Dr Mikao Usui was born to a wealthy Budhist family in 1865. As a child, Dr Usui studied in a Buddhist monastery where he was taught martial arts, swordsmanship, and a Japanese form of Chi Kung, known as Kiko.
Throughout his education, Dr Usui had an interest in medicine, psychology and theology. It was this interest that prompted him to seek a way to heal himself and others using the laying of hands. It was his desire to find a method of healing that was unattached to any specific religion and religious belief, so that his system would be accessible to everyone.
Dr Usui traveled a great deal during his lifetime studying all types of healing systems and eventually became a Buddhist priest/monk and lived in a monastery.
Sometime during his years of training in the monastery, Dr Usui attended his own training rediscovery course in a cave on Mount Kurama. For 21 days, Dr Usui fasted, meditated and prayed. On the morning of the 21st day, Dr Usui experienced an event that would change his life forever. He saw ancient Sanskrit symbols that helped him develop the system of healing he had been struggling to invent. Usui Reiki was born.
After his spiritual awakening on Mount Kurama, Dr Usui established a clinic for healing and teaching in Kyoto. As the practice of Usui Reiki was spreading, Dr Usui became known for his healing practice.
Dr Usui founded his first Reiki clinic and school in Tokyo in 1922. Before he died, Dr Usui taught several Reiki masters to ensure that his system would not be forgotten. Among them was Dr Chujiro Hayashi, a former naval officer who set up a Reiki clinic in Tokyo. Dr Hayashi further developed the Usui system of Reiki by adding hand positions to more thoroughly cover the body. Using his system, Dr Hayashi trained several more Reiki Masters, including a woman named Hawayo Takata, who brought Reiki home to the USA.
Today, people who practice Reiki use the methods developed by Dr Usui.
