Usui Memorial Hyakuten History

7/27/2019 Usui Memorial Hyakuten History

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Memorial to Dr. Usui at Saihoji Temple - Rev. Hyakuten

Inamoto (translation)

Memorial of the merits ofUsuiSensei, the founder of Reiho (ReikiRyoho) at Saihoji

Temple in Toyotama-gun, Japan

That which is attained within oneself after having accumulated the fruits of disciplined study and training is

called Toku and that which can be offered to others after having spread a path of teaching and salvation is

called Koh. Only with high merits and great virtues can one be a great founding teacher. Sagacious and

brilliant men of the olden time or the founders of new teachings and religious sects were all like that.

Someone like Usui Sensei can be counted among them. Sensei newly founded the method based on Reiki of

the universe to improve the mind and body. Having heard of his reputation all over, people crowded around

to seek his teachings and treatments. Ah, how popular it is!

Sensei, commonly known by the name Mikao, with an extra name Gyohan is from Taniani-mura

(village), Yamagata-gun (county), Gifu-ken (prefecture). He is descended from Chiba Tsunetane. His fathers

name was Taneuji, and was commonly called Uzaemon. His mother was from the Kawai family.

Sensei was born on August 15 of the first year of Keio (1865 AD). From his youth he surpassed his fellows

in hard work and endeavor. When he grew up he visited Europe and America, and studied in China. Despite

his will to succeed in life, he was stalemated and fell into great difficulties. However, in the face of adversity

he strove to train himself even more with the courage never to yield.

One day, he climbed Kurama-yama and after 21 days of a severe discipline without eating, he suddenly felt

One Great Reiki over his head and attained enlightenment and he obtained Reiki Ryoho. Then, he tried it on

himself and experimented on his family members. The efficacy was immediate. Sensei thought that it would

be far better to offer it widely to the general public and share its benefits than just to improve the well being

of his own family members.

In April of the 11th year of Taisho (1922 AD) he settled in Harajuku, Aoyama, Tokyo and set up the Gakkai

to teach Reiki Ryoho and give treatments. Even outside of the building it was full of pairs of shoes of the

visitors who had come from far and near.

In September of the 12th year (1923 AD) there was a great earthquake and a conflagration broke out.

Everywhere there were groans of pains from the wounded. Sensei, feeling pity for them, went out every

morning to go around the town, and he cured and saved an innumerable number of people. This is just a

broad outline of his relief activities during such an emergency.

Later on, as the dojo became too small, in February of the 14th year (1925 AD) the new suburban house

was built at Nakano according to divination. Due to his respected and far-reaching reputation many people
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from local districts wished to invite him. Sensei, accepting the invitations, went to Kure and then to

Hiroshima and Saga, and reached Fukuyama. Unexpectedly, he became ill and passed away there. It was

March 9 of the 15th year of Taisho (1926 AD), aged 62.

His spouse was Suzuki, and was called Sadako. One boy and one girl were born. The boy was named Fuji

and he succeeded to the family. Senseis personality was gentle and modest and he never behaved

ostentatiously. His physique was large and sturdy. He always wore a contented smile. He was stouthearted,

tolerant and very prudent upon undertaking a task. He was by nature versatile and loved to read books. He

engaged himself in history books, medical books, Buddhist scriptures, and Christian scriptures and was

well-versed in psychology, Taoism, even in the art of divination, incantation, and physiognomy. Presumably

Senseis background in the arts and sciences afforded him nourishment for his cultivation and discipline, and

it was very obvious that is was this cultivation and discipline that became the key to the creation of Reiho

(Reiki Ryoho).

On reflection, Reiho puts special emphasis not just on curing diseases, but also on enjoying well being in life

with correcting the mind and making the body healthy with the use of an innate healing ability. Thus, before

teaching, the Ikun (admonition) of the Meiji Emperor should reverently be read and Five Precepts be

chanted and kept in mind mornings and evenings.

Firstly, it reads Today do not anger, secondly it reads Do not worry, thirdly it reads Be thankful,

fourthly it reads Work with diligence, fifthly it reads Be kind to others.

These are truly great teachings for cultivation and discipline that agree with those great teachings of the

ancient sages and the wise. Sensei named these teachings Secret Method to Invite Happiness and

Miraculous Medicine to Cure All Diseases, notice the outstanding features of the teachings. Furthermore,

when it comes to teaching, it should be as easy and common as possible, nothing lofty. Another noted feature

is that during sitting in silent meditation withGasshoand reciting the Five Precepts mornings and evenings,

the pure and healthy minds can be cultivated and put into practice in ones daily routine. This is the reason

why Reiho is easily obtained by anyone.

Recently the course of the world has shifted and a great change in though has taken place. Fortunately with

spread of this Reiho, there will be many that supplement the way of the world and the minds of people. How

can it be for just the benefit of curing chronic diseases and longstanding complaints?

A little more than 2000 people became students of Sensei. Those senior disciples living in Tokyo gathered at

the Dojo and carried on the work (of the late Sensei) and those who lived in local districts also spread the

teachings. Although Sensei is gone, Reiho should still be widely propagated in the world for a long time. Ah,

how prominent and great Sensei is that he offers the teachings to people out there after having been

enlightened within!
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Of late the fellow disciples consulted with each other about building the stone memorial in a graveyard at

Saihoji Temple in Toyotama-gun so as to honor his merits and to make them immortalized, and I was asked

to write it. As I deeply submit to Senseis greatness and am happy for the very friendly teacher/disciple

relationships among fellow students, I could not decline the request, and I wrote a summary in the hope that

people in the future shall be reminded to look up at him in reverence.

February, the 2nd year of Showa (1927 AD)

Composed by: Ju-sanmi (subordinate 3rd rank),

Kun-santo (the 3rd Order of Merit),

Doctor of Literature

Okada Masayuki

Calligraphy by:Navy Rear Admiral

Ju-yonmi (subordinate 4th rank),

Kun-Santo (the 3rd Order of Merit),

Ko-yonkyu (the distinguished service 4th class)

Ushida Juzaburo

Translated and copyrighted by RevHyakuten Inamoto All Rights Reserved.
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from his pilgrimage, he performed some powerful healings and practiced Reiki

in his home and in the inner city slums where he gave Reiki to the poor, homeless

and destitute.


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In April of 1922 Usui moved to Tokyo and started a healing society named Usui

Reiki Ryoho Gakkai (Usui Reiki Healing Society in English). He opened up a

Reiki clinic in Harajuku, Aoyama, outside of Tokyo, where he began teaching his

system of Reiki. The clinic quickly was too small and Usui opened up anotherclinic in February of 1924 in Nakano, outside of Tokyo. According to Dr. Usuis

memorial stone at the Saihoji temple in Tokyo, he taught about 2,000 people

and initiated 21 Reiki Teachers (Reiki Teachers level, called Shinpiden; Usui

did not use the term Reiki Master, which was introduced later by Hawayo

Takata) ([2] states that he initiated 21 Reiki teachers, while [5] states that he

only initiated 16). Dr. Usui appointed Dr. Chujiro Hayashi to preserve the Reiki

teachings.

Dr. Mikao Usui [6].


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Dr. Chujiro Hayashi was born on September 15th, 1880 and met Usui at the age

of 45 and spent two years following Dr. Usui practicing Reiki in the slums ([2]

states that Hayashi only studied with Usui for 10 months before Usuis death).

Dr. Usui attuned Hayashi as Reiki Master at age 47 and made him the GrandMaster of the Reiki tradition ([5] states that the title Grand Master was

never part of the original Usui system; [7] states that Hayashi became a Reiki

Master at the age of 46).

Dr. Hayashi founded a Reiki clinic in Tokyo, which had ten Reiki tables ([7]

states that it had eight tables). His clinic used a method where several/two

Reiki Practitioners worked on a client at the same time to maximize the flow of

energy. To encourage practitioners to join his clinic, Hayashi attunedpractitioners for free in return for three months of work in his clinic. After

that time, he offered the better students the second degree attunement for a

further nine month work commitment. Those who completed this second work

commitment had a chance to receive the third degree attunement (teacher

level). After two more years of commitment, practitioners were attuned to

become Reiki Masters. Hayashi modified Usuis teachings, including a method of

attunement utilizing symbols and mantras, and also created a system of Reiki

degrees. He developed a more complex set of hand positions. He attuned many

Reiki Practitioners and 13 Reiki Masters. He passed his Reiki teachings to his

wife and to Hawayo Takata. He died on May 11th, 1940, not long after appointing

Hawayo Takata the Grand Master of the Usui Reiki System of Manual Healing

in February of 1938.

Hayashi developed a new handbook Reiki Ryoho Shinshin (Guidelines for Reiki

Healing Method) [7]. Differences to Usui's teaching were that Hayashi hadtwo or more practitioners treating each recipient (vs. one-one-one treatments),

that he focused more on the meridian lines of acupuncture and the chakras (vs.

focus on the tanden and navel), and that he described hand positions relative to

organs (vs. in relation to vertebrae). Hayashi placed much emphasis on the five

Reiki precepts (Gokai) and on receiving regular attunements during Reiju-kai

(attunement sessions).


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Dr. Chujiro Hayashi [6].

Hawayo Takata was born on December 24, 1900 in Kauai, Hawaii as daughter of

Japanese immigrants [5] ([2] mentions December 25, 1900 as Takatas birth

date). After the death of her husband in 1930 and her sister in 1935, she

moved to Japan where she became very ill ([5] mentions that she became ill

while still in Hawaii) and was told that she needed surgery. She insisted on an

alternative to surgery and Dr. Hayashis Reiki clinic was recommended to her.

After four months of intensive daily treatments she was completely healed ofher illnesses and lived to be 80 years old. Takata had a strong desire to learn

Reiki for her own healing and also to heal others. Dr. Hayashi attuned her to

be a first degree Reiki Practitioner on December 10th 1936 and she received

her second degree attunement in 1937. She returned to Hawaii and Dr. Hayashi

visited her in Hawaii and during that visit attuned her to be a Reiki Master on

February 21, 1938. Between 1940 and 1970, Takata ran several Reiki clinics (in

Hilo, HI and Honolulu, HI) and taught many classes in Hawaii.


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Hawayo Takata [6].

Below is an advertisement by Takata in a local newspaper, the Tribune Herald,

dated March 3, 1941 (this was before the attack on Pearl Harbor) [1].

It lists Takata's Hilo clinic at 2070 Kilauea Ave. in Hilo, HI and is now occupied

by the Kline Chiropractic Clinic.


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Takata's Reiki sign is still in the basement of the building [1].

Above and behind the words in the upper left of the sign the work "Reiki" can

be seen. Takata apparently changed her mind about advertising Reiki (perhapsafter the start of World War II).

Hawayo Takata started attuning Reiki Masters in the United States in the early

1970s. She attuned 22 Reiki Masters to what she termed The Usui System of

Natural Healing or Usui Shiki Ryoho. She charged $10,000 to become a Reiki

Master, in order to instill a greater respect for Reiki. Hawayo Takata died in

1979 ([5] states that she died on December 11, 1980).

While Dr. Usui and also Dr. Hayashi issued Reiki training manuals and allowed

their students to take notes, Hawayo Takata popularized the notion of Reiki

being an oral tradition, i.e., no manuals existed. This led to changes to Takatas

system of Reiki as Reiki Masters added and removed various aspects of the

original training. In the early 1990s, Dr. Usuis memorial (in 1993) and also Dr.

Usuis [3] and Dr. Hayashis [4] Reiki training manuals were discovered. It was

also discovered that there exists a Japanese Reiki Learning Society, the Reiki

Gakkai.


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Dr. Usuis memorial stone [6] at the Saihoji temple in the Suginami district of

Tokyo and is about 10 feet tall and 4 feet wide.

The Reiki Gakkai was formed in 1922 by Dr. Usui and was open to his students.

The Reiki Gakkai still exists today. In 1999, some of the original methods

taught by the Reiki Gakkai were revealed by Hiroshi Doi, who is a member of

the Reiki Gakkai. Usui was most likely never the official (but an honorary)

president of the Reiki Gakkai. Jusaburo Ushida, who was the second presidentof the Reiki Gakkai, was also the author of Dr. Usuis memorial stone. The Reiki

Gakkai has six Proficiency Levels in the teachings and it takes as long as ten

years to attain the third level. The Reiki Gakkai is based in Tokyo and has

currently about 500 members.

Since Chujiro Hayashi modified Usuis Reiki system and Hawayo Takata

inherited Hayashis system under the Usui name, what was taught to western

Reiki students as Usui Reiki was initially considered the only style of Reiki


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(even though Usui attuned 20 Reiki Masters other than Hayashi), but is in

reality the Hayashi/Takata style of Reiki. Takatas students were under the

impression that she was the only living successor of the Reiki tradition (and

that all other students and teachers had died prior to or during World War II).

New Findings Contradicting Some of Takatas Story

Hawayo Takata brought Reiki to the West just before World War II started

(with the Japanese attack of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, where Takata lived and

practiced Reiki). At that time, basically nothing of Japanese origin was received

with enthusiasm. The thinking is that Takata decided that the only way for her

to continue practicing Reiki would be to make the founder of Reiki appear to be

more of a Westerner. This may have led her to state that Usui had been a

Christian minister, that he had attended a University in the United States and

that he had been president of a Christian University in Japan.

The Takata story depicts Dr. Usui as a Christian, teaching theology at the

Doshisha Christian University in Japan, however, recent research shows that

Usui was a devoted Buddhist and Doshisha Christian University states having no

knowledge or record of Mikao Usui (a letter from Doshisha Christian University

stating this in on page 303 in [5]). Also, he is buried at the Saihoji temple, which

is a Buddhist temple.

The Takatastory also states that Usui traveled to the United States and

received a Doctorate from the University of Chicago in the late 1880s. The

University of Chicago has confirmed that it has no records of Mikao Usui(letter by the University of Chicago on page 304 in [5]).

It became also known that Takata had contact with several Reiki Masters in

Japan after World War II and Reiki has been practiced continuously over the

years [5], even though Takata advertised herself as the only Reiki Master in

the world (e.g., in an advertisement of her classes in 1976 on page 302 in [5]).


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Takata also told students that she taught an unaltered form of Usui Reiki, but

(leaving out that Hayashi already modified Usuis system) it turns out that

Takata did not teach some of Usuis exercises, while her diary shows that she

knew about them (e.g., Kokyo-Ho and Reiji-Ho).

Takata taught that Dr. Usui had rediscovered Reiki in a formula in one of the

Buddhist sutras that he read in Sanskrit at a Zen temple, while Dr. Usui states

in his handbook Reiki Ryoho Hikkei (Reiki Treatment Companion in English)

that Reiki is something original and Usuis memorial stone has inscribed that

Reiki came from Usuis mystical experience on Mt. Kurama.

References

[1]Mrs. Takatas Hilo Clinic , W.L. Randhttp://www.reikiwebstore.com/ProductPage.cfm?ProductID=456&Categ

oryID=16

[2]Reiki HealerA Complete Guide to the Path and Practice of ReikibyLawrence Ellyard, Lotus Press, 2004.

[3]The Original Reiki Handbook of Dr. Mikao Usuiby Dr. Mikao Usui andFrank Arjava Petter, Lotus Press 2007.

[4]The Hayashi Reiki Manualby Frank Arjava Petter, Tadao Yamaguchi andChujiro Hayashi, Lotus Press 2003.

[5]The Spirit of ReikiThe Complete Handbook of the Reiki SystembyWalter Lbeck, Frank Arjava Petter and William Lee Rand, Lotus Press

2006.

[6]http://www.shamanreiki.ca/reikihistory.html

[7]The Story of Dr. Chujiro Hayashiby Marianne Streich, Reiki NewsMagazine, Fall 2009, pp. 36-41.
http://www.reikiwebstore.com/ProductPage.cfm?ProductID=456&CategoryID=16http://www.reikiwebstore.com/ProductPage.cfm?ProductID=456&CategoryID=16http://www.reikiwebstore.com/ProductPage.cfm?ProductID=456&CategoryID=16http://www.shamanreiki.ca/reikihistory.htmlhttp://www.shamanreiki.ca/reikihistory.htmlhttp://www.shamanreiki.ca/reikihistory.htmlhttp://www.shamanreiki.ca/reikihistory.htmlhttp://www.reikiwebstore.com/ProductPage.cfm?ProductID=456&CategoryID=16http://www.reikiwebstore.com/ProductPage.cfm?ProductID=456&CategoryID=16

Documents

Usui Memorial Hyakuten History