Reiki principles

I teach this version, that I believe is closest to the original, and I modify it for NLP:

Just for today...
I let go of worry
I let go of anger
I give thanks for my many blessings
I earn my living honestly
And I show kindness to every living thing

The mention of anger is OK, as you are letting go

Completely agree. So many people use the terms "Do not" in front of everything, but psychologically speaking, saying "do not" actually puts those things in mind e.g. Do not think of a banana... ooops you just did.

So my precepts in English are along the lines of...

Just for today...
Be free of worry
Be free of anger
etc.

because this is not telling us to not do something, but is telling us the positive action to take... i.e. to be free of it... and that is something we can achieve.

All Love and Reiki Hugs

I teach this version, that I believe is closest to the original, and I modify it for NLP:

Just for today...
I let go of worry
I let go of anger
I give thanks for my many blessings
I earn my living honestly
And I show kindness to every living thing

he mention of anger is OK, as you are letting go

as is the mention of worry 🙂

Surely there was a reason for the wording of the original precepts? Do you think Usui was unaware of the effect of using 'negative' words?

Derek, I am sure if Usui had some of the other tools we have these days, he would have used them.

We also don't speak Japanese nor know how this sounds in Japanese.

And most importantly, the Principles are about letting go of the negative as well as embracing the positive. reiki is about energy healing, and when you feel anger, worry, etc literally leave your body, you know what he was saying. he Reiki
Principles are truly awesome.

I personally cannot see anything negative in the precepts however they are translated. I really cannot see a difference between 'not angering' and 'letting go of anger' - both mean the same thing to me. Anyway, that's not the important.

I think that we will struggle to get an exact translation of the precepts because of the nature of the Japanese language and if the precepts were written in the old kanji, we have even less chance. So I guess we as individuals have to use the words that move us.

For me, it is deeper than the words themselves, it is the feeling and state of mind that the precepts evoke that matters.

I personally cannot see anything negative in the precepts however they are translated. I really cannot see a difference between 'not angering' and 'letting go of anger' - both mean the same thing to me. Anyway, that's not the important.

I think that we will struggle to get an exact translation of the precepts because of the nature of the Japanese language and if the precepts were written in the old kanji, we have even less chance. So I guess we as individuals have to use the words that move us.

For me, it is deeper than the words themselves, it is the feeling and state of mind that the precepts evoke that matters.

Its quite simple. You get more of what you focus on - and sadly your subconscious cannot process negatives.

So to get the best effect you need to focus on what you WANT- rather than on what you do NOT want.

The intention is the same with both sets of words - but the positive ones will have more more effect.

Its quite simple. You get more of what you focus on - and sadly your subconscious cannot process negatives.

So to get the best effect you need to focus on what you WANT- rather than on what you do NOT want.

The intention is the same with both sets of words - but the positive ones will have more more effect.

So popular psychology would have us believe. Maybe Usui knew a deeper, more profound thing or two!?

So popular psychology would have us believe. Maybe Usui knew a deeper, more profound thing or two!?

Its more than just popular psychology Derek. We really do understand far more about the brain and how it works in the 21st century than we did at the beginning of the 20th. The effectiveness on NLP shows that.

I really respect the traditions of reiki, but I was taught two different versions of the principles during my training by the same master. Since initially there was an oral tradition we cannot even be sure what Usui's original wording was. But with reiki intention is everything.

I totally agree the principles have a very positive intention. But I want to help my students be the best reiki practitioners they can be. And if a change in wording without altering the intention can help them - then to me that is all to the good.

I will make sure they are aware of the original wording - but also include newer wording.

I will honour the tradition AND the intention of Usui's principles

And even then, much of todays popular psychology can actually be found in the teachings of historic cultures and beliefs. Certainly for Usui, the teachings of Buddhism cover many aspects of being free of attachments, and the precepts would certainly have a background in that understanding, whilst also covering teachings around awareness and non-duality (advaita).

All Love and Reiki Hugs

Hi Tashanie

Some good points for consideration in this topic. 🙂

Yes we receive and interpret thoughts differently in our different aspects of consciousness, I think that Giles has outlined that the Reiki precepts were designed for people who have a different conceptual way of thinking to what we have in the west.

So they will be receive and interpreted differently by the people that they were designed for, than most people in the west or even in the current time will receive and interpret them, they are very important though, for they underpin the Reiki modality.

As for a negative thought not being as powerful as a positive thought, that is just a perception, the reality is that there is no difference, a thought is a thought, one thought process will set up inner balance and harmony by creating the required life force energy that will be created through that thought process, whereas another thought process with create disharmony and disease by creating the required life force energy that will be created through that thought process.