Karuna Reiki® evolved out of Usui Reiki from a desire and a knowingness that there is always something greater waiting to be uncovered.
I became a Reiki master in 1989 and soon began teaching full time. After a few years some students began showing me healing symbols that were not from the Usui system, nor were they from the Tibetan system of healing I had also learned. Because of this, I paid little attention to them. But after a while other of my students began asking me about these non-Usui symbols and wanted to know what I knew about them. Eventually they began asking and eventually insisting that I create a class to teach how to use them. At first I was reluctant to do so, as I was sceptical about anything that was not part of an established system of healing. However, I eventually grew curious and began to suspect that perhaps there might be some value to some of them.
In the winter of 1993 I organized a meeting of some of my most sensitive and dedicated students to help in the process of understanding these new symbols. We said prayers and sent Reiki to our project, asking that we be guided to the symbols and attunement methods that would have the greatest value. As you can see, I did not channel any of the symbols used in what eventually became Karuna Reiki®, but simply began to experiment along with my students with symbols others had channeled and given to me. We did not know we were creating a new system of Reiki until months later in the experience when the healing energies began to increase in frequency and strength. At first I wondered if this was possible, but after other sensitive healers confirmed that the healing energies we were working with were significantly different than Usui Reiki, I slowly came to accept that a new system of Reiki was developing. I thanked the Creator and asked what to do next. I was directed to give it a name and the name that came was Karuna. I had not heard of this name before, but found it in a spiritual book and knew it was the right name.
Karuna is a Sanskrit word that is used in Buddhism, Hinduism and Zen. It means compassionate action and this is not an ordinary kind of compassion, but one that comes from an unbounded sea of love. This is the kind of compassion that when combined with wisdom can take one to enlightenment. And once enlightened, all those who have followed this path are compelled by the great love that has grown in their hearts to turn their attention toward reducing suffering and helping others to become enlightened also. The beings who have followed this path and reside in this unbounded sea of love have unlimited power and at the same time unlimited kindness. They have mastered Karuna and because of this are its emissaries. They act like beacons sending unlimited healing potential into every part of the Universe. This healing energy is available to everyone, but one must adjust ones consciousness and attune to it in order to benefit from it.
Some have wondered why I have chosen to call this system Karuna Reiki® when in fact it is not part of the healing system Dr. Usui created. One must remember that Reiki is a Japanese word that was in use long before Dr. Usui began to use it. In fact, in Japan, the word Reiki is not commonly associated with the Usui System of Natural Healing, but is simply a generic word that refers to the occult, to healing or to things relating to spirit. In addition, since Karuna Reiki® evolved out of my experience with Usui Reiki and since it does make use of the Usui master symbol in the attunement process and other methods from Usui Reiki, it is appropriate that it also be considered a system of Reiki.
As we continued to use this new system, we discovered that in order for one to gain the full benefit from it, a person's energy system must be ready. We found that previous experience as an Usui Reiki master was an important part of becoming ready. Once this conditioning has taken place, one's energy system can more easily adjust to the higher potentials available. In addition, the experience one gains as a Reiki master allows one to make better use of the new healing tools Karuna Reiki® provides. Because the energies are stronger and the potential for healing greater, we consider Karuna Reiki® the next step after Reiki master. In the same way that a student would not take Reiki II without first having Reiki I, we do not teach Karuna Reiki® to students unless they already have taken and practiced the Reiki master level for at least six months, but preferably for one year. In this way the student is able to gain the greatest benefit from the training and also does not miss the benefit of the complete Usui system of Natural Healing.
Another reason we teach Karuna Reiki® only to those who already are Reiki masters is that Karuna Reiki® is not meant to be a substitute for Usui Reiki, but as an additional healing method that one can use along with the Usui system.
The system of Karuna Reiki® has two practitioner levels and two master levels although the two master levels are usually taught together in one class. In addition, a common way to teach Karuna Reiki® for those wanting the whole system is to teach the complete system in one three day class. Since only those with Reiki master training are permitted to take the training, this is possible as previous experience has given them experience in giving treatments and attunements which allows the additional information in Karuna Reiki® to be more easily understood.
In a Karuna Reiki® class, each symbol is explained including how to draw them and what they are for. An attunement is given and practice time of 2 hours or more is taken so that each student can experience the use of each of the symbols during a treatment. How to use the symbols for chanting and toning including demonstration and practice is also included. In the master training, the master attunement is given and there is demonstration and practice time of several hours or more to practice giving the attunements. These are the basic aspects of a class and there are also many other activities including meditations, lectures, discussion and sharing.
The two practitioner levels have four treatment symbols each for a total of eight. Each of the eight treatment symbols brings with it a different frequency and a different way of helping the healing process. As an example, there is a symbol to reduce pain and prepare for deep healing, one to heal deeply, one to fill the client with love and comfort, two for grounding and manifesting, one to attune to the higher mind, one to become centered in ones personal power and one to bring peace. Having more symbols can be likened to a repair person who at first has only three or four tools to work with but then with increasing skill learns to work with a much larger number of tools and therefore is able to repair a wider range of problems and do it more quickly.
There are no special hand positions with Karuna Reiki® that are different than in Usui Reiki. One can give a complete treatment using all the basic Usui hand positions, or one can use ones intuition or a scanning method so as to be guided to the places the client needs Reiki the most. Karuna Reiki® can also be used with Usui symbols. As an example, if one wants to increase the strength of Karuna Reiki®, the Usui power symbol can be used with any of the Karuna Reiki® symbols. If one wants to send Karuna Reiki® at a distance, one can use the Usui distant symbol along with any of the Karuna Reiki® symbols to send it at a distance.
The reported experiences of many Reiki masters who have taken Karuna Reiki® training is that it brings in healing energies that are noticeably stronger and able to more quickly heal a wider range of difficulties. However, this is not meant to say that it is better than other forms, but simply that it offers additional tools that one can use in the healing process. As stated before, it does not take the place of Usui Reiki, but is meant to be used along side it and many make use of both Usui Reiki and Karuna Reiki® in the same healing session.
Some of the symbols used in Karuna Reiki® are also used in other systems of healing. People have wondered how two systems can be different if they both use some of the same symbols. Actually, in any system of Reiki, the power or healing energy of a symbol does not come from the symbol itself, but comes from the attunement or initiation. It is the attunement that actually empowers the symbol and attaches the healing energy to it. If one is using a different attunement method, then the energies being brought in and connected to the symbols will be different. A symbol in this case is very similar to a name. Two people can have the same name, but are still two distinctly different people.
Shortly after giving Karuna Reiki® its name, I began thinking about the difficulties that other healing systems have had and how I could avoid them. One of the problems that have happened with many systems including Seichem Reiki, Tibetan Reiki and especially Usui Reiki, is that over time, substantial changes have been made, either deliberate or by accident by many people resulting in a multitude of ways that each of these systems is being taught. Yet, they continue to go by the same names even though in many cases the changes have resulted in a significant alteration of the original energy and value of the system. As a result, the name that is being used for the system does not adequately identify what is being taught.
To avoid this problem and to ensure the integrity and preservation of Karuna Reiki®, a registration program was started. In this program, students and teachers agree to use identical symbols, attunement procedures and standardized teaching materials. There is also a code of ethics and minimum teaching standards. The intended result is that the value and essence of Karuna Reiki® remain intact.
I believe all systems of Reiki have value and it is difficult to say if any of them are superior to another. The important thing is to keep an open mind, be willing to try new things and to follow your inner guidance.
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Additional information about Karuna Reiki® can be found at the website of The International Center for Reiki Training at www.reiki.org or at www.karunareiki.org.
Karuna Reiki® representatives are located in 18 countries around the world. In Germany, the representative is Norbert Kuhl who can be reached at norbertkuhl@gmx.com
© Copyright, 2002, William Lee Rand. Parts of this article have appeared in other articles including the Reiki News, Karuna Reiki® class manuals and the web site at www.karunareiki.org. All rights reserved.
* Karuna Reiki® is the registered trademark of The International Center for Reiki Training.