Versions of the five principles

From China, back in the era of Bodhidharma, the Five Principles followed two different paths: a layman’s way, through the martial arts, and a monk’s way in Buddhism and Zen. Depending on the context, these principles present small variations, because they were adapted to serve a certain group’s interest.

The translation of the Five Reiki Principles I like more is:

Just for today
Don’t get angry
Don’t worry
Be grateful
Work hard
Be kind to others.

If we analyze the Gokai we can see its fundamentals:

  • two of the principles forbid us to behave in a negative way towards others and ourselves
  • two principles encourage us to behave in a positive manner
  • one of them is the key to achieving the state of mind necessary to make these behaviours possible: hard work.

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Let’s take a look at two other versions of the Five Principles. The first one is the translation of the principles from the book “Kenzen no Genri” written by Dr. Suzuki Bizan, as it is presented in Hiroshi Doi in his Gendai Reiki-ho manual:

Just for today
Do not get angry
Do not feel fear
Be honest
Work hard
And be kind to others.

We can easily see that this set of 5 principles follows the same structure as the set written down by Usui Sensei: two interdictions, two pieces of advice, and the key. This version differs from Usui Sensei’s one through the choice of positive and negative behaviours considered to be the most important.

A second version is coming from the martial art world, specifically the dojo kun of the Japan Karate Association and the International Karate Association. This dojo’s rules were written by the Okinawa karate master Sakugawa Shungo.

Seek perfection of character
Be faithful
Endeavour
Respect others
Refrain from violent behavior

As we can see, the structure of the principles has changed: the two interdictions to behave in a negative way had turned to advice on behaving in a positive way. There is no difference between “don’t get angry” and “refrain from violent behaviour”, and it is a no-brainer that if one has faith, there is no reason to worry about anything. And again, the choice of the positive behaviour is slightly different.

What we have to learn from all these sets of 5 principles is that we have to search beneath the choices of positive and negative human behaviours and work hard to constantly improve our attitude towards others, as well as ourselves, so our behaviour will improve.

I love and respect both the Usui Sensei’s Gokai and the J.K.A. dojo’s kun. I have no problem reciting one when I practice Reiki, and the other one when I practice Karate, and striving to live by both.

Related articles:
The Five Reiki Principle
A Personal interpretation of The Five Reiki Principle

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