Could it be both? Not sure how the source is reliable but apparently in the interview Dr. Usui said:

Q) Then, is it psychic method of treatment?

A) Usui: "Yes, you could say that. But you could also say it is physical method of treatment. The reason why is Ki and light are emanated from healer's body, especially from eyes, mouth and hands. So if healer stares or breathes on or strokes with hands at the affected area such as toothache, colic pain, stomach-ache, neuralgia, bruises, cuts, burns and other swellings with pain will be gone. However a chronic disease is not easy, it's needed some time. But a patient will feel improvement at the first treatment. There is a fact more than a novel how to explain this phenomenon with modern medicine. If you see the fact you would understand. Even people who use sophistry can not ignore the fact."
http://reikimel.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/usui-reiki-hikkei.pdf

Regards,
Resko

rzukic wrote: Could it be both? Not sure how the source is reliable but apparently in the interview Dr. Usui said:

Q) Then, is it psychic method of treatment?

A) Usui: "Yes, you could say that. But you could also say it is physical method of treatment. The reason why is Ki and light are emanated from healer's body, especially from eyes, mouth and hands. So if healer stares or breathes on or strokes with hands at the affected area such as toothache, colic pain, stomach-ache, neuralgia, bruises, cuts, burns and other swellings with pain will be gone. However a chronic disease is not easy, it's needed some time. But a patient will feel improvement at the first treatment. There is a fact more than a novel how to explain this phenomenon with modern medicine. If you see the fact you would understand. Even people who use sophistry can not ignore the fact."
http://reikimel.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/usui-reiki-hikkei.pdf

Regards,
Resko

Yes, I believe it is both!

Ki (subtle energy) and light (EM field) are emitted from an energy healer's body, which can kick start the healing of such conditions as Usui mentions. However, I belive that in the case of a Reiki practitioner, Reiki (a spiritual essence or phenomenon) also comes into play, which works on a deeper more spiritual level, which is in tune with a person's life purpose (or chosen path) and helps bring about the best possible outcome, taking this into account. This is obviously only my own opinion and cannot and probably will not ever be able to be proved scientifically.

That is what I think Usui meant when he said his Reiki Ryoho (i.e. his system of practice) was a spiritual method (I prefer the translation of 'shinrei' as spiritual rather than psychic ) and a physical method. What we practice outwardly also has an inner spiritual effect.

Hi,

From my point of view: "universal energy" is a very generic (and therefore not specific) term.
Yes, it is energy (which exact frequency is not stated, nor implied). And yes it is universal (referring to the availability: it is universal, it is everywhere or accessible to everyone).

So, universal energy is in my eyes a non-specific energy which is widely available.

Reiki, on the other hand, is something very specific. For me, that is.
It is the energy originating from the highest level of consciousness, the consciousness that is completely free and at total peace; it is the energy an enlightened person would radiate 24/7.

That is the way I view the kanji used and it is also what I learned from my own teacher and one of Chris Marsh' students.

That's also the reason I tend to never say that I send or give Reiki


Regarding the word "Reiki" being a word describing (an) energy or a system.....
One day (Usui-sensei's days) it was very simple: Usui-sensei did not call his teachings "Reiki" and "Reiki" was used to refer to an energy.

Today, like James already said, people use it as a word for all kinds of different energies, or energy in general and the method/system which uses the energy/energies and it even seems to be used as a verb.

*Gasshō*
Frank

Frank said:
That's also the reason I tend to never say that I send or give Reiki

That's an interesting point of view. So if we say we are sending Reiki that is a thought. If a thought is energy and the person receives our thought then they receive the energy sent.

Hi,

Hmm, interesting. I wouldn't call it power or energy of thought either.
I do 'send' energy and I am able to distinguish (and 'use'/'send') several different energy frequencies but I wouldn't call it Reiki. "Reiki" is a word for the energy coming from the highest possible consciousness, in my humble view and experience with Usui Reiki Ryōhō (as I already explained).

If I would say I sent someone Reiki, I would also say/imply something about my consciousness.
I know very well that I am not enlightened, that I have not experienced the highest possible level of consciousness to the fullest and I know that there is still a lot to learn and experience. That is why I would never say I use or send Reiki.

But that's just me and my take on this and what I learned from my teachers.

There is of course nothing wrong with using the word as a general term for any kind of universal energy. It's just that it might create confusion.

*Gasshō*
Frank

Frank wrote:Hi,

Hmm, interesting. I wouldn't call it power or energy of thought either.
I do 'send' energy and I am able to distinguish (and 'use'/'send') several different energy frequencies but I wouldn't call it Reiki. "Reiki" is a word for the energy coming from the highest possible consciousness, in my humble view and experience with Usui Reiki Ryōhō (as I already explained).

If I would say I sent someone Reiki, I would also say/imply something about my consciousness.
I know very well that I am not enlightened, that I have not experienced the highest possible level of consciousness to the fullest and I know that there is still a lot to learn and experience. That is why I would never say I use or send Reiki.

But that's just me and my take on this and what I learned from my teachers.

There is of course nothing wrong with using the word as a general term for any kind of universal energy. It's just that it might create confusion.

*Gasshō*
Frank

I need to digest/ponder your words.
maybe some other folks will share their
interpretation on this subject

Frank wrote:Hi,

Hmm, interesting. I wouldn't call it power or energy of thought either.
I do 'send' energy and I am able to distinguish (and 'use'/'send') several different energy frequencies but I wouldn't call it Reiki. "Reiki" is a word for the energy coming from the highest possible consciousness, in my humble view and experience with Usui Reiki Ryōhō (as I already explained).

If I would say I sent someone Reiki, I would also say/imply something about my consciousness.
I know very well that I am not enlightened, that I have not experienced the highest possible level of consciousness to the fullest and I know that there is still a lot to learn and experience. That is why I would never say I use or send Reiki.

But that's just me and my take on this and what I learned from my teachers.

There is of course nothing wrong with using the word as a general term for any kind of universal energy. It's just that it might create confusion.

*Gasshō*
Frank

Hi Frank

So, would you say that Reiki is something that arises spontaneously as a result of you using/sending these "several different energy frequencies"?

Or does your intention, as a Reiki practitioner, come into play as well?

hi buddies.

i often gather feeling that reiki is more a 'product' like thing (e.g., thought coming into action)... i have variously failed to convince myself that reiki is omnipresent (as Vijay says) or that it is universally available all the time, everytime, etc. also, i fail to understand if there is a universal pool/reservoir of energy from which we channel something when we are in a reiki session.

my abrupt comprehension about reiki so far suggests (to me, of course ) that reiki is the name of entire experience we call a reiki session.. reiki, to me, seems to be coming into existence spontaneously (or instantaneously) as and when a properly empowered person (an initiate) uses his intention to start a session... (again, the role of intention is to 'trigger' a happening, and not more)... reiki is not energy per se... energy is only a resultant vector which we are able to measure on physical planes... on non-physical planes, reiki (or reiki experience) seems to connect one to one's spirit ( or enhances this connection) and further to entire universe... that is why ONENESS is so central to reiki phenomenon...


however, there is certainly a therapautic element to reiki, and since we know about reiki mostly due to its amazing healing potential in the first instance, we have to apply all our faculties of mind and logical thinking to analyze that in physical matters, how reiki differs from other energy modalities... and when we divulge in this through process, we need help of established physical concept like frequency and then specific frequencies as opposed to general frequencies of our aura... and so on...


why reiki systems seem to vary in experience (and even in spiritual experience) is probably because spiritual connection is a multi-level phenomenon... as reality is also multi-level... each reiki style carries different 'flavour' because it attempts to connect to a specific level of spiritual presence, and if we free ourselves from thinking physically (or relatively) there is no such thing like higher level or lower level of spiritual connection... once connection is there, all goes into best service !

hope i was able to pour more confusion into subject rather than wiping it off




take care

salman

Hi Colin,

No, I would also not say Reiki arises as a result of sending different energy frequencies (in this context).
It does touch a concept within Usui-sensei's teachings (practices with one energy at first, moving to a second, combining exercises and leading to a certain level of consciousness), but that goes too far for this discussion.

Reiki, for me, is the energy originating or coming from the highest level of consciousness. (It is the complete spectrum of energy frequencies; the Light; the energy of ultimate balance and harmony; energy of the enlightened.)
As long as I am not one with the highest consciousness, I will not radiate Reiki. And when I don't radiate Reiki I cannot use, send or offer it.

Would I say I radiate Reiki (energy of highest consciousness/complete balance/enlightenment/perfect harmony/ultimate happiness/etc.)? Would I say I am one with the highest level of consciousness?

No, definitely not.
That is why I don't talk about sending Reiki, using Reiki or manifesting Reiki.

I can use a wide range of energy frequencies, yet.. as long as it is not the complete spectrum (complete spectrum in perfect harmony in my view only originates from the highest level of consciousness.. consciousness that is completely free, without boundaries and ego), I won't call it Reiki.

*Gasshō*
Frank