Some practitioners of Reiki have this question "If we all have the ability to heal ourselves and others and if we all have the Reiki inside us, why do we need Raiju or attunements/initiations?" For a while, I had the same question.
A diamond from the mines is already a diamond, but no one will put it in a necklace or a ring until a jeweler works on it. We all know how to breathe from birth, but through breathwork, we learn techniques to improve the effectiveness of each breath. Working with a teacher or mentor will help your Reiki; your inner light sparks like a perfect diamond.
Buddha said that obtaining Zen is like passing through the Gateless Gate. But how do you pass through the gateless gate? This is an individual journey; it is a constant work on ourselves. No one can do this work for us. It is our daily task to work on our diamond, to fan our inner light. Taking another class, webinar or retreat will not make much difference without daily practice. If you do not use it, you will lose it. Koan teachings inform us that "Whatever is produced with the help of others will likely to be dissolved and perish." Everything our mentors and teachers give us will perish if we do not implement it daily. Everything becomes clear if we look at this phrase through Mikao Usui's teachings. From his student's notes, we know he adjusts his teachings for each of them to meet them on their level and guide them. He does not walk them through the gate; he guides them to the gate. Mikao Usui, sensei, helps them rediscover their diamond and inner light and gives them the right tools to make them bright and shiny. Similarly, Mrs. Takata approached her students. We could even see some variants in the symbols she introduced to them.
Reiju helps us rediscover this light inside us so that we can locate this Gateless Gate. The daily practice and Reiki precepts are one of the tools that help us go through this Gateless Gate. For me, Reiju is like installing an inner compass that gives us direction to rediscover our true selves. A compass that will guide us through the Gateless Gate.
Mikao Usui, through his teachings, gave us the necessary tools so we could work on our inner diamond, skills to bring this diamond from its rough state to make it perfect.
Ten centuries ago, one Zen Koan teacher wrote: "I Honor My True Self. I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am bound to live by the light that I have. My inner thoughts reveal my true nature." It is about being true to ourselves and our inner light. It is incredible how it resonates with Reiki's precepts. There is so much wisdom in these precepts.
Many practitioners look to new age books or modalities to enrich and improve their practice. Every year we have more and more books about Reiki and Energy Medicine in general. Every year I find out about the new Reiki modality. But I realize that real wisdom often lies in the teachings of old masters and traditions. In the middle of the 12th century, Rumi said, "Maybe you are searching among the branches for what only appears in the roots."
Raiju translates as a spiritual blessing. Certain conditions need to be in place to receive a blessing. A receiver cannot be a passive recipient. He needs to open his heart to be able to receive. Show willingness to connect with the teacher energetically. When this Spiritual Blessing takes place, the student and teacher are energetically connected and, for a moment, become one. A student could experience oneness not just with his teacher but with the universe.
Raiju or Attunement helps us rediscover our abilities to heal ourselves and others, our connection to everything in the universe, with the Energy that Earth and every plant provide. It helps us see and embrace these energies and realize that we are part of this Universal Energy flow. Raiju or Attunement empowers us and gives direction to develop our abilities further, making our great light shine brighter.
Disclosure: This material is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Feel free to reach out to me for more information, a session, or mentoring program at contact@peaceandbalance.org.
With Love and Light,
Roman
August 1, 2022