As part of my continuing efforts to make daily additions to the Application section of the forum.
Mr. Vaughn's correspondence ceased with the 3rd letter, received last week, after applying for the Challenge in June of 2004.
=============================================
In 1970 on a journey to an exotic place, I came across an ancient and long lost realm. After exploring this realm for 31 years I discovered a container that could be used to connect, or bond, Heaven and Earth. It is only later that IO came to realize that it was the legendary Ark of the Covenant. Upon detailed research I learned that theological scholars have determined that the Ark of the Covenant (or Ark of Heaven) is a container of unknown shape that when used in the right way can connect Heaven and Earth. The scholars are baffled in that the power to do this does not come from what is inside the container, but somehow from the container itself. Due to other knowledge discovered during my exploration I figured out how to use this container to accomplish this connection between Heaven and Earth, a truly SUPERNATURAL phenomenon. One "side effect" produced in doing this is that one observes giant rocks or gaseous balls hovering inside their room. These hovering material objects are not held up by wires, or any other material means, and can be photographed or videotaped, as well as observed by anyone who is there during the process. In the year 2001 I copyrighted the process.
I will show you this supernatural phenomenon. This phenomenon can be reproduced repeatedly, not only by me, but by anyone who follows my instructions in the use of this container. I will not do this during the daytime in that the psychological impact for the beginner is too severe. I will also not do this during adverse weather conditions such as cloudy, rainy or stormy weather. I will not touch the container or anything else except my written instructions. I may question the observer before-hand to see if I need to give a verbal 10-15 minute preparation. This preparation took me years to acheive. It consists of words you use in your every day life, yet they are put together in way that is beyond the capacity of human memory and cannot be repeated by you or anyone, in your words or mine. This includes those with photographic memories, making it a supernatural phenomenon in its own right. If you follow my directions, you will observe giant rocks/gaseous balls hovering in the space of your room, whether I am there or not. This is not a trick, this is a genuine supernatural phenomenon. Should I collect the prize, I would be most pleased to have anyone from your organization show this to as many people as possible, as often as possible. I expect you not to believe me, and will be most disappointed if you fail to call me a liar and challenge me to prove it. Regardless of how this turns out, my personal thanks to James Randi for his decades of service in de-bunking the frauds.
==============================================
Well, this was one of those "fuzzy" claims...is this person sick?
Is this person kidding? Is this person in possession of something he believes to be an ancient door to another world, or is this simply a hallucination from beginning to end?
I wrote asking a few simple questions, and got this in return.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
DISCLOSURE: As a matter of both honesty and forewarning I would be remiss not to inform you of the following matters:
In the past couple of years, a significant percentage of the people who have been through the preparation and exoperience of the supernatural phenomenon I have told you about have experienced an abnormally extreme sense of fear. Their reactions have varied from closing their eyes and humming, to running away while the process is still underway. I have worked VERY HARD to correct this problem, especially in the preparation. So far the results of these latest efforts seem to be working, however, I cannot be absolutely certain that these latest efforts will be effective for everyone.
Also, I would be remiss in all openness not to inform you that once you have gone through the procedure and have observed this phenomenon, your life will never be the same as before. The effect is not adverse to you physically, but can have a profound impact on the course of your life in regards to the way you expect the rest of your life to be. This is not an adverse effect, but you must be prepared to deal with something you could never even have imagined. This could alter the course of your life in a way that you never expected or imagined.
Gary Vaughn
=============================================
OK, so, I asked Gary for three notarized affadavits from persons who had seen this phenomenon and could offer no rational explanation for it. Again, this technique failed me, as I soon received the three affadavits (none of them notarized). One was wholly indecipherable. The other two are as follows:
Dear Mr. Kramer,
I enthusiastically endorse Gary Vaughn's ability to make magic. Eight months ago, Gary guided me toward opening my door of perception for the first time. Gary is wise and discplined, and he acts as an anchor for members of our study group and we work together as a group and as individuals to magic out of our experiences.
Sincerely, L. Smith
AND...
Hello. I have experienced the real magic that Gary Vaughn has mentioned in his letters. My first experience of this magic was in 1978 and I have experienced this numerous times over the many years. I truly verify everything that Gary Vaughn has told you about in his inclosed letters.
L. Johnson
==============================================
So, things were becoming somewhat clearer as the correspondence continued.
I wrote to Gary again, attempting to draw something rational out of him, and got no reply.
Then, months later (last week, in fact), I got this in return:
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I have immense respect for James Randi. Since the 70's I have applauded as he would reveal the deception of charlatans claiming magic powers. Randi could always reproduce the same phenomenon himself, as proof of fraud.
As respectful as I am of James Randi, HE CANNOT REPRODUCE WHAT I DO. Not without my written and/or verbal instruction and/or training. The reason for my delay in getting back to you is that I had to finish composing a book containing the expanded version of these instructions.
I just sent off to Library of Congtress these expanded instructions for copyright. I have no objection to showing this to anyone in your organization, but only AFTER my assurance of it being received by the copyright office. This is the real thing. For thousands of years this acheivement has been considered impossible. I spent 33 years earning this copyright. I literally worked late into or through thousands of nights, and I am not just going to give away the fruit of my mountains of work, effort and sacrifice.
Would you?
Gary Vaughn
============================================
I would if it was worthless.
I consider this person to be mentally ill, and have deemed this claim unworthy of investigation, in the best interests of the applicant, who does not need to have his delusions justified by JREF's agreeing to challenge their validity.
Mr. Vaughn's correspondence ceased with the 3rd letter, received last week, after applying for the Challenge in June of 2004.
=============================================
In 1970 on a journey to an exotic place, I came across an ancient and long lost realm. After exploring this realm for 31 years I discovered a container that could be used to connect, or bond, Heaven and Earth. It is only later that IO came to realize that it was the legendary Ark of the Covenant. Upon detailed research I learned that theological scholars have determined that the Ark of the Covenant (or Ark of Heaven) is a container of unknown shape that when used in the right way can connect Heaven and Earth. The scholars are baffled in that the power to do this does not come from what is inside the container, but somehow from the container itself. Due to other knowledge discovered during my exploration I figured out how to use this container to accomplish this connection between Heaven and Earth, a truly SUPERNATURAL phenomenon. One "side effect" produced in doing this is that one observes giant rocks or gaseous balls hovering inside their room. These hovering material objects are not held up by wires, or any other material means, and can be photographed or videotaped, as well as observed by anyone who is there during the process. In the year 2001 I copyrighted the process.
I will show you this supernatural phenomenon. This phenomenon can be reproduced repeatedly, not only by me, but by anyone who follows my instructions in the use of this container. I will not do this during the daytime in that the psychological impact for the beginner is too severe. I will also not do this during adverse weather conditions such as cloudy, rainy or stormy weather. I will not touch the container or anything else except my written instructions. I may question the observer before-hand to see if I need to give a verbal 10-15 minute preparation. This preparation took me years to acheive. It consists of words you use in your every day life, yet they are put together in way that is beyond the capacity of human memory and cannot be repeated by you or anyone, in your words or mine. This includes those with photographic memories, making it a supernatural phenomenon in its own right. If you follow my directions, you will observe giant rocks/gaseous balls hovering in the space of your room, whether I am there or not. This is not a trick, this is a genuine supernatural phenomenon. Should I collect the prize, I would be most pleased to have anyone from your organization show this to as many people as possible, as often as possible. I expect you not to believe me, and will be most disappointed if you fail to call me a liar and challenge me to prove it. Regardless of how this turns out, my personal thanks to James Randi for his decades of service in de-bunking the frauds.
==============================================
Well, this was one of those "fuzzy" claims...is this person sick?
Is this person kidding? Is this person in possession of something he believes to be an ancient door to another world, or is this simply a hallucination from beginning to end?
I wrote asking a few simple questions, and got this in return.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
DISCLOSURE: As a matter of both honesty and forewarning I would be remiss not to inform you of the following matters:
In the past couple of years, a significant percentage of the people who have been through the preparation and exoperience of the supernatural phenomenon I have told you about have experienced an abnormally extreme sense of fear. Their reactions have varied from closing their eyes and humming, to running away while the process is still underway. I have worked VERY HARD to correct this problem, especially in the preparation. So far the results of these latest efforts seem to be working, however, I cannot be absolutely certain that these latest efforts will be effective for everyone.
Also, I would be remiss in all openness not to inform you that once you have gone through the procedure and have observed this phenomenon, your life will never be the same as before. The effect is not adverse to you physically, but can have a profound impact on the course of your life in regards to the way you expect the rest of your life to be. This is not an adverse effect, but you must be prepared to deal with something you could never even have imagined. This could alter the course of your life in a way that you never expected or imagined.
Gary Vaughn
=============================================
OK, so, I asked Gary for three notarized affadavits from persons who had seen this phenomenon and could offer no rational explanation for it. Again, this technique failed me, as I soon received the three affadavits (none of them notarized). One was wholly indecipherable. The other two are as follows:
Dear Mr. Kramer,
I enthusiastically endorse Gary Vaughn's ability to make magic. Eight months ago, Gary guided me toward opening my door of perception for the first time. Gary is wise and discplined, and he acts as an anchor for members of our study group and we work together as a group and as individuals to magic out of our experiences.
Sincerely, L. Smith
AND...
Hello. I have experienced the real magic that Gary Vaughn has mentioned in his letters. My first experience of this magic was in 1978 and I have experienced this numerous times over the many years. I truly verify everything that Gary Vaughn has told you about in his inclosed letters.
L. Johnson
==============================================
So, things were becoming somewhat clearer as the correspondence continued.
I wrote to Gary again, attempting to draw something rational out of him, and got no reply.
Then, months later (last week, in fact), I got this in return:
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I have immense respect for James Randi. Since the 70's I have applauded as he would reveal the deception of charlatans claiming magic powers. Randi could always reproduce the same phenomenon himself, as proof of fraud.
As respectful as I am of James Randi, HE CANNOT REPRODUCE WHAT I DO. Not without my written and/or verbal instruction and/or training. The reason for my delay in getting back to you is that I had to finish composing a book containing the expanded version of these instructions.
I just sent off to Library of Congtress these expanded instructions for copyright. I have no objection to showing this to anyone in your organization, but only AFTER my assurance of it being received by the copyright office. This is the real thing. For thousands of years this acheivement has been considered impossible. I spent 33 years earning this copyright. I literally worked late into or through thousands of nights, and I am not just going to give away the fruit of my mountains of work, effort and sacrifice.
Would you?
Gary Vaughn
============================================
I would if it was worthless.
I consider this person to be mentally ill, and have deemed this claim unworthy of investigation, in the best interests of the applicant, who does not need to have his delusions justified by JREF's agreeing to challenge their validity.