Komyo Reiki
By Margaret E. Dexter, Ph.D.
Reiki Master Teacher
Introductory Note: The word “Reiki”, pronounced "ray-key," comes from two Japanese words. "Rei" means higher knowledge or spiritual consciousness, the wisdom that comes from God. "Ki", also called chi or prana, is the life force energy that animates all living things.
The Reiki energy flows from the universal Reiki source to the practitioner and through the practitioner to you. The Reiki energy knows what is needed and where it is needed. Since the God-consciousness - not the mind of the practitioner - directs the energy, Reiki can never do harm.
Reiki produces a deep state of relaxation and promotes balance at the physical, emotional and mental levels. This state of balance and relaxation enhances the innate healing ability of the body.
In April 2005, I attended a Komyo Reiki Master Certification workshop in Asheville, NC. This was a very special opportunity to learn Japanese Reiki in the United States with Rev. Hyakuten Inamoto, a Japanese Reiki Master and non-sectarian Buddhist monk whose teacher studied with Dr. Chujiro Hayashi, a direct student of Mikao Usui, the founder of the Reiki system.
One of the major differences between traditional Japanese Reiki and the westernized version is the emphasis on personal spiritual transformation (satori). The goal of Komyo Reiki practice is “satori” or enlightenment. The term “Reiki Master” that is used in the western world is not used in Japan. Instead they use the title “Sensei” (sen-say) as an honorary title for people we would call Reiki Masters.
The following is a quote from the Komyo Reiki manual:
“Usui Sensei (1865 – 1926), the founder of Reiki Ryoho, attained enlightenment, and a healing ability as a godsend was bestowed upon him in 1922 at the age of 47 while he was fasting and meditating on Mt. Kurama in Kyoto, the ancient capital city of Japan.”
It was his choice to share this healing ability with others. He developed a system of natural healing that could be taught to others. In the next four years before he passed away in 1926, he taught over 2,000 students.
One of Usui Sensei’s students was Dr. Hayashi Chujiro. In 1938, Hayashi Sensei visited Mrs. Hawayo Takata in Hawaii, and he initiated her into Shinpiden (Reiki Teacher). Mrs. Takata taught 22 Reiki Teachers. Most of the Reiki Masters in the world today – including those in Japan – have been taught by one of these 22 teachers or their students, or their student’s students, etc.
Mrs. Takata “westernized” Reiki. It is understandable that she did so since she was a Japanese woman introducing Reiki in the US shortly after WWII. This has lead to a lot of confusion and misinformation about Reiki.
Komyo Reiki is a remarkably simple system that presents Reiki as it was understood and commonly practiced in Japan before WWII. In addition to teaching Reiki as a system of healing others, as it is taught in the West, Komyo Reiki presents the original understanding of Reiki as a system for personal spiritual growth and development. In fact, Komyo Reiki can be translated into English as "Enlightment Reiki" and has personal spiritual transformation (satori) as one of its goals.
Students are initiated into each of the four levels of Komyo Reiki by means of “Reiju,” empowerment or “attunements,” that causes the Reiki energy to flow through student’s hands for the rest of their lives. It is not that one degree is more powerful or more advanced than another. They have specific purposes. Students are advised to wait until they have “a feeling inside” before progressing to the next level, and gradually and finally to the teaching level. This method goes back to the early days of Reiki as taught by Usui Sensei.
Shoden (1st degree) focuses on self healing – me first – health/ happiness. Hand positions are given for self healing. Students are encouraged to wait until they feel ready to move on to level two.
Chuden (2nd degree) focuses on practitioner training (healing others) - you and I – health/happiness. Standard hand positions are not given – there were no standard hand positions in Usui Sensei’s day. Three symbols are taught at this level including a symbol that empowers the student to do distant healing. Usui Sensei did not use symbols, he did not need them, but his students did.
Okuden (3rd degree) focuses on Inner Teaching (spiritual development) – Peace and prosperity. The focus is on spiritual transformation; it is the doorway to a new and deeper way of life.
Shinpiden (4th or Teacher’s degree) focuses on the realization of “Anshin Ritsumei” or spiritual enlightenment. It also teaches students to perform Reiju (empowerment or “attunements”) and to teach all levels of Komyo Reiki.
The Reiki healing method, or Reiki Ryoho, has two aspects - therapeutic and spiritual. The first two levels of Komyo Reiki, Shoden and Chuden, are therapeutic, while the third and fourth levels, Okuden and Shinpiden, are spiritual. The aim of Shoden and Chuden is to live a healthy and happy life. The aim of Okuden and Shinpiden is to live a healthy, happy, peaceful and prosperous life.
You can learn Reiki in a weekend and study it for a lifetime. Reiki is one of those things that appear simple on the surface, but as you spend time with it you realize that it is deeply profound, as is true of many spiritual things
Margaret E. Dexter, founder of Reiki Chattanooga, is a Reiki Master Teacher and has taught Reiki in Chattanooga since 1995. She is certified to teach all levels of Komyo Reiki. She is currently offering Shoden (1st degree) workshops. She will offer the other levels when students are ready.
For additional information, call Margaret at 423-266-6006.
© 2005 Margaret E. Dexter.
This article was written for the July/August 2005 issue of New Life Health and Wellness.
