Reiki was founded by Dr. Mikao Usui in 1922. Dr.Usui was born in Japan in 1865. He had a life quest to find a method of natural healing. By 1915 Dr. Usui was teaching the five precepts. By 1917 he was well known as a healer and by 1922 Dr.Usui founded Reiki.
It was from the Indian sutras that Dr.Usui found a formula that could be used to contact a higher power and heal. Dr.Usui traveled to Kurama Yama a holy mountain located near Kato, it was there that he fasted and meditated fallowing the formula for twenty-one days. On the twenty-first day Dr. Usui saw a light coming towards him. This light had the power to heal. Dr. Usui was shown symbols and given knowledge of there use. This is how he was initiated into the use of Reiki healing power.
In 1922 Dr.Usui created a healing society in Tokyo. Dr. Usui had two thousand students and attuned sixteen Reiki masters before his death in1926. Engraved on Dr. Usui’s head stone are the five precepts.
The precepts read:
For today do not anger.
Do not worry.
Be humble.
Be honest in your work.
Be compassionate to yourself and to others.
Dr. Usui was preceded by Chujiro Hayashi. Mr. Hayashi was a retired navel officer. He received his masters from Dr. Usui in 1925. Mr. Hayashi went on to develop the Usui system of healing and created the standard hand positions used today. In order to assure Reiki was preserved Mr.Hayashi passed the teachings on to two women his wife and Hawayo Takata.
Hawayo Takata was born in 1900 in Kawai, Hawaii. Her parents were Japanese immigrants. Mrs. Takatas health started to fail and she went to Japan seeking treatment. Mrs. Takata was diagnosed with a tumor, gallstones, and appendicitis. Mrs. Takata was in preparation for surgery when she heard a voice telling her surgery was not necessary. She asked her doctor for an alternative and he told her about Mr. Hayasha’s clinic. Mrs. Takata received daily treatments and was healed in four months. She wanted to learn Reiki and was told that Reiki was intended to stay in Japan and could not be taught to outsiders. Mrs. Takata was persistent and started studying under Mr. Hayashi in 1936. In 1937 Mrs. Takata returned to Hawaii and with the help of Mr. Hayashi established Reiki in Hawaii. In 1938 Mrs. Takata became a master. She was the thirteenth and last Reiki master Mr. Hayashi initiated. Mr. Hayashi passed away in Japan in May of 1940.
Mrs. Takata taught twenty two masters before her death in 1980. Iris Ishikuro was one of Mrs. Takata’s master students and is part of my master lineage.
