The Japanese like many ancient cultures used word of mouth to pass their history and
practices down from generation to generation. Unfortunately this led to a great deal of
knowledge and wisdom being watered down and lost. Many people involved with Reiki
believe that the techniques we use today for healing were first used in India by Buddha and
later by Jesus.
Others look back even further to the civilisations of Mu and Atlantis for the birth and
development of Reiki. Of course without written proof we can only speculate how humanity
learnt to harness and develop the universal life force. What we can be certain of and confirm is that it was rediscovered at the end of the
nineteenth century by Dr Mikao Usui.
Until comparatively recently apart from the tomb of Dr Mikao Usui in Tokyo, there has been
very little material evidence of his life and work. Most written accounts on the history of
Reiki declare that Dr Usui was a Christian monk who lectured at Doshisha University in
Kyoto. One day a student asked Dr Usui if he believed the teachings of the bible to be true.
Could Jesus walk on water and heal people by touch. Audaciously he questioned if Dr Usui
himself could heal the sick like Jesus.
Usui had to admit that this was beyond his capabilities. Embarrassed at being asked such
questions and unable to demonstrate an answer, the story goes on to say that Doctor Usui
immediately resigned his post and began a personal quest to discover how he could heal in
the way that Jesus had. The legend becomes even more doubtful when it recounts how Dr
Usui decided to begin his search for the secrets of healing like Jesus, in America – namely
the University of Chicago.
Reiki Master William Rand has been able to disprove the legend of Dr Usui’s search for
enlightenment in America. Chicago University has no record of Dr Usui ever attending as a
student. Furthermore there is no record of Dr Usui ever attending or lecturing at the Doshisha University. This work by William Rand confirms what many people believe. The
history of Dr Usui’s life had been changed and coloured to suit western society. Logically
there are far too many holes in the legend. 

                                                                                The Life of Dr Mikao Usui   

Mikao Usui was born into a family that had been practising Zen Buddhism for eleven
generations. As a youth Usui developed a fascination for all things Western. However, he
never travelled outside Japan. After leaving school he went on to study allopathic medicine
with several western allopathic physicians who had graduated from Yale and Harvard
University.
When a cholera epidemic spread through Tokyo, Usui was struck down with the disease.
During his hospitalisation as he was close to death he had a spiritual experience. This
inspired Usui to study the ancient teachings of his ancestors. He joined a Zen monastery
and began reading the ancient Sanskrit and Sutras.
After many years of study Usui found references to an ancient form of healing. Further
study revealed methods, formulas and symbols that detailed exactly how to practice and
master this art of hands on healing. However, although he had the technical knowledge to
practise healing, he lacked the wisdom to turn the teachings into reality. He needed the key
to turn on and activate the power. Usui decided to seek the final piece of the jigsaw through
meditation.
Taking leave from the monastery, Usui set off for the holy mountain of Kurama. When he
reached the top he picked up twenty-one pebbles and placed them in front of himself. He
sat down and began his meditation. Each day he threw away one pebble. For twenty-one
days he prayed, meditated, sang and read the Sutras.
On the last day as he prayed he ask God to show him the light. Suddenly, a bright light
appeared in the sky and came rapidly towards him, hitting him on his forehead, at the third
eye chakra. Usui was knocked unconscious, and whilst in this altered state he saw a vision
of the same symbols he had earlier found in the Sutras.
This vision was the confirmation Dr. Usui needed. He now knew that he had found the keys
to the ancient form of healing used by Buddha and Jesus. When Usui regained full
consciousness, he proceeded to return down the mountain. On his descent, he stubbed
and cut his toe, he instinctively placed his hand on the toe and the bleeding and pain
stopped.
On arrival at a nearby village he stopped to eat and rest. He was able despite having fasted
for 21 days; eat a healthy meal without any stomach pain. The girl who served Usui the
meal was in great pain suffering from a toothache. Usui asked if he could place his hands
on her swollen face, she agreed, and he was able to ease the swelling and the pain.
Rested, Usui returned to the monastery. On Arrival he found his friend, the Abbot in bed
suffering with severe arthritis. Once again Usui was able to alleviate the pain and suffering.
Usui called this gift from God – Reiki, the Japanese word for universal life force.
These experiences became known as the four miracles. Having demonstrated his
knowledge and new ability to heal the Abbott advised Usui to take this special gift into the slums of Kyoto to heal the beggars. He was reminded that it is not enough to heal the body;
it is of equal importance to heal the spirit and mind also. This lesson was brought home to
him very abruptly seven years later. Having spent the time giving Reiki to beggars in the
slums of Kyoto to get them working, he found them returning to him with the excuse that it
was easier to beg.
Usui had forgotten a basic doctrine. Mortified he retreated to meditate once again. This time
he was enlightened with the five principles of Reiki. The rest of Usui’s life was spent
healing, teaching and developing the Usui Shiki Rhoyo method of healing. Usui had
nineteen major students who were all either western allopathic or traditional Japanese in
their practice. He knew he would have to develop a method that could be understood and
accepted by any religion or culture. Reiki was fashioned by Usui to have no dogma or
religious beliefs attached to it. This made Reiki universal.
Tenno, the Emperor of Japan honoured Usui’s work by awarding him a doctorate. By the
time of his death in 1930, Dr Mikoa Usui had initiated all nineteen of his students to the
level of Reiki Master/Teacher. Dr Chujiro Hayashi was chosen as the next Grand Master. It
is important to note that Dr Usui taught all three degrees together. Dr Usui was cremated
and his ashes placed in a Zen Monastery in Tokyo.

vinodhan,