TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: A new batch of OT Phenomena is here! We always enjoy reading these ghost stories Scientology passes off as evidence of superpowers gained on the ‘Operating Thetan’ levels, which cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. It’s mind over money! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“The analytical mind is strong and should never be undervalued. It is not only strong in the sense that it is incredibly resistant to aberration, but also in the sense that it can rise above and conquer engrams even without therapy. Of course it cannot remain forever above those engrams, for new engrams may at last force it to succumb. But a person undergoing dianetic processing with an eye to greater ability should never be taken in with the statement that all he has ever done or said has been because of engrams. Fully eighty percent of his thinking and his actions were clear analytical decisions. When he begins to find out how many engrams he had and how powerful they were he should not, during the course of therapy, resign himself to a belief that he was never competent to overcome them, for he very definitely was. The power of the individual and Man is the power of the analytical mind, a tough, rational organism, difficult to aberrate, capable of overcoming aberrations and, when cleared especially, forceful and personable far, far beyond any pre-dianetic knowledge. Even aberrated or uneducated, Man’s analytical mind has almost completed the conquest of Earth.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1950
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“Ninth of August? What planet? Nine August, AD 12….You are Scientologists. You are scientists. You are people who can do things with the human mind. You practically — this small confine here — practically all the people on Earth who are experts on the subject are confined at this moment in this very small area. See? All right. The trick is from my viewpoint, to get somebody who can clear somebody else while being cleared, see, that’s the stunt. Otherwise nothing else works. Not on this planet, you see.” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 9, 1962
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“The UK ban is about to come off we hear by rumour. The Adelaide Aust ban bill is cancelled. The GPO lets us mail at bulk rates again in the US. I think we’ve even found the bug in the TR Course length! So here on Flag the few of us, on long, long lines, are working like mad, short-handed but rolling it out. We ARE very upstat. When you feel critical, just realize it’s a wish to do more better faster. For these 3 small orgs to handle what they’re handling is itself an epic. The thing legends are made of. The lowest downstat amongst us would be a king in any other culture than Flag.” — The Commodore, August 9, 1971
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“Don’t think for a minute that the tech of Scientology and Dianetics doesn’t work. Too much energy was used by the US Government to stop it, so it must have worked its miracles as advertised. Imagine the meeting at the AMA. ‘So Doctor Scalpel, you read this book by Hubbard, do we have anything to worry about?’ The doctor replies, ‘I see a great danger with this book and we need to suppress it now, while we have a chance. I used some of its technology and it does rid people of illnesses with simple applications. This will cost us hundreds of millions of dollars.’ And so it went. Why else would the government spend so much energy on stopping us?”
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2001: A Scientology press release promoted the anniversary event held recently at the Celebrity Center in Los Angeles. “The names on this year’s lengthy guest list included, Jenna Elfman, Leah Remini, Catherine Bell, Danny Masterson, Lynsey Bartilson, Marisol Nichols, Michelle Stafford, Jennifer Aspen, Nancy Cartwright, Marissa Ribisi, Erika Christensen and Jason Lee. Celebrity Centre President, Susan Watson, said, ‘the popularity of Scientology and Mr. Hubbard’s works within the arts mirrors the Church’s overall growth, with nine million members in over 120 countries and eleven ‘Celebrity Centres’ in cultural centers around the world such as New York, Paris, London, Vienna, Nashville and Las Vegas as well as the International center in Hollywood.’ The fifteen hundred-or-so guests at the soiree not only received a copy of a new musical CD entitled, ‘The Joy of Creating,’ they witnessed the hip-hop legend, ‘original human beat box’ Doug E. Fresh, Broadway’s Carl Anderson, jazz great Chick Corea and Australia’s number one female vocalist Kate Ceberano, performing variations of Mr. Hubbard’s poem that declares, ‘The greatest joy there is in life in creating. Splurge on it!'”
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“The ultimate goal of becoming an Operating Thetan is that you would no longer need a MEST body and you could return to being an all powerful, immortal non-corporeal being. OT 8 is actually the first ‘real’ Operating Thetan level. Hubbard croaked, so everybody’s screwed. Thetans are immortal. Mesty meat bodies, no.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Sentenced to 30 years to life on Sep 7, 2023. Appeal now fully briefed, oral arguments scheduled for June 25. Masterson has also submitted a habeas corpus petition.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Pleaded guilty on Nov 10 to a 17-year prison sentence. Now serving time in state prison.
— Aaron Matthes charged for SA of child under 12 years old: OT Scientologist facing multiple mandatory life sentences. Next pretrial court hearing set for June 19.
Civil litigation:
— Leah Remini v. Scientology, alleging ‘Fair Game’ harassment and defamation: Some defamation claims were removed by Judge Hammock. Judge Hammock’s ruling is on appeal, which is now fully briefed. Oral arguments hearing set for July 23.
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ 15 days of arbitration completed, Val waiting for further word from the IJC.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson. Judge Upindra Kalra’s ruling denying Scientology’s motion to strike upheld on appeal. Scientology expected to file additional petitions before case can return to Kalra’s court.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration. Trial has been set for January 10, 2028.
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Other links: The prosecution of Danny Masterson. Leah Remini’s Fair Game Podcast. Leah Remini’s A&E Series. Scientology’s Celebrities, from A to Z. Bryan Seymour’s suppressed series, 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] Scientology sees illness as a weakness, offers space-age faith healing
[TWO years ago] Scientology ecstasy: When your space cooties finally get sober
[THREE years ago] Oh, now they’ve done it: Scientology gets in trouble with the Smurfs
[FOUR years ago] Rizza Islam’s sisters plead no contest, leaving him last facing trial in Medi-Cal fraud case
[FIVE years ago] Tom Cruise’s Scientology superpowers, No. 13: Communicating with anyone on any subject
[SIX years ago] Leaked Video: Scientology’s anti-psychiatry front talks strategy with psych professor
[SEVEN years ago] TOM CRUISE CAUGHT ON TAPE: Saving face after a Scientology disaster
[EIGHT years ago] Why Scientology is a haven for sexual abusers — it’s the way L. Ron Hubbard designed it
[NINE years ago] Hey, moneybags, Scientology has a bridge to sell you. Here’s the new price list!
[TEN years ago] The dapper CEO’s detailed response: Scientology wasn’t forced on disgruntled employee
[ELEVEN years ago] Why no one should ever believe anything said by Scientology Sea Org or staff members
[TWELVE years ago] Jon Atack: Escaping the trap Scientology sets for the mind
[THIRTEEN years ago] Scientology’s Shelly Miscavige is Not Missing — So Stop Looking for Her!
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Joe Reaiche (1958-2024) did not see his daughter Alanna Masterson in his final 6,999 days.
Mike Rinder (1955-2025) did not see his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in his final 7,589 days.
Tammy Synovec has not seen her daughter Julia in 3,715 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,219 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,725 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,275 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,651 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,146 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,452 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 5,101 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,319 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,873 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,214 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,785 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,701 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,868 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,454 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,713 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,461 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 4,030 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,341 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,516 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,198 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,535 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,388 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,504 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,866 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,665 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,549 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 4,124 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,625 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,885 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,989 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on August 9, 2026 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter.
Our book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is 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, 1995-2024 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2024), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
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Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
