OT VIII
Encyclopedia
OT VIII is the highest current course and level in Scientology
. Collectively, the OTs are referred to as Operating Thetan
course materials. OT VIII is known as "The Truth Revealed".
Until April 2008 the "Flag Ship Service Organization" operated aboard the Freewinds
, a church-owned seagoing cruise ship
staffed by the Sea Org
.
drill, followed by a review of Scientology: A History of Man
and an examination of previously identified past lives to find out which ones are false. According to Pattinson, the course included an affirmation from L. Ron Hubbard
that "now he [Pattinson] knew who he wasn't, and was interested in finding out who he was."
on the Internet. The posting contained disputed portions of OT VIII, including an exercise for communicating with animals and plants, and a passage depicting Jesus Christ as a "lover of young boys and men ... given to uncontrollable bursts of temper and hatred." Church of Scientology
lawyers have asserted that the OT VIII documents posted by Lerma are fake; defectors like Lawrence Wollersheim insist they are genuine.
placed what it claimed was a complete set of OT levels on their site, including a version of OT VIII not previously publicly available. The Church of Scientology objected that posting this information on its website is clear violation of copyright. However, Wikileaks
did not remove the documents and claimed the documents were authentic. Subsequently, Swiss-based bank Julius Baer asked a US court to shut Wikileaks
down. But the bank eventually dropped its case, after Judge Jeffrey S. White said that a shutdown was barred by the First Amendment to the US Constitution.
Scientology
Scientology is a body of beliefs and related practices created by science fiction and fantasy author L. Ron Hubbard , starting in 1952, as a successor to his earlier self-help system, Dianetics...
. Collectively, the OTs are referred to as Operating Thetan
Operating Thetan
In Scientology, the state of Operating Thetan is a spiritual state above Clear. L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, defined it as "knowing and willing cause over life, thought, matter, energy, space and time ". According to religious scholar J...
course materials. OT VIII is known as "The Truth Revealed".
- "This Solo-audited level addresses the primary cause of amnesia on the whole track and lets one see the truth of his own existence. This is the first actual OT level and brings about a resurgence of power and native abilities for the being himself. This may be done at the Flag Ship Service Organization only."
Until April 2008 the "Flag Ship Service Organization" operated aboard the Freewinds
Freewinds
MV Freewinds is a cruise ship operated by International Shipping - Miami and owned by San Donato Properties, which is a company connected to the Church of Scientology. It was built in 1968 by Wärtsilä Turku Shipyard in Turku, Finland for Wallenius Lines as MS Bohème for service with Commodore...
, a church-owned seagoing cruise ship
Tom Cruise
Thomas Cruise Mapother IV , better known as Tom Cruise, is an American film actor and producer. He has been nominated for three Academy Awards and he has won three Golden Globe Awards....
staffed by the Sea Org
Sea Org
The Sea Organization or Sea Org is an association of Scientologists established in 1968 by L. Ron Hubbard, the science fiction writer and founder of Scientology. Its members are found in the central management organizations of the Church of Scientology as well as in individual churches...
.
Versions of OT VIII
Various outlines purporting to describe New OT VIII have been provided by ex-members who have completed the course, such as Ariane Jackson and Michael Pattinson. Jackson has described the course as having two parts: a preparatory e-meterE-meter
An E-meter is an electronic device used during Dianetics and Scientology auditing. The device is a variation of a Wheatstone bridge, which measures electrical resistance and skin conductance. It is formally known as the Hubbard Electrometer, for the Church's founder, L. Ron Hubbard...
drill, followed by a review of Scientology: A History of Man
Scientology: A History of Man
Scientology: A History of Man is a book by L. Ron Hubbard, first published in 1952 under the title What To Audit. According to the author, it provides "a coldblooded and factual account of your last sixty trillion years." It has gone through many editions since its first publication and is a key...
and an examination of previously identified past lives to find out which ones are false. According to Pattinson, the course included an affirmation from L. Ron Hubbard
L. Ron Hubbard
Lafayette Ronald Hubbard , better known as L. Ron Hubbard , was an American pulp fiction author and religious leader who founded the Church of Scientology...
that "now he [Pattinson] knew who he wasn't, and was interested in finding out who he was."
Fishman version
In August 1995, Arnie Lerma posted the Fishman papersFishman Affidavit
The Fishman Affidavit is a set of court documents submitted by ex-Scientologist Steven Fishman in 1993 in the federal case, Church of Scientology International v. Fishman and Geertz The Fishman Affidavit is a set of court documents submitted by ex-Scientologist Steven Fishman in 1993 in the federal...
on the Internet. The posting contained disputed portions of OT VIII, including an exercise for communicating with animals and plants, and a passage depicting Jesus Christ as a "lover of young boys and men ... given to uncontrollable bursts of temper and hatred." Church of Scientology
Church of Scientology
The Church of Scientology is an organization devoted to the practice and the promotion of the Scientology belief system. The Church of Scientology International is the Church of Scientology's parent organization, and is responsible for the overall ecclesiastical management, dissemination and...
lawyers have asserted that the OT VIII documents posted by Lerma are fake; defectors like Lawrence Wollersheim insist they are genuine.
Wikileaks version
On March 24, 2008, WikileaksWikileaks
WikiLeaks is an international self-described not-for-profit organisation that publishes submissions of private, secret, and classified media from anonymous news sources, news leaks, and whistleblowers. Its website, launched in 2006 under The Sunshine Press organisation, claimed a database of more...
placed what it claimed was a complete set of OT levels on their site, including a version of OT VIII not previously publicly available. The Church of Scientology objected that posting this information on its website is clear violation of copyright. However, Wikileaks
Wikileaks
WikiLeaks is an international self-described not-for-profit organisation that publishes submissions of private, secret, and classified media from anonymous news sources, news leaks, and whistleblowers. Its website, launched in 2006 under The Sunshine Press organisation, claimed a database of more...
did not remove the documents and claimed the documents were authentic. Subsequently, Swiss-based bank Julius Baer asked a US court to shut Wikileaks
Wikileaks
WikiLeaks is an international self-described not-for-profit organisation that publishes submissions of private, secret, and classified media from anonymous news sources, news leaks, and whistleblowers. Its website, launched in 2006 under The Sunshine Press organisation, claimed a database of more...
down. But the bank eventually dropped its case, after Judge Jeffrey S. White said that a shutdown was barred by the First Amendment to the US Constitution.