Reiju – Giving and Receiving, Together As One

Reiju (Japanese kanji 霊授) is one of the essential elements within the system of Reiki. Literally it means spiritual blessing or offering.

Often this is seen as a one way experience from teacher to student, with the student being the one who is benefitting from this Reiju. However, I never have taught it this way because for me it is a union, a union of the teacher, student, and the universe in which all will benefit.

The kanji of ju (授) points this out as well. Ju is mostly translated as ‘to give’. 

But Zen Master Jakusho Kwong, in his book No Beginning, No End – The Intimate Heart of Zen, states that: “This word ju [授], is very good. ‘To cut’” ‘to open,’ ‘to empty,’ and ‘to receive’ are all expressed by ju.”

For me these words describe exactly what I experience when I perform a Reiju. The empty state of mind, that I also receive at the same time, and that the whole process is about openness because the ego temporarily is cut away. I wanted to investigate this a bit more.

I consulted a Japanese friend who is an international calligraphist and who looks deeply into kanji and its meanings. She came back with a wonderful explanation that put the phrase “receiving Reiju” in a whole new light. 

“The kanji 授 means “Receive” which is used when you receive something very special and very valuable (but you can’t buy) from god or respectable people (even nature). Just regular kanji for “receive” is 受. “

Her explanation made so much sense because during Reiju both teacher and student receive ‘grace of the universe,’ ‘grace of our True Self’, ‘grace of nature’, which is very special and very valuable indeed. This grace of course is unification, which Oxford Dictionary defines as the “process of being united or made into a whole.” So the word ‘receive’ is not to be taken literally. It is an expedient means to a simple explanation of Reiju. 

The deepest state of Reiju is that there is nothing to receive, nothing to give, and no gift. This is symbolised by the kanji of Rei 霊 spiritual.

To sum this all up: when the teacher performs a spiritual (Rei 霊) blessing (Ju 授,) he/she is giving and receiving at the same time. Therefore this also means that for a teacher, performing Reiju is a spiritual meditative practice for remembering his/her own True Self. 

Now we can start to see why Shinpiden Reiki Level III is not just about becoming a teacher. It is about learning to empower yourself through performing Reiju. Shinpiden (meaning “mystery teachings”) is all about rediscovering the mystery of our non-dual state of mind where receiving and giving happens simultaneously, where “teacher” and “student” are receiving and giving, together as one.

Link to other blogs about reiju:

http://www.ihreiki.com/blog/article/the_secret_of_reiju/

http://www.ihreiki.com/blog/article/the_confusion_around_reiju

Frans Stiene

Based in Holland, Frans Stiene teaches in North America, Europe, UK, Australia and Asia.
Frans is also the author of Reiki Insights, it is the continuation of his previous book The Inner Heart of Reiki, taking your personal practice and understanding of the system of Reiki yet another step deeper.

ihreiki.com/about/reiki_teachers/frans_stiene/