An email we received this week asked…
Q: Is it necessary to receive reiju from a teacher?
A: Reiju is a Japanese form of attunement and is one of the five major elements of the system of Reiki: The Five Elements of the system of Reiki. Here is an article about Reiju: Everything About Reiju Reiju (or attunement) is an integral part of the system of Reiki and without it then you would not be learning the system of Reiki.
Another comment we heard lately that deserves some discussion: A Reiki practitioner told us (with awe in her voice) that her teacher was very strict and used Japanese words that she couldn’t understand. She went on to say that she and her fellow students would quietly look at one another with wonder when they could not understand the teacher.
So what qualities make a good teacher? A good teacher is one who speaks an inner truth and does his/her best to convey this truth to the students. The teacher must also be constantly aware of his/her students’ comprehension and use teaching skills to check that students are following the teachings. A teacher who makes teachings inaccessible to students is not fulfilling his/her duty of care as a teacher.
We believe a good teacher is one who receives a natural respect from students yet at the same time is approachable. A student needs to be able to question a teacher without feeling intimidated. Reiki students have a history of not asking questions and simply accepting what they are told, especially when they are given some mystical answer that no-one can verify or contradict. Hopefully these days are fast leaving the system of Reiki! A teacher that places him or herself on a pedestal is not teaching but stroking his/her own ego.
We are all students in life – no matter what our title – and we must remember that compassion and truth should be our guiding stars on this journey.
Bronwen and Frans Stiene are the co-founders of the International House of Reiki and co-authors of The Reiki Sourcebook, The Japanese Art of Reiki, Your Reiki Treatment, The A-Z of Reiki Pocketbook and the Reiki Techniques Card Deck. Bronwen and Frans teach in the USA, Europe and Australia. Visit the Courses page to find a course near you.