Reiki Plain and Simple Ó A Comprehensive Guide to Usui Shiki Ryoho The Reiki Plain and Simple On-line Book, this site and all its contents are Copyright 1998-2001 Ó by Vincent Amador. The author of said material allows it to be used For Free Use only. It is to be shared freely, without cost. You may print copies of this work for personal use or to be shared with students, provided that it is given in its entirety, and this copyright message remains intact with the work. This material is not to be republished on other webservers, websites, translated, altered or in any other way used without the express written permission of the author. This notice supersedes any previous notices. All rights reserved.                                Reiki Level I - 1st Degree Reiki Practitioner Manual Section 1 - Introduction to Reiki Reiki is a secular enlightenment system and healing system. In the west, it is primarily taught as a healing system. It allows you to heal self and others by laying on hands. It was developed by Mikao Usui in Japan in the early 1900's. Reiki is very easy to learn and easy to use, and anyone can do it. Reiki Healing is a process of being connected to the Reiki Energy through an attunement or empowerment. Using reiki is simply a matter of awareness of reiki and the expression of it is BEing Reiki. Healing is done either hands on, or by distance work. Reiki is pronounced "ray-key". The word "Reiki" is made up of two separate kanji. "Rei", which means Universal and "Ki" which is spirit, energy or life force. The most common definition of reiki is therefore "universal life energy". Some say that it is life force energy that animates all life. This universal life energy is indescribable, in all things, everywhere. In doing and being reiki our awareness of it in the moment is the expression of reiki in healing, being, in whatever we are doing in that moment. The two Kanji taken together can also mean enlightenment. They represent the universal spirit coming together with our own. Section 2 - The Heart of Reiki The Reiki Principles The Secret Method of Inviting Blessings. The spiritual Medicine of Many Illnesses. For today only anger not, worry not. Be Grateful and humble Do your work with appreciation. Be kind to all. In the morning and at night, with hands held in prayer, Think this in your mind, chant this with your mouth. The Usui Reiki Method to change your mind and body for the better -- Mikao Usui The Reiki Principles are the heart of Reiki. The only real mastery, is self mastery. Usui taught that dedication to the principles and living them was essential. The real intent of the principles was to bring about enlightenment, peaceful living, kindness toward all, calm in your mind, and in your life. The princples embody compassionate living. They embody the Buddhist principles of Karuna (compassion toward all beings) and Metta (loving kindness to all). Humility, gratitude, not-anger, not worry, and kindness. In healing ourself, living the principles, we find true mastery. Not mastery of Reiki, but mastery of ourselves. Anger, Worry, Rudeness, and other ego based behaviors and feelings make it hard to connect and be with this Universal source of love, light and harmony. They also keep one asleep, unaware of the greater spiritual purpose and awakening. The Usui Reiki System was an enlightenment system which allowed you to heal yourself and others. It was designed to connect you to and synchronize you with the Universal Source of love, light and harmony, until you realized that you are and always were it. The system is a healing method of transcending. It should be added here, that there are very few who teach reiki in this manner, and that in the west most teach it only as a healing system, and even more that teach it as a business. The principles were to be said morning and at night, with hands held in the Gassho position. Likewise, they are said before meditation and before Hatsurei ho (an empowerment and meditation technique). Thinking them throughout the day helps as well. When you integrate these simple things into your life and being, you may find that they will be there when you begin to anger, worry, or are unkind to others. In this manner you learn to see the conditionings in yourself, why you do these things and heal yourself. Many find that if you say them often (i.e., For today only anger not, worry not, be grateful and humble, do your work with appreciation, be kind to all) that you become mindful of being just that. Do your work with appreciation refers to working steadfastly on yourself. Working with diligence and effort to see those things that are not healed in you and to release the conditionings that cause your suffering. Some may wonder what is meant by "anger not, worry not". This does not mean do not be angry, or do not worry, but something radically different. The principles are from the Meiji Emperor, and have been part of buddhist tradition. Anger is an attachment, a demand that we, others or world conditions not be as they *are*, but as our wants desires and conditionings think they need or should be. Your focus determines your reality; where your awareness is, there you are. If your awareness is on anger not, you might begin to see (afterward a happening and your reaction at first, during a happening while you react later, and eventually before your reaction occurs) the conditionings you use to create this anger in yourself. At this point you can indeed anger not because you see the ego and conditionings that create anger in the first place, and are free to respond to the situation as it *is*, rather than react to what you wanted it to be. When we anger ourselves over what happens, what another does or does not, we create this anger for ourselves. Our conditionings (beliefs) do this for us automatically. One name some give for these conditionings is ego. Usui, as well as the meiji emperor, taught to say the principles daily, morning and at night and before treating self and others. The principles encourage mindfulness, that is staying in the moment, that is paying attention to these conditionings. Your focus determines your reality. Where awareness is, there you are. Be mindful of the principles. Section 3 - "What is Reiki?" Reiki is a healing system and an enlightenment system. In the west, most teach it solely as a healing system, although many have added in a plethora of new agisms and other material to it. As a healing system, it is a form of healing that can be used both on yourself and others. Reiki is BEing this energy and healing. Some conceptualize this as energy coming from "god". Others see it as one "ray" of the "seven healing rays". Some think it comes from the "reiki guides". Still others try to define it in terms of physics. Many theories abound and none are any closer to the mark than any other theory. I will share with you that My way, is simply being the energy. To try to define reiki is like trying to grasp a handful of water, the tighter you grip the more that slips through your fingers. It would seem that attempts to grasp to any one meaning is to shut off experiencing reiki, as it is, in this moment. Just *be* reiki. Reiki was described by Usui in his manual, "The Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai" as being "intuitive". It seems to go where needed, or flow in responce to the demand or need of the recipient. Takata taught that reiki goes to causes. It treats symptoms, but it goes to the root cause. I usually say that reiki is, exactly what needs to be done, in that moment. It is commonly taught , that the energy enters the practitioner through the crown, and then down into the hara. The energy then goes out through the palms of the hands into the person receiving the reiki. Because of this, both the practitioner and recipient receive reiki during a treatment. Reiki can be used on yourself and on others. Giving or receiving Reiki is generally a peaceful and joyous experience. Reiki is balance. It works on all levels, the physical, spiritual, and emotional levels. Reiki energizes and heals the body. Research studies have shown that it speeds wound healing time, lowers blood pressure, reduces stress, and is effective as part of a regime to manage pain. Anecdotal reports reveal that Reiki has cured serious illnesses. Reiki compliments other health care and medical treatments. Reiki speeds the healing process and can minimize the side effects of conventional medical treatments. Reiki is not a religion. Neither is it a new age practice. It has been used by practitioners of Christianity, Buddhism, Shintoism, Hinduism, and Islam, and it is a spiritual practice that compliments any faith as a hands on healing practice. In the Usui Reiki Hikkei (The Usui Reiki Handbook that Usui gave to his students) he states that, "My Reiki Ryoho is an original method based on intuitive power in the universe. By this power, body gets healthy and enhances happiness of life and peaceful mind".