Mikao Usui, also known as Usui Sensei by Reiki students, discovered and developed the system of Reiki healing. He was born in 1865 in Japan, in the village of Taniai. At a young age, Usui entered a Tendai Buddhist school located near Kurama yama, a sacred mountain north of Kyoto. Among other things he studied martial arts and also a healing technique called kiko. The system of health and healing is based on the development and use of life energy.

At some stage in his life he was troubled and decided to return to this holy mountain to meditate with the hope of gaining an understanding of this life and what he should do next.

He enrolled in a twenty-one-day course sponsored by the Tendai Buddhist temple that he had attended as a child. The course involved fasting, meditation, and praying while alone on the mountain. It was during this training that a great spiritual energy came down into the top of his head and he became enlightened. The energy also brought with it Reiki Ryoho, which is the ability to heal.

He tried the healing energy on himself and don his family and through these experiences learned how to use it an began to develop the system of Reiki. After this he was inspired to offer it to the public and share it with as many people as he could. 

What is Reiki?

Origin of Reiki

How does Reiki heal?