"Jikiden Reiki can be exclusive, because everyone has to learn from Shoden (Level 1) class even the Reiki Masters with 20 years of experience if they want to learn with
Jikiden Reiki."
It is true that experienced Reiki practitioners can't just jump in to take the Shihankaku course (teacher course) without learning Jikiden Reiki Shoden & Okuden (Level 1 & 2) courses.
But I don't see it as "exclusive", but it is rather "thorough", if I may put in a better word.
There is a Japanese culture called "Iemoto" (ee-eh-moh-toh) system. "Iemoto" means the head of a school, top authority, top leader or a grand master. Teachers teach the way they were taught by Iemoto, and the students practice only the way they were taught. This established custom is deeply absorbed into Japanese people, so we see the similar way of teaching not only in the traditional art (Sado-tea ceremony, Kado-flower arrangement, Shodo-calligraphy, traditional music etc), but also in modern music, and even in sports training.
Iemoto system is varied between the each teaching, so it is hard to say what is the regulation as Iemoto system. But there are some similarities in each school.
1. Keep the teaching the way you were taught.
2. Iemoto as a top authority and operate the teaching.
3. Iemoto has the authority to issue certificates.
4. Iemoto's life is unseparatable from his private life.
5. Without the long dedicated practice, one can not be a teacher.
6. There is only one Iemoto in each school.
I see the Iemoto system in Japanese Reiki teaching as well. As much as I know, only traditional Reiki school exist in Japan are Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai and Jikiden Reiki Institute. "Traditional" doesn't necessary mean better than other, but it is simply kept the same way in the original teaching. Those Reiki schools described above don't call the founder as a "Iemoto", but I can see it is natural to adopt the Iemoto system in those Reiki schools, because Usui Reiki Ryoho is an old Japanese healing art.
When Mr.Usui was teaching Reiki, he was the only one who could issue certificates in Usui Reiki Ryoho(Ryoho means treatment technique).
I see the same way in Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai. There is always one president and I am sure the president is the only one who can issue the certificates in Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai where they are teaching Usui Reiki Ryoho.
When Mr.Hayashi was teaching, it was the same way as well. Mr.Hayashi was the only one who could issued the certificates in Hayashi Reiki Kenkyukai where he was teaching Usui Reiki Ryoho.
It is natural for Jikiden Reiki Institute to operate this Reiki school with the Iemoto style, because of its pure Japanese background.
Tadao Yamaguchi (The founder of Jikiden Reiki Institute) has been teaching Reiki as the same way that his mother, Chiyoko Yamaguchi, had been teaching, he is the only top leader and operating Jikiden Reiki Institute, he has the authority to issue the certificates, and his life can not be separated from his life. Teachers must have a long dedicated practice hours to be able to take the teacher class. Its naturally falls into Iemoto style.
Yamaguchi family didn't have any connection with different cultures, so there was simply no opportunity to change its teaching style. Thus Reiki in Yamaguchi's family has been kept as original as it could be.
This is one of the reason that I feel at home with Jikiden Reiki, simply because I am a Japanese.
Although, as a Japanese who lives in Canada, I can see Iemoto system can be too strict and inflexible to fit in this western culture. Iemoto system is great for keeping the traditional style and holding the regulation, but on the other side, it might prevent from being creative and improving. I can see the benefits and predicaments in both cultures.
I see the importance in the Western culture to be creative and continue to experiment something new to get the best out of the individuals. I see the importance in the Japanese culture to keep the way it was taught when it comes to the traditional teaching, creativities are allowed only within the teaching.
Whether Reiki is creatively evolved or kept traditional, both are a healing modality to help oneself and each other, and that is much needed skills in this world...
That's all that matters, doesn't it?
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