Category: Reiki

Reiki and Kundalini: The same path with different names?

Reiki is the art of healing oneself on many levels. It is a slow and effective therapy. Kundalini is the science of raising one’s consciousness to higher levels, experiencing the unification with God/ Almighty, following the set of rituals.

Reiki has been known barely for 150 years and Kundalini is the ancient practice of India. Both have originated from different cultures and in different times. These practices are mystical in nature, pointing to one source.

If a beginner looks at Reiki and Kundalini as two different therapies then they will be right in their own sense. But a realized person point of view and conclusion about these two practices will be entirely different. It will vary from one person to the other. For me, I honor both and see them as two streams of one ‘Ganges’. The similarity and the essence are striking in both spiritual traditions. The only difference is that Reiki focuses on healing and Kundalini is Holy Union, Oneness.

Let us look at it from the point of view of Reiki. Reiki starts with the five principles of ‘Living in Today’. These principles are the basis of ‘surrender’ and ‘insight’. This is the classic approach to help the student realize that surrender is the basis of everyday life in action leading to enlightenment. Kundalini practitioners are also taught such principles in form of ancient teachings, hymns and poetry of great saints. They are tested. One of the surrender of their ego is to bowing in front of the master. They are also taught principles and techniques to let go of the anger, acceptance, realize compassion and be the same, thankfulness and live in now.

Reiki’s healing secret is to be the empty vessel through which the energy must flow. The core teaching of ‘Kundalini’ is the secret to become the hollow bamboo/flute and let the God/Lord play his music through you.

Reiki further moves on to the attunement of the student who needs to learn it. Attunement is the process of lifting up the energies of one person. It clears and filters the elements not needed in the body. One is needed to meditate, relax and let go of the ego before the attunement. Attunement is the process that can be done only by a teacher who is authorized to do so. It is same as the ‘Shaktipat’ in Kundalini tradition. The only difference was that the person had to clear his energies and be completely egoless, through the years of practice and strict regime, which he/she must follow under the teacher’s guidance. Once the teacher thinks he/she is ready for receiving the energy then only the ceremony takes place. Even in Reiki, there are teacher who refuse to give attunements to students whom they think are not ready for it. ‘Shaktipat’ elevates the person’s ‘Karmas’. Karmas are the energies of the past blocking the overall progress of any person.

One needs to heal, keeping the hands on the specific parts of the body. This aligns and clears the energies in those parts of the body. Most of the specified hand positions fall on the ‘Chakras’, a major part of study in Kundalini practice. ‘Chakras’ literally means wheel. These wheels are vortexes of energies in the body. These vortexes are formed where the maximum numbers of nerves meet.

So when one heals the Chakras starting from Root Chakra to the Crown Chakra, they are guiding the energy to move upwards. This is precisely the method of Kundalini to rise ‘The serpent energy’ starting from the base or ‘Mooladhara’ to the ‘Sahasrara’.

Even the very basic technique of breathing and calming is the act of balancing the ‘Ida’ and ‘Pingala’ nadis, which helps in raising ‘Sushumna’, the path on which the serpent energy moves. The only difference is the ‘Breathing practices’. While in Reiki they breathe through navel, in Kundalini practice it is the ‘Alternate breathing’ or the ‘Nadi Shodhan’.

One of the added benefits of Reiki healing is opening of the ‘Third Eye’ or the ‘Spiritual Center’. This helps in connecting to the Spirit World and guidance from beyond. It also opens up the vast ocean of untapped knowledge. This is easily achieved by Reiki but not understood as clearly. It is a ‘Power’ or a ‘Siddhi’, which is achieved by the practice of continuous ‘Saadhna’. Oncethe Spiritual Eye is activated, the practitioner also achieves the power to see and read auras, past, present and future of everybody around him/her. Though he/she has to practice continually, if possible under the guidance of a teacher. However, it maybe noted that the Reiki practitioners find this awakening of Third Eye as amazing and amusing in the beginning because of the ignorance about such a power. Eventually they will get accustomed to it and use it for the benefits of themselves and other people.

Last but the least the goal of raising Kundalini is to achieve ‘Enlightenment’. Reiki was brought in the world by Mikao Usui after he got Enlightened. So there must be some deeper roots to the Secret Power of this Healing Energy called Reiki. And the secret is revealed by the Reiki symbols.

Whether the path is same or different or the practices have their differences or similarities, the ultimate goal is to be in the ‘Spiritual Consciousness’, know that ‘Oneness’ and be that ‘Happiness’.

There is more to it. I will reveal more secrets on Reiki and ancient practice of Kundalini and Enlightenment. Keep watching for more. Do send if you have any questions regarding Reiki and Kundalini on mansy_b@yahoo.com.

About the Author

This article was written by Manisha Bansal (Ma Amrita), founder Ivedas. She is an ICRT(Reiki.org) certified Reiki, Karuna Reiki, Yoga and Meditation teacher. She teaches all levels of Reiki & Karuna Reiki including Mastership, Money Mantra (Attract riches, be rich), Meditation, Laya Yoga (Schynchronisity), Laughter Yoga and Chakras on one to one and group basis by appointment. She also conducts Healing sessions and Treatments for those in need. She conducts classes in India and USA. Read more about her on kriyacorporation.com.

TAKATA -SENSEI
speaks about Reiki

Extract from ‘Leiki: a memorial to Takata-sensei’, a compilation by Alice T Furumoto (Takata-sensei’s daughter),1982.

“In my attempt to write this essay on the Art of Healing in limited words, I will try to be practical rather than technical, because what I am about to define is not associated with any material being which is visible, nor has a shape, nor name.

I believe there exists One Supreme Being – the Absolute Infinite – a Dynamic Force that governs the world and universe. It is an unseen spiritual power that vibrates and all other powers fade into insignificance beside it. So, therefore, it is Absolute!

This power is unfathomable, immeasurable, and being a universal life force, it is incomprehensible to man. Yet, every single living being is receiving its blessings daily; awake or asleep.

Different teachers and masters call Him the Great Spirit, the Universal Life Force; Life Energy, because when applied it vitalizes the whole system; Ether Wave, because it soothes pain and puts you into deep slumber, as if under an anesthetic; and The Cosmic Wave, because it radiates vibrations of exultant feeling and lifts you into harmony.

I shall call it “Reiki” because I studied under that expression. Reiki is a radionic wave like radio. It could be applied locally or as in short wave. A distant treatment could be successfully given.

Reiki is not electricity, nor radium or X-ray. It could penetrate thin layers of silk, linen, porcelain or lead, wood or steel, because it comes from the Great Spirit, the Infinite.

It does not destroy delicate tissues or nerves. It is absolutely harmless, therefore, it is a practical and safe treatment. Because it is a universal wave, everything that has life benefits when treated – plant life, fowls, the animals, as well as human beings, infants or old, poor or rich.

It should be applied and used daily as a prevention. God gave us this body, a place to dwell, and our daily bread. We were put into this world for some purpose, therefore, we should have health and happiness.

It was God’s plan, so he provides us with everything. He gave us hands to use them, to apply and heal, to retain physical health and mental balance, to free ourselves from ignorance, and live in an enlightened world, to live in harmony with yourself and others, to love all beings.

When these rules are applied daily, the body shall respond and all we wish and desire to attain in this world is within our reach. Health, happiness and the road to longevity, which we all seek – I call this Perfection.

Being a universal force from the Great Divine Spirit, it belongs to all who seek and desire to learn the art of healing.

It knows no color, nor creed, old or young. It will find its way when the student is ready to accept. He is shown the way. Initiation is a sacred ceremony and the contact is made. Because we are associating with Divine Spirit, there is no error; nor should we doubt. It is Absolute!

With the first contact or initiation, the hands radiate vibrations when applied to the ailing part. It relieves pain, stops the blood from an open wound; your hands are ready to heal acute and chronic diseases – the human beings – the plants – the fowls – the animals.

In acute cases, only a few minutes’ application is necessary. In the chronic cases, the first step is to find the cause and effect.

It is not necessary to undress the patient completely, but it is better to loosen all tight clothing so that the patient may relax, lying on the table face up. Most important is to find the cause of the illness.

Start treatment from the eyes, sinus, pituitary glands, ears, throat, thyroids, thymus, stomach, gall bladder, liver, pancreas, solar plexus, ileocecum, colon, sigmoid flexure, ovarian glands, bladder, then front chest and heart.

Turn patient over, treat the back, lungs, sympathetic nerves, kidneys, spleen, and prostrate gland.

During the treatment, trust in your hands, Listen to vibrations or reaction. If there is pain, it registers pain in your finger tips and palm. If the patient has itch, it reacts the same; if deep and chronic, it throbs a deep pain; or if acute, the pain is a shallow tingle.

As soon as the body responds to the treatment, the acute ailment disappears, but the cause remains. Dig into the cause daily and with each treatment, improvement is seen.

After the organs have been thus treated, I finish the treatment with a nerve stroke which adjusts the circulation. Apply on the skin a few drops of sesame oil or any pure vegetable oil. I place my thumb and fore finger on the left side of the spinal column and the three fingers and palm flat on the right side of the spinal column. With a downward stroke, 10 to 15 strokes to the end of spinal cord. Only in diabetic cases are the strokes reversed; arms and legs are manipulated towards the heart. The above treatment is called the foundation and it requires an hour or more, all depending on the complications and seriousness of the case.

Going through the body in minute detail, the hands become sensitive and are able to determine the cause and to detect the slightest congestion within, whether physical or mental, acute or chronic. Being strictly drugless and a bloodless treatment, Reiki will adjust the body to normal.

In about four days to three weeks we find a great change taking place within the body, all internal organs and glands will begin to function with much vigor and rhythm.

The digestive juices put out normal flow, the congested nerves slacken, the adhesions break away, the lazy colon gets organized, the fecal matter drops from the walls of the intestines, the gases eliminate.

Many years of accumulated toxin finds its way out through the pores. It is a sticky perspiration.

The bowels increase, dark and strong in odor. The urine increases like dark tea, sometimes white, as if flour stirred in water. It lasts four to six days, and yet, I have had patients who reacted with only one treatment.

When this is established, you are assured of a big general overhaul of the intestinal organs taking place. With such good cleansing, the body becomes active. The numbed nerves regain sense of feeling, appetite increases, sound sleep becomes natural, eyes sparkle, skin glows like silk.

With new blood and good circulation, nerves and glands restored, it is possible to rejuvenate five to ten years. At this time, it is very important what you consume.

In the Reiki health treatments, we are vegetarians, and eat all kinds of fruits in season.

Nature provides with plenty, but never to waste. Over-eating is a sin. Eating in moderation, with a feeling of gratitude, to recognize the Great Spirit who is the creator, who is the All Power to make things grow and blossom and bear fruit.

Come to the table with pleasant thoughts. Never eat when you are worried. Milk, white sugar, and starches are to be avoided when the patient has a weak stomach. With proper food, the patient responds faster to the treatments.”

http://www.aetw.org/reiki_takata_on_reiki.htm