REIKI &
LING QI
Copyright ©
2003 James Deacon
[Modified:
Mar. 11. 2006]
Rei-ki
Japanese
is a language which makes use of three different writing
systems - katakana, hiragana, and kanji.
Katakana
& hiragana are phonetic systems.
Kanji
is the Japanese term for the Chinese system of characters [ideograms
and pictograms] as used, for example, in writing the word reiki
(above).
The
particular pair of kanji-characters - which in Japanese
reads as: reiki, when used in writing Mandarin Chinese
reads as: ling qi.
While ling qi has at times been translated as meaning 'ectoplasm',
it can - in a deeper sense - refer to a 'mysterious or spiritual
influence' [this is of course also true of the term reiki
itself]; however,
in the terminology of a number of the Chinese systems of energy-cultivation
and healing - collectively known as Qi Gung - the word
ling qi is more commonly understood in somewhat simplistic
'energetic' terms, akin to those ascribed to its Japanese counterpart.
In
some forms of Qi Gung, the term ling qi is used
to refer to the most highly refined of all forms of qi ('subtle
energy/essence') which can be accessed by/developed within, a
living being's energy-system.
[Interestingly,
in speaking about energy, Takata-sensei had said: "Reiki
is the highest that I know of". However she also wanted it
to be clearly understood that "Reiki is Reiki", that
it was "brought from the prayers by Dr Usui" and had
nothing to do with "Chinese exercises" (Qi Gung, Tai
Chi, etc)]
Conceived of as highly-refined energy/essence/radiance, ling
qi enhances [amongst other things] the cerebral functions,
and is seen as highly conducive to the process of spiritual growth
and deepening of spiritual awareness [much as is the case with
Reiki].
Now,
I'm sure a great many Reiki practitioners - on first having been
introduced to Reiki - were told how Reiki is supposed to be far
better than Qi Gung (or Bioenergy Healing or Magnetic Healing,
etc) because, rather than using your personal energy to effect
treatment, you are using energy 'channeled' from the Source/Cosmos/God
or whatever, and therefore are not depleted when giving treatment.
Admittedly,
at the lower and intermediate levels of Qi Gung,
you are indeed developing and refining reserves of personal qi
which can, amongst other things, be projected for healing purposes
- and thus become depleted.
However,
as the practitioner advances in the higher levels of the art,
the nature of interaction with qi changes somewhat.
Ling
qi is something only achieved when the practitioner has reached
highly advanced levels of Qi Gung discipline and practice,
wherein they have learned how to alchemically transmute their
more 'earthly', vital, bodily energies into purer forms of spiritual
qi, and at the same time open themselves to the Heavenly
or Celestial qi which pervades the universe
- channeling qi from outside themself - just as is the
case in Reiki.
In
fact, it is a common view amongst many Qi Gung Masters
that what we
call Reiki [i.e the 'energy', not the 'system'] is simply the
higher level Qi Gung energy/essence/radiance - ling
qi - accessed without having undergone the initial developmental
training and discipline.
Thus,
Reiki [i.e. the system] has often been referred to as:
Lazy
Man's Celestial Qi Gung...!
