Spiritual Medicine for the Modern Heart

In the original Japanese tradition, Mikao Usui did not teach the Five Precepts as a set of moral laws or distant goals. He called them the “Secret Method of Inviting Happiness” and the “Spiritual Medicine for All Diseases.” They were designed to be lived as active commitments—vibrations that we hold within the body until they become our natural state.

To practice Reiki is to realize that your internal state dictates the quality of the life force you channel. We use a traditional map of three primary energy reservoirs, often called the Three Diamonds, to anchor these precepts into our physical reality.

The Energetic Map: The Three Diamonds

Before we can embody the precepts, we must understand the architecture of our own energy system.

• The Earth Diamond (Hara): Located in the lower abdomen, this is your foundation. It represents grounding, stability, and raw vital power. Without a strong Earth Diamond, your spiritual practice will be unmoored and fragile.
• The Heart Diamond: Located in the center of the chest, this is the seat of compassion and relationship. It is the bridge between the physical and the spiritual.
• The Heaven Diamond (Head): Located in the head, this represents clarity, intuition, and your connection to the source. It is the light of awareness that transcends personal ego.

1. Just for Today, Do Not Anger

Kyo dake wa okoru na

Anger is not a moral failing; it is a symptom of a weak Earth Diamond. When we are ungrounded, we are easily swayed by external events. Anger is essentially “rising heat” that has lost its anchor.

The Practice: When irritation rises, do not fight the emotion. Instead, guide your breath deep into the Hara. Visualize the “Earth Diamond” in your lower belly growing heavy and solid like a mountain. As you ground your energy, the fire of anger is transformed into the heat of presence. We do not suppress the anger. We simply return it to the earth.

2. Just for Today, Do Not Worry

Kyo dake wa shinpai suna

Worry is the result of a cluttered Heaven Diamond. It is the mind attempting to control a future that does not yet exist, which causes a leak in our energy field.

The Practice: When the mind begins to spin, bring your attention to the space behind your brow. Recognize that worry is a story, not a reality. By clearing the Heaven Diamond through breath and Gassho (the joining of hands), we reconnect to the present moment. If the mind is still, the “Medicine” of Reiki can flow. If the mind is worried, the flow is restricted by the friction of thought.

3. Just for Today, Be Grateful

Kyo dake wa kansha shite

Gratitude is the nectar of the Heart Diamond. It is the energetic opposite of lack. In the traditional sense, gratitude is not a reaction to good things happening; it is an active choice to recognize the life force that is already present in everything.

The Practice: To live this agreement, focus on the warmth in your chest. Gratitude expands the Heart Diamond, making you a more resonant vessel for Reiki. When we are grateful, we are in a state of “Receiving,” which is the essential posture of a Reiki practitioner.

4. Just for Today, Be Honest in Your Work

Kyo dake wa gyo-wo hagame

In Japanese, Gyo refers to one’s spiritual work or “duty.” This is about integrity. It is the bridge between the Earth and the Heart. When we are dishonest with ourselves or lazy in our spiritual practice, we create “blocks” that prevent the life force from flowing clearly.

The Practice: Honesty means showing up fully for your life. It means practicing your self-treatments with the same dedication you would give to a client. It is the commitment to be an authentic reflection of the light you channel. If your Earth Diamond is stable and your Heart is open, integrity becomes effortless.

5. Just for Today, Be Kind to Yourself and Others

Kyo dake wa hito-ni shinsetsu-ni

Kindness is the final expansion. It is the realization that there is no separation between the practitioner and the recipient. If you are harsh with yourself, the Reiki you offer others will be colored by that judgment.

The Practice: Shift your perspective from scarcity to abundance. Realize that kindness is the natural overflow of a balanced system. When the Three Diamonds are aligned, you no longer have to “try” to be kind. Kindness becomes the atmosphere in which you live.

Integrating the Gokai into Daily Life

The secret to traditional Reiki is consistency. We do not just recite these words in the morning; we use them as an emotional regulator throughout the day.

• Before Treating: Take a moment in Gassho. Invite the precepts into the space. Let “do not worry” loosen your attachment to the outcome. Let “be kind” fill your hands with warmth.
• During the Day: If you feel pulled off center, ask yourself: Which precept am I breaking right now? Use that specific precept as a cue to breathe into the corresponding Diamond.

By living these agreements, Reiki ceases to be a technique and becomes a way of being. You become a living bridge between Heaven and Earth.