The Reiki Cafe 

How does prayer differ from reiki?

How is prayer the same as reiki?

Hi swarm,
I've posted in other threads about this but...
I'm not a religious person sensu strictu, but I am spiritual - and it took me a long time to come to grips with what I think prayer is. Firstly what it is not - it is not begging, and a prime example of this begging is in The Lord's prayer - this is a misuse I think and I refuse to chant it.
However I do think that verbalisation or visualisation of a desired outcome is valid as a form of prayer, and this we can do ourselves without requesting from others. Take for instance the 5 reiki precepts - these are a verbalisation of a wish for the manifestation of what we would like to be - we can do this, and only we can do this - it is in our power - Ursui knew this.

love
chris

swarm said on

>How does prayer differ from reiki?
>
>How is prayer the same as reiki?

swarm,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- another topic that occasionally gets dusted off in hopes, it seems, of some new spin (none of which I have to offer)

- one view is that prayer by its very nature involves invocation of an interveneing entity (middleman) in order to carry out the 'wish' or assist in some manner in its execution

- Reiki is a direct link between practitioner and recipient

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Firekeeper

Reiki and Prayer:

It Really Depends in the individual practitioner's views.
If a practitioner is devoutly religious and applies his religous views and practices to his Reiki practice, there can be some serious overlaping. An Example of this would be Reiki Practitioners that believe that Reiki comes from God( or whatever they choose to call it) and hence can do no Harm, I have known some that say a prayer to that effect before each session.

In the other hand there are some of us that view Reiki and Religion as separate. When I do Reiki I do not view it being given to me by an external source, I see it as me tapping into an aspect of nature, Just as Air is naturally availble to me without the need to explain it by Religious means so I view Reiki the same way. The main difference for me, beyond that of lacking the element of an anthropomorphic divine source, is that In Reiki I try to make make improvements in my life by my will, Intention and the ULE viewing it( ULE ) as a natural force. While when I used to pray it was more of me seeking to connect with God in more conventional( God as an External Anthropomorphic Entity) fashion. Either way people choose to see Reiki and Religion is equally valid, after all "you can't argue with Results" if it works for you all the better.

Once again Ranting

From the Depths of the Emerald City
ReikiDragon

Beautifully said, Firekeeper.

Finality

Otoharo!

I was taught that there is only one prayer that is valid, "Thank, You". It works for me.

finality

Swarm,

Namaste...

When I first learned Reiki, it seemed very "prayerful" to me. Looking back now I believe I had that view because it was the only point of reference that I had for something that had become so spiritual for me.

Reiki for me, is a spiritual practice, as is prayer. In that way they are the same.

But they really are different in the intention and delivery, etc., etc., etc. (I like the way Firekeeper puts it...)

Now spiritual has grown to mean many things to me...which I suppose is a sign of some "widening" of my world. :-)

Peace to you,
Mammabear

reiki, is from outside us, and is tapped from within.
Prayer is within us. very much intent.
Depends on what you bring to the table.

You could go to the table intending to make a pizza, but without the topping its not much good is it?

jaguar,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- certainly the wish that is put into a prayer may come from 'within' but, typically, the execution of the wish is directed to an entity outside the self

- Reiki practices access ULE and utilize the practitioner's Intention and Mindfulness to get the energy to the recipient

- as Mindfulness and Intention will vary among practitioners in 'quality' and focus (not all practitioners are equally adept), so results of the practices vary as well (how much energy one is able to bring to recipients)

- how recipients use the enegy for their own well-Being is another matter altogether

>:-}}

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Firekeeper

Firekeeper,

Namaste...

I've been wondering...(uh oh, he says...)

You use the word "access" when referring to Reiki practice.

Aren't we constantly accessing the energy already...it's life energy?

Could you see Reiki practice as more of a heightening of our awareness of that which is already there?

So it would be more of an awakening/awareness rather than an access?

Or am I being too semantical?

:-)))))))))))))

Peace,
Mammabear

My most endearing MammaBear,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- you?? Too semantical (is that a word?)??

bagl

- may I not perceive energy without 'accessing' it for use in a particular practice??

- it is not necessary for me to proceed through all the steps of the long form of Tai Chi to perceive the energy or even 'access' it for some use (irregardless of the value of doing Tai chi practices)

- Personal Energy is also part of 'life energy' but for the most part it is undesireabble to mix it in with Reiki Practices, is it not??

- thus the value of discernment, mindfulness, and Intent (or am I being too preachical to the choir)??

bag, bagl, bagl

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Firekeeper

I guess the consensus is that prayer and reiki are not alike. However, I think I'm seeing how for a person doing laying on of hands prayer it would be very similar, except in most reiki there is no invocation of spirits or god to do the healing or movement of energy.

Hey, it just dawned on me, this is personal empowerment; in prayer all power is to from by and for god (or whatever being one is invoking) in reiki the person is the mover. (?)

Is "irregardless" a word? (Couldn't resist that)

Basic idea rings true for me; having long felt that Reiki, and healing, is so much about awareness and awakening. Mindfulness comes about as the mind awakens, to itself.

As awakening happens, so fades the duality between Reiki and "personal energy".

Sounds good, anyway. (I hear Mrs. Takata whispering, "just do Reiki!")

Blessings,
Aronaya

aronaya,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- yes, irregardless is a word (you are welcome to look it up) bagl

>:-}}

- never having had training directly from Takata Sensei, I make the rash assumption that she taught mindfulness in Reiki practices in some form - even if her words may have been different

>:-}}

- just do Reiki?? Just be Mindful!

>:-}}

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Firekeeper

Hi swarm,
Nearly there.
There is not a group of healers that do not think their system is better - the religious people (those who bother with healing) invoke healing by prayer to God, some such as the spiritualists give up their own energy, in reiki the energy is accessed directly from source.
Unpopular as this view is with all of them it is all the same energy. The spiritualists will not allow reiki healers to do healing, only those trained in the spiritualist way can be allowed. The churches generally are a waste of time and have forgotten how to heal and what empowerments Jesus passed on to them (M 10:1 and M 10:8).
The issue of prayer vs some kind of mindfulness or invocation is neither here nor there and relates only to the wish to be different.
WE can change things - our spirits have the ability, and by opening up the channels with reiki attunements the energy needed flows (literally like water). This energy goes where the situation requires it to - this is by intent, by wish, or even just by a sort of energetic gravitational process. Part of the issue for me is more about how good we are at measuring and predicting the effects of that healing - this is a personal issue for me at the moment having realised through my journey that I can do anything I decide to - but is that for the best? - and best for whom and best over what time period??
The energy and how it is used is invoked in some way - in reiki the attunements help to open the channels but it still requires the connection to be made, the use of symbols and even hand positions, the belief that the energy is intelligent (and therefore knows best what is for the good), all these are a type of invocation - and that under any other name is prayer. We do not have to pray to a God for it to be a prayer.
However I think that reiki is much more than healing - or perhaps it is subtle healing in a manner that we do not acknowledge as such. Reiki is a personal, spiritual expansion, a wakening up and an opportunity to manifest in ourselves what we really know we should be. We literally heal our lives with the precepts and an increased sense of our own place in the universe, our sense of belonging, not only to the universe but as part of the life of the universe - these are the real changes that take place. None of this requires a person to become religious, and this journey is not new, but has often been assosiated with people and healers who were part of organised religion, or at least were adopted by religions. These all found similar things out about themselves and the world around us - this is what reiki opens the door to - not everyone steps through but the door remains open and waiting.
Try living by the precepts for a month - really doing it - you will never be the same again.

love
chris

swarm said on

>I guess the consensus is that prayer and reiki are not alike. However, I think I'm seeing how for a person doing laying on of hands prayer it would be very similar, except in most reiki there is no invocation of spirits or god to do the healing or movement of energy.
>
>Hey, it just dawned on me, this is personal empowerment; in prayer all power is to from by and for god (or whatever being one is invoking) in reiki the person is the mover. (?)

namaste swarm,

prayer is based on religion (any religion) you do not have to seek permission to pray for someone.

on the other hand in reiki you cannot go around sending reiki to anyone without permission. it is like invading the person's space. yes there are certain gray areas like persons in coma or those who are not seeking reiki for their health but their relatives are, i would not like to go into these areas at present and leave them for other questions,

reiki is not only for physical healing. it heals a person on the physical plane, mental plane, emotional plane, spiritual plance and the astral place also. i personally think of reiki as a stepping stone for spiritual advancement to become a better human being and conection to god from within as we learn to look inwards rather than out wards for a superior god. basically all religions, when it comes to spirituality, asks you to look inwards as god is within you.

renu

cactuschris said on

>..... I can do anything I decide to - but is that for the best? - and best for whom and best over what time period??
>....
>

Now there is an issue: My thoughts went to the moment, what is best for the moment?

The answer came as that being the best...connected of course to all the live inn the moment blah-blah...but that is the best any can do, the best thing for the moment--esxpeccially in situations where hesitation would be an error.

I was thinking if we always did what was best in the moment, then all wouold turn out as good as it possibly could; something in me, however, is holding back, saying "Maybe...but there must be exceptions." Still, I think, how can that be, how can there be an exception wherne doing the best at the moment everytime not turn out for the best?

But this is all another subject. (Then again...maybe it is connected.)
=============================
I would have to disagree that all the energy is the same. Having experienced different personal energies and some of them are downright distressive and even destructive to the energy structures.

Also having experienced some of the spiritualist energies: goopy, webby, musty, roaring, shadow....

Spiritist energies: all ghosts are not created equal; all spirits do not like people; attachments are not healthy.

Church or religious energies: they do not have the awareness to know what it is they pray to so each one has different aspects of spirit or gods that they pray to and depending on what it is they are praying to determines the kind of energy received--most have strings of worship and jujgement attached; some are non-existent their prayer is to air and their laying on of hands does nothing.

renu said on

>namaste swarm,
>
>prayer is based on religion (any religion) you do not have to seek permission to pray for someone.
>
....
>renu

Some people actually pray very energetically; me being a person who often tries to get people to discover their humanity--which translates as showing them why their god is false--I experience prayer attacks, also often.

I can tell you that a group sayance of several ego worshippers can generate some very hostile energy toward the person the sayance is directed, and if that group is actually raising "a spirit" that is sentimental to their cause, then it can carry that hostility quite well--even though the energy they have called upon is just ego based/sourced.

Christians are very good at this, and what they pray is often a curse: "take from him all that he has and show him his need for you", "remove his self-reliance and cause him to know his need", "punish him for how he has wronged me"....the list of curses christians pray are as endless as the evil witche's potions, but they are "holy in their own eyes".

Through evil unwanted unhealthy prayer there are so many horrendous thought-forms wandering around out there it is no wonder so many people are totally screwed up in religions societies.

I have walked into many prayer rooms and listened in to many prayer circles, and the only Christian prayer I've ever heard for blessing is for ceremony, show, or themself--even for what was termed healing prayer circles they have always added a curse, like "cause him to worship you, "bring him to the error of his ways.

The only prayer I pray anymore is, "Dear god, please deliver me from your followers; don't listen to their prayers concerning me, they are evil." I don't know why I pray it, except maybe out of fear of how evil the followers are, and they don't seem to even be aware of it.

Hi Swarm,

We were raised Catholic. My mom recently was asked by some nuns if she'd like to join their prayer group. This involves reading books and discussing things each week as well as praying.

When I was in her home a few months ago I ducked into her bedroom during a party and picked up a little book on prayer which is part of her reading material for this class. I was really surprised to read that, at least for this author, prayer constitues not only what we normally think of as recited prayers, litanies, etc., but encompases Reiki, just sitting quietly in nature (viewed as partaking of God's creation I think) and a whole assortment of things we do during the course of our weeks and normally take for granted as just being a part of our lives.

I got the impression that prayer is simply any sort of energy exchange between ourselves and what some will call universal energy source, others celestial or Godly energy.
It's when we quiet ourselves down to allow our souls to communicate with the divine be it in nature or in our fellow man, etc.

Namaste,
Starlight