By Alexandra Enns © 2017
It happens that I start to have recurring dreams of myself drawing the sacred Reiki symbols in the air with golden energy flowing out from my palms. Realizing that my subconscious is persistently sending me signs for further dream exploration, I begin to question the nature of the Reiki energy as a third degree practitioner of the Usui System for the first time:
What is Reiki exactly? Can I make it visible or feel it in the course of a lucid dream? With these questions in mind, I embark on a quest to disclose the secret behind the origin of Reiki.
Making inquiries in the literature about esoteric Buddhism, I discover the following definition: “Reiki arises from the source of all life and is sent to us from there through Dai Marishi Ten, the Great Goddess, and Dainichi Nyorai, the Great God, the two highest individual spiritual beings, on behalf of the Creative Force.”
At the beginning of my research, I meditate with the traditional mudra and mantra of Dai Marishi Ten before falling asleep. As a result of this, I have a very strange dream of a red cloud of smoke in the form of a snake circling me. My further studies strengthen my suspicion that this phenomenon is indicating the presence of the goddess Dai Marishi Ten, who is not only depicted as the “Goddess of Fire,” but also in general visualized in red flames during meditation practice.
From this point of view, I make an attempt to summon Dai Marishi Ten in the lucid dream state as well:
Dai Marishi Ten
While I am trying to induce a WILD, the bedroom gets illuminated. It strikes me that I must be dreaming now because the house I am just sneaking out of has nothing in common with waking reality. Standing on the front porch in finest weather, I decide that the time and view is perfect for my recently determined goal. So I assume the Ongyô In mudra and pronounce the mantra of the goddess Dai Marishi Ten two times: “Om Marishiei sowaka.”
Photo by PHGCOM via Wikimedia Commons
Suddenly, in the distance, I notice a woman with long, black and floating hair wearing a voluminous kimono. There is no mistaking she is riding something past me—yet it is impossible to make out what that might be except it’s oval shape and tremendous speed. At the same time, she is emitting such a continuous, fierce cry as if under attack, making me go ice cold and freeze with horror. I wake up, heart palpitating with fear.
Having coped with my initial fright, I stumble upon a plausible explanation of my previous lucid dream by learning that Dai Marishi Ten was worshiped as the Goddess of War and Victory by the Samurai and Ninja in Japan and is often shown standing on a wild boar.
How surprised I am to find out the next day that through Dai Marishi Ten, “humans can attain the power to become invisible and not be perceived nor harmed by any opponent”!
Apart from the rather convenient, unconsciously granted gift of invisibility in many dreams to follow, leaving me to feel like an ancient Samurai warrior, another psychic incidence occurs. In brief, I successfully escape from my pursuers within a nightmare with the assistance of an invisible hand, pushing me perceptibly in the right direction.
All these experiences are most probably hinting at the guidance by Dai Marishi Ten, usually “appearing invisible to the eyes.”
Hugely impressed, I make up my mind to show my gratitude and respect towards this goddess in my next lucid dream by declaring the suitable “magic formula of the Great Light” to “remove the darkness of the mind”:
Knowledge Revealed
Lucid on a dark playground, I try to honor Dai Marishi with the mantra of the “perfected wisdom”: “Gyatei, gyatei, hara gyatei, hara so gyatei, boji sowaka.”
When I look at the previously blank firmament, I see greenish colors forming and moving similar to the Northern Lights, emphasizing the beauty of a giant, wandering star in the middle. Mesmerized, I watch the iridescent planet turning slowly, showing an auburn surface with gray circles.
Upon awakening, I identify the planet as Venus and consult my reference book to figure out its interesting connections between Dai Marishi Ten and Reiki: “Venus has been equated with the Goddess in most of the great cultures of world history” and: “Dr. Usui practiced the Morning Star (i.e. Venus) meditation during his three-week stay on Mount Kurama from where the light came to him”…
Having reflected further on the source of Reiki, I conduct the following lucid dream experiment:
Experiencing the Reiki Energy
I wait still with my eyes closed until the next dream re-entry takes place. Having confirmed lucidity with a reality test, I climb out from the window into a dimmed environment dotted with stars in the sky.
Wondering what I might ask the larger awareness, I finally announce intrepidly: “Show me the Reiki energy!”
I laugh out loud with relief, recognizing Dai Marishi Ten in spite of her invisibility. Then I give my thanks to the dream and awaken.
As far as Reiki is concerned, I conclude that the goddess seems to play the first fiddle.
The perplexing lucid dream given below illustrates the result of my application of another mudra and mantra set associated with Dai Marishi Ten:
Not as Expected
The void dissolves, and I become lucid again. Amazed by the new dream scene, containing a Far Eastern temple with gold-embroidered walls, covered in red silk, I decide to try out my alternative mantra und mudra of the goddess Dai Marishi Ten and speak out loudly: “Om ajiteiya Dai Marishi Ten.”
Unexpectedly, a lovely, young Japanese woman in a red kimono and with black, traditionally braided hair appears.
“Are you Dai Marishi Ten?”, I ask her in astonishment.
She starts talking a mile a minute, using an incomprehensible language. Might this be Japanese?
I feel I am wasting time, and quickly form the mudra of the Pagoda and pronounce the mantra for the Sun Buddha Dainichi Nyorai: “Om abira unken!”
Nothing happens again (as in several previous lucid dreams). What’s wrong with this mantra? I am racking my brain, frustrated.
Necessity is the mother of invention. Why not use the acquired ‘communication flexibility’ from my former work as a flight attendant in this lucid dream? I put on a helpless face, show Dai Marishi Ten the recently assumed mudra, and ask awkwardly: “Om abira unken – Dainichi Nyorai?”
“Om APIKA unken,” she replies politely with an enigmatic smile.
Photo by Vinson Tan via Pixabay
Surprised at her pronunciation help, I repeat the corrected mantra, and a handsome man materializes instantly. I have never met a Buddha yet, but this is definitely NOT a Japanese god! My mind spins at his sight – a BLACK Buddha dressed in a GREEK gown?
“You are Dainichi Nyorai?” I ask him, confused.
“I am,” he claims emphatically.
“Then why do I understand what you’re saying?!” I say reluctantly. Why doesn’t he talk Japanese as Dai Marishi Ten, his ‘spiritual partner’?
“This is a mystery to me as well!”, he exclaims with honest puzzlement on his face.
“Will you show me the Reiki energy?” I ‘test’ him.
He raises his eyebrows with an irritated sigh, rolling his eyes as if this question is always unnerving him. Then he swiftly puts out his hand, releasing several rays of golden energy.
Enough. Shouldn’t I behave ‘somehow differently’ in front of a Buddhist GOD?
“Will you give me your blessings then?” I ask suddenly, surprising myself with this rather unusual request. He nods approvingly and steps up to me.
“You are very tall,” I whisper, touching his chest lightly with my nose, while he is drawing an unknown symbol upon my forehead.
When I awake from this dream, I feel stunned and skeptical at the same time. Have I really met Dainichi Nyorai?
Through such experiences, I remain fascinated by the extraordinary possibility to delve into foreign cultures, customs, and myths through the magic of a spoken mantra in lucid dreams.
References
Mark Hosak, (2009), The Big Book Of Reiki Symbols: The Spiritual Transition of Symbols and Mantras of the Usui System of Natural Healing, Lotus Press.
