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Reiki is a technique of
alternative medicine, developed (or rediscovered) during the latter
half of the
19th century by
Mikao Usui in
Japan.
Definition
The word rei-ki is Japanese. The literal meaning of this word is cosmos
(rei) and energy (ki or chi or
qi).
Another common definition is "universal life force energy." From this, a
verb is derived.
Practitioners believe that they are able to direct Reiki energy at will
through the palms of their hands, into specific parts of their own or
others' bodies, in order to cause
healing. Many scientists dispute the effectiveness of Reiki, claiming
that Reiki energy cannot be measured by any known observational technique.
There is no conclusive scientific evidence of positive results from this
form of therapy.
How does it work?
Reiki energy is believed to enter the initiate through his 7th (crown)
chakra, fill his
aura and flow through his hands into the body of the recipient. The
recipient΄s body will take the Reiki energy and use it to heal itself, if
needed. If the body does not feel that the energy is needed, it will not
absorb the energy.
The treatment is done mainly through laying on hands. The patient is
asked to lie down and relax. Then the therapist opens his Reiki channel
and applies his hands to various parts of the patient's body. Patients
report feeling various sensations: heat, cold, pressure and the like. This
is attributed to Reiki energy filling the body and aura of the recipient
and acting: filling up the
energy deficiences, repairing and opening the energy channels (meridians)
and dissolving the blocks of stale energy.
Reiki is an Eastern form of medicine that defines full health as total
harmony of body, mind and spirit, so it is said that Reiki heals all
mentioned parts of a human being. Proponents of Reiki claim that it can
cure any affliction. In practice, however, afflictions that are hard for
conventional medicine to treat are as hard for Reiki to treat. Also,
academic medicine is clearly more suitable in emergencies, as Reiki works
rather subtly and thus - slowly. However, the merit of Reiki is that it
uses only energy - no medicaments with side effects are used. Moreover, it
should be noted that Reiki is especially good at restoring vitality and
reducing stress.
History
Reiki was claimed to be rediscovered by a Japanese man named
Mikao Usui. After long meditations and prayers, he claimed that he
gained consecration of how to awaken and apply Reiki energy for healing.
Believers in Reiki claim that access to this energy is limited for the
majority of people. Mikao Usui claimed that he could enable his students
to enlarge their access to the energy through certain initiations. The
'flow' of the energy after the enlarging of the access becomes a healing
quality. It improves the function of the chakras by supplying them with
energy.
It is said that Mikao Usui was actively pursuing the art of healing,
and that before he developed Reiki method he studied
Chinese medicine,
Ayurveda, some internal
martial arts like
Qigong and even the Yoga of Healing. However, he reported that the
awakening of Reiki and development of the set of accompanying techniques
is something entirely different.
After developing the Reiki method, Usui went to the slums of Tokio to
heal the beggars. However, after several years he learned that it is their
mindset that keeps them ill even when they are healed time after time. So
he engaged in philosophical studies that uncovered some texts of the
Yellow Emperor. He then summarized it in five ethical principles:
- Just for today, do not worry.
- Just for today, do not anger.
- Honor your parents, teachers, and elders.
- Earn your living honestly.
- Show gratitude to everything.
(See
Traditional Chinese Medicine for an explanation of the origin of
disease)
Mikao Usui had a rather mystical disposition towards Reiki and trained
several disciples in this spirit. However, one of his disciples, the
military doctor Mr. Chujiro Hayashi, represented a more rational approach.
He simply stressed physical health and some codified behavior, such as a
system of laying on hands in fixed positions. Usui preferred a more
mystical means of diagnosing the patient's problem.
This wouldn't have borne any severe consequences if he hadn't initiated
and trained to mastery Mrs. Havayo Takata, who brought Reiki to the USA.
The States proved to be very fertile ground, as Mrs. Takata applied the
American spirit of enterprise to Japanese tradition. Now, Reiki is nearly
extinct in
Japan, but flourishing in the USA. New paths were developed out of the
Reiki core that fused it with
Christianity,
shamanism,
channeling and so forth. Also, new symbols were added. However, some
people argue that these changes were for the good, because Reiki was
already a complete system, and in particular, some symbols are completely
alien to the Reiki tradition and possibly even harmful.
Courses
The method developed by Mikao Usui spread over the world, and now it is
possible to attend a Reiki course almost anywhere. To achieve a complete
education in Reiki Usui Shiki Ryoho (Takata's line), 3
courses are necessary: the 1st degree course, the 2nd degree course and
the master course.
In the 1st degree Reiki course, it is taught how to work with Reiki
energy. The 'channel' through which Reiki energy passes to the 7th
chakra has to be widened through an initiation by the teacher, to let
the Reiki energy be strong enough to heal. Students learn the manner in
which to place their hands on the body of the recipient to be most
successful in the healing process.
In the 2nd degree Reiki course, techniques of mental healing are
taught, enabling healers to treat even deeply ingrained problems like
fears, depression, addictions and the like. It is also taught how to
direct the energy to a certain point in time, to a specific person or
place or a specific issue. The 'issue' can be something like a particular
health problem of an individual, or it can be a more abstract or general
issue such as world peace. This is made possible through three symbols
taught at the second initiation. The 'channel' is thereby opened even
more.
In the master course, students learn how to teach Reiki courses, and
they become masters of Reiki through the 3rd initiation, which broadens
the channel with the master symbol.
It is up to students how many courses they want to attend. The courses
are sequential, so it is not possible to attend e.g. the master course
after finishing only the 1st course.
Reiki community
While there is no chain of command and no vow of obedience, and
practitioners practice as they desire, some practitioners have the notion
of forming Reiki communities that may extend to other healers. This notion
probably started as masters began to organize Reiki circles for joint
healing and honing their skills. However, a real upsurge of Reiki
communities began with the advent of the Internet and discussion forums.
Global initiatives have been introduced (like healing the planet or global
peace fostering) and a great deal of online services (like training and
healing) have been commenced.
Controversies
Some scientists hold that, because researchers have been unable to
demonstrate the existence of Reiki energy with any certainty, it cannot be
described as an effective or worthwhile medical practice. Proponents of
Reiki claim that they can detect and manipulate this energy, but some
scientists claim that if a physical or medical phenomenon has any reliable
real-world effects, it should be measurable and observable in rigorously
structured studies. Since few scientists feel that Reiki's effects have
been demonstrated to any significant degree, most argue that the
sensations practitioners of Reiki claim to feel are psychological or the
results of practicioners deceiving themselves with
magical thinking.
There are also some circles that actively oppose Reiki - generally for
the same reasons that any form of alternative medicine might be opposed.
For example, many mainstream doctors, academics, and consumer advocates
find it disturbing and potentially dangerous that patients with serious
diseases like cancer are choosing reiki 'shamans' over trained doctors.
While it is understandable for patients to seek non-mainstream remedies
when conventional options seem ineffective or untrustworthy, many doctors
say that Reiki, like many other forms of alternative medicine, is simply
exploiting the fear and hope of people with serious illnesses while
offering no real help. Reiki practitioners argue that Reiki is a reliable
and effective treatment which is being unfairly dismissed by conservative
Western scientific researchers, presenting a few cases of actual disease
remission as evidence.
There are various religious groups opposing Reiki. They condemn Reiki
as promoting
satanic or
pagan practices. Once such group is the
Unification Church, which cautions its adherents to avoid Reiki on the
grounds that Reiki involves channeling the energy of evil spirits. The
Roman Catholic Church generally refrains from accusations of Satanism
in recent times, but it is common for Catholic thinkers to find Reiki
suspicious at best, and some individuals and groups (like
Dominicans) actively advise believers against it. Some even go as far
as to call Reiki a
sect, which is unfair as there is no real structure,
guru or chain of command in the Reiki community.
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