Operating Thetan
In Scientology, Operating Thetan (OT) is a state of complete spiritual freedom in which one is a "willing and knowing cause over life, thought, matter, energy, space and time".
In summary, the objective of these levels is to remove "body thetans" which are "confused, disembodied souls from other planets who have attached themselves to us".
[1]: 283 Operating Thetan is represented by a symbol consisting of the letters OT with the T inside the O and each of the points of the T ending at the O's circumference.
[5] Hubbard claimed that thetans were once tricked into following religions, which prevented them from using their own power to create and destroy universes.
[7] According to religious scholar J. Gordon Melton, "[The OT levels are] basically a variation of the Gnostic myth about souls falling into matter and the encumbrances that come with that.
"[8] While there are fifteen OT levels listed on Scientology's Classification, Gradation and Awareness Chart, the Church only offers eight.
In the 1990s Fishman case, the entire OT levels from I to VIII were presented, eventually leading to others obtaining them and later duplicated on the internet.
On March 24, 2008, WikiLeaks published on its website the previously secret training instructions for all eight OT levels.
Three days later the law firm of Moxon & Kobrin sent a letter to Wikileaks on behalf of the Church of Scientology demanding to have the documents removed.
Urban explores the purpose of secrecy in the Operating Thetan levels in the Church of Scientology by discussing its related controversy.
He claims that secrecy is a motivating tool for Scientologists to desire to climb "The Bridge of Total Freedom," specifically to attain the level of OTVIII.
Media attention has mostly focused on Operating Thetan Level III, which reportedly tells the history of the universe from 75 million years ago.
This level is called the "First Wall of Fire" and claims to "reveal the cause of earthly human suffering".
[13]: 18 Hubbard announced discovering an important breakthrough within less than a month of founding the Sea Org, the religious order of the church that consists of its most dedicated members.
[19] Church dogma regards OT III as a dangerous process which can lead to pneumonia, to lack of sleep or even to death if not run correctly.
"This level handles the hidden problems and stops in a being's universe caused by the effects of drugs and poisons on the whole track.
On Solo NOTs one is dealing with complexities intended to crush one's true power and abilities as a thetan.
Solo NOTs auditors acquire a wide range of auditing skills to handle the vast phenomena that can occur on OT VIII.
[25] The revised version is completely redacted from the original and states "This Solo-audited level addresses the primary cause of amnesia on the whole track and lets one see the truth of his own existence.
[17]: 126 Since 1986, Church of Scientology leader David Miscavige has dangled the hope of OT IX and X being released in the near future, pending certain conditions, which have shifted over time.
Criticism stems from a pattern of cycles wherein members continue to pay increasing amounts for these courses, while some even put their families into debt chasing the elusive life-changing results under the stewardship of the church.
The Church of Scientology also sued Panoussis for copyright infringement, since he had made the documents available online without authorization.
