Mikao Usui
It is well known that Mikao Usui (or Usui Sensei) discovered Reiki in March of 1922 while on Mount Kurama. But the actual history of Usui has been shrouded in myth and a subject of debate for decades because until recently so little was known about his life. Most Western Reiki schools present their version of Usui Sensei and his life. While some of these stories could pass as plausible, others have been embellished to the point of absurdity. However, in recent years a great deal of accurate, verifiable information has been brought forth from Japan through the hard work and efforts of Frank Arjava Petter, Tadao Yamaguchi, and others. It will be interesting to see what additional facts are uncovered in the coming years.
Usui Sensei was born August 15, 1865 in the Japanese province of Gifu. He died on March 9, 1926 in Fukuyama from a cerebral apoplexy (stroke). He was married to a woman named Sadako Suzuki and had two children.[1]
When he was young he studied Kiko (a Japanese version of Qigong) at a Tendai Buddhist temple on Mt. Kurama. Usui was something of a scholar and traveled all over Japan, China, and Europe to broaden his experience and knowledge. He studied a wide range of subjects including medicine, psychology, various religions, and spiritual development.[2]
Frank Arjava Petter explains that at the time of Usui, it was rare for a Japanese citizen to travel abroad unless they were somehow involved in politics. Meaning that when Usui traveled, he likely did so as a public servant and not in search of spiritual training or experience as was previously thought.[3]
In his book “Light on the Origins of Reiki,” Tadao Yamaguchi discusses some of Usui Sensei’s life: “He was not a rich man, struggling to make a living, often changing jobs and working in various fields as a civil servant, company employee, journalist, political secretary and even a religious missionary and a counselor working to rehabilitate prisoners.”[4]
Over time Usui came to ask himself the question: What is the true purpose of life? After a great deal of contemplation he came to the conclusion that the ultimate purpose of life is to attain An-Jin Ryu-Mei (the state of complete peace of mind or complete stillness). With this goal in mind he began to study Zen Buddhism in the hope of attaining this state. After three years had passed and still unable to attain enlightenment, Usui sought his Zen master for advice on how he might attain his goal. His master suggested that the only way he could attain An-Jin Ryu-Mei was to die. Usui Sensei concluded this must be the answer and decided that his life must be over. He went to Mount Kurama and started to fast. During the third week he felt a powerful shock to the center of his brain which knocked him unconscious. This was the point where the Reiki energy permeated his body and soul. When he awoke hours later, he was refreshed and energized and realized he had at last attained the enlightenment he sought.[5]
It is important to note that until recently it was thought that Usui Sensei went to Mount Kurama to fast as part of religious training, when in actuality he went there to die.
Usui stopped his fast and climbed down Mount Kurama. On the way he tripped on a rock and tore the toenail off one of his toes. He grabbed his foot with his hands and to his surprise the pain disappeared and the bleeding stopped. He reached a small village where he met a girl suffering from a toothache and he healed her. Later Usui met with his master at the temple who confirmed his enlightenment and encouraged him to teach the healing to others. [6] Note that in Japanese culture the attainment of enlightenment is not for the individual, but rather for the individual to help others.
Usui returned home and after producing great results with his family, decided to share this healing with others. After some experimentation he developed a way to pass this healing ability on to other people. The method is known as “Shin-Shin Kai-Zen Usui Reiki Ryo-Ho” (or The Usui Reiki Treatment Method for Improvement of Body and Mind). A month after receiving his healing ability, Usui Sensei moved to Tokyo and established the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai – his own institute which is still in existence today. He began teaching openly and became very popular.[7]
Usui Sensei was born August 15, 1865 in the Japanese province of Gifu. He died on March 9, 1926 in Fukuyama from a cerebral apoplexy (stroke). He was married to a woman named Sadako Suzuki and had two children.[1]
When he was young he studied Kiko (a Japanese version of Qigong) at a Tendai Buddhist temple on Mt. Kurama. Usui was something of a scholar and traveled all over Japan, China, and Europe to broaden his experience and knowledge. He studied a wide range of subjects including medicine, psychology, various religions, and spiritual development.[2]
Frank Arjava Petter explains that at the time of Usui, it was rare for a Japanese citizen to travel abroad unless they were somehow involved in politics. Meaning that when Usui traveled, he likely did so as a public servant and not in search of spiritual training or experience as was previously thought.[3]
In his book “Light on the Origins of Reiki,” Tadao Yamaguchi discusses some of Usui Sensei’s life: “He was not a rich man, struggling to make a living, often changing jobs and working in various fields as a civil servant, company employee, journalist, political secretary and even a religious missionary and a counselor working to rehabilitate prisoners.”[4]
Over time Usui came to ask himself the question: What is the true purpose of life? After a great deal of contemplation he came to the conclusion that the ultimate purpose of life is to attain An-Jin Ryu-Mei (the state of complete peace of mind or complete stillness). With this goal in mind he began to study Zen Buddhism in the hope of attaining this state. After three years had passed and still unable to attain enlightenment, Usui sought his Zen master for advice on how he might attain his goal. His master suggested that the only way he could attain An-Jin Ryu-Mei was to die. Usui Sensei concluded this must be the answer and decided that his life must be over. He went to Mount Kurama and started to fast. During the third week he felt a powerful shock to the center of his brain which knocked him unconscious. This was the point where the Reiki energy permeated his body and soul. When he awoke hours later, he was refreshed and energized and realized he had at last attained the enlightenment he sought.[5]
It is important to note that until recently it was thought that Usui Sensei went to Mount Kurama to fast as part of religious training, when in actuality he went there to die.
Usui stopped his fast and climbed down Mount Kurama. On the way he tripped on a rock and tore the toenail off one of his toes. He grabbed his foot with his hands and to his surprise the pain disappeared and the bleeding stopped. He reached a small village where he met a girl suffering from a toothache and he healed her. Later Usui met with his master at the temple who confirmed his enlightenment and encouraged him to teach the healing to others. [6] Note that in Japanese culture the attainment of enlightenment is not for the individual, but rather for the individual to help others.
Usui returned home and after producing great results with his family, decided to share this healing with others. After some experimentation he developed a way to pass this healing ability on to other people. The method is known as “Shin-Shin Kai-Zen Usui Reiki Ryo-Ho” (or The Usui Reiki Treatment Method for Improvement of Body and Mind). A month after receiving his healing ability, Usui Sensei moved to Tokyo and established the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai – his own institute which is still in existence today. He began teaching openly and became very popular.[7]
[1] Petter, Frank Arjava, Reiki: The Legacy of Dr. Usui, 26-27.
[2] Lubeck, Walter, Petter, Frank Arjava, Rand, William Lee, The Spirit of Reiki, 13-14.
[3] Petter, Frank Arjava, This Is Reiki, 43-44.
[4] Yamaguchi, Tadao, Light on the Origins of Reiki, 61.
[5] Ibid., 62-63.
[6] Petter, Frank Arjava, This Is Reiki, 47.
[7] Yamaguchi, Tadao, Light on the Origins of Reiki, 63-64.
[2] Lubeck, Walter, Petter, Frank Arjava, Rand, William Lee, The Spirit of Reiki, 13-14.
[3] Petter, Frank Arjava, This Is Reiki, 43-44.
[4] Yamaguchi, Tadao, Light on the Origins of Reiki, 61.
[5] Ibid., 62-63.
[6] Petter, Frank Arjava, This Is Reiki, 47.
[7] Yamaguchi, Tadao, Light on the Origins of Reiki, 63-64.