| Can we return to the traditional roots of a system that | | | | of going about this. |
| appears to have become almost inseparable from the | | | | Bronwen and Frans Stiene traveled to Japan in 2001 |
| New Age movement? | | | | and their experiences with modern Japanese teachers |
| The International House of Reiki would like to think so. | | | | during this journey are related here in their article 'In |
| Having begun in the early 1900s in Japan, the system | | | | Search of the Roots of Reiki'. They invited Inamoto |
| of Reiki spread throughout the world with the help of | | | | Hyakuten to teach in Australia in 2003. |
| Hawayo Takata. After her death in 1980 there was | | | | Some teachers are emerging today as highly influential |
| confusion between her students as to what the exact | | | | in the modern world of Reiki or in Usui's original |
| teachings were. Dogma became a necessity for | | | | teachings. These are: |
| some new branches while others freely interpreted | | | | Doi Hiroshi |
| the system to mean what they felt was appropriate. | | | | Inamoto Hyakuten |
| Out of this a backlash eventually developed and | | | | Chris Marsh |
| practitioners began researching what they were | | | | Doi Hiroshi |
| practising and teaching. | | | | Teacher of Gendai Reiki Ho and initiator of Usui Reiki |
| Throughout the 1990s practitioners returned to Japan | | | | Ryoho. Doi Hiroshi is also a member of the Usui Reiki |
| and met traditional groups and teachers who still | | | | Ryoho Gakkai. He officially joined the society on the |
| practised there. There was a blossoming of | | | | 22nd of October 1993 and completed Okuden, Level II, |
| information from Japan and a greater sharing of | | | | in 2003. Doi Hiroshi has studied many styles of Reiki, |
| information between East and West. This has helped | | | | Western and Japanese, as well as numerous |
| many Western practitioners to teach from a more | | | | energetic and spiritual techniques. He was one of the |
| open and enlightened viewpoint than had previously | | | | first Japanese to study Levels 1 and 2 with Mieko |
| been possible. One development from this has been | | | | Mitsui who was teaching Barbara Weber Ray's The |
| the introduction of international Reiki events that have | | | | Radiance Technique in Japan. He also studied all 3 |
| included Japanese teachers. Teachers who currently | | | | levels of a system of Reiki called Neo Reiki and has |
| travel from Japan include Doi Hiroshi and Inamoto | | | | trained with Yamaguchi Chiyoko. |
| Hyakuten. | | | | Inamoto Hyakuten |
| Just two years ago there were said to be 12 students | | | | Teacher and founder of Komyo Reiki Kai. Inamoto |
| of Usui Mikao alive and still practising his teachings in | | | | Hyakuten has developed this form of Reiki from the |
| Japan. Today this number has dwindled to just five. An | | | | teachings of Yamaguchi Chiyoko who studied with |
| Englishmen, Chris Marsh, has been slowly passing | | | | Usui's student Hayashi Chujiro. Inamoto Hyakuten has |
| these teachings on to the West. One of these old | | | | also been a translator for Doi Hiroshi and has |
| students, Suzuki san, is his teacher and is the cousin of | | | | translated Usui Mikao's memorial stone inscription that |
| Mikao Usui. | | | | can be found on this site. Inamoto Hyakuten is teaching |
| Other information is being taught by practitioners | | | | around the world and taught in Australia at the request |
| claiming to have discovered information through old | | | | of the International House of Reiki in May, 2003. |
| students or researched material. It is hoped that in the | | | | Chris Marsh |
| future the continuing 'new' information that surfaces | | | | Chris Marsh is an Iaido practitioner and teacher in |
| can be verified and consequently aid all practitioners. | | | | England as well as a professional musician. On one of |
| Over the last few years there has been information | | | | his regular visits to Japan he was invited to meet with |
| taught, such as Medicine Dharma Reiki (also known as | | | | Suzuki san san and eventually her fellow students (all |
| Universal Reiki Healing and Men Chhos Reiki) that | | | | aged somewhere between their late 90s and 112 |
| made claims of having original notes and teachings | | | | years of age). These students had studied with Usui |
| from Mikao Usui. It now appears that this is untrue. | | | | Mikao in the early 1900s but do not call what they |
| Students had devoted their time (and money) to these | | | | teach 'Reiki'. There are some fundamental differences |
| teachings. The result was embarrassment and general | | | | to the system of Reiki as it is taught today. Instead it is |
| confusion. To ensure that this does not happen again | | | | easier to refer to these teachings as simply - Usui's |
| all students-to-be should first check out their teachers | | | | teachings. |
| and what they teach. Associations are just one way | | | | |