Last year in February we revealed that an employee at the dietary supplement company Balance of Nature had contacted us, wanting to expose that the company has a cozy relationship with the Church of Scientology.
How cozy? As in, the Balance of Nature headquarters in St. George, Utah actually has a “Hubbard College of Administration” housed inside the building, and employees are encouraged to take courses there, which are given by Scientology instructors flown out regularly by Balance of Nature.
We learned this not only from the employee, but also in a series of photographs of the offices and even an excerpt from the employee manual. As a result of the story, the company had its VP of public relations, Dennis Leavitt, try to lean on us and get us to retract some of the article. But the photos and the employee manual spoke for themselves, we figured, and we didn’t change the story. (We did, however, gladly include Leavitt’s statement as the final word in the story.)
Balance of Nature promises all sorts of health benefits if you consume their capsules containing ingredients from fruits and veggies. The company is all over the place, particularly on conservative talk radio, and its Internet ads pop up all over. Before our story in February, some of our readers had spotted a set of Scientology manuals in one television ad for the product.
And now, we have something really special. Another Balance of Nature employee has come forward wanting the public to know how shot-through with Scientology the company is.
The employee recorded some short videos inside the company headquarters and sent them to us. As you’ll see, we first get a glimpse inside the HCA, where Scientology courses are held, and you can see the blue L. Ron Hubbard manuals that are used in the front operation World Institute of Scientology Enterprises (WISE) and its lion logo.
But then the employee recorded short glimpses in other parts of the office, showing that the blue manuals are a regular feature.
“There’s a full reference set in almost every office, not just the rooms designated as ‘Hubbard classrooms’,” our source says.
And the instructors are still flying out regularly from Los Angeles.
“’Professors’ from Hubbard College will be here teaching classes every day starting next week until the end of the month. I’ve heard there’s dozens of people in attendance each day. We only have 400 employees. So we potentially have 10 percent of our workforce in Hubbard training regularly,” the source says.
We reached out to Leavitt in an effort to give him a head’s up this time, and we sent him a sample image of a Balance of Nature desk with its set of Hubbard manuals. But he told us that he was in a new position and he forwarded our message to the current Balance of Nature vice president of public relations. We are still waiting for a response.
In the meantime, enjoy these brief glimpses into Balance of Nature’s offices. With this much guidance from L. Ron Hubbard lying around the offices, how could it not clear the planet with its fruits and veggies in pill form!
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“Today I’m going to talk to you severely. Ordinarily I jolly you along, you know, and everybody looks… Well, I hate to be this severe, but you are on the edges of the great adventure. And this separates the sheep from the goats, man. And separates the children from the characters who can do it. And you are adventured upon a period of auditing which requires far more precision, auditor presence and TRs than any auditing we have ever had. There’s certain ways to do this right, and there’s certain ways to do it wrong. The number of ways to do it wrong far exceed the ways to do it right. Any time you have somebody in training, he can always invent some new ways to do it wrong, but it’s very, very funny that he never invents — almost never — some way to do it right. Because the odds are very bad. The truth of the matter is that the auditing which you are embarked upon is in actual fact simpler than you would believe and simpler than you will believe for some time. And the main thing you are doing with it is far too much complication. That’s all. Just the complexities you’re adding into it are defeating you. And you’re taking too much time to accomplish what you’re accomplishing.” — L. Ron Hubbard, May 2, 1963
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“The UK and SA inquiry scenes look hopeful if we keep our fingers crossed and the Gdn Office keeps as active as it has been, which we’re sure it will. This is the real power house that’s in action… We now own the 174′ MY Grinnel and as soon as it’s out of dock it will be the US Station Ship. It’s very sleek, has engines only slightly less HP than Apollos. Two strong 2000 HP GMs… Flag is now a happier atmosphere. In the field thanks to the days of raw recruits and Berez and the lies of B. Green in NY we’re looked on as a violent and savage ship. It’s a lie so it will blow away. Doesn’t do any harm anyway.” — The Commodore, May 2, 1970
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“Before, I was part of a very known group of Indies on the Internet. Hard core, highly trained, Tech wise and Admin wise old-timer Scientologists. Very good guys indeed. When I told their leader about Ron and his new tech, she made a point to be ‘honest’ and demonstrate to me that he was a crook, a con man, and that the floor was going to drop under my feet. Wow, frightening, really frightening! Well, I never had so much wins in my 40-year career as a Scientologist.”
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2001: An article in Scientology’s Freewinds magazine describes efforts against the Lisa McPherson Trust. “I announced my new intentions to create a safe environment to disseminate into, but found that my home town had a little clan of SPs. I began to attack them. My attack turned into the Foundation for Religious Tolerance which I founded. This Foundation confronts any critics of Scientology and exposes them for what they really are – hate groups. Since I founded the Foundation for Religious Tolerance I’ve done TV shows, radio shows, and many other activities exposing the SPs. The Foundation was even quoted in a local newspaper announcing that the SPs in my town were nothing more than a hate group. With all the activities against them from my Foundation, these SPs are going wild! They now believe that the Foundation for Religious Tolerance is a worldwide organization attacking them from many sides and from many countries.’ Just to give you an idea of the power of OT Hatting, would you like to know how many people comprise this vast worldwide organization that has the SPs running scared? Just one, me! — M.D.”
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“The visual image of Tom the Jumping Jackass is priceless in itself and will stay with me for a very long time.”
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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 pretrial conference May 31. Trial scheduled for August 29.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Last hearing was on January 18, referred to grand jury. Additional charges also referred to grand jury after January 5 assault while in jail.
— Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Pretrial conference May 20 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next pretrial conference set for May 5.
— Joseph ‘Ben’ Barton, Medicare fraud: Pleaded guilty, awaiting sentencing.
— Yanti Mike Greene, Scientology private eye accused of contempt of court: Found guilty of criminal and civil contempt.
Civil litigation:
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Complaint filed April 28 in Tampa federal court.
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Eleventh Circuit affirmed ruling granting Scientology’s motion for arbitration. Garcias considering next move.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Valerie’s motion for reconsideration denied on March 15.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Appellate court removes requirement of arbitration on January 19, case remanded back to Superior Court. Next hearing scheduled for June 29.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Third amended complaint filed, trial set for June 28.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs. Appeal hearing held Aug 23-27. Awaiting a ruling.
— Chiropractors Steve Peyroux and Brent Detelich, stem cell fraud: Lawsuit filed by the FTC and state of Georgia in August, now in discovery phase.
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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] In Scientology, ‘making it go right’ is everything, even if it wrecks lives
[TWO years ago] Georgia anti-psychiatry legislator goes even bigger for Scientology in the pandemic
[THREE years ago] What it’s like on the Scientology measles ship right now, according to former crew
[FOUR years ago] Fifty years later and post-Scientology, 60’s band People! aims for a comeback
[FIVE years ago] Renovations for Scientology’s planned Mexico City ‘Advanced Org’ halted by local pols
[SIX years ago] ABC’s ’20/20′ let Scientology trash Ron Miscavige — but here’s what you didn’t get to hear
[SEVEN years ago] More testimony that Scientology’s celebrities know all about Sea Org deprivations
[EIGHT years ago] Video Vault: Another dose of L. Ron Hubbard wisdom you aren’t supposed to see
[NINE years ago] Dianetics: Super Colon Blow For Your Mind
[TEN years ago] Kate Bornstein’s Amazing Voyage
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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 2,652 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,157 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,707 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,697 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,588 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,895 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,763 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,537 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 1,868 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,341 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,657 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,223 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,142 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,310 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,890 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,152 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,188 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,903 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,428 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 783 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,958 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,509 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,658 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,978 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,833 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,952 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,308 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,611 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,717 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,115 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,991 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,574 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,069 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,323 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,432 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on May 2, 2022 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, 1995-2021 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2021), 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
Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
