15/02/2026
"Emperor Meiji's Poems in Usui Reiki: Historical Context and What Global Practitioners Have Taught Me
In traditional Usui Reiki Ryoho, the Waka poems (Gyosei) composed by the Meiji Emperor are cherished as spiritual nourishment. However, modern practitioners—especially those overseas—often wonder, "Why are an emperor's poems used?"
To understand this, we must look at the complex historical context of Japan.
Up until the Meiji era, Japan had a unique religious culture known as "Shinbutsu Shugo"—the deep syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism. Temples and shrines were united as one. It was completely normal for Buddhist monks to recite Shinto prayers, and for Shinto priests to chant Buddhist sutras.
However, during the Meiji era, when Mikao Usui Sensei lived, the government heavily promoted "State Shinto." They issued orders to forcibly separate Shinto and Buddhism (the Haibutsu Kishaku movement), which led to a period of severe religious control. Shrines and temples that had been united for centuries were violently torn apart. For example, Kumano Nachi Taisha (a shrine) and Seiganto-ji (a temple) in Wakayama Prefecture stand side-by-side today, but they were originally a single place of worship. Furthermore, the government strictly suppressed new religions and various "Reijutsu" (spiritual folk therapies).
In such a strictly monitored society, the Meiji Emperor was widely revered as the symbol of Japan's modernization. For Usui Sensei, adopting the Emperor's poems as a moral compass was not only natural but also a profoundly wise strategy to safely introduce and spread Reiki Ryoho in society.
On the other hand, the true religious nature of the Japanese people is incredibly tolerant and not bound by rigid dogmas. It is normal for us to visit a Shinto shrine at birth, celebrate Christmas, marry in a Christian church, and have a Buddhist funeral. A sociologist once called this phenomenon "Nihon-kyo" (the Religion of Japan) to describe just how flexible our spiritual awareness is.
Because of this inherent flexibility and the passage of time, the reality is that to modern Japanese people, the Meiji Emperor is merely a "distant historical figure." The visceral sense of his "greatness" that people felt back then has now simply become textbook knowledge. Even today, while practitioners in the Gakkai chant the Gyosei, I believe not everyone truly feels that deep, original appreciation. That is how distant that era feels to us now.
Therefore, rather than pulling out only the Meiji Emperor's poems, Japan has countless equally wonderful classical Waka poems, such as those in the "Kokin Wakashu." In fact, the "Reiki Ryoho Shidosho" (Teaching Manual) written by the 7th President of the Gakkai includes many classical Waka poems by ancient monks and poets like Myoe, Saigyo, and Ryokan.
Recently, however, I have witnessed a beautiful sight that brings me immense joy.
I see Reiki practitioners from all over the world cherishing these Gyosei, earnestly studying the Tanka (Waka) to understand the truly delicate sensibilities and nuances of the Japanese language.
Seeing you all try so hard to connect with the subtle beauty of the Japanese heart—looking beyond historical frameworks or "who wrote the poem" to simply appreciate the "pure beauty of the Waka" and its "rich spirituality"—fills me with deep gratitude and happiness. You have reminded me of what is truly important.
When we face the Gyosei or Waka, this very "heart that seeks to feel" is perhaps the most precious thing of all." Mamoru Wakatake
