57 of 58 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
NEW REIKI INFORMATION & TECHNIQUES FOR PRACTITIONERS, February 24, 2001
This review is from: Modern Reiki Method for Healing (Paperback)
This is a book that many Reiki folks have been waiting for: a clear explanation of the current Reiki practice in Japan, and a clear explanation of Mr. Doi's synthesis of the Eastern and Western techniques. He explains the difference between the two approaches to Reiki, dispells legendary myths, reveals 13 strong Japanese reiki practices NOT taught by Western Usui approaches, practices that increase the ability of the body to funnel, store, use and transmit Reiki. Includes the history of Japanese and Western Reiki and describes each, talks about the truth known about Usui, specifically dispells the usual myths (Minister, college instructor, Tibetan Monastary studies, etc)... and even includes 23 pages of reference material...with class outlines and teaching goals for all levels...this final section alone is worth the price of the book to a Reiki Master. 13 chapters include new Self Empowerment Techniques, Self Growth techniques, Self Cleansing techniques, and many more. All in all, a book that will start you afresh in the assumption and applicatoin of this marvelous Spiritual practice. Explains everything but the attunement processes involved and the specific symbols themselves...and his explanations on the concept and uses of Symbols will be revolutionary to some. Into Reiki? You'll want this book for its new insights, its new Reiki practices, and its new information.
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63 of 65 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Reiki flowering full blown from Satori, January 7, 2003
This review is from: Modern Reiki Method for Healing (Paperback)
Reiki practitioners in the West will find much that is illuminating about Modern Reiki Method for Healing by Hiroshi Doi. With this book, Doi-sensei dispels some of the more common myths associated with the founder of Reiki, Mikao Usui. Doi-sensei integrates Western Reiki and Japanese Reiki into a distinct compelling tradition that reaffirms both the essential teachings of Usui-sensei and their roots in Buddhist thought and practice. The result is a healing method and practice of great benefit to both practitioners in the East and in the West.
Hiroshi Doi came to Reiki somewhat serendipitously. Having studied a number of alternative healing methods including crystal healing and qi-gong, Doi-sensei's first exposure to Reiki was during the late 80's as Reiki, or more accurately, Western Reiki, began to spread through Japan. It was during this time that Doi-sensei began to investigate the Japanese roots of Reiki with some surprising results. While in the West, it had been commonly taught that Usui-sensei's original Reiki school no longer existed, Doi-sensei was blessed to discover this was not so. He even had the good fortune to receive attunements from practitioners who had received their attunements and healings from Usui-sensei or from Usui's successor, Hayashi-sensei. Reiki had not died out in Japan as was previously thought; it was just not commonly taught or promoted. Furthermore, Doi-sensei's research into the history of Reiki uncovered much about Reiki's founder, Usui-sensei.
Whereas in the West, many of us have learned that Usui-sensei was a Christian minister or that he taught in a University, Doi-sensei reveals a man and a technique firmly rooted in Buddhist tradition. Usui-sensei not only adhered to the principles and practices of Tendai Buddhism, he also received formal instruction in zazen meditation from a Zen temple. Likewise, it has been commonly thought that Usui-sensei had a revelation about Reiki while fasting on Mt. Kurama, a mountain sacred to Tendai Buddhists, after years of researching Tibetan and other scriptures for information about healing. Doi-sensei asserts this is not the case. Usui-sensei's understanding of Reiki is now to be seen as the fulfillment of the satori or sudden enlightenment he atttained on Mt. Kurama after a period of prolonged meditation and fasting.
In sharp contrast to Western style Reiki, which has been spread chiefly as an alternative healing method, albeit a healing method with a pronounced spiritual component, Doi-sensei's Reiki Method or Reiki-Ho is a spiritual path first and foremost. As a spiritual path, Reiki-Ho places emphasis on the consistent practice of meditation, gassho, adherence to the Five Admonitions, cleansing of one's chakras, and healing one's karma. The goal is nothing less than the attainment of Satori, which means sudden enlightenment. Both consistent practice and satori, according to Doi-sensei, attune one ever more completely with the higher vibrational energy that is Reiki and thus, one becomes a more effective agent of healing in the world. This places Reiki-Ho firmly within the lotus blossom of Mahayana Buddhism. It is a way of life that emphasizes work on oneself and one's attainment of spiritual understanding leading up to and including enlightenment as a means of realizing the boundless compassion that is the innermost wellspring of each and all beings' existence in this world. As we realize our compassionate nature, we are moved to act more compassionately in the world and to aid those who suffer.
This is not merely a philosophical or religious stance. The practical implications are that a being who has attained such realization is better able to act as a vehicle of the higher vibrational wisdom-blessing energy that is Reiki. In other words, more Reiki is channelled more effectively to achieve greater healing of self, others, and the world at large. While Doi-sensei does not delineate Reiki-Ho as school or sect of Buddhism, he has made it abundantly clear to all that Reiki is a flower that has grown from the ever fertile soil that is Buddhism.
Though this book will certainly benefit any practitioner who reads it, Modern Reiki Method for Healing is not without its difficulties. Foremost among these is an exceptionally awkward translation into English. Secondly, the frequent enumeration of ideas and the parenthesis of concepts gives significant portions of the book the appearance of an outline for a book rather than a completed work. This important work will surely be reprinted; thus it seems likely these issues will be addressed and corrected in later editions.
Typically, books about reiki flow over the reader like the caress of cherry blossoms in the Spring...but not this one. The translation and odd format will require a certain amount of commitment to wrestle the meaning out of the more difficult passages. Nonetheless, those who persevere will gain considerably both in their grasp of Reiki history and practice as it is understood in the East and in their understanding of just how valuable a jewel Reiki is both as a healing practice and as a spiritual path.
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39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Introduction to Gendai Reiki Ho, July 3, 2001
This review is from: Modern Reiki Method for Healing (Paperback)
This is the FIRST modern Japanese Reiki book translated into English, and one of the best Reiki books published to date (IMHO). Japanese Sensei Hiroshi Doi presents his combined Western and Japanese methods of Reiki in a modern day style, based on his own training with traditional Japanese masters, as well as Radiance and Takata-sensei styles. Doi-sensei is the only known published master to have studied with an Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai chairperson (the original Reiki society), plus another Taketomi lineage sensei, as well as one of Dr. Hayashi's students (Taketomi and Hayashi were Usui students). Doi-sensei presents the latest known facts of the origins of Reiki and also provides interesting new/old techniques from his Japanese Reiki training and his own personally designed style. This book has been very well received in it's native Japan, as well as here in the West in it's pre-launch distribution at URRI 1999 in Vancouver. It contains a good deal of the information that Doi-sensei teaches in his own Gendai Reiki Ho school. He is always very careful to note what are teachings of the old Reiki society and what are from modern day. He uses a question and answer approach to get many points across and although this book is suitable for newcomers to Reiki, it is the experienced practitioner and teacher who will reap the most benefit from the contents. The book will also complement very well any Usui Reiki Ryoho workshop or Gendai Reiki Ho training you may take. A list of techniques taught in those classes are in the Reference section at the back, as well as a list of successors of Usui Reiki Ryoho. I think you will find that this is one Reiki book that will be well read and continually referenced. (RR - editor, Gendai Reiki Ho Shihan).
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