The five Usui principles state:

                      Just for Today ~                         Kyo dake wa ~

                               Do Not be Angry                       Ikaru na

                               Do Not be Worried                    Shin pai suna

                               Be Grateful                               Kan sha shi te

                               Do Your Duties Fully                 Gyo-o hage me

                               Be Kind to Others                     Hito ni shin setsu ni

During original Japanese training, Reiki students were taught to mindfully chant these morning and night as a meditative practice, so they energetically entrain or become part of their subconscious understanding (similar to developing a habit). The outcome of this training is for the student to live their daily life according to the principles without having to consciously think about them.  

In our first mini training we will discuss the introduction to the principles: Just For Today. In subsequent months, we will discuss each one of the principles. We encourage your feedback or comments and will post some on the website each month as this series continues.

 
Just For Today ~ Kyo dake wa

To focus fully during this day you are experiencing, is also known as “living in the now”. According to another well know phrase, the past is gone, the future unknown and now is your “present”. Simply, as an aspect of how to live your life on a daily basis, your focus is the most important tool. Focusing your consciousness to be present in each moment and being fully involved in whatever activity you are engaged in, is living in the now. You will find a richer experience of life when you engage it this way. This is also known as “mindfulness”  –  a very rewarding meditative practice.

Many of us have a tendency to live in the future, looking forward to future events as the “best part” of the day and so miss out on what we’re accomplishing as we daydream of what is to come. The juice of life comes from the actual experience, moment to moment. When our focus is not there we miss it!

The easiest way to make any change is to approach it as – “just for today”. If your goal is to live a more present life simply state that message to yourself each morning with meaningful intention. If during the day you find yourself wandering from that, just restate it and continue on. You’ll find in a very short time that your focus has changed and you’ll be living in and enjoying your Present! 

Do Not Be Angry ~  Ikaru na 
Anger is a reflex emotion that we can control, one of many strong human emotions. Our basic programming of the fight/flight/freeze response aids in our ability to get through traumatic experiences and challenges. In using our animal based response technique, once the event is concluded we should move on to the next moment or event in our day, releasing those now unneccessary emotions to better experience the "now". The human anger emotion sometimes holds us back from closure as we relive an event over and over in our memory. Not only is this harmful physically (causing elevated heart rate, blood pressure, stress response) but it is also a waste of energy. We have the use of the anger emotion to assist us in being present, marshalling our physiological focus and utilizing all our talent and abilities to survive. Once the survival event is over however, the emotion is no longer needed and should be released. Animals will do it by shaking - a strong physiological release mechanism. As humans we have many ways to release stress, physically through some type of sport, mentally/emotionally by meditation and spiritually by giving it over to  a higher power. Be strong, survive, release, enjoy and live ~ in the now.    

Do Not Worry ~ Shin pai suna
Worry is a condition where you consider all the "what-it" scenarios associated with anything going on in your life. And it consists of more negitive thought patterns than positive ones. It is the flip-side of Wouldn't it be Nice daydreaming. If you consider that your brain is a very active part of your physical being that enjoys activity as much as the rest of the body, you realize that the brain is not really overactive in the worry mode, it's just bored. So how do you slow it all down? Well, it is relatively easy, but takes practice. Being in the now - focusing your intention and attention to whatever you are doing at exactly this moment, every moment, will keep the brain so occupied it will not begin to seach for something to keep it busy. A very easy way to disrupt the worry thought pattern's is to breathe. Just follow a single breath in through the nose, down into the lungs, feel them rise, feel the breath release out, back out through the mouth. Follow those steps at least three times or six or nine. You will then realize you have a clear mind. Next step is to focus your attention on what you are really doing at that point in time. Keep practicing breathing and focusing and you will easily stay clearly in the now!