I learned how to meditate when I was 8 years old. I know
that meditation is my biggest tool in directing my life and connecting to my
inner essence – my soul.
In my years of teaching Reiki, I realized that some Reiki practitioners
do not really understand the Reiki System of Meditation. Others thought that
Reiki is all about hands-on-healing. Other practitioners have already taken
advanced course on Reiki and yet have not practiced meditation on a regular
basis.
I must admit that I also had my share of not emphasizing too
much on the Reiki Meditations in my past classes. As my way of correcting my
ways, I now hold my special classes and sessions on Reiki Meditations. (I
forgive myself, please forgive me!)
Meditation is the basic foundation of any spiritual
practice. Why? It is because the
goal of any spiritual practice is to find our Inner Essence or our True Self.
We can only find Inner Essence through the discipline of our mind in the
silence of meditation.
This write-up shall be a series of lessons on Reiki
Meditations. We shall begin first with listing the Reiki System of Meditation.
Reiki Meditations
Nowadays, Reiki has been integrated in many forms of
meditation. I usually call them modern Reiki Meditations to differentiate them
from the Traditional Reiki Meditation System as taught by Mikao Usui.
Mikao Usui taught students meditations based on their level
of development on the Reiki practice. The following are the traditional
meditations for the Reiki first degree level and advanced practitioners.
Gassho
Meditation - this is the first
meditation that I learned from my Reiki teacher, and indeed it is a basic
meditation for all Reiki practitioners.
All of the Reiki practices always start with gassho position. Gassho
means “two hands coming together”. Its’ deeper meaning is Oneness or
non-duality. Frans Stein, a Reiki master has a beautiful definition of gassho
which is the unification of the two opposites.
When we meditate in Gassho, we align our body, mind, and Spirit to go
into the feeling of Oneness with All, Oneness with the creator.
Spend a time in your day, meditating in
gassho position. You may spend 5-20 mins or more until you feel the Oneness
within you and with All or as long as you want to be in the stillness of the mind.
Gokai
Meditation – Gokai means
precepts. This meditation involves focusing on the Reiki precepts which is :
For today only:
Do not anger. Do not
worry. Be humble. Be honest in your
work. Be compassionate to yourself and
others.
Mikao Usui had explained the Gokai
as the secret of inviting happiness through many blessings, which is the spiritual medicine for all. He also directed how to recite
the Gokai – “ Do gassho every morning and evening, keep in your mind and recite.”
Gokai Meditation is our practical reminder of how we should live,
think, and feel on this earthly existence. By regular meditation
on Gokai, we re-program our mind into living with it and thus, our lives become the manifestation of Reiki.
When we meditate in the Gokai, we can either recite it or contemplate
on it. We can even focus on one precept to work on and let the precept talk and expand its
meaning in our lives.Remember to always do the Gokai Meditation in gassho position.
Ho (Breathing Meditation) - is also known as breathing techniques of
Reiki which are usually done with physical
or energetic movement. Breath is important in all Reiki meditation process. As
we work with “ki” and “ki” is moved
through breath. We aim to build the flow of Ki in our energetic pathways and to
strengthen the “hara” center using Reiki. Energetic breathing also improves and
strengthens our physical body.
There are three major techniques taught in Reiki
regarding breath: first is the Kenyuko
Ho which is the cleansing breath; second is the Joshin Kokyu Ho which the
combined mind and breath meditation; and the third is the Seishin Toitsu which is
called the unifying mind meditation. The third one is taught in the second degree or advanced level of Reiki.
Hands-on-Healing (Palm Healing) – We
always thought that the hands-on-healing is the core of Reiki. But no, it is
just one of the system of developing Reiki. In the traditional way, the
hands-on-healing is called Tenohira, which is according to Frans Stein, is the
act of supporting Ki to emanate from the palms of the hands for healing
purposes. Mikao Usui used this method
for the practitioner to have the kinesthetic experience during the healing,
otherwise, all healing will be done by focusing through the mind which can be
difficult for other practitioners.
We use only the intent to heal during the
hands-on-healing and we allow the Reiki to do the healing. When we do the
healing on others, the healee gets what it needed in healing. We only channel
the healing energy and never direct it. There is very beautiful definition of
Hands-on-Healing on which it is defined as a ritual of letting go of any resistance. When we let go of our resistance, we allow the Reiki to work on the
highest possible healing that we can have.
Jumon and Shirushi (Mantras and Symbols)
– are practiced from the Second Degree of Reiki up to the Third Degree. There
are 3 symbols used and 3 mantras used on Second Degree while there is only one
symbol and one mantra used in the Third Degree.
Jumon which is the mantra is also called kotodama on
the Reiki Third Degre practice. Kotodama
means “word carrying spirit”.
Shirushi is the drawing of symbols as one step in a
meditative state.
There had been a lot of additional Reiki Meditation developed after Hawayo Takata and they are mostly developed in the West which we called modern Reiki Meditations. They are good to know and to practice. However, be sure to know your traditional Reiki Meditations.
Meditate, Meditate,
Meditate with Reiki!
References:
Japanese Art of Reiki, Frans Stein
Reiki Manuals - Lilian Jarales-Hewlett
photos form google
