# The NOTs Scholars Home Page (Scientology)

Some of the files in this page may not be found, since I do not have all of them. I focused especially in the NOTS documents, to give a better understanding of Scientology beliefs, that Scientology do not want people to know. I suggest, you visit the Main site if you need more.

Main site: Carnegie Mellon (Pittsburgh). Mirror sites at: (1) XS4ALL (Amsterdam), (2) Demon (UK).
Also available on AOL via the path keyword:Religions:Inter-Faith:Other Religions:Library.

NOTs (New Era Dianetics for Operating Thetans) are part of the formerly secret "Advanced Technology" of Scientology, the New Age religion founded in the 1950s by pulp science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard.

## News Flash: NOTs Available On the Web!

- The Flag NOTs Pack (Vorlon edition) is currently available via the home page of Andreas Heldal-Lund in Norway. See his main CoS page for more information. This page also points to a copy of the complete Fishman Declaration.
- Mirror site in Finland for the Heldal-Lund pages, hosted by Eero Taipale.
- Archive site in Denmark for the Heldal-Lund files, by Jesper Toftegaard.
- In late October, 1996, NOTs 22 and NOTs 34 became available on the web page of Jeta Eggers at XS4ALL in Amsterdam. Her main CoS page contains more information.

## Scope and Purpose

This web site was created to promote the scholarly study of the NOTs documents as both religious literature and historical texts. In particular, I am interested in exploring the following issues:

1. Scientology's view of the structure of the mind as expressed in NOTs and its supporting materials, such as OT III and the Philadelphia Doctorate Course. Are there similarities between the body thetan interactions described in NOTs and the Society of Mind theory proposed by artificial intelligence pioneer Marvin Minsky of MIT?
2. The spiritual phenomena and processes described in NOTs, and their equivalents in other religions. How does belief in body thetans compare with belief in demonic possession? In what ways does auditing out BTs resemble exorcism?
3. Origins and history of the NOTs issues: who wrote them, who revised them, and what earlier source materials were drawn upon in their preparation? Although supposedly written by Hubbard himself, David Mayo is said to be the real author of some NOTs issues. What was the extent of Mayo's contribution?
4. The role of NOTs in the contemporary practice of the Scientology religion. How are these documents understood and used by Hubbard's followers today? Is NOTs being promoted as a cure for physical ailments? This is currently being debated in Religious Technology Center v H. Keith Henson.

## Call for Contributions

Contributions to this web site are eagerly requested. Information, commentary, and criticism of any aspect of NOTs may be submitted to Dave Touretzky. The appearance of any essay on this site is not an endorsement of the views expressed therein. It reflects only my editorial judgement that the material is relevant to fostering scholarly discussion.

Anonymous contributions are welcome. However, materials that clearly violate US copyright law will not be accepted. Of course, quotations are often allowable under the "fair use" provision of the copyright code. Potential contributors should note that since I am not a lawyer, I cannot advise them on what they should or should not say here.

Given that the NOTs documents have been published on the Internet, both by posting to Usenet (including multiple news servers here in Pennsylvania) and by archiving on web sites at Alta Vista and Deja News, it is my understanding that public discussion of these materials is not a violation of Pennsylvania trade secret law. Readers in other jurisdictions may wish to consult local laws before downloading material from this site.

## Church of Scientology Recognizes NOTs Scholars Page

- This letter was sent to Dave Touretzky by Roger M. Milgrim, noted intellectual property attorney at Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker.
- GIFs of Mr. Milgrim's letter: page 1, page 2, page 3
- My analysis of Mr. Milgrim's letter suggests that CoS has no case, and they know it.
- My reply to Mr. Milgrim points out that he did not allege any specific illegalities on the web page, and cites the decision of Judge Brinkema in RTC v. The Washington Post with respect to fair use quotation and trade secret issues.

## Prerequisites for Beginning NOTs Scholars

Readers new to the study of Hubbard's thought will find the following starting points essential:

- David Carter's essay on the basics of the Scientology belief system.
- Summary of OT III by Karin Spaink. Covers Xenu, the volcanos, the origin of body thetans, and the first level of confidential auditing procedures used to remove them.
- OT III Scholarship Page: see the Xenu story in Hubbard's own handwriting.
- Secrets of the E-Meter explains how an E-meter works and how it is used in auditing.
- Perry Scott gives a humorous overview of how NOTs auditing differs from OT III.

## The Origin of NOTs

- Excerpt from Bare-Faced Messiah by Russell Miller. David Mayo is called in to audit a sick L. Ron Hubbard.
- Excerpt from Messiah or Madman by Bent Corydon. Hubbard introduces the concept of "body thetans" in 1978.
- Excerpts from A Piece of Blue Sky by Jon Atack. Mayo looks for "misconceptions" in Hubbard's auditing folders. Hubbard later shifts the emphasis to body thetans.
- Excerpt from a 1996 letter from David Mayo describing the origin of NOTs.
- Page 3 of NOTs 34, masked, as filed with the copyright office. Notice at the bottom of the page, the initials after "LRH" are blacked out. This was done for all 55 NOTs issues. In the Vorlon pack this line reads "LRH:dm:kjm". The "dm" stands for David Mayo.

## Provenance and Structure of the Vorlon NOTs Pack

The Vorlon NOTs pack was first posted to alt.religion.scientology on May 6, 1996, through the anonymous remailer service at Hacktic.nl. It was reposted twice more within the week, via other hosts.

- Where did the Vorlon NOTs pack come from? An anonymous writer claims that several versions of NOTs were floating around outside of Scientology's control; that what appeared on the Internet as the Vorlon pack was originally the "Larry West" pack; and that for strategic reasons, RTC chose to ignore its circulation.
- The theft in Denmark by Robin Scott et al., described by Jon Atack in A Piece of Blue Sky.
- Decision in Religious Technology Center et al. v Scott et al. discusses the role of Mayo in developing NOTs, and contains some quotes that appear to authenticate the Vorlon pack. More info in Scientology and the Courts.
- Table of contents for the Vorlon NOTs pack.
- Notes on the structure of the Vorlon NOTs pack.
- NOTs on the Internet. Modemac has put together a concise history of NOTs on the Net.
- "Vorlon Jr." debuts at XS4ALL. On August 18, 1996, announces that NOTs will reposted. On August 19, posts ned1, ned2, ned3, ned4, ned5, ned6, ned7, and two versions of the NOTs index. Then confirms the reposting, promising a key later. Posts some bogus keys, including Babylon5 and Morden. But Karin Spaink guesses the true key: Xenu. Finally, cancels his own postings (a futile gesture) when it becomes clear his anonymity is not going to last long.
- Zenon Pannousis posted NOTs twice from Sweden. His ongoing battle with the the Church is chronicled at this site in Sweden.

## The NOTs Dictionary

A dictionary of acronyms and technical terms found in NOTs. Remember to never go past a misunderstood word!

## Demonic Possession in Scientology

- Major section: Reverend Dennis L. Erlich answers your questions about demonic possession. Additional questions are welcome. Post them to alt.religion.scientology with "Demonic Possession in Scientology" in the header, and cc them to Dennis at inForm@primenet.com.
- A 1924 discussion of exorcism reveals some antecedents of Hubbard's ideas about auditing out body thetans. Jack Parsons notes: exorcists always ask "What is your name?" In Scientology, it's "Who are you?".
- Chapter 7 of The Hubbard is Bare, by Jeff Jacobsen, discusses the gnostic roots of Scientology, with particular reference to infestation by "demons": the body thetans audited out on OT III and NOTs. (Readers may wish to skip the first section, on Aleister Crowley.)
- Hubbard and the Occult, an essay by Jon Atack.
- Catholic beliefs about exorcism compared to Scientology beliefs about auditing out body thetans. By John Mark Ockerbloom.

## The Practice of NOTs Auditing

- The environment in which NOTs auditing is delivered, discussed by Joe Harrington.
- Margery Wakefield's experience auditing OT III and New OT V (the first released level of NOTs, which actually came out before New OT IV).
- A Hierarchy of Higher Statuses considers the special status of Clears and OTs. This is an excerpt from Scientology: To Be Perfectly Clear by William Sims Bainbridge and Rodney Stark.

## Medical Claims in NOTs

- Medical Claims Within Scientology's Secret Teachings, by Jeff Jacobsen
- See also: commentaries on NOTs 34, below.
- The Healing Claims of Scientology, chapter 19 of the Anderson Report (1965, Australia.)
- Here is a summary of medical claims in What Is Scientology?
- Scientologists must get permission before seeing a doctor.

## Summaries / Thumbnail Sketches of NOTs

> > ... if it was defendants' intention to make the technology public, they could do so without infringing plaintiffs' copyright by creating and publishing a noninfringing description of the procedure.
> > -- United States District Judge Mariana R. Pfaelzer, in Religious Technology Center et al. v Robin Scott et al., 1987.

- Thumbnail sketch of NOTs 1-55, by Anonymous

## Commentary on Individual NOTs Documents

> > When Scientology attacked the Internet, it smacked a hornets' nest. Now it gets to negotiate with each hornet individually.
> > -- A peeved netizen on alt.religion.scientology

Many of the people on alt.religion.scientology first became interested in Scientology as a result of the Internet war. Several have contributed commentaries below. However, there is another group of people interested in NOTs: the members of the FreeZone, who still practice Scientology but are estranged from the Church. I am especially interested in receiving FreeZone commentaries on the NOTs scripture.

Attention NOTs scholars: multiple commentaries on the same document are welcome. There are many ways to analyze these writings.

- NOTs 1: NED for OTs RD, Theory Of
  Bulletin date: 15 September 1978.
  - summary by Taneli Huuskonen
  - commentary by The New Squirrel
  - commentary by Keith Cochran

- NOTs 2: Why You Can't Run Engrams After Clear
  Bulletin date: 15 September 1978.
  - commentary by Dean Benjamin and Ralph Hilton

- NOTs 4: Word Clearing and Information for Pre-OTs on NED for OTs
  Bulletin date: 26 September 1978.
  - commentary by Dave Touretzky

- NOTs 20: How You Operate A Meter
  Bulletin date: 28 September 1978.
  - summary and comments by Dave Touretzky

- NOTs 22: Anaten
  Bulletin date: 26 September 1978. Issue IV.
  Full text of NOTs 22 available online at XS4ALL.
  - commentary on medical claims by Dave Touretzky
  - commentary on medical claims by Mike O'Connor

- NOTs 23: Remnant Ridges
  Bulletin date: 27 September 1978.
  - reconstruction of NOTs 23 by Keith Henson, described by Dave Touretzky.
  - announcement of reconstruction by Keith Henson

- NOTs 34: The Sequence for Handling a Physical Condition
  Bulletin date: 14 November 1978.
  Full text of NOTs 34 available online at XS4ALL.
  - Keith Henson's letter to Judge Whyte concerning medical claims appearing in NOTs 34.
  - commentary by David C. Smith

- NOTs 36: Rockslams
  Bulletin date:: 22 September 1978.
  - commentary by Jeff Jacobsen

- NOTs 38: Basic Fear
  Bulletin date: 7 November 1978.
  - summary and comments by Dave Touretzky

- NOTs 45: Partially Blown BTs
  Bulletin date: 10 February 1979.
  - commentary by Keith Spurgeon

- OT III and OT III Attest
  Bulletin date: 18 November 1981.
  - Is OT III obsolete? Commentary by anonymous.