Mikao Usui

Template:Contains Japanese text {{Infobox person | name = Mikao Usui | image = Mikaousui.jpg | image_size = 150px | alt = Mikao Usui | caption = 臼井甕男 | birth_date = (1865-08-15)15 August 1865 | birth_place = Taniai (now called Miyama cho) (Gifu), Japan | death_date = 9 March 1926(1926-03-09) (aged 60) | death_place = Fukuyama (福山市), Japan | death_cause = Stroke | nationality = Japanese | known_for = Reiki | occupation = Reiki Master | monuments = Saihō-ji temple (西芳寺), Suginami, Tokyo (杉並区) | religion = Buddhism

Mikao Usui (臼井甕男, 15 August 1865 – 9 March 1926, commonly[[ Usui Mikao in Japanese was the founder of a form of spiritual practice known as Reiki, for the treatment of physical, emotional, and mental diseases. According to the inscription on his allagged memorial stone. Usui taught Reiki to over 2000 people during his lifetime. However this is only an allegations. There is no other evidence to support this claim in Japan pre 1925. Allegedly Sixteen of these students continued their training to reach the ' level, a level equivalent to the Reiki Training third degree, or Master level. There is no actual evidence to substantiate these other students existence. The only evidence that exists pre 1930 of an Usui student, is that of Chujiro Hayashi, in a tokyo News Paper article. This article was written by A Matsui Shoou. Usui died on 9 March 1926 of a stroke. The date and place of Usui,s death remain a mystery.,]]

Life

It is thought that Usui was born on 15 August 1865 in the village of Taniai (now called Miyama cho) in the Yamagata, Gifu Yamagata district of the Gifu Prefecture, Japan, which is now located near present day Nagoya. Though there are hundreds of families with the Usui name in Gifu prefecture. Usui did not write a reiki manual as some claim.

A 19th century scholar, Mikao Usui seems to have earned a doctorate of theology at the Old University of Chicago|University of Chicago, in the theological seminary. The History of the University of Chicago|University of Chicago was actually closed at that time, in 1881, due to financial difficulty.

Usui is also said to be Usui Shiko Ryoho method.

Family

It is claimed that, Usui's father's common name was Uzaemon, and his mother was from the Kawai family. His brothers, Sanya and Kuniji are only fictional names, given Usui, allegedly, who grew up to become a doctor and a policeman respectively. Though there is no substantiated evidence to support this claim. He also allegedly had an older sister called Tsuru. Usui married Sadako Suzuki, who bore children by the names of Fuji and Toshiko. Fuji (1908–1946) went on to teach at Tokyo University, and Toshiko lived a short life, dying at the age of 22 in 1935. The entire family's ashes are buried at the grave site at the Saihō-ji Temple in Tokyo.

As an adult, it is believed that he traveled to several Western countries, including Americas, Europe, and China as a part of his continued lifelong study. His studies included history, medicine, Buddhism, Christianity, psychology, and Taoism.

Usui's ancestors were the once influential Chiba clan and were Hatamoto samurai. According to the inscription on his memorial, Tsunetane Chiba, a military commander during the end of the Heian period and the start of the Kamakura period (1180–1230), was one of Usui's ancestors. In 1551, Toshitane Chiba conquered the city Usui and thereafter all family members acquired that name. Usui was raised as a samurai from childhood, specifically in the martial arts techniques of aiki (合氣術).

Claims of Reiki's Christian origins

Usui attuned by [[Chujiro Hayashi (林 忠次郎, 1880–1940), who passed on reiki linage to Mrs Hawayo H Takata in 1937. To this end Takata told the story of reiki as it was told to her by Hayashi,with a link to Jesus Christ. She also presented Usui as the dean of a Christian school. While he had obtained the knowledge of Reiki from the sutra's. Takata claimed that he had been inspired from the story of Jesus Christ, who had healed with the touch of his hand, and so Usui had come to America to learn how Christ healed.

Teachings

It is believed that the aim of Usui's teachings was to provide a method for students to achieve connection with so-called energies, that would help them in their self-development. What sets Usui's teachings apart from other hands-on healing methods is his initiation's to enhance his followers their spiritual connection. It seems that all students of Usui received 5 precepts and those with a further interest in the teachings became dedicated students. There does not appear to have been a distinction between clients and students in the beginning though this may have changed at some point. People began coming to Usui Mikao possibly for different purposes – some for healing and others for the spiritual teachings.

Activity in the 1920s

During the early 1920s, Usui did a 21-day practice on Mount Kurama-yama called discipline of prayer and fasting, (according to translator Hyakuten Inamoto. Common belief dictates that it was during these 21 days that Usui developed Reiki.This teaching included self-discipline, fasting and prayer.

“In April of the 11th year of Taisho (1922 A.D.) he settled in Harajuku, Aoyama, Tokyo and set up the Gakkai to teach Reiki Ryoho and give treatments. Even outside of the building it was full of pairs of shoes of the visitors who had come from far and near.” –

“In September of the 12th year (1923 A.D.) there was a great earthquake and a conflagration broke out. Everywhere there were groans of pains from the wounded. Sensei, feeling pity for them, went out every morning to go around the town, and he cured and saved an innumerable number of people.

Five concepts

Main article: Reiki Five Principles

See also

[[* Alternative medicine

• Laying on of hands
• Glossary of alternative medicine
• Chujiro Hayashi

* Hawayo Hiroumi Takata]] 
*  Book by Helen J Haberly, Hawayo Takata Story" 1990]] 
*  Book by Fran Brown " Living Reiki Takata's Teachings"1992]] 
*  Book by Wanja Twan, Reiki Master, Book "In the Light of a Distant Star";1995.   
*  Reiki Alliance : Phyllis Lei Furumoto and Paul D Mitchell, web sites   ]]]