The
question is an intellectual one. Our conditioning always looks for quantifiable
evidence. Yet given the nature of Reiki and the priorities as well as capabilities
of today's science this evidence is scarce. Another type of evidence, however,
is emerging and establishing itself. This is the testimony of the human
experience, echoed down the ages, which is boldly changing our thinking
and being. Fundamental ideas about health and well-being are being transformed
as a direct result of the reigning mechanistic model of reality. This model,
of which allopathic medicine is one segment, views health as the absence
of disease in body and mind; a static state that limits the definition
of health. Health is a dynamic state involving our whole being. By missing
the forest for the trees, our healthcare system has exacerbated our psychophysical
challenges, which are formidable in this increasingly complex and toxic
world.
Enter
Reiki. A healing system that is humanity's heritage, and has worked in
the same way through the ages; the balancing of our individual life force
through contact with universal life force. Science has been unable or perhaps
unwilling to measure this pervasive energy, but we experience it every
moment and everywhere. Every physiological function, all of nature, and
even the mind is alive because of the subtle life force. Reiki is a simple
treatment that restores homeostasis to the body; equilibrium to the mind;
and fulfillment to the soul. It is applied with the hands in a certain
sequence, without pressure or manipulation. No special skill or complicated
technique is required. The practitioner is attuned by a qualified teacher
and so becomes a conduit for universal life force. The recipient draws
the needed energy without effort. To be able to enliven all of creation,
universal energy has to be intelligent. Since it permeates the body, the
body also has innate intelligence, and the cells contain individual life
force. When the universal and the individual resonate during a Reiki session,
there is a reorganization leading to optimal health on all levels.
It
has been shown that stress is related to a majority of health issues. To
simplify, let us define physical, mental or spiritual discord as stress.
Stress, i.e., an inharmony or malfunction is always reflected at all levels,
no matter where it originates. This demonstrates that the parts impact
each other and change the whole in some way. It also means that we are
not an arbitrary collection of separate components. We are an intentional
creation of interwoven coherencies, designed as a seamless being. A coherency
is a natural connection or dependence, resulting from the relationship
of parts with each other. Our elaborate, seamless system is at all times
meticulously interrelated. Reiki will be drawn to the coherency that is
communicating a need, and allow information to flow between levels.
A
unique feature of Reiki is that it can be easily applied to oneself, making
it a resource of self-care. There are no side-effects or contraindications
associated with Reiki. It is non-invasive and suitable to every age-group
and symptom. Although it is an anomaly to clinical protocols, Reiki provides
the missing adjunct to allopathic therapies, and psychological methodologies.
It amplifies the homeostatic response of the body's healing systems. Every
touch becomes a healing with Reiki-attuned hands! Mentally, it reinstates
proper functioning, ranging from the cognitive to the creative. Spiritually,
Reiki accesses the soul's intuition, joy and capacity for love. It is also
the perfect complement to other natural and holistic therapies. Being expressions
of universal energy, our food, water and environment benefit from Reiki.
It is as natural to life as breathing and as simple to contact and apply.
It deepens meditation. Reiki is a life-enhancer to all, whether you seek
help or are a helper. It points to a truly integrative healthcare, and
a fuller understanding of all aspects of existence.
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REIKI AS A SPIRITUAL PRACTICE
The Role of Spirituality in Complete Health
Part I
Introduction
As humans living in a complex society, we tend to focus on only certain
aspects of our lives: physical health, financial security, social standing
and psychological wellbeing.
This is only natural as these are vital aspects of successful, healthy
living. It’s also natural because in our education and conditioning, these
same elements are strongly emphasized. In biology class we learn all about
our body, its various parts, systems and internal organs, with particular
emphasis on the five senses and the brain as our primary instruments of
perception.
Socially we’re encouraged to constantly improve ourselves. We learn about
money very early on in life. We’re also given many opportunities and tools
to enhance ourselves mentally, and to create emotional health. So it isn’t
surprising that we focus and work on these aspects.
However, even within this particular emphasis, it’s too often the external
aspects that get most of our time and attention; finances and social
standing. Even though many people are now health conscious, this important
factor of complete health is approached cosmetically first, influenced in
a major way by what’s currently “in,” with our culture telling us how much
to weigh and what to wear. We’re also much concerned with “winning,” our
career track and accumulating all the right “toys.” There’s nothing
inherently wrong with any of these motivations.
This mode of pursuing happiness, success and health does, however, shift
and give control to forces and things outside of ourselves. Mental and
emotional health are often brushed aside too, despite education on its
importance and the resources available, especially the mounting evidence
of the influence of attitudes, emotions and relationships on our overall
health.
The Missing Link
So, how do we put control back into our own hands, and more importantly
our own heart, mind and being? Spirituality has been shown to have a
prominent positive influence on physical, mental and emotional health.
Spirituality has a cohesive, unifying effect on all aspects of our
life and being by giving meaning and structure to life, and empowering us
to live from a core of our deepest values.
People with a strong sense of spirituality are less in need of medical
services, show resilient emotional health in the face of terminal illness,
and have lower discomfort and loneliness. Such people cope better with
life crises, have an expanded perspective and are able to interpret
illness to produce spiritual growth.
Our spiritual nature is a given, an intrinsic and vitally foundational
component of our existence and identity. Our awareness and knowledge that
this is so isn’t always at the forefront, but once reintroduced to those
who may be disconnected, we have the inborn ability and tools to develop
our spiritual nature to its fullest potential.
Spirituality—the details
While spirituality’s physical, mental and emotional benefits are numerous
and quantifiable, and while much of spirituality is unavoidably associated
with religion, it’s the powerfully experiential realization of our
original nature that makes spirituality and its daily
cultivation such an enormously crucial component of complete health.
Here’s some of what there is to gain from having an active and functional
personal spiritual framework and practice:
o Understanding the Universe and how it works.
o Understanding Nature and how it works.
o Having the right relationship to the Power that makes both the Universe
and Nature work.
o Connectedness to one’s original nature or deepest self.
o Connectedness to other people.
o Connectedness to all life forms.
o Having the wisdom to find meaning and purpose.
o Being empowered to implement that meaning and purpose.
o Being empowered to experience, then share love, compassion and caring
with our planetary family.
o Removing fear from death.
o Leading a peaceful existence.
o Finding true joy and fulfillment.
Spirituality completes the five basic components of our make-up. These are
the physical, energetic, emotional, mental, and spiritual “bodies.” Our
physical existence, which includes all material concerns, tends to be
overemphasized. Emotionally and mentally we’re provided with many options,
but not everyone takes advantage of these. The spiritual and energetic
aspects are the least emphasized and understood, though our human history
is chockfull of deep knowledge and teachings in these areas.
Because our original nature is spiritual, in other words, nonphysical,
unlimited by the constraints of time and space, and because this is the
foundation of our life, the primordial source from which we are created
prior to a womb-birth, by reconnecting spiritually and cultivating this
all-powerful component of our composition, we’re able to positively
influence all the others.
Cross-culturally and down the ages the spiritual literature that is
humanity’s common heritage consistently points to the primacy of Spirit
before any physical creation can take shape. To put it another way, we are
really spiritual beings only, with our mental, emotional, energetic and
physical expressions being instruments of our spiritual self. This doesn’t
negate the importance of the other components, for in physical reality all
aspects are synergistically blended to produce a complete, functional and
successful human being.
The health of all five components of our composition is equally important,
especially since this is a holistic system, meaning that the whole person
is affected by dysfunction in any one part. What causes trouble is when
the source component, i.e., spirituality is ignored or relegated a
superficial role, the one component from which arise our other aspects.
Spirit is not only the motive force at the inception of our creation, put
also the engine that drives all parts of our being. Even if we were to
diligently maintain our bodies, emotions and mind, which we don’t and it’s
very important to do so, we would be unable to reach our fullest potential
without addressing the very source of our existence.
© 2004-2007 Pamir Kiciman
In the next section we will look at the teachings and system of Reiki
as a practical, direct and effective method to address our spirituality.
"Everyone
who is seriously involved in the pursuit of science becomes convinced that
a Spirit is manifest in the Laws of the Universe--a Spirit vastly superior
to that of man, and one in the face of which we, with our modest powers,
must feel humble."
--Albert Einstein
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ReiKI as a
Spiritual Practice
The Role of Spirituality in Complete Health
Part II
Ki: Life
Energy
In the business world ‘best
practices’ is a term used to describe processes, practices, and systems
identified in organizations that perform exceptionally well and are widely
recognized as improving an organization's performance and efficiency in
specific areas.
Similarly ‘spirituality’ is
a best practice for the human organization. According to Miriam-Webster
online, spirituality is “the quality or state of being spiritual.”
Spiritual is then defined as, “of, relating to, consisting of, or
affecting the spirit.” Finally, spirit is described as, “an animating
or vital principle held to give life to physical organisms; the immaterial
intelligent or sentient part of a person.”
The etymology of the word
spirit is from Latin spiritus, literally, breath, from spirare
to blow, breathe. No matter our inclination and disposition, we all
breathe, have to breathe. This is so for animals and plants too.
Spirituality is as accessible and close as our breath. Many people are
unsure how they feel about spirituality and its significance, especially
when it comes to health. This is mainly because it’s intangible and
invisible. It can, however, be experienced.
The foundational training of
Reiki teaches two meditations based on the universality of Ki (Rei
Ki) and its direct accessibility through the breath. Ki is the
basic unit of life. Ultimately everything is made up of Ki; life
energy or vitality. The Universe was one, then two forces appeared and the
relative world was created. For the reasons explained in Part I, we think
that the relative world is the only one, unaware of its origin.
Breathing
Respiration gives us more
than oxygen, and releases more than carbon dioxide. At a subtle level,
breathing is a primary reflex that brings in fresh Ki. Life energy
is also available in sunshine, water and food. Without Ki, all the
normal elements that keep us alive, such as air, water, food and
heartbeat, would not only be useless, they simply wouldn’t exist.
The chemical, organic and
mechanical functions of the body have to be powered somehow. We understand
how the visible parts of our body work fairly well. At the microscopic
level, we also have knowledge about how the much smaller components work.
But what makes cells run and subatomic particles function?
Koichi Tohei, a great
martial arts teacher, has this to say: “What were you before your birth? A
fetus in your mother’s womb. Before that? A union of the father’s sperm
and the mother’s egg, of course. But what about before that? Your parents
possessed no sperm, no egg before they reached puberty. Where did you fit
in then?”
It’s a great question to
ponder! If we rely only on the information the five senses impart, that
question is unanswerable and it leads to meaninglessness. We are then in a
random world with no rhyme or reason, ruled by fear and of course
vulnerably mortal.
Fortunately we have the
built-in ability to experience subtle phenomena such as Ki.
This is the appeal of spiritual practice.
Reiki’s Meditations
The meditations of Reiki are
at the center of such a spiritual practice. These short and simple methods
have a far-reaching effect and benefit based on meditative breathing,
allowing the Ki of the Universe to replenish and refresh your
personal Ki. As Ki is the subtle factor that powers
all body parts and functions, all-around health is directly related to the
quality of Ki you have flowing throughout your body. The
lifestyle choices you make and the multiple stresses of living in this
technological, high-speed era usually diminish your Ki and even
block its natural flow
Ki is energy. Energy
isn’t limited to physical parts. Thoughts and emotions are a form of
energy too. As the body is restored through meditative breathing, the
incoming, pure Ki has a chance to clear out your emotions and
thoughts, empowering you and creating balance, and bolstering you for
whatever you’ll be facing that day.
The experience goes further.
It touches you at a core, most refined level. Your spiritual self is
eternal, unconfined, permeating all other aspects of your being and can
also be felt in the breath, as well as a myriad of other ways. Breathe out
so that your breath travels infinitely to the ends of the Universe;
breathe in so that your breath reaches your hara and continues
infinitely there
The Hara
Hara literally means
belly. Physically it’s the center gravity for your body. Energetically
it’s a center of vital energy that positively affects the entire organism.
Spiritually it’s a seat of broad consciousness, a primordial connection to
the Universe, a still- or one-point which exists and sustains you
before and after the umbilical cord.
"The figure of the Buddha
seated on his lotus throne—serene, stable, all-knowing and
all-encompassing, radiating boundless light and compassion—is the foremost
example of hara expressed through perfect enlightenment.” –Philip Kapleau
We are all innately buddhas.
The goal of Reiki training and practice is to uncover this shining jewel,
encrusted as it is with the accumulation of suffering, disease and
delusion. Our human experience is limited, bound by time and space. Our
spiritual experience is just the opposite; limitless, on a continuum and
fully functional in the entire spectrum of Universal energy
Science studies the human
body structurally, based on scientific observation and quantifiable data.
This has led to a systemic approach in which the body is made up of
various major systems, such as the nervous system, circulatory system,
skeletal system, etc. Consciousness too has been mostly relegated to the
electro-chemical activity of the brain.
Eastern understanding is
based on ancient philosophical/spiritual systems and views the body as a
complex of life-sustaining processes, preserved and nourished by the
circulation of essential fluids and vital energies. Similarly, primordial
spiritual awareness is seen as the only enduring, continuous aspect of the
human psyche, functioning in the brain and throughout the body and our
life experience
The Ki Spectrum
This brings us to two
primary poles of Universal energy: Earth Ki and Celestial Ki.
Spiritual wisdom states that the union of these two energies creates all
that is: the cosmos, planets, nature and its life forms, and human beings.
It’s important to realize that these are not two different types of
energy, but two complementary poles of the same primordial energy. The
whole range is spiritual, whether we split it in our perception as
‘divine’ and ‘earthly.
There are specific ways to
embody, feel and integrate these energies in the course of Reiki training.
Once proficient, a third state is born. This can be described as “oneness”
or compassion. When the two poles are understood and realized by the
practitioner, a blending occurs that creates unity, i.e., oneness. When
you feel ‘one’ with yourself, others, your environment, nature and the
cosmos, compassion arises because it leads to a deeper, visceral empathy
with life. From this you progress to a level of higher enlightenment of
realizing true unity consciousness.
Earth Ki is a
frequency of energy that helps the body heal and makes the mind strong. It
helps to settle you in your center, creating a solid base to handle all
manner of challenges, bringing order and power to your being and life.
Celestial Ki is a
subtler, more refined energy that helps to align you spiritually. It
repairs spiritual disconnection and takes you to a higher consciousness.
Your intuition becomes more and more reliable, and mental/emotional
healing takes place.
As these two frequencies
blend within you, wholeness is created. Fragmentation and self-defeating
patterns are made whole. Being able to viscerally relate to the Earth you
live on, and the various dimensions of spiritual consciousness leads to a
direct understanding and realization of “oneness.” Your life becomes more
meaningful and valuable because you feel that you’re part of a grand web
that is intricate, precise, purposeful and benevolent. Thus greater caring
and compassion is engendered
As you evolve to states of
nonphysical consciousness, where pure love, bliss, joy and wisdom exist,
your spirit is harmonized, leading to mental, emotional and physical
health. You resonate clearly with the Universe. The net effect of your
personal journey is that the spirit of the world is also healed and
spiritualized.
This description of Reiki as
a spiritual practice outlines only some of its core principles and does so
in a simple, brief way. As you can see, hands-on healing is a significant
but only partial element of the teachings of Reiki. These ideas and
practices and further benefits therein can only be grasped by experience.
Fortunately, experience is readily available for anyone willing to embrace
it.
© 2005-2007 Pamir Kiciman
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