Compassionate Heart Energy and Healing
Taokan Karuna™ Introduction and Overview
Taokan Reiki™ is a generic name that refers to a growing number of practices using the reiki energy with the Karuna symbols. The following practices and descriptions are one possible manifestation. There are many others that have developed. This art was developed from practices with Karuna and the Karuna Symbols. It could be said that any Reiki is Karuna in that in doing Reiki we are trying to alleviate the sufering of all sentient beings. Taokan Karuna™ is a focus way of practicing this. Taokan Karuna™ is the Way of Compassionate Energy and a Healing and Meditative practice using the Taokan Karuna™ energy and symbols to be the Divine Heart of Compassion.
The History of Taokan Karuna™ tries to be balanced in its understanding of how the Karuna arts came to be, and tries to give due credit to those who invested time and effort in its development. Taokan Reiki™ represents my development and practice with the Karuna, the symbols, Taokan Karuna™ meditations and other practices.
This version of Taokan Karuna™ shares the symbols and early development with Karuna ReikiÒ, and Tera MaiÔ Reiki. This version of Taokan Karuna™ has new attunements and Taokan Karuna™ meditations, and is a new development apart from either Karuna ReikiÒ and Tera MaiÔ Reiki. The basic principle of Taokan Reiki™ is the connection to (and becoming) the embodiment of compassion both for healing self and others, and to send healing and compassion to all creation. The attunement and subsequent meditations link us to the compassion of "God" (which we all already are and have!), and it is through this power that we heal. During the healing we strive to reflect compassion and love not only to those we heal, but to all creation. For those uncomfortable with the use of "God", this principle is reflected wonderfully in the Buddhist Goddess of Compassion, Kuan Yin (. This is a "heart centered compassion" and a heart centered healing. It is sharing in the compassion of the Divine, or the compassion of Kuan Yin for all the universe. It is only in this perfect love that one is truly healed.
Similarities and Differences to other Karuna Arts and Systems
Taokan Reiki™ evolved from other Karuna arts. Similarities include that it shares the Symbols Zonar, Halu, Harth, Rama, Gnosa, Kriya, Shanti, Iava, Om, Fire Serpent, and the Tibetan Master Symbol.
Karuna ReikiÒ uses a process of 4 attunements. In reality there are only 2 attunements. There is a Karuna I and a Karuna II attunement. When learning Karuna Practitioner Level I, you receive the first of the two attunements. When you learn Karuna Practitioner Level II, you receive the second attunement. When you learn the two master levels, you receive the same attunements again with the intent that they be master attunements this time. In Tera MaiÔ Reiki, there are three attunements. These are Level I, Level II, and Master Level. There is also a Water ceremony and a Yod initiation.
Taokan Reiki™ is very different. It has a two faceted attunement system. For those who are already Reiki or Seikim Masters, there is a Singular Taokan Karuna™ Master Attunement that attunes you to all the symbols to the Master level in one attunement. For those with less than master energy work, there is a three leveled attunement system. The theoretical underpinnings of this are discussed in more depth in the attunement section of this manual.
The system is based on Reiki, and uses the Reiki energy in a different way. These practices developed naturally out of working with the Reiki energy and Karuna symbols. These days, there are many claims by some systems being "higher frequency", "faster healing" and "better than Usui Reiki". It must be noted that this Taokan Karuna™ System makes none of these claims. Taokan Karuna™ is offered as a healing art and spiritual practice. No other claims are made than that. It is a truism that meditation and practice of any energy system or art has the effect of increasing your capacity to handle energy as well as your own personal vibration. That includes consistent practice with Usui Reiki or personal meditation.
This version of Taokan Karuna™ was redesigned and incorporated new developments in a manner that resonates better for with the Way of Compassionate Energy. It has new meditations, new uses for the symbols, and new attunements. Taokan Karuna™ is a unique creation that is separate and different from the Sai Baba Reiki and Karuna ReikiÒ .
The Taokan Reiki™ System - Trademarks, Registrations and Controls
The Taokan Karuna™ System respects the traditional Teacher and Student Relationship, which has stood the test of time for centuries. Healing and teaching relationships should be individual relationships free of outside controls, conflicting loyalties, and other requirements. This is the case with the vast majority of the Independent Usui Reiki Masters. As such, the Taokan Karuna™ system is offered as an alternative. The Taokan Karuna™ system is free of registrations, conflicting loyalties and external controls. It is a system, like Usui Reiki, that is for everyone. Teachers of this system are free to add material as they see fit to address the needs of their individual students.
This Taokan Karuna™ manual is Universal Copyright 2000. As such, it is For Free Distribution only. It is to be shared freely, without cost. You may print copies of this work for personal use or to be shared with students, provided that it is given in its entirety. You may re-format and redistribute this work for use on computers and computer network, provided that you charge no fees for its distribution or use.
Taokan Karuna™ Teachers are always free to use their own materials, develop their own materials, establish whatever requirements for certification that they wish for their individual students and teach however they choose. Those who are Karuna Masters from other Karuna traditions finding themselves disinfranchised due to registration issues are welcome to practice Taokan Karuna™, and free to use the name for their practice. It is trademarked so that it can be open to all. The manual is a resource for all to use.
Taokan Karuna™ is in no way affiliated with Karuna ReikiÒ, the International Center for Reiki StudiesÒ William Rand, Tera MaiÔ Reiki, or Kathleen Milner.
The Meaning of Taokan Reiki™
Taokan Reiki™ means Compassionate energy or as it is more appropriately "The Way of Compassionate Energy". It is healing and spreading the Compassion of the Creator to all, and all creation. It is "being" the compassion of God, as St. Paul calls us to be, or as Kuan Yin personifies.
Taokan Reiki™ is a heart centered healing. It is a loving, heart centered compassionate healing art. It works best with the focus on the loving compassion of all creation flowing through you. "Compassionate Heart Reiki" is the term I use to best describe it. Whether you conceptualize this in St. Paul's words where we are called to be the "Compassion of God", or the "Compassionate Heart of Jesus", or in the Buddhist practices of Kuan Yin, goddess of compassion the net result is the same. The attunements are performed with the Intent of connecting to and becoming this "Compassion of God". They are truly loving and a blessing to do and to receive. In this, I think Taokan Reiki™ is very specific in its understanding of what this compassion is. And it is not just compassion in healing others, but in spreading it throughout the world and universe in all that we do. The meditations of Taokan Reiki™ are to foster this compassion and to spread it throughout the universe.
It needs to be stated here very clearly that this is not a religion. This is a healing art and meditative practice designed to cultivate compassion. Spreading love and compassion is always a worthwhile and wondrous endeavor in its own right.
The practice of contemplating, developing and spreading compassion is found in many religious faiths throughout the world. Christian mystics, such as St. Ignatus Loyola used meditation (contemplation) and Imagery to connect to the sacred heart of Jesus and the compassion of God, as did St.Francis. This was part of their intimate connection to God. In Tibetan Buddhist practices there are many practices designed to cultivate compassion. Three of the most notable are the Tonglen, the chant "Om Mani Pedme Hum", and the Bodhicitta. In the Tonglen, one meditates to fill and warm their heart with compassion and then spread it to all the world. The Om Mani Pedme Hum is a mantra of love and comapssion. The Bodhicitta is a cultivation of comapssion based on the idea that since there are a limited number of souls reincarnating, we have all be mother to another many times. Therefore since there is no greater love on earth than a mother's love for her kid, we should strive to reflect and share that love to all at all times.
In pure love we are healed, and all are one in the love of Goddess.
Taokan Reiki™ Practices
Taokan Reiki™ is the hands on healing art of loving compassion, and a way to connect to this compassion and share it with all creation. There are several aspects of Taokan Reiki™ which include Healing, Meditation (Taokan Reiki™ Do), and Chanting (or Toning).
Taokan Reiki™ healing uses this connection to the Way of Compassion to bring compassionate life energy into a person to heal and balance. As said by Christ and Kuan Yin, it is only in perfect love and compassion that we are truly healed. This healing love of Goddess is truly a gift and is wondrous to share.
Taokan Reiki™ Meditation is the embodiment of Compassionate Energy. It is focusing on the connection to the loving compasisonate energy of the source and the sending it out everywhere, to all that need and to all creation so that all are in the process of healing.
Taokan Reiki™ also uses the practice of chanting or "toning". The simplest of these practices is In-toning or chanting the name of the symbol as you use it during meditation or healing. It is thought that the power and energy of the symbol passes with the breath into the client, intensifying the effect of the healing. More complex practices can include focusing on the symbol and allowing the unique personal expression of the symbol to be express through you as a tone. (Some possible chants might be Om-Shanti-Om, or Om-shanti-shanty-Om, or Om-Iava-Om. Many patterns are possible using the symbols names and the intent of the symbol as the guide to what you are trying to accomplish.) For more information on Toning and Chanting visit the Symbols Section of this Manual, and the Taokan Karuna™ Meditation page.
An important part of the Taokan Reiki™ experience is to practice the energy use consistently so that the true nature of the loving compassionate heart of Karuna develops.
Some people using Taokan Reiki™ will find or experience "guides" It is my opinion that the guides we connect to most likely will be directly related to our personal beliefs. People who are Christian are likely to see Jesus, Mary, or angels. People with more new age beliefs might see ascended masters or St. Germaine. You may experience Spiritual guides such as these, or none at all.
The Taokan Reiki™ System- Trademarks, Registrations and Controls
The Taokan Reiki™ System respects the traditional sanctity of the Teacher and Student Relationship, which has stood the test of time for centuries. It is my belief that the healing and teaking relationship should be an individual relationship free of outside controls, conflicting loyalties, and other requirements. This is the case with the vast majority of the Independent Usui Reiki Masters. As such, the Taokan Reiki™ system is offered as an alternative. The Taokan Reiki™ system is free of trademarks, registrations, conflicting loyalties and external controls. It is a system, like Usui Reiki, that is for everyone. Teachers of this system are free to add material as they see fit to address the needs of their individual students.
This manual is offered for Taokan Reiki™ Teachers to use, without obligation, with the exception that if it is used in a class as a student manual that it is given in its entirety. Taokan Karuna™ Teachers are always free to use their own materials, develop their own materials, establish whatever requirements for certification that they wish for their individual students and teach however they choose. The manual is a resource for all to use.
Introduction
All Karuna systems can trace their roots to the early work of Kathleen Milner. What is now referred to as Karuna ReikiÒ and/or Tera MaiÔ Reiki was previously known as Sai Baba Reiki. We begin by examining the early foundations of Sai Baba Reiki and continue on with Taokan Reiki™ in our history.
History
The Early Work of Kathleen Milner
All the Karuna Systems started off their life in the early work of Kathleen Milner. It's initial beginnings were from Usui Reiki. From reading Kathleen's books she reported that she learned Reiki, and began to feel that what she was taught in Reiki and Raku Kai was incomplete. I believe that she later learned Seikim at the whole life Expo in California, most likely from August Star (a student of Phoenix Summerfield). This would appear to have been several months before she began her work on the remodification of Reiki (later to be known as Sai Baba Reiki and/or Tera MaiÔ Reiki). From Seikim she would have learned the "seed" symbols of Seikim including the Infinity, the story in the pyramid that Patrick Zeigler experienced, and other elements of the Seikim Reiki (7 facet system). Additionally, it should be noted that one very common experience of learning Seikim/SKHM, is (according to Patrick Zeigler - the founder) seeing sacred geometry or seeing symbols. Indeed T'om Seaman, Dave Lowry , and Phoenix Summerfield all saw many many symbols as they expanded Seikim. The most basic seed symbols of Seikim involve the Infinity symbol, which is a part of both the Zonar and Halu, as is the Pyramid that is part of Halu. Because of this some have recently questioned whether Sai Baba Reiki was really a form of Seikim. My opinion is that the Seikim was a formational part, but that the intent was different and thus it was a unique connection to the source energy. To my knowledge, I am not sure that there is much acknowledgement of the contribution that Seikim had upon the development of the early foundations of Sai Baba Reiki. (Author's Note: Sai Baba Reiki no longer exists and was transformed by William Rand into Karuna ReikiÒ.)
According to Kathleen's books, she felt Reiki was "incomplete" and missing parts of the attunement process as passed by Hawayo Takata. According to Kathleen's writing she began to ask Father/Mother/God for the missing parts. As our story continues to unfold, after asking for this information from god, the Indian Guru Satya Sai Baba appeared to her (in a bi-located form - Sai Baba was purported to do this miracle) and to Marcy Miller (one of Kathleen's Reiki Students). It was reported that Marcy (who has since broken ties with Kathleen) reported that Sai Baba, gave her another symbol and additions to the attunement. Then Sai Baba appeared to Kathleen on the "inner planes", reviewed the attunement process and gave her a name for the symbol. Several months later Kathleen and Marcy were given the other symbols with additional instructions. Kathleen was told to tell people she was working with Sai Baba. When teaking Tera MaiÔ Reiki, She uses the new symbols, the modified attunement process any additional symbols necessary. (Again remember Patrick Zeigler's observation that people can tap into the sacred geometry of the universe and it is common to see symbols. Also it is my observation that people tend to conceptualize this spiritual force in whatever schema that is most comfortable to them. Christians see Jesus and Mary and Angels, New Age believers see ascended masters, Kathleen and Marcy would appear to have been interested in Sai Baba, and coincidentally enough they saw him.)
This "New Reiki" system was originally channeled by Kathleen Milner and Marcy Miller in 1991. What needs to be pointed out here is that Kathleen and Marcy did not talk to Sai Baba in person or on the phone but thought they connected with him psykically. So at this point, we have Kathleen and Marcy channelling an afro haired being in Orange Robes believing it to be Sai Baba. No one contacted him in person or attempted to at this time to my knowledge. Later, when contact was sought out to confirm Sai baba's involvement, the Sai Baba organization stated publicly that they knew nothing about Sai Baba Reiki. So it would seem that this is something that has come purely though channelling. The first three symbols (Zonar, Harth, and Halu) was given by "Sai Baba" to Kathleen and / or Marcy. The Attunements were given to Kathleen by "Sai Baba". The Rama symbols was given to Kellie-Ray Marine. Other symbols were added by others (see the section on Symbols in this manual).
The Sai Baba Attunements and subsequent Tera MaiÔ Reiki and ancillary techniques of the Water Ceremony, and the Breath of the Fire Dragon seem to be primarily taken from Reiki Kai Reiki. It would seem, upon final inspection and in my opinion, that Sai Baba Reiki was a hybridized modification of Raku Kai Reiki, along with Seikim and the infinity symbol, traditional Usui Reiki, and the symbols and attunements received by Kathleen and Marcy. Taokan Reiki™ retains the use of the Hui Yin, and the Breath of the Fire Dragon (Violet Breath).
It should be noted that both Marcy Miller and Kathleen Milner now admit the being who gave them the Tera Mai attunements was not Sai Baba but "a higher being." (This is my caveat with all channeled information, it is influenced by your intent and desire and conceptual framework. Ask and you may truly receive, as it were. Be careful giving your power away to anyone, physical or not. )
The Reworking of Sai Baba Reiki into Karuna ReikiÒ
The Sai Baba Reiki lineage started with Kathleen Milner receiving the new symbols and attunements. From Kathleen it was taught to Elizabeth Amazon, Isabelle Dussault and to Glenn Derrick. Glenn taught William Lee Rand who re-worked the system and developed Karuna ReikiÒ. What I find particularly interesting is that in the Karuna Materials I have seen, (and i have by no means seen all the materials out there) is that there is little or no mention of this previous history, Kathleen Milner or her contribution to the development of Karuna ReikiÒ...
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