Reiki Principles & Reiki History Not Always Agreed Upon

[Ora West]

There are many different English versions of the Reiki principles,
just as there are different versions of Reiki history. Some versions
of the principles are more eloquently written than others, but the
basic concepts are, for the most part, the same.
Reiki history begins in Japan in the early 1920s, when a man named
Mikao Usui (the name is reversed in Japanese) opened a school or dojo,
a Japanese word that can refer to any training facility, not just one
for martial arts training. The term literally means "place of the
Way".
Some versions of Reiki history say that the man's name was Usui
Sensei, but sensei is actually a Japanese title of respect, used to
refer to a teacher, doctor or other professional. Misunderstandings of
the translation of "sensei" may be why some refer to him as Dr. Usui.
The origin of the Reiki principles is somewhat unclear. Usui may have
been inspired by the writings or poetry of the Meiji Emperor, who
reigned during most of his life. In the moral principles outlined in
the "Imperial Rescript on Education", subjects are instructed to "be
good and kind to all".
He may have been inspired by a book written in 1914 by Dr. Bizan
Suzuki, in which this phrase is written; "Just for today, do not get
angry, do not feel fear, be honest, work hard, and be kind to others."
According to one account, attributed to a woman (Tenon-in) who said
that she worked in the dojo from 1920 until 1926, the inspiration for
the Reiki principles came to Usui on a day in 1921 after he visited
Mt. Hiei, the location of a Buddhist temple lying to the northeast of
Kyoto city. Other sources say that his moment of inspiration came
during a fast on Mount Kurama, the location of a Shinto temple lying
to the northwest of Kyoto.
One version of Reiki history has Usui teaching Christian theology at
Doshisha University in Kyoto. So, even the religion of the man is a
matter of some debate. The discrepancies probably relate to the
various religions of those who came to practice and teach Reiki
following Usui's death.
Tenon-in said that the original scroll containing the Reiki principles
still hangs on the wall of a private shrine kept secret from the
public. Secrets are part of the reason that Reiki history is so
unclear. According to one author, the first line of the scroll
containing the Reiki principles is a heading that reads, "The secret
method of inviting blessings." Even from the early days, many Reiki
masters took this to mean that the method of healing with the hands
taught by Usui was to be kept "secret".
It really makes no difference which version of Reiki history a person
chooses to believe. The energy has been here since the beginning of
time, Usui simply gave the energy a name; Reiki.
It makes no difference which version of the Reiki principles that a
person chooses to follow. One that is eloquently written is no more
effective than the one which we prefer "Today, don't get angry, don't
worry, be grateful, work hard and be kind to others." To learn more,
please visit http://understanding-reiki.com.