Hey, gang, we thought we’d start out a new feature here today, Ask a Scientologist.
One of the best things about the Underground Bunker (well, maybe the best thing) is the amazing commenting community, which includes so many smart people with encyclopedic memories about their long years in Scientology. So we’d like to draw on that expertise in a more regular and formal manner.
We’re going to kick this off with a question we hear a lot from curious people who are new to Scientology Watching, and Sunny Pereira has been good enough to give us a lengthy reply.
We’d like to have your questions answered by one of our experts. Please send your questions to askascientologist@tonyortega.org!
Sea Org members sign billion-year contracts and then work around the clock, 365 days a year. But what do they actually do during all that time? What jobs are they actually performing that need to be done for so many hours and always on an emergency basis?
Sunny Pereira
Sea org members believe that L. Ron Hubbard cracked the system with his org board and technology. They believe that each person doing their assigned job will, with each little piece all put together in the entire org, result in a small step towards saving mankind.
So Sea Org members are doing their assigned duties for the most part. Each Sea Org member is a tiny cog in a huge wheel. They don’t work around the clock always, but anytime anything comes up, they often have to get it corrected before they can leave.
So most Sea Org members are doing their own specific post. They all have statistics and are required to improve that statistical number each week. Most of the time anyone has to work longer hours is because their statistic number is behind and they have to catch up (or the psychs are winning). Occasionally workers stay up because of an org-wise situation such as needing to sell a certain quota of basic books, or the org needs all the staff to write letters to all the public (to get more people back on services that have drifted off).
Honestly I’ve wondered since I left what the urgency was, and how we kept on with it for decades. But Sea Org members truly believe they are making a difference with their sacrifices.
So, for example, a person responsible for the income of an org is constantly under pressure to bring in more money. They have to make their quota or they can’t leave.
Sometimes a course supervisor has to get a certain person completed on a checksheet so he and that student will stay up all hours completing the steps of the checksheet.
In the Sea Org, the goal is to finish everything today. Resolve everything before you leave for the day. Or you don’t leave. Nothing waits until the next day
Sometimes it’s random as hell reasons we got kept up: They want to make the Central Files look good, so we have to get everything on our posts done. You can’t leave post early. So 10pm or so when post is normally over, now you go help with random extra work: cleaning the entire org for a white-glove pass, replace all CF files, reorganize treasury files, move a course room to the other side of the org. Stupid, random, pointless work.
Another example, auditors: Their statistic is the number of auditing hours in the chair with a preclear. So an auditor will arrive in the org, grab all the files of everyone he is supposed to do sessions on, study each file to prepare for the session, then give auditing sessions one after the other on each person on his list. He will try to stay in the auditing sessions as long as possible. Some try to get 12 hours in a day. Once they are done with the actual sessions (they are not supposed to start after 10 pm so that gives them an out), then they have to fix up all the paperwork from the sessions they gave all day, because all of those files have to be checked by a case supervisor before the next morning. So fixing up these papers can take up to five more hours. Now it’s what, 3 or 4 am? If he’s lucky he can go home. If there are other flaps in the org, he may be tapped on the shoulder to help. Examples could be a reg who is trying to get money out of someone. A lot of public won’t entirely listen to a reg only, but if an auditor comes over and tells that public something or other, often that public respects that information and it often convinces that public to buy more auditing sessions. These random extra things can take until morning. Some days nothing like that happens and the auditor, if he writes quickly all his sessions, can get home by 10 pm or so.
Another example is the guy responsible for getting the auditors and preclears onto session together. Often the files of the person are not in that org and need to be gotten from another org. So this guy has to get all the files, get them moved from one person to the next in order to get everything set on what the person needs in order to get in session. This Sea Org member may have to personally take the files and/or the preclear through every single step of the way, which can take hours. And in most orgs, you can have up to 20 preclears that you have to get this done on. So it can take all day. Then this person is required to make sure each preclear is fed, has enough sleep, the files are ready and waiting for the auditor, who may be in session with someone else. The idea is that the auditor never waits for his next preclear and this is the job of this folder person (called a DTS — director of technical services). Even when the day is over, after repeating these steps getting each preclear in session, this DTS has to make sure all the files are there for whenever is coming in the next day and that they have been taken through every step for approval for sessions the next day.
It’s a lot of running around getting everything organized for planetary clearing.
And it makes zero difference in the real world.
Another example would be a person assigned as an executive over on area. Let’s say this Sea Org member is in charge of overseeing all the West US orgs. So Ventura Org is opening an Ideal Org. That executive spends weeks and weeks getting that org ready. It’s very likely 24/7 for many people. They have to get the org built, cleaned, the staff hired and trained, then assigned posts. It’s weeks and weeks of work. The Ideal Org opens, you think it’s over? No. While that executive was working on Ventura Org, Portland and Pasadena Orgs went empty. It’s another flap. Now that executive has to go investigate and deal with those two slacking orgs.
It never, ever, ever ends. There’s always a flap like that on executive posts.
— Sunny Pereira
——————–
Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Jay Spina: Sentencing set for April 3 in White Plains
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members: Trial set for April 14 in Los Angeles
Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Waiting for an appellate decision from the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ (Valerie’s options.)
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology: March 11 (plaintiff attorneys pro hac vice, defense motions to quash), March 20 (demurrers by Masterson and Scientology), March 27 (motions to compel arbitration)
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach bankruptcy appeal: Oral arguments on March 11 in Jacksonville
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Complaint filed.
——————–
“A man decides to smoke. He therefore becomes an identity known as a smoker. You’ve seen them in the ads. They look very placid. If they smoke cigarettes, they chase pretty girls. And if they smoke pipes they chase fireplaces. You know? And we’ve seen this. Whatever this identity was, he’s assumed this identity and then he gets married and his wife objects to his being a smoker; so now he has an opposition known as a wife. So he assumes a new identity which is ‘a dominating husband’ in order to handle the identity ‘wife.’ But now we have a new identity show up. We have something called the Ladies’ Aide Society, and his wife has joined that. And their combined forces are going to cause him to stop smoking. So now he has to become a wealthy self-determined individual. You see that? And the Ladies’ Aide Societies then get a bunch of quacks — members of the AMA — together and they say that if you smoke it produces cancer. They don’t know what produces cancer but they say that smoking does. They, you see that’s the ghost-shirt messianic thing. They have no solution to it, they can’t cure it so they pick on something and they say, ‘Well, everybody spits in the water so that’s what causes typhoid fever.’ They don’t know. You see? So now he has a counter-identity called the American Medical Association. You see? And that’s an identity. So, this fellow now in desperation to handle this situation becomes a political genius, you see. Because you have to be a political genius these days to handle the AMA. That’s the only place where they operate effectively. Don’t operate effectively in the operating room anymore, only in Congress. So here he is now a genius, you see, a political genius. Now, the political genius runs into an opposition party. So, you have an opposition party — the Democrats. You see, that’s the next oppterm. And that’s about the high tide of the whole thing.” — L. Ron Hubbard, February 28, 1963
——————–
“Personally speaking I have no doubt whatsoever on the validity and precision of Original LRH Precepts and the practical reality of such states as Clear, Theta Clear, Cleared Theta Clear, Native State and OT per definition, having seen them demonstrated in session and practical life by people I have known and worked with.”
——————–
“Who would have thunk back in the 90s that Tom Cruise and ‘batshit crazy’ would become synonymous thanks to a bunch of juvenile delinquents calling themselves ‘Anonymous.’ Thank Xenu I lived long enough to see it.”
——————–
Start making your plans…
Head over to the convention website and meet us in St. Louis!
——————–
Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!
We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.
Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!
Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society!
Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in our weekly series. How many have you read?
——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Scientology’s founder L. Ron Hubbard on the ‘God trick,’ Christ implants, and Muslims
[TWO years ago] Scientologist ‘Dapper CEO’ Vick Tipnes wins victory against discrimination lawsuit in Tampa
[THREE years ago] The most Scientology-involved movie ever made? Here comes Nancy’s baby!
[FOUR years ago] Erika Christensen goes psychbuster as we launch Rod Keller’s Scientology Social Media Review!
[FIVE years ago] LEAK: Scientology celebrities are stepping up their involvement behind the scenes
[SIX years ago] AOLA’s grand re-opening — a look at the last time Scientology cut the ribbon at Big Blue!
[SEVEN years ago] Blogging Dianetics, Part 9: Hubbard and Perversion!
[EIGHT years ago] How Scientology Drives Your Local Librarian Nuts
——————–
Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 1,862 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,366 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 1,886 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 906 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 797 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,104 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 1,972 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,746 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,520 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 2,866 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,432 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,351 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,519 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,100 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,361 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,399 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,112 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,637 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,164 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,727 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 2,867 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,187 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,042 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,162 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,517 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,820 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 1,926 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,328 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,200 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,783 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,278 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,532 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,641 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on February 28, 2020 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2018 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2018), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, 14 years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
