History and roots of Reiki (a brief overview): Dr. Mikao Usui

Dr. Usui was born on August 15, 1865 in Yago, Japan and died in Fukuyama, Japan on March 9, 1926. He has been described as intelligent, shy, spiritual and concerned with humanity. He was a lifelong Buddhist and a successful businessman. Traditional Reiki history shares with us that sometime between 1914 and 1920 Dr. Usui experienced a profound enlightenment while meditating during a 21-day fasting retreat on Mount Kurama in Japan. He received the healing ability he called Reiki, along with the knowledge and ability to impart that to others.

Since the 1940's, Reiki's rich oral history first intrigued and mystified us. By following natural curiosity with research, the story has been transformed into a more factual written format. With the recent discovery of Dr. Usui's Memorial and the Reiki Ryoho Hikkei (healing method handbook) in Japan, many outstanding questions have been answered based on fact and supported by original documentation.
The origination of the Reiki healing ability still seems to be a mystery. However, the fact that Dr. Usui received the ability while at an ancient Buddhist shrine gives substance to the energetic healing nature of Reiki.

It is well documented that Dr. Usui opened a Reiki practice in Harajuku, Tokyo in 1921 and was the founder of the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai (Usui Reiki Healing Society). According to his Memorial, Dr. Usui trained more than 2000 students. Of them, sixteen were initiated as Reiki Master/Teachers, including Mr. Chujiro Hayashi. It is through this gentleman that the "Western" line of Reiki has progressed. Mr. Hayashi separated from Dr. Usui to start his own practice and began teaching students. It is here that Mrs. Hawayo Takata, of Hawaii, discovered Reiki at Mr. Hayashi's Clinic. After being healed of a serious illness, she became a student of Mr. Hayashi and achieved her Shinpiden (Master/Teacher) level in 1938 - one of 13 Reiki Master/Teachers trained by Mr. Hayashi.

Mrs. Takata studied with Mr. Hayashi in Japan, then returned to Hawaii to establish Reiki Healing Clinics and herself as a Reiki Master/Teacher. She taught in the Islands and also on the Mainland. During WWII she kept the Reiki community alive and growing, whereas it was difficult for those living in Japan to do. It has recently come to light that she may have taken liberties with the oral history and treatment hand positions, but nonetheless, her tenacity kept Reiki moving in a forward direction. She initiated 22 Reiki Master/Teachers from 1970 to her passing in 1980. It is said that after meeting in 1982, a group of Masters gathered the following year in British Columbia, Canada to create The Reiki Alliance and acknowledge Takata¹s granddaughter, Phyllis Lei Furumoto, as her successor. Ms. Furumoto considers herself to this day to be a Grand Master, the worldwide leader of Reiki and founder of the Reiki Alliance.

The Japanese Reiki line is very active today still under the auspices of the Usui Reiki Rhoyo Gakkai, now under the leadership of Mr. Kondo. There are many other independent Reiki lines apart from the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai in Japan, similar to the many lines that have evolved in the United States and Europe. This is a natural outgrowth of individual teaching techniques and also individual learning environments based on cultural background.

Both teaching methods – Western and Eastern - have the same outcome: the student receives the ability to perform Reiki energy therapy. In Japan, both teaching methods are now available and very effective. Worldwide, the Western methodology is most evident but both techniques can be integrated very well and are a gift to humanity.

Fonts of information: “Reiki Fire” by Frank Arjava Petter, Motilal Banarsidass Publishers,  “Reiki - The Legacy of Dr. Usui” by Frank Arjava Petter, Lotus Light Shangri-La, "The Spirit of Reiki - The Complete Handbook of the Reiki System" by W. Lübeck, F. A. Petter, W. L. Rand - Lotus Light Publications, The Reiki Alliance Website.