Tibetan Reiki
Hi all, can anyone give a line on Tibetan reiki. Books, history? Anything? love and light Ian;)
Answers:
Dear Ian,
An American man called Arthur Robertson - one of Iris Ishikuro's students I believe - introduced some supposedly Tibetan symbols into Reiki ('Tibetan' Master symbol, Fire Dragon/Serpent), and they have been passed down various lineages, for example Wm Rand.
It's just a few symbols really as far as I can see. Reiki does not have Tibetan origins, and I think we can put the word Tibetan in inverted commas anyway.
Best wishes,
Answers:
Dear Ian
I agree with Taggart on most points..
Arthur Robertson introduced Tibetan Reiki Symbols and I have discovered that a majority of people use this Masters Symbol without realising it is Tibetan and not part of the orignal Usui system.
Why because it is much simpler and easier to use. So my Reiki Master taught us both Reiki Master symbols that have the same name.
Arthur Robertson also introduced the chakra system (as I understand it) to Reiki in the 1980's in replacement for the reference to the Hara and tan-den that Dr Usui used.
My truth is that Reiki (maybe under guises) has always been part of the esoteric part of Buddhism buried like all esoteric practices, and one cannot ignore the influence of Tibet on Buddhism and the hidden practices that still remain there to this day. I have a book on Tibetan Medicine that is also very interesting indeed.
The film 'Hidden Dragon, Crouching Tiger' is just a glimpse of our potentiality and what has been hidden from us down the ages.
Long live Tibet! May it be free very soon........
being love
kim xx
Answers:
The Master Symbol you talk about - do you mean the one that in a way resemble the CKR, like a whirl?
I found it in Diane Stein's book and it is much easier to remember and draw. (Learning things by heart is so difficult )
Love and Light
Bee
Answers:
Dear Bee,
The "Tibetan" Master Symbol - which we should say has nothing to do with Reiki and has been added in like many things over the years - looks like a cone with a lightning flash in it.
Best wishes,
Answers:
Hi..
I was thinking about the label 'Tibetan' Reiki.. or any other labesl Reiki may have,and thought, why would any healing be linked to a name, of course other than Usui, who opened himeself to receive the energy so peoples of earth could learn and find this path... after all, Life Force Energy is just that, it is universal and would not be anything other.. if you get my meaning lol.. I know what I am saying, but you know what it is like when writing out thoughts lol....
We could say, that where people have gone off on their journeys after being attuned etc, have been given new symbols, maybe additional techniques to their training etc, and this would be anywhere in the world, as to where one is living, so in time, will anyone be saying English Reiki, American Reiki..
So for me, Reiki is just Reiki, the life force energy, universal energy.. a energy to bring balance into our 'being' etc.. and also the more healers that work with this energy, will in time I believe help raise the energies of the earth if not already..
Sorry, hope I have not lost the plost but thinking out loud as to my thoughts, which are just my persepective and may not gel with all... lol
Love Flowerx
Answers:
Then it is not the one I use. Thanks for the info.
Love and Light
Bee
Answers:
Dear Bee,
I have just had a look in my copy of Essential Reiki, and it is the same one I'm thinking of, only Diane Stein's one is a bit mutated when compared with the ones I've seen. She has more of a spiral at the bottom, but it's still a 'drinking vessel' with a lightning flash in it.
Best wishes,
Answers:
Dear Taggart,
Well,.. what is there to say... Yes, I've noted the mini-Raku in it. But I still think the rounded shape fits well into Reiki.
When I was attuned to Reiki III 6 months ago, I was given two similar "official" versions of the DKM to chose between. Both hard to learn by heart. Then I looked into my dear Essential Reiki again (it's still something of a house-bible to me, bought it after R1) and found the one I now use. I don't remember if there's any mentioning of Tibetan origin.
I'm happy with it and I will continue to use it. I won't worry - not today :)
(I'm still having trouble as it is with the 3rd symbol! LOL )
Love and Light
Bee
Answers:
Hi Bee,
Well I wasn't really thinking about the shape not being Reiki-like. I was just saying that this symbol has nothing to do with Reiki and was added in during its journey in the West, like many, many other symbols used in some Reiki lineages nowadays.
There were only ever four symbols in Reiki. That was enough. Three at second degree and one at Master level.
Essential Reiki is an interesting and quirky book, and IMO most of the stuff in there isn't anything to do with Reiki!
If you would like to see the Japanese DKM - rather than our distorted Western ones - have a look at my web site. If you click on 'About Reiki' and 'The Reiki Symbols' you can see the symbols that Hayashi taught to one of his Master students, Tatsumi.
Best wishes,
Answers:
Well I wish i'd never mentioned it. You seem to be very self opinionated Taggart. I don't think you got the point of my question, which was about Tibetan energy healing (similar to Reiki). It should have been the word Reiki in brackets not Tibet! Thanks for any info anyway. lol Ian
Answers:
Dear Reikidude,
Well, yes, I do have opinions.
You didn't ask about Tibetan energy healing, you asked about Tibetan Reiki.
Best wishes,
Answers:
Yes, sorry, my mitake. Its just that I have always had an interest in Tibet ever since childhood, for some reason, and i've read in some books on Reiki, mention of origin in Tibet. Sorry for my coment, its seemed that you were dismissing anyones thoughts on Tibetan 'style' reiki. Guess thats how I should have written it. Thanks for your thoughts. :)
Answers:
Hi Reikidude,
Welcome to the forums and this duscussion.
Reiki has it's origins in Buddhism - Usui Sensei was a Buddhist - and Buddhism spread from India to Tibet and to Japan via China. Therefore, Reiki can be said to have originated in any one of the countries through which it spread.
It is my opinion that it does not matter where it originated. We have Reiki now and we practise Reiki now and it's origins are purely academic.
Those who create further subdivisions or different forms of Reiki, Tibetan, Seichem, Seikem,Karuna, Karuna-Ki,Golden Light, Wei Chi (I could go on and on) - are only surrendering to to the unfortunate modern-day trait of 'New and Improved' - and in the process generating themselves extra income (in most cases).
We have Reiki and, in the phrase ' If it ain't broke, don't fix it!', relax and enjoy and don't worry.
I, too, have feelings of a strong connection with Tibet but this could be the remembrance of a former life there or that one or more of my guides are Tibetan.
I don't worry about it or seek Tibetan Reiki - I just enjoy the feeling and try, in my own small way, to strengthen my knowledge of things Tibetan.
Answers:
Hello
I thought I would add my comments to the discussion thread that I have been following. The following I hope will be of interest to you.
Reiki or perhaps we should call it Usui Reiki as a word we all know to be translatable as Universal Life Force energy. This form of energy is part of the same stream that would cover most energetic healing systems. This would make all energetic forms of healing Reiki systems. For example Karuna, Grecian, Rainbow to name just a couple out of the myriad that have sprung up over the years.
Dr Usui as far as I am aware never called his system Reiki, I believe he called it Usui Shiki Ryoho and has been quoted as stating that his natural form of healing used Reiki energies. Usui was a Budhhist monk when he brought his system into being. I believe prior to monkhood he had been an unsuccessful business man. but I guess that was how he was brought to his path.
The Usui system as we know it in the west (I have seen it called Western Reiki recently) came out of the Medicine Buddha system, all of the symbols used in the system are Buddhist in origin (as far as origins can be determined).
As for Diane Stein; whilst I am not a great fan of most books written about Reiki and energy healing, I think praise should be lauded where it is due. Simply Diane Stein’s contribution to Reiki is probably greater than any other. Her book is as good a treatise on the Reiki system as anything else, but more importantly it demystified the system and by openly showing the secret symbols she opened the whole system and made it available to the world. Had she not done so then I suspect that the $10,000 price tag on being a master would still be in existence.
I cannot call her book quirky, rather it is informative, and her assessment of Reiki’s origins have been validated by other researchers in this field. If there are faults or inaccuracies then perhaps they lie with the symbols themselves as well as her recounting the fairy story or myth of how Reiki came to the west, and the importance of Hayshi and Takata. She like many others could only relate what they were told or taught to be the truth as at that time.
There was link to look at the standard Usui system symbols. Reference was made to what appeared on a Canadian Site, which is really no different to what has appeared in most books and web sites over the years including Diane Steins book. I do not propose to make much comment on the validity of these symbols and purported meanings but I will comment on the Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen.
Any residual idea that Reiki is not Buddhist in origin should disappear after reading the following. The correct translation of the Hon Sha is “right consciousness is the root to everything” This sentence is one of spokes of the eightfold noble path which is the wheel that Buddha stated that should be followed in order to overcome pain and suffering. To give this a little more flavour some of the others spokes are read as HonShaZeSho Go, HonShaZeSho Myo, HonShaZeSho Jo etc.. All 8 of them have the words "Hon Sha Ze ..."
Just because the Hon Sha appears in Kanji form ie it is read from head to toe, looks ideogrammatical to westerners, is Eastern and spoken in a foreign tongue. This does not make it a symbol. It is after all a sentence. On that basis should we look at all courtouches or foreign writings and turn them into esoteric symbols as well? I do not diminish its meaning nor its importance but suggest that rather using this as a symbol it should be used in the way it was intended as a route to entering into a state of consciousness, and simply the old adage of a repeating the name 3 times, and drawing a sentence in the air is no more effective than using abracadabra as a symbol for time and space.
It is after all how your consciousness is involved that will open up the door.
I have had the honour and pleasure to teach energy healing systems for a number of years and I still seek truth and meaning. I would prefer the idea of expanding Paul’s quote from a later post from “if
Answers:
Dear Ian,
An American man called Arthur Robertson - one of Iris Ishikuro's students I believe - introduced some supposedly Tibetan symbols into Reiki ('Tibetan' Master symbol, Fire Dragon/Serpent), and they have been passed down various lineages, for example Wm Rand.
It's just a few symbols really as far as I can see. Reiki does not have Tibetan origins, and I think we can put the word Tibetan in inverted commas anyway.
Best wishes,
Answers:
Dear Ian
I agree with Taggart on most points..
Arthur Robertson introduced Tibetan Reiki Symbols and I have discovered that a majority of people use this Masters Symbol without realising it is Tibetan and not part of the orignal Usui system.
Why because it is much simpler and easier to use. So my Reiki Master taught us both Reiki Master symbols that have the same name.
Arthur Robertson also introduced the chakra system (as I understand it) to Reiki in the 1980's in replacement for the reference to the Hara and tan-den that Dr Usui used.
My truth is that Reiki (maybe under guises) has always been part of the esoteric part of Buddhism buried like all esoteric practices, and one cannot ignore the influence of Tibet on Buddhism and the hidden practices that still remain there to this day. I have a book on Tibetan Medicine that is also very interesting indeed.
The film 'Hidden Dragon, Crouching Tiger' is just a glimpse of our potentiality and what has been hidden from us down the ages.
Long live Tibet! May it be free very soon........
being love
kim xx
Answers:
The Master Symbol you talk about - do you mean the one that in a way resemble the CKR, like a whirl?
I found it in Diane Stein's book and it is much easier to remember and draw. (Learning things by heart is so difficult )
Love and Light
Bee
Answers:
Dear Bee,
The "Tibetan" Master Symbol - which we should say has nothing to do with Reiki and has been added in like many things over the years - looks like a cone with a lightning flash in it.
Best wishes,
Answers:
Hi..
I was thinking about the label 'Tibetan' Reiki.. or any other labesl Reiki may have,and thought, why would any healing be linked to a name, of course other than Usui, who opened himeself to receive the energy so peoples of earth could learn and find this path... after all, Life Force Energy is just that, it is universal and would not be anything other.. if you get my meaning lol.. I know what I am saying, but you know what it is like when writing out thoughts lol....
We could say, that where people have gone off on their journeys after being attuned etc, have been given new symbols, maybe additional techniques to their training etc, and this would be anywhere in the world, as to where one is living, so in time, will anyone be saying English Reiki, American Reiki..
So for me, Reiki is just Reiki, the life force energy, universal energy.. a energy to bring balance into our 'being' etc.. and also the more healers that work with this energy, will in time I believe help raise the energies of the earth if not already..
Sorry, hope I have not lost the plost but thinking out loud as to my thoughts, which are just my persepective and may not gel with all... lol
Love Flowerx
Answers:
Then it is not the one I use. Thanks for the info.
Love and Light
Bee
Answers:
Dear Bee,
I have just had a look in my copy of Essential Reiki, and it is the same one I'm thinking of, only Diane Stein's one is a bit mutated when compared with the ones I've seen. She has more of a spiral at the bottom, but it's still a 'drinking vessel' with a lightning flash in it.
Best wishes,
Answers:
Dear Taggart,
Well,.. what is there to say... Yes, I've noted the mini-Raku in it. But I still think the rounded shape fits well into Reiki.
When I was attuned to Reiki III 6 months ago, I was given two similar "official" versions of the DKM to chose between. Both hard to learn by heart. Then I looked into my dear Essential Reiki again (it's still something of a house-bible to me, bought it after R1) and found the one I now use. I don't remember if there's any mentioning of Tibetan origin.
I'm happy with it and I will continue to use it. I won't worry - not today :)
(I'm still having trouble as it is with the 3rd symbol! LOL )
Love and Light
Bee
Answers:
Hi Bee,
Well I wasn't really thinking about the shape not being Reiki-like. I was just saying that this symbol has nothing to do with Reiki and was added in during its journey in the West, like many, many other symbols used in some Reiki lineages nowadays.
There were only ever four symbols in Reiki. That was enough. Three at second degree and one at Master level.
Essential Reiki is an interesting and quirky book, and IMO most of the stuff in there isn't anything to do with Reiki!
If you would like to see the Japanese DKM - rather than our distorted Western ones - have a look at my web site. If you click on 'About Reiki' and 'The Reiki Symbols' you can see the symbols that Hayashi taught to one of his Master students, Tatsumi.
Best wishes,
Answers:
Well I wish i'd never mentioned it. You seem to be very self opinionated Taggart. I don't think you got the point of my question, which was about Tibetan energy healing (similar to Reiki). It should have been the word Reiki in brackets not Tibet! Thanks for any info anyway. lol Ian
Answers:
Dear Reikidude,
Well, yes, I do have opinions.
You didn't ask about Tibetan energy healing, you asked about Tibetan Reiki.
Best wishes,
Answers:
Yes, sorry, my mitake. Its just that I have always had an interest in Tibet ever since childhood, for some reason, and i've read in some books on Reiki, mention of origin in Tibet. Sorry for my coment, its seemed that you were dismissing anyones thoughts on Tibetan 'style' reiki. Guess thats how I should have written it. Thanks for your thoughts. :)
Answers:
Hi Reikidude,
Welcome to the forums and this duscussion.
Reiki has it's origins in Buddhism - Usui Sensei was a Buddhist - and Buddhism spread from India to Tibet and to Japan via China. Therefore, Reiki can be said to have originated in any one of the countries through which it spread.
It is my opinion that it does not matter where it originated. We have Reiki now and we practise Reiki now and it's origins are purely academic.
Those who create further subdivisions or different forms of Reiki, Tibetan, Seichem, Seikem,Karuna, Karuna-Ki,Golden Light, Wei Chi (I could go on and on) - are only surrendering to to the unfortunate modern-day trait of 'New and Improved' - and in the process generating themselves extra income (in most cases).
We have Reiki and, in the phrase ' If it ain't broke, don't fix it!', relax and enjoy and don't worry.
I, too, have feelings of a strong connection with Tibet but this could be the remembrance of a former life there or that one or more of my guides are Tibetan.
I don't worry about it or seek Tibetan Reiki - I just enjoy the feeling and try, in my own small way, to strengthen my knowledge of things Tibetan.
Answers:
Hello
I thought I would add my comments to the discussion thread that I have been following. The following I hope will be of interest to you.
Reiki or perhaps we should call it Usui Reiki as a word we all know to be translatable as Universal Life Force energy. This form of energy is part of the same stream that would cover most energetic healing systems. This would make all energetic forms of healing Reiki systems. For example Karuna, Grecian, Rainbow to name just a couple out of the myriad that have sprung up over the years.
Dr Usui as far as I am aware never called his system Reiki, I believe he called it Usui Shiki Ryoho and has been quoted as stating that his natural form of healing used Reiki energies. Usui was a Budhhist monk when he brought his system into being. I believe prior to monkhood he had been an unsuccessful business man. but I guess that was how he was brought to his path.
The Usui system as we know it in the west (I have seen it called Western Reiki recently) came out of the Medicine Buddha system, all of the symbols used in the system are Buddhist in origin (as far as origins can be determined).
As for Diane Stein; whilst I am not a great fan of most books written about Reiki and energy healing, I think praise should be lauded where it is due. Simply Diane Stein’s contribution to Reiki is probably greater than any other. Her book is as good a treatise on the Reiki system as anything else, but more importantly it demystified the system and by openly showing the secret symbols she opened the whole system and made it available to the world. Had she not done so then I suspect that the $10,000 price tag on being a master would still be in existence.
I cannot call her book quirky, rather it is informative, and her assessment of Reiki’s origins have been validated by other researchers in this field. If there are faults or inaccuracies then perhaps they lie with the symbols themselves as well as her recounting the fairy story or myth of how Reiki came to the west, and the importance of Hayshi and Takata. She like many others could only relate what they were told or taught to be the truth as at that time.
There was link to look at the standard Usui system symbols. Reference was made to what appeared on a Canadian Site, which is really no different to what has appeared in most books and web sites over the years including Diane Steins book. I do not propose to make much comment on the validity of these symbols and purported meanings but I will comment on the Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen.
Any residual idea that Reiki is not Buddhist in origin should disappear after reading the following. The correct translation of the Hon Sha is “right consciousness is the root to everything” This sentence is one of spokes of the eightfold noble path which is the wheel that Buddha stated that should be followed in order to overcome pain and suffering. To give this a little more flavour some of the others spokes are read as HonShaZeSho Go, HonShaZeSho Myo, HonShaZeSho Jo etc.. All 8 of them have the words "Hon Sha Ze ..."
Just because the Hon Sha appears in Kanji form ie it is read from head to toe, looks ideogrammatical to westerners, is Eastern and spoken in a foreign tongue. This does not make it a symbol. It is after all a sentence. On that basis should we look at all courtouches or foreign writings and turn them into esoteric symbols as well? I do not diminish its meaning nor its importance but suggest that rather using this as a symbol it should be used in the way it was intended as a route to entering into a state of consciousness, and simply the old adage of a repeating the name 3 times, and drawing a sentence in the air is no more effective than using abracadabra as a symbol for time and space.
It is after all how your consciousness is involved that will open up the door.
I have had the honour and pleasure to teach energy healing systems for a number of years and I still seek truth and meaning. I would prefer the idea of expanding Paul’s quote from a later post from “if