(From Dr. Usui' s Notes found in the Tantra Papers Collection)

Dearest Students:

We have talked many times before about the emergent necessity for the restoration of the ancient supernatural arts of Buddhist healing.  The perils of the European conflict that is thankfully now past and the advancements in science have made this the most destructive conflict in the history of the world.  The great Mongolian battle leader, Kublai Khan himself, would have paled and perhaps collapsed at the sights and immense suffering, the untold piles of the dead, and the untold suffering which advances in physical science have brought on mankind.

The suffering produced by the one discovery and employment of nitrogen mustard gas is appalling.  Yet unfortunately in the laboratories and physics laboratories of both the East and the West, warlike research is even today being conducted, and I predict in the very near and uncertain future that even the Japanese home Islands will not be spared the calamity of scientific warfare.

Yet at the same time that scientific evolution is taking place, the eyes of many are being opened to the spiritual evolution that is now current m human development.  More and more now throughout the world, but especially here in Japan, the eyes of people are opening to the underlying unifying truths which are present in the established modes of religious worship.

Many movements are occurring here in Japan and the refreshing wind is blowing throughout the world.  I have recently read the spiritual books of Madame Blavatsky and sense also that a spiritual awakening is occurring in the West.  I find this to be most encouraging, even though many of the spiritual groups which are coming into being both here and throughout the world could be considered somewhat bizarre and non-traditional in nature, they are nonetheless an indication of the spiritual advances that mankind is making and the knowledge which has become ours in this new century.

As this second decade is now moving to a close, we must look forward and backward and take from the history of our long tradition of religious practice those things which are pertinent for the future development of the spirituality of mankind.

Here in Japan we have both the spiritual traditions of the national religion of the Emperor (Shinto) and of Buddhism. Both contain exoteric and esoteric traditions, but the time of religious secrets known only to a few is coming to an end. Perhaps it was necessary for the preservation of these teachings both in Shinto and Buddhism to be kept pure and maintained by only a few.  But with the enlightenment of the coming age, and with the absolute necessity of their utilization, it is time that they no longer remain hidden.  For I thoroughly believe that within them is contained the formula for the survival of the Japanese people and of humankind in general.

The terrible furies which are issuing forth from the laboratories of the armament and chemical manufacturers are truly too terrifying to behold and to contemplate.  I deeply believe that the time is drawing near when humankind will have in its possession weapons that are capable of ending all life on earth.  There must be a spiritual counterbalance to prevent humankind travelling the road to his own destruction.

Just past is the influenza epidemic with which we have all had to deal.  How many more diseases are waiting in the wings, so to speak, for their time to manifest?

Buddhist scripture teaches us that in the time of the Kali Yuga new diseases of man and animals will be manifest and that the flames of pestilence will reach throughout the world.  I believe this to be true.  In my lifetime I have seen the influenzas appear and in my lifetime I have seen the use of nitrogen mustard gas and its effects on physiology.

I am certain that more dangers lurk in the shadows of our greed and hatred, and even now are preparing to pounce on the shoulders of the unwary.  This is why, at the present time, the practice of the Buddhist healing method of Reiki is so terribly important.

In ancient Indian Buddhist tradition a methodology was set down of healing for both the body and the spirit which is even today unequalled.  Through all of the centuries the power of this tradition has remained unweakened and also gained strength by the knowledge of those spiritual masters who have utilized it and who, through their wisdom, have added to its content, both by their Hari and by their wisdom.

Prompted by the terrible epidemic of influenza which is just passed, I have delved both into the Tantra and into the Commentaries, also recent documents I have received from my friends in India.  A few of these documents are of Tibetan origin and have fortunately been translated by my friend in Bombay, Dr. Arun Desai, into Japanese for me.

Therefore, using both these sources and the sources of the Tantra, I have prepared a ritual for the healing of these newly occurring afflictions.  Today I am going to give you instructions on their use…