From: decot@cup.hp.com (Dave Decot)
Subject: Re: Purification -- What is it?
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 1992 22:53:31 GMT
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Cupertino, CA
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL3

sdb@ssr.com (Scott Ballantyne) writes:
: Elizabeth.Mccoy@bbs.oit.unc.edu (Elizabeth Mccoy) writes:
: 
:    >It is my understanding that when one is done with Purif, there is a
:    >feeling of extreme well-being, happiness, etc. -- at that point, if the
:    >person notices, sie should go and get it checked, and if a floating
:    >needle accompanies a statement to the effect of "I think I'm done now!"
:    >then that ends the Purif session. From the two first hand accounts I've
:    >heard, both people "over-ran" and experienced great depression and
:    >irritability for a few minutes until the notion occured, "You know, I
:    >bet that I've over-run on this!" whereupon both broke into great gales
:    >of giggles, and went and got a floating needle on the "done now"
:    >statement. 
: 
:    >And that's (as far as I know) the way you tell when you're detoxified.
: 
: 
: Any chance of someone confirming the above, like by supplying an excerpt
: from an official scientology document?

I could post an excerpt from the HCO B (technical bulletin) I posted earlier,
but Elizabeth's summary of the Purif's EP ("End Phenomena" -- how to tell when
it's over) is essentially correct.  The giggles are not required, but
the feeling of well-being that leads one to conclude that one is done
is basically all it says.  This is obviously completely subjective,
and doesn't necessarily indicate anything real about the toxins in the body.

The possiblity of "over-running" processes and rundowns in Scientology
is well-established, and usually indicates that the "auditor" missed
a floating needle and continued the process beyond that.  However, since
there are no daily meter checks during the purif, this does not really apply
to it.  I have no idea how one is supposed to "know" if their body
is detoxified.  Perhaps a "pure body" is not even required as part of
the result.

In fact, the actual stated EP of the Purif is "Freedom from the restimulative
effects of drugs and other toxins", not "Freedom from drugs and other toxins
in the body".

: While we are on the subject --- can anyone take the Purif, or do you
: have to be a member of the church to do so?   What is the official
: rite of passage after which one becomes a scientologist, anyway?

The borderline between being a "Scientologist" and "Wog" is rather obscure.
Just hanging around for long enough and taking services seems to establish
one as a Scientologist, and even though you agree nothing about *being* a
Scientologist, you are expected to know and abide by all their policies
as if you were.

Clearly, joining the International Association of Scientologists makes
one a Scientologist.  To do this, one fills out an application and sends
in $300 per year (or $2000 for a lifetime membership, good for only one
lifetime :-).  The "privileges" associated with membership include the
"right to receive processing and training services from the Church",
and a 10% discount on all books and services.

The implication of these is contradictory: one seems to need membership
in IAS in order to receive services, but if one isn't a member, one has
to pay full price for services!?

However, you get a discount for being a member of the International
Association of Scientologists.  And, conveniently, everyone gets
a free six-month introductory membership in the IAS when they sign up
for their first service.

So, in practice, anyone can walk in off the street and buy a Purif, although
one usually takes some kind of Scientology course or introductory
auditing before the Purif.  I don't think this necessarily makes you a
"member" of the Church.  Perhaps just accepting your free intro IAS
memberhip makes you a "member".  I don't know.

Does anyone know the real story on IAS membership with regard to CoS
services?

There is also a course entitled, "Hubbard Qualified Scienologist", which
is a sort of introduction to basic Scientology and some rudimentary auditor
training, including auditing another person (without a meter) on several
processes.  It also includes a requirement that you sell a Scientology book
to someone else (you are not allowed to give it away).

Dave Decot

* Scientologists is a collective membership mark denoting the affiliated
  Churches and Missions of Scientology.  Scientology is a registered
  trademark and servicemark owned by RTC and is used with its permission.