JourneyintotheReikiPrecepts

TheGokai(alsoknownasReikiPrecepts,PrinciplesorIdeals)areconsideredtheheartofUsuiReikiRyoho.Theyaretaughttosupportstudentsontheirspiritualpathofself-healing.Recommendedasprinciplestoliveby,thesepreceptsofferacodeofpracticeandguidelinesforliving.ThesesimpleyetpowerfulphrasesaresaidtobeasinfluentialtoourhealinganddevelopmentastheenergyworkcomponentoftheReikisystem,thereforenottobeoverlooked.HowdidtheReikiPreceptscomeabout?AlthoughsomehavesaidtheyarethewordsoftheMeijiEmperorwhowrotemanypoemsonmoralguidance,itismorelikelythatUsuiSenseicapturedthesepowerfulphrasesbasedon“APathtoSoundness”writtenbyDr.SuzukiBizanpublishedin1914whichreads:

“Todayonly,Benotangry,Benotfearful,Withhonesty,Performdiligentlyyourduty,Bekindtoothers.”*

MuchofthehistoryofReiki,includingthePreceptscamefromthewritingsetchedonMikaoUsui’smemorialstoneathisgravesiteatSaihojiTempleinTokyo.ThestonewaserectedbymembersoftheUsuiReikiRyohoGakkaiin1927,oneyearafterSenseiUsui’spassing.

TheGokaiorReikiPreceptsisJapaneseinoriginaswiththepracticeofUsuiReikiRyoho(Reikiforshort).Sinceitrequirestranslation,thereareseveralvariationsoftheReikiPrecepts.Onemoreliteraltranslation(asfoundonTheReikiJourneyCD): TheSecretMethodofInvitingBlessings,

TheSpiritualMedicineofManyIllnessesJustfortoday… Donotanger Donotworry Begrateful Workhonestly Bekindtoothers.

Anothersomewhatgentlertranslationis:

Justfortoday…IletgoofangerIletgoofworryIgivethanksformymanyblessingsIamhonestinmyworkIamkindtomyself,myneighborandeverylivingthing.

WithintheReikisystem,thePreceptsareapowertooltoassistusincultivatingspiritualdevelopment.Attheveryminimum,theyarewaystobringusintothepresentandupliftourthinking.

Reciteyourpreferredversiondaily,toguideyouinachieving“happinessthroughmanyblessings”and“improvementofmindandbody”.Chantthem,contemplatethem,meditateonthem.Repeatthemagainandagaintoencouragepresentmomentawarenessandestablishnewthoughtpatterns.MakeitagoaltolivebythesePrecepts.GodeeperintothetreasureoftheReikiPreceptswiththeprogramJourneyintotheReikiPreceptswithGinnyMackles.Formoreinformation:www.JourneytoMindfulLiving.com*Source:HyakutenInamoto,FounderofKomyoReikiKai