| Can we return to the traditional roots of a | | | | Bronwen and Frans Stiene traveled to Japan in |
| system that appears to have become almost | | | | 2001 and their experiences with modern |
| inseparable from the New Age movement? | | | | Japanese teachers during this journey are |
| | | | related here in their article 'In Search of |
| The International House of Reiki would like | | | | the Roots of Reiki'. They invited Inamoto |
| to think so. | | | | Hyakuten to teach in Australia in 2003. |
| | | | |
| Having begun in the early 1900s in Japan, the | | | | Some teachers are emerging today as highly |
| system of Reiki spread throughout the world | | | | influential in the modern world of Reiki or |
| with the help of Hawayo Takata. After her | | | | in Usui's original teachings. These are: |
| death in 1980 there was confusion between her | | | | |
| students as to what the exact teachings were. | | | | Doi Hiroshi |
| Dogma became a necessity for some new | | | | |
| branches while others freely interpreted the | | | | Inamoto Hyakuten |
| system to mean what they felt was | | | | |
| appropriate. Out of this a backlash | | | | Chris Marsh |
| eventually developed and practitioners began | | | | |
| researching what they were practising and | | | | Doi Hiroshi |
| teaching. | | | | |
| | | | Teacher of Gendai Reiki Ho and initiator of |
| Throughout the 1990s practitioners returned | | | | Usui Reiki Ryoho. Doi Hiroshi is also a |
| to Japan and met traditional groups and | | | | member of the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai. He |
| teachers who still practised there. There was | | | | officially joined the society on the 22nd of |
| a blossoming of information from Japan and a | | | | October 1993 and completed Okuden, Level II, |
| greater sharing of information between East | | | | in 2003. Doi Hiroshi has studied many styles |
| and West. This has helped many Western | | | | of Reiki, Western and Japanese, as well as |
| practitioners to teach from a more open and | | | | numerous energetic and spiritual techniques. |
| enlightened viewpoint than had previously | | | | He was one of the first Japanese to study |
| been possible. One development from this has | | | | Levels 1 and 2 with Mieko Mitsui who was |
| been the introduction of international Reiki | | | | teaching Barbara Weber Ray's The Radiance |
| events that have included Japanese teachers. | | | | Technique in Japan. He also studied all 3 |
| Teachers who currently travel from Japan | | | | levels of a system of Reiki called Neo Reiki |
| include Doi Hiroshi and Inamoto Hyakuten. | | | | and has trained with Yamaguchi Chiyoko. |
| | | | |
| Just two years ago there were said to be 12 | | | | Inamoto Hyakuten |
| students of Usui Mikao alive and still | | | | |
| practising his teachings in Japan. Today this | | | | Teacher and founder of Komyo Reiki Kai. |
| number has dwindled to just five. An | | | | Inamoto Hyakuten has developed this form of |
| Englishmen, Chris Marsh, has been slowly | | | | Reiki from the teachings of Yamaguchi Chiyoko |
| passing these teachings on to the West. One | | | | who studied with Usui's student Hayashi |
| of these old students, Suzuki san, is his | | | | Chujiro. Inamoto Hyakuten has also been a |
| teacher and is the cousin of Mikao Usui. | | | | translator for Doi Hiroshi and has translated |
| | | | Usui Mikao's memorial stone inscription that |
| Other information is being taught by | | | | can be found on this site. Inamoto Hyakuten |
| practitioners claiming to have discovered | | | | is teaching around the world and taught in |
| information through old students or | | | | Australia at the request of the International |
| researched material. It is hoped that in the | | | | House of Reiki in May, 2003. |
| future the continuing 'new' information that | | | | |
| surfaces can be verified and consequently aid | | | | Chris Marsh |
| all practitioners. Over the last few years | | | | |
| there has been information taught, such as | | | | Chris Marsh is an Iaido practitioner and |
| Medicine Dharma Reiki (also known as | | | | teacher in England as well as a professional |
| Universal Reiki Healing and Men Chhos Reiki) | | | | musician. On one of his regular visits to |
| that made claims of having original notes and | | | | Japan he was invited to meet with Suzuki san |
| teachings from Mikao Usui. It now appears | | | | san and eventually her fellow students (all |
| that this is untrue. Students had devoted | | | | aged somewhere between their late 90s and 112 |
| their time (and money) to these teachings. | | | | years of age). These students had studied |
| The result was embarrassment and general | | | | with Usui Mikao in the early 1900s but do not |
| confusion. To ensure that this does not | | | | call what they teach 'Reiki'. There are some |
| happen again all students-to-be should first | | | | fundamental differences to the system of |
| check out their teachers and what they teach. | | | | Reiki as it is taught today. Instead it is |
| Associations are just one way of going about | | | | easier to refer to these teachings as simply |
| this. | | | | - Usui's teachings. |
| | | | |