Dr Usui

The Story of Dr. Mikao Usui’s Rediscovery of Reiki.

Is one woven with deep spiritual seeking, devotion, and an unwavering quest for truth. Born in 1865 in Japan, Usui was a curious and scholarly man, fascinated by the mysteries of life, health, and the human spirit. He studied a wide array of subjects including medicine, psychology, theology, and various spiritual traditions from both Eastern and Western philosophies. Yet, despite all this knowledge, he yearned for something more, an accessible and direct way to heal the body and spirit, not rooted in dogma, but in universal truth.

The turning point in Usui's journey came when he began to seek the sacred healing methods he believed had been used by great spiritual teachers like Buddha and Jesus, methods that could heal not only physical illness, but also emotional and energetic imbalances. This longing led him to study ancient texts and scriptures in depth, particularly Buddhist sutras written in Sanskrit. He believed that these sacred writings contained the key to what he called “spiritual healing by laying on of hands.”

In 1922, feeling called to undertake a spiritual retreat, Usui climbed Mount Kurama, a sacred mountain near Kyoto. There, he fasted, meditated, and prayed for 21 days in isolation. It was on the final day that he experienced a profound spiritual awakening, a powerful energy flooded through his crown and filled his entire being with light, understanding, and deep peace. In that moment, Dr. Usui received what he called the gift of Reiki: the ability to access and channel universal life force energy for healing.

Following this life-changing experience, Usui began healing others, first his own injuries sustained while descending the mountain, and then those of the people he encountered. He opened a healing clinic in Tokyo where he practiced Reiki and began teaching it to Dr. Chujiro Hayashi, who then taught it to Mrs Takata who brought it to the western world. Sharing the method he had received as a gift meant for all. He emphasized not only healing, but also personal growth and spiritual development, teaching that Reiki was as much a way of living as it was a healing art.

Dr. Usui passed on his teachings through a carefully preserved lineage, ensuring Reiki would continue to support humanity’s healing and awakening for generations to come. Today, his legacy lives on in Reiki practitioners around the world, each one connected to the universal energy he so humbly rediscovered on a quiet, sacred mountain.

By the time of her death in 1980, she had trained 22 Reiki Masters, who went on to spread Reiki globally. Without Takata, it is likely that Reiki would have remained relatively unknown outside Japan.

Legacy

Dr. Mikao Usui was a spiritual teacher and visionary who bridged ancient wisdom with modern need, offering Reiki as a path of healing, compassion, and inner peace. Grounded in his deep study of Buddhist texts and esoteric practices, he developed a system that was accessible, empowering, and profoundly transformative. His legacy lives on in the quiet touch of hands, in the stillness of healing spaces, and in the hearts of those seeking balance. Reiki continues to flow through the world because of his insight, humility, and dedication to awakening the healer within us all.