| Reiki and Yoga are both first and foremost paths | | | | What is Enlightenment? |
| to Enlightenment. Although many people who are | | | | Spiritual Enlightenment is the realization that you |
| currently practicing them seem unaware of this | | | | are part of a bigger whole... that you are |
| and are thus deriving only a fraction of the | | | | connected to the universe, and to everything in it, |
| benefit that they might were they to follow the | | | | just as a leaf is part of a tree. It is so simple, yet |
| paths these modalities were originally designed for. | | | | so difficult, because just as we begin to realize |
| In this article I would like to discuss exactly what | | | | this or catch a glimpse of it (sattori in Japanese), |
| enlightenment is, and how Reiki and Yoga can | | | | something blocks it from remaining obvious and |
| assist practitioners in experiencing it. | | | | we are again shrouded in darkness and |
| What is Reiki? | | | | apprehension. The Buddha referred to |
| Reiki is a spiritual discipline that was developed in | | | | enlightenment as the end of suffering because it |
| Japan by Mikao Usui at the end of the 19th | | | | is this sense of dis-connectedness that is the root |
| Century. While on a quest for spiritual | | | | of all suffering. Volumes have been written on this |
| enlightenment, Usui discovered he had the ability | | | | mysterious realization which do it much more |
| to channel energies that were able to dissolve | | | | justice than I can in such a short space... I would |
| physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual blocks in | | | | highly recommend the works of Ramana |
| the energy systems of others. This energy | | | | Maharshi, Nisargadatta Maharaj, J. Krishnamurti and |
| channel could be opened in other people, just by | | | | more recently Eckhart Tolle for a more complete |
| attuning their energy systems to it through a | | | | understanding. |
| series of energetic manipulations. Physical healing is | | | | What is the Connection? |
| derived by dissolving energy blocks which are | | | | More detail on the history of Reiki can be found |
| preventing the body from healing itself and since | | | | here and more detail on Yoga can be found here, |
| they are the easiest to perform, many Reiki | | | | but in a nutshell, Reiki and Yoga are both spiritual |
| practitioners ignore the mental, emotional, and | | | | disciplines either of which will yield the sought after |
| spiritual aspects... which is unfortunate as they are | | | | results, yet as such they require dedication and |
| where most people are currently in need of | | | | perseverance to master and reap the rewards. |
| assistance. | | | | Disciplines such as these may seem daunting, but |
| What is Yoga? | | | | only if results are demanded immediately. If |
| Yoga is a spiritual system that was developed in | | | | approached with patience and determination the |
| India approximately 5,000 years ago. It consists | | | | end of the road is reached soon enough, at which |
| of eight branches, namely yama, niyama, asana, | | | | point one finds they have a decision to make... and |
| pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhayana and | | | | a new journey to embark upon. The good news |
| samadhi the following of which begins with simple | | | | is that every day more and more people are |
| rules to living ones life, physical poses, breathing | | | | reaching this realization (as opposed to 100 years |
| exercises, and the development of the ability for | | | | ago when very few found success and even |
| the level of deep concentration/meditation | | | | fewer were able to guide others in its mastery) |
| necessary for spiritual enlightenment. The physical | | | | and assistance can be found everywhere. When |
| poses (asanas) are the easiest to understand and | | | | you do find the key (which may very well be |
| master, however, they are just one part of this | | | | unique for you) you will wonder how it was ever |
| system, and while development of this aspect | | | | possible that you never noticed it before... it was |
| alone can yield tremendous physical results, the | | | | there all along, you just never seemed to connect |
| development of the other branches are basically | | | | the dots. Reiki and Yoga are both specifically |
| being ignored, which again, is a shame, since this is | | | | designed to help you find that key... are you |
| where most people are in need of assistance. | | | | looking for it? |