COMPASSION AND MINDFULNESS

Two essential elements of practising Reiki are compassion and mindfulness. They are the essence of the Reiki Principles/Precepts and as such whether we are treating ourselves or others, or enabling people to live their lives with Reiki, we should develop to incarnate these two states.

As reported by Dr. Mikao Usui's enduring students, Mindfulness was taught at First Degree and then reinforced at Second Degree level. So what is Mindfulness?

MINDFULNESS – It is a state of living in the moment, being aware of what is occurring right now and giving our full concentration to the task in hand. It is a state of being relaxed and calm and being completely involved in what we are doing. By learning and being in the present moment we will find an inner peace.

The Reiki Principles/Precepts, the 'Just for today....' will help us achieve this goal.
We shouldn't get angry with ourselves about things we can not change or didn't go just how we wanted them to.
We should never dwell on the past it has gone and should be forgotten.
Neither should we worry about the future, about things that have not yet happened and may never happen.

Reality as we know it is just an illusion. With practice we can learn to let go of the past and not worry about the future and just 'be' in the here and now, content and living in the moment.

The Reiki Principles/Precepts are our destination to work towards and shows us what Reiki can help us become over time, as long as we work with the Reiki energy in an involved and devoted way.

COMPASSION – Being 'compassionate towards ourselves and others', what do we mean by this? We need to be gentle, patient, forgiving and not take ourselves so seriously. We need to forgive ourselves and by doing this not only do we will learn to forgive others, but we should move towards a state of contentment, by releasing our anger and worry.

Reiki in its original form was a path to enlightenment. The Reiki Principles/Precepts were what Dr. Mikao Usui's system was all about. The principles are the foundation of everything we do with Reiki. By working with Reiki and following the Reiki principles/precepts a state of compassion and mindfulness will take place.

CARRYING OUT A TREATMENT – So how does this fit in with giving a treatment. When we treat someone with Reiki it is and should be a really special gift and experience. During the course of the treatment we acquire trust and feel compassion for the recipient. There is a merging with the receiver, a closeness and intimacy. We should have no expectations, but just be there in the moment with the receiver and the energy.

When we treat someone we are not expecting a great cure, by resolving all their health problems or eradicating their backache. We should just unite with the Reiki and let the energy have its affect having created a sacred place for the healing to take place.

During the course of the treatment if the mind wanders, this is not a problem, just gently and firmly bring your mind back into the present. We become one with the energy and the recipient and we undergo that blissful contentment of living in the moment.

DEVIATION DURING TREATMENT – When you are taught Reiki there are some teachers who will tell you that it is perfectly acceptable to hold a conversation with someone whilst giving a treatment or perhaps watch a bit of TV, as full concentration is not needed for the Reiki to work. Personally I totally disagree for several reasons.

1. I do not believe that this will allow you to give the best to your client and after all if they are paying for your service, they would expect your undivided attention.
2. To me it is totally unprofessional to be watching the TV or holding a full blown conversation whilst giving a treatment. The atmosphere should be one of calm and tranquillity not uproar.
3. As practitioners and to be effective channels, we need to be engaged and merged with the energy, giving ourselves fully without any distractions.

The same rules should apply when giving a self treatment. We should be totally engaged and merged with the energy. We should be without any distractions, be aware and be completely in the moment and we must be forgiving, compassionate and loving towards ourselves.

CONCLUSION – Compassion and Mindfulness are central to our lives with Reiki, the Principles/Precepts, working with others and ourselves. They are also a necessary element of sending Reiki to another person through Reiju empowerments – (connection ritual). This is powerful, simple and elegant, free from clutter and is used with most Western attunement styles.

With Reiju there are no preconceived ideas on what will happen. We are just there in the moment with the energy. We are relaxed, fully engaged, aware of the right now and give ourselves totally without distraction. That is the essence of it all, Reiju, treatments, precepts and the essence of our life with Reiki.