Friday, November 30, 2012

One Root Many Variants: Reiki (靈氣)


 
Some common Reiki symbols

 
Reiki is a spiritual practice developed in 1922 by Japanese Buddhist Mikao Usui, which has since been adapted by various teachers of varying traditions. It uses a technique commonly called palm healing or hands on healing as a form of alternative medicine.

 

There are three main branches of Reiki (or perhaps more):

 

·         Traditional Japanese Reiki

·         The Western Reiki

·         The SEA Reiki

 

Though differences can be wide and varied amongst the three branches and traditions, the primary difference is that Westernised forms use systematised hand-placements rather than relying on an intuitive sense of hand-positions, which is commonly used by Japanese Reiki and the SEA Reiki branches. All of the three branches commonly have a three-tiered hierarchy of degrees, usually referred to as the First, Second, and Master/Teacher level, all of which are associated with different skills and techniques.

 

Personally, I don't have too much excitement over Reiki, as it is no different from the Dairindo, Chinese Chigong or the SEA Tenaga Dalam practices. In fact the later three are more comprehensive than the Reiki methods, but that is only my opinion.

 

I have just noticed a new comer for this new millennium: “Energy Working”. Correct me if I am wrong, basically this is a catch all package in that the Reiki, chakra attunements and auto-martial arts or power dancing are repackaged and resold as a new product.

 

Below is a list of Reiki systems available out there, please help me to fill in the blanks if you have more to add to the list:

 
 

 

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