The Cult Dictionary

A- Aleph

Aleph is a NRM (New Religious Movement) arisen from the former cult called AUM Shinrikyo(Supreme Truth) started by Master Asahara Shoko in 1987.

Now who was this dude? He was a highly influential individual who had a burning  resentment towards Japanese Buddhism. He liked the alternatives of Tibetian Buddhism more and decided to create a cult practising Buddhism that didn't express Japanese culture and traditions. At first to lure people into supporting his cause, he adopted a spiritual life to seek enlightenment along with clout from world famous techniques including yoga and meditation.

People love a challenge, so he incorporated it into his cult requirements. There were 3 levels of initial training and only after the third level, these people are accepted into this sacred community. It's surprising to see that there were many well educated entities that were brainwashed to complete devotion. After getting into prophecy and reading a bunch of christian books, Asahara began predicting the disasters that may befall Japan and incredulous ways to prevent it, including WW3. Further more, he and his arsenal of followers wanted to replace and overthrow the Japanese  Governmant. The man was at the brink of plumenting into insanity, and then it happened...

On March 20 1995, they gained public attention by gassing the Tokyo Subway with a gas that disrupts nerve impulse which killed 13 and injured more than a thousand. The casualties were an unsettling sight, and serious action was taken after a similar gas attack in Matsumoto. the Japanese government seized its property and arrested and convicted 200+ memebers. After the incident the foreign support of the cult had dissolved but the new leaders of it had sought to make amends and helped the victims financially. They drifted away from sumpreme spiritual leadership and renamed the organisation to Aleph. The successor of Asahara made a new organisation with a few former members called Hikari No Wa or Ring of Light.

This cult had played a major role in japanese politics. It made sure to fix what it broke and proved that one bad grape doesn't spoil the bunch.