If you’ve been exploring energy healing and Reiki, you might have come across a video where Sadhguru warns about the dangers of Reiki. Recently, a Reiki Level 1 student messaged me to say that after watching and reading Sadhguru’s views, they had become unsure about continuing their Reiki journey. This led me to look into what Sadhguru actually says about Reiki, and I’d like to share my thoughts — not to convince anyone, but to offer another perspective for those who feel conflicted.
The Message That Sparked This Post
Here’s the message I received from a student:
“I’m a bit conflicted about Reiki at the moment. I have been reading / watching Sadhguru and have found his teachings really interesting. He is not a fan of Reiki and has made me re-think whether I want to practice it. So I’m just taking some time to see how I feel about it. So I’m terribly sorry to disappoint you, but I don’t want to do Level 2. I hope you understand.”
What Are Sadhguru’s Concerns About Reiki?
I didn’t know that Sadhguru even had a strong opinion about energy healing. (I thought criticism of Reiki mainly came from conservative Christian circles!) But in this YouTube clip Sadhguru seems to be warning people of the hidden dangers of Reiki.
His objections revolve around three main points:
- That Reiki offers only superficial symptom relief and doesn’t address the root cause of illness.
- The karmic implications of working with energy, especially if done without deep understanding.
- The potential for harm when a practitioner “plays God” or approaches healing from a place of ego.
My Take as a Reiki Teacher
I think he’s making a generalised statement and warning against poorly trained or misguided energy workers. And I completely agree that there are energy healers out there who haven’t been well trained, who do “healing” from an egocentric place, and who a vulnerable or unwell person should absolutely avoid. But this is true of any profession – including the medical field. You get good doctors and bad doctors, ethical therapists and questionable ones. Reiki practitioners, life coaches, mediums — all vary in skill and in motivation for doing their work.
As someone who teaches Reiki, I always emphasize that Reiki is offered for the highest and greatest good. No matter how long you’ve been giving treatments, we ALWAYS say the intention statement “this treatment is for the highest and greatest good of [client’s name] and the good of others.” No exceptions. And the Reiki energy works on all levels – physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual – and will absolutely address the root cause of an issue, although that might not always be what the person expected. I don’t agree with Sadhguru that it gives only superficial relief. In many cases, it’s precisely the emotional and energetic shifts people experience that lead to deeper, longer-lasting change and the physical symptoms disappear as a result.
When it comes to karma, I believe that if healing isn’t meant to happen, it simply won’t. Reiki doesn’t override someone’s free will or spiritual path. And any responsible Reiki practitioner knows that we don’t treat anyone without their permission. We aren’t trying to “fix” people or interfere in their journey. In fact, trying to do so would go against the very principles of Reiki itself.
One of the teachings I return to often, is that we are not the source of the healing energy — we simply facilitate healing. The recipient heals themself and Reiki practitioners aren’t using their own Ki to facilitate the healing.
I think Sadhguru’s warning may come from observing energy healing being misused by those doing it for the wrong reasons; people more focused on power – “playing God” as Sadghuru put it – or image, than service. The same way that yoga, which is meant to be a practice of inner stillness, can become superficial when reduced to flashy Instagram poses and expensive yoga mats. I agree that there are people who don’t take the responsibility of energy healing seriously enough. After all, it’s possible to become a Reiki Master Teacher on Udemy in a few hours! Those are the kinds of “healers” we should all be very wary of, and are the type of people who “meddle in such things” as Sadhguru puts it.
Final Thoughts: Do What Feels Right for You
As I said to the Level 1 student, I felt it would have been remiss of me not to give my view of Sadhguru’s objections – especially if it’s making others question their Reiki journey. But at the end of the day, I respect each person’s path, and I understand if someone wants to take a break from Reiki after hearing what Sadhguru has to say about Reiki.
I don’t agree with him completely (and by looking at the 1,350 comments on the video, I’m not the only one) but as with all things in life, you have to follow what feels right and aligned for you whether you are considering learning Reiki, or receiving a Reiki treatment.
Anyone is always welcome to return to Reiki if the time ever feels right. The key however is to find a responsible teacher or practitioner, and to be discerning with whom you trust to guide or treat you. ✨😇
