1865 - 1926

Mikao Usui was born on 15th August 1865 in the village of Yago, Yamagata district of Gifu prefecture Kyoto, Japan. Usui attended a Tendai Buddhist monastery school at an early age. He was an avid learner and hard working student. He liked to study various branches of knowledge like medicine, psychology, fortune telling and theology of religions around the world amongst others. He also learned several martial art forms. It was his love for knowledge and learning that led Usui to travel to western countries and China many times.

Dr. Usui's professional life was quite colorful. During his professional life he worked as a public servant, industrialist, reporter, missionary and supervisor of convicts and also as a private secretary to a politician Shimpei Goto. Its his association with this politician that helped Usui establish a successful business. During 1914, Usui had his personal and business life in a turmoil. Most probably it was during this time that Usui became a Buddhist Monk. Usui used to do a special form of meditation 'Isyu Guo' during this time which lasted for twenty one days. He chose power spots in Mt. Kurama - the place considered holy by the japanese - to do his meditations.

It is said that during once such meditation Usui came into contact with the Great White Energy. Story goes that - Usui saw a brilliant white beam of light entering his crown chakra at the end of a twenty one day meditation. He also saw meanings of some special healing symbols from buddhist sutras floating in front of his eyes. This was the inspiration for his healing system - reiki.

Dr. Usui opened his first healing clinic in Harajuku Tokyo, Japan in April 1922. Soon his fame as a healer spread throughout Japan. In 1923 a devastating earthquake measuring almost 8 on the Richter Scale shook Tokyo and Yokohama. Dr. Mikao Usui and his team of students started healing in the eartquake affected areas. Many people got relief and healing from his work and the demand and need for Reiki climbed steeply.

In his clinic Dr. Usui healed and also taught how to do self healing. Many noted personalities from Japan came visiting his clinic for healing lessions and also for discourses on spiritual living. Dr. Usui again started travelling widely imparting his healing knowledge to hundreds of people. His senior students continued with healing sessions in his clinic when Usui was away travelling.

Dr Usui passed away on March 9th 1926. He was 62 at that time. His students and admirers erected a memorial stone next to his grave. New information about Dr. Usui's life and work are derived from the inscriptions in this memorial stone...