Usui Precepts
The known Usui rules of life are widely used in a calligraphy text which can be seen in a photo of Mikao Usui. It’s about five sets for the spiritual development with Reiki, which were taught by Mikao Usui since 1917. This means that Mikao Usui taught the doctrine of the rules of life as a spiritual coacher a few years before his discovery of Reiki-energy during his enlightenment-experience on the Kurama mountain. Mark Hosak, Japanese expert, Reiki Master and the founder of the Shingon Reiki reports about his research on the Usui precepts since 1993 where he began Usui Reiki in Bremen.
For the Usui precepts there are two traditional written documents. The first is the calligraphy on a photo with Mikao Usui and the other in a section of the text on his memorial stone at his grave in the temple Saihoji in Tokyo. When researching these texts Mark Hosak made the discovery that the present sources of life rules differ here slightly in length and in content.
The text of the Usui precepts on the calligraphy is short on the right. It includes only two headings, a brief introduction, the Usui-life rules, their application and effect, and identifies this as the text of Mikao Usui. On the calligraphy on the photo of Mikao Usui the Usui precepts are string imbedded into a text with instructions and call for contemplative meditation. Mostly the Usui precepts are considered individually, but what is on the front and back of the precepts are equally important and has to do with Usui’s career from the Tantric Buddhism of the Tendai school.
The Japanese text is read from right to left and the individual columns from top to bottom.
The first two lines are the headlines of Usui precepts. They provide information on the methodology and impact. There it says:
Secret methode to invite happiness.
Spiritual cure of countless diseases.
(This translation is a variant of multiple levels of meaning).
Usui precepts – the main text
Especially on this day:
do not be angry
The saying kyô dake ha refers to meditation with the idea in being here and now. The aim is to focus the attention on the here and now, rather than wander or even to indulge in procrastination.
do not worry
Shinpai designated literally the abundance of the heart in the negative sense is full.
be thankful
This is a direct invitation to actively show thanks for all things and experiences.
take care of your karma
This is probably continuously the most commonly mistranslated rule of life of all, because the first kanji gô of the first translators of the rules of life, by mistake was translated as with „labor“ and the whole sentence with „Work hard.“ Any and all reference could not confirm this thesis.
With the pronunciation gô means karma. This is a Buddhist technical term, which is common in this context to the use of that verb.
With the pronunciation gyô means industry and company. Only if this Kanji is merged with this pronunciation with other Kanji in direct combination with a term, it can also mean work. That is not so in this case. Work in such word combinations always refers to non-spiritual activities and doing business. This raises the question of what the spiritual text of Usui is said to have rules of life to do with non-spiritual and commercial activities, and why this should be important in this context.
be friendly or sympathetic to all living creatures including ones self.
Guide to Meditation in the Usui Precepts
Put your hands together in the morning and evening gasshô (praying hands) in front of the heart and your attention to your spiritual heart.
Recite the rules of life with the mouth meaning to say loudly and audibly.
That’s a reference to the three mysteries of the Esoteric Buddhism of body, speech and mind. Which from a Buddhist perspective enriches merits (good karma).
Continuous development of the body, mind and spiritual heart
Usui reiki Ryôhô – Usui method of natural healing with spiritual life energy
First Line founder Mikao Usui
The name of Mikao Usui written in Japanese order with the last name first. The Spirit of the Usui precepts shows the characteristic style of a signature. This is probably the signature of Mikao Usui.
The text on the memorial stone on the Usui Life-rules is longer, use a different vocabulary and its contents will be explained in detail, so that the Usui precepts are placed in a new light, which also gives them a new depth. Due to the limited space for the text on the memorial stone, the author uses historical and cultural keywords, behind which a deep knowledge is hidden. An coachd Japanese or expert in the field of Japanese culture, history and religion and spirituality can even extract more details and knowledge than is apparent at first glance.
The memorial stone was erected in honor of Samurais Mikao Usui. The text describes the biography of the character, and concerns the merits of Mikao Usui. The text was written in the words of Buddhist sutras. The text shows a wealth of Buddhist technical terms with deep meaning, so that it is possible in terms of employment in order to recognize much more leading information from the inscription.
Reiki is described as a spiritual method and a method of natural healing. It should be noted that recovery does not relate exclusively to symptoms and diseases, but at the completion of the spiritual heart with spiritual exercises to develop the personality and training of natural and supernatural abilities.
On the memorial stone two applications with Reiki are pointed out:
Giving Reiki by laying on of hands
Contemplative Meditation of the life rules
The text on the Usui precepts is structured similarly to the calligraphy in several parts
Translation by Mark Hosak
In this spiritual method it is clear that they should not be limited solely to the treatment of diseases and bad habits. The crux is that the psychic abilities of natural talent form the basis, lead the adept to complete the spiritual heart, to keep the body healthy and to accept a life of prosperity. It follows that this person should coach broadly the trainings of the late Meiji Tenno and should follow the five principles (precepts) to recite out loud morning and evening and to draw attention to the spiritual heart.
First, it says: Today we should not worry.
Secondly, it says: You should not be sad.
Thirdly, it says: Be thankful!
Fourthly, it says: Attend to your karma!
Fifth, it says: Get used to being sympathetic to the living things and your soul.
This is truly a very important policy for the development of mental strength. This is the path that has been taught by the saints and sages of ancient times.
Summary of the meaning of the Usui Percepts
If today I am kind to my fellow human beings and thankful for what I have, I need not to worry myself about tomorrow, and do not annoy myself tomorrow over yesterday (today). In this way I take care of good karma.
Additional information
In special issue of the magazine Reiki in honor of Mikao Usui’s 150th birthday, there is a full translation of the memorial stone, an explanatory article on the philosophical and spiritual meaning of Usui life-rules and a mystical journey to the mountain Kurama in pictures. Order the special issue via email is possible. In 2015, Mark Hosak was invited to several Reiki Events, where he talked about the historical background of the Usui precepts, the memorial stone, Reiki and Buddhist spiritual healing and the Kurama mountain.
Those interested in lectures and seminars locally in Eberbach or as an organizer for events please just send an email to: markhosaka-at-shingon-reiki.de. please replace -at- against @.
Exercises on the Usui precepts are included in the seminar First level Shingon Reiki.
