Aum Shinrikyo Philosophy

Before founding Aum Shinrikyo, Asahara was a semi-blind acupuncturist, massage therapist, and Chinese medicine practitioner. He was born in March 1955 in Yatsishiro, a city in Kyushu. Asahara was the son of a poor tatami mat-maker from Kyushu. At the age of six, he was sent to a special government-run school for the blind. Asahara took advantage of other students through his ability to see. The school for the blind was his earliest noted instance of manipulating others. In 2007, Fumihiro Joyu, former Aum Shinrikyo spokesman, founded Hikari No Wa. Joyu rejected Asahara’s original ideology, with the intent to distance himself from the group’s former stereotype. Counter to Joyu’s objective, Aleph, the contemporary iteration of Aum Shinrikyo, continues to more closely refine and adhere to Asahara’s original philosophy. Most of Aum Shinrikyo’s early leadership awaits execution in Japan for the 1995 Tokyo subway attack. Historically, leaders of the organization …show more content…
Traditionally, members residing on a compound tend to be more insulated from outside culture and subsequently adhere to compound norms.
Effects. Aum Shinrikyo continues to recruit followers that are seeking escape from a high pressure life to receive a more meaningful life. Potential members of Aum Shinrikyo are more susceptible to suggestion, therefore leaving them no choice but to be subordinate.
Response. Prior to deployment, HCTs will conduct cultural awareness training and basic language training in order to establish rapport with the local populace. HCTs will use the knowledge of Aum Shinrikyo’s Buddhist beliefs to appeal to a source’s need for higher purpose. A focus on the member’s hierarchy of needs will provide the HCT with the most critical information in order to help identify intelligence gaps. HCTs will liaise with host nation to understand the differing beliefs between Japanese society and Aum Shinrikyo members.