Reiki
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[edit] Definition
Reiki is the name used in the West for a system of Japanese "healing" involving waving the hands over the patient without touching him. In Japan, "reiki" is a generic term for healing techniques, and the technique which we call Reiki would more properly be called "Usui Reiki Ryoho" --- that is, "Usui's natural healing method".
The medical claims for this healing technique, as for so many healing techniques, are vague and unambitious: it "improves health" and "strengthens the immune system"; some of the claims made for it are unverifiable: it "balances the chakras" and so forth. As with most "healers", and unlike real doctors, reiki practitioners tend to steer clear of claiming to be able to cure any particular disease.
The standard explanation for why Reiki works is the usual chatter about vibrations and the life force: typically, this explanation does not really explain why you should be able to improve someone's health by waving your hands at them.
Reiki practitioners are classified in the belief system as Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3[1]
A "Level 3" Reiki practitioner is known as a "Reiki master". Although a Reiki master is taught to wave his hands in certain secret mystical ways over the patient, it is not this knowledge alone which makes a Reiki master, but rather the fact that he has been "attuned" by another Reiki master, whom he will usually pay for this privilege. In theory, then, every genuine Reiki master has a "lineage" consisting of the master who attuned him, the master who attuned him and so forth back to the first practitioner of Reiki, Mikao Usui, who apparently was "attuned" spontaneously.
No medical knowledge or diagnostic expertise is required to become a Reiki master, and the huge majority of them are untrained in modern medical theory and diagnosis.
[edit] Origins
A skeptic would say that Reiki was invented by Mikao Usui in 1914. To the true believer in Reiki, however, Usui's revelation was a rediscovery of a lost art practiced in (where else?) ancient Tibet. There is, however, not a shred of evidence that anything like Reiki was ever practiced in Tibet.
Reiki was introduced to the West (specifically, Hawaii) by Hawayo Takata (1900 - 1980), who began initiating Reiki masters in the 1970s. She also introduced the practice of charging a $10,000 fee for initiation, on the grounds (so she explained) that as it was so easy to become a Reiki master, Westerners wouldn't feel respect for Reiki masters unless it cost a lot of money to become one.
Since then the prices have fallen, and it is now possible to become a Reiki master in a weekend course, or even to buy, for the bargain price of $67, a book which will allow you to attune yourself, and become "a powerful, independent, Chikara-Reiki-Do™ Master, Usui Reiki Master and Tibetan Reiki Master" within 48 hours, "or 24 if you're really in a hurry".
As with most alternative medicine healing techniques, the technique itself has diverged as different Reiki masters have added new methods to the existing techniques and passed them on to their students.
[edit] Quotations
"The "teacher" went on to say that you can cure all ills, but only when the sick person gives up their emotional baggage. All diseases/illnesses are caused by emotions and feelings. I asked her what about people who live in an area that has toxic waste buried in their backyards? Does she not agree that the toxic waste might be the reason for their illness? She babbled something like, "They chose to live there"!
She kept on saying that Reiki can cure people and that she has actually cured cancer! But it can only cure people who deal with their emotions and realize that these emotions are what are causing the illnesses. I then said "that's a very convenient answer --- if the patient is not cured it's their fault for not dealing with their emotions." I then asked her "what about animals that you claim to work on," and she replied "Well, animals have feelings too!"
I just rolled my eyes. I couldn't believe I had wasted $150!"
[edit] Discussion
The system whereby a reiki master is required to attune a would-be Reiki master is reminiscent of a pyramid scheme: however, unlike such schemes as Scientology or Transcendental Meditation, the lack of a central authority to set prices and mandate the content of courses mean that Reiki masters are effectively in competition with one another to cut the amount of money, time, and effort required to become a Reiki master. This, together with the fact that some people are attracted by the idea of becoming a "master" of anything, accounts for why you meet so many Reiki masters nowadays.
Supporters of Reiki point to a number of studies which, if replicable, would seem to give some support to Reiki practices. However, a closer look at these studies shows that the studies they mention are few in number; have not been replicated; have not been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals; that the performers of these studies often have a vested financial interest in validating Reiki; that the people citing these studies usually cannot point to the texts of the studies, but just repeat what they've heard the studies showed; that these accounts are not consistent with one another; and that many of the studies, on close inspection, turn out not to relate to Reiki at all, but to some other version of the laying on of hands. In the absence of any effect which can be replicated by researchers without an axe to grind, there is no reason to suppose that Reiki is more than a pretentious and expensive way of waving one's hands about.
[edit] Related Topics
[edit] References
Reiki III / Master Training http://www.reikiindia.org/levels.html
Rei ki Master, Rei ki Teacher, Rei ki III / Master or just Rei ki III. http://www.reiki.fi/english/reiki/about_reiki/reikilevels.htm
When you receive the Master level attunement... http://www.thesoulelement.com/reiki_levels.htm
Reiki Level III/ Master Level This class is for the student of Reiki who wishes to use the last symbol to further enhance their own life, or for the practitioner who wants to teach. In this level, the last symbol is taught with it's uses. http://members.macconnect.com/users/c/cdeangelis/levels.html
Advanced Reiki Levels Reiki III (Reiki Master http://www.tcnj.edu/~wendel/reikiclasses.html
