Spread Peace

 The word Reiki is simply translated in the West as "universal life force energy". Although,
Rei meaning does not translate directly into "universal" but rather "ghost, spirit, soul,
supernatural, miraculous, divine, ethereal body" . So a more correct translation is actually
more powerful for the word Reiki itself.  The word "energy" (Ki) could be substituted for  
"universal life force". The correct  and more accurate translation for the word "Reiki"
would be  "SOUL ENERGY" or "SPIRIT ENERGY".

Us Westerners like to have a description and label for everything, so to describe the actual
Art of Reiki, one might say, "SOUL (or spirit) LEVEL UNIVERSAL LIFE FORCE" or more
simply, "SOUL (or spirit) LEVEL ENERGY".

Combining the words "spirit" or "soul" with "energy" provides a more direct explanation of
what is actually happening when Reiki is channeling and being transmitted. 

 The original symbols used for Reiki are derived from Sanskrit. Originally, the Reiki
calligraphs were painted on large wall hangings as the center of focus for Mantric workings
used by the Lamas in their meditation. The Holy Men would sit upon a four legged wooden
stool in the center of an earthenware container which was filled with three inches of water.
The container was oval in shape to represent the Akasa (etheric egg) and the stool was
composed of wood with silver inlay going up the seat. One wall of the temple dramatically
displayed highly polished copper while to the rear of the aspirant stood an angled wall
containing the Lamas' prayer and the Reiki calligraphs. The copper wall served as a mirror,
reflecting the symbols for the initiate's meditation as he sat upon the stool.

 The purpose of this seemingly intricate arrangement was actually quite simple: to implant the symbols into the subconscious mind through concentration, thus raising the aspirant's consciousness and heightening his awareness, while at the same time, purifying the
body/mind continuum. Because these practices represented such an esoteric science and
one that was passed on only by word of mouth, they eventually disappeared until the mid
1800's when Dr. Mikao Usui a monk, rediscovered  the Reiki symbols in an ancient Sanskrit text.

 The teaching story, (when brought to the West by Mrs. Takata) was discovered to have been adapted more towards the Westerners by William Lee Rand (thank you) after many years of research. The "story" (as we now know) is not the entire truth about Dr. Usui but it goes something like this...

Dr. Usui was the principal of and teacher in a Christian seminary in Kyoto, Japan. One day,
a student asked him to describe specifically, the healing method used by Jesus and the
teacher was unable to respond. Immediately, he resigned from his post and vowed to study
Christianity in a Christian country until he could answer his student's query. He first
traveled to America where he attended the University of Chicago and became a Doctor of
Theology. However, he was unsuccessful at finding any information in the Christian
writings about hands-on healing techniques.

 In addition to his native Japanese,  Dr. Usui also became fluent in Chinese, English and
Sanskrit searching for his answers in any language, but to no avail. He ended at this time in North India where he studied the Holy Writings.

Finally, he returned to Japan, disheartened but not yet completely defeated. Living in a
monastery in Kyoto, Dr. Usui decided to travel to the Holy Mountain of Kurimaya to fast
and meditate for 21 days, hoping to gain contact with a level of consciousness he had
discovered in some Sanskrit formulas and old Buddhist sutra symbols. Perhaps these clues
would lead him to an answer about healing.

Upon his arrival at the top of the mountain, Dr. Usui placed 21 stones in front of him in
order to mark the days. He spent his time in the mountains reading the sutras, signing,
meditating, each day discarding one stone over the side of the mountain. Nothing unusual
happened until the final day when he saw a shining light moving towards him at great speed.  

It became larger and larger until it hit him in the center of his forehead. Dr. Usui was
conscious of millions of little bubbles in all the colors of the rainbow and as a great white
light appeared, he saw the little-known Sanscrit symbols of Reiki.

When he returned to his normal state of consciousness, the sun was shinning brightly and
he felt an elation of spirit, a sense of strength and energy despite the fact that he had
been fasting for 3 weeks. In his rush down the mountain, he stubbed his tow very bad on a
rock and fell to the ground as his tow began to bleed.  Instinctively, the monk grabbed his
foot with both hands and the bleeding and pain stopped miraculously.

 At the base of the mountain, Dr. Usui stopped at an Inn for his first meal in 21 days. The
innkeeper was well aware of the dangers of eating a large meal after fasting and warned
Dr. Usui of this fact. However, he was able to eat a large meal without any adverse effects whatsoever. This was the second miracle to complete a trio that day.

It seems the innkeeper's  granddaughter had been suffering from a bad toothache for the
past few days. Remembering now how easy his tow had healed upon his touch, Dr. Usui lay
his hands upon her swollen face and she immediately felt better running to her
grandfather to say that their guest was no ordinary monk.

 Elated with his findings, Dr. Usui returned to his monastery but soon decided  he would go
to the beggars' part of Kyoto to treat their illnesses and help them lead better lives. He
spent the next seven years with them successfully healing the community. He started to notice the same old faces were returning. Baffled, he asked the healed beggars why they
had not begum a new life ans was told that working was too troublesome, that it was
better to go on begging.

 Dr. Usui was deeply shaken and wept. He realized he had overlooked something of great
importance in his healing work: namely to teach the beggars gratitude. In the following days he thought about the Reiki principals as we know them today....

JUST FOR TODAY I WILL GIVE THANKS FOR MY MANY BLESSINGS
JUST FOR TODAY I WILL NOT WORRY
JUST FOR TODAY I WILL NOT BE ANGRY
JUST FOR TODAY I WILL DO MY WORK HONESTLY
JUST FOR TODAY I WILL BE KIND TO MY NEIGHBOR AND EVERY LIVING THING

Soon after, Dr. Usui left the beggars quarter and returned to the main section of Kyoto
where he lit a large torch and dramatically posed with it in the streets. When people asked
what he was doing, he replied he was looking for people in search of true Light, people who
were ill and oppressed and longed to be healed. This was the beginning of a new part of
Dr. Usui's life in which he traveled around Japan teaching Reiki to those who would listen.

Reiki has gone through many changes but the calligraphs remain basically the same. Before
Dr. Usui Reiki calligraphs were only used for self development, meditation and spiritual
purification. In the past, it was considered so sacred that it was kept almost secret. In
those days, you had to be invited to attend a Master's training and initiation and it would
cost upwards of $10,000.00! It was recognized that people generally don't appreciate what they don't pay for. Now Reiki has spread like wildfire and is available to anyone who truly wants to develop themselves and share healing, just NOT at the high prices.

So goes the "story" of Reiki. There is more information available now than ever before
about the true roots of Reiki as a Healing system but I suppose the most important thing
is, IT WORKS!