Various alternative perspectives on the Gokai - the Usui Reiki Principles
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One day, a Reiki Student went to see his Master. “Master,” he said, “I am conflicted. Originally, when I was taught the Reiki Principles in Japanese, I learnt that these characters,” he paused momentarily, held out a xerox copy of the Principles, and pointed to the characters: then continued, “should be read as: 'oko-ru na'. Now I have been told that they should be read as 'ika-ru na'. Master, which is correct?
“Ah, yes.” the Master nodded, “It is the nature of kanji characters that they tend to have several different 'readings' - often depending on context. The kanji: in the first Principle can indeed be read as ika, and it can also be read as oko.”
“So, which is correct Master - in this context?”
The Master smiled. “Both”, he said.
The student frowned slightly.
“Nowadays, the Master explained, “oko is the more usual reading in this context.However, it is believed by some that, in Usui-sensei's time, ika was the more usual reading. So, in reading the first Principle as 'ika-ru na', we honour the tradition of the past. In reading the first Principle as 'oko-ru na', we honour the present. (“Just for Today...”) There is great power in Tradition.Yet there is also great power in being Mindfully Present in the NOW.”
The student was silent for a while - a very serious expression on his face.At last, he spoke. “Thank you for explaining this Master, but now I am even more conflicted. Do I read this Principle as 'ika-ru na' and honour the Power of Tradition, or do I read it as 'oko-ru na' and honour the Power of Now?”
“Ah, decisions, decisions!” the Master said, in a kind-hearted, playfully mocking tone. Then, “Of course you could always settle for a compromise – alternate between the two - read it as 'ika-ru na' one time, and as 'oko-ru na' the next.”
The Student was nodding thoughtfully. “Yes, possibly …”
“However, “ the master suggested, “perhaps the best answer to your predicament is to be found in a totally different 'reading'.
The student looked even more confused. “A different reading”
“Yes,” the Master said, “The reading of the Second Principle ...”
Generally, the majority of Reiki practitioners speak of the “Five Principles” – and the Japanese term most commonly used to refer to the Principles: 'gokai'
[五戒], reflects this.
(The 'go-' [五] part of the term means: 'five'.)
However, some people have suggested that in reality there are only four Principles.
Other people have suggested that there are only three.
Those who view the Principles as being only four in number claim that what we commonly think of as the third and fourth Principles should be read as one single statement – something along the lines of: “Do your work with appreciation”.
Those who consider the Principles to be only three in number claim that, in addition to combining the third and fourth Principles, we should also read what we commonly think of as the first and second Principles as one single statement, along the lines of: “Just for today, anger not, worry not.” *
Certainly, the now-ubiquitous Japanese phrasing of the Principles - commonly prefaced with the words: “shōfuku no hihō, nanbyō no reiyaku” ("the secret method of inviting blessings, the spiritual medicine of many illnesses”) could indeed allow for such possibilities.
However, there is another, somewhat differently-phrased Japanese version of the Reiki Principles, dating from 1927, which most certainly does not.
In the inscription on the Memorial Monument which stands to the side of the Usui family tomb in the graveyard at the Saihoji Temple, Tokyo; the Reiki Principles are described in a way which unequivocally identifies them as being five in number.**
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______NOTES* These individuals claim that the three statements: “Just for today, anger not, worry not. Do your work with
appreciation. Be kind to people.” should be referred to as gainen [概念] i.e. 'concepts', rather than as kai [戒] - principles, precepts, admonitions, or remonstrances. ** The Memorial inscription also clearly uses the term gokai to refer to the Principles.
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