Greetings Fiona;
metta.
you had shared:
"I'm not precisely sure where to start. The beginning could be almost anywhere :-) "
The begining is a good place to start. In duality every beginning is an end to another beginning. So what difference does it make :)
You had shared:
" I have been an Usui Reiki Teacher for a few months now and the energy has been intigrating nicely. I seem to have sluffed off most of my baggage. And because of that, I have been studying about Karuna and what it involves."
Karuna, in any of it's permutations has an interesting history.
It all started with the work of Kathleen Milner. Her and a friend used to channel. They began channeling an orange robed afro haired being whom they believed to be the Indian Guru Satya Sai Baba. He told them that Takata received the initiations wrong and didn't have all the symbols. He then began giving here more symbols (Zonar, Harth and Rama if I remember correctly). She says she was "guided" to a new attunement and started using those processes and the new symbols.
So, so far we have people channeling symbols and making new attunements, saying it was from an orange robed afro haired being who they thought was Sai Baba. Sai Baba was known to bi-locate and stuff, or so it is said.
With me so far?
Ok, good.
Now a number of other people began coming up with other symbols until there was quite a collection. In the early days of this, there was no "meat" on the bones of this, it was quite literally just a bunch of new symbols that people said did this or that. Honestly, there were many that paid the fee and took the class that were disappointed by this, but that is neither here nor there.
Now this was taught to a number of people, From Kathleen it was taught to Elizabeth Amazon, Isabelle Dussault and to Glenn Derrick. Glenn taught William Lee Rand. At this point it was called Sai Baba Reiki. At some point, someone actually had the foresight to actually contact Sai Baba and his people, who said they had no idea what they were talking about and that they could not use Sai Baba's name associated with this.
Now Rand took the system, and said he was guided to change the attunements, make some levels and trade mark the whole thing as "Karuna Reiki TM". This is his trademarked product that they sell in the International Center for Reiki Training.
At some later point, if I recall correctly, There was some legal involvement over the trademarking of this material that was Kathleen Milner's or something like that and I do not remember the outcome of the case. Rand's material is called "Karuna Reiki TM", while Kathleen's is called "Tera Mai Reiki TM"
In any case, Kathleen later stated that the orange robed afro haired being was not Sai Baba, but a "being from the inner planes". Rand reported on his website that the symbols were channeled "directly from God", as I recall.
Still with me?
Good. So, we basically have someone channelling symbols and coming up with new attunements, which came from Sai Baba, except it wasn't, mixed with more symbols that others made up, except that they came "directly from God", and then trademarked.
So there is the readers digest version of the history, make of that what you will.
You also wrote:
" I have read about Quan Yin and discovered that she isn't so much the classic definition of a Goddess as she is a supreme example of Compassion In Action...somewhat like Mary. "
Kuan Yin, also Known as Avolekitesvara (spelling?) in India, and Kannon in Japan is the Bodhisattva of Compassion. In some countries and traditions she is a he.
But the idea of compassion is the key. Kuan Yin is the one who hears the joys and tears of the world.
The mantra of Kuan Yin is:
Namu Kuan Shih yin Pu sa
and it is sung. To bad you are not here to hear me chant it :)
you shared:
" This is simply an observation I have made) But I have still asked for her help in learning to be more compassionate. "
A worthy endeavor.
But remember, sometimes compassion is a gentle caress, other time a kick in the pants. Try looking in to the dzogchen practice of tonglen, or bodhicitta you might find that to your liking if you walk the path of compassion.
you also shared:
"I believe she is the one who introduced me to a chant that has helped bring me more peace and focus. Not long after I invited Quan Yin into my life, I discovered that the words she gave me are actualy the names of Karuna symbols. This intruiged me even more. So I talked to my friend who is a Karuna Master Teacher and she loaned me her manual. "
I snipped the material about your experiences. Just a thought.... Cause and effect at times seem so clear, but are we sure which is which?
you asked:
" Right now I don't know what to think. Is there any way that Kwan Yin or Someone Else could have attuned me? Or am I just having delusions of grandeur? I don't want self-doubt because I feel that this is working. I'd just like possible answers."
Dear one, perhaps a few questions........
Who "attuned" those that made up the other symbols in the system?
What are the symbols for? Do you really think you need this symbol for this and that symbol for that? How many does one need?
And if you spend your time focusing on things symbolic, how can one expereince the "real thing", so to speak.
You could "use" all the Karuna symbols right this very second if you wanted, no attunement at all. Just focus on them and there you go.
But the question might be, what is it you think they are going to do for you or give you that you do not already have?
Lastly you shared:
"Any replies are welcome (Including the ones saying I'm a crackpot and delusional...as long as they're backed up with evidence :-) "
Crackpot?!!! :) Don't know, sometimes being a delusional crackpot is kinda fun.
I have Karuna Ki manuals available for free if you like, email me for the website address if you want them. I would post the address here but have observed that is not allowed on this board.
Let me know.
Hope that helps.
Take gentle care;
Vinny
