My latest book, an autobiographical narrative, is off to the editor. I feel out of words at the moment. So, here’s Van the man with just about all the words (the musical accompaniment contributes mightily to his hitting it right on the sweet spot, imho) that anybody needs:
Moving On Up a Little Higher 
Congratulations Marty. I can’t wait to read it!
Marty Rathbun, out of words? That won’t last long! And there are quite a few of us out here eagerly waiting for that book.
Marty, thanks again for setting the stage and setting things straight. Here’s the lyrics to the (poem) song…..
Chop that wood
Carry water
What’s the sound of one hand clapping
Enlightenment, don’t know what it is
Every second, every minute
It keeps changing to something different
Enlightenment, don’t know what it is
Enlightenment, don’t know what it is
It says it’s non attachment
Non attachment. non attachment
I’m in the here and now, and I’m meditating
And still I’m suffering but that’s my problem
Enlightenment, don’t know what it is
Wake up
Enlightenment says the world is nothing
Nothing but a dream, everything’s an illusion
And nothing is real
Good or bad baby
You can change it anyway you want
You can rearrange it
Enlightenment, don’t know what it is
Chop that wood
And carry water
What’s the sound of one hand clapping
Enlightenment, don’t know what it is
All around baby. you can see
You’re making your own reality. everyday because
Enlightenment, don’t know what it is
One more time
Enlightenment. don’t know what it is
It’s up to you
Enlightenment. don’t know what it is
It’s up to you everyday
Enlightenment, don’t know what it is
It’s always up to you
Enlightenment, don’t know what it is
Wonderful! Thanks for the good news.
Looking forward to your autobiographical narrative. Also, the photo posted above of you and your beautiful wife is extra special, very nice. Special feeling.
Θ Bravo! Thank you for your work. Looking forward to it.
Same
Ditto!
That’s great news!
I also can’t wait.
Mush success on your journey
Well, what would mushy success be? Of course it is ‘much success’ !
This is fantastic news. And I love this song — never heard it until now.
dittos
Congratulations. Eagerly awaited by many.
Thank you for the musical message. He does say it and the video is gorgeous.
Congratulations Marty looking forward to reading it!!
“Before enlightenment, you will hew wood and carry water. After enlightenment, you will hew wood and carry water.” – Attributed to the Buddha
“If you never do, you’ll never know” – I believe Marty Rathbun said this before it was popularized on Taco Bell “hot sauce” packets.
It’d be quite good for ex official Scientologists to hear what a Van Morrison discovered (as Van almost got to Clear, he got his Grades I heard).
It’d be quite good if Scientologists really let their ex members go wherever they want to go, meaning LEAVE Scientology, and go do whatever they want.
Scientology ought allow and be happy Van Morrisons go wherever they keep going, which is OUT of Scientology, and onto other spiritual paths, whatever they choose.
I wish someone would do some lnks to Van Morrison’s continuing paths he’s taken!
The whole business end of Scientology, is so wrong.
Marty, someday, look at all that William Borroughs got from Scientology, and see what you think of all the things Borroughs wrote about what he got.
I’m sure it will be a great read. Can’t wait either. Now take a vacation, or go fishing.
You left out the last line: it’s what you think.
With luck I will be the first one to buy it.
Thanks
Great song. You should get the album Astral Weeks by Van. Awesome music! And Congrats, will be interesting to read the book!
Ditto
Whoa, Marty – good news and can’t wait!
And “autobiographical”? This will be good 🙂
God I love Van morrison.
Θ Thank you for the lyrics ♫
+ 1 and looking forward to a great read!
Congratulations! I can’t wait to read it!
Great Marty, looking forward to getting the book! Thanks!
Great song. And great news about the book.
Mary I read your first 2 books and really liked them, they helped me understand Scientology. I can’t wait to read this one!. Congratulations, I know how much it takes to complete a book.!
Congratulations Marty. Can’t wait to read it!
Count me in line waiting for my copy.
I remember entering my auditing room in SF back in the late 70’s. I saw Van Morrisons folder on my auditors table. I asked about that since I was a great fan of his work. My auditor told me that he had just left after a session.I thought it was really cool that I was going into session minutes after Van Morrison finished his but later found out that he “blew”. Never changed my appreciation for his talent. I questioned his involvement, later, during a reg cycle, and was told that Van was “wary about even entering the SF org but they finally got him in to “at least to finish his grades”.
Thank you Tom, otherwise I would have had no idea of the words of the song except “the sound of one hand clapping”. Is it possible that those who post songs like this on the internet dont know how unclear the words are no matter who sings them? Not a gripe, just telling it as I hear it.
Great news! Great video! I hope Jason Beghe will play the part when the screenplay is done!
Truly excellent news!
Great!
Congratulations. I am looking forward to reading your book.
Excellent news. Excellent video and music by Van Morrison.
Infinite sympathetic joy to all!
George M. White
I think his comment on Scientology is expressed in “Thanks for the Information”
Thanks for the information I know
It’s only a combat zone
Thanks for the memory,
I’ll just have
To carry on on my own
Or maybe
No guru, no method, no teacher
Just you and I and nature
And the Father in the garden
Wonderful news …
And thanks for the inspiring Van Morrison song …
An autobiographical narrative – excellent! Can’t wait to read it. You gotta be the hardest working loafer I know.
Can’t wait, I know it’ll be great!
Bask in the sunshine for a spell with a cold one and recharge your batteries;)
Congrats Marty! Looking forward to the next “chapter”. I’ve bought your first two in both print and Kindle versions (recommended) and will likely do the same for this one.
Hey Marty, Very Well Done, Waiting impatiently to get my copy and for you to autograph it. Add it to my collection. Van Morrison, btw, is also an ex Scientologist. An album of his, years ago, thanked LRH. You are an inspiration to so many of us, thanks, Dani
“Nothing real can be threatened…Nothing unreal exists….Herein lies the peace of God”
A Course in Miracles
Thanks. What is an ex Scientologist and how does one become one?
Mr. Rathbun – wishing you EVERY success with your new book!
There was a small interview about Scientology and it’s anti-drugs work on BBC Radio 2 today – here is a link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01rz533. The Scientologist featured is called Mark Pinchen (not sure of the spelling). Thought it might be of interest, if you are able to stream it.
With every good wish to you; keep smiling!
IEG x
Great question. I guess that to become an ex-Scientologist you would have to not just become aware of the untruths in Scientology but deny the truths that became part of you – or at least try to.
Another good question is, outside the CoS, what is a Scientologist? I bet there are many definitions people have in their minds.
I tried to phone in to clarify a few things and the producer wanted me on but in the end they didn’t take any calls on this one. I guess Mark hasn’t done OT III yet…
Martin – despite not being a Scientologist myself, but after having followed (and supported the principles of) this blog for a number of years – I believe you are totally correct. I’m not sure that, in the end, the interviewee did the better parts of the issue any favours at all. Not Jeremy’s fault though; I’ve met him on a number of occasions and he is extremely fair.
Keep smiling,
IEG xx
😊
Thank you.
For all that you do.
Thought you might like this…
Cool question. Given the passion and interest and communication about,we can find on the internet it seems there are no ex scientologist , only those who can let go of indoctrination , those who audit , those who try to get rid of it , those who want to stay in the bubble of delusion , those who want to improve , many different view points but what is true lives on.
My oversight. You’re a good Qual
Damn the copy and paste stuff and procedures….
Sweet.
Marty,
An ex Scientologist is one who forgot how to know how to know. And I don’t know how one becomes one once one has been one. A difficult process, I’m sure.
I really wonder if there ever should have been a label ‘Scientologist’ for someone not practicing Scientology professionally.
Long ago, and long forgotten it was that way — you had to do the Hubbard Apprentice Scientologist course, the Hubbard Qualified Scientologist Course and then you really were a Scientologist. PCs were just pcs. OTs were not qualified either unless they had done the HQS course. That’s how it was when I was first introduced to Scientology nearly 40 years ago. When the Success through Communication Course was introduced, that was the end of that. No one earned this status or had to qualify any more — just accept your free membership and keep on paying for memberships and presto, you’re a Scientologist. And the more money you paid, the more you were a Scientologist. And so the dollar became the qualification and the metric. Its been that way ever since — oh, and you don’t get a choice about becoming a member. Not any more.
I knew that you were up to something Marty. 🙂 And in the back of my mind I was entertaining the idea of an autobiographical memoir of sorts from you. So I am glad to hear, you finally took my thoughts I never communicated to anyone seriously and wrote the damn thing! I feel really validated! 🙂
George, you’re a nice guy.
Marty, back around 1970 there were discussions in the field about who/what was a “Scientologist”. I would not have dared to call myself a Scientologist back then because I had not done enough training to consider myself an auditor yet. It felt like a big responsibility to assume the mantle of a “Scientologist”. Kinda like calling oneself a “Doctor”. I think most people back then felt a Scientologist was an auditor, someone who was ready and willing to put up or shut up when asked for help with someone’s case. Someone trained enough to walk the walk even to some degree, and also feeling some commitment to putting it to use.
Since then it has evolved to if you have walked by an org and looked in and maybe bought a book, you are a “scientologist” for stats sake. And you are encouraged to call yourself “a Scientologist”. Even if you couldn’t audit a rock. Beyond that, there were Clears and such who could consider themselves to be Scientologists but even those people were usually trained up to HSDC was my impression.
Being a Scientologist had to do with professionalism, was the impression I received back then.
To Marty and all the Mystics out there:
Excerpted from “Truth is a Pathless Land” by J. Krishnamurti
“Again, you have the idea that only certain people hold the key to the Kingdom of Happiness. No one holds it. No one has the authority to hold that key. That key is your own self, and in the development and the purification and in the incorruptibility of that self alone is the Kingdom of Eternity.
So you will see how absurd is the whole structure that you have built, looking for external help, depending on others for your comfort, for your happiness, for your strength. These can only be found within yourselves.
You are accustomed to being told how far you have advanced, what is your spiritual status. How childish! Who but yourself can tell you if you are beautiful or ugly within? Who but yourself can tell you if you are incorruptible? You are not serious in these things.
But those who really desire to understand, who are looking to find that which is eternal, without beginning and without an end, will walk together with a greater intensity, will be a danger to everything that is unessential, to unrealities, to shadows. And they will concentrate; they will become the flame, because they understand. Such a body we must create, and that is my purpose. Because of that real understanding there will be true friendship. Because of that true friendship–which you do not seem to know–there will be real cooperation on the part of each one. And this not because of authority, not because of salvation, not because of immolation for a cause, but because you really understand, and hence are capable of living in the eternal. This is a greater thing than all pleasure, than all sacrifice. “
THANKS
Yes, looking forward to it!
Really.
and nobody is labeling himself with “I’m an ex catholic” or “ex mormon” or “ex buddhist” (at least not here in Germany) ….
but ex CIA agent, ex druggy, ex drug dealer, ex smoker, ex mafioso, … lol
I think “ex-Scientologist” is a complete wrong expression contradicting itself.
Congratulations! “I feel out of words at the moment.” … However, your ability to communicate with this post is brilliant and reflects whats currently in my mind. Thank you!
“What is a Scientologist?” Thats a really good question! After my about ten
years involvement in the cult, I asked myself this question and found out I
truly never was one. Now, when reflecting upon it I think I could have qualified as being a “PTS-Scientologist” or just PTS. Still I remember how it
was enforced upon members to present themselves as Scientologists to the world – no matter what condition they where in. Creating bad PR for the CoS. Crazy!
(it’s not all ballet — just the first minute or so)
And this is the song — by the Killers — “All These Things That I’ve Done”
When there’s nowhere else to run
Is there room for one more son
One more son
If you can hold on
If you can hold on, hold on
I want to stand up, I want to let go
You know, you know – no you don’t, you don’t
I want to shine on in the hearts of men
I want a meaning from the back of my broken hand
Another head aches, another heart breaks
I am so much older than I can take
And my affection, well it comes and goes
I need direction to perfection, no no no no
Help me out
Yeah, you know you got to help me out
Yeah, oh don’t you put me on the backburner
You know you got to help me out
And when there’s nowhere else to run
Is there room for one more son
These changes ain’t changing me
The cold-hearted boy I used to be
Yeah, you know you got to help me out
Yeah, oh don’t you put me on the backburner
You know you got to help me out
You’re gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, you’re gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, you’re gonna bring yourself down
I got soul, but I’m not a soldier
I got soul, but I’m not a soldier
Yeah, you know you got to help me out
Yeah, oh don’t you put me on the backburner
You know you got to help me out
You’re gonna bring yourself down
You’re gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, oh don’t you put me on the backburner
Yeah, you’re gonna bring yourself down
Over and again, last call for sin
While everyone’s lost, the battle is won
With all these things that I’ve done
All these things that I’ve done
If you can hold on
If you can hold on
Definitely reminds me of Marty — “I got soul, but I’m not a soldier”
LRH defined a Scientologist as “one who betters conditions of himself and the conditions of others by using Scientology technology”. Everyone I know who considers themselves an ‘Ex’ still uses things they learned in Scientology. To really be an Ex you’d have to unknow all that stuff.
On the other hand, the Runt in a Tux and his OSA minions use Scientology technology to worsen conditions for many, so by LRH’s definition they aren’t Scientologists at all.
One of the best videos ever!!!!!! Big dance fan here.
I got soul, I’m not a soldier- reminds me of this from The Aims of Scientology: “We seek no revolution. We seek only evolution to higher states of being for the individual and for society.”
Also love this “I want to shine on in the hearts of men
I want a meaning from the back of my broken hand”
Standing by for the book! When thinking about you and your communications via this blog and your books, this comes to mind: “What is personal integrity? Personal integrity is knowing what you know. What you know is what you know and to have the courage to know and say what you have observed. And that is integrity and there is no other integrity.” LRH
I’m sure that wherever he is, he is proud of you. Not that you need him to be.
For me it is somebody who stops practicing Scientology, and starts practicing the opposite. Like if you are in Co$ you are an Ex Scientologist. That is if you ever was one.
Like, awesome video!!
Love it ! Thank you!
Just saw Searching For Sugar Man…Wow…what a great person and SO humble! Thanks for recommending it. 🙂
Runt in a Tux… rofl !! I’m gonna start a list now, but I wish we had a list of all the names we’ve come up with for Miscavige… some of these are just hilarious.
FANTASTICO MARTY !!!!
We are really happy.
Can’t wait to read it. Sure it will be VERY interesting….
Bob Dobbs,
Thank you for the kind words.
Speaking of enlightenment, on May 25th at 10:25 PM EST,
we in Theravada will be celebrating the enlightenment of the
Buddha Gotama over 2,500 years ago.
The FULL MOON should be seen at this time and
it is cause for great celebration!
In fact, I will party the entire month of May!
GMW
Can’t wait to read it Marty!!! Congratulations. Love Wendy
On the ‘Enlightenmen’ theme, here’s a song from one of my all-time favorite albums…..
But why adhere to scribblings like “the International Jew”?
Books are the stuff of building whole socïetys.
“KNOWLEDGE IS FREE”
-Anonymous-