rob1957 said on 7/31/2004 5:30 PM
>Hi James
>Is it still the current thought that Dr Usui only added the the symbols to Reiki quite a few years after he started his clinic etc? and then for those who had trouble focusing on the energy?.
Rob, heres a 'cut-n-paste' from a certain website (the URL of which I wouldn't dare mention, incase ye vigilant Keeper-of-the-Fire deletes this post!!)
The Reiki symbols (shirushi in Japanese) have been the source of great interest and much discussion over the years.
While it is a common belief, amongst western lineage Reiki practitioners, that Usui Sensei originally 'discovered' the four Reiki symbols in Buddhist texts ( - re-experiencing them and receiving understanding of their true significance in his visionary experience on Mt. Kurama); recently, some sources have claimed that initially, Usui Sensei did not use symbols in the Reiki system - that they were something he added at a later date, out of the need to incorporate an effective focussing method to assist those students who were experiencing difficulty in feeling the Reiki energy.
(In fact, the way that many people tell it, we might be forgiven for believing that one day Usui Sensei just plucked 4 symbols out of the air at random to use as the first 'Reiki add-ons' !)
However, in a recent discussion with a Reiki Master from Japan, we were talking about this issue of the introduction of the symbols, and the version of the story he shared, seems to put things in a slightly different perspective.
As we are all aware, ongoing research seems to continually reveal new information as to the history and nature of 'original' Reiki.
Current understanding is that originally (- rather than being a purely therapeutic modality,) Usui Sensei's system was essentially a spiritual-philosophical system (incorporating certain Buddhist and Shinto elements) - a system 'for the improvement of body and soul' - that is, a system primarily focussing on self-development, but one which also incorporated a self-healing element.
'Reiki' as it came to be understood in the West ( i.e. as essentially a purely therapeutic modality) would seem to be an 'outgrowth' of this spiritual-philosophical system.
According to the Reiki Master Jiro Kozuki, it was not so much a case of Usui Sensei introducing the symbols at a later date, but rather selecting four symbols which were already a feature of his spiritual-philosophical system, and assigning them new significance as 'keys' (or as NLP terminology puts it: 'Resource Anchors') to assist focus of intent as part of the evolving 'therapeutic modality' aspect of the system.
Reiki ni Rei
James
