by Frans Stiene
I often hear so many people saying that they are channeling Reiki, but that is not really what Mikao Usui had in his mind. Rather, his teachings are all about Being Reiki.
Let’s investigate Mikao Usui’s teachings to get a clearer understanding of all of this.
“The mind should be healed first and the body second, so that one can tread the right path of humanity. When the mind is healthy and its path of oneness has been adjusted, then the body will regain its strength by itself.” – Mikao Usui, in the booklet Shin-Shin Kaizen Usui Reiki Ryoho Kokai Denju Setsumei.
In an interview in the above-mentioned booklet, Mikao Usui points out that we first need to heal the mind and that through this we start to understand the path of oneness. This path of oneness is of course the state of mind of oneness.
This state of mind of oneness is also pointed out in the symbol/mantra Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen. Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen 本者是正念 translates as “my original nature is right mind.” However the kanji of Sho also stands for non-duality.
In “Zen Chants – Thirthy-Five Essential Texts with Commentary,” noted Japanese calligrapher and translator of Buddhist texts Kazuaki Tanahashi states that 正 sho represents non-duality. Therefore, we also can translate Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen 本者是正念 as “my original nature is a non-dual mind.”
Non-dual also stands for oneness, not two or three. When we channel something, then it is not one anymore: more likely three. There is 1 – something to channel, 2 – someone through which it goes, and 3 – into someone. This is thus not in line with what the symbol/mantra Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen points out.
“Sho (right) means to be one.” – Master Dogen’s Zazen Meditation Handbook by Zen master Kosho Uchiyama Roshi
Again we see that Sho means not only right but also means to be one. All these traditional Japanese teachers point this out. Therefore it is important to understand what the symbols/mantras point out and how to work with them so that we practice the system of Reiki how Mikao Usui intended.
“Everything in the universe contains Reiki” – Mikao Usui, in the booklet Kokai Denju Setsumei (first copy is said to be from 1922.)
Mikao Usui also stated that everything in the universe contains Reiki. This means that your computer, your tea cup, your partner, a blade of grass etc., contains Reiki.
Therefore if we say we channel Reiki, would that be like saying the sea is channeling itself? That is impossible. Or that the universe is channeling itself? Again this is impossible. The sea is just being the sea, and the universe is just being the universe.
“The universe is me and I am the universe” – Mikao Usui, in the book Reiki Ryoho no Shihori by Fukuoka Koshiro.
This state of Being Reiki we also can see within the Reiki precepts. For example, we have the precept of being kind – being compassionate. We are not channeling kindness or compassion, we are being kind and being compassionate.
Mrs Takata, in this diary excerpt from Dec 10th 1935, also pointed out that there is nothing to channel, but rather just to let it come from within:
“Meaning of “Reiki” Energy within oneself, when concentrated and applied to patient, will cure all ailments – it is nature’s greatest cure, which requires no drugs. It helps in all respects, human and animal life. In order to concentrate, one must purify one’s thoughts in words and in thoughts and to meditate to let the “energy” come out from within. It lies in the bottom of the stomach about 2 inches below the navel. Sit in a comfortable position, close your eyes, concentrate on your thoughts and relax…”
Then of course we have the symbol/mantra Dai Komyo, which points out our non-dual nature.
“Usui Sensei taught Shinpiden students one on one and he showed them the kanji dai kômyô, which indicated the consciousness of a Shinpiden practitioner.” – Hiroshi Doi, Spain 2015 seminar
Again and again we see that Mikao Usui is pointing to oneness – non-duality and not separateness. The more we water separateness through the idea that we are channeling something, the more this separateness grows. And what starts to happen when we feel more and more separate? We feel more anger, worry and fear and less kindness and compassion. But if we nurture the mindset of oneness then we are also nurturing less anger, worry and fear and more kindness and compassion. This is why embodying the state of Being Reiki is so important within Mikao Usui’s teachings.
