The affirmations have been presented in many forms since Takata first taught the core part of them - what is known in Japan as the Gokai - and most have been similar in their wording. But recently, these versions have been found to be a little incomplete and slightly inaccurate. In June, 1996, I taught a Japanese fellow who was in Vancouver learning ESL (English as a second language). Just before leaving Japan he purchased a Reiki book called "Iyashi No Te" (Healing of Hands -- or Healing Hands). The author is Reiki Master Toshitaka Mochizuki, and this is the first modern Reiki book written by a Japanese. He has connections to many Reiki masters in Japan, some of whom have a lineage to another of Usui's students, Toshihiro Eguchi.

In Mochizuki's book (written in Japanese), he had a copy of the original Usui precepts (in Mochizuki's handwriting). With the aid of one of my Japanese students, Emiko Arai, a group of Reiki Masters sat down to decipher this version of the precepts. Dave King also brought his own a copy of the original affirmations,  in the handwriting of Mikao Usui.  (The original precepts are stored in a private shrine to Usui Sensei somewhere in Tokyo). 

Emiko compared the modern day Japanese translation in Mochizuki's book to the copy of the original we had.  If you have ever had to decipher someone's handwriting, you know that there are usually some words you have to guess at. It is the same with the handwritten version of the precepts; plus, this style of writing and the Japanese Kanji used, are a bit different from that in use today.

Here is a VERY LITERAL TRANSLATION of the precepts, using a Japanese to English dictionary. Please note that the sentence structure is backward to that normally used in English (i.e. the verb comes first). Also, the first 2 lines are actually heading lines.
 

Literal Translation	Romaji or Japanese Pronunciation
Inviting blessings of the secret method Many illnesses of the spiritual (heavenly) medicine Today only anger not Worry not With appreciation  Do work To people be kind In morning at night hands held in prayer think in your mind  Chant with mouth Mind body change it for better Usui Reiki method Founder Usui Mikao	Shou fuku no hiihou Manbyou no Rei yaku Kyo dake wa Ikaruna Shinpai suna Kansha shite Gyo wo hageme Hito ni shinsetsu ni Asa yuu gassho shite kokoro ni neji Kuchi ni tonaeyo Shin shin kaizen, Usui Reiki Ryoho Chosso Usui Mikao

Note: the 4th and 5th lines were a bit confusing until we translated the Usui Memorial in 1998. We now understand what Usui Sensei meant was to "Be thankful", "Endeavour Your work" (which Emiko feels means your daily life work), and "Be kind to people" - at least that is how the memorial is phrased. However, Arjava Petter explained the meaning to the "Do your work" or "Endeavour your work" - saying that it really meant your own spiritual growth. So this is how translating goes <smile>.

In any translation, you usually have several words to choose from, and you should pick ones that express the content of the whole, (and the culture). E.g. 'spiritual" may be more accurate in Japanese than "heavenly". So, if you try to put this into modern English, you get something like this:

It is now known that Usui Sensei wrote these Affirmations in April, 1921 after meditating on his favourite Mt. Hiei near Kyoto.  (It was also the location of  main temple of the Tendai sect of Buddhism).   He wrote them on a large piece of mitsumata washi (paper made from the misumata bush) which was eventually hung as a kakejiku or hanging scroll.  This still hangs on the wall in a private shrine to Usui Sensei (not the Saihoji Temple site), which is kept secret from the public. 

It was previously thought that the Affirmations were derived from the words of the Meiji Emperor, but on my trip to Japan in November 2000 I learned the following from Hiroshi Doi-sensei in his Reiki Master class.
 

"Usui Sensei created (the) Gokai (the 5 principles) getting hints from a book "Kenzon no Genri" (Principles of Health)  written by Dr. Suzuki Bizan (published in March, 1914.) The book says 'Just for today, do not get angry, do not feel fear, be honest, work hard, and be kind to others.' "

(from Gendai Reiki Healing Training Text - Gendai Reiki-ho <Shinpiden>, Hiroshi Doi-sensei)

There is a Japanese web page  (thanks to Rudy Kedem for the link)  which discusses the above text from the book (in the last section at the bottom). George Mullen, an Usui-doka, reviewed this and gave the following explanation:
 

" The extract comes out in Romanji as: Kyou take wa ikarazu osorezu / shoujiki ni shokumu o hagemi / hito ni shinsetsu " I would translate this as:  Today only: do not anger (someone), do not be afraid. Encourage honesty in (your) professional duties. Be kind to people. "Note the difference between ikara (to make someone else angry) and ikaru (to get angry) as used in O-sensei's concepts."

It could have been a coincidence, or Usui Sensei could have noticed the phrase and become inspired by it. However it is interesting to note that the maiden name of Usui Sense's wife was also Suzuki.  Whatever the source, those middle statements above in red called the Gokai are what the spiritual side of Sensei's system was all about.  They were the true reference  refereed to by the following term - Usui Reiki (to ancestor) Ryoho(remedy) or Usui Remedy for connecting with your ancestral self.  In some schools like Gendai Reiki Ho and Usui-Do they are looked at in great detail.

When Melissa Riggall spent a month working with Mr. Tatsumi (a senior Hayashi student 1927-31) in 1996, she pointed to  the kanji for "Reiki" in a photo of the original affirmations that Mr. Tatsumi had.  She said this is what the Western world called the healing system.  He said that the term is simply what O-Sensei (Usui - the term refers to the head of a system) used to refer to his ancestors.

Dr. Hayashi had taught him an inner spiritual system (the original Usui-Do) and an outer palm healing system that Usui's friend Eguchi created at the Usui-Do dojo in 1925.  Together with the Navy students of Usui, Eguchi and Hayashi had formed a learning society (Gakkai) called Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai.  The palm healing system was the main method being taught, with spiritual work being increased as one progressed.  But the system was shortened to 3 or 4 levels and few learned the complete Usui-Do.  Hayashi continued to teach both systems until at least 1931, while Eguchi may have taught both for longer.

The name of the person in the log book is said to be difficult to read, but it also mentions that the same person was not allowed to remove the affirmations to photograph them. It is thought that this person may have simply sat down and copied them. However, this same version of the affirmations shows up on a picture of Usui Sensei that was handed out by one of his students (Keizo Ogawa), and is believed to be in Usui Sensei's own handwriting. So it would seem that photos were made of the precepts - possibly again by Dr. Hayashi when they hung in the Usui-dojo (training hall).  The Ogawa version is now in the possession of Frank Arjava Petter and it appears in a couple of his books.

The original precepts also have red hankos or stamps on the left side, below the writing. 

Below is a copy of a photograph of the handwritten version of the precepts. It is read column by column, from top to bottom, going from the right side to the left.

In the 3rd column from the left in the above document you can see handwriting for the words Rei and Ki - it is part of the phrase -  Usui Reiki Ryoho, which is what I have for the background image to this page .

In the old Reiki Society, Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai (gah kie) the central part of the affirmations, called the Gokai (goe-kie) are recited 3 times at the end of the opening meditation - called Shuyo-ho.
 

In the Shinpiden Level of Gendai Reiki Ho, I learned a deeper understanding of the Gokai from my teacher Mr. Hiroshi Doi-sensei.  It is very much in the spirit of the original system of Usu.
 

© Copyright 2000 Hiroshi Doi - Gendai Reiki ho Shinpiden Manual Five Reiki Principles (Gokai) of Usui Sensei  (the essence of Reiki use explained in simple terms) Just for today (Kyo dake wa) -> the importance of “today”, applicable for all five principles.  How you live today determines whether or not you will complete the necessary learning.  “Today” is a collection of moments. This teaches us to fully live each and every moment and this whole day.   Do not get angry (Ikaruna) -> Recover the balance of mind and emotion with Reiki.  Live a quiet and peaceful life. Anger hurts others and yourself. It is also important to control all kinds of emotions not just anger. Selfish people tend to get easily emotional and corner drive oneself to destruction with anger, grudge and hate.  Emotions are the main cause of karma.   Do not worry (Shinpai suna) -> Reiki-ho level 3 is the step for learning to fully trust the universe. Do not have any unnecessary worries and fear. Do your best today and let the universe take care of the rest, keeping the peace of your mind.  It is the key to being free from fear to believe in the universe and be with the universe.   Be thankful (Kansha shite) -> You naturally become thankful if you receive the benefit of Reiki and familiarize yourself with Reiki everyday. People do not fail to feel thankful when they realize they are let live by the great nature and the people around them. When people forget to be happy and thankful out of selfish desire, they will lose the right mind.   Work hard (Gyo wo hageme) -> Reiki-ho shows how to utilize Reiki in everyday life and work. A lazy mind is bad for yourself and for society. People will grow through work and learn through everyday life and work. Some people choose to be away from the world to learn and grow, but learning through work and interaction with other people is how it primarily should be done since we are here to learn on the earth.   Be kind to others (Hito ni shinsetsu ni) -> A sense of oneness can be developed naturally through Reiki healing (practice of love) A healthy society can only be established through the cooperation of a large number of people. In the universal dimension there is no distinction between self and others, only the existence of the same soul. “Be kind to others” is synonymous to “Be kind to yourself”. Click Here for more information on Mr. Doi's book Modern Reiki Method for Healing

Emiko Arai also offered a translation of the name, Mikao Usui. "Usu" means 'a large grain or rice mortar'; "i" means 'water well'; "Mika" is a very old name no longer in use that meant 'sacred rice wine cup or vessel', probably used in a spiritual offering; "o" denotes a masculine name.

Dave King also found another translation for "Mikao" in this dictionary:

TITLE: The modern reader's Japanese-English character dictionary
AUTHOR: Nelson, Andrew Nathaniel.
EDITION: 2nd rev. ed.
PUBLICATION: Rutland, Vt. : C. E. Tuttle Co., 1974, c1962.

It is radical #8, 16 strokes, kanji #335 and is on page 122. The meaning is Jar/jug/vat/urn/vase.