I will explain today the real meaning and purpose of the
Reiki symbols. These are the Level II symbols, It is best to introduce
the symbols gradually as the
energy body needs time to adjust to higher vibrations - this is
important for your energy body.
REIKI SYMBOLS: The Origin, Meaning and interpretations
In your first degree Reiki course, you were told of the story
of Reiki development as narrated by Mrs. Takata who brought Reiki to the
West from Japan. In it mention is made of Dr. Mikao Usui who received
the Reiki formula from the Indian Vedic scriptures in Sanskrit ( he had
to learn Sanskrit and Pali for many years in search of this formula, we
were told).
While not discounting the story, we shall attempt to delve into the real
origin of the Reiki symbols and their true meaning as available from
modern translations/interpretations of ancient Buddhist and Vedic
scriptures. The discussion below should not be considered final or
authoritative - there is so much to learn and research yet, and we
should always remain open to new ideas and insights from whatever source
they may emanate.
And so on this note, let us proceed into the origin - Buddhism :
The original Sutras and the texts were in Sanskrit which is a Scholar's
language, while the Buddha ( Gautama Siddharth) spoke a dialect from his
birth town in India. India is a country of many languages, and Buddhism
travelled from India to Tibet, China, Korea and Japan. It changed
languages, interpretations along the way through different cultures and
over centuries ( Reiki teachings are over 2500 years old now if you try
to date their appearance in Buddhist sutras). Now, again its translation
in the West signifies another major change.
You may already be familiar with Buddhism, but allow me to clarify
further the disciplines of Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddism as developed
in Tibet, and consequently the development of Tibetan Reiki in earlier
times ( as opposed to Traditional Reiki, brought by Mrs. Takata to the
West around 1970-1980). The ancient methods of Tibetan Reiki are
paradoxically being termed as "Modern", maybe because they are now being
re-discovered.
The foundation of Buddhist teachings lies in the qualities of
loving-kindness and compassion (Karuna). Mahayana Buddhism developed in
India on these virtues by the first or second century. Its main theme is
that everyone can gain enlightenment. An important contribution of
Mahayana Buddhism is the concept of Boddhisattva - someone who has
achieved Enlightenment but delays entry into Nirvana in order to help
everyone else who can achieve Enlightenment with him or her.
Examples
of Boddhisattvas are :
Kwan Yin, known as Kanon in Japan and Tara in Tibet; Gautam Buddha ;
Jesus and His mother Mary. Thus, the Boddhisattva is the ideal
Mahayana person.
Vajrayana Buddhism ( or Tantric Buddhism) developed in Tibet from the
Mahayana sect. This is a mystic and esoteric aspect of Buddhism and
contains ritual, initiations ( attunements), mantras ( symbols),
peaceful and wrathful deities, visualizations to control the mind,
powerful meditations/practices and exercises and a rich symbolism.
Though the Tantrists worship the Buddha as sacred statues and artwork,
they seek the Buddha and the Boddhisattvas within their own minds.
The Reiki formula is from the Mahayana Sutras and the Vajrayana mystical
interpretations. The Reiki symbols are the levels of mind that lead to
Enlightenment, actually the Path to Enlightment itself to the Buddhist.
They are the five elements, five colors and five forms as seen in
Vajrayana symbolism.
Together the symbols are the non-duality of mind and object and the
emptiness from ego that achieves Nirvana. Once attained, the formula
releases the soul from the wheel of incarnation. The symbols original
use was not for healing but spiritual enlightenment - for the purpose of
helping others to attain Nirvana - this is the Bodhisattva Path. The
Reiki symbols therefore are wisdom-energy-creation, the perfection of
the Void, and culminate in liberation.
Reiki today is different in the West from the tradition that Mikao Usui
disovered in the Sutras, but it is vital. Like Buddhism, Reiki fits
whatever culture and time it finds itself in, and adapts perfectly well
- another of Reiki's miracles.
I trust the background of the origin and real purpose of the Reiki
Symbols is now quite clear to you. Here then are the symbols you must
know and later meditate upon. I have divided these into categories to
facilitate learning:
First the Traditional Reiki Symbols :
1. The Power Symbol
2. The Mental/Emotional Symbol
3. The Distant Healing Symbol
Let's proceed to the actual symbols now.
You must
learn to draw them well with a golden ink pen, with both your thumbs and with your
Reiki fingers of both the hands in the air ( the index and middle finger).