AT Kit 2004 DRAFT : Reiki and Other Healing Modalities 139

Reiki and other healing modalities update-2009

October 2009
The following explanation is provided for assistant teachers to guide
them in dealing with course applicants involved with Reiki and
other energy-based healing practices.
Origin of Reiki
Reiki is a Japanese word. Rei means universal; ki (similar to the
Chinese chi) means life energy.
According to those who teach it, Reiki is a very ancient healing
method mentioned in the Vedic scriptures of India.
Two generations ago, a Japanese physician named Usui was
searching for a gentle method of treating illness. He studied the
scriptures of different religions in Chinese as well as Sanskrit. In the
Vedic scriptures, he found some symbols that he could not
understand. Meditating on a mountaintop, he saw bubbles coming
from the sky inscribed with these symbols; when they touched his
forehead, he understood the meaning. Descending the mountain, he
met and cured some sick people by placing his hands on them.
In his lifetime, Dr. Usui practiced the technique he had found. When
he died, his chosen successor was Mrs. Tanaka, a Japanese woman
living in Hawaii, whom he had cured of a life-threatening disease.
A schism occurred when Mrs Tanaka died. Both her daughter Phyllis
Furomoto and the American Barbara Webber-Ray claimed to be heir
to the title of grand master of Reiki, and they established two
separate teaching lineages. But there may be still other traditions.
How it is taught
Reiki is usually taught in two steps or three, although this may vary.
The first degree is usually taught during one weekend. The students
learn:
a symbol to call the healing energy;
how to place their hands during a treatment; and
how to treat themselves and others.
The history of the technique is explained and students receive the

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first initiation. One by one they are called into a separate room
and asked to keep their eyes closed while the master opens their
Reiki channel i.e., attunes the aspirants energy field so that it
can access and then channel the Reiki energy in the universe. The
ceremony concludes with the master blowing air onto the top of the
head and the area of the heart. The student is then asked to
immediately practice Reiki on another student undergoing initiation.
The second degree, also taught in a weekend, goes into more detail.
Students learn how to perform distance healings and mental
healings (affirmations given to change negative habits, attitudes,
etc.).
Once again, symbols are used to establish contact and summon the
healing forces, and a ceremony is performed during which the
student is asked to keep the eyes closed.
A third degree, also taught in a weekend, gives the training to
become a Reiki master. Students learn how to initiate others.
There are charges for all levels of training, but the fees for the third
degree are quite high. Reiki holds that money is a basic life force; in
justification for the fees, Reiki master candidates are told that they
will quickly acquire money once they start performing initiations.
How it is practiced
There are three ways of practicing:
Direct treatment of oneself involves placing ones hands on the
body (or at a small distance from it) in a prescribed manner.
Direct treatment of another person again involves placing hands
on or near the body. The treatment lasts up to one and a half
hours.
Distance healing involves visualizing the person and sending
Reiki, making prescribed motions in the air.
A variant is mental healing, which involves visualizing a symbol and
quietly reciting a mantra in order to achieve direct contact with the
mind of the person being treated. Mental healing can be a feature of
direct as well as distance treatments.
When sending Reiki it is common also to send light, love and energy.
Members of a group of Reiki practitioners often take turns sending
each other Reiki. For example, if a person is unwell, he/she can ask
for a week of Reiki from other members.

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The Differences between Reiki and Vipassana

Vipassana is the objective observation of natural phenomena,
allowing the truths of impermanence, suffering and egolessness to
reveal themselves. It changes a persons behavior by gradually
reducing his/her inner tendencies to act in ways that increase his/her
own suffering. But if a meditator tries to manipulate the object of
attention even for an altruistic purpose there is no objective
observation and no mental transformation. This is why any
technique involving such manipulation is incompatible with
Vipassana, and why anyone practicing Reiki or other energy-based
healing techniques cannot at the same time progress in Vipassana.
A further incompatibility concerns finances. Fees are an in-built part
of the structure of Reiki, whereas any payment destroys the purity
and efficacy of Vipassana. Some Reiki healers have learned
Vipassana and then advertised that they teach it for payment, along
with Reiki. Such commercialisation is opposed to the very spirit of
Vipassana.
Mixing Vipassana with another technique rules out any progress in
Vipassana. In addition, certain practices are so fundamentally
opposed to Vipassana that any attempt to mix them can have
unpredictable consequences. To protect students, we must minimize
the risk to them by limiting the number of courses offered to persons
involved with such practices, including Reiki and other energy-based
healing techniques.
Reiki and Mett Bhvan
An often-repeated argument is that Reiki practice is just like Mett
Bhvan. This is untenable. A brief look into the training given to
Reiki practitioners shows that the aspirant must undergo an initiation
ceremony from a Reiki master, involving incantations and the use of
symbols. Similar ceremonies are performed for more advanced
initiations.
Mett Bhvan involves no such solicitation of energy or power
from any outside source, nor is the ability to practice Mett
Bhvan dependent upon any other person. In Mett Bhvan we
observe the naturally occurring sensations within ourselves, and we
project feelings of universal love and good will.
The ability to project these feelings strengthens as we progress in
the practice of Vipassana.
Mett Bhvan is an adjunct to our main practice, which is

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Vipassana Bhvan. It is Vipassana that leads us to the goal of

purification of mind.
Guidelines for accepting applicants who practice Reiki or
other energetic healing techniques
Reiki practitioners and other similar healers (that is, those who
practice any form of spiritual healing that involves the laying on of
hands or attempts to channel or manipulate energies) should be
allowed to attend one Vipassana course so that they have the
opportunity to practice pure Dhamma.
However, energy-based healing techniques are incompatible with
Vipassana, making it unsafe for healers to work deeply in Vipassana.
Experience has shown that these people harm themselves and harm
others by combining the practice of Vipassana with Reiki etc. For this
reason such persons are offered only one Vipassana course, after
which they should decide whether to continue with Vipassana and
completely cease their healing technique, or to continue with their
healing practice and take no further Vipassana courses. To help
implement this guideline, Goenkaji has clarified some points, as
follows:
Anyone who mentally uses an artificial (i.e., deliberately created)
vibration, originating either externally or internally, and who directs
this vibration to a patient as part of the healing process should be
understood to be an energy-based healer, whether they are a simple
practitioner, a master or a teacher of the technique. Reiki
practitioners are among those considered to be energy-based
healers.
Energy-based healers should be informed that their technique is not
compatible with Vipassana BEFORE taking their first course. Any
applicant (old or new student) whose application form indicates
practice of an energy-based healing technique should be informed of
this incompatibility. Many ATs have found that informing applicants
by telephone works well, helping the healers to understand and
accept the importance of our position; but such personal contact is
not always feasible. For such cases, the three letters below may be
sent to applicants by the course registrar at the appropriate time.
Course registrars should refer all correspondence on the matter to a
local assistant teacher or teacher, who will take the final decision on
whether to limit an applicant to one course.

AT Kit 2004 DRAFT : Reiki and Other Healing Modalities 143

This guideline should be applied to all energy-based healers, no

matter how many Vipassana courses they have taken. No AT, SAT or
teacher should deal with applicants on a case-by-case basis.
After they complete a course, all energy-based healers should be
placed on the referral list and, if they apply for another course,
should be asked whether they have ceased their healing practice.
They may be accepted only if they have stopped these practices.
The restriction applies as well to participation in group sittings and
courses shorter than ten days.
In placing this restriction, our motive is to protect energy-based
healers from harming themselves by intentionally or unintentionally
mixing their technique with Vipassana. Refusing anyone for a course
is certainly firm action that we take only after careful consideration.
It is important that the action be taken with a base of mett, and
this attitude should be uppermost in implementing the restriction.
In addition, any person who has been teaching any other technique
of meditation, and any healing professional who has been teaching
or practicing techniques which are incompatible with Vipassana
(e.g., Reiki, hypnotherapy) may sit a Vipassana course but should
not be allowed to sit more than one Vipassana course.
Only energy-based healers who perform their healing on
others are being restricted to one course; that is, selfhealers are exempted from the one-course limitation. Selfhealers and others involved with similarly conflicting practices
should be advised of the inherent conflict with Vipassana but no
limitation is to be placed on the number of courses they may take.
All energy-based healers should also be warned that they should not
practice their healing technique on either themselves or others
during a Vipassana course.
Practitioners of acupuncture, acupressure and masseurs are not
banned from attending successive courses, or from serving on
courses, but such students should not practice these at the centre or
course site.
If it is found that anyone is practicing or encouraging Reiki or other
techniques during the course, s/he should immediately be asked to
leave the site. This should be strictly enforced.
***

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The following form letters may be used to screen applicants:

Form letter #1 (to new student applicants who indicate a
background in energy-based healing)
Dear [Name]:
Thank you for your application to join a Vipassana meditation course.
On your form you mention that you have practiced an energy-based
healing technique, namely,
__________________________________________________. Since our
experience has shown us that this practice is in conflict with the
technique of Vipassana, we can provisionally accept you for only one
course; however, you must undertake to completely suspend the
practice for the entire course period.
If you agree, please let us know and we will process your application.
Of course, if you have discontinued the conflicting practice, we will
be happy to also welcome you to additional courses in the future.
Sincerely,
[Name]
for Vipassana Meditation Centre

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***
Form Letter # 2 (to old students who indicate involvement in
energy-based healing techniques]
Dear [Name]:
Thank you for your interest in joining a Vipassana meditation course.
Your application mentions an energy-based healing technique,
namely, _____________________________, which poses a potential
conflict for your participation in this course. We make no judgment
about the technique that you have been practicing; however, our
experience has shown us that it is incompatible with Vipassana
meditation.
Our overriding concern is the welfare of our students. For this
reason, we cannot accept persons for more than one course if they
are practicing conflicting techniques. We regret that we must refuse
your application.
We will be happy to welcome you to a Vipassana course (either now
or in the future) when you have completely discontinued the
conflicting practice.
With best wishes,
[Name]
for Vipassana Meditation Centre
***
Form letter No. 3 (for new/old student applicants with
potential practice in conflict)
Dear [Name]:
Thank you for applying to join a ten-day Vipassana meditation
course.
You have indicated that you have some experience with energybased healing, namely, ________________. To help us evaluate your
application, would you please answer the following questions

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regarding this healing practice and return this form to us as soon as

possible.
1. Does your practice involve drawing upon any energy source
outside of yourself?
2. Does your practice involve any attempt to mentally direct, alter or
otherwise manipulate energy within other persons?
3. Do you practice on others?
4. Please describe your practice in detail.
Thank you. Upon receipt of this form the assistant teacher will make
a decision on your application and inform you as soon as possible.
[Name]
for Vipassana Meditation Centre
***
Form letter No. 4 (to new student applicants who indicate a
background in energy-based healing)
Dear [Name]:
Thank you for your interest in joining a Vipassana meditation course.
Your application mentions an energy-based healing technique,
namely, _____________________________. Our experience has shown us
that this practice is in conflict with Vipassana meditation. However,
since you are not practicing on others, we can accept you to the
course if you undertake to completely suspend the practice for the
entire course period.
If you agree, please let us know and we will process your application.
Sincerely,
[Name]

AT Kit 2004 DRAFT : Reiki and Other Healing Modalities 147

for Vipassana Meditation Centre

***
Direct contact by assistant teachers may be the best way to deal
with the applicants who indicate a background in energetic healing
techniques. The AT has a chance to explain more fully, with mett,
the reasons for concern. Sometimes this is not feasible and the
following letters are examples of possible ways to explain our
position via letter.
Sample letter 1
From Goenkaji to a serious old student who is asking about Reiki and
also about acupuncture
Dear
I have received your letter about Reiki and Vipassana.
The intention behind some psychic healing practices is good.
However all such practices attempt to alter reality by means of
calling on some external force or auto-suggestion. This prevents the
practitioner from observing the truth as it is. Therefore they are
fundamentally at odds with the objective observation of reality that
is Vipassana.
The purpose of Dhamma is to make one strong and independent.
When one depends on an external force, he/she gets weakened. So
an energy healer may actually be harming the recipient or patient by
making him or her addicted to a pleasant sensation of which he has
no awareness. One makes subtle but strong sakhras (karma) of
craving.
Since you are a serious Vipassana meditator, you will appreciate that
the practice of mett is corrupted and the main aim of purification of
mind is lost in these practices. Please understand that this restriction
is not based on speculative reasoning alone but on actual experience
all over the world. I had to take this strong step reluctantly because
of experience of many cases around the world where mixing Reiki

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and Vipassana harmed Reiki practitioners to the extent that some of

them became mentally imbalanced. Many, many Reiki practitioners
started distorting the practice of Vipassana, harming their
patients/students, harming themselves and confusing the new
students of Vipassana.
Doctors of medicine, physiotherapists, acupuncture/acupressure
practitioners dont use external forces or vibrations and are not likely
to distort Vipassana. They are not allowed to practice acupressure
etc. at the Vipassana center but are allowed to sit and serve. Unlike
spiritual healings, they are not likely to confuse others as they have
a clear physical focus and dont have theories and practices that
obstruct awareness of truth as it is.
Vipassana centres have a commitment to maintain the purity of
technique. Our assistant teachers have to be alert to this possibility
and make sure that at the Vipassana Centre students are allowed to
learn and practice Vipassana in a proper and pure atmosphere. The
presence of psychic healers, reiki practitioners, hypnotists, etc.
certainly doesnt help.
May you continue to progress in Dhamma and help others on the
path of Dhamma! When you progress in Dhamma, your purity will
certainly have an extraordinary healing and soothing effect on
others!
May you be happy, peaceful and liberated!
With mett,
S. N. Goenka
***
Sample Letter 2
From Goenkaji to a student who is teaching another technique
asking why he cant take more Vipassana courses and why he cant
combine an ancient tradition from his land with Vipassana since his
land has openly accepted Vipassana.
There is no ban on Vipassana meditators giving a trial to other
techniquesfar from it. However, I do expect them to make a
decision sooner or later as to which technique suits them. The earlier
they make this choice, the more time they have to work diligently

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and wholeheartedly on the technique they have chosen. Still I dont

give a time limit.
It is a different issue altogether when someone is teaching a
meditation technique. Since he/she is teaching a meditation
technique, it is assumed that he/she is completely happy with it.
Such a person will be wasting his time in a practice other than the
one in which he or she has complete faith. Still, he/she is allowed to
take one Vipassana course so that no one is denied the opportunity
to give a trial to Vipassana.
The same deference to the ancient tradition of your land that makes
me think twice about this issue also makes me think that perhaps
you would be better advised to keep the tradition distinct from the
practice of Vipassana.
With mett,
S.N. Goenka
***
REIKI PHONE CALL RESPONSE FORM
Students Name: ___________________________________ Course
Dates: ______________________ AT Calling:___________
Introduce yourself and try to set a non-judgmental, conversational
tone.
Im calling to speak with you about some items you mentioned on
your application. Is this a good time to speak with you?
You wrote on your application that you are:
a student of Reiki
certified in Reiki
practicing a type of energy healing
other ____________________
Can you tell me more specifically to what extent you are currently
studying, practicing or employing energy healing techniques in your
livelihood?
Not at all any more [ ]
Some [ ]
A lot [ ] Practices on self
[ ]
Practices on others [ ] Uses it in livelihood [ ]
We appreciate that you mentioned this on your application to us.

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We usually speak individually to any student who applies to our

courses and is practicing a form of energy healing because
energy-healing techniques differ greatly from what you will be
learning on your Vipassana course.
We want prospective students to understand these differences
before attending the course in order to prevent any confusion
arising during the course.
We dont condemn these kinds of healing techniques and realize
that people get many positive benefits from them. However,
students at our centers have become confused when,
unintentionally or intentionally, they have mixed the two
techniques in their practice.
Wait for response., then when appropriate:
The main difference between Vipassana and Reiki is that Reiki
attempts to move energy in the body for the purpose of
healing and may employ the channeling of an external agent
to assist this process. Vipassana, on the other hand, trains one
to merely observe whatever is happening in the body and
mind, whether pleasant or unpleasant, without trying to heal
it, change it or move it. In this process, students develop
equanimity towards whatever is naturally occurring as
opposed to trying to create a particular experience or result.
Students are also asked to make their own efforts, develop
determination from within oneself and not rely on any external
agent to help them.
If more explanation is needed: At a subtle level, there can be a
strong attachment to trying to heal or get rid of something
undesirable. Vipassana aims to dissolve any attachments or
cravings, even if it is to heal something. If, while learning to let
go of attachments, students are simultaneously developing a
craving to heal something, it could cause much confusion due
to these opposing efforts.
Do you have any questions about this? or Is this clear?
It would be important for us to know before we accept your
application to this course that you will not use your energy
healing practice during the course.
If any question arose about your practice or you unintentionally
began to use your healing practice out of habit, we want to
confirm that you would seek the guidance of the teacher.
Are you willing to agree to this? YES [ ]
NO [ ]

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If yes: At the end of your course, you are free to evaluate and
compare the benefits of Vipassana for yourself. We are happy
to invite students and practitioners of Reiki (or other energy
healing techniques) to attend one of our courses. However,
because of the incompatibility of the two, students who want
to return to our centers for a subsequent course must make a
decision to completely discontinue their Reiki practice. Please
understand that the restriction on Reiki practitioners is not
based on speculative reasoning alone but on actual experience
from all over the world. While it may be difficult to understand
this now, prior to attending your course, we trust that once
you learn Vipassana from your ten-day course you will
understand that Reiki and Vipassana are fundamentally
incompatible. Do you have any questions? Thanks so much for
being willing to speak with me about this. I will inform the
registration committee that you have approval for the course
and, depending if you are waitlisted for this course, you will
know that you are accepted when you receive a confirmation
letter detailing what to bring and what time to arrive.
If student does not agree, then inform him/her that we are sorry
but we cannot accept him/her into the course at this time for the
above reasons. Explain reasons again but do not argue or debate
with student.