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After returning to Japan, he discussed the matter with an old, wise
abbot who was very interested in the results of his search. They decided
that since all intellectual avenues had been covered, Dr. Usui should
go up onto the holy mountain and fast, pray and meditate. Dr. Usui did
this, and when nothing happened for 20 days, on the 21st. day Dr. Usui
went through a metaphysical experience that finally gave him the fruits
of his long search. A series of events that occurred as he descended
the mountain, revealed to him that he had actually acquired the ability
to heal with his hands. He hurried to his friend the abbot, who was
in great pain with arthritis of the knee joint. When Dr. Usui held his
knees for a few minutes, the pain vanished.
In great excitement, the two wondered how best Dr. Usui could use
this great gift, and decided he would go and work in a beggars’ colony.
A few years later he found old faces returning, and when he questioned
them as to why they were returning to that miserable place, he was told
that begging was easier than working for a living. He left the colony
to teach and treat Reiki,
and also formulated the five principles that are taught to all Reiki
trainees. Before his death, he chose Dr. Chujiro Hayashi, a physician
and an ex-Marine commander, to succeed him as Reiki Grandmaster. Little
is known of Dr. Hayashi’s early
life. He is credited with systemizing the full body Reiki treatment,
and dividing the Reiki training into three degrees. He opened a Reiki
Clinic in Tokyo and had teams of Reiki practitioners working on patients.
One
day an American lady of Japanese descent
came to Dr. Hayashi’s Clinic. She had come to try Reiki as
a last resort. Madame
Hawayo Takata had serious physical problems
(gallstones, appendicitis, asthma and tumors) and was generally
run-down and depressed after several personal losses, beginning with
her husband’s death 6 years ago, when she was only 29. Over a
period of several months she was treated at the Reiki Clinic, and
recovered completely. This fact was borne out by her medical
check-ups at the hospital where she had originally been admitted.
She begged to be allowed to learn this miraculous therapy so she
could continue to treat herself and help others after she returned
to her home in Hawaii. Madame
Takata was not only taught Reiki, but her enthusiasm and commitment
so impressed Dr. Hayashi, that he even traveled to America and made
her a Reiki Master. Shortly before his death, he called his family
and friends and announced that Madame Takata would be the Reiki
Grandmaster after him. Madame Takata died in 1980, and the tradition
of Reiki is continued by her granddaughter Phyllis Furumoto, and an
American lady, Barbara Webber Ray. Whenever Reiki is practiced, the
three Grandmasters are thanked, along with one’s own Master, as a
mark of respect. In the intervening years, Reiki has spread the
world over, to be learnt and used by anyone who is willing to accept
this powerful yet extremely simple tool of healing.
Though
there are some people who proclaim themselves Grandmasters even now,
it is believed that the traditional office of the Grandmaster of
Reiki now no longer exists. In the intervening years, Reiki has
spread all over the world, and is considered a prime method of
holistic healing an easy but extremely powerful technique to be
shared to anyone who will accept it.

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