The practice of Reiki

[markings]

In another forum this was written by Deepak Bhagchandani

Reiki is based on an assumption. This assumption is that there something "wrong" with a person or there is some "energy blockage" or that this person needs to be "healed" of something.
For me these assumptions are all false.The idea or thought that there is something "wrong" with a person and that a person needs "healing" or his energy chakras needs to be balanced is a false notion.
True Reiki should be about looking at everything as perfect as they are. When you see and accept yourself as perfect and whole then your energy transmission will come from that state. Then you are not healing anyone or changing anyone, you are simply sharing your energy and transmitting it to another.

What are your thoughts?

[cyberangel]

I do not think that Reiki is exclusively based on something being “wrong” with a person. I believe Reiki is a life-force energy that exists within everything. Using hand on techniques one can assist in relaxation and healing. One does not need to be ill or indeed have something wrong to enjoy and receive the benefits of reiki.

You said: “The idea or thought that there is something "wrong" with a person and that a person needs "healing" or his energy chakras needs to be balanced is a false notion...

...When you see and accept yourself as perfect and whole then your energy transmission will come from that state”.


I think by promoting that ‘idealism’ is also aiding in people thinking that they are wrong for simply being just human and having human flaws and conditions!

I think what a wonderful ‘notion’ it is to live in a little bubble of pure joy, happiness and harmony all the time, but in actual ‘life’ reality, living continuously “perfect and whole” is far more difficult, to I would even dare to say, near impossible.

I still maintain that a person cannot live fully within life and not be effected by outside influences, energies, people or events, and that is not even going into the workings of the inner human body’s chemistry and how that also affects one.

Life to me is all about balance, and if things affect you then “naturally” you are going to become off balance. You will naturally feel this whether you believe or practice Reiki, chakra, meditation, yoga etc. or not. I have not met one single person who is completely balanced all of the time, not one.

Don’t misunderstand me either, I’m all for promoting positive thoughts and thinking etc. but in my opinion, a human being’s mind cannot keep that way of thinking up indefinitely unless they remove themselves from life reality in some way or another or unless all life suddenly becomes harmonious or of one consciousness.

[baangus]

Mar 27, 2014 5:59:18 GMT markings said:

What are your thoughts?

Hi markings. As eternal soul-spirit beings, we're perfect and I agree with you. But as human beings, we all become ill from time to time; that's an aspect of physical reality. And during times of illness, people do in fact require healing. Also, I've had energy balancing sessions with an acupuncturist, and I can tell you that re-balancing energy in the body works and is quite real. I've experienced it.

Now is Reiki an effective energy re-balancing technique? I don't know because I've never taken part in a Reiki session with that specific intention in mind. My general rule is if I haven't experienced it myself, then I'm not really qualified to say one way or the other.

[markings]

I think his point is that Reiki in the West is used and portrayed as a fix-up tool. In order to sustain that view an imbalance of energy has to be made "wrong" and Reiki is the proposed method to "correct" it.

IMO the idea of balance in itself as desirable is questionable simply because it is imbalance which gets things moving. Secondly, imbalance simply is. It may have consequences in terms of health, but even that simply is. The problem is not the imbalance itself but in the resisting to it, or actively promoting it. Whatever imbalance there is it has a habit of sorting itself out in some way. Reiki is a method to support this process.

Let's take the great natural systems like wind and ocean currents. All based on imbalances and naturally resolving them. They may be unleasant at times but if we get to know them we can even make use of them.

I must agree with Deepak that imbalance depicted as being wrong is a wrong view.

[baangus]

Apr 2, 2014 4:22:40 GMT markings said:

IMO the idea of balance in itself as desirable is questionable simply because it is imbalance which gets things moving. Secondly, imbalance simply is. It may have consequences in terms of health, but even that simply is. The problem is not the imbalance itself but in the resisting to it, or actively promoting it.

I must agree with Deepak that imbalance depicted as being wrong is a wrong view.

Hi markings. Energy balancing and healing has been an integral aspect of eastern spiritual practices and medicine for millennia. And according to those practices - Qi Gong for example - maintaining a balanced energy body is the ideal and preferred state. I personally would put more stock in that wisdom, than in contrary ideas a new-age author such as Deepak Chopra might happen to suggest.

Now, is there great wisdom in illness and imbalance? Yes, absolutely. That understanding is implicit in any holistic healing process, and I would guess that's what Chopra is making reference to. Healing the illness without spending time analyzing the deeper reasons why that illness manifested, is a wasted self-growth opportunity. Running off to the acupuncturist every couple months for a re-balancing session is not dealing with the root cause of the ongoing energy balance issue. In that regard, you are correct in that the imbalance gets things moving, hopefully towards a holistic healing resolution.

Regarding your first comment above, I had back surgery last month to correct a spinal condition that prevented me from being able to walk for the past five months. I can definitely tell you a major health imbalance issue of that sort is NOT desirable. It's easy to philosophize and speculate about these things. But then there's the practical and painful aspect of actually having to deal with physical illness and body imbalance issues. We need to heal, if and when we're ill or out of balance. Nobody for example would advocate ending social programs for the poor based on some spiritual idea that living in a state of poverty and homelessness is desirable and shouldn't be resisted.

[markings]

I'd like to move the discussion to a different idea for a moment. Maybe we can gain some insight from there.
In Tai Chi we are reminded to relax, to be 'shoong'. To quote master Yang,"be shoong, be really, really shoong." "If you are not shoong, even just a little bit not shoong, you are not in the stage of shoong. You are then in teh stage of a loser of Tai Chi; you will be defeated."

Shoong means "to relax", "to lose", "to give up", to yield".

Does this mean we should relax so much that we collapse? Obviously not. It means expending effort but no unnecessary effort. Everything is done with an absolute minimum of effort required, no energy is wasted. But in order to move an arm or leg, punch or kick with it, we must make some effort to achieve the desired action.
If we would say that the effortless action is in 'balance' then we see that resting, or moving, kicking, punching, would all have a different kind of 'balance' even if executed prefectly shoong.

Of what use is the idea of balance then, when there are countless states of balance depending on one's situation and actions?

[markings]

Yin and Yang are also relative concepts. Something which is Yang in one situation can be, without change in itself, be Yin in another. Life is a dynamic process, balance is static. A dynamic balance to me is an oxymoron.