Reiki 3—Masters Level
(This is an excerpt from a University Of Metaphysical Sciences course at www.umsonline.org, please feel free to visit the school website)
If you want to become a Reiki teacher because you desire to teach others then there is still a lot to learn about teaching. Remember also, that becoming a teacher and becoming a master are different levels. Being a teacher is on the road to becoming a master, but it is not mastery itself. Some people have the ability to teach already, but most of us have to learn to be a good teacher. You have to be understanding when you teach. Students will often appear impatient and ignorant. Remember that God is in every one of your students. It is a good idea to practice giving attunements and teaching with another teacher. Sometimes it is hard to find a supportive teacher. Many teachers do not want competition. Practice will help because once you have students staring at you, then you may have a harder time teaching than when you think about it alone. Practicing on friends who have already had attunements is beneficial as well.
The last level is the Master Level. In some types of Reiki a third level is inserted apart from the master level to give further preparation for Reiki mastery. Becoming a master of any art is not as simple as just learning the art until you are satisfied with the level of excellence you have achieved. It requires being recognized. An author can write many wonderful books, but he or she is not a true author until he or she is published and people read the books. Even then, the author is just an author, not a best selling author. To be a best selling author, readers have to recognize the author’s work as extraordinary. This is just a metaphor for the same struggle a master of Reiki faces. The Reiki teacher cannot call himself or herself a master until the teacher has students who recognize his or her art and call the teacher a master. In fact, Usui Mikao refused to call himself a teacher; he would teach only when asked. One’s ego can be boosted by calling oneself a master, but nothing more. In one’s heart, one will know the truth and other people will be able to see through the lie. Be humble.
To
be a Reiki Master takes a huge amount of devotion. It is more than just
the ability to teach and attune others. To be a true master of Reiki you
must live the life of a Reiki master. This may involve receiving an amazing
amount of peace within your soul. You must grow into this level over a
period of time. The opportunities that you may receive from the attunement
of the Reiki master level are limitless. Often practitioners see Reiki
in a new light. Some feel closer to enlightenment than ever before. But
these achievements are not just as easy as sitting down and letting the
third attunement grace your spirit. To be a Reiki master, Ki must be involved
with everything you do. Eventually, Ki should be on your mind with every
thought. Ki should inspire every step and breath. This does not mean that
you cannot also live for so much more, but you must also live for Reiki.
The perfect state of mind that was discussed in the reiju section is also
important. You must always be giving and receiving the spiritual blessings
of the universe. Strive for the state of mind that is the most tranquil,
pure, and spiritual. Do not let yourself get caught up in the worries
and stressful troubles of the world, yet always try your best to ease
these troubles. A master must always be willing to help relieve the sicknesses
in the world, while staying calm and collected. The difficulties of being
a healer are huge, but the difficulties of being a master are astronomical.
Likewise, the benefits of being a healer are great, but a master receives
the greatest benefits of all. It is not easy, but nothing this good ever
was achieved easily. Do not be discouraged, when you are truly a master,
the difficulties will be so outweighed by the love and joy you find in
every moment that it will all seem worth the while.
William Lee Rand wrote in an article published by The International Center for Reiki Training , which can be viewed at www.reiki.org/reikinews/reikin3.html, “In the end, we must consider that a Reiki Master is not one who has mastered Reiki, but one who has been mastered by Reiki.”. Once your Reiki has truly mastered you, then you will know what it is to be one with Ki.