About the author

Dr. Dhiren Gala is a registered medical

doctor practising holistic medicine, effectively
combining
the
positive
features
of
Homoeopathy,
Acupressure/Acupuncture,
Naturopathy, Magnet Therapy, Reiki Therapy,
etc.
He has worked as a lecturer in visual
sciences at the prestigious College of
Optometry, Municipal Eye Hospital, Mumbai. He
has lectured on a variety of subjects (e.g., Eyecare,
Acupressure,
Magnet
Therapy,
Homoeopathy, etc.) at seminars organized by
various institutions all over the country.
He has authored a number of healthrelated books, one of which is in your hands.
Dr. Dhiren Gala conducts short-term
courses in (1) Acupuncture without needles, (2)
Magnet Therapy, (3) Naturopathy, (4) First Aid
and (5) Homoeopathy for laymen. He also
conducts first-degree, second-degree and thirddegree Reiki seminars. He offers all these
courses not only at his own Institute in Mumbai
(India) but also travels world wide to conduct
teaching-cum-training programs. The objective
of these courses is to impart such knowledge as
would enable people to treat minor diseases on
their own. These courses aim at converting
people from passive spectators into active
participants in matters of health.
The co-author of this book, Dr. Dhanlal
Gala is a qualified Naturopathic and Ayurvedic
physician. He has over thirty years' experience
in treating chronic diseases through nonmedicinal measures such as dietary changes,
exercises and yogasanas.

-Publishers

GALA
BE YOUR OWN DOCTOR USING

by Dr.
Dhiren Gala
B.Sc, D.H.M.S., D.O., D.Ac.,
C.G.O., C.C.H., A.R.S.H.

With
Dr. D. R. Gala Dr. Sanjay Gala
M.B. (BOM.), M.S. (ENT)
N.D., D.N.O., D.C.O.

.NAVNEETJ
NAVNEET PUBLICATIONS (INDIA) LIMITED
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 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be copied, adapted,

abridged or translated, stored in any retrieval system, computer
system, photographic or other system or transmitted in any form or
by any means without the prior written permission of the copyright
holders, M/s. Navneet Publications (India) Ltd. Any breach will entail
legal action and prosecution without further notice.
For 1st, 2nd & 3rd degree attunements and Reiki seminars,
contact:

Dr. Dhiren Gala

1st Floor, Abbas Building 'A', Near Tilak Market, Jalbhai
Lane, Harkisondas Hospital Road, Mumbai-400 004.
Phone : 2386 7275

NAVNEET NAVNEET PUBLICATIONS (INDIA) LIMITED

Mumbai : 1. Bhavani Shankar Road, Dadar, Mumbai-400 028. (Tel. 5662 6565 Fax :
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Road, Memnagar, Ahmadabad-380 052.
(Tel. 810 5000) Bangalore : Sri Balaji's, No. 12, 2nd Floor, 3rd Cross, Malleswaram,
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1533) Nashik : Dharmaraj Plaza, Old Gangapur Naka, Gangapur Road, Nashik-422 005. (Tel. 231 0627)
Navsari : 3/C, Arvind Nagar Society, Lunsikui Road, Navsari-396 445. (Tel. 244 186) Patna : 1st Floor, 36-D,
Sahdeo Mahto Marg, Srikrishnapuri, Patna-800 001. (Tel. 220 4921 ) Pune : Sita Park, 18, Shivaji Nagar, Near
Bharat English School, Pune-411 005.
(Tel. 2553 6364) Surat : 1, Ground Floor, Sri Vallabh Complex, Kotwal Street, Nanpara,
Surat-395 001.
(Tel. 246 3927) Vadodara : F-1, Vaidya Vatika, Opp. Hanuman Wadi, Sardar Bhuvan
Khancho, Vadodara-390 001.

It can no longer be denied that it is impossible to wipe out

diseases merely by medication. It also cannot be denied that we need
to pay greater attention to the prevention of diseases rather than their
treatment. People need to be educated and encouraged to take an
active interest in their own health. They should be trained in nonmedical therapeutic systems which are effective as well as safe. Reiki
therapy is one such system and, of late, has generated a lot of interest
in the public. To cater to this curiosity, a number of books on Reiki
therapy have been brought out.
As we read these books, we realise that somewhere along the
line, this essentially simple therapy has been converted into, and
projected as, a complex system requiring a lot of mind-control,
concentration and meditation. Moreover, its reputation has been tainted
with mistruths and unreasonable claims of efficacy. This, of course, is a
matter of great concern.
We, therefore, feel that the time has come to establish the basic
tenets of Reiki therapy. We have presented in this book the essence of
Reiki therapy in a scientific, yet intelligible manner. Moreover, going
against common practice, we have refrained from stocking the book
with personal anecdotes and numerous accounts of miraculous case
histories, that do nothing but impose pressure upon the reader's sense
of logic.
This book would not have seen the light of the day without the
selfless help of a number of persons: my dear friend Jitendra Rana,
who painstakingly researched the subject; Dr Rekha Rupani, Dr Nilesh
Thaker, Dr Subhash Gokhale, Dr Jayesh Shah, Dr Manjushree
Sengupta and Dr Kalpana Desai (Chandgadkar) who perused the
manuscript and offered valuable suggestions; last but not the least, my
family members who allowed me to spend on this book, such time of
mine that was otherwise rightfully theirs.
Suggestions for the improvement of this book are solicited and
shall be positively considered at the time of bringing out future editions.
-Author

CONTENTS
1. Introduction ......................................................................

2. History ..............................................................................

16

3. The Five Principles ...........................................................

21

4. The First Degree Training ................................................

23

5. Treating the Self and Others ............................................

31

6. The Second Degree Training ...........................................

71

7. The Third Degree Training ...............................................

75

8. Questions and Answers ...................................................

78

* Appendix 1 : Reiki Research ..........................................

86

* Appendix 2 : The Chakras ................................................

88

* Appendix 3 : Endocrine Glands and Nerve-plexuses,

the Physical Counterparts of Chakras...............................

89

* Appendix 4 : Suggestions for Reiki Therapists .................

95

NOTE
Only the male gender has been used throughout
this book. This has been done to make the reading
simpler and not with any ulterior motive.

1. INTRODUCTION
An irregular, reckless life-style and faulty dietary habits have
wrought havoc with the health and the lives of people. Constitutional
diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, coronary heart disease,
asthma, arthritis, etc. are steadily on the rise. To help the ailing
humanity, a number of treatment methods, medicinal as well as nonmedicinal, have come into existence. Medical forms of treatment are,
undeniably, more popular. The reasons for such a state of affairs are
not far to seek. For a doctor, practising medicine is an easy, timeeffective and profitable venture. A doctor in general-practice can
examine and treat more than a hundred patients a day. On the other
hand, practising non-medicinal therapies requires a lot of time and
labour, which is out of step with the socio-economic determinants of
modern age. Even the patients, today, have become easy-going.
Rather than taking active interest in their health-matters, they want to
sit back and let the doctors fix them up!
However, the drawbacks of medicinal treatments are gradually
coming to light. In general, most medicinal therapies try merely to
relieve symptoms rather than striking at the root-cause of disease (i.e.,
imbalance of body-energy). Such symptomatic treatment merely
suppresses the disease, which is bound to resurface later. Secondly,
medicines produce undesirable (and sometimes fatal) side-effects.
Thirdly, with the advent of super-specialist doctors, five star hospitals
and high tech instruments, medical treatment is becoming more and
more expensive. All of us have seen many families brought to ruin by
enormous medical expenses.
Finally,
medical
sciences are,
increasingly,

BE YOUR OWN DOCTOR USING REIKI

becoming impersonal and technical, the clinician being more

interested in the disease than the patient. Dr Francis Peabody
wrote in the Journal of American Medical Association : 'One of
the essential qualities of a clinician is genuine interest in
humanity, for the care of the patient involves caring for the
patient'. However, not many doctors pay heed to this advice.
A growing awareness about the shortcomings of medicines
has made people seek alternative forms of treatment which use
one or the other form of healing energy rather than chemical
medicines. To such people, Reiki therapy offers itself as an
excellent alternative.
Reiki (pronounced Ray-key) is a Japanese word formed by
two terms : Rei, which means universal and ki, which means life
force or energy. Reiki is the healing energy which is abundantly
present in the universe. In Reiki therapy, this energy is utilised
to boost the body-energy and the immunity. Thereby, health
can be maintained and disease can be alleviated or cured. Of
the numerous energy therapies presently in use (viz. Reiki,
Acupuncture, Pranic healing, Spiritual healing, Radionics, Bioenergetics, etc.), Reiki therapy is the simplest. Its use can be
learnt by one and all, even by those who have no previous
scientific or medical knowledge. While treating, the healer
merely has to place his hands on the patient or his diseased
body-part. No active effort (manipulation) or concentration is
required on his part. The moment he places his palms on the
patient and invokes Reiki, it flows into his own body and then
emerges out of his hands to enter the patient's body. This flow
continues on its own till the needs of the patient (for that
moment) have been satisfied. The healer merely acts as a
channel or a connecting link between the universal energy (i.e.,
Reiki) and the patient's energy. Unlike other forms of energy
medicine, Reiki therapy does not involve diagnosing an
imbalance in the patient's energy-field or intentionally
repatterning it. The healer has

INTRODUCTION

very little power over the direction, the intensity or the amount
of Reiki flowing into the patient's body; these are determined by
Reiki itself, which is infinitely intelligent. In Reiki therapy,
therefore, there is no scope for mistakes, failure or misuse.
Reiki therapy enjoys a number of other advantages, too.
Apart from having a curative aspect, it also has a preventive
aspect. A healthy person who receives Reiki regularly can
easily avert illness. That is precisely why a Reiki therapist is
able to maintain perfect health; Reiki has to pass through his
body first, before being transmitted to the patient. Agitated and
saddened by the state of conventional therapeutics,
philosophers have remarked, 'Physician, heal thyself. While
healing patients, a Reiki therapist actually heals himself, too.
And since he is not using his own energy for healing, he never
feels depleted or exhausted.
Reiki therapy can be effectively combined with other forms
of treatment, including medicine. It is for this reason that Reiki
therapy is finding favour with more and more medical doctors.
Doctors find that when they add Reiki to their arsenal, their
patients recover in less time than expected.
Reiki therapy is an excellent form of psycho-therapy. It
brings about profound, positive changes in the recipient's mind.
He becomes relaxed, calm and composed. He becomes
capable of handling stress quite easily, as things and situations
are understood more clearly. In fact, his whole attitude to life
changes, for the better. His imaginative and creative powers
increase. Some advanced practitioners of Reiki have even
reported development of extra-sensory powers.
Medical therapies look at disease as a physical entity that
invades the victim's body and needs to be attacked and
conquered. Exponents of energy-medicine, on the other hand,
say that diseases are caused by a derangement of bodily

BE YOUR OWN DOCTOR USING REIKI

energy. A disease first begins at the energy level. Much later

(sometimes after months) does it manifest at the physical level.
In other words, physical disease is secondary to energy
imbalance. In support of their claim they cite a simple
experiment :
(1 ) Using a Kirlian camera, photograph a leaf attached to
a branch of a living plant. Its energy-field (aura) can be clearly
visualised.
( 2 ) Cut the leaf off the branch and throw it away.
( 3 ) Photograph the plant again. The energy-field of the
leaf is seen to persist.

This goes to prove that the energy-body is a template

which moulds the physical body. In other words, energy-body is
the 'cause' and physical body merely its 'effect'. Treatment
directed at the physical body alone is likely to act only
palliatively. Reiki itself being an energy, interacts with, and
restores a state of balance to, the bodily energy. It, thus, strikes
at the fundamental or root cause of disease and acts curatively.
In summary, we would say that Reiki therapy is an energy
therapy par excellence. It realigns, recharges and rebalances
the body-energy. Acting through the autonomous nervous
system and the endocrine system, it restores homoeostasis and
enhances immunity. It is not a placebo or a form of autosuggestion as some doctors would have people to believe. It
helps independently of belief system, emotional state or
religious preference. It works on insane or unconscious
persons, young children, animals and even plants. Indeed, it is
a God-given or Nature-given gift to mankind.

INTRODUCTION

A question that is sure to arise in the reader's mind is that,

'If Reiki is so good, if it is all-pervading and omni-present, if it is
a God-intended gift, why is it not naturally available to each of
us ? Why are human-beings not born with an innate ability to
tap it from the space?
To understand the answer to this question, we will have to
first understand the dynamics of bio-energy 'Prana'.
Prana possesses a form or a structure of its own called the
bio-plasmic or energy body, which not only inhabits our physical
body but also extends out of the body forming the 'aura'. In
other words, aura is the external manifestation of our energybody.

2/Reiki
Fig. 1.1 : The human aura

10

BE YOUR OWN DOCTOR USING REIKI

This aura can be visualised on a Kirlian photograph and

gives reliable information about the person's health. In good
health, the aura is quite uniform and extensive. A shrunken
aura signifies low vitality whereas an uneven aura is a sign of
existing (or future) illness. The energy-body and the physical
body are inter-dependent, one affecting the other.
The energy-body contains energy channels (called nadis
or meridians) and energy centres (called chakras). A lot has
been written about nadis and chakras in Vedas, the ancient
Indian text-books of medicine and yoga; we will present only the
essence over here.
According to the Yogic texts, there are 72,000 nadis in our
energy-body. Of these, three nadis are more important: The
Sushumna nadi (located at the centre), the Idaa or

Fig. 1.2 : The major nadis

INTRODUCTION

II

Chandra nadi (located to the left of Sushumna nadi) and the

Pingalaa or Surya nadi (located to the right of Sushumna nadi).
Nadis ensure a circulation of bio-energy 'Prana' throughout the
body. Nadis being energy entities are not visible to the naked
eye. Their physical counterparts are the spinal cord and the
paraspinous chains of nerve-ganglia.
According to the Yogic texts, there are 48 perpetually
spinning chakras (wheels or centres of energy) in our

Fig. 1.3 : The major chakras (front view)

11

BE YOUR OWN DOCTOR USING REIKI

1>

energy-body. Of these, seven are major chakras, 21 are minor

chakras and 20 are mini chakras. Chakras are a link between
the bio-energy Prana and atmospheric energies. Each chakra is
associated with a specific region or a system of the body, as
elaborated in appendix 2, either supplying or draining energy.
Depending upon the need of a body-region, the associated
chakra absorbs energy from (or emits energy to) the
atmosphere. Chakras are interdependent, dysfunction of any
one adversely affecting the others.
The seven major chakras are arranged vertically along the
central Sushumna nadi as shown in figure 1.2. Like the nadis,
the chakras, too, are not visible to the naked eye. Their physical
counterparts are important nerve plexuses and endocrine
glands.*
Even in an ordinary uninitiated person, the chakras
continually vibrate. The frequency of vibration of the lowermost
'root (Moolaadhaar) chakra' is quite low. It gradually increases
as we move upwards, with the uppermost 'crown (Sahasraar)
chakra' spinning the fastest. Even then, this frequency of
vibration is much lower than that of Reiki. In other words, Reiki
and human chakras are not 'in tune' with each other. It is
because of this lack of tuning or resonance that ordinary mortals
cannot catch or absorb Reiki, though it is abundantly present
around us. Thus, there is poverty in the midst of plenty! To
further clarify this concept, let us give you the example of a
radio-set. A radio-set may be surrounded by radio-waves.
However, you cannot hear a program broadcasted by a
particular radio-station unless you adjust or tune the set to the
frequency of waves transmitted by the concerned radio-station.
* Details about endocrine glands and nerve plexuses have been given in appendices 2 and 3 at
the end of this book.

INTRODUCTION

I3

Fig. 1.4 : The major chakras (side view)

For a person to be able to absorb Reiki, it is necessary

that the vibratory frequency of his chakras be drastically raised.
This is done by a trained Reiki master, through a short,
confidential procedure known as 'attunement or initiation'. This
charging of chakras is the very essence of Reiki therapy and
sets it apart from other energy therapies. The fortunate

14

BE YOUR OWN DOCTOR USING REIKI

person whose chakras have been tuned is called a Reikichannel, i.e., he is able to receive and channelize Reiki through
his body for treating himself and others, whenever and
wherever required. The moment he invokes Reiki with an
intention to heal, it enters his body from the top through the
crown (Sahasraar) chakra and then descends through the third
eye (Aagyaa) and the throat (Vishuddha) chakras to reach the
heart (Anaahat) chakra. From here it enters his arms to emerge
out of his hands and move into the patient's body.
(Note : According to another view, we are all Reiki
channels at birth, capable of absorbing Reiki from the Universe.
However, because of our incorrect living and negative thinking,
our chakras and/or nadis gradually get blocked and we lose our
ability to imbibe Reiki. During an attunement, a Reiki master,
using amplified energy, demolishes these blocks and re-opens
the nadis. Thereby, we become Reiki channels once again.)
Generally the chakras stay tuned throughout the rest of the
person's life unless he (1) never puts Reiki to therapeutic use
and (2) lives a life that is contrary to the 'five principles' of Reiki.
These excellent principles have been elaborated in a later
chapter.
The procedure of attunement of chakras is a closely
guarded secret, not available in print. A Reiki master, who has
learnt it from his peers, in turn teaches it to a select few
dedicated and advanced students of Reiki, converting them into
masters.
While such secrecy might be necessary to preserve the
sanctity of Reiki and prevent its misuse, it has resulted into
people associating Reiki therapy with hypnotism or even blackmagic. However, we want to assure the reader and the world
that this is not the case. The process of attunement barely takes
ten minutes. While the master is performing the

INTRODUCTION

IS

ritual on a subject (i.e., charging his chakras), the latter remains

fully conscious and calm. In fact, at the end of the process, he
feels invigorated and rejuvenated. Indeed, he has been
converted from an ordinary mortal into a Reiki channel, ready to
take on the world of sickness.
We will reiterate that the training in the actual process of
attunement of chakras is imparted to a chosen few, in an
orthodox 'guru-shishya' tradition. 'Who started this tradition and
when V you may rightly ask. The story goes back to the late
eighteenth century when Dr Mikaomi Usui, a Japanese monk,
rediscovered Reiki. This history of Reiki has been presented in
the next chapter.

2. HISTORY
The history of Reiki is as old as the history of the universe.
But in its current form, it was rediscovered by Dr Mikaomi Usui
of Japan, about a hundred years ago. While the exact details of
the story are shrouded in mystery, we will present the essence
over here.

Fig. 2.1 : Dr Mikaomi Usui

16

HISTORY

17

Born on the 15th August, 1862, Dr Mikaomi Usui was a

preacher who spoke highly of the lives and the work of Lord
Buddha and Lord Jesus. Once he remarked about their
fantastic abilities to heal the sick and revive even the dead. The
students asked him if he really believed in what he said and, if
so, knew the procedure of healing. Dr Usui was unable to give a
convincing answer and, in a true Japanese tradition of humility,
resigned his post as a preacher. Thereafter began his long
quest for the answer, which took him to a number of countries
and inspired him to learn numerous languages, including
Sanskrit. However, no satisfactory information was coming
forth. Dejected, Dr Usui returned to his homeland Japan. He,
now, decided to conduct inquiries with Buddhist monks. He
soon realised that none of them was keen to discuss the
subject of physical healing. Being religiously evolved souls, they
were more concerned with the healing of the spirit rather than
the healing of the body. Physical sufferings were desirable
compensatory phenomena, they believed, which enabled the
person to wash off the debts of karma. Dr Usui realised that
Reiki therapy, once very well known and in common use, had
been lost to the world for the sole reason that the sages and the
elite had simply disregarded physical healing which, they
thought, was superfluous. Nonetheless, he decided to continue
his search which, ultimately, led him to a Buddhist monastery.
The old priest of this monastery was not averse to the idea of
physical healing, perhaps due to the fact that he was himself
bed-ridden from agonising pain of arthritis. "If Lord Buddha did
it, why should we look down upon it ?", he opined. He
encouraged Dr Usui to study the holy books that were gathering
dust in the monastery. The task was arduous but Dr Usui was
determined to see the light. His labour was finally rewarded
when he came across Sanskrit sutras (verses) that revealed the
formulae, the symbols and the steps to effect healing. The
{/Reiki

18

BE YOUR OWN DOCTOR USING REIKI

sutras also said that it was necessary to establish contact with a

(undescribed) higher power to be able to put the formulae to
actual use. Thus, the intellectual answer to the problem of
healing had been found; what was now lacking was
'empowerment'. Since the old priest was of no further help, Dr
Usui decided to pray and meditate for further guidance. He went
to a nearby sacred hill called Mt. Kuramaand began with
meditation and fasting. For a full twenty days, nothing seemed
to happen. On the early morning of the twenty-first day, Dr Usui
had an incredible experience. While in a state of deep
meditative trance, he visualised a beam of bright light
approaching him, entering his head and spreading into his
whole body. Millions of rainbow coloured bubbles and, finally,
three-dimensional symbols appeared before his mind's eyes.
He also received information about the precise method of
employing the symbols to activate the healing energy. Thus, Dr
Usui had been converted into an 'enlightened' being in a literal
sense. Indeed, it was the first modern-day 'attunement', the
psychic rediscovery of an ancient method of healing.
Dr Usui left Mt. Kurama, having realised how to heal as
Buddha and Jesus had done. Climbing down the mountain, he
experienced what are traditionally known as four miracles. First
: he stubbed his toe, which healed as he put his hand
instinctively on it. Second : he stuffed his stomach with food,
forgetting that he had not consumed anything but water for
twenty-one days. The heaviness in his stomach vanished as he
put his hands on it. Third : he healed the toothache of the
woman who had served him the meal. Fourth : on his return to
the monastery, he treated and cured the old priest of his
arthritis.
Dr Usui named the healing energy 'Reiki', which means
universal life-force or energy and set about the task of healing
the sick in right earnest. He toured the length and breadth of

HISTORY

19

Japan, not only healing people but also teaching Reiki therapy
to the desirous. He created three degrees for the training in
Reiki therapy which he named shoden (first teaching), okuden
(inner teaching) and shinpickden (mystery teaching). Dr Usui is
thought to have 'initiated' about 2000 people in Reiki therapy,
one of which was Dr Chujiro Hayashi. Dr Hayashi took Reiki
therapy out of Japan, to the West. From there, it spread (and is
still spreading) to the rest of the world.
It is necessary to present over here, an experience of Dr
Usui, which is both interesting and instructive. Once, he was
drawn to a beggars' colony, thronged by scores of debilitated
and handicapped people. Driven by compassion, Dr Usui
decided to free them of their illnesses free of charge, so that
they could start a new life. However, he was 'in' for a shock. He
saw the same faces returning to him time and again. He saw
them still begging instead of making an honest living.
Disillusioned and disappointed, he bade good-bye to the slums.
Dr Usui's experience in the slums is used by some
unscrupulous, material-minded practitioner-teachers to justify
the high price of Reiki-training and Reiki therapy today, the
premise being that a person who does not pay for something is
unlikely to appreciate its true worth (or the more dearly a person
is made to pay for something, the more he will value it). They
have coined the phrase 'exchange of energy' for the transaction
(i.e., they demand monetary energy in exchange for the
universal energy). We believe it is immoral to drag Dr Usui's
name in this controversy. Every doctor, every therapist has a
family to support and a clinic to maintain. If he honestly and
plainly says that he is charging (like any other doctor) for the
health-services he is rendering or for the time he is devoting
(towards Reiki-training or Reiki therapy), no one with even a
semblance of reasoning power will object to it. In fact, Reiki is
invaluable. Charging a

20

BE YOUR OWN DOCTOR USING RFIKI

sky-high fee for Reiki-training or Reiki therapy and calling it an

exchange of energy will still amount to devaluation of Reiki.
We believe that Dr Usui's disappointment was due, not to
the fact that beggars did not pay, but to the fact that he had
healed only their bodies, not their minds and spirits. On
retrospection, Dr Usui himself realised his folly of concentrating
only on physical healing, disregarding the Buddhist ideal of
spiritual healing. It was then, that he understood why almost all
Buddhist sages he had approached prior to his enlightenment,
had discouraged him from persuing the subject of bodily
healing. He immediately felt compelled to incorporate certain
spiritual principles in all teaching/healing he undertook. A
student/patient was accepted for training/treatment only if he
promised to live a life that conformed to these principles.
These principles, five in number, make Reiki therapy a
complete therapy which heals not only the body but also the
spirit. These excellent principles have been enlisted in the next
chapter.

3. THE FIVE PRINCIPLES

Just for today I will not worry.

Just for today I will not get angry.
Just for today I will be honest.
Just for today I will count my
blessings.
Justfortoday I will give love and
show respect to every living
being.

21

11

BE YOUR OWN DOCTOR USING REIKI

Each day is a lifetime in miniature!

To awaken each morning is to be born again,

to fall asleep at night is to die to the day.
In between waking and sleeping are
the golden hours of the day.
What we think we cannot do for a lifetime,
we can do for a daytime.
Anyone can strive to be happy for a day
and to spread happiness around.
Anyone can rise above fear for a day
and meet each situation with courage.
Anyone can hold his temper for a day
and guard the words he speaks.
Anyone can remain honest for a day
and carry his burden heroically.
Anyone can count his blessings for a day
deciding, not to look at half-empty but at half-filled glass
Anyone can eschew hate and cruelty for a day
deciding to live and let live.
Live a day at a time and remember that
tomorrow is another today!

The first degree seminar is a very important and auspicious event in a person's life wherein he is transformed from an
ordinary mortal into a 'Reiki channel', ready to take on the world
of illness: physical as well as mental. He can, thereafter, treat
not only himself but also others through simple laying-on of his
hands.
The first degree seminar essentially brings about an
attunement of the participant's chakras (energy centres) to
Reiki, through an ancient technological process which, though
simple and short, is very powerful.
When people come to register for the seminar, they often
ask as to whether it is necessary for them to prepare
beforehand for the seminar by browsing through a book on
Reiki, by performing specific exercises, by resorting to fasting
or meditation, by abstaining from intoxicants or sex, and so
forth.
A little preparation before undertaking the seminar, though
not indispensable, is desirable. Such a preparation creates a
platform for the participant, from which he can take a quantum
leap (towards the goal of physical and mental well-being) with
the help of an attunement.
In the days before the seminar, spare some time for
yourself on a regular basis and make it clear to yourself what
you expect from your life. Do you desire more love and
fulfillment in your relationships? Are you looking for a better
job? Do you wish to solve a health-problem? Whatever it may
be, the attunement can trigger off a positive development in
every matter important to you. It can accelerate the
i',

24

BE YOUR OWN DOCTOR USING REIKI

learning and evolutionary processes within you, thereby

contributing to a happier and healthier life.
Don't plan or undertake strenuous activities just prior to or
during the seminar. Avoid junk food, non-vegetarian foods and
alcohol for at least a week before the scheduled day of the
seminar. During that period, perform deep breathing exercise
for about five minutes, once or twice a day. Not that
attunements will not take effect if you disregard this advice;
they will still act equally well. But if your body or your mind is
under stress, you will not be able to perceive the subtle
changes taking place within you.
On the morning of the seminar-day, take a thorough bath
with tepid water. Dress yourself with comfortable, loose-fitting,
clean clothes, but avoid all jewellery. Keep back your pagers
and cell-phones at home.
The seminar is designed differently by each Reiki master.
Although certain components such as the four initiations, the
telling of the Reiki story and the instructions for treating the self
and others are always the same, everything else is planned in
accordance with the personality and interests of the concerned
master.
This type of seminar design contributes to keeping the
course lively and exciting. Rigid concepts hinder the
spontaneity of the seminar leader and that of the participants as
well. The seminars held by the same master often vary from
each other in their structure. The world is constantly changing;
so are we and our interests. Responding to this liveliness very
well suits the quality of Reiki which does have an individual
effect.
The seminar is conducted at a quiet place, having
peaceful, natural surroundings. The relaxed atmosphere of the
room befits the auspicious occasion. The air is filled with
fragrance of fresh flowers or incense sticks. As participants
come in, their ears are greeted by notes of soft, devotional

THE FIRST DEGREE TRAINING

25

music and their eyes are brightened by burning camphor or

candles. These purify the atmosphere and keep the seminar
room free from negative energies. The entrants can, indeed,
sense the positive vibrations which fill the room.
The course begins in the seminar-hall after all the
participants (about ten to twenty) have assembled. The Reiki
master introduces himself. Each participant is then asked to
introduce himself as regards his name, occupation and the
reason for joining the seminar. While a few have come out of
simple curiosity, most others have come because they have
seen or felt 'Reiki-miracles', and they now want to experience
the power of Reiki in their own hands. Many participants are
spouses or friends of people who have already taken the first
degree some time ago. They have seen their near ones change
almost overnight following attunement. They have seen them
becoming more loving, open-minded and lively. Some people
come because they believe thatthe attunement will be a big
step forward on their spiritual path. Many participants confess to
having personal difficulties in emotional or physical area; they
would like to do something for their health on their own, take
personal responsibility and protect themselves from future
serious illnesses. Medical doctors, too, enroll for the seminar,
having received the tip from a professional colleague. Despite
the strong recommendations, they are skeptical : "It just can't be
that easy; there must be a catch somewhere!" They come
hoping against hope that the strange business will turn out to be
worthwhile.
After the participants have come to know each other, the
teacher introduces the concept of Reiki. He gives details of
what it is and what it is not; what it can do and what it cannot.
He informs that Reiki being an energy interacts with human
chakras, which in turn affect the physical body. He gives
complete details about chakras as regards their locations and
body-parts/system each of them controls. (This information
4 /Reiki

26

BE YOUR OWN DOCTOR USING REIKI

has been tabulated in appendix 2.) He then breaks the

gladdening news that the chakras of each participant will be
'attuned' so as to render them capable of absorbing Reiki. This
is akin to upgarding a T.V. set; previously it could capture
signals sent by a few stations but now it can capture signals
broadcasted by many stations.
Next comes a brief account of Reiki-history : its origin, its
rediscovery by Dr. Mikaomi Usui and its subsequent spread to
the nooks and corners of the world.
The participants are, then, given the information, charts
and demonstrations about the places (body-parts) where hands
are to be placed while treating oneself or others. Details of
these basic hand-positions and their sequential order are
presented in the next chapter.
The participants are informed that the attunement is to
follow shortly, but before that they should start placing their
hands for about three minutes on each of the body-parts (in the
suggested order) so as to possibly feel a subtle flow of energy
through their plams into their bodies. This is the person's own
bio-energy which is quite weak as compared to Reiki which is
immensely powerful. Any person who places his plams on a
body-part before the attunement and immediately after the
attunement is amazed to feel the enormous difference in the
energy-flow.
While the participants are busy learning the basic handpositions, the attunements begin in a separate 'attunement
room'. While most Reiki masters prefer to attune one participant
at a time, there are some who invite three to five participants
into the room. On an average, it takes about three to five
minutes to attune a person.
As discussed earlier, an attunement is at the very core of
Reiki therapy. The process of attunement is very precise and
can be effected only by a Reiki master who has received an
intensive training in the method. It comprises a series of four

THE FIRST DEGREE TRAINING

'initiations' in which the master, using an ancient technology,

transmits an amplified energy to the upper four chakras of the
participant. This creates an open channel for cosmic energy to
flow in through the top of the subject's head, through his upper
chakras and out through his hands for use in future-treatments.
During the entire ritual the participant is requested to remain
calm and quiet and to keep his eyes closed.
"Why is there such secrecy about it? Why should I keep
my eyes closed ? What are you actually doing to me ?" these
are questions commonly asked by the participants and we find
them quite understandable. No one can expect that a person
would blindly permit to be subjected to a ritual that is likely to
change his life. The answer to the above questions is quite
simple. An attunement is a once-in-a-lifetime process during
which extensive harmonization takes place within the subject's
body. If he keeps his eyes closed and feels within himself, he
can consciously participate in this unique event. Instead, if he
follows the master's movements that are obscure for him in any
case and constantly ponders on what effect this or that
movement is likely to produce, he is least likely to perceive the
fantastic changes taking place within him. It is, thus, in his own
interests that the participant keeps his eyes closed. Again, the
Reiki master can work with a greater peace of mind and
concentration if two (or more) curious eyes are not intently
gazing at him.
After the completion of attunements, the invigorated
participants are requested to move back to the seminar-hall
and resume (from where they had left) the laying on of their
hands on their own bodies As they do so, they are immediately
able to discern the difference in the energy-flow through their
hands. Before the attunement, the flow was feeble, almost
imperceptible; now, after the attunement, it is undeniably
strong. This session of self-treatment continues till all the basic
hand-positions have been covered.

28

BE YOUR OWN DOCTOR USING REIKI

The next session is devoted to treating others. Each

participant is assigned a suitable partner and the two agree to
exchange Reiki. Each person gives a full-body Reiki therapy to
his partner and, in turn, receives the same from him. If time
permits, the participants may also carry out a group Reiki
session. It is here that a participant begins to feel the
differences in energy drawn by different body-parts of an
individual and differences in energy drawn by different
individuals.

Fig. 4.1 : Group Reiki therapy

Many teachers suggest that each of the specified bodyparts be treated for three minutes. While this is a good idea to
begin with, we would suggest that you later follow the powers

THE FIRST DEGREE TRAINING

19

of your intuition and perception. Continue to treat a body-part

till it draws energy. The moment it stops drawing energy, move
to the next body-part.
With their bodies invigorated and minds opened up by
Reiki, participants are, by now, quite relaxed and cheerful. Even
those who are shy/reserved and who usually have closed
personalities open up. Everyone feels being a part of one big,
loving and lively family. Participants feel they have been friends
for years. Indeed, many deep, lasting friendships are actually
formed during the first degree seminar.
In the next session, the teacher gives guidelines for
practice during the next few weeks (called the cleansing
period). He also gives guidelines for treating common ailments
using Reiki. He reaffirms the importance of chakras in
treatment, reminding the participants of the body-region each
chakra controls. The five spiritual principles of Reiki are, then,
discussed at length, the teacher emphasizing that the mind and
the body are intimately correlated.
At the end is an informal session where participants
express their experiences. Each participant tells the class about
what he felt while he was being attuned, while he was treating
himself or his partner and while he was receiving treatment from
his partner. The master clears doubts and answers questions
raised by the participants. Finally, he thanks the participants for
having attended the seminar and awards them the coveted
certificates.
In conclusion, we will say that the first degree seminar is a
milestone, in fact a turning point, in a person's life. The vibratory
frequencies of his chakras are raised so that they become
Tuned' to that of Reiki. This tuning triggers a never-ending
process of physical cleansing and spiritual evolution, literally
transforming the person's life. There are no failed attunements
as long as they are carried out by a trained master

so

BE YOUR OWN DOCTOR USING REIKI

who performs the steps in a precise manner, making use of

powerful symbols. This may sound a bit preposterous to your
ears. After all, everyone makes mistakes and a Reiki master
cannot be an exception. However, the point to be realised is
that it is not the master who really brings about attunement. He
only acts as a bridge between the universal life energy and the
subject's bio-energy; the tuning is effected from 'above'. The
things that human beings do may be faulty or transitory. But a
bond created by God is not subject to laws of the material world!

5. TREATING THE SELF AND OTHERS

The three-week period following attunement is a very
important period in the concerned person's life as
unprecedented physical, mental" and spiritual changes take
place in him. He is literally transformed into a new person :
more healthy, more happy and more evolved.
This transformation is the natural outcome of a process of
internal cleansing and detoxification that is sparked off by the
attunement and which continues unabated as the person
regularly channelizes Reiki while treating himself and others.
Toxins that have accumulated in the physical as well as the
energy-body for years, literally begin to be liberated and
washed away by the floods of Reiki that invade the newly
opened nadis (channels) within the body.
This process of detoxification can be further facilitated
by( a ) consuming a lot of pure water and fruit-juices, ( b )
performing yogic breathing exercises (pranayam), (c)
eating lots of fruits, raw vegetables and sprouts,
which provide us with vitamins and fibres,
(d ) taking thorough, brisk baths at least once everyday,
(e) following simple Naturopathic procedures like
steam-bath*, hot foot-bath*, whole body wet-pack*, etc.
While the body is busy eliminatingtoxins, it would, quite
obviously, be undesirable to consume non-vegetarian foods,
eggs, tobacco, alcohol and caffeinated beverages.
* Details of these simple procedures have been given in the book 'Nature cure for common
diseases' by the same authors.

(1

S2

BE YOUR OWN DOCTOR USING REIKI

The process of detoxification may, initially, cause physical

symptoms
like
running
nose,
diarrhoea,
excessive
sweating/urination, skin eruptions and mild fever. Symptoms of
old disease (that had been suppressed by unwise medication)
may reappear (albeit in a much milder form). All this time,
however, the mind feels more and more better. Negative
emotions like fear, anger, worries and apathy gradually
disappear, giving place to positive emotions like confidence,
peace, love, compassion and reverence for life. The person
becomes self-reliant and capable of handling day-to-day
problems with a 'never-before' ease. Old, bad habits are cast
off. Stimulants lose their value in life. Gradually, a life-style
develops, which is balanced, inwardly as well as outwardly.
Some Reiki therapists have reported an unexpected
development of extra-sensory powers (ESP) following regular
use of Reiki.
It must have become quite clear to you, dear reader, that
to derive the above-mentioned benefits to the maximum
possible extent, it is necessary to channelize Reiki as frequently
as possible by treating yourself (at least once every day) and
others (your dear ones). The more you treat yourself (and
others), the faster will your chakras spin, the more potent your
nadis (channels) will become and the stronger will be the
outward flow of energy through your palms. Then, the beneficial
effects of your treatment will become more certain and
consistent.
This chapter will give you complete details about Reiki
therapy : rules to be remembered, precautions to be taken,
body-parts to be worked upon while treating yourself and
others. One word of caution : Do not, on your own, bring about
any change in your medication. It is true that Reiki therapy
brings about profound harmonization within the body and
demonstrable physiological changes. Therefore, the doses of
medicines you are taking will need suitable

TREATING THE SELF AND OTHERS

53

modification. However, you should entrust this responsibility to

your physician.
Self-treatment
The best time for self-treatment is either early morning (as
soon as you wake up from sleep) or late evening (when you are
about to sleep). If the time necessary to accomplish full-body
treatment is not available at a stretch, you can break-up the
treatment into two (or more) parts, to be taken up at different
times of the day. You might as well treat yourself while watching
television, conversing with you family members or travelling.
Before you start treating yourself ( a ) remove shoes and
loosen tight clothes/belts, (b) wash your hands thoroughly with
soap and water, (c ) briskly rub you palms against each other
for a few seconds and bring your awareness to your palms. This
will sensitise your palms and make you capable of perceiving
the subtle energy-flow through your hands, as you sequentially
place them on your various body-parts.
You are now ready to treat and invigorate yourself with
Reiki. Switch off your door-bell, your pager/cell-phone; take
your phone off the hook; request your family-members not to
disturb you during the next few minutes. Lie or sit down as per
your desire. Completely relax your muscles; let them go limp
and slack. Slow down the rate of your breathing. Invoke Reiki,
thanking it for accepting you as a channel. The various handpositions for self-treatment have been depicted on the next few
pages.* Lightly place your palms on each of these body-parts
for about three minutes. If touching a body-part is impractical
due to a boil, a wound or burns, palms may as
* The number and the nature of hand-positions vary slightly from healer to healer. The b.iMc
principle is : Cover as much body-area as practically possible. S/Reiki

34

BE YOUR OWN DOCTOR USING REIKI

well be held an inch or two away from the body. It is necessary

to hold the palm slightly cupped and the fingers touching each
other. Remember : scattered fingers mean scattered energy!

Fig. 5.1 : Cupped palm

Fig. 5.2 : Fingers touching each other

TREATING THE SELF AND OTHERS

35

Position 1
Objective : To provide Reiki to the crown (Sahasraar;
<H$K) chakra, which governs the functioning of the fore-brain
(cerebrum) and the pineal gland.

Fig. 5.3

Note : While you lay you hand on position 1, you may

mentally chant the mantra aum (3-*).

36

BE YOUR OWN DOCTOR USING REIKI

Position 2
Objective : To provide Reiki to the third eye (Aagyaa;
3TT?rr) chakra, which governs the functioning of the cerebrum,
the hypothalamus (which is the seat of the autonomous
nervous system) and the pituitary gland (which controls the rest

of the endocrine glands).

Fig. 5.4

Note : While you lay your hands on position 2, you may

mentally chant the mantra am (at) or ksham ($t).

TREATING THE SELF AND OTHERS

Position 3
Objective : To provide Reiki to the eyes, the nose, the
para-nasal sinuses and the mouth.

Fig. 5.5

Note : Avoid covering the nostrils.

.5 7

38

BE YOUR OWN DOCTOR USING REIKI

Position 4
Objective : To provide Reiki to the ears, the hind-brain
(cerebellum), the pons and the medulla (which contains vital
centres concerned with the heart-rate, the respiratory rate, the
blood pressure, etc.)

TREATING THE SELF AND OTHERS

J9

Position 5
Objective : To provide Reiki to the throat (Vishuddha;
f^JS) chakra, which governs the functioning of the thyroid gland
(concerned with the basal metabolic rate), the cervical nerveplexus, the cervical vertebrae, the tonsils, the vocal cords and
the food-pipe.

Fig. 5.7

Note : (a) The upper hand should be placed very lightly to

prevent discomfort.
( b ) You may mentally chant the mantra ham (t), while you
lay your hands on position 5.

40

BE YOUR OWN DOCTOR USING REIKI

Position 6
Objective : To provide Reiki to the heart (Anaahat; 3Mi5d)
chakra, which governs the functioning of the thymus gland
(concerned with our immunity), the brachial nerve-plexus, the
arms, the heart and the lungs.

Fie. 5.8

Note : While you lay your hands on position 6, you may

mentally chant the mantra yam (*t).

TREATING THE SELF AND OTHERS

41

Position 7
Objective : To provide Reiki to the solar (Manipur; HF"I^)
chakra, which governs the functioning of the digestive organs
(like the stomach and the intestines) and the accessory
digestive organs like the liver and the pancreas (concerned with
blood-sugar levels).

Fig. 5.9

Note : You may mentally chant the mantra ram (i) while
you lay your hands on position 7.
(>/Reiki

42

BE YOUR OWN DOCTOR USING REIKI

Position 8
Objective: To provide Reiki to the sacral (Swaadhisthaan;
^rf^R) chakra, which governs the functioning of the reproductive
system, the spleen (which is concerned with our immunity), the
urinary bladder and the skin.

Fig. 5.10

Note : While you lay your hands on position 8, you may

mentally chant the mantra vam (^).

TREATING THE SELF AND OTHERS

45

Position 9
Objective : To provide Reiki to the root (Moolaadhaar;
JJFrrsrrc) chakra, which governs the functioning of the adrenal
glands, the urinary system, the external genital organs, the
musculo-skeletal system, the hips and the legs.

Fig. 5.11

Note : You may mentally chant the mantra lam (ct), while
you lay your hands on position 9.

44

BE YOUR OWN DOCTOR USING REIKI

Position 10
Objective : To provide Reiki to the shoulder joints.

Fig. 5.12

Note: Some experts advise against keeping the arms/legs

crossed while treating one's self. If you are not facing a
shortage of time, you may as well treat one shoulder at a time,
thereby avoiding the crossing of forearms.

TREATING THE SELF AND OTHERS

45

Position 11
Objective : To provide Reiki to the elbow joints.

Fig. 5.13

Note: Some experts advise against keeping the arms/legs

crossed while treating one's self. If you are having adequate
time, you may as well treat first one elbow and then the other,
thereby avoiding the crossing of forearms.

BE YOUR OWN DOCTOR USING REIKI

46

Position 12
Objective : To provide Reiki to the wrist joints.

Fig. 5.14

TREATING THE SELF AND OTHERS

47

Position 13
Objective : To provide Reiki to the knee joints.

Fig. 5.15

Note : It is more convenient to be seated while laying hands

on the knees.

48

BE YOUR OWN DOCTOR USING REIKI

Position 14
Objective : To provide Reiki to the ankle joints.

Fig. 5.16

Note : It is more convenient to remain seated while you lay

hands on your ankles.

TREATING THE SELF AND OTHERS

4')

Further, you may lay your hands on the diseased part of

the body if it has not, already, been covered by the standard 14
positions. Otherwise, completion of position 14 heralds the end
of a full-body Reiki therapy session. Thank Reiki again for
having come to your help. You must have realized that we have
refrained from advising you to lay your hands on your back as it
is quite uncomfortable, tiring the arms and tensing the muscles.
You may treat the diseased part of the body and the
associated chakra for a longer time (say five to fifteen minutes)
to derive greater and faster benefits.
It is quite obvious, that 'whole body Reiki therapy' is likely
to take almost 40 to 45 minutes. On an exceptionally busy day,
if you have less time at your disposal, you may stop a selftreatment session after you have covered the first nine bodypositions. In case of an acute shortage of time, an injury or an
emergency, you may treat only the diseased/injured body-part
and the associated chakra.
Treating others
It has been stated earlier that the more Reiki you
channelize, the more open your channels become and the
more strong turns out the flow of energy from your palms. It is,
therefore, necessary to treat others, too, as and when an
opportunity presents itself. Whereas treating your own familymembers is an easy job, requiring no further considerations,
treating others (outsiders) is a somewhat different task,
requiring a lot of thought and finesse.
( a ) Wear clean, decent clothes. You may as well wear an
apron to denote that you belong to the healing profession.
(b) Use no scents, perfumes or after-shaves as these may
excite an allergic reaction in your patient.
( c ) Introduce yourself and Reiki to the patient. Clearly tell
him what Reiki can do and what it cannot, specifying that

50

BE YOUR OWN DOCTOR USING REIKI

it is not a substitute for conventional medical treatment (rather it

can be used in conjunction with medicines). Also state that you
are only a medium through which Reiki will work. On the basis
of this preliminary discussion, if you feel that you have not been
able to establish a rapport with the patient, politely refuse to
treat him. It is not your responsibility to heal everybody or the
world! Again, avoid treating accident-victims. Such an
unfortunate person will require scientific first-aid and quick
hospitalisation. However, if your preliminary discussion with the
patient has been congenial, decide to treat him and seek his
permission. This is very important. Reiki therapy should be
given only to an open person, who is ready to receive it; it
cannot be forced upon someone. When treating an infant, a
young child, an unconscious or an insane person, seek and
obtain the permission of his close relatives.
(d ) Inform the patient and/or his relatives about the
remuneration you expect to receive against the time/services
you offer. Never give away Reiki, as that makes beggars of
people who receive it. Remember, though, that the exchange
may be in forms other than monetary returns.
(e ) Inquire into the patient's problems, with a view to
understanding his disease well. However, do not venture to give
a name or a label to the disease. Diagnosing the disease, in
any case, is unnecessary for you, as you will be providing Reiki
to his whole body.
( f) Request the patient to loosen tight belts/clothes.
( g ) Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
( h ) It is neither desirable nor necessary to disrobe the
patient while treating him. Clothes do not hinder the passage of
Reiki into the body. In fact, Reiki can even pass through thick
plaster-casts. This point has been raised over here to reassure
such people who have had the misfortune of going through
Reiki-books which depict nude figures, and who

TREATING THE SELF AND OTHERS

51

therefore, have come to entertain doubts about the sanctity of

this therapy.
( i ) Make the patient sit or lie down, as per mutual
convenience. Do not allow him to cross his legs as that
impedes free flow of energy.
(j ) Invoke Reiki, mentally requesting it to help the patient,
using you as a medium.
(k) Next, perform a procedure which is traditionally known
as aura-sweeping or aura-smoothening. The objective behind
this procedure is to render the patient's aura harmonius and
more receptive to Reiki therapy. Keeping a distance of about
two inches from the patient's skin, move

Fig. 5.17 : Aura-sweeping

52

BE YOUR OWN DOCTOR USING REIKI

your hands lengthwise along his body from his head towards
the toes, as depicted by line 1 of figure 5.3. Similarly, move
your hands from above downwards to trace paths 2, 3, 4 and so
on, as shown in the figure.
( I ) You are now ready to give Reiki therapy to your
patient. Lay your hands gently for about three minutes on each
of the body-positions shown on the next few pages. If touching
a body-part is not quite possible (because it has a boil, a
wound, an ulcer or burns), hold the palms an inch or two away.
Remember to hold the fingers together and the palms slightly
cupped. Holding fingers apart results into a scattering of energy.
(m) While treating the patient, it is not indispensable to
concentrate or focus on the job. If possible, do so; but if the
patient wants to talk to you, gladly do that.

TREATING THE SELF AND OTHERS

53

Position 1
Objective : To provide Reiki to the crown (Sahasraar; ^W)
chakra, which governs the functioning of the fore-brain
(cerebrum) and the pineal gland.

Fig. 5.18

54

BE YOUR OWN DOCTOR USING REIKI

Position 2
Objective : To provide Reiki to the third eye (Aagyaa;
STMT) chakra, which governs the functioning of the cerebrum,
the hypothalamus (which is the seat of autonomous nervous
system) and the pituitary gland (which controls the rest of the
endocrine glands).

TREATING THE SELF AND OTHERS

Position 3
Objective : To provide Reiki to the eyes, the nose, the
para-nasal sinuses and the mouth.

Fig. 5.20

Notes : Place the palms very lightly. Avoid covering the

nostrils to allow free breathing.

55

S(>

BE YOUR OWN DOCTOR USING REIKI

Position 4
Objective : To provide Reiki to the ears, the hind-brain
(cerebellum), the pons and the medulla (which contains vital
centres concerned with the heart-rate, the respiratory rate, the
blood pressure, etc.)

Fig. 5.21

TREATING THE SELF AND OTHERS

57

Position 5
Objective : To provide Reiki to the throat (Vishuddha;
fwsjg) chakra, which governs the functioning of the thyroid
gland (concerned with the basal metabolic rate), the cervical
nerve-plexus, the cervical vertebrae, the tonsils, the voice-box
and the food-pipe.

Fig. 5.22

Note : The patient may experience a feeling of choking if

you place your upper hand too heavily.

Hi

BE YOUR OWN DOCTOR USING REIKI

Position 6
Objective : To provide Reiki to the heart (Anaahat; 3Hid)
chakra, which governs the functioning of the thymus gland
(concerned with our immunity), the brachial, nerve-plexus, the
arms, the heart and the lungs.

Fig. 5.23

Note : In case your patient is a lady, avoid actual contact

of the body (the breasts); instead, hold your palms an inch or
two away from the body.

TREATING THE SELF AND OTHERS

59

Position 7
Objective : To provide Reiki to the solar (Manipur; ^\H<)
chakra, which governs the functioning of digestive organs (like
the stomach and the intestines) and the accessory digestive
organs like the liver and the pancreas (concerned with blood-

Fig. 5.24

sugar levels).

60

BE YOUR OWN DOCTOR USING REIKI

Position 8
Objective : To provide Reiki to the sacral (Swaadhisthaan;
^^TflrWT) chakra, which governs the functioning of the
reproductive system, the spleen (concerned with our immunity)
and the skin.

Fig. 5.25

TREATING THE SELF AND OTHERS

61

Position 9
Objective : To provide Reiki to the root (Moolaadhaar;
iJcTHJTC) chakra, which governs the functioning of the urinary
system, the musculoskeletal system, the legs, the external
genital organs and the hips.

Fig. 5.26

Note : Avoid touching the body; hold your palms an inch

or two away.
If the patient was, so far, lying on his back, now request
him to turn around and lie on his stomach.

()J

BE YOUR OWN DOCTOR USING REIKI

Position 10
Objective : To provide Reiki to the upper back which
contains the thoracic vertebrae, as also the back-parts of the
throat (Vishuddha) and the heart (Anaahat) chakras.

Fig. 5.27

TREATING THE SELF AND OTHERS

63

Position 11
Objective : To provide Reiki to the middle back which
contains the lumbar vertebrae as also the kidneys and the
back-parts of the solar (Manipur) and the sacral
(Swaadhisthaan) chakras.

Fig. 5.28

64

BE YOUR OWN DOCTOR USING REIKI

Position 12
Objective : To provide Reiki to the lower back which
contains the sacrum, as also the anus and the root
(Moolaadhaar) chakra.

TREATING THE SELF AND OTHERS

Position 13
Objective : To provide Reiki to the shoulder joints.

Fig. 5.30

65

Gb

BE YOUR OWN DOCTOR USING REIKI

Position 14
Objective : To provide Reiki to the elbow joints.

Fig. 5.31

TREATING THE SELF AND OTHERS

Position 15
Objective : To provide Reiki to the wrist joints.

Fig. 5.32

07

68

BE YOUR OWN DOCTOR USING REIKI

Position 16
Objective : To provide Reiki to the knee joints.

Fig. 5.33

TREATING THE SELF AND OTHERS

Position 17
Objective : To provide Reiki to the ankle joints.

Fig. 5.34

<>9

70

BE YOUR OWN DOCTOR USING REIKI

Further, you may lay your hands on the diseased part of

the body if it has not, already, been covered by the standard 17
positions.
Perform aura-sweeping again to smoothen and harmonize
the aura.
Mentally thank Reiki again for accepting you as its
instrument and verbally thank the patient for giving you an
opportunity to help him. Request him to help himself by
following the five principles of Reiki. Inform him about how the
mind rules the body.
Inform the patient that the passage of Reiki through his
body will initiate a process of detoxification due to which he may
suffer from a little discomfort (e.g., fever, colds, diarrhoea) for a
few days. It is necessary to reassure the patient of the transitory
nature of such discomfort so that he does not panic and run
helter-skelter for medical help. Also inform him that following
detoxification, internal harmonization will take place,
necessitating modification of medicinal doses under the
supervision of his physician.
It is quite obvious that treating another person takes a little
longer than treating the self. The total duration of a 'whole body
Reiki therapy' session may turn out to be almost one hour. To
avoid causing undue fatigue to yourself, make suitable sitting
arrangements besides (or around) the patient.
One final instruction : Do not disclose the details of your
patient's problems to others. These are 'professional secrets';
laying them open may land you into legal problems.

6. THE SECOND DEGREE TRAINING

The second degree Reiki seminar is aimed at bringing
about a tremendous increase in your capacities as a healer.
Things you only read in fantasy novels or objectives that seem
incredible to logical ears become achievable through powers
endowed by the second degree. This degree is a major tool of
transformation for those who have decided to follow the path of
spiritual growth.
While the curiosity about the second degree is aroused by
the Reiki master's (seemingly incredible) comments at the close
of a first degree seminar, the actual registration for the seminar
is often sparked off by an amazing Reiki experience (e.g.,
recovery of a patientfrom aso-called incurable disease).
Much alike the first degree seminar, the second degree
seminar, too, is designed differently by different masters. While
the basic format remains the same, the presentation varies from
master to master. Even a particular master may bring about
spontaneous changes in the seminar, taking into account the
level of the participants.
Before the proceedings begin, the teacher encourages
each participant to describe the experiences he has had with
the first degree. Any questions or doubts he has, as regards the
first degree, are answered or cleared at this juncture.
The actual seminar begins with an initiation, which further
attunes and energizes the chakras (especially the third eye or
the Aagyaa chakra), fully opens up the channels and firmly
anchors certain activated symbols in the participant's aura (so
that they can be put to therapeutic use later).
Once all the participants have received attunements, the
second session begins. Participants are informed about the
71

72

BE YOUR OWN DOCTOR USING REIKI

three symbols that have been put into their auras. The rest of
the second session is spent by the students in learning (by
heart) how to draw each of these symbols precisely.
The third session is devoted to the understanding and
learning of the use of these symbols. In essence, each of these
symbols (especially 'hon sha ze sho nen') is sort of a focussing
device which converts the divergent energy-waves into parallel
ones.

hands of a first degree

holder is divergent.

hands of a second degree holder is

rendered parallel by symbols.

Energy in the form of parallel waves is not only strong but

can travel long distances without losing its punch. Unaided
Reiki and symbol-aided Reiki can be compared to ordinary light
and LASER, respectively.
The first symbol 'cho ku rei' is a 'power-symbol' in a literal
sense. Its use increases the intensity of emergent Reiki
manifold. In consequence, the duration of a treatment session
comes down drastically. This is a big gain for Reiki therapists
since most of them face severe constraints of time. In fact, it is
this lack of time which prevents therapists from putting Reiki to
as much use as they would like. The drastic reduction of
treatment-period is also to the patients' advantage. Their time is
not less valuable than that of the therapist.

THE SECOND DEGREE TRAINING

7!

The second symbol 'sei he ki' is traditionally called the

mental healing symbol as it helps the mind and the emotions
tremendously. The mind rules the body. Most diseases are,
presently, considered psycho-somatic. Sei he ki heals the mind,
thereby healing the body. When Reiki therapists use this
symbol, they strike at the root of disease.
A regular use of 'sei he ki' results into an increased
intuitive awareness. In the days following the second degree
seminar, some participants develop extra-sensory powers
(ESP) in the form of clairvoyance, clairaudience and
clairsentience.
The third symbol 'hon sha ze sho nen' is the distancehealing (or absentee healing) symbol. It can be used to treat a
person who is not physically present with you because (say) he
is lying on a hospital bed or living in another town/country.
When the healer imagines/visualizes the person requiring
treatment and uses 'hon sha ze sho nen', an invisible bridge is
formed between his Anaahat (heart) chakra and that of the
patient. Reiki, then, flows along this bridge to reach the patient
and brings about healing. Quite obviously, boundaries of space
are suspended when this symbol is put to use. The therapist is
no longer dependent on the proximity of a person to provide him
Reiki. Does that sound incredible or implausible to you ? If so,
ask someone who has completed the second degree course to
do distance energy transmission on you. Then you will know the
truth for yourself.
We will like to add here that distance healing too, like
hands-on healing, is to be given only on asking. Despite your
good intentions (and the patient's ignorance), it cannot be
forced on someone. In other words, you should obtain an
express consent from the patient (or his relatives) before you
start treating him.
In conclusion, we will say that the second degree seminar
brings in its wake, a number of new possibilities and

74

BE YOUR OWN DOCTOR USING REIKI

avenues of treatment for the participant. The attunement

effected in the first degree is further strengthened and
consolidated. Everything that you could do with the first degree
can be done more quickly and intensely with the second
degree. Moreover, it empowers you to heal the mind (which
enjoys a complete reign on the body) and heal people living in
any corner of the earth. In fact, you may join hands with other
Reiki therapists to heal the whole world !

Fig. 6.3 : Making Reiki available to the world

7. THE THIRD DEGREE TRAINING

The third degree training is the most exciting part of the
Usui method of natural healing. This is the teaching degree
where you learn how to attune (the energy-bodies of) others
and how to organise Reiki-seminars. In other words, the third
degree training converts you into a Reiki-master. It also
transforms you into a new person : more loving, more
compassionate, more humble.
There is a great deal of discussion in traditional and
modern Reiki-circles as to who are (or are not) the right
candidates for the third degree training.
In traditional thinking, the master degree should be
awarded only to a person willing to dedicate his life (and a
fortune!) to Reiki. Again, the third degree training should not be
given for the asking but should be offered by the teacher only to
a deserving student. A deserving student is the one who, for
many years, has been practising Reiki therapy, distance healing
and mental healing to the satisfaction of the teacher. In other
words, traditional Reiki masters accept only a select few
students for the third degree training. They refuse to give this
third degree training to students who do not fit into their criteria
or do not meet their critical standards.
In our opinion, the master degree cannot be restricted only
to those people who can dedicate their lives to the cause of
Reiki. The world does not work that way any longer. Few
people can really spend valuable years of their lives working as
apprentices to Reiki masters and then pay huge amounts to
receive the third degree training. The fact is that there is too
much of ill-health and misery in the world. The earth is in pain.
There is a real and urgent need of therapists who,

76

BE YOUR OWN DOCTOR USING REIKI

working individually and unitedly, can heal this planet. And to

create more healers, more teachers (masters) are desperately
required. It would be immoral in these times to keep any healing
system, especially Reiki therapy, exclusive. Any person who
does so will be doing a great disservice to Reiki and will prevent
it from becoming universal again as it once was. This view is
endorsed by a number of modern Reiki masters.
We believe that any person who has mental integrity, who
has treated numerous patients (by physical as well as distance
transmission of energy) and who has a keen desire to teach
Reiki therapy (i. e., to convert laymen into channels through the
means of attunements) should be given a chance to undergo
third degree training.
The third degree training cannot be imparted in a seminar.
It is strictly a one to one proposition. In the first part of the
training, the student receives the third degree attunement and is
given complete information about one (or sometimes two) more
symbols. Then, he is taught the steps to effect the first degree
attunement. Next, he assists the master in conducting a couple
of first degree seminars. At the end of this first part of training,
he independently conducts a few first degree seminars.
In the second part of the training, the student is taught the
steps to effect the second degree attunement. Next, he assists
the master in conducting a couple of second degree seminars.
At the end, he independently conducts a few second degree
seminars.
In the final part of the training, the student is taught the
steps to effect the third degree attunement. The moment he
masters the procedure, the training ends. The student has now
become a master himself.
In conclusion, we will say that the third degree training is
the teachers' training program, after completing which you

THE THIRD DEGREE TRAINING

7"

can attune the uninitiated. Purists say that 'If you are ready to
give up everything to take Reiki into the world, you are ready to
become a Reiki master'. We say that you need an intense
desire to teach Reiki therapy to embark upon the third degree
training. Do not join the third degree program thinking you will
become a better or a more powerful healer (as happened after
the second degree seminar). Rather, the third degree is about
dropping your desire and need for power, about dropping your
ego to realize that you are Reiki itself!

8. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Q. 1. I have attended a first degree Reiki-seminar and
have had my energy-body attuned. Yet, I do not feel a flow of
energy through my palms. Why ?
Ans. 'Not feeling anything in the hands' is a common
problem which some holders of the first degree face.
No feeling at all, while treating either the self or the others
can only be attributed to a lack of perceptibility or sensitiveness
(kinesthetic sense). The present age is that of competition and
struggle for survival. This struggle, coupled with the flood of
loud audio-visual stimuli that attack us each day, benumb our
perceptive powers and render our hands insensitive to the
subtle changes that occur when Reiki starts or stops flowing.
Do not lose heart. Continue treating yourself as well as
others. As you relax your muscles, quieten your mind and focus
on your hands, sensations will make themselves felt. This is as
certain as the fact that day follows night. Your confidence will
receive a further boost as people you treat give you a positive
feedback.
Q. 2. I have been practising Reiki therapy for many
months. At times I do not feel a flow of energy through my
hands. Why ?
Ans. If the flow of energy is not felt occasionally, it is likely
that the flow is actually not taking place. As you know, Reiki is
drawn by the recipient rather than being given by you. If your
patient does not require any energy or unconsiciously blocks it,
there may be no flow and you may not sense anything. One
method of overcoming such a block to the inflow of energy has
been discussed in Q. 13.
rn

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

79

Q. 3. Does the same quality and quantity of Reiki flow

through all hands (channels)?
Ans. While the quality is absolutely the same, the quantity
of Reiki transmitted differs from therapist to therapist depending
upon( a) how often he treats himself and others, since the
channels become more and more potent (open) as they are
increasingly put to use and
(b) how many degrees (of attunement) he has undergone,
each further degree increasing his capacity to transmit energy
many-folds.
Again, second and third degree holders use certain
symbols which act as focussing devices, that render (the
otherwise divergent) waves of energy parallel and, therefore,
more penetrating.
Q. 4. Does Reiki flow only if I first offer prayers and
then smoothen the aura?
Ans. Reiki always flows when needed and accepted by
the recipient. There are no other pre-conditions. It is a Godintended or Nature-intended gift with no strings attached.
A prayer helps to quieten the mind which can, then, be
focussed on hands, so that the subtle sensations (flow of
energy) can be more easily felt.
Aura-smoothening is a dispensable procedure which
strives to render the patient's energy-body more receptive to
Reiki.
Q. 5. Do I myself need to have faith in Reiki to be able
to help others?
Ans. No, Reiki is automatically transmitted if it is needed
and accepted by the recipient. The energy flows and helps
even if the channel does not believe it will work. Does a radioset need to have faith in the B. B. C. (or any other

HO

BE YOUR OWN DOCTOR USING KbIKI

station) to be able to reproduce the news being broadcasted by

the B. B. C. ?
Q. 6. Does the recipient need to have faith in Reiki to
be benefited ?
Ans. No, not necessarily. Reiki helps the recipient,
whether he believes in it or not.
Reiki helps infants, animals and even plants. It helps
insane or unconscious people, too. Here, quite obviously, the
question of belief or faith does notarise. In other words, Reiki
therapy cannot be written off as faith-healing, auto-suggestion
or a placebo-therapy.
However, one point needs to be understood. Though not
believing in Reiki, the recipient should be open-minded,
prepared to judge it on the basis of pure experience.
Q. 7. Can Reiki be employed to prevent illness?
Ans. Reiki is, indeed, an excellent means of prophylaxis. A
disease first arises at the energy level, and can be visualised
(as an unevenness of aura) on a Kirlian photograph. If treated
at this juncture, we can prevent the disease from striking the
physical body. A regular practice of Reiki is, thus, almost a
certain way of maintaining good health.
Q. 8. Should I always treat the whole body? Will it not
be enough if I treat the diseased part alone ?
Ans. If you have severe constraints of time, or if it is an
emergency, you may as well treat the diseased part alone. A
'little Reiki' is certainly better than 'no Reiki'. Better still would be
to provide Reiki also to the chakra that controls the diseased
body-part.
However, our body is an indivisible unit, each body-part,
each chakra intimately connected with the others. If sufficient
time is available, it would be wiser to treat the whole body. That
amounts to what is known as 'holistic healing'.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

ill

Q. 9. Is it possible to cure every type of health disorder

by Reiki therapy? Can I give an assurance or a guarantee to
the patient about the successful outcome of treatment?
Ans. Reiki therapy is not a 'cure-all' or a panacea. It can
do a lot but it cannot do everything. In cases where pathological
tissue-changes have reached a stage of no-return or in purely
surgical cases (like mature cataract, hernia, heart valvular
defects, etc.), Reiki may only be able to alleviate distressing
symptoms.
Reiki therapy does not render conventional treatment
superfluous. In fact, it can supplement and complement the
latter.
Not even a high-charging surgeon gives an assurance
about the successful outcome of the operation he is going to
perform. Why, then, should a Reiki therapist do so?
Q. 10. How long (in terms of days) should I continue to
treat a patient ?
Ans. A patient with an acute disease should receive a
minimum of three treatments, if possible on three successive
days. The first treatment dislodges toxins from his body. The
second treatment helps the body to flush these toxins out.
Finally, the third treatment fills up the (purified) body with
invigorating and rejuvenating energy.
Of course, if the disease has been present for many
months or years, treatment may have to be continued for a long
time before lasting benefits or improvement can be experienced
by the patient.
The total duration of treatment cannot be predicted since
no two patients, even though suffering from the same disease,
respond in the same way to any particular mode of treatment.
Q. 11. Why is it that Reiki, sometimes, does not seem
to work (help) ?
Ans. Reiki therapists are aware of the fact that the results
they expect do not always occur.

!\1

BE YOUR OWN DOCTOR USING REIKI

Reiki has its own wisdom and intelligence. It does that

which is good for the recipient, rather than follow our wishes.
The recipient as well as the therapist may desire a particular
result (say relief from back-pain) but if there is some more
pressing health-need (say relief from chest-congestion), Reiki
will accomplish the latter first.
There are some other interesting reasons why Reiki fails to
help.
To some people, Reiki therapy seems too very simple to
be of help. They have never seen or encountered energyhealing earlier and would only be satisfied with something more
'solid' than Reiki. They are more likely to be helped by material
modes of treatment like medicines, injections, surgery and so
on. Different people are at different stages of (spiritual)
development and they would require different modes of
treatment.
In some people who come for treatment, the desire to be
healed is simply an alibi. In their very core, such patients,
consciously or unconsciously, do not want to regain health.
They cling to their illnesses which are advantageous to them in
some way. An illness allows us much-needed rest. It also gets
us attention and sympathy. It brings our dear ones back to us.
Seen from this perspective, falling ill is, actually, quite sensible!
A last category of 'problem patients' are those who are selfprofessed guardians of science. They come for treatment to
prove that a method like Reiki therapy cannot possibly have any
effect whatsoever. Full of scepticism and arrogance, they fight
tooth and nail to prevent any flow of energy into their bodies.
In conclusion, we will advise you not to be disappointed if
your expectations are not immediately fulfilled. With Reiki,
nothing is achieved by pure will-power. Reiki channels are only
media, not actual healers. They should remain neutral

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

8i

observers or witnesses of events. It is Reiki which works and it

does that which is the best for the recipient.
In an acute or very serious disease, if things don't seem to
be going to the patient's satisfaction, you should advise him to
seek competent medical care.
Q. 12. I treat myself everyday with Reiki. Should I still
pay attention to my diet and perform physical exercise
regularly?
Ans. A well-balanced, cereal-centered, vegetarian diet and
regular
physical
exercise
are
indispensable
for
maintaining/regaining good health. Reiki therapy does not allow
a person to take undue liberties with diet. A diabetic who goes
on eating sweets or a heart-patient who consumes a high-fat
diet cannot hope to improve despite taking or receiving Reiki
therapy religiously.
Q. 13. If Reiki is wise and intelligent and always flows
when required, why do Reiki therapists use or promote
crystals, scents, etc.? Is Reiki incomplete without such
external aids?
Ans. Reiki does not require any external aid to be of help.
However, in this materialistic world, many people like Reiki to
be 'gift-wrapped' with crystals and/or scents.
It cannot be denied that crystals can first imbibe(store) any
energy and, then, emit it in an amplified form for a long period
of time.
A Reiki therapist can charge (say) a quartz crystal with
Reiki by simply holding it between the palms for three to five
minutes, requesting Reiki to purify and empower it.
Because of time-constraints, a Reiki therapist cannot
remain with a patient for too long. He can give a charged crystal
to the patient, to be kept in contact of the diseased body-part so
that the latter can continue to receive Reiki even after an actual
'hands-on' healing session is over. For a

84

BE YOUR OWN DOCTOR USING REIKI

therapist, a crystal is, thus, a time-saving device. For a patient,

it is something which expedites recovery.
The property of a crystal to transmit Reiki in an 'amplified'
form can be utilised to overcome energy-blocks in a patient's
body. During treatment, if a particular body-part does not seem
to be drawing energy (i. e., continues to feel cold to touch), a
block may be suspected. A charged crystal may, then, be
placed in contact of that body-part to demolish the block.
There are people who like to carry Reiki-charged crystals
in there pockets or wear them on their bodies so as to receive
the protective and health-giving Reiki round the clock.
In conclusion, we will say that crystals are quite useful for
a first-degree practitioner whose energy-channels are still in the
process of opening up and, therefore, the Reiki emerging from
their hands is relatively feeble. For a second-degree
practitioner, crystals are dispensable since he can intensify the
energy-flow through his hands with the help of Reiki-symbols.
Scents, fragrances and essential oils used in Aroma
therapy possess vital energies of flowers and herbs. These
energies can be utilised to reinforce Reiki during attunement
and/or treatment.
Q. 14. Can Reiki be put to uses other than human
healing?
Ans. Alleviating human suffering is just one of the many
uses Reiki can be put to.
Reiki can be used to treat animals, birds and plants, too.
Animals simply love this healing touch. Seeds influenced by
Reiki germinate earlier than ordinary ones. Plants that receive
Reiki regularly grow much taller and stronger, and bear more
leaves, flowers and fruits.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Fig. 8.1 : Energising animals

8"i

Fig. 8.2 : Energising plants

That Reiki can positively affect animals and plants is a

proof to the fact that Reiki-healing is not the result of faith,
suggestion or hypnosis.
Reiki can also be used to charge the food you eat. After a
meal, you can lay your hands on your abdomen to provide
Reiki to your stomach, thereby ensuring good digestion.
You can use Reiki to charge inanimate objects, too.
can positively charge your residence, your car, your office
this health-promoting energy. Your personal belongings
Jewellery, gem-stones, clothes, etc. can also be charged
Reiki.

You
with
like
with

Finally, you can charge your torch-cells or your car-battery

with Reiki to keep them going for an incredibly long time.

APPENDIX 1
Reiki Research
Acceptable scientific research on Reiki is limited. However,
even these few experiments compel us to accept Reiki as a
potent therapeutic tool.
Effects of Reiki on human in-vivo haemoglobin and
haematocrit values (oxygen-carrying capacity of blood) have
been measured by Wendy Wetzel at the Sonoma State
University. Blood samples of participants were drawn just
before and immediately after a first degree seminar, and
analysed. It was quite evident that everyone's haemoglobin and
haematocrit levels showed statistically significant changes
(rise). It was realized that the positive factors in the blood (e.g.,
haemoglobin) had increased, whereas the negative factors in
the blood (e.g., cholesterol) had decreased. Such results go to
prove the fact that Reiki is a balancing or harmonizing energy.
Effects of Reiki on blood pressure have also been
determined. In the control group, there were no changes in
anyone's blood pressure : measurements which were high/low
in the beginning remained high/low and measurements which
were normal remained normal. In Reiki classes, everyone with
normal blood pressure continued to give normal readings.
Participants with high/low blood pressure found that their blood
pressure had been normalized. This experiment proves again
that Reiki restores homoeostasis (the state of internal balance).
In 1987, Dr Janet Quinn reported a significant
improvement in the immune function (CD 4 to CD 8 ratio) of
subjects receiving therapeutic touch. It is for this reason that
Reiki helps people with lowered immunity.
in,

APPENDIX 1

87

Dr Doniel Win of California demonstrated rapid and

increased wound healing in student-volunteers who were given
five minutes of touch-healing following surgical incisions.
At the McGill University in Montreal, Canada, Dr. Bernard
Grad demonstrated that wounds of laboratory mice that
received healing touch healed much faster than wounds of
control mice. He also found that plants which received
healingtouch grew faster and stronger and produced more
chlorophyll than control plants. Such experiments prove the fact
that the benefits of Reiki are certainly not the results of belief or
autosuggestion.
The fact that Reiki therapy or Reiki training brings about
profound changes (for the better) in the subject's aura can be
easily proved by Kirlian photography.

APPENDIX 2
The Chakras
Name
Sahasraar or

Location
Top of the

Crown chakra head

Physical counterparts
Pineal
gland

Organs
controlled

Pineal gland, cerebrum, right

eye

Aagyaa,

Between

Pituitary

Pituitary gland,

or

the

gland;

hypothalamus (A.N.S.),

Third

brows

Cavernous or

left eye, ears, nose

eye or Brow
Vishuddha
chakra
or Throat

Base of the

nasociliary
Thyroid
plexus
gland;

Thyroid and

eye-

throat

chakra
pipe, neck, mouth, tongue, arms

parathyroid glands,
Cervical or tonsils, voice-box, foodpharyngeal

Anaahat or

Centre of the

plexus
Thymus

Heart

chest

gland;

Thymus gland, the the

brachial and

immune system, heart,

cardiac

lungs, the circulatory

chakra

plexuses
Manipur or

system, arms

Solar

Upper

plexus

abdomen

chakra
Swaadhis-

Sacral

thaan or

region

Sacral or

(below

ovaries);

Hara or

navel)

Sacral or

Pancreas

Sexual
Moolaachakra or
dhaar
Root
chakra

Pancreas, the digestive

gland; Solar or system, liver, diaphragm
coeliac
plexus
Gonads
The
(testes and
reproductive

hypogasAdrenal
tric plexus
glands;
Base of the
spine

system, the urinary

system, skin
Adrenal glands, the

urinary system, external

Coccygeal or genital organs, musculopelvic plexus skeletal system, legs

N.B. : The endocrine

glands and the nerve plexuses have been further described in the next
appendix.

88

APPENDIX 3
Endocrine Glands and Nerve-plexuses,
the Physical Counterparts of Chakras
Two systems primarily govern the activities of the physical
body : the endocrine system and the nervous system.
The Endocrine System
The system of endocrine glands controls the internal
environment of the body. The endocrine glands are also cal led
ductless glands because the secretions (hormones) they
produce do not leave the gland through a duct but pass directly
from the gland-cells into the blood stream.
The endocrine system comprises of 1 pituitary gland, 1
pineal gland, 1 thyroid gland, 4 para thyroid glands, 1 thymus
gland, 2 adrenal or supra-renal glands, numerous (pancreatic)
islets of Langerhans and 2 sex glands (i.e., ovaries in females
or testes in males).
The pineal gland is situated in the brain. While its physical
functions are not clearly known, it is believed that the pineal is
concerned with our intuitive and extra-sensory powers. The
pineal receives its energy from the Sahasraar chakra.
The pituitary is called the master endocrine gland because
it governs the activities of all other endocrine glands. It secretes
a number of hormones viz. TSH (which controls the thyroid),
ACTH (which controls the adrenals), LH + FSH (which control
the ovaries and the testes) and growth hormone (which controls
the growth of the body). A deficiency of growth hormone results
in retarded physical
8' I

'.'!)

BE YOUR OWN DOCTOR USING REIKI

growth. The pituitary receives its energy from the Aagyaa

chakra.
Thymus

Pituitary and
Pineal

Thyroid
and
Parathyroid

-Adrenal Pancreas
- Ovaries
- Testes
The endocrine

glands

The
thyroid is a 'H' or
butterfly
shaped
gland
situated
at
the base of the
neck,
overlying the voicebox.
It
produces hormones
like thyroxine
and
tri-iodothyronine
which
are
concerned
with the body's heat
(basal metabolic rate). Moreover, these hormones are
necessary for our mental and physical development and for the
health of our skin, hair and nerves.

'H

APPENDIX 3

Disorders of the thyroid include (a) underactivity or

hypothyroidism and (b) overactivity or hyperthyroidism. Their
symptoms have been tabulated below :
Hypothyroidism

Hyperthyroidism

Incidence equal in both sexes

More common in females

Metabolic rate is slow

Metabolic rate is fast

Body is cool

Tendency to gain weight in spite

Body is hot, due to which there is

excessive sweating
Tendency to lose weight in

of meagre diet
Blood pressure is low and pulse
is slow

Physical and mental lethargy

(slowness)

spite of increased appetite

Blood pressure is high and
pulse is rapid (always above
1007m in)
Physical overactivity with
trembling (esp. of the fingers) and
nervous tension

The parathyroids are four very small glands which lie just
behind the thyroid. They secrete parathormone which is
necessary for the metabolism of calcium in the body.
The thyroid and the parathyroid glands receive their
energy from the Vishuddha chakra.
The thymus gland lies in the upper chest, in front of the
heart. It produces thymosin which stimulates immunity. The
thymus receives its energy from the Anaahat chakra.
The adrenal glands lie above the kidneys. They produce a
number of hormones like gluco-corticoids (necessary for
glucose-metabolism), mineralo-corticoids (necessary for
electrolyte balance), sex hormones (oestrogen in females and
androgens in males) and stress hormones (adrenaline and noradrenaline, which help us to cope with acute stress). The
adrenal glands receive their energy from the Moolaadhaar
chakra.
The islets of Langerhans in the pancreas produce two
hormones : insulin and glucagon. While insulin strives to reduce
the blood-glucose level, glucagon tries to raise it.

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BE YOUR OWN DOCTOR USING RFIKI

A controlled secretion of these two hormones results into

balanced levels of glucose in the blood.
Each cell of our body requires glucose for its surivval.
Insulin pumps glucose present in the blood into the cells. In the
absence of insulin, glucose cannot enter the cells and,
therefore, accumulates in the blood causing diabetes.
Uncontrolled diabetes produces three classical symptoms :
excessive hunger, excessive thirst and excessive urine. Other
common symptoms of diabetes include recurrent boils, failure
of wounds to heal, frequent changes in spectacle-glass
numbers and itching about the genitals. The pancreas receives
its energy from the Manipur chakra.
The ovaries produce oestrogen and progesterone. The testes
produce testosterone. These sex glands receive their energy
from the Swaadhisthaan chakra. The nerve-plexuses The
nervous system can be divided into the central nervous system
(which comprises the brain, the spinal cord and peripheral
nerves) and the autonomous nervous system. There are 43 pairs
of peripheral nerves of which 12 pairs (called cranial nerves)
arise directly from the brain and the rest 31 pairs (called spinal
nerves) arise from the spinal cord. The spinal nerves are named
and grouped according to the level of vertebral column from
which they emerge : 8 cervical nerves (C, to C8) 1 2 thoracic
nerves (T, to T,,) 5 lumbar nerves (L, to L s ) 5 sacral nerves (S, to
Ss) 1 coccygeal nerve. In the cervical, lumbar and sacral regions,
the spinal nerves unite near their origins to form large masses
or networks of nerves called plexuses. In each plexus, many
nerves are regrouped and re-arranged before proceeding to
supply the skin, muscles and joints of a particular area.

93

APPENDIX ',
Lumbar
plexus
mater
Arachnoid maler
Pia mater
Sacral plexus
Coccygeal
Cervica
l plexus
plexus

Brachial
plexus

Thoracic
nerves
2-12
which do
not form

plexuses
The nerve-

plexuses

The
cervical plexus
is formed by
a union of C,,
C2, Cs and C4
spinal nerves.
This plexus
(a)
carries
sensations
from the back
of the head,
the side of the
head and the
neck to the
spinal cord
and (b) brings
motor nerveimpulses from
the spinal cord to the neck-muscles and the diaphragm.

94

BE YOUR OWN DOCTOR USING REIKI

The brachial plexus is formed by a union of Cs, C6/ C7, C8

and T, spinal nerves. This plexus (a) carries sensations from
the arm and the chest to the spinal cord and (b) brings motor
nerve-impulses from the spinal cord to arm-muscles and chestmuscles.
The lumbar plexus is formed by a union of lv L2, L3 and
(part of) L4 spinal nerves. This plexus receives sensory
impulses from and supplies motor impulses to the front and the
inner aspects of the thigh and the leg.
The sacral plexus is formed by a union of a part of L4, L5,
Su S2 and S3 spinal nerves. This plexus receives sensory
impulses from and supplies motor impulses to the back of the
thigh and the leg and the entire foot.
The coccygeal plexus is a small plexus formed by the fifth
sacral and coccygeal nerves. It supplies nerve-impulses to the
muscles of the pelvic floor.
The naso-ciliary, the pharyngeal, the cardiac, the solar and
the hypogastric plexuses are autonomic plexuses that control
and balance (due to presence of both sympathetic and parasym
pathetic fibres) the activities of various internal organs and
systems.

APPENDIX 4
Suggestions for Reiki Therapists
We have presented in this chapter, some practical
suggestions and guidelines for practising Reiki therapists who
have recently entered the field.
Many of the points mentioned here might be already
known to you. However, we have presented them here with a
view to reinforcing your knowledge. At the same time, we invite
suggestions from you. They will help us to enrich our
knowledge and to render future editions of this book more
complete and useful.
(1 ) Be well conversant with the nature of Reiki and its
place in the field of therapeutics. Procure knowledge about
human anatomy, human physiology and human diseases (their
symptoms and conventional treatment).
( 2 ) Fullyexplaintothe patientwhatReiki therapy is and
what it strives to achieve. Never say, 'It cures'. Say, 'It
harmonizes the physical and the energy bodies.'
( 3 ) Seek an 'express consent' of the patient and/or his
close relative before treating him. Reiki therapy should only be
given on asking and should not be forced onto somebody.
(4) Be particular about hygiene. Wash your hands before
and after treating a patient.
( 5 ) Hold your fingers gently together and the palm slightly
cupped. Fingers held apart result into an unnecessary
dispersion of energy.
( 6 ) When doing 'hands-on' healing, place your hands
lightly on the patient's body (i.e., avoid putting undue pressure
on his body).
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BE YOUR OWN DOCTOR USING REIKI

( 7 ) In general, give full-body treatment irrespective of

the nature of the disease. Only in case of an emergency or an
acute shortage of time should you treat the diseased/injured
part alone.
(8) Avoid the temptation to prescribe anything, to anybody,
at any time. It is illegal for a person who is not a registered
medical practitioner to prescribe a medicine. This includes
vitamins, minerals, herbal medicines, tissue (Biochemic) salts
and Homoeopathic medicines.
(9 ) Do not guarantee results. Remember that you are only
acting as a medium (bridge) between the universal energy and
the patient's bio-energy. It is just not possible to predict the rate
of recovery because no two persons (even though suffering
from the same disease) respond to Reiki therapy in the same
way. Don't practise Reiki therapy in an indiscriminate manner.
Be aware of its scope and limitations. It is irresponsible and
unethical to raise false hopes. If you tarnish the image of Reiki
therapy, good work of even ten Reiki-therapists may not be able
to redeem it.
(10) Do not undertake to treat seriously ill patients. Serious
diseases call for hospital-treatment. Reiki therapy is not a
substitute for competent and urgent medical care.

Published by Navneet Publications (India) Ltd., Dantali, Gujarat.

Printed by
Dila Printers, Ahmedabad. Tel. 2120123
[22-3-2004 (6) : 4|

USEFUL THERAPEUTIC MAGNETS AND

MAGNETIC APPLIANCES
1. High Power Magnets (Pair)
For the treatment of joints and for magnetizing water
2. Medium Power Magnets (Pair)
To treat diseases of the chest and the abdomen
3. Low Power Magnets (Pair)
For the treatment of small or delicate organs
4. Very Small Magnets (Ten Pieces)
To stick for a couple of days on specific points of the skin
5. Magnetic Spectacles (With Pinholes)
For the treatment of visual and eye-disorders
6. Magnetic Wrist Belt
To control blood pressure
7. Magnetic Back Belt (in Various sizes)
For the treatment of back or abdominal disorders
8. Magnetic Knee Belt
For the treatment of knee-disorders
9. Magnetic Neck Belt
For the treatment of neck-disorders
10. Magnetic Head Belt
For the treatment of headache, insomnia, mental tension, etc.
11. Magnetic Necklace
For the treatment of respiratory disorders
12. Magnetic Chest Belt
To relieve an acute attack of asthma
13. Magnetic Tonsil Belt
For the treatment of tonsillitis, laryngitis, sore throat
14. Magnetic Pain (Calf) Belt
To treat pain/cramps in calf, thigh, arm, forearm
15. Magnetic Seat
To treat piles, menstrual disorders, hydrocele, etc.
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EF27
Cover Printed by : Vinay Press