``Most of them are bogus practitioners who are spreading a lot of misinformation about Reiki. Some of them are able to attract large numbers because of their charismatic personalities. But that's not Reiki,'' explains Paula Horan, a distinguished psychologist and Reiki master.

Horan is author of Empowerment Through Reiki, Abundance Through Reiki and Core Empowerment and is a recipient of Full Circle's Inner Flame Award this year. She has received her attunements from a master, who is in the direct lineage of DrMikao Usui, founder of this simple hands-on healing technique.

Usui, a late 19th century Japanese allopathic doctor, had in fact rediscovered this technique which traces its history back to Lord Buddha. Usui's method is quite simple. It involves the use of soothing hands, which, when laid on the body in certain positions accelerates the process of healing. The essence of this form of healing is passed on from teacher to student through a series of mystic initiations, which, in Reiki, are called attunements or empowerment. ``It is this very process that is being flouted today by bogus practitioners,'' says Horan.

Attunements are the essential ingredients in any Reiki class. The First Degree of empowerment itself has four attunements. The Second and Third Degree of empowerment follow this.

``The First Degree of empowerment is taught over a period of two days, following which the student has to practice for a minimum of 3-6 months. The Second and Third Degree empowerment take place much after that. It isonly after all these stages that one is empowered to teach,'' she explains.

``To teach three degrees in one week is ridiculous. People get ripped off at these classes. Besides, the participants will also not be able to retain much. After all, even good students retain only 35 per cent of what is taught at any class,'' she argues.

According to her, it is necessary to find a master teacher within the same Usui tradition, who has received and integrated the oral teachings of Usui through practice and through a direct connection with a living master in the tradition. ``Reiki empowerment can be properly given only by a Reiki master or teacher who is in the direct lineage of Dr Mikao Usui,'' she says. But, Horan is not looking forward to being a ``Reiki police''. ``I am only concerned at the number of shenanigans,'' she says. Some time ago, certain Reiki masters did consider the need for licensing the practice of Reiki. But Horan is totally opposed to the idea. ``Reiki is spiritual. You can't confine it to somelegal norms. The idea is preposterous,'' she says.

Horan's recent book, Reiki: 108 Questions & Answers--Your Dependable Guide for a Lifetime of Reiki Practice, makes an interesting observation on how a negative state of mind can cause diseases to oneself. To quote her book: ``The body is actually vibrating at a certain frequency, and all its frequencies have their own natural flow. However, when we make a judgement about something (rather than discernment), the judgement gets stored in the cellular structure of the body in the form of a physical and/or emotional block. Emotions are reactions to our thoughts or judgements about people and life's situations. Since they distort the natural frequencies, negative thoughts or judgements are experienced as dense or uncomfortable vibrations. Such thoughts may turn into headaches, tension, stomach aches or ulcers. Rage and anger or grief held in the body can easily turn into tumours.''

By a simple hands-on healing method, Reiki can help the body draw allthe energy it needs from the ``higher vibratory frequency of Universal Life Force Energy, which can then penetrate the body and dissolve all the blockages'', she explains.

Horan says that Reiki recognises the relevance of other medical systems as well. After all Usui himself was an allopathic doctor. ``But we work beyond drugs. Drugs have side-effects. In fact, a study in the US showed that 65 per cent of diseases are caused by physicians. One million Americans are suffering from brain damages as a result of drug side-effects,'' she says.

``Reiki is preventive medicine,'' she explains. ``But it has also cured diseases like AIDS. In fact, at the Reiki Aids Clinic in Seattle, several patients have been cured of AIDS, contrary to popular propaganda,'' she claims.

Horan is particularly concerned about the high incidence of physician-caused diseases. ``The time has come for patients to question their doctors on what medicines are being administered. You need to regain your sovereign right over your body.Reiki is a step in this direction,'' she concludes.