| The Healing Power of the Five Reiki Precepts | | | | counselors and psychologists often have us dissect |
| Just for Today, do not worry. | | | | our past, and many of our present neuroses and |
| Just for Today, do not anger. | | | | psychoses are found to be rooted in family and |
| Just for Today, honor your parents, teachers and | | | | parental "dysfunction." At that point, many of us |
| elders. | | | | separate from our parents and spend a good amount |
| Just for Today, earn your living honestly. | | | | of time actually blaming our parents for much of what |
| Just for Today, show gratitude to every living thing. | | | | we have become. We could honestly not find much to |
| Reiki energy is a powerful healing tool, and can help | | | | honor as we poke around in our past. However, again, |
| you to come into alignment with your own inner truth. | | | | choosing to enter the infinite NOW, you can see that |
| There have been a large number of people around the | | | | the past is gone. All hurt resulting from the past is only |
| world learning Reiki. Many of those people use the | | | | carried forward into the present moment in your mind |
| precepts lightly, as a way of thinking about the work, | | | | only. In the present moment you and you alone have |
| but these precepts contain a powerful healing mystery | | | | responsibility for your behavior. Not only can you |
| in and of themselves. | | | | forgive, but you see that in this moment there is |
| Contained in the precepts is a pattern for living a life of | | | | nothing or no one to forgive - only the stillness of life, |
| constant peace and harmony. They are not something | | | | itself, breathing through you. You can honor all your |
| to struggle to attain, but rather, if you look closely, you | | | | teachers, all the elders who have gone before you, |
| will see a treasure map to living a life of wonder, joy | | | | including your parents. Even your reactions to them |
| and awe. Though these precepts appear in various | | | | have been valuable teachings. In the present moment |
| wordings from book to book and teacher to teacher, | | | | you can see that you are who you are because of |
| they are basically the same with one exception: not all | | | | these way-showers. |
| versions begin with the words, "Just for Today." | | | | The fourth precept, "Just for today, earn your living |
| "Just for Today..." These three words, alone, can heal, | | | | honestly," brings forth the infinite NOW, as well. If you |
| for you can do anything for just a day. Alcoholics | | | | are aware and conscious of your true being right here |
| Anonymous and the other Anonymous 12-step | | | | and right now, you cannot possibly violate yourself or |
| programs work well because of this one-day-at-a-time | | | | another. It is only in the unconsciousness of fear (a |
| concept. But, it also and even more deeply contains | | | | symptom of living too much in the future) or anger, |
| the concept of "being in the NOW." It helps you to | | | | resentment or guilt (a symptom of living too much in |
| remember, that the past is gone. It only exists in your | | | | the past) that someone would work at a position or do |
| mind. The future has not arrived. It too, exists only in | | | | conduct their work in a way that was not in alignment |
| your mind. NOW is really the only place where you | | | | with his or her truest calling or that was doing damage |
| can truly live in peace. No past; no anger, guilt, | | | | in some way to others or to the world. Clearly rooted |
| resentment. No future; no fear, anxiety, manipulation. | | | | in NOW, there is trust and knowing, love and truth. You |
| In the first precept, "Just for today, do not worry," you | | | | would be working for good, and the world would |
| are given a clue that you might be living too much in | | | | respond in kind towards supporting your well-being. |
| the future. The future is the place we all go to worry. | | | | In the fifth precept, "Just for today, show gratitude to |
| But in reality, the future does not exist. It is simply a | | | | every living thing," the principles come closest to the |
| story you have created in your mind, and then it | | | | belief system of its founder, Mikao Usui. For if we go |
| becomes so real that it cheats you out of your | | | | into Buddhist teachings, you will encounter the concept |
| present life. The imaginary future is where worriers | | | | of reincarnation, where you are told that during the |
| spend most of their days. And for those who believe | | | | millions of incarnations you have had, literally all sentient |
| in self-fulfilling prophecies, you will virtually create the | | | | beings have been your mother in one lifetime or |
| future you are worried about in some fashion or other. | | | | another and should be honored and given gratitude |
| In the second precept, "Just for today, do not anger," | | | | simply for giving you birth and life. This blending of |
| you can see that you might be living too much in the | | | | lifetimes again is found most clearly in the NOW. If you |
| past. Recounting old injustices day after day puts you | | | | sit or walk quietly, peacefully noticing the stillness of |
| in the imaginary world of the past, as you literally | | | | nature in which sound and movement arises, you begin |
| interpret circumstances only exist now, in your mind. | | | | to see the connectedness of all things, and notice your |
| As you go over and over this story you rekindle anger | | | | place in the panorama of life as you look around. In the |
| and other negative emotions, triggering chemical | | | | stillness you find peace. In the stillness of no past, no |
| reactions in your body that can literally make you ill, | | | | future, you are able to show gratitude for life, itself. |
| sometimes in the most extreme ways. And, you are | | | | You can forgive and release the past, and you are |
| robbing yourself of the present. Thinking about angry | | | | released from fear and worry about the future. |
| or guilt-filled circumstances in your mind virtually | | | | In these five small teachings you are healed and you |
| guarantees that you will continue to attract | | | | can heal others. These ideas lay the foundation of any |
| circumstances and people into your life that make you | | | | Reiki healing practice and should be looked upon with |
| angry or guilty. | | | | reverence in their simplicity. Beneath all historical |
| Contained in the third precept, "Just for today, honor | | | | teachings and information given about the sacred |
| your parents, teachers and elders," is the notion of | | | | symbols and hand positions, lies the fundamental |
| humility in honoring those who have participated in our | | | | healing nature of Reiki. |
| becoming who we are. In our modern world, | | | | |