Reiki: The Way of Living and the Path to Enlightenment — About Traditional Reiki-Dō (The Way of Reiki)
In the serene embrace of Kurama, Kyoto—the sacred birthplace of Reiki—I am Neu, a guide on this path of healing and self-discovery.
Over the past few years, Reiki Healing has slowly begun to gain recognition here in Japan, as well as throughout the world.
On social media platforms such as Instagram, I often see people sharing about Reiki—each from their own understanding and interpretation.
Yet, as I read these posts about “What Reiki is,” I often sense that many of them remain vague or surface-level, leaving people wondering,
“So... what exactly is Reiki?”
And perhaps, this question doesn’t arise only among those newly interested in Reiki—
but even among those who have already received Reiki attunements and walk the path as Reiki healers.
For many years after becoming a Reiki Healer, I often found myself asking, “What is Reiki, really?”
There were even times when I stepped away from Reiki altogether—again and again—whenever I felt lost in that question.
Through these cycles of returning and parting, of seeking and reflecting, I continued to face Reiki with an open heart.
And through this long journey of contemplation, the understanding I eventually reached was this:
Reiki is a path toward awakening—
and, at the same time, it is a way of living itself.
▷Reiki is not simply a healing technique, but a path to Satori
The Beginning of Reiki Healing
Usui Mikao Sensei, the founder of the Usui Reiki Ryōhō Gakkai and the originator of what we now know as Reiki Healing, was a man who devoted his life to exploring some of humanity’s most profound questions:
“Why do we live?”
“How should we live?”
“How can one find true happiness?”
According to oral tradition, Usui Sensei was a lifelong seeker who studied philosophy, religion, and spiritual thought not only from Japan but from around the world. It is said that he traveled to China and other countries in pursuit of this wisdom, immersing himself in the universal truths that connect all paths of life.
And yet, he was never able to find a truth that fully resonated within him—an answer to the ultimate and essential question: “How should one live?”
In search of an answer to this question, it is said that Usui Sendei entered training at a Zen temple near Mount Kurama in Kyoto.
There, he devoted himself to deep spiritual practice—but even after long periods of discipline, enlightenment still eluded him.
“I have devoted my life to every method I could think of—to study, to practice, to discipline—and yet, I have not attained enlightenment. What more can I possibly do?”
When he brought this question to his teacher, the master simply replied,
“Then perhaps… you should try dying once.”
Taking his teacher’s words to heart, Usui Sensei resolved to retreat to the ancient, sacred mountains of Kurama, nestled in the hidden depths of Kyoto. With unwavering determination, he vowed, “I will not rise from this place until I have attained enlightenment.” Embracing the possibility of death, he began a rigorous practice of fasting and meditation.
On the night of the twenty-first day, a sudden, lightning-like shock struck him, and he lost consciousness. Upon awakening, he experienced a profound realization: “The universe is myself, and I am the universe.”
In the days that followed, he became aware of a mysterious healing power flowing through him. He recognized this energy as the ancient force known in Japan as Reiki and, following this insight, he established the Usui Reiki Ryōhō Gakkai in Tokyo.
Thus began the tradition of Reiki Healing that continues to this day.
▷The History of Reiki: From Usui Reiki to Western Reiki
Reiki is not merely a healing method
Worldwide, Reiki Healing is widely known simply as REIKI, and it is generally understood as a healing method.
However, as I have studied the life of Usui Sensei, explored the wisdom he absorbed, and delved into the teachings and history of Kurama-dera Temple where he retreated, I have come to a compelling conclusion: Reiki is far more than a mere healing method.
Many who share about Reiki often describe it as a healing method that restores physical and emotional well-being, or as a way for life to improve simply by receiving Reiki.
I do not mean to suggest that this understanding is wrong.
Yet, I cannot help but feel that the true essence of Reiki—of 靈氣—runs far deeper than this.
What Usui Sensei attained through Reiki was secondary to his pursuit of enlightenment. The focus was never “Reiki Healing” itself. Rather, Reiki Healing is, at its core, a tool—a means, a method.
It seems to me that what Usui Sensei ultimately wished for his students—those learning under him—was to guide them toward the state of living with awakened consciousness, fully walking the path of Satori.
This truth becomes especially clear to those who have studied Level 3 of the Reiki Healer Training Course, where the deeper essence of this path is revealed.
The Connection Between Reiki, Ancient Shinto, Zen, and Japanese Inner Development
Many of the practices within Reiki share deep resonance with Japan’s ancient Shinto traditions.
Purification rites, the mindful use of harae (Shinto ritual cleansing of negative energy or impurities) and misogi (physical purification, often through water, to clear body and mind), honoring the sun, and drawing its life-giving energy into oneself—these are techniques that cultivate alignment and vitality.
The ongoing cultivation of one’s inner maturity, the Five Reiki Precepts that convey the essence of Reiki, and even the very word Reiki itself—all of these are deeply intertwined with the philosophy, way of being, and timeless wisdom of Japan’s ancient spiritual heritage.
Furthermore, the Taishō era, when Usui Sensei was active, was a time of great upheaval.
The Russo-Japanese War and World War I unfolded during these years.
Amid such turbulence, the intellectuals of Japan surely pondered deeply: how could they preserve the essence of Japan’s land, culture, and inner way of being in the face of the advancing Western powers?
Usui Sensei held deep respect for one he regarded as the “father of the heart”—Emperor Meiji.
Emperor Meiji was known to be filled with extraordinary Reiki energy. It is said that merely sitting in his presence would overwhelm anyone with his intense aura, raising their body temperature and bringing forth a cascade of sweat.
Though usually a man of few words, Emperor Meiji composed over 93,000 waka poems throughout his life. Usui Sensei carefully selected several dozen of these poems and instructed his students of the Usui Reiki Ryōhō Gakkai to read them daily, as guidance for life and nourishment for the heart.
Reading these waka, one can glimpse a refined sensitivity to the shifting beauty of nature, the spirit of filial piety toward parents and elders, and the essence of Bushidō as expressed in Hagakure: “To live is to know death.”
Ancient Shintoism, Zen, and Bushidō alike—each embodies and expresses the timeless spirit of Japan.
Usui Sensei, well-versed in these teachings, encouraged his students to read daily the waka composed by Emperor Meiji. In his heart, during the tumultuous beginnings of the Taishō era, there must have been a steadfast belief: that the spirit of the Japanese people should be nurtured, strengthened, and preserved, never to be lost.
The deeper one studies Usui Sensei, the history of Reiki, Emperor Meiji, and the teachings of Kurama-dera, the more this conviction becomes clear.
Moreover, when exploring fields that may at first seem unrelated to Reiki—ancient Shinto, Zen—one inevitably encounters Reiki as energy, and discovers the connection to Reiki as a healing practice.
Reiki, the Way of Traditional Reiki Dō
From these teachings, insights, and my own experiences, I came to deeply feel that what Usui Sensei truly wanted to convey—the essence of Reiki, the way of being, the art of living, and the cultivation of one’s character—should be shared with as many people as possible through the practice of Reiki.
After much time, reflection, and experimentation, I completed my original approach to learning Reiki, which I call Traditional Reiki Dō.
Even so, Traditional Reiki Dō is, of course, a thorough study of Reiki as a healing practice. I carefully transmit the techniques, exercises, teachings, and meditations that are common across various Reiki lineages—Usui Reiki, modern Reiki—preserving them as faithfully as possible.
At the same time, I subtly weave in the essence of Japan’s ancient cultivation of the self, allowing it to awaken naturally between the lines of the teachings.
The Reiki Healer Training Courses I offer are not simply about producing “Reiki practitioners.”
Of course, many of my students who take these courses go on to deepen their own practice and experiences, and begin to share Reiki with others as healers.
Yet even if you have no intention of becoming a professional healer, this course is especially for those who carry questions like: “How should I live my life?” “As a Japanese person, what is the proper way to approach each day?” or “What is the purpose of life?”—those who seek the answers within themselves.
As a Reiki teacher, I dedicate myself wholeheartedly to sharing everything I have learned throughout my own journey. But I cannot give you the “answers.” Because the answers already reside within you. Your answer and my answer will surely be different—and that is precisely as it should be. It is this very difference that makes life beautiful.
What I offer is not the answer, but a guiding light—a signpost to help you find your own answer.
The one who walks that path is you.
At your own pace, with the rhythm that feels most natural to your heart.
Walk the path that calls to you—because every path, in the end, leads to the same destination: emptiness (state of Ku), and awakening (Satori).
And along that journey, there is a gentle companion who walks beside you—Reiki.
At times, Reiki becomes your compass.
At times, a soft blanket that wraps you in warmth.
At times, a single guiding star in the night sky.
Once you receive the Reiki Attunement and open the channel within yourself, that connection will never be lost. It will remain with you for a lifetime—an ever-present flow of light and guidance.
Everything shared through Traditional Reiki Dō is meant to become a lifelong source of wisdom, a compass for your heart, and a quiet amulet of protection on your path.
This is the spirit in which I have created it—with care, sincerity, and deep devotion.
If, as you read these words, you felt something quietly begin to stir within you—
Then please, take a breath of courage and step forward.
I will share this teaching with all my heart, with deep care and sincerity.
With love,
Neu
