Does anyone know about reiki?

[Mike_Anaya]

You folks have my head spinning!!!

I have been learning (and teaching) aikijujitsu for some time now. I have recently become concerned with the fact that our founder (shihan) who developed the system (God rest his soul) was Muslim. Some of the movements and philosophies have foundations in his faith. Being Catholic, I simply hold to the names of the movements, and refrain from getting into any philosophical conversations regarding where the names came from. He was a very spiritual man, and I loved him (and miss him dearly). It didn’t matter that I was not Muslim or that any of the other students were or not, religion was not our common thread - only our belief in GOD.

So, I started thinking about my next semester coming up, I teach a mixed martial art, called (as stated above) aikijujitsu. It’s foundation is Aikido, integrating some aspects and techniques from boxing, kung-fu, and karate (Sanuces Ryu Jujutsu). Being a student in the martial arts for a while (and serving in the United States Marine Corps) I have become familiar with some aspects of Eastern Philosophies (in martial arts). I noticed (and was drawn to this particular thread out of the HUNDREDS because of the topic) that this was about ReiKi. I have heard of it, seen sessions, and it is even part of a Healing Arts Program at the District I teach at. Well, Ki is the main focal point of any Japanese martial art. It allows one to Focus and find their center. The martial arts allow one to throw you opponent “off-venter” and to use “their energy” against them. I never gave it all much thought, understanding that in Aikido we are talking about momentum, and other physical dymanics. But in some of the exercises, I instruct new student to channel there energy and focus on a particular point. To control breathing we mediate and “clear our minds” - mind you we are not praying, but I did look into the other threads about centered praying.

So I am freaking confused now!!! Am I doing harm instead of good? I am in a school environment whose religious practices are really not up to me to tend to, however, I do not want to do something that would be harmful.

Any (name removed by moderator)ut is greatly appreciated!

Peace be with you all,

Sensei Mike

 

[ralphinal]

You folks have my head spinning!!!

I have been learning (and teaching) aikijujitsu for some time now. I have recently become concerned with the fact that our founder (shihan) who developed the system (God rest his soul) was Muslim. Some of the movements and philosophies have foundations in his faith. Being Catholic, I simply hold to the names of the movements, and refrain from getting into any philosophical conversations regarding where the names came from. He was a very spiritual man, and I loved him (and miss him dearly). It didn’t matter that I was not Muslim or that any of the other students were or not, religion was not our common thread - only our belief in GOD.

So, I started thinking about my next semester coming up, I teach a mixed martial art, called (as stated above) aikijujitsu. It’s foundation is Aikido, integrating some aspects and techniques from boxing, kung-fu, and karate (Sanuces Ryu Jujutsu). Being a student in the martial arts for a while (and serving in the United States Marine Corps) I have become familiar with some aspects of Eastern Philosophies (in martial arts). I noticed (and was drawn to this particular thread out of the HUNDREDS because of the topic) that this was about ReiKi. I have heard of it, seen sessions, and it is even part of a Healing Arts Program at the District I teach at. Well, Ki is the main focal point of any Japanese martial art. It allows one to Focus and find their center. The martial arts allow one to throw you opponent “off-venter” and to use “their energy” against them. I never gave it all much thought, understanding that in Aikido we are talking about momentum, and other physical dymanics. But in some of the exercises, I instruct new student to channel there energy and focus on a particular point. To control breathing we mediate and “clear our minds” - mind you we are not praying, but I did look into the other threads about centered praying.

So I am freaking confused now!!! Am I doing harm instead of good? I am in a school environment whose religious practices are really not up to me to tend to, however, I do not want to do something that would be harmful.

Any (name removed by moderator)ut is greatly appreciated!

Peace be with you all,

Sensei Mike

As a student of Martial arts, I know where you are comig from. It is my understanding that there are two issues that need to be adressed. First, make sure that you are not influenced by non-Christian thought or philosophy. Second, if the reason for meditating is to become centered or calm, that is one thing. If it is to become empty so that you can become one with everything, that is another.

I would not worry if the main focus of your study is the budo and not the philosophical.

There is a martial arts thread in the backfence section. Post there and others can help.

 

[JCismywingman]

Hi all,

This isn’t exactly reiki or martial arts, but i’d just like to explore this further with every one here.

Quantum touch -energy work and chakra stuff… would that be against the church? I know some priests who say energy work is pure science and so long as we identify that it is through God that we are able to learn this science (as with all other sciences like biology, chemistry) it’s fine and we credit any healing to God’s healing grace. But there are other religious who say it’s New Age and non-Christian.

I myself am a QT practicioner and believe that there is some truth in the physics of energy work, just like how some people believe in using magnatic therapy (which no one opposes due to religion ya?).

Any opinions?

A link to the website quantumtouch.com/

 

[mikew262]

Hi all,

This isn’t exactly reiki or martial arts, but i’d just like to explore this further with every one here.

Quantum touch -energy work and chakra stuff… would that be against the church? I know some priests who say energy work is pure science and so long as we identify that it is through God that we are able to learn this science (as with all other sciences like biology, chemistry) it’s fine and we credit any healing to God’s healing grace. But there are other religious who say it’s New Age and non-Christian.

I myself am a QT practicioner and believe that there is some truth in the physics of energy work, just like how some people believe in using magnatic therapy (which no one opposes due to religion ya?).

Any opinions?

A link to the website quantumtouch.com/

While some here will disagree, I personally think it’s fine. I think the paranoid fears that some folks have about energy work, reiki, etc, are way overblown and born out of ignorance. My wife is a reiki master and into Chakra stuff as well, and I feel pretty certain Satan is not guiding her hand. If what you do helps somebody feel better, what is the harm? At the very least it may not do anything, but it’s not going to harm anybody.

 

[LDNCatholic]

While some here will disagree, I personally think it’s fine. I think the paranoid fears that some folks have about energy work, reiki, etc, are way overblown and born out of ignorance. My wife is a reiki master and into Chakra stuff as well, and I feel pretty certain Satan is not guiding her hand. If what you do helps somebody feel better, what is the harm? At the very least it may not do anything, but it’s not going to harm anybody.

Mike you are well meaning but as you indicated, those are personal feelings, not informed by the Churches position, which can be found in this thread over and over.

 

[emeraldcoast]

I don’t adhere to that either. All things come from God.

Keep in mind however, there is so much more to God than you and I will ever know (until we dwell with him someday).

Amen Mike! Too many people try to keep God in a box!

Reiki has been a great relaxation method for my Catholic aunt going through chemo for ovarian cancer.

She also goes to healing services with Paul Miller. He is pretty Catholic…
paulmillerhealingministry.com/

God Bless!

 

[mikew262]

Mike you are well meaning but as you indicated, those are personal feelings, not informed by the Churches position, which can be found in this thread over and over.

Yes, and I’m not convinced the Church is right on this subject.

 

[JCismywingman]

unfortunately, i would like to disagree and not put reiki in the same catogery as quantum touch or some other energy work.

if i’m not misinformed, reiki requires a ‘master’ to ‘transfer’ the teachings to practicioners… similarly with tai qi/qi gong where by one needs to ‘ground’ themselves or they will use up too much of their ‘lifeforce’. however, with quantum touch, it’s the person’s own energy that’s doing the healing (which i believe is similar to one taking a nice long snooze when you’re having a flu to get over it).

is there any clear documentation from the Church that i can refer to? I’m just unsure if it’s really ‘wrong’, why are there were some religious who were attending the course at the same time as me… and those that i personally know are pious and staunch in their believes…

No offence meant and i’m sure your wife is doing a good job with reiki i personally felt uncomfortable with reiki when i found out that to progress further along the level, you would need the ‘master’ to ‘enlighten’ you…

 

[LDNCatholic]

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

2117 All practices of magic or sorcery, by which one attempts to tame occult powers, so as to place them at one’s service and have a supernatural power over others - even if this were for the sake of restoring their health - are gravely contrary to the virtue of religion. These practices are even more to be condemned when accompanied by the intention of harming someone, or when they have recourse to the intervention of demons. Wearing charms is also reprehensible. Spiritism often implies divination or magical practices; the Church for her part warns the faithful against it. Recourse to so-called traditional cures does not justify either the invocation of evil powers or the exploitation of another’s credulity.

-Occult meaning ‘‘hidden’’, ‘‘secret’’, usually relating to supernatural powers. This ‘‘universal life force’’, Ki, Chi, Prana, whatever you choose to call it, falls under this category.

Hope this helps.

 

[JCismywingman]

if that’s the case, what about wearing magnatic jewellery which are said to be able to align ions in your body to keep them balanced?

one very popular sports bracelet is the trion necklaces and bracelets that lots of atheletes and sportsmen wear…

it the CCC outlines as such, why is it that priests have even opened up their parish for parishioners to practice/teach/receive quantum touch?

 

[LDNCatholic]

it the CCC outlines as such, why is it that priests have even opened up their parish for parishioners to practice/teach/receive quantum touch?

Priests often do a lot of things the Church doesn’t allow. In certain countries they don’t have a choice.

 

[ralphinal]

if that’s the case, what about wearing magnatic jewellery which are said to be able to align ions in your body to keep them balanced?

one very popular sports bracelet is the trion necklaces and bracelets that lots of atheletes and sportsmen wear…

it the CCC outlines as such, why is it that priests have even opened up their parish for parishioners to practice/teach/receive quantum touch?

The theory about the magnetic stuff is that the magnetic field is doing the work, in other words, it is scientific. The reality is that magnetic fields decrease exponintially with distance, making the claims suspect. I know people who swear by the copper or magnetic bracelets, but the proof is not as clear cut.

As far as priests letting the parish experiance it, there are a lot of forces involved. I would not read into it an indorcement by the Church.

 

[cheese_sdc]

-Occult meaning ‘‘hidden’’, ‘‘secret’’, usually relating to supernatural powers. This ‘‘universal life force’’, Ki, Chi, Prana, whatever you choose to call it, falls under this category.

Disagree.

 

[LDNCatholic]

Disagree.

Okie Dokie- Chi-Ki-Prana et al, as passed on through the master-disciple dynamic as particularly seen in Taoist alchemy, Hindu mysticism and Japanese Reiki, by their very nature do fall under this ‘‘occult’’-hidden-category however.

 

[vee8]

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

2117 All practices of magic or sorcery, by which one attempts to tame occult powers, so as to place them at one’s service and have a supernatural power over others - even if this were for the sake of restoring their health - are gravely contrary to the virtue of religion. These practices are even more to be condemned when accompanied by the intention of harming someone, or when they have recourse to the intervention of demons. Wearing charms is also reprehensible. Spiritism often implies divination or magical practices; the Church for her part warns the faithful against it. Recourse to so-called traditional cures does not justify either the invocation of evil powers or the exploitation of another’s credulity.

-Occult meaning ‘‘hidden’’, ‘‘secret’’, usually relating to supernatural powers. This ‘‘universal life force’’, Ki, Chi, Prana, whatever you choose to call it, falls under this category.

Hope this helps.

Amen! When I ask non Christian Japanese friends about ki they can clearly understand it has nothing to do with Christianity and that however it is defined (life force, energy etc)
ki and Christianity have nothing to do with each other. Why then is it so hard for some Catholics, even confronted with the Catechism plainly telling them to not be involved in that kind of thing, why is it so hard for them to see reiki is occult!? And not just occult it is also a scam, a health fad ripoff.

Japan goes through a lot of fad health cure scams very quickly. One minute it is Caspian sea yogurt, the next it is collagen, the next anything with sesame. Those are all food but others include sleeping on bedding infused with charcoal to do I dont know what, or trying your knees feet and hips to keep your legs straight while you sleep for I dont know better posture or something. Get the idea? I would count reiki in the same pile of quack cures. In reiki`s case though a very well marketed quack cure with so called masters and such to give it an air of legitimacy. It is a scam & ripoff though which most Japanese are aware of and the West needs to wake up to.

 

[Auntie_A]

Amen! When I ask non Christian Japanese friends about ki they can clearly understand it has nothing to do with Christianity and that however it is defined (life force, energy etc)
ki and Christianity have nothing to do with each other. Why then is it so hard for some Catholics, even confronted with the Catechism plainly telling them to not be involved in that kind of thing, why is it so hard for them to see reiki is occult!? And not just occult it is also a scam, a health fad ripoff.

Japan goes through a lot of fad health cure scams very quickly. One minute it is Caspian sea yogurt, the next it is collagen, the next anything with sesame. Those are all food but others include sleeping on bedding infused with charcoal to do I dont know what, or trying your knees feet and hips to keep your legs straight while you sleep for I dont know better posture or something. Get the idea? I would count reiki in the same pile of quack cures. In reiki`s case though a very well marketed quack cure with so called masters and such to give it an air of legitimacy. It is a scam & ripoff though which most Japanese are aware of and the West needs to wake up to.

Well said. And here is my answer as to why we are afraid to see something as occult: Many educated Catholics (and Christians in general) have had a lot of indoctrination, subtle or not, into the ways of the New Age. We have just gone through what my 1970’s high school history teacher warned us of : an “Information Explosion” We have been inundated with “Facts” and “New Ideas”,(some true, a lot of it bunk) until we are either well-versed or blue in the face. We have been taught to throw out old ways of thinking. “Fear of the occult? Evil? You’re kidding.” Few of us would want to appear ignorant by actually asking a question or two before jumping in the pool. “What’s wrong with the occult? My favorite psychic was on TV just yesterday and she said…”

One of the greatest misleading facts is that we must be “open-minded” and accept everything because it is “new” or “alternative”, “eastern” or “quantum”. I fell into some of that dung for awhile and yes, it does harm yourself and others. It’s expensive: financially, emotionally, physically, spiritually. You gather these new “paradigms” around you and you really get covered with a lot of noise and abstractions, things that disconnect you from reality. You feel that you are healing but are you really? Are your clients/patients really healing? Or is your ego temporarily tuning out the truth?

In healthcare, they offer classes and continuing education on Buddhism, Hinduism, meditation, and yoga yet they ignore the power of simple traditional prayer. This is a hypocrisy. In my healthcare training I have enjoyed learning cultural and religious literacy so I can understand my diverse clients, but once in the profession, I have been disgusted by the arrogance, prejudice, and idiocy of these “teachers”, practitioners and presenters. I regret to say that I witnessed our director of nurses bare all, in front of her entire staff, about her difficulty saying “No” in her life as we gathered around a candle in a dark room. (I wonder how many people hit her up later for a raise or day off) Then we were asked to play musical chairs and dance around the circle, then freeze, and share our pain. (I kid you not) I discovered later that the presenters, with full academic credentials, are wiccans. We were doing their ritual. If they were nuns, I’m sure the staff would have protested. (Or maybe not, depending on the nuns…enneagrams anyone?)

Even the magnet stuff has been found to cause problems with some people. I’ve heard of some people that have hemorraging and weakness after use.

Why is the Church so against these “new” ideas? The academics like you to believe that Catholics are always in error, afraid to discover that the world is not the center of the universe, but what we have been offered instead now is the self at the center of the universe.

And let’s not forget “What the Bleep!!!”, the docudrama that tried to mainstream stupidity and immorality by calling it “Quantum physics”? It was produced by the blonde lady speaker in the film(who makes multiple anti-Christian and anti-common sense statements in the film) and Oregon cult leader who channels up “Ramtha”, some ancient entity that is supposed to have such higher intelligence and wisdom. Every pseudo-intellect I know watched this film, drooled at the words, smiled at the permission to be self-centered, immoral and neurotic, and then left the theater or turned off the DVD without reading the credits…“Ramtha, as channeled by…” Even our parish priest missed that one. Are we all so vain in our intellects that we don’t want to question? Or are we too brainwashed to see that the Emperor is just plain naked?

Yet I continue to hear Catholics and others say, “Keep an open mind.” “It doesn’t harm anyone.” “It’s a new modality” “It’s a traditional form of medicine.” “Who are we to say?”

To me, reiki and other such forms of “healing” are either good, old-fashioned snake oil or a modern version of traditional insidious mayhem that leads to evil. The slippery slope. And I’ve seen my colleagues slide. I like the term used earlier: a “gateway drug”. These ideas and practices prime the pump for one generation or the next to lose their moral compass. I didn’t understand this at first; In the late 60’s, early 70’s it all looked innocent: we were wiping out intolerance, hypocrisy, old destructive repressions…and in this perfect New Age now, we are tolerant of everything-no-matter-what; we are pure in our food, drink, and New Age philosophies; and we embrace everything and everyone. Ouch! The memories of such embraces are nightmares! The realities of what we are losing is frightening.

I’ve been there, fought my way back and I don’t want to return. Think before you step, please.

 

[mikew262]

And not just occult it is also a scam, a health fad ripoff.

J Get the idea? I would count reiki in the same pile of quack cures. In reiki`s case though a very well marketed quack cure with so called masters and such to give it an air of legitimacy. It is a scam & ripoff though which most Japanese are aware of and the West needs to wake up to.

So this is why some hospitals are using reiki and more and more nursing schools are starting to teach it? If it’s not traditional western medicine, then it must be bogus, huh? Silly, narrow-minded thinking.

I’m sure you can drum up somewhere supposed evidence that supports your claims, just as I and others can produce evidence that reiki is not quackery. If Reiki helps some folks, whats the problem?

BTW, where is there any evidence that Reiki is evil?

 

[Mickey]

So this is why some hospitals are using reiki and more and more nursing schools are starting to teach it?

Does that mean it is legitimate?

I’m sure you can drum up somewhere supposed evidence that supports your claims, just as I and others can produce evidence that reiki is not quackery.

Numerous posters have “drummed up” ample evidence that shows reiki is spiritually dangerous and against Apostolic teaching.

If Reiki helps some folks, whats the problem?

If the apple tastes good, why not take a bite?

 

[JCismywingman]

Does anyone know any official articles that has been written on some alternative forms of treatments… eg magnetic, energy and UV-light etc… i’m not talking about reiki, qi or these others which i guess a large majority agree is “occult” which i also believe since they require the teacher-disciple passing on of “powers”.

 

[ralphinal]

Does anyone know any official articles that has been written on some alternative forms of treatments… eg magnetic, energy and UV-light etc… i’m not talking about reiki, qi or these others which i guess a large majority agree is “occult” which i also believe since they require the teacher-disciple passing on of “powers”.

Many of those that you list, such as magnetic, have some level of science backing them. There is nothing wrong with those things. It is when the power to heal is seen as inside someone or an outside entity that you get into problems.

An electrical outlet powering a tool is not occult.