Aum Shinrikyo

Aum Shinrikyo (also spelled Om Shin Rikyo) was a religious group which mixed Buddhist and Hindu beliefs and was based in Japan. It gained international notoriety in 1995, when a group of followers carried out a poison gas attack on the Tokyo subways on the orders of its founder, Sh?k? Asahara. Since 2000, it has been called Aleph.

Related Topics:
Religious - Buddhist - Hindu - Japan - 1995 - Poison gas attack - Tokyo - Subways - Sh?k? Asahara - 2000

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The name "Aum Shinrikyo" (Japanese: ?????? Oumu Shinriky?) derives from the Hindu syllable Aum (which represents the universe), followed by the three kanji characters shin ("truth," "reality," "Buddhist sect"), ri ("reason," "justice," "truth"), and ky? ("teaching," "faith," "doctrine"). In 2000, the organization changed its name to Aleph (the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet), changing their logo as well.

Related Topics:
Japanese - Aum - Universe - Kanji - Aleph - Hebrew alphabet

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In 1995 the group was reported as having 9,000 members in Japan and as many as 40,000 worldwide. As of 2004, Aleph membership is estimated at 1,500 to 2,000 persons.

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