The Origin of Original Japanese Usui Reiki Ryoho
The Usui memorial is located at the Saihoji temple in the Suginami district of Tokyo. It was erected by Usui Sensei’s students in 1927 shortly after his death. It is maintained by the Usui Shiki Reiki Ryoho, the organization started by Usui Sensei. The memorial stone is about 10 feet tall and 4 feet wide. The inscription on the Usui Memorial was written in old Japanese by Mr. Okada, a member of the Usui Shiki Reiki Ryoho and Mr. Ushida, who became president after Usui Sensei’s passing.
The following is the epitaph engraved on the monument:
Qualities you obtain through training and practices are called Toku 徳. Spreading training and
helping methods is called Kou 功. Those who do many Kou and own big Toku are great founders
just like people who founded a religion, started a new study, wise men and philosophers. Usui Sensei
was among them.
Usui Sensei started a new method to improve ourselves with Reiki from the Universe. So many
people came to meet Usui Sensei for treatments. It was a big and positive movement.
His given name was Mikao, and his alias was Gyohan. His father was Taneuji and his alias was
Uzaemon, his mother was from the Kawai family. His ancestry originated from Tsunetane Chiba,
who was a military commander around the 12th Century. Usui Sensei was born on August 15, 1865,
in Gifu Prefecture, Japan. He was an excellent student and his performance far exceeded his
classmates.
After he grew up, he studied abroad in China and Europe. His success did not match his capabilities
and he sometimes struggled financially, but he continued working very hard.
One day, he began fasting and hard training on Mount Kurama. On the 21st day, he was struck by a
strong Reiki energy on his head. He then experienced Oneness and was given Reiki Ryoho. He tried
Reiki on himself and his family and saw immediate and remarkable effects. He established the Usui
Reiki Ryoho Gakkai in Aoyama, Tokyo in April 1922 to share, teach and spread this wonderful method
with many people instead of keeping it to himself and his family. He also treated many people, so
his practice was always crowded.
In 1923, Great Kanto Earthquake* shook the whole of Tokyo and the surrounding areas. Tokyo was
burned and there were numerous injured people. Usui Sensei treated them running from one place
to another. He offered his loving hands to treat such suffering people.
In 1925, he moved to a larger place in Nakano, Tokyo. His reputation grew more and more, and he
often got invited to other cities. When he traveled to Kure, Hiroshima, Saga, and Fukuyama in 1926,
he got sick and passed away. He was 62 years old**.
His wife was Sadako from the Suzuki family, and they had a son and daughter. The son’s name was
Fuji and he became the head of the Usui family.
Usui Sensei was a very warm-hearted and modest person. He was tall and masculine with a warm
smile. He was always very sincere with a strong will, patience, and was well organised. He was
multi-talented, loved reading, history and autobiographies, about medicine, Buddhism, Christianity,
psychology, the supernatural, purifying rituals, divination, and physiognomy. It is obvious that all
these studies he completed became a firm foundation for his knowledge and eventually led him to
Reiki.
The main focus of Reiki Ryoho is not only treating illness but enjoying a happy life with a healthy
mind and body that have been given from the Universe. When teaching Reiki to someone, you will
need to teach the instructions from Emperor Meiji, and recite the Gokai (the Five Principles) in the
morning and at night.
The Gokai teaches us the following principles: Just for today, 1) do not be angry, 2) do not worry,
3) be grateful, 4) do what you are meant to do, and 5) be kind to others.
They are truly the most important teachings and wise men of the past also had the same principles.
Usui Sensei made it clear that the Gokai was the way to practice Reiki and set it as the secret method
for happiness and the remedy for all illness.
Its teaching method is so easy to follow and not complicated at all. Sit down quietly with your hands
in the prayer position and recite the Gokai in the morning and at night – it will help you develop a
pure and healthy mind. Remember to practice it every day. Simplicity is Reiki Ryoho’s essence.
As society has changed so quickly, people’s minds have also fluctuated. It is fortunate that we have
Reiki Ryoho; it will definitely help us to maintain good moral standards. Reiki is beneficial for
everything not just curing illness and bad habits.
Usui Sensei trained over 2,000 people. His direct followers in Tokyo have taken over Usui Sensei’s
mission at his private practice, and some have worked to spread Usui Reiki further in their local
areas. Although Usui Sensei passed away, Reiki Ryoho must continue and be spread. It was such a
great achievement to acquire the Reiki ability and he generously shared it with many people.
After a discussion between Usui Sensei’s followers, I was asked to write an inscription on the
monument for Usui Sensei regarding his achievements. I accepted the offer and made the inscription
with deep admiration and respect. I truly hope that future generations will also follow in Usui Sensei’s
footsteps with gratitude and respect.
February 1927
Composed by Masayuki Okada, The Third Order of Merit, Ph. D in Literature
Written by Juzaburo Ushida, Navy Lieutenant, Junior Fourth Rank
*Kanto Daishinsai Earthquake was magnitude 7.9
**In the traditional Japanese system of age counting, he was 62 when he passed away. In the current system,
he was 60.
SOURCE: Gendai Reiki Healing Association
About Giancarlo Serra
Giancarlo is a Gokuikaiden (Reiki Master) of the Japanese Lineage, as well as a Reiki Master of Western Lineages of Reiki. He trained with Hiroshi Doi in Osaka, Japan. Read More
