I found an interesting translation of the 3rd Reiki Principle (Don’t Get Angry) floating around out there in cyberspace and found it quite interesting and worth a comment (or two) as as sidebar to my post on The Reiki Principles – Don’t Be Angry.
The quote was:
“In March, 1915 a book entitled Kenzen no Genri (Health Principles), written by a Dr. Bizan Suzuki, includes the admonition: “Just for today, do not anger (others), do not fear, work hard, be honest, and be kind to others. This is almost certainly the direct source of Usui Sensei’s Five Reiki Principles.”
Whether or not the translation is accurate is not important, the idea of don’t anger others, or don’t cause others to be angry is quite a bit different from the idea of don’t be angry, or don’t cause yourself to be angry, and it is quite interesting to compare the two.
First off, I’m not as interested in other people’s spiritual development as I am in my own (except, of course, for my own students, family, friends, readers, etc.) so I think that when one is on a spiritual path, one should be more concerned with those things stopping them from succeeding rather than those things that are stopping others. Is this spiritual selfishness? I don’t think so… if we do make it to the end zone we will be able to Bodhisattva-ize ourselves (should we choose) and subsequently help millions of people as opposed to being concerned who are preventing us (for whatever reasons) from doing so.
Second, I’m not sure we can (or should) attempt to control the emotions or attitudes of others. This would involve a bit of walking on eggshells and that’s certainly never been my disposition. Of course we should help when we can, but I’m not sure it is necessary to worry about others mental or emotional condition a condition of our own personal spiritual growth. Besides, worrying would break another one of the precepts… but we won’t go there now. 
Third I’d like to distinguish between being angry and getting angry as it may be important. I’m not sure if its possible to always remain happy and when anger does find its way in, its the way we deal with it that’s most important. I refer to that initial feeling of anger, as in the reaction to whatever it is that ruffled our feathers, as getting angry. At that point we have the ability to control that anger and the decision to dissipate it immediately or allow it to linger for 20 years (I can’t believe that so and so hit my brand new Edsel…) is our decision. I refer to any anger maintained after the first few minutes as being angry… and this is the variation we can (and must) do without for any chance of spiritual evolution.
It seems to me that awhile back some people (including Doi Sensei and Hyakuten Sensei) were thinking of recasting the 5 Reiki Principles in a more positive light, which I may have discussed elsewhere (I’m not sure) but hopefully they completely dropped their plans to do so as I believe they are perfect just the way they are. An example of this thinking is found in this extract from The Power of Now
I love the Buddha’s simple definition of enlightenment as “the end of suffering.” There is nothing superhuman in that, is there? Of course, as a definition, it is incomplete. It only tells you what enlightenment is not: no suffering. But what’s left when there is no more suffering? The Buddha is silent on that, and his silence implies that you’ll have to find out for yourself. He uses a negative definition so that the mind cannot make it into something to believe in or into a superhuman accomplishment, a goal that is impossible for you to attain.
Dr. Usui’s Reiki Principles are worded in the negative for precisely the same reason. Don’t be angry is not an impossible goal, but rather a simple something to be sought… and its only in the seeking that we can truly find its worth. Enlightenment is a state of being… not a superhuman accomplishment… so too Reiki is a path, not a destination.
Amazing what can be found in a simple variation, translation, reconsideration or interpretation of a simple thought, isn’t it?
For further explanation or discussion, your thoughts are most welcome and highly encouraged, please feel free to comment below!!!
2 responses to “3rd Reiki Principle Revisited”
As far as not angering others goes, one of my teachers put it this way, “Speak the the Truth in a pleasing manner.” That is, do not deliberately do/say things to goad or anger others, but always speak the Truth. I believe that just anger is….well….justified. It is fine to be outraged and angry about injustice in the world and this in fact can lead to action to right the injustices. It is wrong, however, to harbor that anger for more than a few minutes and dwell on it or let it take over your thought processes and thus, yoiur life. It should be something that makes you change, if that is what it is meant to do. It goes along with not worrying, what has happened already is and we should move on from there, hopefully in a positve manner. To hang on to the anger keeps us in the past and not in the now which is where we truly are and the only place where any action can take place to make things better.
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