Reiki And Consciousness: exploring the ultimate nature of universal energy.

In the quiet moments of spiritual practice, profound questions often arise that bridge ancient wisdom traditions. One such question I have been contemplating as a student of both Advaita Vedanta and Reiki: Is the universal energy we work with in reiki the same as consciousness itself, or is it something that appears within consciousness? I have been pondering this for quite some time as I’m sure many others of different spiritual backgrounds have done. The information I have laid out below is my understanding at this point in my learning journey of both Usui Reiki Ryoho and Advaita Vedanta.

In Advaita Vedanta, Brahman is the ultimate, non-dual reality, pure consciousness that underlies all existence. This isn't consciousness as we typically understand it in psychological or medical terms, but rather the fundamental awareness that makes all experience possible. Brahman is described as sat-chit-ananda: existence, consciousness, and bliss unified as one.

According to this philosophy, all manifestations we perceive are reflections or appearances within this consciousness. Like waves on the ocean, these manifestations appear distinct but are never separate from their source. The wave is water, but water is not merely the wave.

Usui Reiki Ryoho presents us with the concept of reiki as universal energy, the fundamental life force that flows through all living things. This energy is understood to be intelligent, flowing where it's needed most, and capable of bringing balance and healing to body, mind, and spirit.

The translation of ‘Reiki’ as universal energy suggests something that permeates everything, much like how Brahman is said to be the essence of all that exists. This similarity has led me and many other practitioners to wonder about the deeper relationship between these concepts.

Here lies the heart of our inquiry: What is the relationship between that which knows and that which is known?

In Advaita Vedanta, consciousness is the ultimate subject, that which cannot be objectified because it is the very ground of all experience. It is not something we can step outside of to observe, because we are never separate from it. Consciousness is the knower, never the known.

Reiki, however, can be experienced and worked with. We can feel it, channel it, and observe its effects. In this sense, reiki energy appears to be something that can be known, experienced, and therefore could be considered an object within consciousness rather than consciousness itself.

Consider this distinction: Reiki might be understood as the animating energy of all things, that which gives life, movement, and vitality to existence. It is the dynamic principle that flows through creation, bringing healing and balance.

Consciousness, in the Advaitic sense, is the aware presence within which this animation occurs. It is not the energy itself, but that which knows the energy. It is the still, unchanging awareness within which all movement, all energy, all experience appears.

This doesn't diminish the significance of reiki energy. Rather, it places it within a comprehensive understanding of reality. The universal energy that flows through all things remains intimately connected with consciousness, it could be seen as consciousness in motion, or as the first subtle manifestation within pure awareness.

This philosophical distinction has practical implications for how we approach both traditions:

In Reiki Practice: Understanding energy as a manifestation within consciousness can deepen our practice. We work with the energy while remaining rooted in the awareness that recognises it. This can lead to a more effortless and intuitive practice.

In Self-Inquiry: Recognising the difference between the energetic experiences we have and the consciousness that experiences them can support deeper self-inquiry. We can appreciate the healing power of energy work while continuing to investigate the nature of the one who experiences it.

Perhaps the most profound insight is that this distinction between consciousness and energy, between knower and known, ultimately points back to the non-dual nature of reality. In the deepest understanding, there is no separation between consciousness and its manifestations, just as there is no separation between the ocean and its waves.

The universal energy of reiki and the pure consciousness of Brahman are not two different things, but rather different ways of understanding the one reality that appears as both the stillness of awareness and the movement of life.

This exploration invites us to hold our concepts lightly while remaining open to direct experience. Whether in the quiet of meditation or the gentle flow of a reiki session, we can investigate for ourselves: What is the relationship between the energy we work with and the awareness that knows it?

In this investigation, we may find that the question itself leads us deeper into the mystery of existence, a mystery that both Advaita Vedanta and reiki, in their own ways, point us toward with reverence and wonder.

The journey of understanding continues, not through philosophical speculation alone, but through the direct, immediate recognition of what we truly are, both in the stillness of pure awareness and in the gentle flow of universal life energy.

In both traditions, the ultimate teaching points beyond concepts to direct experience. May this exploration serve not as a final answer, but as an invitation to deeper inquiry into the nature of consciousness, energy, and the seamless unity that underlies all apparent duality. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this.