Kritik am Buch „The Shadow Of The Dalai Lama ... - Neues von Shi De

hand he succeeded in being recognized as a religious body by the Japanese administration and thus
exempt from taxes.
Admittedly there was a certain cooling of relations between the two religious leaders before the
poison gas attack, since Tibetans in exile from Japan had sharply criticized Asahara’s public
appearances. Yet he simply ignored such criticisms. This is shown by his spectacular letter to the
Kundun of February 24, 1995, which was sent about a month before the events in Tokyo. The letter
leaves no room for doubt about how deeply the Japanese sect leader felt himself to be connected to
the Tibetan religious sphere. In it Asahara not without pride announces that his son, Gyokko, is the
reincarnation of the Panchen Lama who died in 1989: “May I report to His Holiness most humbly that
I am convinced that Gyokko is a reincarnation of Panchen Rinpoche” (Shimatsu, I, HPI 008).
As evidence for this suspicion Asahara appeals to synchronicities and miraculous signs. Like the
Panchen Lama, his son was also deaf in one ear. Yet the vision which appeared to the child’s mother
was even more unambiguous: “A boy flying in spurts over a snowy mountain range with his legs
crossed in a full Lotus posture. A low male voice said: 'Panchen Lama'. The voice continued, 'Tibetan
Buddhism is finished. I have come to rebuild it ...'" (Shimatsu, I).
Asahara also met with other high Tibetan tantra masters — Khamtrul Rinpoche, for example, an
important Nyingmapa teacher, and Kalu Rinpoche, the Kalachakra specialist of the Kagyupas whose
multifarious activities we have already considered. There is supposed to have been a meeting between
the Tibetan scholar, Khamtrul (who the Kundun had prophesied to be the future Rudra Chakrin), the
Dalai Lama, and a member of the AUM sect (Hisako Ishii) at which the publication of esoteric
teachings of Padmasambhava in Japanese was discussed. According to statements by Asahara,
Khamtrul Rinpoche confirmed his “perfect, absolute, divine wisdom” (quoted by Repp, 1997, p. 18).
On May 24, 1989, the Tibetan is supposed to have issued the Japanese guru with the following letter
of recommendation:
“Teacher Asahara is my old friend, and I consider it an honor to be able to say the following in favor
of him and of his religious activities:
1. I am filled with boundless admiration for Teacher Asahara’s innate Buddhist traits, like
enthusiasm for his work, goodliness, generosity, and selflessness.
2. He is an experienced and qualified meditation; tantra; and yoga instructor.
3. On the condition that he receives fitting recognition, Teacher Asahara can become a truly wellknown
teacher of Buddhism, who is capable of re-establishing the true doctrine of the Dharma
in Japan.
4. I also know that AUM Shinrikyo, Teacher Asahara’s religious organization, is a religious
association that distinguishes itself through discipline and good organization and wide-ranging
activities in order to suitably further social well-being.
5. Teacher Asahara’s sympathy and assistance in regard to the people and culture of Tibet is an
example of generosity and concern for the poor.
6. It is painful for me to see that AUM, with no regard for its good intentions and activities, has
up until now not found the recognition and support it is due from the Japanese government.
7. I emphatically recommend that AUM be accorded the justly deserved status of a tax-free
organization, and that it likewise receive all necessary governmental and social privileges.
Many thanks, Khamtul Giamjang Dontup Rinpoche.” (AUM Shinrikyo, HPI 013)