Dr. Mikao Usui: Dr. Usui, a Japanese, was a Christian minister in Japan. He was the head of a Christian Boys School in Japan. One day some of the students asked him if he believed in the miracles which Jesus performed (healing, etc). Being a Christian minister he answered, "Yes". They asked if he knew how Jesus had done this, "No" is what he said. But he could not keep quiet. He wanted to know the answer. He went on a journey towards enlightenment. He could not find the answer in the Christian schools in United States.

It was suggested that he study Buddhist writings, since the Buddha had been known for healing others. He went to various monasteries and temples in the Far East and Japan. Everybody there was more concerned about the Nirvana or salvation. In one small monastery, he found some ancient Sanskrit writings from India (or perhaps Tibet).

After a few years of thorough study, he decided to get the practical knowledge through meditation based on what he had learnt theoretically. He declared to the monks of this monastery his intention to fast and meditate for 21 days at a nearby mountain and that if he did not come back, they should get his body. He went to the mountain and gathered 21 stones with which to count the days. Each day he would throw away a stone and in this way count the time. On the 20th day nothing had come as yet and he threw away the last stone saying "Well, this is it, either I get the answer tonight or I do not". In the night on the horizon he could see a ball of light coming towards him. He was a bit scared in the beginning, but then he thought that it might as well be the same thing he was waiting for. As it struck him, he was taken on a journey and shown bubbles of all the colors of the rainbow in which were the symbols of Reiki. It struck his mind that those were the same geometrical figures which he had seen in the Sanskrit writings and could not decipher the meanings. But at this time, there was total understanding.

He felt that he had the power of healing bestowed upon him since then. This first day, alone he healed a broken toenail, his own starvation, an ailing tooth and the Abbots sickness, which was keeping him bedridden. These are known as the first four miracles.

He was more than happy to utilize this special power for the treatment of the needy. He spent the next seven years in the beggars' colony of Tokyo, healing the sick people there, who did not value his gift.

This disappointed him a lot. From this that he realized he hadn't taught gratitude along with the healing. People did not understand the worth of what they had received.

Dr. Usui returned to the monastery for further introspection. After some time in the monastery he planned his mission. In his new plan he traveled around the countryside.

Dr. Chujiro Hayashi : During these travels he met Dr. Chujiro Hayashi, a Naval Commander in the Naval Reserve. After Dr. Usui expired, Dr. Hayashi became the leader of Reiki.

Dr. Hayashi opened a clinic in Tokyo. The practitioners all worked here and performed healing. To become a Reiki Practitioner in that time, one had to be accepted by the Masters in the Reiki organization and second, had to promise to use Reiki daily and volunteer some hours to practice Reiki regularly in the clinic.

The masters of Reiki believe that Dr. Hayashi developed the practice of treatment by using specific techniques of placing the hands over the body.

Dr. Hayashi passed on the leadership of Reiki to Mrs. Takata in 1940

Mrs. Hawayo Takata : Mrs. Hawayo Takata was born in Hawaii, of Japanese descent .She became well after receiving Reiki treatment from Dr. Hayashi and then she wanted to learn this for herself. In Hawaii she learned the lesson of having the recipient perceive value in receiving treatments. She treated a neighbor, but did not charge him. This neighbor did not value the treatment and did not become well. She treated another relative and this time charged him and this relative did stay well. Thus the tradition of charging for Reiki treatment was reinforced.