While Reiki is recognized and many do practice it to meet their spirituall needs I am wondering what if stressed western man (that happened to believe in evolution) wants to learn reiki just as “modern tool” to cope with dailyy stress but is not ready to learn reiki history (which may or may not be accurate after all) and the question(s) here is:

1.Would you accept such a student?
2.Would Reiki still work for him, since some suggest that while the person to receive reiki doesn't have to believe in reiki in order for it to work as long as reiki practitioner does believe it works?

Any thoughts?

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rzukic wrote:While Reiki is recognized and many do practice it to meet their spirituall needs I am wondering what if stressed western man (that happened to believe in evolution) wants to learn reiki just as “modern tool” to cope with dailyy stress but is not ready to learn reiki history (which may or may not be accurate after all) and the question(s) here is:

1.Would you accept such a student?
2.Would Reiki still work for him, since some suggest that while the person to receive reiki doesn't have to believe in reiki in order for it to work as long as reiki practitioner does believe it works?

Any thoughts?

Find Out How Learning Reiki Can Change Your Life

I first have to understand that Reiki is a system
that uses ULFE. I believe it is natural energy. I
don't have to accept a God to make this innate energy
work. I have come across practitioners who do not
like the term ULFE. The 5 principles do not include God.

rzukic wrote:While Reiki is recognized and many do practice it to meet their spirituall needs I am wondering what if stressed western man (that happened to believe in evolution) wants to learn reiki just as “modern tool” to cope with dailyy stress but is not ready to learn reiki history (which may or may not be accurate after all) and the question(s) here is:

1.Would you accept such a student?

Reiki history, and the theory of evolution, both aren't requesites to expereincing Reiki.

The expereince of Reiki is a spiritual one, and the more that perception is, the more profound the Reiki experience is. It's what i expereinced at least. If i was to teach, it's be from a spiritual place. So a person not interested in that it'd be mutual.

rzukic wrote:
2.Would Reiki still work for him, since some suggest that while the person to receive reiki doesn't have to believe in reiki in order for it to work as long as reiki practitioner does believe it works?

sure, Reiki will work. It virtually eradicated my long term cocaine use within 3 weeks, and all i knew was Reiki was healing. The spirutual depth has formed over time. The more deeper experience has been when my perception of Reiki went much deeper though.

chi_solas wrote:
The 5 principles do not include God.

True.

Though at least one of the symbols is prob derived from a deity.

The word 'Reiki' can also mean a spiritual being.

On the Usui memorial it said Usui sensei felt a large 'Reiki' over his head.

The memorial goes on to saw Usui sensei attained an enlightenment and conprehended the spiritual method.

Can't be a 'spiritual method' without some form of spirit, .

warmest wishes
Wayne

Hello rzukic,
I practice the system of Reiki, and I am a Humanist. Without trying to insult anyone here on the forum, I do not hold any beliefs in any deity and I am opposed to religion. That being said, I do still find it possible to be a spiritual person and have an effective experience with the system.

One thing I found of interest recently: http://www.thenewhumanism.org/authors/zach-alexander/articles/still-atheists-run-deep This is an article on the New Humanism website. Take a read, it's interesting.

I was VERY skeptical of Reiki when it was first suggested that I try it to help with some issues. After that first experience, with my pain gone, my skeptisim was still there but less. The guy who treated me suggested I learn how to do it and I signed up for his next class. The "attunements" worked, they took. That was in 1997 and that pain has never returned. I remained a skeptic to this day on a few aspects of the system, but with practice and more time working with the stuff I am growing less and less so.

Jotaro

Thanks when I have more time I
want to read that article in depth

hia friends,

I had started reiki without believe and feel it is drama of people for money.

that time i was very spiritual but as more as more i went to reiki i realize whatever i was doing or feeling spirituality is nothing only human made and real spirituality is
different which i had learned due to reiki and now i am enjoying my life more and i
have no expectation to god because reiki and reiki people taught me reality what is life
So now i feel reiki is true spirituality in this world and it is only thing which tell
us what is we are and why we come to earth....

now for me it more growth for spirituality line rather than desire.....

and our reiki ancestor also work for spirituality not for desire...

but this world who come in reiki most of them learning for full fill desire but once anybody come in reiki. reiki slowly tell them what is reality and time come they also start to believe reiki for spiritual growth

thanks and love
vj

AlienProgeny wrote:Hello rzukic,
I practice the system of Reiki, and I am a Humanist. Without trying to insult anyone here on the forum, I do not hold any beliefs in any deity and I am opposed to religion. That being said, I do still find it possible to be a spiritual person and have an effective experience with the system.

One thing I found of interest recently: http://www.thenewhumanism.org/authors/zach-alexander/articles/still-atheists-run-deep This is an article on the New Humanism website. Take a read, it's interesting.

I was VERY skeptical of Reiki when it was first suggested that I try it to help with some issues. After that first experience, with my pain gone, my skeptisim was still there but less. The guy who treated me suggested I learn how to do it and I signed up for his next class. The "attunements" worked, they took. That was in 1997 and that pain has never returned. I remained a skeptic to this day on a few aspects of the system, but with practice and more time working with the stuff I am growing less and less so.

Jotaro

Thanks Jotaro for sharing this. You are right. It is indeed interesting!

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If I was to teach ( which I don't)...I would most definately share my experiences of reiki as being a spritual healing system and also a way in which spiritual awakenings can occur.....I would express this to the potential student, then leave it up to the Reiki to work with the gentleman in what ever way is fitting..... perhaps the greatest gift we could give to an athiest is the gift of Reiki......

my views, that an atheist might usually get more comfortable in accepting reiki, since at the very outfit, reiki does not have a 'preachy' tone to offend anybody, and also due the very fact that 'apparently' reiki percepts and methods of application dont' a make a call to God or to some diety in order to be work...


latently, however, reiki is all in all a spritual call... a spiritual call to a bigger wisdom than we have...


my personal views, embedded in a mystic annxure, suggest me that reiki is a spiritual connection to the founder (Usui) in the first place, and then through him, to the rest of the later truths, and awareness..., such connection also triggers our own spirtuality, and connections with divinity, and we progress and experience things 'outside' Usui's shpere too... but this does not mean that as soon as we start experiencing figments of our own spirituality, the sprituality of the founder goes to any passive state...


i have realized that religious minded people are sometimes not 'comfortable' with reiki, primarily due to the Bhuddist (or Shinto? ) connection, and the best they find the solution, if they were to anyhow practice reiki, is to cut away all spiritual connections of reiki with its founder, and to take a shaved version of reiki, where they have reiki, without any botheration of whose connection, it has finally reached them.....

then onwards, they find it quite easy to append reiki with their own belief system, or religious thoughts..... on this parable, i have found many people saying that reiki is actually another name of divine power, but in restricted sense of how they themselves feel fit to define divine per their religious teachings..


tbh, i find it bit dishonest, if i accept reiki without accepting its relation with its founder... if Usui had beliefs (religious or spriritual) that dont tie up with my belief or religious system, be it so, but my honesty prompts me to acknowledge that reiki is a gift bestowed to Usui, who then became availabe to us, since he (Usui) chose to transfer to us...


if i really believe in some religious system, my such belief in that system must be strong enough so as to be not to be jeopardized by showing acknowledgement to Usui Sensei, even though Usui's beliefs does not fit into my system...


do we have to adopt someone's system if we have to show him respect, reverence, acknowledgement ?

there are various ways to reach GOD, some are easy, some are lengthy, Usui's was on of such paths too... i dont have to change my path, if i have to take benefit of the supreme blessings bestowed on Usui on his path... i can take advantage, i can take benefit, i can bow in gratitude to him for the help, awakening, and blessing...

Usui must be a great man, a beautiful human being, and reverence for him is never out of place !


take care

salman

Really interesting post Salman. What's most refreshing is cause you're muslim, and according to Islam, we can't be involved in any other things to do with another religion as far as experiencing God is concerned. You're aware of the superfluous Buddhist connection to Reiki, yet you're still able to easily integrate Reiki into your life, and Islam is a lifestyle path, all encompassing.

so what you do, is instead of jumping on the bandwagon and saying there's no religious connection to Reiki, you trace right back to Usui sensei, and presuppose there must have been, and actually celebrate that!

There's also our new member Jeff who's quaker. Dana whos' methodist (i think), Renu who's Hindu, and yourself. I bet that none of you have hang-ups about your life paths in Religion, and your Reiki. And i bet you're all reaping the immense benefits of it all. Cause when we look to it all as just different ways to cook potatoes, pasta, rice, that in a world of 6.5 billion individuals, a myriad of tastes are desired, that's acceptance, that's respect, that's love for all, that's spirituality. Heck, that's Reiki! Hehe.

warmest wishes
Wayne

Very interested and refreshing post indeed! I must admit I have read it several times, with utmost respect. In order for me to take the most benefits out of it I hope you do not mind few questions (some of which might be off topic though)

1.How one reconciles the free will and the fate?
2.If my belief in any religious system (way or whatever we call it) is strong enough why do I have a need to supplement it with other system?
3.Is it really “dishonest” to accept only part of the reiki that we can understand in our own way

Regards,

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I always explain to my students that although Reiki is a spiritual practice, it can be practiced by anyone regardless of spiritual beliefs - and even if they don't believe in God. The quantum physics aspect of Reiki may be sufficient for those who are not spiritual believers but are comfortable with the idea of energy being present that we can tap into.

As for my spiritual beliefs...I am Presbyterian but I have very strong Buddhist leanings because of the zazen practice I had incorporated into my life years ago. However, I was actually baptized as a Catholic, but grew up in a half Catholic, half Jewish home. Interestingly enough, even with that sort of eclectic background, I did not really understand and embrace the nature of faith until I began practicing Reiki.

Jotaro, That was an interesting article.

My first introduction to meditation was from
Jon Kabat Zinn. He presents meditation starting
with ourselves and then moving out from there as
our heart grows larger and more loving. He makes
it simple noting that a beginner can quickly catch
up to the "experts" or was it that an expert was
not to much futher a head than a beginner.

The meditation teacher/leader of the group I attend
reminds us to think about a train station and as
the train pulls into the station we do not board
the train and it pulls away from the station. She
tells us to do the same with our thoughts as they
come a long like the train let them pass through
the station.

IMO one does not need to belong to a religious group
to practice Reiki or meditation. I have found that
they both work on the inner self.

I'm very happy that you liked the article, it was my pleasure to share it. The train station idea is a great one! A good, modern idea of nonattachment to thoughts during meditation. Thanks for sharing it.

As a non-religious person, I find that there is a huge difference between spirituality and religion. Humans by our very nature are spiritual. Reiki has expanded athe spiritual nature in me. I am a loooooong wats from any enlightenment, but I am a work in progress. I believe that it is the journey that is important.

Many get lost in the noise of todays society, I started meditating as a part of my martial arts prctice (usually as a group at the start and again at the end of class), but a few years ago have moved the practice outside of the dojo. I have tried a few different types of meditation, but the ones I have learned within my Reiki practice I enjoy the most! I often do joshin kokyu-ho while the rest of the class sits quiet. And of course I am a big fan or Hatsurei-ho.

Take care!
Jotaro

rzukic wrote:Very interested and refreshing post indeed! I must admit I have read it several times, with utmost respect. In order for me to take the most benefits out of it I hope you do not mind few questions (some of which might be off topic though)

1.How one reconciles the free will and the fate?
2.If my belief in any religious system (way or whatever we call it) is strong enough why do I have a need to supplement it with other system?
3.Is it really “dishonest” to accept only part of the reiki that we can understand in our own way

Regards,

Discover How Learning Reiki Can Change Your Life

thanks for the nourishing response

the question of free will versus fate has always been a very interesting one.. and any attempt to reconcile them or think deep about the relation, is in itself a big source of awareness and perception...


my logical mind starts with the theory of cause and effect... whenever i plan things in a closed chamber, i can clearly see where my actions are leading me to... i plan to reach my office, for example, at 9.00 sharp and there's a one hour drive in between my home and office.. my chauffer is ready, my car is good, petrol is ample in the tank, battery ok, bla, bla, bla... my planning (or my free will) extends upto the moment when i sit in the car and the car is on the way...


but this is the moment i m actually coming out from my closed chamber and i m now 'exposed' to eventualities... or better saying i m exposed to 'free will' of people other than me... when i reach half way, i find there is an accident in the middle of the road due to drunk driving of a young lad, road is blocked, rescue is engaged, but i have to wait... this incident was an 'effect' of that driver's reckless drivign and was an 'effect' of his choice of coming to road while drunk...

so i reach office half hour late, i.e., 9.30 and m immediately taken to task by my boss, who shouts the very throat of him, and being already irritated, and feeling myself non-guilty for being late, i reciprocate him equally, we have a firworks and there i go... i m fired...

i try to find a next job, but of no avail... economy down, things in turmoil.. i land into shoplifting for my petty needs, i m caught, and sentenced to jail... Ah, a long story...


so my free will of boarding the car with ample time ahead, has infact been violted by free will of that drunk buddy, and i come to know this is my fate !


talking generally, the life we live is a complex mix of elements within our perception and things even beyond that... the gesture of free will helps us to pick the path, and to take steps on it, but we have no control over the free will of events and of people and of nations... this is called our fate... so one's fate is decided by the free will of several others, and vice versa... this is a circular pattern


if everthing could have been decided by our free will, this would only be possible in a lab conrolled environment where many things 'remain the same', while in real life these thins dont remain the same..

ah, sorry buddy, i could give the reconciliation in such naive terms only


your second question is a very interesting one, and i enjoyed a lot while reading it and thinking over it...

humans are complex and diverse in their makeup... religions usually put foward a standard set of procedures and teachings, that have to be applied to all the people within that religion equally... this is something beyond imagination that one million people living a religion will have same mindsets, same lifestyle, same aptitutdes, and so this is, realistically speaking, also beyond imagination that every one of that million people will be 'wrapping' up religion around them in a same way... some will be doing it rigidly, some loosely, and some very sparingly.....

what i generally feel about religions that almost all religions have spiritual foundings and basis... and to take advantage of the religion completely, we have to go direct with the spirituality within the religion, but since we sometimes (and quite often times too ) choose to embrace religion sparingly, our needs of spirituality prompt us to find something to bridge the invisible hollow we have ourselves created by selectively picking up things within our religion....

and here is the point that why we feel needs to supplement our beleif system through other inclinations...

is this abnormal or unforeseen ? i dont feel so, whoever crafted a religion, would have in mind that humans, by their diversity of aptitude and flavours, will alwasy feel to taste things here and there, and the more a religion allows for such experimentation, while keeping the basics intact, the more that religion is dynamic

and by the way, 'stale' religions dont come up tests of sustainability often !


your third question is equally intersting :

if Usui had himself issued 'commandments' that what we have to do, and what not, while using his system, then only it would have been dishonest on our part to not to go with those commandements while practicing his system...


the only commandments he has given to us is the percepts which he requires us to revise and live daily.... it would be somehow a 'dishonesty', objectively speaking, if we opt to pick just reiki treatments or reiki channeling from the system, and to leave the percepts since we dont feel them important...


but again, this is just my belief and my way of seeing the things bro i float things as they appear to me, and i then listen to what others feel on that... this is where i get chance to make nose corrections to my beliefs, or to reinforce them through further study or thinking....


i greatly apologise to all here, if i had insulted someone's beliefs who have different version of reiki and reiki practice than mine... to give less importance to what others believe, has never been my moral



Cheers !


salman