The word "Johrei" is associated with Johrei Fellowship, a religious organization. The energy used in Johrei Fellowship — and by many other organizations and individuals, including myself — is Jourei, a "channeled" energy. It comes through the Bodhisattva Kannon (a.k.a. Kanzeon Bosatsu, Kuan Yin, Kwan Yin, Quan Yin, Qwan Yin). It works by "burning away spiritual clouds" — removing impurities from the spiritual body. Reiki is an energy within us, which connects us to Shinki ("God-energy" or "Source-energy").
The energy of Jourei is a composite of Fire and Water (Sun and Moon) energies. Meishu-sama (Mokichi Okada, the founder of Johrei Fellowship) channeled this energy from the Bodhisattva Kannon, and passed it on to Johrei Fellowship members by means of a "sacred focal point" (ohikari) — a calligraphy of the Japanese character for "light," enclosed in a cloth bag, worn under the clothing, near the heart.* This energy combines with Earth energy in the body of the recipient; and these Fire, Water, and Earth energies bring about purification and healing. (See this article by Meishu-sama, for a detailed explanation of this.)
Reiki uses the same energies — Fire/Sun, Water/Moon, Earth/Earth — but they are recognized as aspects of Self or Source. They are activated through an "empowerment" procedure (either Reiju or Attunement), and awareness of them is increased through repeated empowerments, use of symbols and/or sounds, and energetic exercises.
*Originally a calligraphy of Dai Ko Myo ("Great Light Sun-and-Moon" or "Great Bright Light") was used. Then, for some time, there were 3 "levels" of ohikari — Dai Ko Myo, Ko Myo ("Bright Light"), and Ko ("Light"). Nowadays only the calligraphy of Ko is used.
In the true sense of the word — messiah meaning "anointed" — yes. "I must indeed have been born with a miraculous destiny," he wrote. He believed that his understanding of illness and how to heal it was unprecedented ... and that "the greatest quality of a savior is to be endowed with an absolute method for perfecting human health...."
"Though I am not fond of calling myself the savior," he wrote, "I must confess that I cannot definitely deny that I am. The appearance of a savior is of unprecedented importance in the history of humankind and ... one must believe that it will take place sooner or later, since the sages of the ancient past have prophesied it in such various forms as the coming of the Messiah, the Second Coming of Christ, and the birth into the world of the Bodhisattva Maitreya...." [ read the full article ] [ read a 2nd article ]
The messianic role extended, in fact, to every member of the Church — through the giving of Jourei energy. Meishu-sama foresaw the world undergoing a purification by Fire, and believed that the purifying energy of Jourei was the only thing that would allow us to survive it.
[ As I write this in 2010, it seems clear that the world is indeed entering a purification by Fire — and equally clear that no external messiah will be appearing to save us. We must each be our own messiah. Likewise, there is no single method or technique, discipline or belief system, that we must use. Whether we speak in terms of Self-realization or the burning-away of spiritual clouds, there are countless roads we can travel, and they all take us where we need to go. ~ db ]
It was based on 3 main elements: (1) spiritual purification through the giving and receiving of Jourei energy; (2) purification of the Earth, and the growing of food crops, through Nature Farming (a way of agriculture that uses no pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers, not even compost); and (3) the appreciation and creation of beauty, through observing and enjoying Nature, and making works of art.
Okada saw the #1 enemy of humanity as illness. Burdened by illness, a person could not work — which led to poverty. And poverty led to conflict with others. Therefore, his top priority was the healing of illness and the maintenance of health, primarily through the giving and receiving of Jourei energy.
Before the end of World War II, Okada purchased land in Hakone, and began transforming it into "Sacred Grounds" — a prototype of what he envisioned as "Paradise on Earth ... a world of complete truth, virtue and beauty." This was followed by another prototype at Atami, and a third at Kyoto. The Sacred Grounds at Hakone represented the energy of Fire; Atami represented Water; and Kyoto represented Earth.
Do you have Johrei questions?
You can use the email link at the very bottom of the page, to send Johrei questions. I'll answer them, and some will be posted here on the website.
