Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it.
Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations.
Do not believe in anything because it is spoken and rumored by many,
Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books.
Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teacchers and elders.
But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all then accept it and live up to it.
Gaurama Buddha
Reiki is a system of hands on healing based on the teachings that were started in the early 1900s by Mikao Usui in Japan. Reiki is continually changing. It has been adapted to suit the people who have practiced it and the places and times they inhabit. The change that is taking place now is that practitioners are returning to its origins. There are many diversions that have taken place over the last century.
Reiki means spiritual energy, it also represents the system of Usui's teachings in their modern form. Reiki is Energy of the universe, Earth and Heaven, ying and yang, the soul connection, spiritual healing energy. Reiki is far greater than us as individuals. Our desires and needs pale when faced with Reiki-our intent opens us up to accept Rieki through us. It washes us, and others, clear. No life force is unaffected by Reiki. We practice so that we can heal inside and out, let go and be One wih the universe, reconnect with the path of our enlightenment and help others.
We all take the energy into our lives with the intention of evolving and healing. Reiki offers us strength, calm and light. We must receive it with gratitude and work on ourselves, knowing we can, we are empowered and the world can become a more beautiful place through this knowledge and practice. This versatile, free flowing method is great for our time, it is totally simple. Children can do Reiki, it is swtiched on with a thought, and it can be done anywhere, anytime, by anyone. It is accessible to our busy lifestyles that don't have time for spirituality. The challenge is to let go and see what we discover. We need to resist controlling ourselves, our situations and others, then we may find a peaceful beauty of happiness in our lives, which may result in world peace.
Respect must be remembered and practiced by all when dealing with such a pure and beautiful energy. The taechings are sacred. The methods often involve the student completing certain energetic levels before being handed specific information.
Reiki is not a religion, massage process, or dangerous. It is a method of working with energy that allows the body to clear itself, leaving one feeling lighter, healthier and happier.
Reiki is the name of the system and the spriritual energy.
The 2 Japaenese kanji mean Universal Energy or Universal Life Force Energy. Ki i s the energy of everything including heaven and earth; the whole universe.
There is a lot of translated English material from China that relates to traditional energetic practices. The two kanji that represent the word Reiki originated in China. Their Chinese counterparts are called Ling Chi
The Ancient Book of Lu states: 'even a blade of grass or clump of dirt contains Lingh Qi.' Ling Qi is the spriritual energy that envelops and forms all things. In order to connect with and perceive the Ling Qi contained within the environment, an individual must first cultivate his or her own personal Ling Qi.
Excerpt from Chinese Medical Qijong Therapy Volume 1
This understanding of Ling Chi relates directly to the Japanese word Reiki as spiritual energy. Reiki is the energy or spirit or essence of everything. There are no different types of Reiki-but different thoughts, practices and intentions. The system teaches that when humans work consciously with Reiki they begin to evolve and strengthen their connection with the universe.
Ki is the basic unit of the universe.
It is the infinite gathering of infinitely small particles.
Everything is ultimately composed of Ki.
If you pursue this concept to the depth of human
consciousness, you will understand the universal mind which
governs all creation, loving and protecting all life...
Everything originates from the Ki of the universe.
Excerpt from the Book of Ki
Ki is the basis of all energy work including the popular aspect of the system of Reiki, the treatment.
Treatments could be seen as a by product of the system. Prior to a treatment, a student has studied the system with a teacher and worked through a number of practices to develop skill, knowledge and experience. Then the practitioner can practice on friends and family and eventually as a professional for clients.Once you learn Reiki, you can treat yourself.
Practitioners should have a developed personal self healing regime the allows them to work effectively as knowledgeable, experienced and energetically clear practitioners.
The Procedure
During a treatment the client lies or sits and the practitioners' hands are placed on, or just above, the body, or it is done by distance. The client is quiet and comfortable. The practitioner reaches a meditative state quickly and the client eventually lets go of the busy mind and tension. The relaxation is a healing state. It is likened to being in the womb. There is consciounsess,. but the client feels enclosed and safe from outside influences. The client may obtain spiritual guidance. Reiki is not manipulative. Energy follows its true path, Reiki is the same as one's energy, there is no line or disconnect, existence is a continous flow of energy without start of finish.
A cleint draws on more of the same energy, building personal resources and clearing energy-balancing the body at all levels. The practitioner offers energy to the client which moves through the hands and into the clients' body, supporting the healing process. The hands are a vessel for Reiki to flow through. Hand positions can be held from one minute to half an hour or longer depending on what the practitioner senses in the body.
As long as the practitioner can sense something like a cool breeze, vibrating, moving, heating up, tingling or whatever the energetic sensation is, then she remains in that position. The Client may also sense the movement of energy in their body.
These sensations are side effects of energy clearing in the body. They may be twitching or involuntary movement, seeing colors or a visual journey with eyes closes, gaining intuitive knowledge or understanding. These sensations are side effects and not the healing itself, if something is sensed or not, the treatment is effective.
Reiki's Path
A Reiki treatment realigns one with one's true path, source and spirit.
There is an unlimited amount of energy, everything has energy or ki. It is all encompassing. It makes species and planets function, it is the fuel and gives ultimate structure and purpose in life. Worries, fear and anger can block energy, which accumulates. The Reiki energy is a pure flow of energy, realigns with the body in a treatment. It washes down obstructions, clearing obstructions and strengthening the flow of energy. This makes a connection to one's purpose on Earth and the easiest, most successful way to achieve it.
The base of Reiki is intent. Practitioners and clients can support their treatment by working with intent. It is the initial, directed thought that goes through the mind, often before there is a conscious awareness that the thinking process has begun.
The directed thought sets a process in motion, it stimulates energy to trigger an action. The base of the energy needs to be clear. The base of the energy is intent, once intent is clear, energy moves freely through the body. Healing intentions are most effective when there are no limitations and one gives over to the flow of the universe. In this state the unlimited power of the universe can enter one's mind and affect change. During a treatment, practitioners and clients must let go of any judging sensations and let go of focus on outcomes. Attachment to any outcome leaves practitioners to desire specific results from a treatment.
Clients can support the healing process by consciously setting their intent to be open and without attachment. They can be as open as they can to healing. To support their Reiki treatment, a client can hold this intent 'I am open to receive whatever it is that I need at this time.' The client is in control of what happens with the energy, one's own nature does the healind and does not harm. It is only when humanity tries to contol nature and place rules that work against its flow that harm occurs. Any fear that is introduced into Reiki is a human design. By letting go of making conscious decisions the rpessure to perform is removed, the ego is sent away and practitioner and client can work on that which is integral to one's well being. The energy supports the natural healing process and the benefits become clear.
Benfits of Treatment
The purpose of the treatment is to support healing. To heal means to make whole. This is the foundation of Reiki. Becoming whole entails drawing varied aspects of the self together, allowing them to collaborate with each other, helping the whole function to its best ability. That is the benefit of receiving Reiki. The outcome depends on each person's current situation and life experience. They draw on the energy that they require at that time. A practitioner must work intuitively, sensing where and when to move the hands during treatment. The hands listen to the client's body as it determines what it needs to become whole. This includes all aspects of self, physical and non physical. Every Reiki experience is different. All illness can be addressed with Reiki, although it is impossible to predict outcomes. The Reiki will work on wherever the body draws it. It could be physical, emotional, mental or a sense of lack of connection to life. Reiki supports each person in healing themselves.
Each of us has his or her own natural pharmacopoeia-the very finest drugstore available at the cheapest cost-to produce all the drugs we ever need to run our bodymind precisely the way it was designed to run over centuries of evolution. Research needs to focus on understanding the workings of these natural resources-our own endogenous drugs-so that we can create the conditions that will enable them to do what they do best.
Molecules of Emotion: The Science of Mind -Body Medicine, Candace Pert
Benefits can include mental clarity and pain relief, feeling relaxed and more deeply connected to one's spiritual nature. It can help deal with acute of chronic illnesses. Depression, insomnia and fear based illnesses and other non physical illnesses can also benefit. Reiki can work with injuries and acute problems, as a first aid tool it offers pain relief while trying to retun the body to its more natural state. Stress weakens the immune system, leaving humans prone to ill health. Reiki brings calm and deals with stress. It helps clarity of thought and ease of decision making. It supports self healing, and enhances health, it brings everything back to a natural, balanced state.
Experiencing clearing
Reiki clears and enhances energy according to the needs of the body. It is non invasive and non diagnostic. To start to bring the body back into balance the journey towards becoming whole is all that can occur and this cannot be harmful. Listening to the body is the most sensible thing anyone can do for optimum health and Reiki is founded on this.
After a treatment, drink lots of water to continue the clearing that was started.
Clients should be aware that Reiki is also an excellent tool for relaxation and can be experienced like a massage, for enjoyment. Reiki will always work on rebalance even if the client is not aware of it.
Animals, plants and anything can draw on Reiki; everything is made of energy, even thought forms and objects. When Reiki is drawn on, it clears and enhances the existing energy, bringing it back into balance. This benefits all living and inanimate things. For animlas, a treatment is done much the same as on people. I would physically approach the animal and offer my energetic services. Hands can be placed on or near the animal depending on the response.
The animal will signal if she does or does not want Reiki. They are usually attracted to energy and will get into the postition best to draw maximum benefit from the Reiki.
Plants flourish with Reiki. Treating seeds is the first step. As it grows, hands are placed above the leaves or wrapped around the pot. Frist use it on the bucket of water, this can be used to water the plants.
Food and drink can be energetically enhanced. Heightened food immediately tastes better. It is a heightened vibration through the energetic balancing that is supported and any elements that may be less than fresh or have stayed too long on a shelf or in a freezer may improve.
The same can be done on drugs and herbs. By elevating the vibration level of drugs into a more balanced state, clients claim that side effects have less impact. Herbal remedies draw on Reiki to become more effective. Stones, crystals and other natural elements draw great amounts of energy, Reiki does not remove their natural abilities, but enhances them. You can use Reiki on computers, batteries, wallets and more.
The process of healing a personal illness is, in fact, a rite of passage, designed b yourself as one of the greatest learning tools you will ever encounter. -Light Emerging
Treating the self is the most important aspect of Mikao Usui's teachings. Learning to treat the self is actively taking your health into your own hands. The fearless act of self responsibility changes how a life situation is experienced. Once you learn Reiki, you no longer need to be a victim of your cicrumstance but can choose to live optimally at every level. Life becomes easier as stress dissolves and perception changes. The immune system strengthens and illness is decreased. The connection to one's true spiritual nature is re-established.
Feeling strong in the self gives one the ability to help others. A Reiki course teaaches not only how to heal yourself, but how to support the healing process of others as well.
After practicing for a while, if we feel discouraged or tired because of how far we are from the goal of our spiritual journey, we should look back at our life in the days before we started training and celebrate any progress we have made.-The Healing power of the mind
The Five Elements of Reiki
There are five major elements that a practitioner will learn, practice and experience.
They are:
the spiritual and mental connection using the five precepts
hands on healing for self and others
techniques
mantras and symbols
attunement
Each of these elements work torgether with the others to create a whole system for spiritual development and healing that is unique. There are many other factors in Reiki depending on the teacher and branch, but these are consistent through all Reiki courses whether from Japan or if they evolved further elsewhere.
The Five Precepts
for todaly only:
do not anger
do not worry
be humble
be honest in your work
be compassionate to yourself and others
They are universal teachings introduced by Mikao Usui.
These precepts should be kept in mind throughout every day. This is the student's spiritual journey.
Hand Positions
Everyone needs to be touched, stroked, cuddled, fondles, and held. Without this tactile stimulation, children and adults do not grow in a healthy way. Their emotional selves grow gnarled, crooked, bent, and deformed. They can be smoothed, straightened and supported by touch. -Time in: a handbook for child and youth care professionals
Hand positions are specific places on the body where students are taught to place the hands. This assists the energy to move through the body, clearing and strengthening one's spiritual and energetic connection.
The practitioner places hands on or near the body. The energy moves through the practitioner and is drwan by the client into the body. This is the same as when practiced on oneself.
Techniques employ four qualities that reflect the nature of our world. Depending on the circumstance, you should be: hard as a diamond, flexible as a willow, smooth-flowing like water, or as empty as space. -from The Art of Peace
Traditionally, the Japanese used the hara centre as a method to stimulate and balance energy in the body, not the chakra system, which is commonly used today. It lies in the bottom of the stomach about 2 inches below the naval
Techniques strengthen the connection to the energy, build one's own energy, create focus, and support a spiritual journey.
Reiki meditation lets the true energy come out from within.
Attunements are integral to Usui's teachingc. To practice, a student must receive attunements. The purpose is to strengthen the students' connection with spiritual energy and raise their personal energy levels. It is where a teacher completes a physical ritual around a seated student.
They provide:
a sense of reconnection to one's true self
a clearing of the meridians allowing the student to channel more energy through the body
a method a teacher uses in order to communicate with students on an energetic level
Everything is made of energy and everyone has an innate ability to heal themselves and others.
Each attunement received takes the sutdent a step further to realigning oneself with the natural functioning of the body.
Attunements are beneficial and integral to the system of Reiki but it is the personal practice that rains blessings down upon the student.
Attunement is just a beginning and the real ability is to develop on your own with personal practice.
-Modern Reiki Method for Healing
Post Course Experiences
As with a treatment, there is also a clearing by students after completing a course. Life is one great cleaning process. We are continually working though things, whether a tiny insight about an issue or a huge change that throws life into chaos. These are clearings where the old moves out and the new comes in. Reiki aids the process, but the concept of clearing is not unique to it. This is a natural way for the body to heal and become whole.
Usui's 21 day meditation was one of many parts of a practice.
Working with Reiki does increase the effect of the cleansing process and often students will have immediate results a day or two after starting their practice. Keep practicing, allowing energy to keep moving. Human nature takes 21 days to break a habit and to make a habit, after practicing Reiki for three weeks students do not want to stop-it feels too good!
Becoming One with Reiki
During a students' practice with Reiki, different personal stages are discovered, A path is revealed and those who conscientiously practice the five elements gradually see where it is heading. To tap into this spiritual energy, in its completion, is to have arrived at the advanced stages of one's personal spiritual practice. The experience of receiving the full effect actually means to acheive satori (enlightenment).
At this stage all ordinary perceptions are transformed and there is a realization of one's true potenial as a person. Attaining this state of mind and becoming pure light is the ultimate goal of a Reiki practice. This is reflected by the mantra and symbol from Japan of great bright light.So the goal is to become this great bright light by achieveing a state of nonduality or satori.
A practitioner must become strong enough to allow pure spiritual energy through. Perserverence and the understanding of how to work with the elements in order to reach or become One with the Great bright light of the Reiki.
Like stars mists and candle flames
mirages, dewdrops and water bubbles
like dreams, lightning and clouds.
In that way I will view all existence. -the notebook of Mikao Usui, 1923
Now and again, it is neccessary to seclude yourself among deep mountains and hidden valleys to restore your link to the source of life. Breathe in and let yourself soar to the ends of universe; breath out and bring the cosmos back inside. Next, breathe up all the fecundity and vibrancy of the earth. Finally, blend the breath of heaven and the breath of earth with that of your own, becoming the Breath of Life itself. -The Art of Peace
One day, Mikao Usui climbed kurama yama and after 21 days of a severe discipline without eating, he suddenly felt One Great Reiki over his head and attained enlightenment and he obtained Reiki Ryoho. Then he tried on himself and experimented on his family members, the efficacy was immediate.
Sensei thought that it would be far better to offer it widely to the general public and share its benefits than just to improve the well being of his own family members.
Quotes about Mikao Usui
These are truly great teachings for cultivating and discipline. that agree with those great teachings of the ancient sages. Sensei named these teachings The Secret Method to Invite Happiness and Miraculous Medicine to Cure all Disease; notice the outstanding features of the teachings. Furthermore, when it comes to teaching, it should be as easy and common as possible, nothing lofty. Another feature is that during sitting in silent meditiation with Gassho and reciting the five precepts mornings and evening, healthy minds can be cultivated and put into practice in one's daily routine. This is the reason why Reiho is easily obtained by anyone. -Mikao Usui memorial stone
The Secret of Inviting Happiness Through Many Blessings
The Spiritual Medicine for All Illness
for today only:
do not anger
do not worry
be humble
be honest in your work
be compassionate to yourself and others
do gassho every morning and evening
keep in your mind and recite
improve your mind and body.
Mikao Usui
Spirituality is a tool for good health. After many years of personal practice and the practitioner becomes One with the universe. She will be showered with the blessings that the universe has to offer when practicing the teachings.
'For today only' is a practical phrase to keep the mind on the now., typical of Buddhism. By focusing on tomorrow, tomorrow never comes. Each moment of life is now. These precepts are practiced now and they are being practiced each moment of the practioner's life.
Do not anger is a basic Buddhist principle, anger hurts those in the vicinity and the person herself. It is the antithesis of balance. Once you are no longer a victim of the sense of anger, then you can energetically be placed on the spiritual path.
Sometimes people feel that anger is useful because it brings extra energy and boldness. When we encounter difficulties, we may see anger as a protector. But though anger brings us more energy, that energy is essentially a blind one. There is no guarantee that that energy will not become destructive to our own interest. Therefore, hatred an anger are not at all useful. -Power of Compassion by The Dalai Lama
Do not worry as this causes stress at all levels, stress lowers the immune system, opening you up to disease. To worry is a lack of faith. Fearfulness is a reaction that does not trust the universe to provide what is best for you.
Sahntideva says:
If you can solve your problem,
then what is the need of worrying?
If you cannot solve it,
then what is the use of worrying?
-The Healing Power of the Mind
Be humble and you will find the humbleness and thankfulness permeating every aspect of our life. Thoughts will be of a life of abundance rather than want. The material things will no longer be the measurement of existence.
True happiness is related more to the mind and heart. Happiness that depends mainly on physical pleasures in unstable; one day it's there, the next day it may not be...The Art of Happiness by the Dalai Lama
Enlightenment requires being truthfully dedicated to spiritual progress by not becoming a spiritual materialist.
Understanding the energy consequences of our thoughts and beliefs, as well as our actions, may force us to become honest to a new degree. Lying, either to others or to ourselves, should be out of the question. Genuine, complete healing requires honesty with oneself. An inability to be honest obstructs healing as seriously as the inability to forgive. Honesty and forgiveness retrieve our energy-our spirits-from the energy dimension of 'the past'. -Anatomy of the Spirit
Be compassionate to yourself and others and then you will remember the connection of all things in the universe.
Mindfulness brings peace in life. This thought reminds human nature that it is compassionate and to comprehend and experience interconnectedness. Oneness can be experienced through working with the respect-they are the basis of all the teachings They are the foundations of a successful working relationship with each of the other four elements of Reiki. If the practitioner can follow these precepts, the system becomes complete.
Gassho is the placing of both palms together in front of the chest, it is a sign of respect of oneself, the action and the energy. This simple act balances both mind and body.
Keep these precepts in the mind through the day. They are for reading and living.
Improve your mind and body.
Reiki puts special emphasis not just on curing diseases but also on enjoying well being within life with correcting the mind and making the body healthy with the use of an innate healing ability. -Mikao Usui memorial stone
Progress comes to those who train and train; reliance on secret techniques will get you nowhere.-The Art of Peace
Purification in shintoism is called seimei seichoku. Choku means straight, which illustrates the idea of honesty. This reflects on the precepts where the practitioner is required to be honest in her work.
Seichku means right action or behavior as well as the social aspect of being right, that is, not committing any sin, crime, or offence and behaving with honesty, openness, and frankness towards others. This is the essence of shinto.
Mikao Usui is quoted as saying that the mind and body are one. Recent studies are finally starting to understand this. Brainwaves and body pulses and their roles in stimulating healing are being researched now, allowing the concept of Reiki, as healing energy, to be more widely understood by the medical community.
The Brownes Cancer support centre in Western Australia in 2004 did a patient care report which concluded that there was an overall improvemnt in both qualiy of life and symptom distress for patients who received Reiki. There was also an improvement in these areas over the course of the sessions from 6 treatments.
In 2003 a randomized trial using healing touch with cancer patients showed that a relaxed state was created, with lower respiratory and heart rates and blood pressure, reduced short term pain, mood disturbances and fatigue.
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| Dodgy, Reiki Master |
Reiki is being accepted in hospitals and hospices around the world. Patients can often bring their practitioner with them or it is made available to them.
In 1988, patients were allowed to have a 15 minute pre and post op Reiki. More than 870 took part and as a result there was less use of pain medication, shorter hospital stays and increased patient satisfaction. Patients who had had transplants and open hear surgery, 11 non had the usual post operative depression, the bypass patients had no post op pain or leg weakness and the transplant patients had no organ rejections.
The foundation of Reiki is compassion and Oneness and not harming anyone or anything.
Here is a site which discusses the benefits of Reiki for people and animals
http://www.reiki-for-holistic-health.com/
