A Brief Overview
of REIKI
The knowledge that an unseen energy flows through all living things and
is connected directly to the quality of health has been part of the wisdom
of many cultures since ancient times. The existence of this "life force
energy" has been verified by recent scientific experiments, and medical
doctors are considering the role it plays in the functioning of the immune
system and the healing process. Reiki is a technique for stress reduction
and relaxation that allows everyone to tap into an unlimited supply of "life
force energy" to improve health and enhance the quality of life. An amazingly
simple technique to learn, the ability to use Reiki is not taught in the
usual sense, but is transferred to the student by the Reiki Master. Its
use is not dependent on ones intellectual capacity or spiritual development
and, therefore, is available to everyone. It has been successfully taught
to thousands of people of all ages and backgrounds. A treatment feels like
a wonderful glowing radiance that flows through you and surrounds you. Reiki
treats the whole person including body, emotions, mind and spirit and creates
many beneficial effects including relaxation and feelings of peace, security,
and well-being. Many have reported miraculous results. Reiki is a simple,
natural, and safe method of spiritual healing and self-improvement that
everyone can use.
Rei - Spiritual
Wisdom
Mrs. Hawayo Takata, who
introduced Reiki to the West, said the word Rei means universal and this
is the definition most have accepted. However, Mrs. Takata also indicated
that this interpretation is a very general one. The kanji ideograms have
many levels of meaning. They vary from the mundane to the highly esoteric.
So while it is true that Rei can be interpreted as universal, meaning that
it is present everywhere, this level of interpretation really doesn't add
to our understanding of Reiki. Research into the esoteric meaning of the
Japanese kanji character for Rei has given a much deeper understanding of
this ideogram. The word Rei as it is used in Reiki is more accurately interpreted
to mean supernatural knowledge or spiritual consciousness. This is the wisdom
that comes from God or the Higher Self. This is the God-Consciousness which
is all knowing. It understands each person completely. It knows the cause
of all problems and difficulties and knows what to do to heal them.
Ki -- The Life Force
Ki means the same as Chi
in Chinese, Prana in Sanskrit and Ti or Ki in Hawaiian. It has also been
called, odic force, orgone, and bioplasma. It has been given many other
names by the various cultures that have been aware of it. Ki is the life
force. It is also called the vital life force or the universal life force.
This is the nonphysical energy that animates all living things. As long
as something is alive, it has life force circulating through it and surrounding
it; when it dies, the life force departs. If your life force is low, or
if there is a restriction in its flow, you will be more vulnerable to illness.
When it is high, and flowing freely, you are less likely to get sick. Life
force plays an important role in everything we do. It animates the body
and also is the primary energy of our emotions, thoughts and spiritual life.
The Chinese place great
importance on the life force or what they call Chi. They have studied it
for thousands of years and have discovered there are many different kinds
of Chi. The "Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine" which is over
4,000 years old, lists thirty-two different kinds of Chi or Ki. Ki is used
by martial artists in their physical training and mental development. It
is used in meditative breathing exercises called Pranayama, and by the shamans
of all cultures for divination, psychic awareness, manifestation and healing.
Ki is the nonphysical energy used by all healers. Ki is present all around
us and can be accumulated and guided by the mind.
Reiki is Spiritually Guided
Life Force Energy.
It is the God-consciousness
called Rei that guides the life force called Ki in the practice we call
Reiki. Therefore, Reiki can be defined as spiritually guided life force
energy. This is a meaningful interpretation of the word Reiki. It more closely
describes the experience most people have of it; Reiki guiding itself with
its own wisdom, and being unresponsive to the direction of the practitioner.