At present, I use the original form of Reiki developed by Dr. Mikao Usui who, among other things, was a Japanese Buddhist monk. I hope to add more to this section as I develop my own experience and knowledge of this healing method.
The form of Reiki developed by Usui is both beautiful and simple. There is a grace and elegance to the practice which calms even the busiest of minds. Even for the practitioner providing a treatment, this style produces a serenity and stillness which can be difficult to explain. You just have to experience it.
Usui Sensei was born in Japan on August 15th, 1865 in the small
village of Taniai in the Yamagata district located near
present-day Nagoya.
Reiki (pronounced ray-key, or lay-key in Japan) was developed as
a "Method to Achieve Personal Perfection", a method by which an
individual could seek Satori or enlightenment. In fact, Usui
didn’t actually refer to this method as Reiki and it wasn’t until
after his death in 1926 that some of his students set up the Usui
Reiki Ryoho Gakkai (Usui's Reiki Healing System Association). This
appears to be the first time that the word Reiki is connected to
Usui’s teachings.
Another interesting fact is that Usui’s system was not actually
concerned with treating other people. The purpose of the system
was to help an individual achieve Satori, to find their spiritual
path and to "heal" themselves rather than treating others.
It would appear that the treatment of others was never focused
upon, never emphasised. Again, it looks as though the use of
Usui’s system to treat others came later. Lucky for us however,
the use of Reiki as a means of treating has become quite
common.
If you would like further information on Mikao Usui and his teachings, I recommend "The Spirit of Reiki" by Walter Lubeck, Frank Arjava Petter and William Lee Rand (ISBN: 0914955675). It's an excellent book bringing together the thoughts of three masters from different lineages of Reiki. There is a wealth of information contained within the pages which are an introduction to Reiki and it's history.
Have a look at the links page to find other sites that provide information on Reiki.