Colin wrote:

Lambs-Wool wrote:

honestly speaking i was once believer of the view that 'things happen by thought', but now studying into reiki (and also some non-related things), i m subscribing to view, that intention alone is something universe does not own as 'coming from us' to trigger a change... intention needs to brought into action... and words spoken for one's intention are the first proof that intention has been 'put into work'

Salman, the use of "thoughts" as VJ says and "words spoken for one's intention" to bring something "into action" sounds very much like the teaching of sanmitsu, the Three Mysteries, of Kukai's Shingon tradition. The Three Mysteries are Thought, Word and Deed (or Action). Here is a quote that relates these to the achivement of Enlightenment:

Exoterically, enlightenment is an experience which utterly transcends any conceivable formulation in language. Esoterically, True Words (shingon) correspond to Mahavairochana, and it is possible to experience Truth through mantras (sacred sounds), mudras (sacred gestures), samayas (symbols) and mandalas (sacred diagrams). Thirdly, what are the effects of the two kinds of teaching? Exoterically, the path to enlightenment is seen as gradual and requiring a virtual infinitude of lives to be traversed to the goal. Esoterically, the practice of sanmitsu, using samadhi (meditation), mantra and mudra to concentrate wholly mind, speech and body, can lead directly to union with Mahavairochana. However statistically remote such a probability may be for any human being, it is nonetheless possible to attain enlightenment in one's present body.

Source = http://theosophytrust.org/tlodocs/articlesTeacher.php?d=Kukai.htm&p=73

When we discover that the Cosmic Buddha, Mahavairochana (Dainichi Nyorai in Japanese) is also known as "The Great Illuminator" or "Great Shining Light" (same as DKM) and that the sanmitsu , along with other aspects of Shingon, were adopted by practitioners of Shugendo (Shugenja), which Mikao Usui is also said to have studied and that these teachings also influenced ninjutsu and other martial arts, including Yagyu Ryu (again something with which Usui may have been associated with), we can maybe see where the teaching of intent, symbols (shirushi) and mantras (jumon) in Reiki has originated also.

So, it would appear that each symbol could in fact be used in isolation, if the formula of thought, word and deed is applied. Indeed, this is often taught in the various Japanese styles of Reiki. The use of combinations of symbols, e.g. SHK followed by CKR is really just using a combination of the individual qualities of each symbol together. In this case, focusing or "directing" the "spiritual energy" to a particular area, related to the subconscious, in combination with the specific qualities of SHK and the intent to change a specific behaviour (which may be spoken out loud or internally).

Lambs-Wool wrote:
beyond shinipden level ? i think there is one we call 'shihan' (somewhat we have are now used to use the phrase indiscriminately as 'grand master')... were you referring to 'shihan' level ?


whether if symbols are or are not used at shihan level, is something i need to study to answer better



take care bro

salman

Shihan level simply designates a person who has received Shinpiden and is also able to teach others, so nothing extra is used at this level as far as techniques and symbols is concerned.