The Story of Mikao Usui – The Founder of Reiki Healing System

Some people may have only recently heard about energy healing and Reiki because of its growing popularity. Not many realise that Reiki energy has been around for at least thousands of years. In fact, some believe that it has been around since the beginning of time. However, it was a Japanese Buddhist priest named Mikao Usui who discovered Reiki in his search for the purpose of life and enlightenment.

The tale of how Reiki was discovered was traditionally told by the teacher to his/her student. As a result of it being retold many times throughout the years by many different people, the story now has many variations.

Over the years, a lot of research has been done by Japanese and other researchers around the world in order to find more reliable findings of Reiki history. Still, it has not been possible to obtain a fully accurate picture of Mikao Usui’s life, the discovery and development of the Reiki healing system.

Discovery of Reiki

Mikao Usui was born in Japan on the 15th of August, 1865. Throughout his lifetime he studied Buddhism, martial arts and other ancient Japanese meditation and healing techniques. Mikao Usui also travelled to other countries like China, US and countries in Europe, to pursue further studies and to acquire knowledge of medicine, psychology and other religions.

Mikao Usui worked towards finding his purpose in life and achieving the state of spiritual enlightenment. In 1922, he decided to go to the sacred mountain Kurama near Kyoto, where he underwent a strict spiritual practice involving meditation and fasting for 21 days. At the end of that period, he would either die or become enlightened. In the morning of the last day, Mikao Usui experienced a strong sensation, as if he was struck by lightning, and saw a white light fly over his head. It filled him with a highly enjoyable state of vitality and spiritual energy and enabled him to become enlightened. He also received the ability to access healing Reiki energy and teach others to use it.

After his spiritual awakening, Mikao Usui understood that to be a healer and to teach others was his life purpose. He opened a Reiki clinic in Tokyo, where he passed his knowledge of Usui Reiki Ryoho healing system to his students and gave treatments to other people.

How Reiki came to other parts of the world?

Mikao Usui had many students who learned Reiki, one of them being Chujiro Hayashi. Chujiro Hayashi also opened a Reiki clinic in Japan, where a woman named Hawayo Takata was able to learn Reiki healing. On returning to her home in Hawaii, she opened a very first Reiki clinic outside Japan, adapted and established the teaching system of Reiki and taught Reiki to Western students. The teachings kept being passed on from the Reiki teachers to their students to this day. That is how Reiki healing system came to the other parts of the world.

Mikao Usui's Memorial

Mikao Usui passed away on the 9th of March, 1926. According to a very interesting book, Reiki for Life written by Penelope Quest, Mikao Usui’s memorial states: “If Reiki can spread throughout the world it will touch the human heart and the morals of society. It will be helpful for many people, not only healing disease but the Earth as a whole.” Indeed, it would be wonderful if we all would positively affect our world by helping each other, healing disease, being kinder, more understanding and accepting of ourselves and others with the help of Reiki. Perhaps we are slowly moving towards that, as more and more people are practising Reiki and supporting each other around the world.

I find the history of Reiki very interesting and inspiring! If you would like to find out more about Reiki and its history, I recommend reading the book mentioned above: Reiki for Life by Penelope Quest. It is a great book that is full of interesting and easy to read information. This book inspired me to learn more about Reiki, continue practising it and write about it to continue raising awareness of this wonderful healing system!

If you would like to ask me a question, suggest a topic you would be interested to read about or to book an appointment for Reiki treatment you are very welcome to write to me to [email protected], my Facebook page or Instagram!

Thank you for reading!

To read about "What is Reiki" click HERE

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