Last week, we began our countdown of Scientology superpowers that Tom Cruise can expect as an OT Scientologist and million-dollar donor.
One of our favorite things that all Scientologists must learn how to do sooner or later as they move up the Bridge to Total Freedom is gain the ability to shout instructions at an ashtray.
You think we are kidding about this, but we are definitely not, dear reader.
During something called the “Upper Indoctrination Training Routines,” or “Upper Indoc TRs,” a Scientologist is asked to interact with inanimate objects, picking up a book or a bottle, and answering questions about them from a sort of coach.
And in another part of this exercise, the coach will ask you to shout instructions at an ashtray, demanding that it sit down or levitate.
And we know that Tom Cruise has gone through this because back in 1990 he was the coach and his subject was Marc Headley, a young Scientologist at the time. We first asked Marc about this when his 2009 book about his experiences in Scientology came out, titled Blown for Good.
Did Tom Cruise really ask him to shout at an ashtray or give instructions to a bottle, we asked him when the book first came out.
“For hours and hours,” he told us.
Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard really did tell Scientologists that one of the powers they should attain at some point was the ability to make objects like ashtrays levitate. Isn’t that fun? Imagine what it must be like at Tom’s house, with books and bottles and ashtrays standing up and moving around all the time.
We asked Marc Headley, once again, to tell us about his experience being audited by Cruise at Int Base.
First off, as I explain in detail in my book, Blown For Good, I never did that much Scientology auditing or courses. I never read Dianetics, and I never went Clear. So the auditing I got from Tom Cruise would be a considerable chunk of the total amount of auditing I ever received in Scientology.
The auditing that I got from Tom Cruise was some of the most mind-numbing shit I have had to endure in my life.
These are the highlights of what I remember some 30 years later:
— Me not being “sessionable” the first time he was supposed to audit me. This just means that the little test one does before the session said I was not ready to be audited. It is the Auditor’s job to make sure the person you are audited is sessionable.
— Tom Cruise then suggesting I should eat some bee pollen and vitamins to get ready for my auditing session each day. Yuck!
— Tom Cruise and I riding around the Int Base on his motorcycle.
— Nicole Kidman and Kirstie Alley studying Scientology courses in the same room while Tom Cruise was auditing me.
— In at least one auditing session, I fell asleep while in session with him. This was a huge flap for him. If you suck as an auditor, the person you’re auditing can fall asleep mid-way through the session. This is not a good sign of one’s auditing skills. He was so fucking boring, and I fell asleep while he was asking me questions. This is pretty epic. I would bet that I might be the only person in his entire life that fell asleep right in front of him while he talked to them! I giggle just thinking about it.AdvertisementHere are a few other key points that might signify Tom Cruise is not as good at Scientology auditing as he might want people to think.
— If you audit someone and they do not get more auditing soon after, this is a big sign your auditing was not that good. The next auditing I got after Tom Cruise might have been about 8 to 10 years later.
— If someone you audit leaves Scientology anytime after you audit them, this is also an indicator that you suck as an auditor and maybe even a dangerous Scientology auditor. I certainly left Scientology in big way. During my 15 years at the Int Base, many auditors were removed from post and/or demoted for auditing Sea Org members that later left
— If someone is declared a Suppressive Person, in most cases, Scientology will investigate who that person received auditing from and review whether or not there was “out-tech” or bad auditing. In the famous black turtle neck video, when Tom Cruise laughs about someone asking him if, “he ever met an SP?” He should have answered, “Met one? I might have made one!”— Marc Headley
Tom Cruise’s Scientology superpowers
1. Shattering the suppression from a 15-year-old
2. Achieving godhood
3. Resisting between-life amnesia
4. Destroying a planet with the touch of a finger
5. Leaving his body with full perception
7. Pulling in objects with tractor beams
8. Recovering unspeakable acts from the past
9. Mocking up an automobile out of thin air
10. Drying out from space coke
11. Levitating an ashtray
12. Resisting illnesses with his mind alone
13. Communicating with anyone on any subject
14. Helping at the scene of a car accident
15. Always finding the best parking spot
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Public must like to be fooled. They’re always paying con men of some kind or another. There must be some real value in having hope shot up to the moon in the stock market because those birds are very often paid off heavily. You could reevaluate the society on the basis of what I’ve given you. Yes, you could say, ‘Well, the society makes mistakes in this direction. Yes, the society is lied to.’ Well, I don’t think the society makes mistakes in this direction. That’s a new thought, isn’t it?” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 13, 1964
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“SHERIFF SPENCE: Mitch Spence came back with a wanted poster published by 100 Substantial Citizens of Las Vegas, Mar 24, 1881. If you were there then, run it out fast!” — The Commodore, August 13, 1970
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(Person A) “I’ve heard recently that there is some nonsense going around in this group about how LRH was somehow secretly removed sometime in 1972 and replaced by a double or something like that. It’s hard to fathom how anyone could believe such crap. I personally met LRH in 1977 when I went to the secret base in La Quinta, CA. He was in the mock up of a gentleman rancher and had long red hair, a Col. Sanders goatee and big fluffy sideburns. How anyone could think that this was not LRH is beyond my comprehension.” (Person B) “In our situation of an obviously stolen church — or do you doubt that the CoS went into enemy hands? — I do not believe any witness. Only hard facts. And all hard facts speak for a takeover in 1972. I have published several books on this. Perhaps you like to take a look.”
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1998: A bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives this week, asking the President to criticize Germany for alleged discrimination against religious minorities, including Scientology. “Whereas the January 1998 interim report of the State Department’s Advisory Committee on Religious Freedom Abroad specifically stated that, ‘[i]n Germany, members of the Church of Scientology and of a Christian charismatic church have been subject to intense scrutiny by the Enquete Commission there, and several members have suffered harassment, discrimination, and threats of violence’; Whereas the 1997 and 1996 State Department Country Reports stated that ‘major political parties exclude Scientologists from membership’, and that ‘the State of Bavaria screens applicants for state civil service positions for Scientology membership’; Whereas the 1996 State Department Country Report stated that ‘Business firms whose owners or executives are Scientologists may face boycotts and discrimination, sometimes with government approval,’ and, the 1997 Country Report stated that ‘so-called ‘sect-filters’, statements by individuals that they are not affiliated with Scientology , are used by some business and other organizations to discriminate against Scientologists in business and social dealings’; Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That the Congress urges the Government of Germany to take necessary action to protect the right of freedom of religion or belief guaranteed to everyone in Germany by international human rights covenants to which Germany is a signatory; continues to hold the Government of Germany responsible for protecting the right of freedom of religion or belief of United States citizens, and for not barring such citizens from living, performing, doing business, or traveling in Germany because of their religious beliefs; and calls upon the President of the United States to assert the concern of the United States Government to the Government of Germany regarding government discrimination in Germany based on religion or belief.”
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“I shook Jim Jones’ hand in the free eats line at Glide Memorial (he was serving) and I also met a man named Fred Lewis who was a friend of my dad’s. Fred lost 28 family members at Jonestown.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Next hearing set for November 10. Trial tentatively scheduled for February.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay sentenced to 9 years in prison. Jeff’s sentencing to be scheduled.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Pretrial conference August 21 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Sept 9.
Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments were heard on July 30, 2020 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Petition to US Supreme Court submitted on May 26. Scientology responded on June 25.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: California Supreme Court granted review on May 26 and asked the Second Appellate Division to direct Judge Steven Kleifield to show cause why he granted Scientology’s motion for arbitration. Oral arguments scheduled for Oct 5.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy. Dec 17: Feshbachs sign court judgment obliging them to pay entire $3.674 million tax debt, plus interest from Nov 19.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Third amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs. Case appealed on Dec 23. Appeal hearing scheduled for Aug 23-27.
Concluded litigation:
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29. Bond revoked Sep 14. Nobbe dead, Sep 14.
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe dismissed the lawsuit on May 15 after the Clearwater Police dropped their criminal investigation of her allegations.
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THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON
We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links, including our four days in Los Angeles covering the preliminary hearing and its ruling, which has Danny facing trial and the potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison.
After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.
LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH
An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.
SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z
Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Other links: SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks. Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. 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 a weekly series. How many have you read?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] The Top 25 People Enabling Scientology, No. 23: The apologist academics
[TWO years ago] Powerful testimonies about child abuse in Scientology keep coming to light
[THREE years ago] Scientology is very worried about 75-year-old Efrem Logreira and his allegations
[FOUR years ago] The island nation that is proving to be a refuge for the Church of Scientology
[FIVE years ago] Scientology’s fiery ‘Guardian’ before she hooked up with Ron, and other gems from our readers
[SIX years ago] With a trial looming in 6-year forced-abortion lawsuit, Scientology cries ‘but we’re a religion!’
[SEVEN years ago] Denise Brennan, 1952-2014: A former insider who exposed Scientology’s corporate shell game
[EIGHT years ago] In Scientology, When the Prices Kick Up, What Do You Get for the Money?
[TEN years ago] The Top 25 People Crippling Scientology, No. 22: Jamie DeWolf
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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 2,391 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,896 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,416 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,436 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,327 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,634 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,502 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,276 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 1,606 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,080 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,396 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,962 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,881 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,049 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,630 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,891 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,929 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,642 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,167 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 522 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,697 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,248 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,397 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,717 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,572 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,691 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,047 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,350 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,456 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,854 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,730 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,313 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,808 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,062 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,171 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on August 13, 2021 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, 1995-2020 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2020), 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, 15 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
