Media Analysis
The analysis of the media provided by the renamed version of Aum Shinrikyo, known as Aleph, doesn’t tell us much about the group’s grievances. It does, however, provide us a bit of information about their views on how one should live. One of the links on their homepage brings you to a yoga exercise and meditation information page. Four basic poses/exercises are included, as well as their supposed positive effects. These include the “bending forward asanas, the stretching asanas, the twisting asanas, and the asanas meant to make the neck flexible and strong.” The effects of these simple postures include loosening joints and muscles for increased flexibility, relaxing the mind for easier meditation, increasing concentration, restoring balance of hormones. Breathing exercises are said to allow one to absorb the “Prana” inside his or her body while expelling toxins from the body. Prana is defined as vayu, wind, life energy “that exist in all the Universe.” They also support a four part meditation practice, for “The Four Stations of Mindfulness” - these are translated to “This body is impure, All senses are suffering, This mind is transient, Fixed Ideas Are Not of the True Self.” Aum has obvious fixations on a purification of humanity, either through religious practice or ultimately through Armageddon.
The link labeled “Aleph’s library” provides us with several lessons teaching you “To live a better life” as well as “The Law of the Absolute Truth and the Practice.” Many of the chapters under this link contain teachings about karma, Buddhism, the seven Chakras, the elements, and other miscellaneous directions for any individual wishing to live a more pure life defined by Aleph. They also have “Five Precepts” to which follows are instructed to follow, and the first of these is “Do Not Kill,” so it is evident that Aleph is trying to distance itself - in name and public ideology - from its violent predecessor Aum. This is also obvious on their “PR Department” link, where they essentially put in writing their regret for actions/crimes committed by Aum. They also distinguish the non-membership of Dmitri Sigachev, a Russian former Aum member who was under trial for possession of lethal weapons. They even claim that they, through “exchanging information with former Russian members of Aum Shinrikyo who know Sigachev’s activities well... tried many times to persuade him into giving up his crime-approving mindset by sending him e-mails” and “by even sending some of its members to the third country where they met and talked with him,” and that “during the course of negotiations, Aleph was not able to confirm whether Sigachev was planning to rescue Mr. Asahara held in custody by the police.” Through their attempted defense of the peaceful nature of their religious group, Aleph effectively shed a shadow of doubt over their supposed non-involvement with these crimes.
Another source of Aum-related media found on the internet are youtube videos that take the form of anime. Although the dialogue is in Japanese and provides no English subtitles, there are certain pieces of information that can be gleaned. A figure that may be seen as a representation of Asahara is pictured in the video as a meditative and transient being. His inner self is shown leaving his physical self during meditation, then flying and traveling through walls. He appears as a welcoming priest-like figure, and towards the end of the longer video, two young people see him on the street and chase after him (wearing Aum sweatshirts), and appear to learn something from him once they get to his room. The video is probably anime to attempt to spark the interest of younger people. The cartoon style mixed with the meditative/religious undertones provides an intriguing combination that may attract certain individuals.
The link labeled “Aleph’s library” provides us with several lessons teaching you “To live a better life” as well as “The Law of the Absolute Truth and the Practice.” Many of the chapters under this link contain teachings about karma, Buddhism, the seven Chakras, the elements, and other miscellaneous directions for any individual wishing to live a more pure life defined by Aleph. They also have “Five Precepts” to which follows are instructed to follow, and the first of these is “Do Not Kill,” so it is evident that Aleph is trying to distance itself - in name and public ideology - from its violent predecessor Aum. This is also obvious on their “PR Department” link, where they essentially put in writing their regret for actions/crimes committed by Aum. They also distinguish the non-membership of Dmitri Sigachev, a Russian former Aum member who was under trial for possession of lethal weapons. They even claim that they, through “exchanging information with former Russian members of Aum Shinrikyo who know Sigachev’s activities well... tried many times to persuade him into giving up his crime-approving mindset by sending him e-mails” and “by even sending some of its members to the third country where they met and talked with him,” and that “during the course of negotiations, Aleph was not able to confirm whether Sigachev was planning to rescue Mr. Asahara held in custody by the police.” Through their attempted defense of the peaceful nature of their religious group, Aleph effectively shed a shadow of doubt over their supposed non-involvement with these crimes.
Another source of Aum-related media found on the internet are youtube videos that take the form of anime. Although the dialogue is in Japanese and provides no English subtitles, there are certain pieces of information that can be gleaned. A figure that may be seen as a representation of Asahara is pictured in the video as a meditative and transient being. His inner self is shown leaving his physical self during meditation, then flying and traveling through walls. He appears as a welcoming priest-like figure, and towards the end of the longer video, two young people see him on the street and chase after him (wearing Aum sweatshirts), and appear to learn something from him once they get to his room. The video is probably anime to attempt to spark the interest of younger people. The cartoon style mixed with the meditative/religious undertones provides an intriguing combination that may attract certain individuals.
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