Feel the
Mikao Usui 1865-1926
Before describing the known history of Mikao Usui, it is worth mentioning that the history, based as it is on many transcriptions of spoken accounts, as well as the inscription on his Memorial stone in seems to change from time to time, and while much work has been undertaken, notably by Steve Petter, and Bronwen & Frans Steine, new facts may still emerge.
Mikao Usui was born into a high level of the Samurai class in Japan in 1865, at a time when that class had virtually been abolished, and the Samurai warriors, estimated to be 8% of the Japanese population at the time, had lost the great status they once had. They were still highly regarded, but were now looking for work away from their traditional warrior training, usually in the professions.
Born on the 15th of August in Taniai ( now Miyama cho ), in Yamagata county in the Gifu Prefecture, and educated as a Tendai Buddist in the Tendai monastery, Mikao Usui trained in samurai skills at age 12, and when grown, travelled to Europe, America and China as a student, often leading a ‘poor and unfortunate life’, and whilst his brother was a Physician, he did not become, as widely reported, a doctor himself.
While we believe that he was at one time a Secretary to a politician, Shinpei Goto. In 1914, at the age of 49, he joined a 21 day course ( Isyo Guo ), at the Tendai Buddist Temple by Mount Kurama near Osaka.
Sometime between 1914, and 1922 when he commenced teaching, Usui joined a 21 day training course ( Isyu Guo ref: W. Rand ) ) run by the Tendai Buddist temple at Mt Kurama.
Usui’s memorial stone states that “ One day he climbed Kurama-yama, after 21 days of fasting, he suddenly felt the power of Reiki above him and obtained enlightenment and Reiki Ryoho. He tried it on himself and then on members of his family. The improvements were immediate.
He decided to offer his gift to the general public, and in 1922 he settled in Harajuku, Aoyama, Tokyo, and set up the Gakkai to teach Reiki Ryoho and give treatments. People came from afar to visit him and improve themselves.
Usui then moved to Kure, Hiroshima, Saga and finally Fukuyama where he died on the 9th March 1926, aged 62. His grave is at Saihoji Temple, Suginami, Tokyo.
Usui did not place such an emphasis on healing as is the case in most forms of Western Reiki today; he believed in healing the whole person, and in meditaion before healing, and adherence to the five Ideals of Reiki, shown on page 12.
Before he died, he is believed to have trained about 1000 students, ( though his memorial says 2000 ), but it is believed that only about 21 were trained to the level of ‘Master’ as we know it today. Initially he did not a use Hands On healing process, ( which came late on, possibly influenced by one of his students, Toshihiro Eguchi ), but believed in a process of spiritual development which led to self healing, and by developing a presence with individual students, where they could pick up and absorb his ability.
It was one of his close students, Naval Captain Chujiro Hayashi who set up a
hands on healing centre, with Usui’s blessing and assistance, and who also devised the method of attunement used today, as well as the 3 degrees of Reiki, in a formalisation, even regimentation of Reiki, whilst Usui believed that training should be ongoing. The Japanese Navy was looking for a cost effective method of healing, and Reiki looked to be the answer to their prayers.
Usui’s school continued after his death up to the present day, initially led by the ‘top brass’ of the Japanese navy, and is understood to be a very private society with deep doubts about Western members and practices. It was only in the 1990’s that the presence of the Usui memorial in Tokyo was known in the West for example.
It was Hawayo Takata ( 1900-1980 ), who was primarily responsible for bringing Reiki to the West. Born in Hawaii, on the island of Kauai, of Japanese parents.
She has related that, in 1935, needing an operation for a tumour and gallstones, she enquired if an alternative to surgery was available, and as a result was directed to Churjiro Hayashi’s clinic, where his wife, Chie Hayashi, took her in for treatment. At her first treatment she sensed heat and vibrations when the practitioners hands were placed on her. When she returned next day, very curious, she asked if any electrical machinery was used, or used near her, and she was advised that this was not the case. Chujiro Hayashi explained the practice to her, and she enquired about becoming a student, but was told that the technique was not taught to foreigners. Eventually though, largely because of her Japanese roots, Chujiro agreed to allow her to become an Honorary member, and be taught the techniques.
She spent a year living with Chujiro, moving to Okuden level ( level 2 ), before she returned to Hawaii in 1937, closely followed by Chujiro and his wife, who assisted her to set up her own clinic there. When Chujiro departed, he made Hawayo Takata a Master of Reiki.
In 1940 Chujiro Hayashi ended his life rather than join the Japanese Navy and fight the West. War time America was not a place to practice anything Japanese, so it was not until after the war that Hawayo Takata practiced, as a practitioner, rather than as a teacher. In 1973, she began to start training her successors, but did not teach another Master until 1976, when she was charging $10,000 ( worth about $40,000 in 2007 ).
She taught 22 Masters, but each was taught differently, since she relied on oral work, and given the plethora of different Reiki systems around today, it is difficult to be sure exactly how she taught. Initially Reiki Masters charged the $10,000 that Mrs Takata had, but this slowly decreased, and when in 1995 Diane Stein published the book Essential Reiki, revealing all the symbols and details of Reiki practice, a new era of non-elitist Reiki began.
I have learnt Reiki from, amongst others, William Lee Rand, who gained his initial training from Bethal Phaigh, who had been trained by Mrs Takata. As with other good Master trainers today, William has undertaken further research, and adapted his techniques as other more effective practices come to light.
Much emphasis is placed on an individuals’ Reiki Lineage, which demonstrates not only how close the individual is to the source of Reiki, but also the quality of the training that they have received.
I have been attuned by William at Stonehenge, the prehistoric place of worship that dates back over 5600 years, with the present stone structure dating back over 4500 years, and holding its own special significance and power to this day.
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk
Mount Kurama
The Kurama Temple, founded in 770 as the guardian of the northern quarter of the capital city (Heiankyo), and is located halfway up the mountain. The original buildings, however, were repeatedly destroyed by fire. The Main Hall was last rebuilt in 1971. The temple formerly belonged to the Tendai sect of Buddhism, but since 1949, it has been included in the newly founded Kurama-Kokyo sect as its headquarters.
More than six million years ago, Mao-son (the great king of the conquerors of evil and the spirit of the earth) descended upon Mt. Kurama from Venus, with the great mission of salvation of mankind. Since then, Mao-son's powerful spirit governing the development and the evolution not only of mankind but of all living things on Earth has been emanating from Mt. Kurama, and a priest named Gantei received the spiritual transmission.
In the first year of Hoki (A.D. 770), Gantei, who was the best pupil of High Priest Ganjin, the founder of the Toshodaiji Temple in Nara, led by a white horse, climbed up to this holy place. His soul was enlightened with the realisation of Bishamon-ten (the protector of the northern quarter of the Buddhist heaven and the spirit of the sun). Following, he founded the Buddhist temple on Mt. Kurama.
Later, in the 15th year of Enryaku (A.D. 796). The chief officer in charge f the construction of Toji Temple, saw a vision of Senju-kannon (The thousand armed Kannon and the spirit of the moon) and built temples and pagodas on the mountain.
Mao-son, Bishamon-ten, and Senju-kannon are the symbols of the universal soul, forming a Trinity known as "Sonten" or the "Supreme deity".
Sonten is the "Living Soul of the universe", the "Glorious Light", and the "Activity of the Soul".
Seishonagon, an eminent female essayist, wrote an essay (A.D. 1000) on Kurama. "The road to Kurama is a winding path; at a glance, the distance appears quite near, but it is quite far." During the Heian ( 794-1185 ), and Kamakura ( 1192-1333 ) periods in particular, literature and the Buddhist arts flourished on the mountain.
Now you can take a cable car to the temple, it takes only three minutes to get to the upper terminal and then only a ten minute walk to the main hall of the temple. There, the sky is clear and serene, and the air is pure. Mt. Kurama is wonderful throughout the year.
From Kurama Temple Guide, Kurama Honmachi,Sakyo-ku Kyoto, Japan. phone: Kyoto (075) 741-2003
The route from Kyoto to Karama ( Japan-guide.com )
Mount Kurama ( Horse Saddle Mountain )
The Temple on Mount Kurama
