Shoko Asahara

Shoko Asahara (麻原 彰晃 Asahara Shōkō) (born March 2, 1955) is the founder and former guru of the Japanese cult Aum Shinrikyo (now known as Aleph), convicted of masterminding the 1995 Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway as well as several other crimes. He was sentenced to death. As of September 2005, the sentence has not been carried out, pending an appeal.

Aum Shinrikyo: the Doctrine

The doctrine of Aum Shinrikyo is based on original Buddhist sutras (scriptures), known as the Pali Canon. Besides the Pali Canon, Aum Shinrikyo uses other texts, such as Tibetan sutras, Yoga-Sutra by Patanjali and Taoist scriptures. The sutras are studied together with comments, written by Shoko Asahara himself. The learning system (kyogaku system) has several stages, similar to university education: only those who complete a preliminary stage can move on and advance to further steps of they successfully pass the examination. The collection of publications that are being studied comprises several bookshelves.

Related Topics:
Pali Canon - Yoga-Sutra - Taoist

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Shoko Asahara has written many religious books himself. The most known are: Beyond the Life and Death, Mahayana Sutra and Initiation.

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Shoko Asahara’s teachings stress the importance of ascetic practice, similar to those of a Kargyudpa, a Tibetan Buddhist school. Modern technology such as computers and CD players are used to complement the ancient meditations. To justify the achievement of a certain stage of religious practice, practitioners must demonstrate signs such as cessation of oxygen consumption, reduction of heart activity and changes in the electromagnetic activity of the brain. The intensive practice (retreat) rooms are equipped with corresponding sensors.

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