Inspired by my actions today and the disgruntled heat I am getting from established Reiki Masters I have a question:

Is the History of Reiki currently used as a power base for teachers?

Does a Reiki Master who has current Japanese Reiki History or "secret" Japanese Reiki History have more power and validity than one who does not?

Disgruntled heat? Sounds like you have upset some people!! I dont know if the History of Reiki is or can be used as a power base. I have not come across this yet.
I presume that your final question is rhetorical?

Not really. I'd really like to hear feedback from others on this subject.

Not really. I'd really like to hear feedback from others on this subject.

Hey Buck,

In my personal opinion, I think that more is hung up on lineage than needs to be. Really it does not matter, what matters is that we spread the teachings of Reiki.

My teacher was taught Reiki by Chujiro Hayashi, Judo by Jigoro Kano and Aikido by Morihei Ueshiba (O'Sensei) he was privilaged to meet and learn from these great men, he never makes a big deal about his lineage or who taught him and in my opinion he has every right to considering who did actually did teach him. His emphasis is on learning form and practicing every day to get better and better.

The most valuable lesson I learnt from him is to always strive to make your students better than you.

Personally I believe that lineage is not important but reminds me of the school play ground teasing 'My Dad is bigger than your Dad'

I am sure that others will disagree but again this says to me that they do not feel secure in their own teachings.

I think that it is out nature to want to have the best or new and improved version and that we have lost sight of what is important, which is learning Reiki and, living Reiki.

Reiki

I'm not sure that there is consensus on "the history of Reiki". The work being done by Frank Arjava Petter and Walter Lubeck out in Japan seems to indicate that we don't know what we thought we knew about Reiki. I think the translation of Usui sensei's memorial stone that is in one of Walter's books (sorry can't say which one - I can't find it and I suspect I've lent it out!) is about as "accurate" as one can get.

If you read "Reiki and the Healing Buddha", however, there is an exposition of the "traditional" Reiki story as a series of allegorical teaching points, a practice apparently common in the East, and familiar to Christians through the stories about Jesus in the Gospels, which link his experiences to fulfilment of Old Testament prophecies.

Personally, this latter interpretation of the Reiki mythos appeals to me more than just repeating a series of regurgitated "facts" about someone who, after all, has been dead for 80 years! And is it necessary to repeat, parrot-fashion, the same series of words taught to you by your Reiki master? My experience tells me not.

Hey Buck,
My teacher was taught Reiki by Chujiro Hayashi, Judo by Jigoro Kano and Aikido by Morihei Ueshiba (O'Sensei)

The most valuable lesson I learnt from him is to always strive to make your students better than you.

I wish it had been possible for me to meet Morihei Ueshiba. I look at his pictures in The Essence of Aikido and Budo and am overwhelmed with compassionate healing energy. It's amazing.

That lesson must be a martial-arts thing. It has not been present with the teachings or presentations of material I have experienced with other Reiki Masters (excluding PatrickZ).