Reiki Faith the \"Religion\" Known

Reiki Faith

The "religion" known as Reiki has existed for thousands of years under many different names. Based on principles of healing energy, Reiki is a process which allows individuals to help themselves through their own energy forces. While Reiki is not associated with any ideology, there are certain principles and ideas which help to define the method as a whole.

This paper will present a brief history of Reiki, and will outline its founding member. Further, this paper will discuss the five main principles of Reiki, and will discuss how each principle relates to the force of healing energy. Finally, this paper will show how Reiki can be used in conjunction with other religions or healing methods, and why Reiki's lack of an association with an ideology enables the method to thrive.

The word "Reiki" originated in Japan, and is a combination of two words, or "kankis" in Japanese. When translated, the word "Rei" represents the mind, soul, and the invisible spirit. The "Rei" is the divinity and the mystery of the healing process. The other portion of the phrase, "ki," represents the energy, heart, talent, feeling, and nature of the process (Melton, 77). Combined, the word Reiki can be thought to mean "the energy of life."

The concept of life force energy is certainly not a unique idea. In Japan and China, this force is known as Chi (or Ki). In India, the force becomes Prana, whereas in Hawaii, it is termed Mana. In Hebrew faiths, the life force is called Ruah, and in Latin, it is known as Spiritus. The Greeks named the force Pneuma. In all cases, the use of this energy played or plays an important part in the spirituality of those cultures (Weiss, "Reiki/Definition").

Examples of the early use of this type of life force can be seen in Tibetan Buddhism, with the practice of the "medicine Buddha." The laying of hands technique, and the ability to teach others the technique, is much the same as it is in the Reiki practice. Additionally, acupuncture needles used in China are thought to heal the body and spirit by influencing the life force (Sui, 85).

The current understanding of the Reiki method was developed by a Japanese Buddhist Monk, Dr. Mikao Usui. After doubting his own faith in Christianity, Usui came to the United States in search of a foundation for his faith. When his journey did not provide the foundation he was seeking, he began to investigate other religions. After his own epiphany about the power of life energy, he went on to create schools for the method, aimed at assisting others in learning to help themselves through their own life energy (Weiss, "Reiki/History").

Reiki is a ritualized laying on of hands, and can be thought of as the ability to heal through the universal life force. Since the healer is merely acting as a channel for this life force, the ability to heal is not based on skill or knowledge, but on training. Reiki healers are passed through a chain of levels, until they reach the level of a Reiki Master. The Master has the ability to initiate other healers. It is only by passing through the predefined stages of initiation that a person can become a Reiki Master (Lewis, 462).

There are generally three defined levels of attunement, those of the first, second and third levels. During each attunement, a series of energies is sealed into the apprentice's energy field by a Reiki Master. These energies are represented by symbols which open channels through which the universal energy can flow. Each level also involves a communication route which assists the healer in maximizing the flow of energy (Martin, 22).

Achieving the first level of Reiki allows the healer to heal aspects of the physical or etheric modality. The energy flows through the healer into whatever he or she touches. First level healers can assist in removing negative energy, reducing stress, and overall healing of the body. Second degree healers are able to heal the mental and emotional levels of one's being. Second level Reiki healers are also taught to use power symbols, and other symbols which assist in the healing process, and allow for the removal of emotional blocks. Additionally, these symbols can be used to send Reiki energy to persons and times not in the present, both in the geographical sense and in the sense of the time-space continuum. This allows for healing of past events. The third Reiki degree is that of a very spiritual nature, and allows thorough healing for the mind, body and spirit (Lewis, 463-465).

Since Reiki is a universal method, the practice is open to all religions, including Christians and Buddhists. It is impervious to racism or sexism or religious thought. Since the healing provided by a Reiki Master is an "impersonal process giving direct, unmediated access to the divine," it is available to anyone willing to learn the method (Melton, 182). The simplest treatment involves the placement of one of the healer's hands on the head of the client, while the other is placed on the upper back. The goal is to recognize the universe as a vibrant energy field, where all parts contain a vibrating atomic energy. The healer, then, simply channels the energy from the life force of the universe, and uses it to restore the balance of atomic energy to the client (Melton, 185).

The philosophy behind Reiki is based on five simple principles. While these principles have altered slightly over time, the basis for them has remained unchanged. The first principle of Reiki involves counting one's blessings. The concept of this principle is that people should take time each day to focus on what they have in their life, and acknowledge those blessings. In doing so, the Reiki principle states that one can become a magnet for further blessings, since the energy of life will be placed in the manifestation of things already possessed, rather than into the obtainment of things not possessed. The key to this principle is to allow the abundance of the universe to reorganize your thoughts to appreciate friends, family, and health, so that the level of vibration of these positive thoughts increases, acting as a magnet for future blessings (Martin, 32).

The second principle of Reiki involves a separation from worry. By worrying, one's energy vibrations indicate they do not truly hold belief in something they thought they did. This can be a good thing, in that individuals can purge a belief they no longer have faith in. However, if the worry consumes the individual, they become separated from the whole of the universal energy (Martin, 33). if, instead, one focuses on the worry and attempts to bring the worry into conscious awareness, allowing the awareness to assist them in the purging of false belief, then their vibrations will become more balanced (Martin, 34).

The third principle of Reiki is to avoid anger. According to the Reiki belief, anger is simply a byproduct of the belief system, in that the circumstances causing anger tend to be reflections of things one does not like about his or her self. As such, anger can create powerful vibrations of the life force. When one is angry, he or she is simply reacting to something within their environment that challenges their beliefs about themselves (Martin, 36). Rather than becoming angry, the Reiki belief states that one should be thankful for the opportunity to change the belief or reality within ones self. By doing so, one is able to avoid the negative vibrations of anger (Martin, 38).

The fourth principle of Reiki is honesty. Be being honest with ones self, one is able to truly see the world as it is, without prejudice. Additionally, honesty allows one to interact with the world in as many ways as possible, which further merges their life force with the universal life force. By working honestly in all aspects of life, one is able to fully appreciate the value of the universe (Martin, 40).

Finally, the fifth principle of Reiki is kindness to all creatures. By feeling kindness and love towards all living creatures, one is able to hold a holistic viewpoint of the universe. All creatures are made from the same components and the same energies, but they all contain different vibrations (Martin, 42). These combined vibrations hold the key to understanding the interconnectedness of the universe, and it is this concept which allows one to change their beliefs and realities. According to the Reiki faith, kindness towards all things can create such positive vibrations in the life force that almost all things will respond. Thus, by showing kindness, one can both influence the vibrations around themselves, and the vibrations of others (Martin, 44).