Is it true that Dr Usui found Reiki while he was doing something called Lotus Repentance meditation?
IMO, too much is made of the possible (and I repeat POSSIBLE) link between the Lotus Repentence Ritual – a Tendai Buddhist practice – and Usui Sensei’s meditation. To the best of my knowledge, the Lotus Repentance Ritual is a rite practiced primarily at Hiei Yama, it was not commonly performed at Kurama Yama. Even if it was performed at Kurama, it seems to be primarily a Priestly practice – just because he was Tendai, doesn’t mean Usui was a priest. And just because he meditated on a mountain that was, during his lifetime, under Tendai control, doesn’t necessarily mean he was even participating in a Tendai rite. Although the main Temple complex was under Tendai rule, as a Sacred Mountain, Kurama Yama was frequented by members of many different sects. It was/is also of course sacred to followers of Shinto (- let’s not forget that ‘Mao-son’ -one part of the trinity collectively referred to as Sonten by the independent Religion that took over Kurama after WWII – is in fact a Kami, not a B
