Where Did Reiki Come From?
While there is some controversy over the nature of the exact re-discovery of Reiki, it is commonly believed that Reiki is quite ancient, and is widely believed to be Tibetan in origin (there are many internet resources discussing the controversial aspects of the history of Reiki, some of which will be listed in my "links" page). One point of commonality in most historical takes is that the man who re-discovered Reiki was a learned Japanese man named Mikao Usui , in the mid 1800s. This Reiki system of healing (Usui Shiki Ryoho) was then used to train 18 Masters in Japan, including a man named Chujiro Hayshi who continued mus Reiki work in Japan during the second world war. Also among those trained to Teacher level was a woman named Hawayo Takata.
How Reiki made it's way from Japan to the US is attributed to Mrs. Hawayo Takata, in the 1930s. After leaving Hawaii where she was raised she travelled to Japan to obtain medical assistance however, prior to her medical intervention she was told to seek out Reiki with Chujiro Hyashi. After working with him, Mrs Takata found herself freed from her ailments, she trained in Reiki with Chujiro Hyashi and eventually returend to the US. and brought Reiki to the West. It was in the last 10 years of her life that she initiated 22 reiki masters. Much controversy surrounds the methods and decisions made by Mrs. Takata, but the overall evidence is clear that she is responsible for the spread of Reiki to North America, and for that we should be grateful.
The concept of Reiki continued to spread through Mrs. Takata's teachings, and today, Reiki is growing as an accepted form of complementary therapy. It is being adopted by many wards in well-known hospitals, and is available in health centres throughout the world. There are many variations of the Reiki system of natural healing given the personality and natural teaching tendencies of those who were initiated by Dr. Usui and his Master Reiki disciples, and surely it will continue to evolve. Reiki is focussed on the need for love and understanding.
How Reiki made it's way from Japan to the US is attributed to Mrs. Hawayo Takata, in the 1930s. After leaving Hawaii where she was raised she travelled to Japan to obtain medical assistance however, prior to her medical intervention she was told to seek out Reiki with Chujiro Hyashi. After working with him, Mrs Takata found herself freed from her ailments, she trained in Reiki with Chujiro Hyashi and eventually returend to the US. and brought Reiki to the West. It was in the last 10 years of her life that she initiated 22 reiki masters. Much controversy surrounds the methods and decisions made by Mrs. Takata, but the overall evidence is clear that she is responsible for the spread of Reiki to North America, and for that we should be grateful.
The concept of Reiki continued to spread through Mrs. Takata's teachings, and today, Reiki is growing as an accepted form of complementary therapy. It is being adopted by many wards in well-known hospitals, and is available in health centres throughout the world. There are many variations of the Reiki system of natural healing given the personality and natural teaching tendencies of those who were initiated by Dr. Usui and his Master Reiki disciples, and surely it will continue to evolve. Reiki is focussed on the need for love and understanding.