| The teachings of Reiki Ryoho (Spiritual | | | | of her initial teachings of this Japanese |
| Healing) began with Mikao Usui becoming | | | | healing technique, after World War II, the |
| enlightened on the holy mountain of Kurama in | | | | anti-Japanese sentiment in the West was high. |
| the spring of 1922. Usui-Sensei was a | | | | She modified the history of Reiki to suit the |
| spiritual man, constantly working to | | | | times, transforming Usui's history to be |
| understand the meaning of one's life and how | | | | palatable to her Western students. This is |
| to achieve contentment. He had many students | | | | where the false information of Mikao Usui's |
| who followed his teachings before his | | | | being a Christian Monk began. She concocted a |
| breakthrough 21 days of fasting and | | | | story about Usui's worldwide quest for |
| meditation on top of the mountain. His | | | | spiritual enlightenment and magical healing |
| students referred to Usui's system of | | | | techniques based on his desire to understand |
| spiritual teachings as 'Usui Do' (Usui | | | | how Jesus healed and performed miracles. |
| hand-application) and the man himself named | | | | Today, there still exists a great deal of |
| his system a 'Method to Achieve Personal | | | | incorrect reference in many Reiki resources |
| Perfection'. Usui taught his system as a | | | | to Dr. Mikao Usui, Christian Doctor, who |
| method of self-discovery and development as | | | | studied theology. |
| well as a method for healing. | | | | |
| | | | In any case, Mrs. Takata had many students |
| He healed many people throughout Japan and | | | | and called herself a 'Grand Master'. This |
| taught a handful of people his teachings, | | | | type of delineation or hierarchy is |
| including three naval officers, one of who | | | | incongruent with the original teachings of |
| was named Dr. Chujiro Hayashi who is credited | | | | Usui, who was not concerned with any type of |
| with bringing the Reiki teachings to the West | | | | dogma or guru-worship with Reiki. Between |
| together with another student of Reiki, Mrs. | | | | 1970 and 1980, when Mrs. Takata died, she |
| Hawayo Takata. Mrs. Takata was Hawaiian and | | | | taught 22 'Reiki Masters' the teachings of |
| traveled to Japan to learn spiritual | | | | Dr. Hayashi, who in turn was teaching his |
| teachings under the tutelage of Dr. Hayashi. | | | | modified Usui Reiki Ryoho. From these |
| After Usui's death in 1926, Hayashi continued | | | | 'Masters' the Western World has been |
| with the teachings of Usui and renamed his | | | | indoctrinated with Reiki and it is now a |
| teaching center 'Hayashi Reiki Kenyu-kai, | | | | spiritual practice and healing method studied |
| (Hayashi Reiki Research Centre). He added | | | | by millions of people. In the 1990's many |
| hand positions for healing that are well | | | | Westeren Reiki teachers wanted to travel to |
| integrated into the now traditional Western | | | | Japan to uncover the 'original' Japanese |
| Reiki Ryoho. Mrs. Takata brought these | | | | Reiki techniques and clarify the beginnings |
| teachings back to Hawaii in 1937. | | | | of Reiki. |
| | | | |
| Mrs. Takata is said to be the last of | | | | This information continues to be cloudy, as |
| Hayashi's Reiki Master students before | | | | the living Japanese descendents of the |
| Hayashi took his own life in 1940. The | | | | 'original' Reiki techniques, in true Japanese |
| history of Western Reiki teachings can all be | | | | fashion, did not want to offend their guests |
| traced back to Mrs. Takata. There is some | | | | by offering conflicting information about |
| controversy regarding Mrs. Takata's | | | | Reiki's history. Much of what is practiced |
| storytelling on the part of communicating the | | | | and taught in Japan today actually comes from |
| history of Reiki to her students. At the time | | | | the more Western Style of Reiki Ryoho. |