07/03/2024
Day Two: Mount Kurama - “Origins of Reiki”
Among being the birthplace where Mikao Usui discovered Reiki, Mount Kurama holds deep spiritual significance in Japanese religious history and has long been associated with ascetic practices, meditative retreats & pilgrimage, attracting visitors who seek to experience its natural beauty and connect with its rich spiritual heritage.
Under the Kurama Kokyo Sect, The temples on Kurama worship “Sonten” = “God, Universal Cosmic Energy, Supreme Deity, Essence of all that is, Source of all Creation.” Sonten, also known as the Three Heavens, refers to the belief in three levels of existence within Shugendō. (A Japanese folk religion that blends elements of Shinto, Buddhism, Taoism, & Indigenous Cosmology.)
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👺… Guardian of the mountain, Tengu & the other nature spirits welcomed us as we made our ascent up the mountain. With it being not just a sacred mountain but also an opportunity to embark on a spiritual experience, we cleansed & purified ourselves before entering.
The potency of the ancient energy was felt immediately upon arrival & was undeniable.bruce guided us as we silently stepped through the “Middle Gate” serving as the transitional point between the mundane world & the sacred.
We experienced the spiritual power center, the bell tower, root road and the most stunning shrines, temples and cherry blossoms. We finished our hike with a “Buddhist Vegetation Meal” at a local restaurant at the base of the mountain.
We were able to witness so much beauty that day — filling up our inner well full of abundance, gratitude, joy & healing. Some places in nature just have that effect. It is no wonder that Mikao Usui came to access the ideas, wisdom & vision that brought the holistic healing practice of Reiki to life.
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