THE REIKI PRINCIPLES FROM THE USUI MEMORIAL?
Copyright
© 2013 James Deacon
I've
noticed, over the past few years, on several web sites and also in a
couple of Reiki-related books (and more recently in a Reiki Manual by
a fairly well-known Reiki teacher), information stating how the
following familiar Japanese version of the Reiki Principles (and the
accompanying 'user instructions') as shown here, comes directly from the inscription
on the Memorial Stone erected at the Usui family burial plot in the Saihoji graveyard in Tokyo in 1927.
The
Gokai
"The
secret method of inviting blessings, the spiritual medicine of many
illnesses (Shôfuku no hihô, Manbyo no rei yaku)
Just for today (Kyo dake wa):
Don't get angry (Ikaru na)
Don't worry (Shinpai su na)
Be grateful (Kansha shi-te)
Work diligently (Gyo wo hage me)
Be
kind to others (Hito ni shinsetsu ni)
Mornings and evenings sit in the gassho position and repeat these
words out loud and in your heart (Asa you gassho shite kokoro ni nenji
kuchi ni tonaeyo)
For the improvement of mind and
body (Shin shin kaizen)
Usui
Spiritual Healing Method (Usui Reiki Ryoho)
The founder,
Mikao Usui (Chossô, Usui Mikao)"
.
However, this
particular wording of the Reiki Principles and accompanying instructions DOES NOT appear on the Memorial.
The relevant
section of the Memorial inscription speaks about how, when it comes
to teaching, the student should be made aware of the admonitions of
the Meiji Emperor, and also that they should chant the Gokai mornings
and evenings, and keep them in mind.
It then goes on to list
the Five Principles, separating each by stating, “Firstly we say:”
“Secondly we say:” “Thirdly we say:”, etc.
After doing
so it reflects how they are “truly great teachings for cultivation
and discipline in keeping with those great teachings of the ancient
sages and the wise men” and then goes on to state that: “Sensei
named these teachings ‘the Secret Method of Inviting Blessings’
and ‘the Spiritual Medicine to cure many diseases’.”
Instead
of the familiar wording of the Principles themselves:
Kyo dake wa ikaru na
Shinpai su na
Kansha shi-te
Gyo
wo hageme
Hito ni shinsetsu ni
the actual Five Principles as listed on the Memorial, can be read
as:
Kyo ikaru nakare
Yū furu nakare
Kansha seyo
Gyo wo
hageme
Hito ni shinsetsu nareto
[This is the wording shown
on the image below, reading down the columns starting at the right]
Now while there are differences between the words used in the more
commonly seen Japanese version of the Principles and those used in
the description on the Memorial, the essential meaning of the two
versions is still pretty much the same.
The memorial version
could translate as:
Today do not anger
Do not be anxious
Be
grateful
Be diligent in your work
Be kind to others
However, some people do find significance in that this version
" in the first
Principle.
