And the rebuttals still keep coming!

Here are the comments of Frans and Bronwen Steine on the "Catholic Bishops Reiki Guidelines" article.

http://shibumireiki.org/index.php/blog/article/reiki_and_catholic_bishops

Ai to Hikari
Colin

thanks for sharing that Colin.

It was a well written piece. Although in the main i like what Frans & Bronwen do, and have found Brownen in particular helpful, i feel that in actual fact, some of what they themselves teach is what helps create the environment for this situation.

In their Reiki Wiki group last year i saw they'd made comments about Reiki & Islam. In that there's no conflict between both. I can't seem to find that topic anymore. Anyhow, they had also made a topic entitled 'Amida Nyorai and the system of Reiki'.

I personally didn't see how that could be helpful in making Reiki appealing to the world, and after trying to reassure a fellow Reiki4All muslim member for the previous 3 weeks, that Reiki isn't Buddhist, i could forsee issues this subject may cause.

Read: http://www.reiki-wiki.com/thread/1559261/Buddhist+Dieties+%26+non-religion+within+Reiki.?mail=1131 . I'm 'Reiho'.

Whether a symbol used to represent something, doesn't mean it still does, or still should. I don't think the nazi's where hindus (swastika). It's another problem with single source Reiki contacts, this time, the Tendai 'connection' is via Chris Marsh (Tendai Buddhist) and an elusive aging Buddhist nun.

When folks in the Reiki world portray Reiki as using symbols that actually represent Buddhist dieties, then of course other organised religions will have issues. It's not rocket science.

entirely unrelated, but this illustrates another part of the issues, imo....



Source: http://www.aetw.org/reiki_suzuki_san.htm .

Milarepa wrote:thanks for sharing that Colin.

It was a well written piece. Although in the main i like what Frans & Bronwen do, and have found Brownen in particular helpful, i feel that in actual fact, some of what they themselves teach is what helps create the environment for this situation.

In their Reiki Wiki group last year i saw they'd made comments about Reiki & Islam. In that there's no conflict between both. I can't seem to find that topic anymore. Anyhow, they had also made a topic entitled 'Amida Nyorai and the system of Reiki'.

I personally didn't see how that could be helpful in making Reiki appealing to the world, and after trying to reassure a fellow Reiki4All muslim member for the previous 3 weeks, that Reiki isn't Buddhist, i could forsee issues this subject may cause.

Read: http://www.reiki-wiki.com/thread/1559261/Buddhist+Dieties+%26+non-religion+within+Reiki.?mail=1131 . I'm 'Reiho'.

Whether a symbol used to represent something, doesn't mean it still does, or still should. I don't think the nazi's where hindus (swastika). It's another problem with single source Reiki contacts, this time, the Tendai 'connection' is via Chris Marsh (Tendai Buddhist) and an elusive aging Buddhist nun.

When folks in the Reiki world portray Reiki as using symbols that actually represent Buddhist dieties, then of course other organised religions will have issues. It's not rocket science.

Hi Wayne

Yes, I agree. It is unfortunate when some Reiki teachers connect a Reiki symbol directly to a Buddhist deity. Although the origin of the SHK may be the kriku(hrih) seed syllable (bija) used to connect to the Amida Buddha, the very stylized version used in Reiki could also be said to represent or be linked to the quality of compassion.

Qualities such as compassion are universal and therefore above individual religions. As the other poster in the link you gave for the Reiki Wiki discussion says: "In Usui Sensei's "Explanation of Open Teaching" deities were not mentioned". This is as it should be and allows Reiki teachers and students to be able to understand and connect to the quality of compassion in the way they feel fits best for them, without limiting it to one particular belief system.

Ai to Hikari
Colin

Colin wrote:

Qualities such as compassion are universal and therefore above individual religions.

Or, encompassing all religions, .

Colin wrote:
As the other poster in the link you gave for the Reiki Wiki discussion says: "In Usui Sensei's "Explanation of Open Teaching" deities were not mentioned". This is as it should be and allows Reiki teachers and students to be able to understand and connect to the quality of compassion in the way they feel fits best for them, without limiting it to one particular belief system.

Something i've been hinting at, and actually saying for a while, is that perhaps the reason why Reiki fits so easily with all beliefs is because the founder himself may have been like this.

We already know it's quite common for Japanese folks to follow more than one religion at once. We know, as sure as if it's set in stone, that Usui sensei travelled, and studied widely. And we know he was interested in spirituality.

It's a small step to then assume Usui sensei may have followed various religions, or, may have been a member of one of the new Religions that arose. Omoto Kyo, for example, took aspects of Buddhism & Christianity.

It doesn't make sense he would feel the need to travel to Europe & USA, if all he was interested in was Buddhism.

Perhaps the reason why Reiki fits so well with ny belief sytem, is cause the founder had a spiritual path with origins in many belief systems. Maybe it's only when we try to curb the spiritual comprehensivness of Reiki, that the 'seeds' for issues such as this topic are sown. From all sides, .

take care
Wayne

Here is the response sent by Paul Mitchell (one of Hawayo Takata's Master students) to the US Catholic Bishops (and also the Reiki Digest)

http://reikidigest.blogspot.com/2009/06/reiki-pioneer-paul-mitchell-responds-to.html

It relates how Mrs Takata thought about Reiki and is also a well written piece.

Ai to Hikari
Colin

check out this info that I came across on SRI Website
Pope John Paul II Officialy Blessed Reiki.





http://www.reikilinetour2009.com/poland-history.html

Oh, that's a superb link Bridget! Many thanks for that, it's actually cheered me up a bit!

Just read your link also Colin, another excellant piece! Paul's obviously in a position to give a valid view.

Wow that is a great site - check out some of the other links for some great early Reiki stories and even photos of Shinobu Saito another of Hawayo Takata's Master Students who I have never seen a photo of before!

Thanks, Bridget!

Ai to Hikari
Colin


http://www.reikilinetour2009.com/poland-history.html

Maybe a bit late in the day but I've only just come across it is Phyllis Furumoto's response to the US Catholic Bishop's article. Note that this response was sent to the Reiki teacher who brout the article to Phyllis' attention rather than the Bishops themselves.

http://www.usuishikiryohoreiki.com/blog-with-phyllis/48-general/81-ncr-41709

It offers a slghtly different view to many of the other resposes.

Ai to Hikari
Colin

I like her approach.

what an excellant response of Phyliss. clearly showing the 5 principles, imo.

might be a bit late in the thread now, but just wanted to say that my grand-uncle was a irish catholic priest from his youth.
He received reiki treatments from me for different conditions, and studied and practiced buddhist meditation.
There was no conflict with his catholic point-point-of-view so to speak.
As he said they were all good teachings that we can learn a great deal from.
None of the priests that gathered at our house from time to time for discussions etc. had any objection to these studies but were themselves engaged in similar study.
Worth mentioning though, was that this was under the last pope...

f

The priests are the closes to the flock.
They understand the daily grind of the
ups/downs of life.

The Bishops are competing for higher office
so they need to make brownie points to advance
to a higher office. Disputing Reiki makes them
look like they are guarding the churches principles

http://www.ahna.org/Portals/4/docs/News/Response_to_Bishops_Guidelines_for_Reiki.pdf

another viewpoint from holistic nurses

Great, Bridget! Thanks for posting this!



Ai to Hikari
Colin