Adkins Alternative Care - One History of Reiki
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According to Mrs. Hawayo Takata Reiki was a
strictly oral tradition. With this concept in mind
there are as many “histories” as there are
traditions. Here is one of the versions she
passed along:
A scholar and Japanese Zen Buddhist named
Mikao Usui is believed to have re-discovered
Reiki in 1922. It is believed that Reiki is
originally an ancient form of healing found in
Sanskrit texts but was lost to the sands of
time.
Usui Sensei re-discovered this ancient art
after a twenty one day fast on Mount Kurama.
On the final day of his fast as he believed he
was dying of hunger and thirst Usui Sensei
received an epiphany during which he received
the sacred symbols, their use and meanings.
When he returned with this knowledge he
began to develop the healing therapy we now
associate with Reiki.
strictly oral tradition. With this concept in mind
there are as many “histories” as there are
traditions. Here is one of the versions she
passed along:
A scholar and Japanese Zen Buddhist named
Mikao Usui is believed to have re-discovered
Reiki in 1922. It is believed that Reiki is
originally an ancient form of healing found in
Sanskrit texts but was lost to the sands of
time.
Usui Sensei re-discovered this ancient art
after a twenty one day fast on Mount Kurama.
On the final day of his fast as he believed he
was dying of hunger and thirst Usui Sensei
received an epiphany during which he received
the sacred symbols, their use and meanings.
When he returned with this knowledge he
began to develop the healing therapy we now
associate with Reiki.
Usui Sensei drew from a number of Asian
healing methods, such as that found in Tibetan
Buddhist texts. Usui Sensei formed a Reiki
organization and trained others in his technique.
One of his students was Dr. Chujiro Hayashi. Dr.
Hayashi’s contributions to Reiki were the creation
of the three tier system of initiations and a variety
of hand positions. In 1936 , an American woman
named Hawayo Takata was suffering from gall
stones, before her surgery she was given a
message from her late husband that she may
find healing without surgery. Convinced that the
message was genuine she searched out Reiki.
Mrs. Takata received therapy in Dr. Hayashi’s
Tokyo clinic. After her successful treatment she
requested to learn Reiki and was originally
denied. Later she was later permitted to train in
Reiki in order to prevent the loss of this great art
again. The war was coming and it was believed
that Mrs. Takata was granted such great honor as
being responsible for preserving the technique
but also to bring it to the western world. As such,
Mrs. Takata became a Reiki master and is
credited with introducing Reiki to North America.
Today there are a variety of Reiki types and
styles. These have descended and evolved from
this simple yet powerful beginning.
PLEASE NOTE: This history while colorful and
moving was in fact dis-proven in 1999 when the
Memorial to Usui Sensei was discovered along
with his manuals and many notes.
healing methods, such as that found in Tibetan
Buddhist texts. Usui Sensei formed a Reiki
organization and trained others in his technique.
One of his students was Dr. Chujiro Hayashi. Dr.
Hayashi’s contributions to Reiki were the creation
of the three tier system of initiations and a variety
of hand positions. In 1936 , an American woman
named Hawayo Takata was suffering from gall
stones, before her surgery she was given a
message from her late husband that she may
find healing without surgery. Convinced that the
message was genuine she searched out Reiki.
Mrs. Takata received therapy in Dr. Hayashi’s
Tokyo clinic. After her successful treatment she
requested to learn Reiki and was originally
denied. Later she was later permitted to train in
Reiki in order to prevent the loss of this great art
again. The war was coming and it was believed
that Mrs. Takata was granted such great honor as
being responsible for preserving the technique
but also to bring it to the western world. As such,
Mrs. Takata became a Reiki master and is
credited with introducing Reiki to North America.
Today there are a variety of Reiki types and
styles. These have descended and evolved from
this simple yet powerful beginning.
PLEASE NOTE: This history while colorful and
moving was in fact dis-proven in 1999 when the
Memorial to Usui Sensei was discovered along
with his manuals and many notes.
