History of Reiki
With current knowledge, we are unable to trace the true human beginnings of what we now call the healing art of Reiki. However, one man, Master Mikao Usui (1865-1926), is credited with re-discovering the process of initiation into the spiritual path of the Reiki energy. It is believed that Master Usui was a Buddhist Monk in Kyoto, Japan, who followed a 28 year quest to rediscover how the Buddha had healed through compassion. Another account states that he was the dean of a small Christian University in Kyoto. He resigned his job at this school in order to rediscover how Jesus healed.
In Japan, Master Usui studied the Japanese Lotus Sutras (ancient teachings), the Chinese Sutras and the Sanskrit Sutras of Tibet. While Usui had the technical, mental information that he needed concerning healing, he lacked the physical and spiritual empowerment process that he needed to be able to heal.This led him to his spiritual pilgrimage on sacred Mount Kuri Yama. There he fasted and meditated for 21 days. That's when he received in his meditation the colors and symbols of Reiki that we utilize in traditional Reiki today.