Reiki is a Japanese system of alternative healing, rediscovered by Dr. Usui Sensei on Mt. Kurama in Japan.
About Mt. Kurama
Mt. Kurama is a holy mountain, near Kyoto in Japan. Known widely as the spiritual heart of Japan, it is a place with a thousand temples representing a range of deities. Mt. Kurama, covered with giant cedar trees, is a powerful place with sacred vibrations permeating the air. Hence the energy that flows has an uplifting and calming effect.
There is a small waterfall on this mountain, which is a haven for meditation. Typical meditation on this mountain involves standing under the waterfall, witnessing the waters cascade and strike the top of the head - believed to activate the crown chakra. The potent fall of the water on the head is indeed a gateway to a mystical experience. Dr.Usui Sensei absorbed the reiki energy while meditating on this holy mountain.
Dr. Mikao Usui
He is the founder of the Usui system of Reiki. Dr. Mikao Usui, also known by the name, Usui Sensei, received his Reiki initiation during the period from mid to late 1800s.
Usui Sensei was a voracious reader, who sought knowledge by studying several subjects much before he rediscovered Reiki. Reiki takes its roots from Tendai Buddhism and Shintoism.
Tendai Buddhism is a form of mystical Buddhism that deals with the dissemination of knowledge about spiritualism. Shintoism is practical, endowed with strategies to control the flow of energy and keep them balanced at all times. Usui studied Buddhism and Shintoism extensively, and discovered that ancient sounds and symbols linked to the human body could activate the universal life energy, that promotes healing.
Usui Sensei was eager to know the spiritual answers to the ultimate purpose of life, which in essence is - “Achieving a state of mind that is totally at peace.” In his quest to achieve this state of enlightenment, he turned to Mt. Kurama for spiritual transformation and healing.
While at Mt. Kurama, he carried out a 21-day meditation. He performed a type of meditation called, “The Lotus Repentance”, which comes from Tendai Buddhism. When he opened up to the higher power, Usui Sensei, experienced enlightenment. This led to the rediscovery of Reiki, a system that was rooted in many existing traditions. Thus, he was healed and bestowed with the powers to heal others.
Mikao Usui opened his first “seat of learning” in Harajuku, Tokyo in April 1922. He used a small manual which contained precepts, meditation and the Waka poetry. Usui Sensei not only imparted his spiritual teachings but also gave healing. He died from a stroke in 1926 in Hiroshima.
Dr. Chujiro Hayashi – Usui while giving healings at a Naval base, met a group of imperial officers who became his students. One among them was Chujiro Hayashi, who was a naval doctor. Hayashi was 47 years old when he underwent his training with Usui Sensei. Dr. Hayashi was a Christian. Usui modified his teachings according to the students’ need and introduced symbols in the system. Hayashi set up a ‘memorial society’ after Usui’s death.
Hawayo Takata – Hayashi taught Reiki to Hawayo Takata, a Japanese woman from Hawaii. She came to Dr. Hayashi’s clinic while suffering, from a number of serious medical conditions. She was probably the last Reiki master that Dr. Hayashi initiated. Mrs. Takata initiated Reiki to 22 masters in the United States and Canada. Since then Reiki has spread throughout the world.
About Mt. Kurama
Mt. Kurama is a holy mountain, near Kyoto in Japan. Known widely as the spiritual heart of Japan, it is a place with a thousand temples representing a range of deities. Mt. Kurama, covered with giant cedar trees, is a powerful place with sacred vibrations permeating the air. Hence the energy that flows has an uplifting and calming effect.
There is a small waterfall on this mountain, which is a haven for meditation. Typical meditation on this mountain involves standing under the waterfall, witnessing the waters cascade and strike the top of the head - believed to activate the crown chakra. The potent fall of the water on the head is indeed a gateway to a mystical experience. Dr.Usui Sensei absorbed the reiki energy while meditating on this holy mountain.
Dr. Mikao Usui
He is the founder of the Usui system of Reiki. Dr. Mikao Usui, also known by the name, Usui Sensei, received his Reiki initiation during the period from mid to late 1800s.
Usui Sensei was a voracious reader, who sought knowledge by studying several subjects much before he rediscovered Reiki. Reiki takes its roots from Tendai Buddhism and Shintoism.
Tendai Buddhism is a form of mystical Buddhism that deals with the dissemination of knowledge about spiritualism. Shintoism is practical, endowed with strategies to control the flow of energy and keep them balanced at all times. Usui studied Buddhism and Shintoism extensively, and discovered that ancient sounds and symbols linked to the human body could activate the universal life energy, that promotes healing.
Usui Sensei was eager to know the spiritual answers to the ultimate purpose of life, which in essence is - “Achieving a state of mind that is totally at peace.” In his quest to achieve this state of enlightenment, he turned to Mt. Kurama for spiritual transformation and healing.
While at Mt. Kurama, he carried out a 21-day meditation. He performed a type of meditation called, “The Lotus Repentance”, which comes from Tendai Buddhism. When he opened up to the higher power, Usui Sensei, experienced enlightenment. This led to the rediscovery of Reiki, a system that was rooted in many existing traditions. Thus, he was healed and bestowed with the powers to heal others.
Mikao Usui opened his first “seat of learning” in Harajuku, Tokyo in April 1922. He used a small manual which contained precepts, meditation and the Waka poetry. Usui Sensei not only imparted his spiritual teachings but also gave healing. He died from a stroke in 1926 in Hiroshima.
Dr. Chujiro Hayashi – Usui while giving healings at a Naval base, met a group of imperial officers who became his students. One among them was Chujiro Hayashi, who was a naval doctor. Hayashi was 47 years old when he underwent his training with Usui Sensei. Dr. Hayashi was a Christian. Usui modified his teachings according to the students’ need and introduced symbols in the system. Hayashi set up a ‘memorial society’ after Usui’s death.
Hawayo Takata – Hayashi taught Reiki to Hawayo Takata, a Japanese woman from Hawaii. She came to Dr. Hayashi’s clinic while suffering, from a number of serious medical conditions. She was probably the last Reiki master that Dr. Hayashi initiated. Mrs. Takata initiated Reiki to 22 masters in the United States and Canada. Since then Reiki has spread throughout the world.
