Usui Sensei named the healing ability he acquired at Mt Kurama Usui Reiki Ryoho.  Hoping to share it with as many people as possible, he set down the “Gokai” – The Five Precepts – and a teaching method, and he established Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai in Harajuku, Tokyo, in April 1922.  With the expansion of its activities, the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai headquarters was moved to Nakano in February 1925.  Usui Sensei passed away the following year.

Training of Novices

(1) New members were awarded Shoden (Level I) and were able to perform Teate [hands-on] healing by participating in and receiving Reiju from Shihan during Benkyokai (training session).  After being awarded Shoden, they were ranked 6^th.

(2) Reiju (the original form of Attunement) was a technique Usui Sensei developed to transmit the healing ability.  The form of Reiju did not differ by the level of the recipient.

(3) Teate was practiced as often as possible in order to develop the ability to detect Byosen or Hibiki [dissonant or abnormal vibration].

Development Techniques

(1) Students participated in Benkyokai [Study Gathering] as often as possible and received Reiju to facilitate the flow of energy.

(2) Made Usui Sensei’s Gokai (Five Precepts) and 125 poems by the Emperor Meiji the foundation of everyday life, in order to enhance spirituality and become a clear channel of Reiki.

(3) Practiced Teate [Hands-on Treatment] as often as possible for heightened ability to detect Byosen or Hibiki.

(4) Those who were at Level II (Okuden) or higher practiced Hatsurei-ho to strengthen their inner Reiki.

After such trainings, the ability for Byosen Reikan-ho (technique to sense the negative energy from the disease as Hibiki – abnormal vibration – and judge the condition and length of treatment) and Reiji (the hand spontaneously moves toward the diseased part of the body) were developed.  When a certain level (3^rd rank) was achieved, Okuden was awarded, and with further development of abilities, Shinpiden.

Supportive Techniques

(1) Those who could not detect Byosen would place the hands on places indicated in the Reiki Ryoho Shishin, a manual written by Usui Sensei's students.

(2) At Okuden level, energy concentration, Seiheki Chiryo (curing of bad habits), Enkaku Ryoho (distance healing) could be practiced easily by the use of Symbols (Ho).  Kotodamas or Mantras did not exist in Usui Sensei's time.

(3) In addition to hands-on healing, other techniques were introduced to increase the efficacy of Reiki Ryoho; for instance, breathing on to or staring at the affected part of the body.

Guidance for Enlightenment

Okuden-Koki recipients with recognizable spiritual growth were awarded Shinpiden and were directed to Usui Sensei’s state of enlightenment through rigorous one-on-one training.

Three Major Techniques of Reiki Ryoho

(1) Byosen Reikan-ho:  Technique to sense the negative energy from the disease as Hibiki – abnormal vibration – and judge the condition and length of treatment

(2) Tanden Chiryo-ho (Tanden Gedokuho):  Technique to rid the body of toxins such as harmful bacteria and viruses, food additives, etc.

(3) Ketsueki Kokan-ho:  Technique to purify the blood with Reiki.

Distance healing

Distance healing was considered difficult for ordinary people, and as a Level II (Okuden) technique, it was organized in a way that could be practiced by everybody, with the help of the Symbols and Kotodamas.  Students were told to develop their abilities to perform distance healing without the help of the Symbols, as human beings were endowed with the power to resonate with the universe.

Instruction for Attaining Enlightenment

At Level III (Shinpiden), students were taught one-on-one, and the contents of the instruction for every student were different.  There were no uniform curriculum, but Usui Sensei’s instruction principles and philosophy were clear.  The most important point was to practice Reiki with the goal of attaining Anshin Ritsumei (spiritual peace and enlightenment).