Hi everyone, it’s a glorious day and the garden, birds, and nature is in abundance and very busy, it really is a joy to watch and be involved. We are so lucky as our country produces very different weather as we are an island, and in a way it’s exciting to wait and see what comes next! One day it’s sunny and warm the next it’s raining and cold!

The glory of nature really tells a story, we must understand that religion, buddhism or whatever the title, are all spiritual practices just a different perspective. If we really look behind the titles we will see the same thing, the essence is the same, so just because we may be Christian, a Roman Catholic etc, the practices are all spiritual, we are looking deep inside ourselves. Reiki is steeped in buddhism, but it is not a Buddhist practice, it is free of all attachments. We are simply being true to who we are.

Mikao Usui was a Tendai Buddhist, he was born a Tendai so his teachings incorporated the ancient and esoteric practices of Buddhism. He also studied Martial Arts called Aiki Jutsu and became an instructor of Yagyu Ryu and gained the highest level of achievement. He also studied many other ancient Japanese methods, so was well educated in the spiritual essence of Reiki.

We need to avoid judgement, our way is not the only way, people have their own beliefs and ideas which is great, so judgement isn’t in the vocabulary, being true to who we are is the most important issue. Hanging on to anger, fear and worry only increases anxiety and muddled thoughts. So be free, be liberated and feel the connection to life, nature and religion.

The word GYO or Japanese Kanji is very old, ancient in fact and really says it all.

Gyo is a word very few westerners are familiar with, if at all. It is a Japanese word and carries meanings such as Harsh, Severe and Austere. Gyo can be found in martial arts and spiritual discipline and is an ideal expedient tool through which complete focus may be applied to the task at hand by applying the Mind to it.

Within the Tendai Buddhism tradition, Gyo takes on many forms. For example, San Sen Rai Hai (3,000 prostrations), Kuju Nichi KaiHoGyo (90 day Continuous mountain marathon), Kessai (Waterfall purification) and others.

The monks who complete these Gyo have the title of ‘GyoJa’ or Gyo practitioner. The monks do not have to do these forms of Gyo, but are choices they make themselves for their spiritual development and this is important. Once the monk is given permission to carry out a particular form of Gyo, the only stipulation is he, or she, must complete it no matter what.

If we care to look back into spiritual history, we will notice forms of Gyo. In the example of Jesus, 40 days alone in the desert with no food or water is Gyo.

Shakyamuni Buddha’s days and nights under a Bhodi tree is also Gyo. St.Francis of Assisi alone in the mountains prior to his ‘Stigmata’ is also Gyo.

In each example, these wonderful teachers had reached a point in their spiritual development where each came face to face to their crucial barriers blocking the path to total Heaven, Nirvana, Oneness and thus, enlightenment. The rest, as the saying goes, is history. Special men? Only in that they each showed /demonstrated the very highest potential we each have. You only need look at the example of Usui Sensei. Had he not undertaken Gyo himself, would he have been able to manifest Reiki?

Gyo goes hand in hand with ones spirituality. We feel something deeply within.

We search dimensions to nurture it. We make the right noises. We read, study and practice, but we still do not have the complete picture. This only comes through Gyo. And not just once. Each Gyo undertaken is a step closer to the breakthrough. Should this happen…..What should we expect? The answer to this is…Nothing. That is to say ‘No Thing’ . Yet this No Thing, is the very Some Thing from which All stems. The energy from this Rach, Pnuema, Ka, Chi and, in Japanese; Ki. And source, because it is form-less, can be called ‘Rei’ or Spirit. ‘The Spirit’s energy’. Usui Sensei, through his Gyo, overcame Self and reintegrated with All. And in so doing did not channel this power from its source….He was One with The Source. And what was possible for him, is possible for his followers too.

As practitioners of the system of Reiki, in fact for any person following the spiritual path, before unity is achieved, before any full fruition of the path be made fully manifest, there is the vital need to begin the process of overcoming Self.

Any success, no matter the discipline, is simply an indicator of what could be.

Successes are not the end, but tiny stepping stones. We must not limit ourselves. There are the wonderful examples of the great Masters who have shown what is possible for each and every person alive on this planet. All we need to do is follow their example and Gyo will be as important stepping stones for us as they were for them.

From an article written by Frans Steine and an unknown writer.