"Reihou Chouso Usui Sensei Kudoko No Hi"
Memorial of Reiki Founder Usui Sensei's Benevolence
( The top of the memorial reads, from right to left: "Reihou"
- spiritual method, Reiki method; "Chouso" - founder; "Usui";
"Sensei" - teacher; "Kudoku" - benevolence, a various
(pious) deed; "no Hi" - of memorial, a tombstone, a monument;)
It is called 'toku' that people experience by culture and training,
and 'koh' that people practice teaching and the way to save people.
('koh' + 'toku'= 'kudoku; Kou =
distinguished service, honor, credit, achievement; Toku = a virtue,
morality)
Only the person who has high virtue and does good deeds can be called
a great founder and leader. From ancient times, among wisemen,
philosophers, geniuses and (a phrases
that means - very straight and have the right kind of integrity),
the founders of a new teaching or new religion are like that. We could
say that Usui Sensei was one of them.
Usui "Sensei" (literally "he who comes
before", thus teacher, or respected person) newly started the
method that would change mind and body for better by using universal
power.
People hearing of his reputation and wanting to learn the method, or
who wanted to have the therapy, gathered around from all over. It was
truly prosperous.
Sensei's common name is Mikao and other name was Gyoho
(his spiritual name). He was born
in the Taniai-mura (village) in
the Yamagata district of Gifu prefecture
(Taniai is now part of Miyama Village). His ancestor's name is
Tsunetane Chiba (a very famous Samurai
who had played an active part as a military commander between the end of
Heian Period and the beginning of Kamakura Period (1180-1230).
His father's name was Uzaemon (this was
is popular name - his given name was Taneuji). His mother's
maiden name was Kawai.
Sensei was born in the first year of the Keio period, called Keio
Gunnen (1865), on August 15th.
From what is known, he was a talented and hard working student. His
ability was far superior. After he grew up, he traveled to Europe,
America and China to study (yes, it
actually says that!). He wanted to be a success in life, but
couldn't achieve it; often he was unlucky and in need. But he didn't
give up and he disciplined himself to study more and more.
One day he went to Kuramayama to start an asceticism
(it says "shyu gyo" - a very strict
process of spiritual training using meditation and fasting). On
the beginning of the 21st day, suddenly he felt one large Reiki over his
head and he comprehended the truth. At that moment he got Reiki "Ryoho"
(healing method).
When he first tried this on himself, then tried this on his family,
good results manifested instantly. Sensei said that it is much better to
share this pleasure with the public at large than to keep this knowledge
to our family. So he moved his residence to Harajuku, Aoyama, Tokyo.
There he founded "Gakkai" (a learning
society) to teach and practice Reiki Ryoho
in April of the 11th year of the Taisho period
(1922). Many people came from far
and wide and asked for the guidance and therapy, and even lined up
outside of the building.
September of the twelfth year of the Taisho period
(1923), there were many injured
and sick people all over Tokyo because of the Kanto earthquake and fire.
Sensei felt deep anxiety. Everyday he went around in the city to treat
them. We could not count how many people were treated and saved by him.
During this emergency situation, his relief activity was that of
reaching out his hands of love to suffering people. His relief activity
was generally like that.
After that, his learning place became too small. In February of the
14th year of the Taisho period (1925),
he built and moved to a new one outside Tokyo in Nakano.
(Nakano is now part of Tokyo).
Because his fame had risen still more, he was invited to many places in
Japan, often. In answering those requests, he went to Kure, then to
Hiroshima, to Saga and reached Fukuyama. It was during his stay in
Fukuyama that he unexpectedly got sick and died. He was 62 years old.
(In Western terms, Sensei was 60 - born
August 15, 1865; died March 9, 1926 as per his grave marker; however, in
old Japan, you are "1" when born and turn another year older at the
start of the new year).
His wife was from Suzuki family; her name was Sadako. They had a son
and a daughter. The son's name was Fuji who carried on the Usui family
(meaning the property, business, family
name, etc. Born in 1908 or 1909, at the time of his father's death Fuji
was about 19 in Japanese years. We do know now that Fuji also taught
Reiki in Taniai village).
Sensei was very mild, gentle and humble by nature. He was physically
big and strong yet he kept smiling all the time. However, when something
happened, he prepared towards a solution with firmness and patience. He
had many talents.
He liked to read, and his knowledge was very deep of history,
biography, medicine, theological books like Buddhism Kyoten
(Buddhist bible) and bibles
(scriptures), psychology, jinsen
no jitsu (god hermit technique),
the science of direction, ju jitsu, incantations
(the "spiritual way of removing sickness
and evil from the body"), the science of divination, physiognomy
(face reading)
and the I Ching.
I think that Sensei's training in these, and the culture which was
based on this knowledge and experience, led to the key to perceiving
Reiho (short for "Reiki Ryoho").
Everybody would agree with me. Looking back, the main purpose of
Reiho was not only to heal diseases, but also to have right mind and
healthy body so that people would enjoy and experience happiness in
life. Therefore when it comes to teaching, first let the student
understand well the Meiji Emperor's admonitory, then in the morning and
in the evening let them chant and have in mind the five precepts
(Gokai) which are:
First we say, today don't get angry.
Secondly we say, don't worry.
Third we say, be thankful.
Fourth we say, endeavor your work.
