By definition, a Reiki Master would be one who has mastered the energy we call Reiki. Simple? Maybe not. Let’s take a look at the definition of this Japanese word Reiki and consider what it takes to master it.
Breaking the word into two parts, the generally accepted definition of Rei is “universal” with an inference to higher knowledge or spiritual consciousness; God consciousness if you will. “Ki” is Japanese for life force energy. So the Japanese definition would be something like “the spiritual consciousness within the all pervading (universal) life force energy.” The Chinese translation cuts to the chase. It indicates that there is no real tangible way to describe the enormity of this energy. Thus, the definition “life force from beyond the beyond” stops us from trying to intellectualize too much.
In traditional Reiki training, all that is required to become a Reiki Master is taught in 3 to 5 classes depending on the school or teacher. I have even seen workshops where you can become a Reiki master in one weekend!
In my opinion, the Reiki world has misused the word master. The dictionary says a master is “somebody in control, or who rules or has control over something.”Also, “a person eminently skilled in something.” If we stick to using the actual meaning of the words, (and why wouldn’t we?) we are suggesting that in a few weekend workshops we might actually be able to controlor rule the universal life force energy from beyond the beyond that is imbued with God consciousness. Quite a claim don’t you think!
At best, even after all five or so Reiki classes, we are toddlers with training wheels. Only our ego wants to own the energy as something we have “mastered” so we can create an identity. That’s not to say there haven’t been, and aren’t today, true Reiki Masters. There are and have been. Just not from taking a few weekend classes. When somebody tells me they are a Reiki master I understand what they mean is that they have taken a few levels of Reiki training and received a certificate with that title. That title may or may not have anything to do with their true understanding of the energy.
It is said that before Dr.Usui began attracting large numbers of people, mastership was achieved by following him and working with him. This would logically include the kinds of meditations and practices he used in his everyday life such as the gassho meditation, joshin kokyuu-ho and more. Such dedication would no doubt result in deep awareness and experential knowledge of the Reiki energies.
When the decision was made to break his training down into classes, it seems logical to assume there had to be some loss of the deep comprehension and states of consciousness achieved by Dr. Usui. I’m guessing the term “master” stayed in place because of the outward demonstration of techniques and knowledge of the symbols.
But through the years, all of the changes and misunderstanding have actually become trivial matters, because when one truly begins to work with the Reiki energies consistently, an interesting thing happens. Many things actually, but one I’m wanting to point out more than others right now, and that is this; the nature of the energy begins to work its magic in our life. Let me repeat that, the nature of the energy begins to work its magic in our life. This nature is one of the most incredible, most powerful, most inspiring forces on the planet. This nature is light and Love in motion. This nature changes your perception of everything. It certainly has changed mine. It has opened my heart to heal wounds that were so glaring I didn’t even know I had them. It has given me comfort in times of fear, opened my mind to embrace new realities, and it has literally led me on a new path in my life. Insight Awareness (the business I founded 19 years ago) wasn’t even a dream until the awareness of Reiki came into my life.
So you see, even though Reiki is generally conceptualized, given various names, and thought of as a technique to be mastered, its essence and nature will always be available to those who look beyond the form.. It is in this quest, the quest of finding the formless beyond the form, that a true Reiki Master evolves. In the meantime, I like to think of myself as simply a Reiki teacher. Perhaps an appropriate term for those of us who consider ourselves to be on a spiritual path and have taken the highest levels of Reiki training would be “masters in the making.” For truly, we are that. How far can we fly on the wings of light and Love?
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