k2
2007-12-04 09:21:41 UTC
Merry Christmas.......always,,,,,,,,,,,,
Discussion:
(too old to reply)
k2
2007-12-04 09:31:50 UTC
I did spend a christmas with Virginia...What a great lady....
Poisoned Mind
2007-12-05 03:52:15 UTC
She was truly AWESOME! Great Cook, wonderful leader, good example,
and such a kind woman.
and such a kind woman.
s***@aol.com
2007-12-05 05:45:28 UTC
How interesting to see this "tribute" to Virginia Downsborough here.
She was, indeed, a remarkable lady, and probably had more Avatar
students than any other Avatar "master." Harry was deeply indebted to
her for a number of reasons, but toward the end of her life, when she
solicited his support for a new program she had hoped to start to
introduce Resurfacing to children, Harry reportedly refused. He
apparently didn't want someone outside the immediate organization to
create a program designed to disseminate his ideas. In addition,
Virginia was notorious bad with money, and it seems that Harry didn't
trust her, at age 83, to handle the administration of such a program,
when he was expected to foot the bill. It broke Virginia's heart.
Some months later, she developed cancer, (she had smoked her whole
life, but gave it up a few years after being introduced to Avatar). I
often tried to get her to use CHP on the cancer but she wouldn't. I
think she had simply lost the will to live.
Virginia, as anyone who spent any time with her can tell you,
(especially anyone who spent time as a guest in her spectacular
hilltop home in Santa Barbara, where the most characteristic sound was
Virginia's slicing of crusty hot bread for one meal or another), was a
thoroughly lovable woman. She had the capacity to flow so much
appreciation toward you that you simply basked in it. She was L. Ron
Hubbard's personal assistant for a number of years, but was never a
died-in-the-whole acolyte. She once told me "I never considered Ron
to be anything other than a man; certainly not some kind of god." She
had completely abandoned Scientology for Avatar (which is, contrary to
the protestations of many detractors, hardly derivative of
Scientology, except in a few very minor ways). The story of how
Avatar's early success relied heavily on Scientology's diaspora is an
interesting one, and should be told in a book someday; Virginia had a
curious way of coloring her delivery of the Avatar course with a few
exercises she'd remembered from Scientology, but it was her
consideration that Avatar basically left Scientology in the dust. Her
presence was always one of the star features of the Wizards course,
and Avatar students and Masters flocked to her like moths to a porch
light.
What anyone who met her remembers about Virginia is that she was a
kind of female Obi-Wan Kenobi: Wise, kind, gentle wry, curious, spry
and witty; fierce when fierceness was required, but always acting out
of pure love. Plus, she was one of the early fans of Tempurpedic
mattresses. And an avid supporter of Hillary Clinton. A fan of Maya
Angelou, and one hell of a gourmet cook. She was confused and
saddened by Eldon's relentless attacks on Harry Palmer. Her viewpoint
of Eldon was that he was a bright man who had gotten some sort of burr
in his saddle and had an enormous amount of fixed attention on Harry.
She had tried to talk some sense into him but eventually abandoned
that idea as a hopeless cause. Among Virginia's students were Terry
Cole Whittaker and a number of movie and TV actors, not to mention
dozens and dozens of ordinary citizens who, after taking the course
with Virginia, would make pilgrimages to her house for years
afterward. I think Avatar owes her a great deal to this day, in
exchange for the enormous goodwill she engendered for the Cours. She
was an amazing woman, and a singular human being. She is, and will
always remain, very much missed.
She was, indeed, a remarkable lady, and probably had more Avatar
students than any other Avatar "master." Harry was deeply indebted to
her for a number of reasons, but toward the end of her life, when she
solicited his support for a new program she had hoped to start to
introduce Resurfacing to children, Harry reportedly refused. He
apparently didn't want someone outside the immediate organization to
create a program designed to disseminate his ideas. In addition,
Virginia was notorious bad with money, and it seems that Harry didn't
trust her, at age 83, to handle the administration of such a program,
when he was expected to foot the bill. It broke Virginia's heart.
Some months later, she developed cancer, (she had smoked her whole
life, but gave it up a few years after being introduced to Avatar). I
often tried to get her to use CHP on the cancer but she wouldn't. I
think she had simply lost the will to live.
Virginia, as anyone who spent any time with her can tell you,
(especially anyone who spent time as a guest in her spectacular
hilltop home in Santa Barbara, where the most characteristic sound was
Virginia's slicing of crusty hot bread for one meal or another), was a
thoroughly lovable woman. She had the capacity to flow so much
appreciation toward you that you simply basked in it. She was L. Ron
Hubbard's personal assistant for a number of years, but was never a
died-in-the-whole acolyte. She once told me "I never considered Ron
to be anything other than a man; certainly not some kind of god." She
had completely abandoned Scientology for Avatar (which is, contrary to
the protestations of many detractors, hardly derivative of
Scientology, except in a few very minor ways). The story of how
Avatar's early success relied heavily on Scientology's diaspora is an
interesting one, and should be told in a book someday; Virginia had a
curious way of coloring her delivery of the Avatar course with a few
exercises she'd remembered from Scientology, but it was her
consideration that Avatar basically left Scientology in the dust. Her
presence was always one of the star features of the Wizards course,
and Avatar students and Masters flocked to her like moths to a porch
light.
What anyone who met her remembers about Virginia is that she was a
kind of female Obi-Wan Kenobi: Wise, kind, gentle wry, curious, spry
and witty; fierce when fierceness was required, but always acting out
of pure love. Plus, she was one of the early fans of Tempurpedic
mattresses. And an avid supporter of Hillary Clinton. A fan of Maya
Angelou, and one hell of a gourmet cook. She was confused and
saddened by Eldon's relentless attacks on Harry Palmer. Her viewpoint
of Eldon was that he was a bright man who had gotten some sort of burr
in his saddle and had an enormous amount of fixed attention on Harry.
She had tried to talk some sense into him but eventually abandoned
that idea as a hopeless cause. Among Virginia's students were Terry
Cole Whittaker and a number of movie and TV actors, not to mention
dozens and dozens of ordinary citizens who, after taking the course
with Virginia, would make pilgrimages to her house for years
afterward. I think Avatar owes her a great deal to this day, in
exchange for the enormous goodwill she engendered for the Cours. She
was an amazing woman, and a singular human being. She is, and will
always remain, very much missed.
Eldon
2007-12-05 14:11:46 UTC
Didn't you post as "Dreamwire" some time back?
Whatever -- I appreciate your filling in these historical details.
Virginia D. was indeed a neat woman.
However, I do wish you would stop the bit about how I was obsessed by
Harry or had "an enormous amount of fixed attention on him." I don't
care whether Virginia thought that or not; it is incorrect. I REPEAT
(over and over):
I wrote The Wiz of Orlando in late 1990 and early 1991 at the behest
of Michel Langinieux, who sent out copies to a number of Avatar
Masters around the world. Then he returned to France and screwed Harry
in that market along with a few other French devotees who got wise.
Five years later, in 1996, I uploaded the file to a few webmasters
running sites critical of Scientology. That took less than an hour.
Four years later, in 2000, Miken threatened one of the webmasters, and
some people began posting on the Awareness site guestbook. Harry
freaked out; I didn't. He challenged me. It took me about a month to
write the Source Course, and if you want it read it, you can fine it
on this newsgroup.
If Harry had just ignored The Source Course, he wouldn't be in the
mess he has created for himself today.
Tough shit, Harry. RIP, Virginia.
Whatever -- I appreciate your filling in these historical details.
Virginia D. was indeed a neat woman.
However, I do wish you would stop the bit about how I was obsessed by
Harry or had "an enormous amount of fixed attention on him." I don't
care whether Virginia thought that or not; it is incorrect. I REPEAT
(over and over):
I wrote The Wiz of Orlando in late 1990 and early 1991 at the behest
of Michel Langinieux, who sent out copies to a number of Avatar
Masters around the world. Then he returned to France and screwed Harry
in that market along with a few other French devotees who got wise.
Five years later, in 1996, I uploaded the file to a few webmasters
running sites critical of Scientology. That took less than an hour.
Four years later, in 2000, Miken threatened one of the webmasters, and
some people began posting on the Awareness site guestbook. Harry
freaked out; I didn't. He challenged me. It took me about a month to
write the Source Course, and if you want it read it, you can fine it
on this newsgroup.
If Harry had just ignored The Source Course, he wouldn't be in the
mess he has created for himself today.
Tough shit, Harry. RIP, Virginia.
Post by s***@aol.com
How interesting to see this "tribute" to Virginia Downsborough here.
She was, indeed, a remarkable lady, and probably had more Avatar
students than any other Avatar "master." Harry was deeply indebted to
her for a number of reasons, but toward the end of her life, when she
solicited his support for a new program she had hoped to start to
introduce Resurfacing to children, Harry reportedly refused. He
apparently didn't want someone outside the immediate organization to
create a program designed to disseminate his ideas. In addition,
Virginia was notorious bad with money, and it seems that Harry didn't
trust her, at age 83, to handle the administration of such a program,
when he was expected to foot the bill. It broke Virginia's heart.
Some months later, she developed cancer, (she had smoked her whole
life, but gave it up a few years after being introduced to Avatar). I
often tried to get her to use CHP on the cancer but she wouldn't. I
think she had simply lost the will to live.
Virginia, as anyone who spent any time with her can tell you,
(especially anyone who spent time as a guest in her spectacular
hilltop home in Santa Barbara, where the most characteristic sound was
Virginia's slicing of crusty hot bread for one meal or another), was a
thoroughly lovable woman. She had the capacity to flow so much
appreciation toward you that you simply basked in it. She was L. Ron
Hubbard's personal assistant for a number of years, but was never a
died-in-the-whole acolyte. She once told me "I never considered Ron
to be anything other than a man; certainly not some kind of god." She
had completely abandoned Scientology for Avatar (which is, contrary to
the protestations of many detractors, hardly derivative of
Scientology, except in a few very minor ways). The story of how
Avatar's early success relied heavily on Scientology's diaspora is an
interesting one, and should be told in a book someday; Virginia had a
curious way of coloring her delivery of the Avatar course with a few
exercises she'd remembered from Scientology, but it was her
consideration that Avatar basically left Scientology in the dust. Her
presence was always one of the star features of the Wizards course,
and Avatar students and Masters flocked to her like moths to a porch
light.
What anyone who met her remembers about Virginia is that she was a
kind of female Obi-Wan Kenobi: Wise, kind, gentle wry, curious, spry
and witty; fierce when fierceness was required, but always acting out
of pure love. Plus, she was one of the early fans of Tempurpedic
mattresses. And an avid supporter of Hillary Clinton. A fan of Maya
Angelou, and one hell of a gourmet cook. She was confused and
saddened by Eldon's relentless attacks on Harry Palmer. Her viewpoint
of Eldon was that he was a bright man who had gotten some sort of burr
in his saddle and had an enormous amount of fixed attention on Harry.
She had tried to talk some sense into him but eventually abandoned
that idea as a hopeless cause. Among Virginia's students were Terry
Cole Whittaker and a number of movie and TV actors, not to mention
dozens and dozens of ordinary citizens who, after taking the course
with Virginia, would make pilgrimages to her house for years
afterward. I think Avatar owes her a great deal to this day, in
exchange for the enormous goodwill she engendered for the Cours. She
was an amazing woman, and a singular human being. She is, and will
always remain, very much missed.
How interesting to see this "tribute" to Virginia Downsborough here.
She was, indeed, a remarkable lady, and probably had more Avatar
students than any other Avatar "master." Harry was deeply indebted to
her for a number of reasons, but toward the end of her life, when she
solicited his support for a new program she had hoped to start to
introduce Resurfacing to children, Harry reportedly refused. He
apparently didn't want someone outside the immediate organization to
create a program designed to disseminate his ideas. In addition,
Virginia was notorious bad with money, and it seems that Harry didn't
trust her, at age 83, to handle the administration of such a program,
when he was expected to foot the bill. It broke Virginia's heart.
Some months later, she developed cancer, (she had smoked her whole
life, but gave it up a few years after being introduced to Avatar). I
often tried to get her to use CHP on the cancer but she wouldn't. I
think she had simply lost the will to live.
Virginia, as anyone who spent any time with her can tell you,
(especially anyone who spent time as a guest in her spectacular
hilltop home in Santa Barbara, where the most characteristic sound was
Virginia's slicing of crusty hot bread for one meal or another), was a
thoroughly lovable woman. She had the capacity to flow so much
appreciation toward you that you simply basked in it. She was L. Ron
Hubbard's personal assistant for a number of years, but was never a
died-in-the-whole acolyte. She once told me "I never considered Ron
to be anything other than a man; certainly not some kind of god." She
had completely abandoned Scientology for Avatar (which is, contrary to
the protestations of many detractors, hardly derivative of
Scientology, except in a few very minor ways). The story of how
Avatar's early success relied heavily on Scientology's diaspora is an
interesting one, and should be told in a book someday; Virginia had a
curious way of coloring her delivery of the Avatar course with a few
exercises she'd remembered from Scientology, but it was her
consideration that Avatar basically left Scientology in the dust. Her
presence was always one of the star features of the Wizards course,
and Avatar students and Masters flocked to her like moths to a porch
light.
What anyone who met her remembers about Virginia is that she was a
kind of female Obi-Wan Kenobi: Wise, kind, gentle wry, curious, spry
and witty; fierce when fierceness was required, but always acting out
of pure love. Plus, she was one of the early fans of Tempurpedic
mattresses. And an avid supporter of Hillary Clinton. A fan of Maya
Angelou, and one hell of a gourmet cook. She was confused and
saddened by Eldon's relentless attacks on Harry Palmer. Her viewpoint
of Eldon was that he was a bright man who had gotten some sort of burr
in his saddle and had an enormous amount of fixed attention on Harry.
She had tried to talk some sense into him but eventually abandoned
that idea as a hopeless cause. Among Virginia's students were Terry
Cole Whittaker and a number of movie and TV actors, not to mention
dozens and dozens of ordinary citizens who, after taking the course
with Virginia, would make pilgrimages to her house for years
afterward. I think Avatar owes her a great deal to this day, in
exchange for the enormous goodwill she engendered for the Cours. She
was an amazing woman, and a singular human being. She is, and will
always remain, very much missed.
Grace
2007-12-05 14:48:59 UTC
Post by Eldon
However, I do wish you would stop the bit about how I was obsessed by
Harry or had "an enormous amount of fixed attention on him." I don't
care whether Virginia thought that or not; it is incorrect. I REPEAT
Oh Eldon I so enjoyed the laugh I got from reading this.However, I do wish you would stop the bit about how I was obsessed by
Harry or had "an enormous amount of fixed attention on him." I don't
care whether Virginia thought that or not; it is incorrect. I REPEAT
How come you didn't mention the over 18,000 (closing in on 19,000)
posts you have to various newsgroups. Over 7,000 to this one alone!
Or the three file cabinets SE has filled with your childish,
threatening correspondences?
Naw, you don't have any fixed attention on him.
Isn't it true the only taste of success you have is when you are
taking a bite out of someone?
Grace
BTW It was YOU who asked to be sued documented by your post from
X2000. You were given several opportunities to sit down and work
things out. You refused!
HAPPYsamuri
2007-12-05 18:24:57 UTC
Post by Grace
How come you didn't mention the over 18,000 (closing in on 19,000)
posts you have to various newsgroups. Over 7,000 to this one alone!
what's the DIFFERENCE between COMMITMENT and "fixed attention"Post by Eldon
However, I do wish you would stop the bit about how I was obsessed by
Harry or had "an enormous amount of fixed attention on him." I don't
care whether Virginia thought that or not; it is incorrect. I REPEAT
Oh Eldon I so enjoyed the laugh I got from reading this.However, I do wish you would stop the bit about how I was obsessed by
Harry or had "an enormous amount of fixed attention on him." I don't
care whether Virginia thought that or not; it is incorrect. I REPEAT
How come you didn't mention the over 18,000 (closing in on 19,000)
posts you have to various newsgroups. Over 7,000 to this one alone!
does Harry teach this?
Post by Grace
Or the three file cabinets SE has filled with your childish,
threatening correspondences?
How many children write letters like those you refer to and for whatOr the three file cabinets SE has filled with your childish,
threatening correspondences?
purposes?
what's the DIFFERENCE between COMMITMENT and "fixed attention"
does Harry teach this?
Post by Grace
Isn't it true the only taste of success you have is when you are
taking a bite out of someone?
Grace
BTW It was YOU who asked to be sued documented by your post from
X2000. You were given several opportunities to sit down and work
things out. You refused!
strange how Harry agreed to this requestIsn't it true the only taste of success you have is when you are
taking a bite out of someone?
Grace
BTW It was YOU who asked to be sued documented by your post from
X2000. You were given several opportunities to sit down and work
things out. You refused!
and yet not to other requests
what made Harry choose to agree to this request and not others
are you saying Eldon is somehow responsible for Harry's actions?
which of Harry's other actions do you hold Eldon accountable for?
do you similarly hold Harry accountable for any of Eldon's actions?
is there a reason why Harry didn't ignore this particular request and
yet ignores others?
Eldon
2007-12-06 09:00:56 UTC
Post by Grace
How come you didn't mention the over 18,000 (closing in on 19,000)
posts you have to various newsgroups. Over 7,000 to this one alone!
Or the three file cabinets SE has filled with your childish,
threatening correspondences?
Naw, you don't have any fixed attention on him.
Isn't it true the only taste of success you have is when you are
taking a bite out of someone?
Apropos the topic of this thread, the last correspondence I had withPost by Eldon
However, I do wish you would stop the bit about how I was obsessed by
Harry or had "an enormous amount of fixed attention on him." I don't
care whether Virginia thought that or not; it is incorrect. I REPEAT
Oh Eldon I so enjoyed the laugh I got from reading this.However, I do wish you would stop the bit about how I was obsessed by
Harry or had "an enormous amount of fixed attention on him." I don't
care whether Virginia thought that or not; it is incorrect. I REPEAT
How come you didn't mention the over 18,000 (closing in on 19,000)
posts you have to various newsgroups. Over 7,000 to this one alone!
Or the three file cabinets SE has filled with your childish,
threatening correspondences?
Naw, you don't have any fixed attention on him.
Isn't it true the only taste of success you have is when you are
taking a bite out of someone?
Virginia Downsbrough was in spring of 1991 when The Wiz of Orlando was
circulating throughout the "network." Virginia asked me to show up in
Santa Barbara so she could "help me work things out."
At about the same time, Emma Bragdon sent a letter saying "So Harry
and Avra have a few warts -- so what?"
I told both of them that they needed to wake up and take a look at
what was going on.
Harry may well have told them any number of justifications, and they
probably believed whatever he said for the next decade --- until his
betrayal "broke Virginia's heart" as described above. That was around
the same time Emma deserted Avatar for the Brazilian psychic surgeon.
This is another episode Harry might want to explain in a future EPC
Briefing. As I understand, the Resurf in Ed program was shut down in
one school because parents complained about the Scientology
connection.
In fact, the name "Resurfacing," the vocabulary of the exercise
instructions, and the references to the Avatar planetary "movement"
come off as cultish and disingenuous whether anyone connects the book
with Scientology or not. I don't know whether Virginia and her cohorts
tried to neutralize it to suit a secular educational environment. If
they did, of course that would have offended Harry's sense of
omniscience.
Just like him to let them invest a whole bunch of work in what they
saw as a noble cause, and then capriciously pull the rug out from
under it.
Post by Grace
Grace
BTW It was YOU who asked to be sued documented by your post from
X2000. You were given several opportunities to sit down and work
things out. You refused!
Grace
BTW It was YOU who asked to be sued documented by your post from
X2000. You were given several opportunities to sit down and work
things out. You refused!
k2
2007-12-09 03:32:54 UTC
Post by s***@aol.com
How interesting to see this "tribute" to Virginia Downsborough here.
She was, indeed, a remarkable lady, and probably had more Avatar
students than any other Avatar "master." Harry was deeply indebted to
her for a number of reasons, but toward the end of her life, when she
solicited his support for a new program she had hoped to start to
introduce Resurfacing to children, Harry reportedly refused. He
apparently didn't want someone outside the immediate organization to
create a program designed to disseminate his ideas. In addition,
Virginia was notorious bad with money, and it seems that Harry didn't
trust her, at age 83, to handle the administration of such a program,
when he was expected to foot the bill. It broke Virginia's heart.
Some months later, she developed cancer, (she had smoked her whole
life, but gave it up a few years after being introduced to Avatar). I
often tried to get her to use CHP on the cancer but she wouldn't. I
think she had simply lost the will to live.
Virginia, as anyone who spent any time with her can tell you,
(especially anyone who spent time as a guest in her spectacular
hilltop home in Santa Barbara, where the most characteristic sound was
Virginia's slicing of crusty hot bread for one meal or another), was a
thoroughly lovable woman. She had the capacity to flow so much
appreciation toward you that you simply basked in it. She was L. Ron
Hubbard's personal assistant for a number of years, but was never a
died-in-the-whole acolyte. She once told me "I never considered Ron
to be anything other than a man; certainly not some kind of god." She
had completely abandoned Scientology for Avatar (which is, contrary to
the protestations of many detractors, hardly derivative of
Scientology, except in a few very minor ways). The story of how
Avatar's early success relied heavily on Scientology's diaspora is an
interesting one, and should be told in a book someday; Virginia had a
curious way of coloring her delivery of the Avatar course with a few
exercises she'd remembered from Scientology, but it was her
consideration that Avatar basically left Scientology in the dust. Her
presence was always one of the star features of the Wizards course,
and Avatar students and Masters flocked to her like moths to a porch
light.
What anyone who met her remembers about Virginia is that she was a
kind of female Obi-Wan Kenobi: Wise, kind, gentle wry, curious, spry
and witty; fierce when fierceness was required, but always acting out
of pure love. Plus, she was one of the early fans of Tempurpedic
mattresses. And an avid supporter of Hillary Clinton. A fan of Maya
Angelou, and one hell of a gourmet cook. She was confused and
saddened by Eldon's relentless attacks on Harry Palmer. Her viewpoint
of Eldon was that he was a bright man who had gotten some sort of burr
in his saddle and had an enormous amount of fixed attention on Harry.
She had tried to talk some sense into him but eventually abandoned
that idea as a hopeless cause. Among Virginia's students were Terry
Cole Whittaker and a number of movie and TV actors, not to mention
dozens and dozens of ordinary citizens who, after taking the course
with Virginia, would make pilgrimages to her house for years
afterward. I think Avatar owes her a great deal to this day, in
exchange for the enormous goodwill she engendered for the Cours. She
was an amazing woman, and a singular human being. She is, and will
always remain, very much missed.
Just as a sidenote; When Virginia's Mom died (she lived withHow interesting to see this "tribute" to Virginia Downsborough here.
She was, indeed, a remarkable lady, and probably had more Avatar
students than any other Avatar "master." Harry was deeply indebted to
her for a number of reasons, but toward the end of her life, when she
solicited his support for a new program she had hoped to start to
introduce Resurfacing to children, Harry reportedly refused. He
apparently didn't want someone outside the immediate organization to
create a program designed to disseminate his ideas. In addition,
Virginia was notorious bad with money, and it seems that Harry didn't
trust her, at age 83, to handle the administration of such a program,
when he was expected to foot the bill. It broke Virginia's heart.
Some months later, she developed cancer, (she had smoked her whole
life, but gave it up a few years after being introduced to Avatar). I
often tried to get her to use CHP on the cancer but she wouldn't. I
think she had simply lost the will to live.
Virginia, as anyone who spent any time with her can tell you,
(especially anyone who spent time as a guest in her spectacular
hilltop home in Santa Barbara, where the most characteristic sound was
Virginia's slicing of crusty hot bread for one meal or another), was a
thoroughly lovable woman. She had the capacity to flow so much
appreciation toward you that you simply basked in it. She was L. Ron
Hubbard's personal assistant for a number of years, but was never a
died-in-the-whole acolyte. She once told me "I never considered Ron
to be anything other than a man; certainly not some kind of god." She
had completely abandoned Scientology for Avatar (which is, contrary to
the protestations of many detractors, hardly derivative of
Scientology, except in a few very minor ways). The story of how
Avatar's early success relied heavily on Scientology's diaspora is an
interesting one, and should be told in a book someday; Virginia had a
curious way of coloring her delivery of the Avatar course with a few
exercises she'd remembered from Scientology, but it was her
consideration that Avatar basically left Scientology in the dust. Her
presence was always one of the star features of the Wizards course,
and Avatar students and Masters flocked to her like moths to a porch
light.
What anyone who met her remembers about Virginia is that she was a
kind of female Obi-Wan Kenobi: Wise, kind, gentle wry, curious, spry
and witty; fierce when fierceness was required, but always acting out
of pure love. Plus, she was one of the early fans of Tempurpedic
mattresses. And an avid supporter of Hillary Clinton. A fan of Maya
Angelou, and one hell of a gourmet cook. She was confused and
saddened by Eldon's relentless attacks on Harry Palmer. Her viewpoint
of Eldon was that he was a bright man who had gotten some sort of burr
in his saddle and had an enormous amount of fixed attention on Harry.
She had tried to talk some sense into him but eventually abandoned
that idea as a hopeless cause. Among Virginia's students were Terry
Cole Whittaker and a number of movie and TV actors, not to mention
dozens and dozens of ordinary citizens who, after taking the course
with Virginia, would make pilgrimages to her house for years
afterward. I think Avatar owes her a great deal to this day, in
exchange for the enormous goodwill she engendered for the Cours. She
was an amazing woman, and a singular human being. She is, and will
always remain, very much missed.
Virginia) , Harry
sent her a plane ticket to visit in Orlando. I could tell she
appreciated it... She went.
k2
2007-12-09 04:28:42 UTC
Post by k2
Virginia) , Harry
sent her a plane ticket to visit in Orlando. I could tell she
appreciated it... She went.- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -
I knew Viginia well she was a Master of Humaness, but wasn't aPost by s***@aol.com
How interesting to see this "tribute" to Virginia Downsborough here.
She was, indeed, a remarkable lady, and probably had more Avatar
students than any other Avatar "master." Harry was deeply indebted to
her for a number of reasons, but toward the end of her life, when she
solicited his support for a new program she had hoped to start to
introduce Resurfacing to children, Harry reportedly refused. He
apparently didn't want someone outside the immediate organization to
create a program designed to disseminate his ideas. In addition,
Virginia was notorious bad with money, and it seems that Harry didn't
trust her, at age 83, to handle the administration of such a program,
when he was expected to foot the bill. It broke Virginia's heart.
Some months later, she developed cancer, (she had smoked her whole
life, but gave it up a few years after being introduced to Avatar). I
often tried to get her to use CHP on the cancer but she wouldn't. I
think she had simply lost the will to live.
Virginia, as anyone who spent any time with her can tell you,
(especially anyone who spent time as a guest in her spectacular
hilltop home in Santa Barbara, where the most characteristic sound was
Virginia's slicing of crusty hot bread for one meal or another), was a
thoroughly lovable woman. She had the capacity to flow so much
appreciation toward you that you simply basked in it. She was L. Ron
Hubbard's personal assistant for a number of years, but was never a
died-in-the-whole acolyte. She once told me "I never considered Ron
to be anything other than a man; certainly not some kind of god." She
had completely abandoned Scientology for Avatar (which is, contrary to
the protestations of many detractors, hardly derivative of
Scientology, except in a few very minor ways). The story of how
Avatar's early success relied heavily on Scientology's diaspora is an
interesting one, and should be told in a book someday; Virginia had a
curious way of coloring her delivery of the Avatar course with a few
exercises she'd remembered from Scientology, but it was her
consideration that Avatar basically left Scientology in the dust. Her
presence was always one of the star features of the Wizards course,
and Avatar students and Masters flocked to her like moths to a porch
light.
What anyone who met her remembers about Virginia is that she was a
kind of female Obi-Wan Kenobi: Wise, kind, gentle wry, curious, spry
and witty; fierce when fierceness was required, but always acting out
of pure love. Plus, she was one of the early fans of Tempurpedic
mattresses. And an avid supporter of Hillary Clinton. A fan of Maya
Angelou, and one hell of a gourmet cook. She was confused and
saddened by Eldon's relentless attacks on Harry Palmer. Her viewpoint
of Eldon was that he was a bright man who had gotten some sort of burr
in his saddle and had an enormous amount of fixed attention on Harry.
She had tried to talk some sense into him but eventually abandoned
that idea as a hopeless cause. Among Virginia's students were Terry
Cole Whittaker and a number of movie and TV actors, not to mention
dozens and dozens of ordinary citizens who, after taking the course
with Virginia, would make pilgrimages to her house for years
afterward. I think Avatar owes her a great deal to this day, in
exchange for the enormous goodwill she engendered for the Cours. She
was an amazing woman, and a singular human being. She is, and will
always remain, very much missed.
Just as a sidenote; When Virginia's Mom died (she lived withHow interesting to see this "tribute" to Virginia Downsborough here.
She was, indeed, a remarkable lady, and probably had more Avatar
students than any other Avatar "master." Harry was deeply indebted to
her for a number of reasons, but toward the end of her life, when she
solicited his support for a new program she had hoped to start to
introduce Resurfacing to children, Harry reportedly refused. He
apparently didn't want someone outside the immediate organization to
create a program designed to disseminate his ideas. In addition,
Virginia was notorious bad with money, and it seems that Harry didn't
trust her, at age 83, to handle the administration of such a program,
when he was expected to foot the bill. It broke Virginia's heart.
Some months later, she developed cancer, (she had smoked her whole
life, but gave it up a few years after being introduced to Avatar). I
often tried to get her to use CHP on the cancer but she wouldn't. I
think she had simply lost the will to live.
Virginia, as anyone who spent any time with her can tell you,
(especially anyone who spent time as a guest in her spectacular
hilltop home in Santa Barbara, where the most characteristic sound was
Virginia's slicing of crusty hot bread for one meal or another), was a
thoroughly lovable woman. She had the capacity to flow so much
appreciation toward you that you simply basked in it. She was L. Ron
Hubbard's personal assistant for a number of years, but was never a
died-in-the-whole acolyte. She once told me "I never considered Ron
to be anything other than a man; certainly not some kind of god." She
had completely abandoned Scientology for Avatar (which is, contrary to
the protestations of many detractors, hardly derivative of
Scientology, except in a few very minor ways). The story of how
Avatar's early success relied heavily on Scientology's diaspora is an
interesting one, and should be told in a book someday; Virginia had a
curious way of coloring her delivery of the Avatar course with a few
exercises she'd remembered from Scientology, but it was her
consideration that Avatar basically left Scientology in the dust. Her
presence was always one of the star features of the Wizards course,
and Avatar students and Masters flocked to her like moths to a porch
light.
What anyone who met her remembers about Virginia is that she was a
kind of female Obi-Wan Kenobi: Wise, kind, gentle wry, curious, spry
and witty; fierce when fierceness was required, but always acting out
of pure love. Plus, she was one of the early fans of Tempurpedic
mattresses. And an avid supporter of Hillary Clinton. A fan of Maya
Angelou, and one hell of a gourmet cook. She was confused and
saddened by Eldon's relentless attacks on Harry Palmer. Her viewpoint
of Eldon was that he was a bright man who had gotten some sort of burr
in his saddle and had an enormous amount of fixed attention on Harry.
She had tried to talk some sense into him but eventually abandoned
that idea as a hopeless cause. Among Virginia's students were Terry
Cole Whittaker and a number of movie and TV actors, not to mention
dozens and dozens of ordinary citizens who, after taking the course
with Virginia, would make pilgrimages to her house for years
afterward. I think Avatar owes her a great deal to this day, in
exchange for the enormous goodwill she engendered for the Cours. She
was an amazing woman, and a singular human being. She is, and will
always remain, very much missed.
Virginia) , Harry
sent her a plane ticket to visit in Orlando. I could tell she
appreciated it... She went.- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -
spiritual Master.. I support Eldon in exposing
the flaws and folly of the Awakening Masters, the Enlightened
Planetary Civilization, etc. etc. etc....
Eldon
2007-12-13 13:35:24 UTC
Post by k2
spiritual Master.. I support Eldon in exposing
the flaws and folly of the Awakening Masters, the Enlightened
Planetary Civilization, etc. etc. etc....
Here's a (small) picture of Virginia posted on a Master site in latePost by k2
Virginia) , Harry
sent her a plane ticket to visit in Orlando. I could tell she
appreciated it... She went.- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -
I knew Viginia well she was a Master of Humaness, but wasn't aPost by s***@aol.com
How interesting to see this "tribute" to Virginia Downsborough here.
She was, indeed, a remarkable lady, and probably had more Avatar
students than any other Avatar "master." Harry was deeply indebted to
her for a number of reasons, but toward the end of her life, when she
solicited his support for a new program she had hoped to start to
introduce Resurfacing to children, Harry reportedly refused. He
apparently didn't want someone outside the immediate organization to
create a program designed to disseminate his ideas. In addition,
Virginia was notorious bad with money, and it seems that Harry didn't
trust her, at age 83, to handle the administration of such a program,
when he was expected to foot the bill. It broke Virginia's heart.
Some months later, she developed cancer, (she had smoked her whole
life, but gave it up a few years after being introduced to Avatar). I
often tried to get her to use CHP on the cancer but she wouldn't. I
think she had simply lost the will to live.
Virginia, as anyone who spent any time with her can tell you,
(especially anyone who spent time as a guest in her spectacular
hilltop home in Santa Barbara, where the most characteristic sound was
Virginia's slicing of crusty hot bread for one meal or another), was a
thoroughly lovable woman. She had the capacity to flow so much
appreciation toward you that you simply basked in it. She was L. Ron
Hubbard's personal assistant for a number of years, but was never a
died-in-the-whole acolyte. She once told me "I never considered Ron
to be anything other than a man; certainly not some kind of god." She
had completely abandoned Scientology for Avatar (which is, contrary to
the protestations of many detractors, hardly derivative of
Scientology, except in a few very minor ways). The story of how
Avatar's early success relied heavily on Scientology's diaspora is an
interesting one, and should be told in a book someday; Virginia had a
curious way of coloring her delivery of the Avatar course with a few
exercises she'd remembered from Scientology, but it was her
consideration that Avatar basically left Scientology in the dust. Her
presence was always one of the star features of the Wizards course,
and Avatar students and Masters flocked to her like moths to a porch
light.
What anyone who met her remembers about Virginia is that she was a
kind of female Obi-Wan Kenobi: Wise, kind, gentle wry, curious, spry
and witty; fierce when fierceness was required, but always acting out
of pure love. Plus, she was one of the early fans of Tempurpedic
mattresses. And an avid supporter of Hillary Clinton. A fan of Maya
Angelou, and one hell of a gourmet cook. She was confused and
saddened by Eldon's relentless attacks on Harry Palmer. Her viewpoint
of Eldon was that he was a bright man who had gotten some sort of burr
in his saddle and had an enormous amount of fixed attention on Harry.
She had tried to talk some sense into him but eventually abandoned
that idea as a hopeless cause. Among Virginia's students were Terry
Cole Whittaker and a number of movie and TV actors, not to mention
dozens and dozens of ordinary citizens who, after taking the course
with Virginia, would make pilgrimages to her house for years
afterward. I think Avatar owes her a great deal to this day, in
exchange for the enormous goodwill she engendered for the Cours. She
was an amazing woman, and a singular human being. She is, and will
always remain, very much missed.
Just as a sidenote; When Virginia's Mom died (she lived withHow interesting to see this "tribute" to Virginia Downsborough here.
She was, indeed, a remarkable lady, and probably had more Avatar
students than any other Avatar "master." Harry was deeply indebted to
her for a number of reasons, but toward the end of her life, when she
solicited his support for a new program she had hoped to start to
introduce Resurfacing to children, Harry reportedly refused. He
apparently didn't want someone outside the immediate organization to
create a program designed to disseminate his ideas. In addition,
Virginia was notorious bad with money, and it seems that Harry didn't
trust her, at age 83, to handle the administration of such a program,
when he was expected to foot the bill. It broke Virginia's heart.
Some months later, she developed cancer, (she had smoked her whole
life, but gave it up a few years after being introduced to Avatar). I
often tried to get her to use CHP on the cancer but she wouldn't. I
think she had simply lost the will to live.
Virginia, as anyone who spent any time with her can tell you,
(especially anyone who spent time as a guest in her spectacular
hilltop home in Santa Barbara, where the most characteristic sound was
Virginia's slicing of crusty hot bread for one meal or another), was a
thoroughly lovable woman. She had the capacity to flow so much
appreciation toward you that you simply basked in it. She was L. Ron
Hubbard's personal assistant for a number of years, but was never a
died-in-the-whole acolyte. She once told me "I never considered Ron
to be anything other than a man; certainly not some kind of god." She
had completely abandoned Scientology for Avatar (which is, contrary to
the protestations of many detractors, hardly derivative of
Scientology, except in a few very minor ways). The story of how
Avatar's early success relied heavily on Scientology's diaspora is an
interesting one, and should be told in a book someday; Virginia had a
curious way of coloring her delivery of the Avatar course with a few
exercises she'd remembered from Scientology, but it was her
consideration that Avatar basically left Scientology in the dust. Her
presence was always one of the star features of the Wizards course,
and Avatar students and Masters flocked to her like moths to a porch
light.
What anyone who met her remembers about Virginia is that she was a
kind of female Obi-Wan Kenobi: Wise, kind, gentle wry, curious, spry
and witty; fierce when fierceness was required, but always acting out
of pure love. Plus, she was one of the early fans of Tempurpedic
mattresses. And an avid supporter of Hillary Clinton. A fan of Maya
Angelou, and one hell of a gourmet cook. She was confused and
saddened by Eldon's relentless attacks on Harry Palmer. Her viewpoint
of Eldon was that he was a bright man who had gotten some sort of burr
in his saddle and had an enormous amount of fixed attention on Harry.
She had tried to talk some sense into him but eventually abandoned
that idea as a hopeless cause. Among Virginia's students were Terry
Cole Whittaker and a number of movie and TV actors, not to mention
dozens and dozens of ordinary citizens who, after taking the course
with Virginia, would make pilgrimages to her house for years
afterward. I think Avatar owes her a great deal to this day, in
exchange for the enormous goodwill she engendered for the Cours. She
was an amazing woman, and a singular human being. She is, and will
always remain, very much missed.
Virginia) , Harry
sent her a plane ticket to visit in Orlando. I could tell she
appreciated it... She went.- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -
spiritual Master.. I support Eldon in exposing
the flaws and folly of the Awakening Masters, the Enlightened
Planetary Civilization, etc. etc. etc....
2004, I never saw this one.
Loading Image...
The site is: http://www.mynewsletterbuilder.com/tools/view_newsletter.php?newsletter_id=1409549053
It's an adjunct of Dick and Patti's site in Eau Claire WI. Maybe they
have a bigger version if you're interested.
k2
2007-12-14 07:07:11 UTC
Post by Eldon
2004, I never saw this one.http://www.mynewsletterbuilder.com/userdata/cargard/images/wizards8_1...
The site is:http://www.mynewsletterbuilder.com/tools/view_newsletter.php?newslett...
It's an adjunct of Dick and Patti's site in Eau Claire WI. Maybe they
have a bigger version if you're interested.- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -
getting old's a bitch.. Not a fair representation of her spirit..Post by k2
spiritual Master.. I support Eldon in exposing
the flaws and folly of the Awakening Masters, the Enlightened
Planetary Civilization, etc. etc. etc....
Here's a (small) picture of Virginia posted on a Master site in latePost by k2
Virginia) , Harry
sent her a plane ticket to visit in Orlando. I could tell she
appreciated it... She went.- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -
I knew Viginia well she was a Master of Humaness, but wasn't aPost by s***@aol.com
How interesting to see this "tribute" to Virginia Downsborough here.
She was, indeed, a remarkable lady, and probably had more Avatar
students than any other Avatar "master." Harry was deeply indebted to
her for a number of reasons, but toward the end of her life, when she
solicited his support for a new program she had hoped to start to
introduce Resurfacing to children, Harry reportedly refused. He
apparently didn't want someone outside the immediate organization to
create a program designed to disseminate his ideas. In addition,
Virginia was notorious bad with money, and it seems that Harry didn't
trust her, at age 83, to handle the administration of such a program,
when he was expected to foot the bill. It broke Virginia's heart.
Some months later, she developed cancer, (she had smoked her whole
life, but gave it up a few years after being introduced to Avatar). I
often tried to get her to use CHP on the cancer but she wouldn't. I
think she had simply lost the will to live.
Virginia, as anyone who spent any time with her can tell you,
(especially anyone who spent time as a guest in her spectacular
hilltop home in Santa Barbara, where the most characteristic sound was
Virginia's slicing of crusty hot bread for one meal or another), was a
thoroughly lovable woman. She had the capacity to flow so much
appreciation toward you that you simply basked in it. She was L. Ron
Hubbard's personal assistant for a number of years, but was never a
died-in-the-whole acolyte. She once told me "I never considered Ron
to be anything other than a man; certainly not some kind of god." She
had completely abandoned Scientology for Avatar (which is, contrary to
the protestations of many detractors, hardly derivative of
Scientology, except in a few very minor ways). The story of how
Avatar's early success relied heavily on Scientology's diaspora is an
interesting one, and should be told in a book someday; Virginia had a
curious way of coloring her delivery of the Avatar course with a few
exercises she'd remembered from Scientology, but it was her
consideration that Avatar basically left Scientology in the dust. Her
presence was always one of the star features of the Wizards course,
and Avatar students and Masters flocked to her like moths to a porch
light.
What anyone who met her remembers about Virginia is that she was a
kind of female Obi-Wan Kenobi: Wise, kind, gentle wry, curious, spry
and witty; fierce when fierceness was required, but always acting out
of pure love. Plus, she was one of the early fans of Tempurpedic
mattresses. And an avid supporter of Hillary Clinton. A fan of Maya
Angelou, and one hell of a gourmet cook. She was confused and
saddened by Eldon's relentless attacks on Harry Palmer. Her viewpoint
of Eldon was that he was a bright man who had gotten some sort of burr
in his saddle and had an enormous amount of fixed attention on Harry.
She had tried to talk some sense into him but eventually abandoned
that idea as a hopeless cause. Among Virginia's students were Terry
Cole Whittaker and a number of movie and TV actors, not to mention
dozens and dozens of ordinary citizens who, after taking the course
with Virginia, would make pilgrimages to her house for years
afterward. I think Avatar owes her a great deal to this day, in
exchange for the enormous goodwill she engendered for the Cours. She
was an amazing woman, and a singular human being. She is, and will
always remain, very much missed.
Just as a sidenote; When Virginia's Mom died (she lived withHow interesting to see this "tribute" to Virginia Downsborough here.
She was, indeed, a remarkable lady, and probably had more Avatar
students than any other Avatar "master." Harry was deeply indebted to
her for a number of reasons, but toward the end of her life, when she
solicited his support for a new program she had hoped to start to
introduce Resurfacing to children, Harry reportedly refused. He
apparently didn't want someone outside the immediate organization to
create a program designed to disseminate his ideas. In addition,
Virginia was notorious bad with money, and it seems that Harry didn't
trust her, at age 83, to handle the administration of such a program,
when he was expected to foot the bill. It broke Virginia's heart.
Some months later, she developed cancer, (she had smoked her whole
life, but gave it up a few years after being introduced to Avatar). I
often tried to get her to use CHP on the cancer but she wouldn't. I
think she had simply lost the will to live.
Virginia, as anyone who spent any time with her can tell you,
(especially anyone who spent time as a guest in her spectacular
hilltop home in Santa Barbara, where the most characteristic sound was
Virginia's slicing of crusty hot bread for one meal or another), was a
thoroughly lovable woman. She had the capacity to flow so much
appreciation toward you that you simply basked in it. She was L. Ron
Hubbard's personal assistant for a number of years, but was never a
died-in-the-whole acolyte. She once told me "I never considered Ron
to be anything other than a man; certainly not some kind of god." She
had completely abandoned Scientology for Avatar (which is, contrary to
the protestations of many detractors, hardly derivative of
Scientology, except in a few very minor ways). The story of how
Avatar's early success relied heavily on Scientology's diaspora is an
interesting one, and should be told in a book someday; Virginia had a
curious way of coloring her delivery of the Avatar course with a few
exercises she'd remembered from Scientology, but it was her
consideration that Avatar basically left Scientology in the dust. Her
presence was always one of the star features of the Wizards course,
and Avatar students and Masters flocked to her like moths to a porch
light.
What anyone who met her remembers about Virginia is that she was a
kind of female Obi-Wan Kenobi: Wise, kind, gentle wry, curious, spry
and witty; fierce when fierceness was required, but always acting out
of pure love. Plus, she was one of the early fans of Tempurpedic
mattresses. And an avid supporter of Hillary Clinton. A fan of Maya
Angelou, and one hell of a gourmet cook. She was confused and
saddened by Eldon's relentless attacks on Harry Palmer. Her viewpoint
of Eldon was that he was a bright man who had gotten some sort of burr
in his saddle and had an enormous amount of fixed attention on Harry.
She had tried to talk some sense into him but eventually abandoned
that idea as a hopeless cause. Among Virginia's students were Terry
Cole Whittaker and a number of movie and TV actors, not to mention
dozens and dozens of ordinary citizens who, after taking the course
with Virginia, would make pilgrimages to her house for years
afterward. I think Avatar owes her a great deal to this day, in
exchange for the enormous goodwill she engendered for the Cours. She
was an amazing woman, and a singular human being. She is, and will
always remain, very much missed.
Virginia) , Harry
sent her a plane ticket to visit in Orlando. I could tell she
appreciated it... She went.- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -
spiritual Master.. I support Eldon in exposing
the flaws and folly of the Awakening Masters, the Enlightened
Planetary Civilization, etc. etc. etc....
2004, I never saw this one.http://www.mynewsletterbuilder.com/userdata/cargard/images/wizards8_1...
The site is:http://www.mynewsletterbuilder.com/tools/view_newsletter.php?newslett...
It's an adjunct of Dick and Patti's site in Eau Claire WI. Maybe they
have a bigger version if you're interested.- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -
although
whatever one's age.. that tends to disappear spending time with
someone..
There was a great photo of her in the Avatar Journal
Eldon
2007-12-09 11:44:06 UTC
Post by k2
Virginia) , Harry
sent her a plane ticket to visit in Orlando. I could tell she
appreciated it... She went.
Harry had good reason to be grateful to Virginia. As I said, I met herPost by s***@aol.com
How interesting to see this "tribute" to Virginia Downsborough here.
She was, indeed, a remarkable lady, and probably had more Avatar
students than any other Avatar "master." Harry was deeply indebted to
her for a number of reasons, but toward the end of her life, when she
solicited his support for a new program she had hoped to start to
introduce Resurfacing to children, Harry reportedly refused. He
apparently didn't want someone outside the immediate organization to
create a program designed to disseminate his ideas. In addition,
Virginia was notorious bad with money, and it seems that Harry didn't
trust her, at age 83, to handle the administration of such a program,
when he was expected to foot the bill. It broke Virginia's heart.
Some months later, she developed cancer, (she had smoked her whole
life, but gave it up a few years after being introduced to Avatar). I
often tried to get her to use CHP on the cancer but she wouldn't. I
think she had simply lost the will to live.
Virginia, as anyone who spent any time with her can tell you,
(especially anyone who spent time as a guest in her spectacular
hilltop home in Santa Barbara, where the most characteristic sound was
Virginia's slicing of crusty hot bread for one meal or another), was a
thoroughly lovable woman. She had the capacity to flow so much
appreciation toward you that you simply basked in it. She was L. Ron
Hubbard's personal assistant for a number of years, but was never a
died-in-the-whole acolyte. She once told me "I never considered Ron
to be anything other than a man; certainly not some kind of god." She
had completely abandoned Scientology for Avatar (which is, contrary to
the protestations of many detractors, hardly derivative of
Scientology, except in a few very minor ways). The story of how
Avatar's early success relied heavily on Scientology's diaspora is an
interesting one, and should be told in a book someday; Virginia had a
curious way of coloring her delivery of the Avatar course with a few
exercises she'd remembered from Scientology, but it was her
consideration that Avatar basically left Scientology in the dust. Her
presence was always one of the star features of the Wizards course,
and Avatar students and Masters flocked to her like moths to a porch
light.
What anyone who met her remembers about Virginia is that she was a
kind of female Obi-Wan Kenobi: Wise, kind, gentle wry, curious, spry
and witty; fierce when fierceness was required, but always acting out
of pure love. Plus, she was one of the early fans of Tempurpedic
mattresses. And an avid supporter of Hillary Clinton. A fan of Maya
Angelou, and one hell of a gourmet cook. She was confused and
saddened by Eldon's relentless attacks on Harry Palmer. Her viewpoint
of Eldon was that he was a bright man who had gotten some sort of burr
in his saddle and had an enormous amount of fixed attention on Harry.
She had tried to talk some sense into him but eventually abandoned
that idea as a hopeless cause. Among Virginia's students were Terry
Cole Whittaker and a number of movie and TV actors, not to mention
dozens and dozens of ordinary citizens who, after taking the course
with Virginia, would make pilgrimages to her house for years
afterward. I think Avatar owes her a great deal to this day, in
exchange for the enormous goodwill she engendered for the Cours. She
was an amazing woman, and a singular human being. She is, and will
always remain, very much missed.
Just as a sidenote; When Virginia's Mom died (she lived withHow interesting to see this "tribute" to Virginia Downsborough here.
She was, indeed, a remarkable lady, and probably had more Avatar
students than any other Avatar "master." Harry was deeply indebted to
her for a number of reasons, but toward the end of her life, when she
solicited his support for a new program she had hoped to start to
introduce Resurfacing to children, Harry reportedly refused. He
apparently didn't want someone outside the immediate organization to
create a program designed to disseminate his ideas. In addition,
Virginia was notorious bad with money, and it seems that Harry didn't
trust her, at age 83, to handle the administration of such a program,
when he was expected to foot the bill. It broke Virginia's heart.
Some months later, she developed cancer, (she had smoked her whole
life, but gave it up a few years after being introduced to Avatar). I
often tried to get her to use CHP on the cancer but she wouldn't. I
think she had simply lost the will to live.
Virginia, as anyone who spent any time with her can tell you,
(especially anyone who spent time as a guest in her spectacular
hilltop home in Santa Barbara, where the most characteristic sound was
Virginia's slicing of crusty hot bread for one meal or another), was a
thoroughly lovable woman. She had the capacity to flow so much
appreciation toward you that you simply basked in it. She was L. Ron
Hubbard's personal assistant for a number of years, but was never a
died-in-the-whole acolyte. She once told me "I never considered Ron
to be anything other than a man; certainly not some kind of god." She
had completely abandoned Scientology for Avatar (which is, contrary to
the protestations of many detractors, hardly derivative of
Scientology, except in a few very minor ways). The story of how
Avatar's early success relied heavily on Scientology's diaspora is an
interesting one, and should be told in a book someday; Virginia had a
curious way of coloring her delivery of the Avatar course with a few
exercises she'd remembered from Scientology, but it was her
consideration that Avatar basically left Scientology in the dust. Her
presence was always one of the star features of the Wizards course,
and Avatar students and Masters flocked to her like moths to a porch
light.
What anyone who met her remembers about Virginia is that she was a
kind of female Obi-Wan Kenobi: Wise, kind, gentle wry, curious, spry
and witty; fierce when fierceness was required, but always acting out
of pure love. Plus, she was one of the early fans of Tempurpedic
mattresses. And an avid supporter of Hillary Clinton. A fan of Maya
Angelou, and one hell of a gourmet cook. She was confused and
saddened by Eldon's relentless attacks on Harry Palmer. Her viewpoint
of Eldon was that he was a bright man who had gotten some sort of burr
in his saddle and had an enormous amount of fixed attention on Harry.
She had tried to talk some sense into him but eventually abandoned
that idea as a hopeless cause. Among Virginia's students were Terry
Cole Whittaker and a number of movie and TV actors, not to mention
dozens and dozens of ordinary citizens who, after taking the course
with Virginia, would make pilgrimages to her house for years
afterward. I think Avatar owes her a great deal to this day, in
exchange for the enormous goodwill she engendered for the Cours. She
was an amazing woman, and a singular human being. She is, and will
always remain, very much missed.
Virginia) , Harry
sent her a plane ticket to visit in Orlando. I could tell she
appreciated it... She went.
casually in Los Angeles during the 1970s, and then at the Mayo
operation in Santa Barbara before it closed down. Didn't know her very
well, unfortunately.
Because she had been heavily involved in the Advanced Ability Center,
she was instrumental in bringing LOTS of former Scientologists into
the Avatar fold when that folded. Frank (Sarge) Gerbode, who funded
Mayo's lawsuit against the Cof$ and won, didn't think much of Avatar
but was fairly polite about it. Virginia's recommendation probably
attracted 1,000 students to prime the pump at a crucial time.
HAPPYsamuri
2007-12-09 19:17:02 UTC
Post by Eldon
Because she had been heavily involved in the Advanced Ability Center,
she was instrumental in bringing LOTS of former Scientologists into
the Avatar fold when that folded. Frank (Sarge) Gerbode, who funded
Mayo's lawsuit against the Cof$ and won, didn't think much of Avatar
but was fairly polite about it. Virginia's recommendation probably
attracted 1,000 students to prime the pump at a crucial time.
Eldon, how about a time line with these factsBecause she had been heavily involved in the Advanced Ability Center,
she was instrumental in bringing LOTS of former Scientologists into
the Avatar fold when that folded. Frank (Sarge) Gerbode, who funded
Mayo's lawsuit against the Cof$ and won, didn't think much of Avatar
but was fairly polite about it. Virginia's recommendation probably
attracted 1,000 students to prime the pump at a crucial time.
it just occured to me that this piece of information is quite
revealing
that a major bunch of the first/second avatarites were x CoS
also it comes back to my repeatedly unanswered question
what does Harry think of COS
for him to OFFER something to those that were "upset" with COS
begs the question - what does he think of these peoples leaving COS
also he has seen first hand that people can QUESTION their path and
move on...
has he "empathised" with this form of questioning?
did he "get it"
what does he think of people that question avatar the same way this
early bunch of avatarites QUESTIONED COS
i assume he validated QUESTIONING back then
but now the answer to every question is : Eldon
Eldon
2007-12-10 08:14:18 UTC
Post by HAPPYsamuri
OK, it really started in 1978 when the FBI raided Scientology. HubbardPost by Eldon
Because she had been heavily involved in the Advanced Ability Center,
she was instrumental in bringing LOTS of former Scientologists into
the Avatar fold when that folded. Frank (Sarge) Gerbode, who funded
Mayo's lawsuit against the Cof$ and won, didn't think much of Avatar
but was fairly polite about it. Virginia's recommendation probably
attracted 1,000 students to prime the pump at a crucial time.
Eldon, how about a time line with these factsBecause she had been heavily involved in the Advanced Ability Center,
she was instrumental in bringing LOTS of former Scientologists into
the Avatar fold when that folded. Frank (Sarge) Gerbode, who funded
Mayo's lawsuit against the Cof$ and won, didn't think much of Avatar
but was fairly polite about it. Virginia's recommendation probably
attracted 1,000 students to prime the pump at a crucial time.
soon went into hiding, and David Miscavige (the current dictator) took
over. The "Snow White" spying case was decided in1981, I believe. By
then, things were going way fascist, and DM was cracking down on the
independent missions to extort them for "fines" and such. Eventually,
most were taken over by Scientology.
David Mayo, the top technical person under Hubbard, was pretty much
brutalized in the internal power play. He left and started the
Advanced Ability Center in 1983 with the support of former members and
mission holders. It was really like a kinder, gentler Cof$, and
Miscavige sent ballistic. It had quite a network around the world.
Here's an article that summarizes the events:
http://www.lermanet.com/scientologynews/david-mayo-scientology-case.htm
The AAC closed in 1985. By that time, Hubbard was entirely out of
commission. Mayo and Gerbode fought with the Cof$ in court for the
next eight years or so, and it was finally settled in their favor. By
that time, Mayo had deprogrammed I think, and didn't think Scientology
was worth zip. Gerbode continued with his Traumatic Incident Reduction
Dianetics variant (which uses a meter and involves recollection of
past incidents.
Meanwhile, Harry had been sued in Elmira in 1984 or so, and that case
was settled on appeal in 1986. He couldn't do any more Scientology,
and soon came up with Avatar. So Virginia D. jumped on board his new
movement about a year after the AAC closed down. His initial wave of
people pretty much came from the AAC network (and the Scieno freezone
in general).
Harry called the Elmira "freezone Scientology" at one point, but
actually never had much to do with the overall network of ex Scienos.
Gerbode (and I think Mayo) thought Avatar was oversimplified, and
didn't like the confidentiality bit.
Post by HAPPYsamuri
it just occured to me that this piece of information is quite
revealing
that a major bunch of the first/second avatarites were x CoS
also it comes back to my repeatedly unanswered question
what does Harry think of COS
for him to OFFER something to those that were "upset" with COS
begs the question - what does he think of these peoples leaving COS
also he has seen first hand that people can QUESTION their path and
move on...
has he "empathised" with this form of questioning?
did he "get it"
what does he think of people that question avatar the same way this
early bunch of avatarites QUESTIONED COS
i assume he validated QUESTIONING back then
but now the answer to every question is : Eldon
it just occured to me that this piece of information is quite
revealing
that a major bunch of the first/second avatarites were x CoS
also it comes back to my repeatedly unanswered question
what does Harry think of COS
for him to OFFER something to those that were "upset" with COS
begs the question - what does he think of these peoples leaving COS
also he has seen first hand that people can QUESTION their path and
move on...
has he "empathised" with this form of questioning?
did he "get it"
what does he think of people that question avatar the same way this
early bunch of avatarites QUESTIONED COS
i assume he validated QUESTIONING back then
but now the answer to every question is : Eldon
Butterflyer
2007-12-15 10:04:33 UTC
Thanks for posting this loving letter about Virginia.
I loved reading it. I think she was a warm, loving lady.
Ronald Cools
I loved reading it. I think she was a warm, loving lady.
Ronald Cools