Reiki Handbook
REIKI HANDBOOK BY THE FOUNDER, USUI SENSEI
Reiki Ryōhō Hikkei (霊気療法必携):
Reiki (霊気) = “spiritual energy”
Ryōhō (療法) = “healing method / therapy”
Hikkei (必携) = “essential handbook” / “something that must be carried”
Meaning: “Essential handbook of Reiki healing method”
The original Japanese manuscript was written by Mikao Usui and entitled “Reiki Ryoho Hikkei”. It was written around 1922–1925, during the period when Usui was teaching in Tokyo after founding the Usui Reiki Ryōhō Gakkai. The following short excerpts are from different translations and also different versions of the handbook, including the translation in the book “Reiki: The Legacy of Dr. Usui” by Frank Arjava Petter. We also give credit and thanks to Andrew Bowling and Richard Rivard for making Reiki materials generally available.
(Note: We have made small changes to the translations, correcting grammar and punctuation and to render them more readable.)
目次 — TABLE OF CONTENTS
一、臼井霊気療法教義 — 1. Teachings of Usui Reiki Ryōhō
二、公開伝授説明 — 2. Explanation of public instruction/transmission
三、療法指針 — 3. Treatment guidelines
四、明治天皇御製 — 4. Poems of the Meiji Emperor (Gyosei)
1. TEACHINGS OF USUI REIKI RYŌHŌ
Why I teach this method (Reiki) publicly.
From time immemorial, it has often happened that someone who has found an original secret law has either kept it for himself or only shared it with his descendants. This secret was then used as security in life for his descendants, meaning not only one’s own family but also one’s students. The phrase “security in life” is meant in the sense of securing one’s financial future. The secret is not passed on to outsiders. However, this is an old-fashioned custom from the last century (and is therefore outdated). In times like these, the happiness of humanity is based on working together and the desire for social progress. This is why I would never allow anyone to possess it (Reiki) just for himself.
Our Reiki Ryōhō is something absolutely original which cannot be compared to any other spiritual path in the world. This is why I would like to make this method freely available to the public for the well-being of humanity. Each of us has the potential to be given a gift by the Divine, which results in the body and soul becoming unified. In this way, with Reiki, a great many people will experience the blessing of the Divine. First of all, our Reiki Ryōhō is an original therapy which is built upon the spiritual power of the Universe. Through it, a human being will first be made healthy, and then peace of mind and joy in life will increase. Today we need improvements and restructuring in our lives so that we can free our fellow human beings from illness and emotional suffering. This is the reason why I dare to teach this method freely in public.
2. EXPLANATION OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION / TRANSMISSION
Q. What is Usui Reiki Ryoho?
A. Graciously I have received the Meiji Emperor’s injunctions. For achieving my teachings, training and improving physically and spiritually and walking on the right path as a human being, first we have to heal our spirit. Secondly we have to keep our body healthy. If our spirit is healthy and dedicated to the truth, the body will get healthy naturally. Usui Reiki Ryoho’s mission is to lead a peaceful and happy life, heal others and improve the happiness of others and of ourselves.
Q. Is there any similarity to hypnotism, Kiai method, religious method or any other methods?
A. No, there is no similarity to any of those methods. This method is to help body and spirit with intuitive power, which I’ve received after long and hard training.
Q. Then, is it psychic method of treatment?
A. Yes, you could say that. But you could also say it is a physical method of treatment. The reason why is that Ki and light emanate from a healer’s body, especially from the eyes, mouth and hands. So if a healer stares or breathes on or strokes with hands the affected area such as for toothache, colic pain, stomach ache, neuralgia, bruises, cuts, burns and other swellings, the pain will be gone. However a chronic disease is not easy, time is needed. But a patient will feel improvement at the first treatment. There is a fact more than a novel how to explain this phenomenon with modern medicine. If you see the results you would understand.
Q. Does Usui Reiki Ryoho only heal illness?
A. No. Usui Reiki Ryoho does not only heal illness. Mental illness such as agony, weakness, timidity, irresolution, nervousness and other bad habits can be corrected. Then you are able to lead a happy life and heal others with mind of God or Buddha. That becomes the principle object.
Q. How does Usui Reiki Ryoho work?
A. I’ve never been given this method by anybody nor studied to get psychic power to heal. I accidentally realised that I have received healing power when I felt the air in mysterious way during fasting. So I have a hard time explaining exactly even though I am the founder. Scholars and men of intelligence have been studying this phenomenon but modern science can’t explain it.
Q. Do I need to have knowledge of medicine?
A. My method is beyond a modern science so you do not need knowledge of medicine. If brain disease occurs, I treat the head. If it’s a stomach ache, I treat the stomach. If it’s an eye disease, I treat the eyes. You don’t have to take bitter medicine or tolerate hot moxa treatment. It takes a short time for a treatment with staring at affected area or breathing onto it or laying on of hands or stroking with hands.
Q. People would think that this kind of healing power is gifted to a select few, and not by training.
A. No, that isn’t true. Every living thing has healing power. Plants, trees, animals, fish and insects, but especially a human as the lord of creation has remarkable power. Usui Reiki Ryoho manifests the healing power that every human has.
Q. Then, can anybody receive Denju (first teaching) of Usui Reiki Ryoho?
A. Of course, a man, woman, young or old, people with knowledge or without knowledge, anybody who has common sense can receive the power accurately in a short time and can heal themselves and others. I have taught more than one thousand people and none have failed. Everyone is able to heal illness with just the Shoden (level). You may think it is unlikely to get healing power in such a short time but it is reasonable.
Q. If I can heal others, can I heal myself?
A. If you can’t heal yourself, how can you heal others.
Q. How can I receive Okuden?
A. Okuden includes Hatsureiho, patting with hands method, stroking with hands method, pressing with hands method, telesthetic method and propensity method. I will teach it to people who have learned Shoden and who are good students, with good conduct and enthusiasm.