One of Reiki’s teaching is the “Reiki Five Principles.” This was created by the founder, Mikao Usui who realized that people do not really heal unless they change their minds.” Usui incorporated the “Reiki Five Principles” into the teachings and practice of Reiki.
The Reiki Five Principles
The Reiki Five Principles was created based on the teachings and spirit of Emperor Meiji, and the Reiki practitioners at that time were chanting the five principles and Emperor Meiji’s Gosei (emperor’s poem) in the morning and evening everyday.
This time, I would like to touch upon not the five principles, but Emperor Meiji instead.
Emperor Meiji : September 22, 1852 ~ July 29, 1912
His father, Emperor Komei, died suddenly at the end of 1866, and in 1867 he became the 122nd emperor at the young age of 14. In the following year of coronation, the 15th Shogun (Japan’s supreme military leader / Commander-in-Chief) of the Edo Shogunate (military government ruled by Shogun in Edo period), Yoshinobu Tokunaga, enacted Restoration of Imperial Rule.
Emperor Meiji was enthroned at a very young age and lived in the turbulent era of the Meiji Restoration.
Emperor Meiji devoted himself to reforming Japan’s politics, economy, society, education, and military. In 1890, he promulgated the Constitution of the Empire of Japan and the Imperial Rescript on Education (basic policy on morals and education).
Emperor Meiji was regarded as one of the most benevolent and compassionate emperors of all time. He practiced strict self-discipline and preferred a simple life, and reverenced by the people. Emperor Meiji is known for his love of Gosei (emperor’s poem) and have left over 93,000 poems in his lifetime.
Emperor Meiji experienced the turmoil of the end of Edo period and the Sino-Japanse War (Japan-China War) and the Russo-Japanese War (Japan-Russia War), but he was always against the war. We can see the feelings for the people and against the wars reflected in his poems.
あしはらの 国とまさむと 思ふにも
青人草ぞ たからなりける
（Even if I want Japan’s prosperity, the most precious treasure is my people）
照につけ くもるにつけて おもふかな
わが民草の うえはいかにと
（Whenever it’s sunny or cloudy, I worry if everybody is getting enough food or not）
よもの海 みなはらからと 思ふ世に
など波風の たちさわぐらむ
（The waves and winds in different seas are all the same everywhere. Then why are there so many storms? : Why do people fight each other even though we are all brothers and sisters）
国のため あだなす仇は くだくとも
いつくしむべき 事なわすれそ
（if the enemy attacks our country we may revenge; however we should not forget compassion）
Initially in Reiki practice, the poems of Emperor Meiji were recited in the morning and evening along with the Reiki Five Principles. By using them as nourishments of life and to correct one’s mind, the Reiki practitioners were devoted to healing self and others. Here are some other poems written by Emperor Meiji.
つもりては 払ふがかたく なりぬべし
ちりばかりなる こととおもへど
（Don’t leave the dust lying around for too long. It becomes hard to get rid of）
思ふこと おもふがままに なれりとも
身をつつしまん ことを忘るな
（Even the things go in the way you way, don’t forget to be modest）
目の見えぬ 神に向ひて 耻（はじ）ざるは
人のこころの まことなりけり
（if you are not ashamed yourself in front of God, you have a true sincere mind）
ともすれば 思わぬ方にうつるかな
こころすべきは心なりけり
（People’s minds are easy to change and get lost. It is the state of mind that need to be considered carefully and should not be neglected）
心ある ひとのいさめの言の葉は
やまいなきみの薬なりけり
（Thoughtful advice and criticisms from retinues are the best medicine for you : It is wise to listen to people’s advice ）
われもまた 更に磨かむ曇りなき
人の心をかがみにはして
（I will polish my mirror like other’s mirror which has no frost : You will learn yourself by looking into someone else）
いささかの 傷なき玉もともすれば
塵に光を失いにけり
（Even the crystal ball without a scratch can lose shine in the dust : Nobody is perfect）
Looking back on the poems of Emperor Meiji in this way, it is clear how much the Reiki practitioners at that time thought to improve their minds and attitudes to heal people. As a Reiki practitioner of today, I am inspired by their thoughts. If we read again now “The Reiki Five Principle” while thinking about what kind of spirit they were written from, we will notice that there are deep teachings in simples sentences.