Abstract: This essay describes how Aumism’s original Hindu identity was transformed into a universalism that seemed to blend Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, Islam, and Judaism as a consequence of founder Gilbert Bourdin’s self-identification as the Cosmoplanetary Messiah. However, this apparent syncretism is less significant than the role that esoteric, occult traditions play in Aumism, and that constitute a “second pillar” on which Aumism has gradually been constructed as a separate “tradition.” Both historically, in terms of Bourdin’s background in esoteric study, and sociologically, in terms of the background of a majority of members, Aumism is an esoteric group, which is a fundamental type, distinct from religious movements and cult movements.

Keywords: Aumism, Gilbert Bourdin, universalism, symbolism, religious movement,