Post by bluefedish on Jul 21, 2007 10:46:56 GMT -5
Reiki is a form of spiritual practice used as a complementary therapy, proposed for the treatment of physical, emotional, mental, & spiritual diseases. Mikao Usui developed Reiki in early 20th century Japan, where he said he received the ability of 'healing without energy depletion' after three weeks of fasting and meditating on Mount Kurama. Practitioners use a technique similar to the laying on of hands, which they say will channel "healing energy". Practitioners state that energy flows through their palms to bring about healing and that the method can be used for self-treatment as well as treatment of others.
Theory
Reiki teachings state that there is a universal 'life force' energy, which can be accessed by practitioners to induce a healing effect. This form of energy is usually equated with the Chinese qi, although some practitioners differentiate it from other forms of qi such as that experienced in Qigong or that used by the Kahuna of Hawaii, stating, for example, that Reiki is a 'non-dualistic' or 'non-polar' energy. It is understood that anyone can gain access to this energy by means of an attunement process (a set of one or more initiations), carried out by a Reiki Master. ('Reiki Master' is the Western term for someone who has completed sufficient levels of training to perform these initiations and to teach Reiki. The title does not imply that a state of spiritual enlightenment has been reached.) It is generally understood that attunement is the only way to gain access to Reiki. The effect of the attunement is considered to be permanent.
Having been attuned, it is said that the energy will flow through the practitioner's hands, whenever the hands are placed on, or held near (within a few centimetres of), a potential recipient, who can be clothed. Some teachings stress the importance of the practitioner's intention or presence in this process, whilst others emphasize that the energy is drawn by injury, disease, or an imbalance of energy, in the recipient. In either case, the energy is understood to flow to the areas most in need and activate or enhance the natural healing processes in those places. Because of this, Reiki is described as an 'intelligent' form of energy, with diagnosis being unnecessary. Furthermore, it is said that Reiki can be used as a preventative medicine, as it will encourage healing before any noticeable symptoms have emerged. Another consequence of the simplicity of Reiki is that it can be taught to children.
Despite the fact that no diagnosis is needed, some teachings variously encourage the practitioner to use intuition, or a 'scanning' procedure, to determine which parts of the recipient's body are in need of Reiki. Some teachers state that if, on some level (perhaps unconsciously), the intended recipient does not wish to be healed, the energy will not flow. However, others claim that Reiki will always have a beneficial effect, regardless of the conscious and unconscious beliefs of the recipient.
Reiki is described as a holistic therapy which brings about healing on physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels. It is said that healing may occur in any or all of these domains in a single treatment, without any conscious direction needed by either the practitioner or the recipient. Furthermore, because the energy is understood to be triggering or enhancing natural healing processes, many teachers say that it is always safe to use Reiki, regardless of the condition of the recipient, and that it has no harmful side-effects. For the same reason, it is usually taught that Reiki can be used in combination with any other form of treatment, from either conventional or alternative medicine. However, some authors urge caution in cases where an on-going allopathic treatment is being used to compensate for a deficient bodily process, for example the use of insulin to treat diabetes: They suggest that greater monitoring is required when Reiki is introduced, as the natural processes are likely to improve in function and the dosage of the allopathic intervention might no longer be ideal.
The energy involved in a Reiki treatment is said to be 'from the Universe,' rather than the personal energy of the practitioner, and is therefore inexhaustible. (Some teachings say that the energy enters the practitioner through the crown chakra at the top of the head, before being emitted from the hands.) As a consequence, Reiki practitioners are taught that they can treat themselves with Reiki. Indeed, many teachers emphasize this self-treatment capability as being the primary benefit of Reiki. When treating others, it is reported that the practitioner is not depleted by giving the treatment, and even receives some benefit as a side-effect. Furthermore, it is stated that practitioners can use Reiki regardless of their own state of health.
It is also taught that Reiki can be used on other living organisms, including animals and plants. This is possible because the Reiki is understood to be enhancing the natural healing processes of the receiving organism, without any need of a conscious understanding or belief by that organism.
A second level of training, including another initiation, is said to equip the practitioner to perform Reiki treatments from a distance. This method, it is stated, involves the use of special symbols to form a temporary connection between the practitioner and the recipient, regardless of location, and then to send the Reiki energy. Techniques are also taught whereby Reiki can be sent to a specific point in time, either in the past or the future.
Some teachers, including Mikao Usui, teach that the Reiki energy can be channelled not just through the hands but in other ways, for example using the breath or vision. Such techniques depend on the focus and intention of the practitioner.
Practitioners of Reiki do not consider it to be a religion as it depends neither on belief, nor non-belief, in a deity. However, many find that Reiki can be used as the foundation of, or to augment, a spiritual practice, or for personal growth.
Spiritual Practice
Many practitioners use Reiki as the basis of a spiritual practice, or to augment other spiritual practices. The cornerstone of Reiki spiritual practice is a daily one hour self-treatment, conducted in a meditative frame of mind. As well as maintaining physical, mental and emotional well-being, this practice is understood to induce spiritual growth, potentially leading to self-realization.
Many Reiki practitioners also undertake to observe the 5 Reiki Principles recommended by Mikao Usui.
Selected Sources:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reiki
www.catanna.com
www.east-westhealingarts.com
Theory
Reiki teachings state that there is a universal 'life force' energy, which can be accessed by practitioners to induce a healing effect. This form of energy is usually equated with the Chinese qi, although some practitioners differentiate it from other forms of qi such as that experienced in Qigong or that used by the Kahuna of Hawaii, stating, for example, that Reiki is a 'non-dualistic' or 'non-polar' energy. It is understood that anyone can gain access to this energy by means of an attunement process (a set of one or more initiations), carried out by a Reiki Master. ('Reiki Master' is the Western term for someone who has completed sufficient levels of training to perform these initiations and to teach Reiki. The title does not imply that a state of spiritual enlightenment has been reached.) It is generally understood that attunement is the only way to gain access to Reiki. The effect of the attunement is considered to be permanent.
Having been attuned, it is said that the energy will flow through the practitioner's hands, whenever the hands are placed on, or held near (within a few centimetres of), a potential recipient, who can be clothed. Some teachings stress the importance of the practitioner's intention or presence in this process, whilst others emphasize that the energy is drawn by injury, disease, or an imbalance of energy, in the recipient. In either case, the energy is understood to flow to the areas most in need and activate or enhance the natural healing processes in those places. Because of this, Reiki is described as an 'intelligent' form of energy, with diagnosis being unnecessary. Furthermore, it is said that Reiki can be used as a preventative medicine, as it will encourage healing before any noticeable symptoms have emerged. Another consequence of the simplicity of Reiki is that it can be taught to children.
Despite the fact that no diagnosis is needed, some teachings variously encourage the practitioner to use intuition, or a 'scanning' procedure, to determine which parts of the recipient's body are in need of Reiki. Some teachers state that if, on some level (perhaps unconsciously), the intended recipient does not wish to be healed, the energy will not flow. However, others claim that Reiki will always have a beneficial effect, regardless of the conscious and unconscious beliefs of the recipient.
Reiki is described as a holistic therapy which brings about healing on physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels. It is said that healing may occur in any or all of these domains in a single treatment, without any conscious direction needed by either the practitioner or the recipient. Furthermore, because the energy is understood to be triggering or enhancing natural healing processes, many teachers say that it is always safe to use Reiki, regardless of the condition of the recipient, and that it has no harmful side-effects. For the same reason, it is usually taught that Reiki can be used in combination with any other form of treatment, from either conventional or alternative medicine. However, some authors urge caution in cases where an on-going allopathic treatment is being used to compensate for a deficient bodily process, for example the use of insulin to treat diabetes: They suggest that greater monitoring is required when Reiki is introduced, as the natural processes are likely to improve in function and the dosage of the allopathic intervention might no longer be ideal.
The energy involved in a Reiki treatment is said to be 'from the Universe,' rather than the personal energy of the practitioner, and is therefore inexhaustible. (Some teachings say that the energy enters the practitioner through the crown chakra at the top of the head, before being emitted from the hands.) As a consequence, Reiki practitioners are taught that they can treat themselves with Reiki. Indeed, many teachers emphasize this self-treatment capability as being the primary benefit of Reiki. When treating others, it is reported that the practitioner is not depleted by giving the treatment, and even receives some benefit as a side-effect. Furthermore, it is stated that practitioners can use Reiki regardless of their own state of health.
It is also taught that Reiki can be used on other living organisms, including animals and plants. This is possible because the Reiki is understood to be enhancing the natural healing processes of the receiving organism, without any need of a conscious understanding or belief by that organism.
A second level of training, including another initiation, is said to equip the practitioner to perform Reiki treatments from a distance. This method, it is stated, involves the use of special symbols to form a temporary connection between the practitioner and the recipient, regardless of location, and then to send the Reiki energy. Techniques are also taught whereby Reiki can be sent to a specific point in time, either in the past or the future.
Some teachers, including Mikao Usui, teach that the Reiki energy can be channelled not just through the hands but in other ways, for example using the breath or vision. Such techniques depend on the focus and intention of the practitioner.
Practitioners of Reiki do not consider it to be a religion as it depends neither on belief, nor non-belief, in a deity. However, many find that Reiki can be used as the foundation of, or to augment, a spiritual practice, or for personal growth.
Spiritual Practice
Many practitioners use Reiki as the basis of a spiritual practice, or to augment other spiritual practices. The cornerstone of Reiki spiritual practice is a daily one hour self-treatment, conducted in a meditative frame of mind. As well as maintaining physical, mental and emotional well-being, this practice is understood to induce spiritual growth, potentially leading to self-realization.
Many Reiki practitioners also undertake to observe the 5 Reiki Principles recommended by Mikao Usui.
Selected Sources:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reiki
www.catanna.com
www.east-westhealingarts.com
