Reiki, Spirituality and Sikhism - Are they compatible?

I have been thinking about this for nearly two years and should confess that I am not 100% sure what Guru Nanak would say but I have my own logic that convinced me that they can be compatible. Is it a crime for an Amritdhari Gursikh to receive Reiki treatment or attunement? What one says depends on what one believes in and what they know about Reiki and its philosophy. I tried to tackle it from an objective perspective. I will start the story from the beginning -

In 2002,  I had been suffering from a severe shoulder pain for a year and had tried every treatment including physiotherapy, message, kinesiology and acupuncture; nothing had worked completely. One day when I went to an elderly friends house for a social visit, he said that he can see two holes in my body and that usually happens after a childbirth. I didn't know anything about Aura reading or Reiki then. I was surprised at his remark. He further said that he can fix the holes. At this I mentioned to him that I actually have a very bad right shoulder and the pain keeps coming back. He asked my permission to heal me. he didn't mention Reiki or anything. I simply gave my permission. I thought he was going to message my should but he didn't touch me at all. All I knew was that he was standing behind me. I had closed my eyes. I later asked my husband what did he do? He mentioned that this person simply placed his hands near my shoulders. The pain went away for a month. Coming downstairs from his house, I noticed a poster which prompted a conversation in which he told me that he does meditation everyday for an hour in the morning. A month later I called him in distress due to severe pain, he did the same hand treatment again and this time the shoulder pain never came back. I now know that what he did was Reiki treatment. I also know that since this Christian person changed his religion to Jehovahs Witness, he gave up Reiki as it is against his new religions belief system.

In late 2008, a work colleague told me that he has joined a meditation group and now he does meditation everyday for an hour. I became jealous and felt guilty that I, the Amridhari Gursikh, never do meditation and this person, Mr Nobody - according to AKJ standard Sikhi, was meditating everyday. In 2009, my new year resolution was to do meditation everyday, open my third eye and raise my Kundalini to 7th Chakra and see God and whatever else about Him Guru Nanak saw. I have since found out that 7th chakra is not the goal of Kundalini, it is the 4th chakra, the heart centre. Guru Nanak, the prophet of the 4th chakra, according to Sahej Yoga people, also seem to see God through the 4th chakra, the chakra of Love and Compassion for all. I was serious about my goal as 2012 was only four years away and I had to achieve the highest state before the end of the world. I must say I did very well that year and was very happy with the Kirpa of my Gurus. Read my blogs from that time to know about my precious experiences.

In Dec 2009, I went to India. My eldest sister told me that she had received Reiki attunement and was getting good results with healing but she gave up thinking that it was against Sikhism and she was not willing to change her Guru. Knowing how Reiki healing had changed my life ..

I asked Baba Makhan Singh of his opinion. He said that its Ok to practice Reiki but to be aware that when you heal someone this way, you are using your personal energy, although the Reiki theory says that its only God's energy that is being used. He said that since we use our intent to heal the person and to clear their aura (he knew about auras!), our personal energy does get used.

I am scared to see some Reiki healer being sick with life-threatening diseases. I wonder if they are sick as they used up too much of their personal energy and left themselves vulnerable to sickness. In pranic energy healing, they talk about receiving a little more than you are giving, so you don't deplete your energy but Reiki says that the healer doesn't control the flow of energy. It says that the Reiki knows how much is needed and the patient can't receive too much, unlike pranic energy healing where too much can cause energy congestion. Since reiki says its not personal energy being used at all, they do not talk about the harm to the healer for giving too much.

Besides this, in the Reiki Attunement session, the master asks you to imagine a Golden Yellow light around yourself. Yellow is the light of Solar Plexus, which is the chakra of personal energy.

More importantly, when Guru Nanak gave me darshan and before or after my 9 petal lotus opened, my whole body was healed by a emerald green colour particles coming out of a gemstone in the heart centre, hanging on a string that came down from the 7th chakra. Then the electric green colour light came out of my temples up to the palms of my hands in a semi-circle shape. This was not given to me by any humanbeing, therefore I trust this to be more God's energy and something that I was given without asking, so I must have God's permission to use it. Although, I tried to not accept it, as I was scared that I might not have the ability to use it wisely; I know believe that the creator would be a better judge of what I am capable and worthy of than myself. I still haven't used either of these to heal others. I am sure, when its the right time, I will be asked to serve. There is no hurry.

Number 555 is for the fire element?

After my first astral travel experience, as mentioned in the last blog, if that's what it was; I received this knowledge that no. 555 is the no. of fire element. I wondered if I should understand it to be the number of Air element as I have just finished astral travel and just learnt to control the air element. As I thought this I saw the vision of number 555 written in fire. Then I thought that may be I actually left my body through the Solar Plexus, the element of fire and that is why more importantly I have learnt about the fire and hence the no. of fire element.

What am I suppose to use this 555 for? I didn't get the time to ask as the alarm went off and distracted my session. Searching on google, all I have found so far is this site on The Pentagram which says,

"The Pentagram (5) represents Spirit or God (1) united with the physical Universe (4). It is the incarnation of Spirit into physical form through the four Elements for the sake of experience and self-realization. It is only by physical incarnation that the Spirit can realize its true nature, its potential, and its transcendence. The four Elements are the means by which Spirit can experience its infinite possibilities of self-expression; the finite is the means to the realization of the Infinite.

The Elements, which constitute man's earthly existence, including his inner Self, are linked with the five points of the Pentagram. These are Fire, Water, Air, Earth, and Spirit. The uppermost point is that of Spirit, the essence and matrix of the four Elements; the top left point is that of Air; the top right point is that of Water; the bottom left point is that of Earth; and the bottom right point is that of Fire. Also linked with the five points of the Pentagram are the five Hebrew letters, which compose the Divine Name of Yeheshuah. This Name represents the operation of the Holy Spirit in the midst of the Elements."

During my 2nd last meditation, I had experienced extra energy pouring into my right hand side of the belly ( 2 inches above the bellybotton and three 3 inches to the right). I had thought that it was just healing that space cos we had removed an energy cord from that area. Is that the point of Fire element? I did see the vision of a fire portal opening just before I felt the air above my head. Did the hot fire triggered the air to rotate and helped me fly? It sounds so crazy for those who don't believe in astral travel. I sound like a lunnytune. What can I say. Welcome to the world of meditation and mystery.

According to the site, wise people stay silent. I shouldn't write all this in a blog open to the public, but I hate secrecy. Those who are seeking such knowledge should have access to it. If God doesn't Will them to find it, they won't. Here is what the Pentagram site says,

"The number of the Pentagram is five, which is the number of the Atu of Thoth called "The Hierophant", who represents the Perfected Man or Adept. The Adept is He who is able "to Know, to Dare, to Will, and to Keep Silent." These are the Four Powers of the Sphinx; and these Four Powers when attained are crowned by a fifth power, "to Go", which is the function of a god. It is the act of doing one's True Will, like a star flaming forth on its own self-determined orbit, free to fulfill its cosmic destiny in the celestial scheme of the Infinite Universe. Like the Elements, these Powers are linked with the five points of the Pentagram.
Knowledge corresponds to the point of Air,
Courage corresponds to the point of Fire,
Will corresponds to the point of Earth,
Silence corresponds to the point of Water, and
To Go corresponds with the uppermost point, which is attributed to Spirit."

When a man attains true knowledge he has control over the Element of Air; when he dares what is true he has control over the Element of Fire; when he wills what is right he has control over the Element of Earth; and when he keeps perfect silence he has control over the Element of Water. When the Magician exercises such control, he is then able "to Go", to do his True Will and to express his True Self. The Blazing Pentagram or Sign of Magical Omnipotence symbolizes this operation.

If the above is true, then where is God's Will / Hukam as Guru Nanak said to obey? This sounds more like a saucerer's / a magician's / a satan's way.

I want to follow Guru Nanak's way, to obey God's Will. Whatever God Will's for me is my destiny and I do not want to interfere with his creation. I am happy to be part of his game plan than to play my own game. O' Guru Nanak, please guide me. Why did I receive this knowledge and why I experienced this strange journey. Is this God's Will or my desires fulfilling? Should I believe this last para that I read after having the doubts about what the path I am walking on,

"The Inverted Pentagram, from the profane point of view, represents the total reversal of the above ideas, turning man upside down, thus placing him in a position contrary to the divine order. It has been said that this Inverted Pentagram represents the Elements dominating or ruling over the Spirit of Man, therefore representing a false way of life, being the way of evil. But this, in fact, can be very misleading; for it is not really a matter of the Elements dominating Spirit; rather is it a matter of the True Will or True Self being concealed beneath the Elements, to be discovered by eliminating all elemental impurities which veil the truth of the soul. It is an alchemical formula of supreme importance.

For the Alchemist it means that he must eliminate all elemental impurities from his First Matter. The True Self is concealed in the World of the Elements and may be found in the depths thereof. This is the doctrine of initiation. Thus is the Inverted Pentagram a most holy symbol to the Wise, but an evil symbol unto the profane. It is, in fact, a symbol of Pan, The All. To experience and to be consciously All is the supreme work of the Initiates and the final work of all mankind. The All is the Absolute, God, or the One Self. Pan is the mythological representation of The All. Thus is the Inverted Pentagram again a most holy symbol. Inverted or not, the Pentagram is a symbol of Man as God."

The Pentagram, or Pentalpha, is composed of five A's. A is Aleph in the Magical Alphabet, and the number of Aleph spelled in full is 111 (Aleph-Lamed-Peh). 5 x 111 = 555, which is the number of HAD spelled in full (H=10+A=111+D=434). Thus the Pentagram is a symbol of HAD, the flame that burns in every heart of man and in the core of every Star; He is the Great Invisible Center of Life that is omnipresent, symbolized by the Sun, the center of our Solar System. Source: http://thelemicgoldendawn.net/zelator/pentagram.htm

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The following info is from the site: http://www.whale.to/b/5_h.html accessed on 21/09/11.

Number 5 - Adventure, change, freedom, exploration, variety, sensuality, unattached, curious, experienced, periodicity, knowledge seeker, knowledge teacher, traveler, imagination, child-like, playful, five senses (taste, touch, smell, sight, hearing).
http://www.spiritual-path.com/numerology.htm
The number for Mankind is 555. 5 + 5 + 5 = 15 = 6
'55, 555, 55:55' the universe is making changes for you whether you ask for it or not. Allow the currents to take you into a new future full of possibilities still hidden from you at this point of seeing. Hold the vision until you land on the new shore.
http://www.mcuniverse.com/Receiving_Energy_From_Numbers.1234.0.html

Occultists multiply and add numbers in order to create other sacred numbers -- they also group numbers in ways that will be recognizable to other occultists. They often use the principle of intensification, that greater power is derived from groupings. Regarding the number 3, intensification is achieved when it is shown as 33, or 333. Obviously twice 333 is 666. The use of 333 by occultists is a blind to conceal the more offensive 666. 333 can serve as an "occult signature" when it is used to clothe an event in time -- only fellow travelers will recognize this signature (remember 555?). Similarly, 999 also conceals 666. Likewise, 39 conceals 13. Hitler chose to begin WW2 in '39. Thrice 11 is 33, and both Roosevelt and Hitler came to power in '33. Both were committed to the establishment of the New World Order.
http://mysite.verizon.net/resoxkyi/thenewworldorderscam/id12.html

Obsession with Religious figures - a dangerous business

Do you praise some religious figure too much and thing this person is greater than everyone else? If so, ask yourself -
Am I obsessed?
Am I thinking of this person's welfare ahead of my own family's welfare?
Do I empathise too much with this person?
If any of the answers is 'Yes', you might be in big trouble before you know.

Religious people who do long hours of reading prayers, singing and / or meditation naturally learn how to move energy within once body and then given enough spare time, also learn how to use this energy to connect to other people. Some can throw an energy cord and connect it to your solar plexus. If they manage to do this, soon you will do what is good for this person, not good for yourself.

According to the 'World of Reiki' website, "The solar plexus chakra is the third chakra. It may be referred to as the "spleen chakra", the "navel chakra", "stomach chakra", or "manipura chakra". It is located below the rib cage, between the tip of the sternum and the navel. Solar Plexus chakra is said to be a reservoir of energy that can be distributed throughout the entire body. Hence, blockages and weakness in the solar plexus chakra can have profound consequences for all of the other chakras. Again, blockages of solar plexus / manipura chakra are related to both physical and psychological disturbances." Source: http://www.worldofreiki.com/solar-plexus-chakra-in-reiki-healing.html

If a very religious person has psychological problems, think of all the living religious figures affecting this persons life and you will find a culprit that you least suspected, the one this person loves the most. Learn to protect yourself and if you are already in trouble see a spiritual healer who can balance your solar plexus and remove the undue influence of others on your life and solve your psychological problems as well that your regular psychologist or psychiatrist can't.

Read my previous blog for a personal experience and a lesson for life.

Rituals and Contemporary Sikhism - Joot - Yug -Havan

I had another opportunity to See Giani Thakur Singh ji yesterday, in a private setting. I was so excited as I wanted to know more about deeper spiritual stuff that regular people don't know. I took Surinder Singh Nanaksar Delhi wale and his jatha in my car to visit them.

Surinder Singh ji asked the vidhi of doing 125 lakh Moolmantras. Giani ji said that one should wear all white after a shower, have a white sheet underneath and a white Mala (Rosemary). Then do 32 Mala's each day. It roughly takes eight hours a day to complete it in 40 days. One could do two four hour sessions but he suggested that we do it at a set time. Samuel Sagan also mentions in his book 'Opening the third eye' the importance of meditating at the same time, regularly.

In my casual self, I asked wouldn't it be Ok if I just counted the hours and not worry about counting the 32 Mals's each day. I fear that I will miscount as I use to as a child when my dad use to ask us to do 5-10 mala's of simran. Other ladies had come in the room by then and entered the discussion and commented that it wouldn't work as everyone's speed is different. Giani ji wasn't too pleased about my question and asked if I had ever done mala to which I replied, "No", as his tone was already suggesting that I have no idea what I am talking about. I was merely asking because of my laziness about counting and memory.

Then some lady asked Giani Thakur SIngh ji if we should light Joot in the Gurdwara. They complained that the present giani stopped them from lighting it. I had heard this issue deing discussed at the Thath one morning.

Thakur Singh ji was in favour of the joot being lit at the gurdwara and home. He started showing the photos that he took at different historical Gurdwara and claimed that all those gurdwaras have Joot in them. I was impressed with this argument. I stayed quiet and listened as I don't know anything about this topic. He furthur said that we (regular public) don't understand the deeper reason. He said that when we make Prashad and add water, the vapours carry the smell of the Ghee made with Cows milk. He claimed that the smell of the Ghee is the only food of Gods.

Then I figured that he wasn't only instigating that we should light it in the Gurdwara but also in individual homes. This prompted me to speak. I asked Giani ji, "Wouldn't it be better if people collectively donated the amount of money they will use on burning the ghee (bucket of ghee is A$85 in our town) to poor people in India?"

I was besides myself at Giani ji's reaction. I was expecting a very simple explanation, either in favour or against it. I thought I was happy to listen to his opinion regardless. Well, I wasn't thinking too hard but Giani ji's reaction told me that he felt that I was challenging his authority, which surprised me. Instead of speaking in favour or against the issue that I had raised, he said that I should look at my level before speaking - "Apne Diare Wich Reh Ke Gal Karidi Hai". I didn't think having an open discussion was not part of my diara (level of understanding). What I failed to understand was that afterall he was a man of authority from India and was expecting a submissive 'Yes Sir' attitude.

Giani ji further said that he has got plenty of answers for well educated smart arses like me (offcourse in punjabi). he then told the group how much he is doing for poor people but we shouldn't being the poor people issue into the spiritual realm. I apologised and tried to explain that he has misunderstood my intention. I didn't intend to put him down but was only looking for a viewpoint in the light of the poor people's needs.

During the talk he then nullified my wonderful experience I had shared with him a day earlier. Without making direct reference to me, he said that anything can take a fake form and appear as God and we wouldn't know the difference. He also pointed to the Raagi jatha and said that people like you and I who are in this field would be the one's who would know about spiritual issues, what would these grahasthes (people with family daily involved in work and social life, not involved in spiritual life) know.

As we stood up to leave, I went upto him and bent as if to touch his feet wrapped inside the blanket and a tear came out of my eye as I apologised for upseting him but then said that I am sad that you misunderstood me. I was not challenging your authority. Then I explained to him how I have been thinking about doing something for the poor and was merely looking for ways we can help them. He asked me if I donate Daswand (10th share of income for charity). I told him that I don't do it. I raised the issue of Darbar Sahib Amritsar, how the SGPC spends so much money on new rumala everyday and does nothing for the poor and to teach gurbani and kirtan to kids. Giani ji agreed.

Other ladies ask for the permission to leave and said that they will visit him the next day just before his departure back to Brisbane. Upon asking why, the ladies said that they will bring donation. Giani ji asked me to come again as well and bring donation, to which I replied that I won't be giving any donation with my filthy money.

I want accountability and need to know exactly what money was spent where.

At present Giani Thakur Singh ji is being used to collect money for the Minto gurdwara. What Giani ji don't know that its is owned by Malaysian Sikhs who promote that Sikhs should only read three bani's in the morning instead of five - Japji, jaap and Tvaprasad Sawaiye. I have attended Sikh Youth Camps run by these people for many years. Singer Dya Singh has also been involved in these camps for a few years. I wonder if Giani Thakur Singh would have raised money for them had he known about their stand on Nitnem.

In the above incident, I realise the cause of friction was cultural differences. I have been working with Australians for long and share the following opinions with them, "the Australians feel the need to have and voice individual opinions, the importance of being heard, and the opportunity to make a decision and move on. In a cultural workshop they felt that the silence was uncomfortable as silences in Western cultures can mean a number of things with a rather negative impact e.g. that a person does not understand, does not have an opinion, does not know how to deal with the situation or is upset by what is going on. To better understand what is going on they use verbal communication such as asking questions, explanations, confrontations to break through silences. The Japanese added that sometimes talking too much was regarded as a less intelligent way to deal with problems."
Source: Cross-cultural Effectiveness, June 2010 Joost Thissen
http://hosted.verticalresponse.com/246404/e5f5ee5aa4/1343002324/bfa371b8c6/

Giani Thakur Singh definately took the Japanese view when I thought I was starting an open discussion on the topic, whereas I think that "Just do it" approach is childish as there is no reflection on the possible outcomes.

What hurt me the most is his remark that I haven't seen the light within (joot in the Solar Plexus), at least light it physically. In his words, "Andar tan joot jagai nahin, bahar tan jaga lavo." I am hurt that a day earlier he questioned me about my experiences with a big checklist -
Have you seen any colours, if yes what colours
Have you met any scary spirits yet etc and I had answered yes to all his questions, without adding any more information on what else I have seen and known, that he didn't ask. The two things that I haven't seen that he asked for were the White Colour and the Joot. I am not sure what he meant by White Colour. I am sure it is different from the Great White Light that entered my body before any other spiritual experience.

The very next day he used the Joot point to degrade me. Since that moment I have been praying to Guru Nanak to help me. I have so wanted to have "Puran Joot Jagai Ghat Mai". If anything, this has prompted me to get my act together and meditate as much as I use to, for at least hour and half everyday sitting meditation and then a few hours while laying in bed.











More info on Solar Plexus on the link but don't expect any chakras to get balanced by using chystals. The only way to balance a chakra is by meditating in that area of the body. http://www.colormychakras.com/light-blog/solar-plexus-chakra

Another source says' "The solar plexus chakra influences or "rules" the digestive organs, the muscular systems in general, the liver and gallbladder. It also has a general governing effect on the limbs, particularly the elbow and knee joints. On a consciousness level, it expresses personal will, ego, sense of self and effectiveness at relating to or influencing other people and animals. A good CEO, military officer or dog trainer, for example, must have a strong and well-developed solar plexus center. When this center is blocked by various internalized fears, self-doubt and limiting beliefs, people have difficulty getting what they want in life or feeling deep emotions, and easily are subject to anxiety, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorders, worry and paranoia." http://www.massagetoday.com/mpacms/at/article.php?id=31543

Nice photo on the following source: http://www.chakramagic.com/solar_plexus.htm
The heart center is the seat for the divine.
A space where you are the host and the divine is the guest.
Once this center opens up, the energy reaches here...
You have come half way to hug the divine.

Three chakras below heart...and three above.
The chakras below the heart govern the earthly aspect and
the chakras above the heart reflect the divine aspect of our being.
Heart chakra is exactly in the center,
the bridge that connects above and below.
Here something beautiful is born within...
something is transformed permanently...if you allow it to happen.
Your spiritual journey is accelerated with high velocity from here.
There is no turning back from here
once the petals of heart chakra open up. (At least I have this experience with me.)
Blessed are these souls who function from heart chakra and above.

Childhood injuries and psychic abilities

Natural clairvoyants and psychics frequently have childhood histories of such injuries, particularly to the head or the spine. So says the author of the ebook Branded by the spirit. http://www.elcollie.com/st/chap5.html

When I was in year 2, ie Six years old, we had a very bad scooter accident and I had a head injury. Is this the reason why at certain times in life I have experienced weird things?

Anyway, at this moment I am interested in what I should eat. I realise that last Tuesday I felt dizzy after every meal. I couldn't understand what was going on. Now, after reading the solar Plexus stuff and what happened last night, I understand the reason for my sudden gastric issue. Since my tummy feels sensitive, I wonder if I should eat less at this time.

A few quotes from the Branded by the Spirit.
"3rd chakra: POWER Personal power -- ego-strength, assertiveness, self vs. other

This is the level of the will. It is the center for personal choice and the "gut-instinct" kind of intuition that helps us appraise daily life situations. When the 3rd chakra at the solar plexus opens, there can be tremendous emotional upheaval. Lots of painful unconscious material can erupt. Vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea and other digestive troubles can accompany this opening. Telepathy, clairvoyance, clairsentience and awareness of astral entities may emerge with an awakened 3rd chakra.

I couldn't understand why I saw my dad who has been dead since 1998, while listening to the lecture of Pranthpreet Singh who came to our temple for three days. He was saying everything in Sunday's Diwan that I want to tell the Sikh people. He talked about sitting with backbone straight and doing Simran with Shabad- Surat etc. He also mentioned God as energy, the way I want to explain. I felt so happy that I had wondered if I should meet him and beg him to help me. I had the impression that my spiritual progress had stopped as nothing miraculous was happening. As I had this thought in my mind to go and beg Panthpreet Singh to help, I saw, off course with my eyes closed, my dad was yelling at me. I couldn't hear what he was saying but I got that he was saying that I must not ask for help. Every morning I felt like ringing the people at who's house he was staying and every evening I planned to see him and share the Guru Fateh but for some reason I didn't get to see him or speak to him. If I had, I would have thought that he made my Solar Plexus open. I suppose dad would have known whats already happening that I couldn't understand then.

"The solar plexus is a sort of radar system, which registers whatever is occurring on the mental, emotional and physical planes, both internally and externally. The newly awakened 3rd chakra usually makes us emotionally and psychically hypersensitive. As Arundale says, one can become "a kind of sensitive plate upon which, for example, people in the outer world imprint themselves," such that one can know in a flash "their natures." There were periods in my awakening when I could read into other people's souls; I could sense their darkest secrets and deepest pain without them saying a word. "

"The distinction of upper and lower relate not so much to hierarchy and value as they do to density and vibrational rates, and to broader or narrower ranges of perception. The many teachings about the Chakras differentiate between active and awakened Chakras. Active Chakras are those in which energy regularly or habitually congregates.

Everyone has activity in their Chakras, and each individual characteristically "carries" more energy in certain Chakras than others. A very sensually oriented, hedonistic type would have a strongly active 2nd chakra, while a highly ambitious, competitive personality would be very active in the 3rd chakra. Intellectuals have strongly activated 6th Chakras. "

Here is a simple meditation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxCZ6Tgoero&feature=player_embedded#