Aum Shinrikyo

Aum Shinrikyo is a Japanese new religious movement founded by Shoko Asahara in 1987, which gained international notoriety for its terrorist activities, particularly the Tokyo subway sarin attack in 1995. The group's name is derived from the Sanskrit word "om," a sacred sound in Hinduism and Buddhism, and "shinrikyo," which means "supreme truth" in Japanese. Aum Shinrikyo's ideology is a unique blend of Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Science fiction, with influences from Nostradamus, Aleister Crowley, and L. Ron Hubbard. The group's activities have been closely monitored by Japanese authorities, including the Public Security Intelligence Agency and the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department.

● History

Aum Shinrikyo was founded in 1987 by Shoko Asahara, a blind yoga instructor who claimed to have attained enlightenment through meditation. The group initially attracted followers from Japan's counterculture movement, including University of Tokyo students and Japanese Red Army sympathizers. Aum Shinrikyo's early activities were focused on spiritualism and yoga, but the group soon became increasingly apocalyptic and militant, with Asahara predicting a nuclear war and the end of the world. The group's growth was rapid, with thousands of followers in Japan, Russia, and other countries, including United States, Germany, and Australia. Aum Shinrikyo's international connections included links to Russian Orthodox Church, Unification Church, and Falun Gong.

● Beliefs and Practices

Aum Shinrikyo's beliefs are a unique blend of Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Science fiction, with a strong emphasis on apocalypticism and millenarianism. The group's followers believe in the coming of the Messiah, who will bring about a new world order and destroy the existing social order. Aum Shinrikyo's practices include meditation, yoga, and asceticism, as well as the use of psychedelic drugs and electroconvulsive therapy to induce spiritual experiences. The group's scripture includes the Bhagavad Gita, the Tibetan Book of the Dead, and Asahara's own writings, which are considered sacred texts by followers. Aum Shinrikyo's beliefs have been influenced by Theosophy, Anthroposophy, and New Age movements, as well as the teachings of Helena Blavatsky, Rudolf Steiner, and George Gurdjieff.

● Terrorist Activities

Aum Shinrikyo is responsible for several terrorist attacks in Japan, including the Tokyo subway sarin attack in 1995, which killed 13 people and injured hundreds. The group has also been linked to the Matsumoto sarin attack in 1994, which killed 8 people and injured over 200. Aum Shinrikyo's terrorist activities have been condemned by Japanese authorities, including the Prime Minister of Japan and the Ministry of Justice. The group's activities have also been monitored by international organizations, including the United Nations and the European Union. Aum Shinrikyo's connections to other terrorist organizations include links to Al-Qaeda, Hezbollah, and the Japanese Red Army.

● Trials and Aftermath

The trial of Shoko Asahara and other Aum Shinrikyo leaders began in 1996 and lasted for several years, with Asahara being sentenced to death in 2004. Several other Aum Shinrikyo members have also been sentenced to death or life imprisonment for their roles in the Tokyo subway sarin attack and other terrorist attacks. The Japanese government has taken steps to dissolve Aum Shinrikyo and ban its activities, including the passage of the Religious Corporations Law in 1996. The group's assets have been seized and its leaders have been arrested and prosecuted. Aum Shinrikyo's aftermath has been closely monitored by Japanese media, including NHK, Asahi Shimbun, and Mainichi Shimbun.

● Organization and Structure

Aum Shinrikyo's organization is highly hierarchical, with Shoko Asahara as the supreme leader and a network of regional leaders and cell leaders. The group's structure includes a central committee, a religious affairs committee, and a military affairs committee. Aum Shinrikyo's finances are managed by a treasury department, which oversees the group's assets and investments. The group's international connections include links to Russian mafia, Chinese triads, and other organized crime groups. Aum Shinrikyo's organization has been compared to that of the Soviet Union, with a strong emphasis on central planning and control. The group's structure has been influenced by the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and the Chinese Communist Party.