The Story of Reiki goes back to the end of the last century and was discovered by Dr Usui who was the head of a Christian boys school in Japan. He was approached one Sunday during his sermon and asked by some of the boys “do you believe in what the bible says?”
He replied, “I studied the bible very thoroughly while in the seminary here in Japan, and have faith in what it says.” The boy speaking then said, “We are just beginning our lives and would like for you to answer a question. Do you believe Jesus healed?” Dr Usui answered “Yes.”, “Then please give us a demonstration by showing us how he healed?” Dr Usui responded, “I am a good Christian and have faith but I can’t demonstrate this thing because I have not been taught how.”
The boys said, “We do not want to live in blind faith, we would like to see a demonstration.” Dr Usui said, “Someday I would like to prove this to you, I will find out how this was done and I will come back and show you.”
The following day Dr Usui resigned from his position with the school and headed for America to study the bible in a Christian country. He entered a University in Chicago and studied the bible but could not find the formula for healing. He then studied Hinduism, Buddhism and other religions of the world but was still no closer to the truth he sought. After 7 years in America, he returned to Japan and entered a Zen Monastery in Kyoto which had the largest Buddhist library in the world.
He had learned through the Buddhist teachings that Buddha himself healed the blind and sick but nowhere could he find the teachings of how it was done. It wasn’t until he studied the ancient language of Sanskrit and the Sutra’s written over 2500 years ago that started to uncover some of the symbols and phrases that might be a formula for healing. The next problem was to put the things together so that they would make a practical, usable form. For this, he decided to undertake a fast and meditation in the hope of receiving a vision that would explain everything to him. His parting words to the monastery were to come looking for his body if he was not back in 22 days.
He climbed Mt. Kuriyama, found a suitable place to sit within close distance to a stream and placed 21 pebbles in front of him to represent each day that passed. Here he meditated, read Sutras, chanted and prayed until the dawn of the 21stday. In the darkest of the night before dawn, he opened his eye’s thinking this was his last opportunity to receive his message that he had searched for all these years.
Then in the distance, he saw a great ball of light travelling towards him. This light struck him in the forehead and he fell backwards and lost consciousness. It was in this state that he saw millions of bubbles in colours of the rainbow dancing in front of him and within these bubbles, he saw the ancient Sanskrit symbols he had found in the sutras and with them came the understanding of their use.
When he came to it was daylight and he sat up thinking of all that had been given to him. He stood up and was amazed at how strong he felt for a man who had not eaten for 21 days he felt it was a miracle. Then picking up his hat and cane he began his walk down the mountain. As he walked the pathway home he stubbed his toe, blood flowed and it hurt. He grabbed the toe and held it in his hands, he felt a pulse of energy, the pain went away and when he removed his hand he saw dried blood but no problem with the toe. This was his second miracle.
On his way back to the monastery he stopped at a farm for in Japan food and shelter was offered to travellers who needed rest. Dr Usui was seated at the table waiting for his meal when the farmer’s granddaughter appeared with a scarf tied around her face and swollen cheeks. Dr Usui asked her what was wrong with her and she replied that she had a bad toothache but could not travel to the nearest Dentist because it was too far. Dr Usui felt sorry for the girl and asked if he could put his hands on her cheeks. She gladly agreed and as soon as he touched her the pain started to go away. Soon she was smiling again and said to her Grand Father “The monk makes magic.”
He continued his journey back to the monastery where upon his arrival he was told his good friend the abbot was sick in bed with arthritis. After eating he saw the abbot who asked about his meditation?” “Success” replied Dr Usui and he put his hands on the abbot and told him of his time away. The old abbot then said “The pain has gone away and my body feels good and full of energy!” Dr Usui replied, “this is Reiki!”
Dr Usui is referred to as the first Grand Master of Reiki, Chujiro Hayashi was the second. Mr Hayashi was a Naval Officer when he met Mikao Usui walking the streets of a village holding a lantern over his head in broad daylight. This was one of the ways Dr Usui would meet who would approach him and ask why he was carrying a lantern in the middle of the day. Dr Usui would then reply “Dear people, I am looking for people who are healthy, happy and have enlightened hearts. There are some with sorrows, depression and physical pain who need to light up their life. Come to the temple and hear my lecture.” Mr Hayashi was so impressed with the monk he accompanied Dr Usui on his walks all around Japan helping those in need. He practised Reiki with Dr Usui for many years and when the time came for Dr Usui’s transition he asked Chujiro Hayashi to take the lead.
The third Grand Master of Reiki was Mrs Hawayo Takata. She had come to Japan for an operation and while lying on the operating table heard a voice say to her 3 times “Operation not necessary.” After the third time, she sat up and told the doctor what she had been heard. The Doctor was amazed but then told Mrs Takata of the Reiki clinic and this was her introduction to Reiki and soon she was learning and healing with Reiki herself. Mrs Takata is the lady responsible for bringing Reiki out of Japan. She lived in Hawaii so this is where she first started teaching classes then on to America. Takata passed away on December 12th1980 and the Grand Master energy was passed on to her Grand Daughter Phyllis Lei Furumoto.
