> grahameb@aol.com (Graham Berry) wrote:

> Robert Vaughn Young

> It is with great sadness that I have learned of the death of Robert
> Vaughn Young. He died early Sunday afternoon June 15, 2003 after a
> long illness. His son had just been visiting with him and his beloved
> companion Caren was at his side. I am told he was resting peacefully
> and comfortably when he passed on.

May he rest in peace.

> Vaughn was one of the most wonderful people that I have had the honor
> to know. He had a master's degree in Philosophy and was teaching at
> University of California Davis when he became involved with
> Scientology in the early 1970s. He became one of Scientology's highest
> ranking public relations officers and he was one of L. Ron Hubbard's
> archivists. He has described his Scientology experiences on many
> occasions. There are his own writings, his own testimony and those who
> have written about him. To access some of this writing and testimony
> search his name on Google groups.

I think RVY was a good and decent human being who was corrupted by Scientology, and who overcame that period in his life, to once again regain his humanity and his humility.

On balance, Scientology was a terrible, destructive, harmful influence in the life of RVY. In his life and experiences there are object lessons aplenty for any who think they might dabble in the manipulative, pie-in-the-sky mind-fuck that is Scientology.

> DEATH IS NOTHING
> Death is nothing at all:

I don't believe this for a second. Nor should anyone else. Death is a boundary which we CANNOT SEE BEYOND! No one knows what, if anything, happens to our spirits, after we die. Not even the most grandiose pretenses of reading an e-meter while undergoing hypnotic suggestion gives us a clue as to what lies beyond death for the human consciousness.

We can only suppose. Some of us suppose quite badly. Some of us suppose others know what they want to know, and will pay dearly for the secret. And unfortunately, there is no shortage of charlatans and assholes and true believers willing to sell the alleged answer to the needy.

Nobody knows what lies beyond death. Period. When and if someone ever does know, trust me, it will be in all the papers.

Take my advice. Appreciate the life you have now. Live it as if there were no tomorrow. And don't waste your precious time chasing after pipe dreams that make some despotic clowns rich and powerful.

Michael Reuss Honorary Kid