Who is a grandmaster, with regards to Reiki?
Apparently, anyone who proclaims him/herself to be one. The titles “Grandmaster” or “Lineage Bearer” were not and are not in use in the Usui Shiki Ryoho, or Usui Kai as it is now called. Consequently this title was never passed on to Mr. Chujiro Hayashi as is currently believed in the west, which means that it was never passed on to Hawayo Takata, nor could it have been passed on to Takata’s grand-daughter, Phyllis Furumoto. Yet Phyllis is claiming herself to be Grandmaster, Lineage Bearer, and rightful heir to the Usui system of “Reiki” — as if anyone could claim soul ownership of Universal energy. However, this is her choice… so be it. There’s an interesting letter written by Carell Ann Farmer, who was the fourth Master initiated by Phyllis Furumoto, posted on the Web regarding the origin of the Grandmaster title. She was also present at the first Masters meeting in 1982 and at the meeting to form the Reiki Alliance in 1983. As an aside; according to the Traditional Japanese Reiki
