3. Hawaya Takata

It was to this clinic that a young Japanese-American, Hawayo Takata, was brought in 1935. In 1936 she was healed of the illnesses that brought her to Japan by Reiki, and as a result stayed for a year of training and practice while staying at Chûjiro Hayashi’s home. It was not until 1938 that she was awarded her Master Certificate. It was Chûjiro Hayashi who helped her to set up her first clinic. It is widely considered by Japanese practitioners that the system of Reiki which is taught in the west comes from Chûjiro Hayashi’s teachings. The major difference between his teachings and traditional Usui teachings is that he continued to use Mantras and symbols with his attunements, where as Mikao Usui practiced without mantras and symbols. These were only taught to those who had difficulty with sensing the energy.

Hawayo Takata became a Master of the System from Chûjiro Hayashi, and was a person empowered to train others in the practice, in 1937.  At that time Reiki was taught for the first time outside of Japan by her teacher, Chujiro Hayashi.  Mrs. Takata was chosen as Dr. Hayashi’s successor and the guardianship of the System shifted from Japan to the United States just prior to World War II. She was his 13^th and last Master Student. She was also given the name of Mikao Usui’s School on her certificate rather than that of Chûjiro Hayashi. Mrs. Takata spent much of her time practising Reiki in Hawaii and mainland America as well as Canada. Among some of her patients, she boasted such celebrity as Danny Kaye in Palm Springs. It was not until 1973 that she began teaching seriously as she set about to train her successor(s). She taught her first Master Student in 1976. In 1979 she taught her grand daughter Phyllis Lei Furumoto to Master Level and there is some question as to her being Takata’s Heir and Successor. All in all before she died, Hawayo Takata taught 22 Reiki Masters. Phyllis Furumoto resides in north Idaho at the present time.  The Usui System is now being taught and practiced world wide.

Her teachings were varied and it has been reported that no two of her teachings were the same. She apparently taught as she felt appropriate at any given time in her life. She did however teach a simple version of the Five Precepts to most of her students. She is often credited with 12 hand positions, which is called the Foundation Treatment. She stressed that students should treat themselves first, then their family and friends. This way the student becomes whole and is also surrounded by harmony. What she taught most of all was that Reiki was an oral tradition and therefore no one had original copies of the symbols. Her attunements, it seems were also varied according to her feelings at the given time. She taught various techniques to do with The Hara Line which was said to be where the True Energy lay in the body. In her own words “Reiki will guide you. Let the Reiki hands find it, they will know what to do”. 

Gassho Meditation in Reiki

Reiki is calming, spiritually and physically. When we practice Reiki, we are asking for the Universal Spirit to enter into our energy fields and empower us. Reiki can be empowerment from the healer, as well as to the one being healed.

When we meditate in Reiki, we are signifying to The Universe that we wish to open up the Healing Portal and thus begin to practice our Reiki. It is through meditation, channeling, visualising and sending the Reiki energy from our soul to the body, soul and spirit of the one being healed. The energy is invisible, yet very powerful. It is strong without being a harm unto anyone. It is subtle and gentle. It is relaxing and healing.

A good meditation to try for this Gasshô position is this one which is largely practiced in the Shoden level (Master). It is also a good technique to teach your own students whilst they are receiving your attunements. It will help to calm and focus the mind. It is one that I myself practice on a regular basis.

By joining your hands together in the prayer position, you are signifying the commencement of the act of Reiki meditation. Bring your hands together and up toward your face so that your middle fingers are level with the bridge of your nose.

• Sit and Gasshô to centre the mind and set your intent. Close your eyes.
• Breathe in naturally, focusing on the point where your two middle fingers come together. When your mind wanders, use this physical point as your focus to bring yourself back to this pointed meditation.
• Continue to breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. By doing this you will notice that your mind wanders less and your focusing power is greater.
• Continue the meditation for up to thirty minutes. Gasshô to give thanks.

This meditation should be practiced on a regular basis. Whilst you are meditating in this way, be aware that you have a body, from the tip of your toes to the top of your head and every part there-in. You could begin from the ground up, which is a good place to start as we walk with our feet every day and this is the area of our body that does the most work. When, after a few weeks of continuing this meditation practice, you have managed to find your head and know how it feels, and then you will be ready to practice on the spot healing with little or no preparation necessary.

Being focused does not necessitate you being out of control of your mind, body or soul at any time of the night or day, nor does it mean that you may be side tracked into another way of thinking at a moment’s glance. On the contrary, it means that you don’t need to be concerned with where you are or what you are doing, that you may indeed switch off in order to do the task at hand.