Mikao Usui & Tendai Buddhism: The Spiritual Roots of Reiki
When we think of Reiki, we often picture gentle hands, flowing energy, and a deep sense of peace. But behind this healing art lies the story of one man — Mikao Usui (1865–1926) — whose spiritual journey shaped everything we know today. To truly understand Reiki, we must look at the tradition that influenced him most profoundly: Tendai Buddhism.
Who Was Mikao Usui?
Mikao Usui was a Japanese spiritual seeker, teacher, and meditator. Born in Gifu Prefecture in 1865, he grew up in a Buddhist environment during Japan’s Meiji era which was a time of rapid modernization. Despite the changing world around him, Usui remained deeply connected to traditional practices, studying healing, martial arts, meditation, and ancient texts.
While he explored many paths, Tendai Buddhism provided the backbone of his spiritual development.
What Is Tendai Buddhism?
Tendai is one of Japan’s oldest and most influential Buddhist schools. It blends meditation, chanting, esoteric rituals, and a philosophy of compassion.
Key Tendai teachings include:
All beings possess Buddha-nature — everyone has the potential for enlightenment and healing.
Meditation and chanting as daily practice.
Ethical precepts to guide compassionate living.
Training traditionally took place on Mount Hiei, where monks practiced strict discipline, fasting, and deep meditation. This environment shaped generations of spiritual seekers and influenced Usui’s path.
Usui’s Tendai Connection
Although not a monk, Usui absorbed Tendai practices that later became central to Reiki:
Meditation and mindfulness
Mantra chanting
Gassho (hands-together meditation)
Ethical precepts for daily living
Esoteric spiritual practices
The five Reiki precepts (“Just for today, do not anger…”) mirror Tendai moral teachings. Likewise, Gassho meditation, a core Reiki practice is directly rooted in Tendai tradition.
The 21-Day Retreat on Mount Kurama
In 1922, Usui undertook a 21-day fasting and meditation retreat on Mount Kurama, a mountain sacred to both Tendai Buddhism and Shugendō (mountain asceticism).
During this retreat, he sought spiritual clarity through fasting, meditation, and devotion. According to Reiki tradition, it was here that he experienced a profound awakening and received the spiritual energy we now call Reiki.
Whether seen literally or symbolically, this moment reflects Tendai-style discipline: purification, meditation, and inner stillness.
Timeline of Usui’s Spiritual Journey
1865 – Born in Taniai, Gifu Prefecture, into a Buddhist family.
Childhood – Studied at temple schools, exposed to Tendai teachings.
Adulthood – Explored martial arts, Kiko (energy work), Zen, and Shugendō.
1922 – 21-day retreat on Mount Kurama; spiritual awakening.
1922 – Founded the Usui Reiki Ryōhō Gakkai in Tokyo, teaching Reiki as healing and spiritual discipline.
1926 – Passed away at age 62, leaving a lineage that spread Reiki worldwide.
Why These Origins Matter
Understanding Usui’s Tendai roots reminds us that Reiki is not just a technique but a spiritual path shaped by:
Meditation
Ethics
Compassion
Self-cultivation
Inner peace
By honoring Usui’s background, we honor the purity and intention behind Reiki itself. Reiki is more than energy healing, it is a living continuation of Tendai Buddhism’s vision of compassion, discipline, and universal enlightenment.