After discovering the sacred symbols that the Buddha used to perform miracles, Dr Usui set up five reiki principles. The reason for adding them to the practice of reiki is that he discovered although reiki helped his clients fairly quickly, giving universal energy to clients did not help them in the long run. They kept on recreating their symptoms and were back to his clinic within a few years.
The five reiki principles are beautiful and simple:
- Just for today, do not anger
- Just for today, do not worry
- Honour your parents, elders and teachers
- Earn your living honestly
- Show gratitude to every living thing
They don't need years of religious studies and digging into history and customs. They stand on their own. They add to every religious tradition yet they can be embraced by atheists. They transcend religion, culture and habits. They can benefit you today, even if you have not yet done your reiki training.
Yet they take a lifetime to put into practice.