sudy the Tibetan scrolls, documenting the travels of St. Isa, which several scholars feel was actually Jesus. Whether Usui found these same scrolls or perhaps some other ancient scrolls with the recordings of certain healings, is not known. What we do know, is that after completing his study of the Tibetan Lotus Sturuas, Usui felt that he had found the intellectual answers to the healings of Christ. What he needed then was the empowerment.

Usui went back to the abbot or advice on how to receive the actual empowerment. They both began to meditate and together concluded that Dr. Usui should proceed to a sacred mountain about 17 milesfrom Kyoto, Mount Kuri Yama and commence a 21 day fast and meditation, very much like an American Indian vision quest.

Soon after, Usui began his pilgrimage up the mountain. He came to a specific spot facing east, and gathered up a pile of 21 stones which would be his calendar. After 20 days of fasting he arrived at the predawn of the 21st day. He prayed for the answer to come. Out of the sky he saw a flicker of light appear. It began to move very rapidly toward him. As it came closer it also got larger. Usui began to get frightened. He felt like getting up and running away. Finally he realised this must be some sort of sign. He had sought so long and hard all of those years – he just couldn’t give up. He girded himself for whatever might come and momentarily the light struck him in the center of his forehead.

Usui though he had died. Millions of rainbow coloured bubbles appeared before his eyes. Soon they became white glowing bubbles each one containing a three dimensional Sanskrit character in gold. They would appear one by one, just slowly enough for him to register each character. Finally, when it felt complete, Usui was filled with gratitude.

As he had been in a trace like state, he was surprised when he awakened and it was broad daylight.

In his excitement to share his experience with the Abbot, Usui began to run down the mountain. He was amazed at how strong and rejuvenated he felt, considering the long fast he had just completed. This was the first “miracle” of the morning.

Suddenly, in his haste, he tripped and stubbed his toe. As he instinctively reached down to grab it, he was amazed that in a few short minutes, the bleeding had stopped and it had completely healed – the second miracle of the morning.

He continued down the mountain and came to a roadside stand and proceeded to order a full breakfast. As anyone knows, who is acquainted with fasting procedures, it is quite dangerous to break a long fast with a large meal. The proprietor could see by Usui’s monk’s garb, and unkempt beard, that he had been fasting and meditating and encouraged him to instead have some special broth. Usui declined and ordered the full breakfast. The third miracle of the morning occurred when he ate it without indigestion.

As it turned out, the old man’s granddaughter who served Usui, was in dire pain. She had a severe toothache and her jaw had been swollen for days. Her grandfather was too poor to take her to a dentist in Kyoto, so when Usui offered to try and help, she gladly accepted. After he put his hands on the sides of her face, the fourth miracle occurred, as the pain and swelling begin to disappear.

Dr Usui then continued on his way back to the monastery. He found the abbot in great pain with a bout of arthritis. While Usui shared his experiences with the monk he laid his hands on the arthritic areas and very quickly, the pain disappeared. The old abbot was truly amazed. Usui sought his advice as to what he should do with this new found ability. He was again encouraged to meditate and finally, after some discussion, he decided to go and work in the Beggars Quarter of Kyoto.

Dr Usui also created the five principles of Reiki. He left the beggars Quarter and began to teach throughout Japan. It was also then that the purpose of the symbols he had experienced in his vision became clear. He would use them to attune people so that they could take responsibility for their own well-being.

Usui began to train other teachers and shortly before his death, Usui charged on of his most devoted teachers, Dr Chujiro Hayashi, a retired Naval officer, with the responsibility of carrying on the traditions of Reiki. Dr Hayashi founded the first Reiki clinic in Tokyo.

In 1935, Hawaya Takata, a young Japanese-American woman from Hawaii appeared in Hayashi’s clinic. She was very ill with a variety of organic disorders and also lacking energy due to depression over the death of her husband a few years earlier. Having been on the verge of surgery while visiting her parents, she heard the voice of her deceased husband urging her emphatically to avoid the operation. After conferring to the doctor her reservations about the upcoming surgery, he recommended that she try the Reiki clinic. It was there that she began to receive treatments and was finally healed.

Years later, Takata was finally instructed in both First and Second Degree Reiki and began her Reiki practise in the US. In the 1970’s, Mrs. Takata began to train other Masters and at her death in December of 1980, 21 Reiki Masters had been trained.

Shortened – Content by my Reiki Masters, at The Grange. Thanks to Michael and Fay Jeffrey.