Reiki and the Healing Buddha

"Many resources on Reiki mention a connection between Master Usui's Reiki and Buddhism. Often the comment is made almost in passing, suggesting that the Master studied Buddhist texts and questioned many monks about their healing techniques. Some even delimit this experience by noting that the monks told him that they had lost the ways to physically heal that now their methods only healed at the spiritual level.

Reiki and the Healing Buddha goes beyond the myths that surround Master Usui and his techniques. The author compares important aspects used in Buddhism with the Reiki precepts. She even delves deeper into the Usui story to illustrate that perhaps the happenings show an underlying Buddhist connection. That the founding story actually contains two levels of understanding: a surface story that everyone learns by rote and the hidden symbolism of something more profound.

Beyond being very intriguing reading, I learned some very practical skills from this work. I had always been taught that when drawing symbols, they should be perfect in all ways. However, Reiki and the Healing Buddha discusses the possibility that flaws in the way we draw symbols might actually be used to note particular areas of dis-ease that need to be addressed. "
~ Written on 2008-07-10

"I am currently a reiki level two practitioner and I bought this book because I am interested in the spiritual and philosophical side and root of reiki.

Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this book to anyone other than someone who is deeply knowledgeable about both Buddhism and Reiki because I had such trouble getting anything out of it at all. I did not find the reiki side of things in this book difficult but the same cannot be said for the information on Buddhism. I have been actively studying spirituality and theology for several years but my good and broad knowledge of this subject did not help me at all in understanding the Buddhist side of this book. I hoped that I would gain a good understanding of the subject by reading this book but I had problems right from the beginning. The author does not define her terms so I am still lacking clear and concise definitions of what the healing Buddha, or even simply a Buddha are.

I am not a Buddhist. However I was very keen to study the connection between this belief system and reiki. I can honestly say that I am no wiser on this subject after reading this book. I cannot comment on what a knowledgeable Buddhist would get out of this book but, out of generosity to the author, I am assuming that they would get more out of it than I have.

I do not have much spare money and I feel that this book was a waste of it."
~ Written on 2002-05-04

"This is an excellent and thought provoking book and is a worthwhile addition to the library of anyone interested in Reiki at R3 or Master level.

Since my own knowledge of Oriental languages is non-existant I will have to take the author at her word about many of her ideas.
Whether these ideas turn out, in the light of other peoples scholarship, to be speculation or solid fact the book remains an impressive and very well presented addition to the modern body of Reiki knowledge. If your fed up with reading Reiki books that just re-cycle the same old information then this could well be the antidote. Buy it now !!"
~ Written on 2001-12-25

"This is a book which would be most suited to people who have taken a Reiki workshop,and would like to explore different ideas and interpretations of the rieki symbols, and origins.Especially interesting to those who practice or like to read about buddhism.I found it ties in very nicely with information i already had without straying too far from the point,it opened up other possibilities for use of Reiki and was a very well researched book helping to to provide a deeper understanding of Reiki."
~ Written on 2001-11-30

"The best reiki book I have ever read, really illustrative and comprehensive. It roots Reiki back to its origins, all reki, not onle Usui reiki. It covers the original meanings anf hidden secrets within the symbols in fantastic way. I am really gratefull for this effort Maureen, I don't know you but I wish I was able to thank you personally. Love and light :@)"
~ Written on 2001-08-10