Most religions have their own techniques of helping the descent of this power into their followers. The master helped the disciples in this regard. The transference of the power from the master to his disciple depended on the efficacy of the master and spiritual development of the disciple.

The Usui Master symbol is visualized as a powerful light beam that emanated from Buddha’s third eye, and directed at the disciples. The Usui Master symbol when used with Reiki forms a stronger bond or link between the physical body and the higher self. This leads to the inlet of powerful energies inundated with divine wisdom into the physical being. Manifestation of the healing energies is quicker in this case, and the healing energy entrenches itself firmly.

The Usui Master symbol enhances the effects of Reiki manifold, including that of the various Reiki symbols used during a healing session. The power of the symbol conveys the feeling and experience of enhanced fullness, wellbeing, and peace. It gives a deep sense of satisfaction and harmony as one gets to feel the flow of the symbol laden energy in and around oneself.

For a Reiki practitioner, the Usui Master symbol is god send. The use of the symbol during a healing session can add to the efficacy of the healing. It can be used for various empowerments. Persons embarking on an important mission or task can empower it with the Usui Master symbol for better results.
 

Dr. Usui termed his experience at Kuramayama in his native language as “Dai-ko-myo”, which literally translates in Japanese to “big brilliant light”. The literary manner in which Dai-ko-myo is written in Japanese came to represent the symbol depicting descent of divine light to the human energy body.

He then devised a technique to impart the process of attunement to others. The technique is no different from the Hindu and Buddhist tantrik  tradition of transmitting energy, except that some mantras or symbology was used. Apart from Dai-ko-myo, he also devised other important symbols, all in Japanese. These symbols were Sei-hei-ki, and Hon-sha-ze-sho-nen. Another symbol, Choku-rei, not corresponding to the Japanese language too was devised. These four symbols came to depict the power of the brilliant white light.

Dai-ko-myo
For better understanding, the symbol is split horizontally into five parts. The top portion of the symbol represents “the one”. The second part of the symbol looks like an inverted “Y”, which represents the human being with two legs. The third part of the symbol formed by a vertical line flanked on either side by two inward slanting lines and supported by a horizontal line represents the fire element. The fourth part depicts a line slanting to the left with an adjacent curved line bent outwards to the right, more like the English letter ”L”. The part with a strong and wide base represents support. The fifth and final part represents the sun and moon.

Sei-hei-ki
Sei-hei-ki literally means the real peaceful spirit. Sei means real, Kei means peaceful, and Ki is the spirit, the vital life force in all living beings. It represents the absolute. The world is said to be a creation of the divine mind created merely as a sport. Some say, creation has no meaning except an intention to fill the huge void in the universe. The whole process is represented by the Japanese word “na”. So, sei-hei-ki came to represent the creation of the universe. Since sei-hei-ki is a creation of the mind, it is said to heal the maladies of the mind. Once the mind is healed, it turns the human being into a real peaceful spirit.

Choku Rei
Another important Reiki symbol is the symbol of Choku Rei, which stands for ‘direct spirit’. The word Choku represents direct and Rei represents spirit. Choku Rei, as a symbol, depicts a short horizontal bar connected by a long vertical line culminating into a three and a half coils around the vertical line. It looks like a coiled serpent with its hood raised. It is so similar in description to the “kundalini” – the power lying dormant in all human beings depicted by a coiled snake having three-and-a-half-coils. So, choku rei is the innate energy that needs to be awakened to experience divine oneness.

Choku Rei dispels darkness while bringing light to the human spirit. The brilliant white light that Reiki spreads in the human energy body helps get rid of the dark energies.

Hon-sha-ze-sho-nen
Hon means: real, root; Sha means: to be; Sho means: real created; and Nen means: feelings, intentions. So, together hon-sha-ze-sho-nen means a “real person with true intentions”. The use of this symbol expresses and strengthens the true intentions of the healer to heal. In other words he expresses his true intention to accept divine will in healing. The hon-sha-ze-sho-nen symbol is not only to be invoked at the beginning of a distant healing but also all kinds of healings.

Thus, Reiki does not require any special skill sets, and is free of a person’s individual personality. The beauty of Reiki is that the practitioner of this healing form is a mere medium between the healee and God’s love.
Reiki is a very humbling experience. It can be used for self-treatment as well. The process of transmitting Reiki is given in one of the coming chapters.

How Reiki Works
Ki is the vital life force in all of us. So long as Ki flows in the energy body, the physical body is alive. The moment the vital life force leaves the body, the physical body becomes lifeless. Ki enters the body through the Chakras placed on the energy body. The energy body is an energy field that engulfs the physical body and interpenetrates it. Chakras are connected to the organs and tissues of through a network of energy channels known as meridians or “naadis”. Vital energies flow into the body from the chakras and are directed to the organs and tissues through the meridians.

For organs to function properly, it is imperative for these energies to flow freely in the meridians or energy channels. The body and its various parts remain healthy so long as they receive the full quota of energies. Ki is the nourisher that keeps the organs and cells in healthy shape. Any disruption in the flow of Ki makes the organs inefficient; and this is the initial stage of illness.

It is, thus, important to keep the Ki flowing properly. Physical exercise keeps the chakras activated. When chakras are in active state they pump in more energies and pump out all the used up energies. Deactivated chakras fail to pump out all the used up energies, and this leads to blockages in the energy channels.
Blockages, in turn, lead to insufficient supply of fresh energies to the organs. This situation signals the beginning of illness in the body.

The flow of Ki also depends on our thoughts. These energies are very sensitive to the thought process. Positive thoughts enhance the flow of energies, while negative thoughts diminish the flow. The reason why we feel good when happy is that there is more energy available to us. On the contrary, when we think negatively, the flow of energy diminishes, depriving us of Ki.  Lack of energy makes us feel gloomy and sad. When we continuously start thinking negatively, we create blockages all over the energy channels and cause harm to our health. That is the reason, we are told to be positive. Positive thinking leads to generation of positive energy, which is so important for our mental and physical health.

What organs become ill depends on where these blockages are located. Say, if blockages are located in energy channels supplying energy to the liver, the liver will start malfunctioning owing to diminished supply of energy.

Reiki, being an intelligent energy, seeks out the blockages in the body and starts working on them. It removes the blockages. Reiki also works on a person’s negative thoughts. It is imperative to remove the very foundation of negative thoughts. Thus, Reiki works on the subconscious mind as it focuses on removing the root cause of negative energy generation. Reiki vibrates at a very fine frequency. Negative energies that come in contact with Reiki experience a change in their frequency, as they start turning into higher frequency and superior energies. This process changes the property of negative energies to positive. As blockages are removed, the flow of fresh energies is enhanced leading to the recovery of ill organs and tissues.

Reiki is Safe Energy
Reiki is an absolutely safe energy since it is guided by God-consciousness. You could never cause any harm to its recipients. It knows how much a person requires, and thus, there is no question of an overdose. So, giving Reiki to a person is absolutely safe whether or not it is required to be given. It will only do good to the recipient.

As the healer does not use his or her will, or direct energy to do certain things, or instruct how to do it, there is no fear of taking the other’s karma on him or her. The very thought of being a mere medium to the entire process of healing keeps the ego under check, and absence of ego allows Reiki to flow unhindered. An egoistic healer causes blockages to the passage of energy. Bigger the ego, greater the blockages. Thus, a Reiki practitioner should understand that it is not he or she who is performing the healing, but is only enacting the role of a medium. The greater the acceptance of the role as a medium in humility, greater will be the flow of Reiki, and better the healing results.

Since a Reiki practitioner is only performing the role of a medium, personal energy is not involved. Thus, there is no scope of depleting one’s energy. Moreover, Reiki being intelligent knows what and how much the medium needs in terms of energies. So, while you are giving Reiki, you are taken care of by Reiki.

That way, Reiki is different from other healing energies. Reiki vibrates at a certain frequency that may not be similar to some other healing energy. If Reiki vibrates at a particular frequency, why is it that we do not get the same results when two different Reiki healers are in action? Possibly, when Reiki passes through a human medium, it loses its purity mingling with the aura of the medium. Depending on the purity of the healer’s energy, Reiki is subject to various levels of dilutions, which could explain varying results at the hands of different Reiki healers.

Healers do use energy for healing, but not all use Reiki. The healing energy Reiki can only be used by those who have been attuned to receive the energy. The life energy Reiki is a “guided” energy that receives guidance from a higher being or power. Reiki thus, can only be used by those who have been attuned as a channel to receive the energy by a Reiki Master. It is necessary to approach a Reiki Master to receive attunement before a person can use Reiki for healing purposes.

Reiki Attunement
Reiki does not involve the technicalities that some energy healing systems employ. The ability to use Reiki is proffered in a simple attunement ceremony that the Reiki Master conducts. During the attunement process, the Reiki life energy makes certain necessary changes in the aura and chakras of the recipient, which facilitates the channeling of Reiki. This process is a prerequisite to connecting the subject to the Reiki source. The entire process is held under the guidance of God-consciousness (Rei). 

The Reiki attunement is a special spiritual experience for most recipients. Adjustments in the energy body are made according to individual needs. The attunement process is assisted, witnessed, and blessed by various higher beings. This results in a wave of spiritual experiences. Some may report having sighted bright light, or different colored lights. For some it is an emotional moment that results in a bout of uncontrolled weeping. Reports of opening of the third-eye are also not uncommon after the attunement process.

The Reiki attunement is a one-time process. Those who have undergone the process are linked to the Reiki source. They can re-link to the Reiki source at will, even after a long gap. The contact can be renewed at any time. However, different attunements are required for each level. These attunements allow subtler and stronger energies to flow through the Reiki channel. These energies are more refined than those achieved at the basic level. By the time the initiate reaches the Master and Grand Master levels, the Reiki energies are at their most effective. The attainment of these levels is characterized by marked improvement in their level of consciousness, mental and physical health, and refinement in their personal Ki. Psychic energies also undergo greater sensitivity.

Benefits of Attunement
Although it may not be experienced by the initiate, the attunement process begins a cleansing process within the energy body. The energy structure too starts undergoing rehabilitation. The ill-effects on the energy body due to gross misuse of the body and emotions start wearing off as a result of the attunement. The changes at the physical level may be marked by the expulsion of toxins in the body. All toxins that have accumulated over the years are removed and the body moves in the direction of attaining purity.

It is not necessary that the above reactions may start taking place immediately upon receiving attunement, but these do take place when the right time arrives. The body starts making certain adjustments to these changes. When these occur, some discomforts might be experienced in rare cases. Hence, it is important to understand what effects attunement may have on the physical body. These could also be accompanied by changes at the emotional level. Unwanted and negative emotions are removed and replaced by positive and spiritually enhancing emotions.

The mind and body may call for more rest during the period of changes. This may be viewed as lethargy. There could be a strong urge to seek solitude and the mind may want to contemplate on various personal issues. These subtle changes are positive in nature and help the mind prepare itself for future changes.

The word Reiki comprises of two words – Rei and Ki. The word Rei has been accepted by all to mean ‘universal’ because it is found everywhere; in all parts of the universe. Experts feel that deep down Rei as in Reiki means universal or higher knowledge that represents spiritual consciousness. Believed to originate from God or God-consciousness, Reiki knows it all, as it understands each being and its problems, and has the key to all healing solutions.

Ki is the vital energy in all beings. It is the vital life-force that sustains life. Ki was known to many ancient cultures. It was known to the Chinese as Chi, the Indians as Prana, and the Hebrew as ruah. Since people belonging to those cultures were well endowed with spiritual knowledge, they not only knew about the existence of Ki, but were also well versed with the techniques to heal mental and physical maladies. Ki is what keeps life going; the moment it leaves, the physical body becomes lifeless. Healthy people have a strong Ki factor. People who have low levels of Ki are prone to ailments either mental or physical or both. Higher levels of Ki make people lively, healthy and happy. 

The Indians in ancient times had deep knowledge of prana (Ki) and had developed certain breathing exercises called pranayama to strengthen the life force. Regular practitioners of pranayama have a healthy physical body, which is apparent from the glow on their face. Pranayama, like yoga, is catching on globally today. Martial artists too use Ki to help build their physical endurance, and that sudden burst of energy comes from a healthy reservoir of Ki. Ki is better known to the western world as ‘aura’ - a body of energy that surrounds the physical body and inter-penetrates it. Its presence can be scientifically explained as an electromagnetic field around the physical body. Science has coined the term ‘bioplasma’ to represent this electromagnetic field. Dr. Semyon Davidovich Kirlian, a Russian scientist, was the first to capture the aura in a photographic device.  The beautiful colors of the aura can be seen using the Kirlian photography device. Thanks to Dr. Kirlian, the presence of the aura has been accepted by the scientific community.

On the 21st day, a physically weak Dr. Usui stood up facing the east, and before discarding the last stone, he asked the Source the way to use the knowledge that he had so far acquired. The moment he discarded the 21st and last stone, a brilliant light shone in front of Dr. Usui. It was a scary experience, which made him feel like running away. But the gritty Dr. Usui chose to face the light, ready to confront death, if it came to that. The light that was vibrating struck his third eye chakra located at the space between the two eyes. Some say it struck in the center of the forehead. Dr. Usui was gifted with the ability to see rainbow colors and bubbles of gold, violet and blue. Thus, began the attunement process where he was given to understand each symbol and their significance in healing.

After the attunement was over, Dr. Usui felt a sudden surge of energy and he rushed down the mountain to meet the abbot and share the divine experience. In the excitement he did not notice a stone on the way and stubbed his toe against it. Dr. Usui held the hurt toe in his hand and soon noticed that the pain had gone and the bleeding stopped. This was his first brush with the miraculous healing powers of Reiki. While continuing his journey, Dr. Usui felt hungry. He stopped by a poor man’s house and asked for food. The man’s daughter was wearing a bandage around her jaw. With her permission, Dr. Usui placed his hands over her jaws, and soon the pain and discomfort were gone. This was the second miracle that the doctor experienced. The girl’s father being poor could not pay for the healing, so he accepted the bartering of food for the healing; thus, making an equal exchange of energies.

At the monastery, Dr. Usui narrated his experiences to the abbot.  His next goal was further meditation, where he was guided to serve the poor and heal them. Dr. Usui did as he was instructed and the next seven years were spent in the service of the poor where he healed them from dawn to dusk. One day Dr. Usui met a beggar who he had healed long ago. The beggar had gone back to begging, as he did not want to shoulder responsibilities associated with a regular lifestyle. That made Dr. Usui sad. He went back to the monastery and narrated the experience. He was explained that healing the body was not sufficient enough; the spirit needed healing too. This necessitated putting some responsibility on the recipient of the healing. For this, he was explained that an equal exchange of energy was necessary.

With this, Dr. Usui’s enlightenment process was complete.

Dr. Usui first visited America and joined the University of Chicago to study various religions and their philosophies. After a seven-year long stay he returned to his home country Japan, and continued with his quest. He visited many Buddhist temples and met a number of monks, who said they could not heal. A meeting with the monastery’s abbot explained matters. The art of healing the body was lost on them, as they had been focusing on the spirit too long. However, the abbot invited Dr. Usui to study the writings of the Buddha (sutras) and find answers to his quest. 

The sutras were translated in Japanese, so it was easy for Dr. Usui to read it. But, he found no answers. Since the sutras had been translated to Japanese from Chinese, Dr, Usui was guided to study the Chinese language to carry on with his quest. It took Dr, Usui years to learn the language and read the scriptures, yet he could find no answers. By and by Dr. Usui learned that the Tibetans had translated the original Buddha teachings from Sanskrit to Tibetan. The next obvious step for Dr. Usui was to learn Tibetan language to continue with his study. During this period Dr. Usui found certain secrets to healing the body.

A visit back to the monastery in Japan and a meeting with the abbot put Dr. Usui through the process of meditation. According to the abbot, if Dr. Usui was destined, he certainly would find the answer. Dr. Usui traveled 17 miles on foot to Kuramayama. On the mountain, he chose a serene spot to begin his 21-day fast and meditation. Dr. Usui collected 21 stones and discarded a stone each day to keep track of the number of days. He felt weak and thought that he might die without receiving the knowledge to heal.

On the 21st day, a physically weak Dr. Usui stood up facing the east, and before discarding the last stone, he asked the Source the way to use the knowledge that he had so far acquired.

                                                                                                …To be continued
 

Reiki is a method of transmitting the universal life force to a person in need. Reiki energies have great healing properties that can be used to mitigate human ailments and sufferings. Dr. Mikao Usui, a Japanese monk, has been attributed with the honor of rediscovering this noble healing art in the nineteenth century. Mikao Usui is said to have undergone a 21-day fast and meditation before receiving empowerment in the form of symbols mentioned in the scriptures.

Reiki is a hands-on healing technique. The healing energy can pass through the practitioner only after receiving attunement. It opens up a distinct channel that allows the passage of Reiki energy from the healer to the receiver. A healing session might take about an hour to an hour and a half. The treatment starts from the head that includes laying hands on five positions, and then moving on to the front torso and back torso.

Reiki helps in chronic ailments, pain situations, stress and tension. It works on four different levels, the physical, emotional, energy, and subconscious. In a world where we are used to instant gratification, results from Reiki treatment may appear to come slowly. Energies may take their own time. So, the receiver will have to exercise due patience for a fruitful result.

Meditation with incorporated Reiki symbols can be an amazing experience for regular meditation practitioners. Symbols, while enhancing the quality of energies, add their own interpretation. If you understand what each symbol means, an enhanced effect can be had from their use.

Place a particular symbol on your agya chakra (third-eye chakra) and sit on a straight back chair without leaning on it. The idea is to keep your spine erect without any support. You may even sit on a mat on the floor in lotus pose. If you find lotus pose not that easy to do, sit in a simple cross-legged position.

Gently close your eyes and start breathing deeply through the nostrils. Take care not to force your breath. The gentler and deeper the breath, the better it is. When your breath settles into a fine rhythm, gently take your awareness to the agya chakra. Be gently aware of the symbol on the agya chakra as you continue to breath gently and deeply.

When you feel like, gently open your eyes. (Do not force yourself to continue). Stay in the position for a while enjoying the vibrations.

No two experiences might ever be the same. So, do not try to compare the experiences or rank them as superior or inferior. Just enjoy what you receive.