How Scientologist Feel Good and Feel Certain
for All the Wrong Reasons

Version 2

By Tom Weeks

Summary:

Former Scientologist, Tom Weeks, explores past happiness with Scientology and factors contributing to the credibility of Scientology. Factors of Scientology examined include Scientology's appeal to human compassion, positive mental outlook, work ethic, hypnotic techniques, the metaphysics of the Scientology religion, self censorship, ideals and the grandiose claims of Scientology. All of these factors either give credibility to Scientology or make a person more susceptible to belief in Scientology. In conclusion an unwavering belief and certainty in Scientology creates a euphoria which the Scientologist could misinterpret as the techniques of Scientology working.

Contents:

1. Scientology as a Feel Good Paradigm
2. Certainty and Knowingness
3. The Humanitarian Movement
4. Positive Attitude
5. The Ethics of Production
6. Deepening Suggestibility
7. Mind over Matter
8. Make it Go Right and Tone 40 Intention
9. Self-Censorship and Entheta
10. The Scientology Ideal
11. The Hope for Tomorrow
Afterword

Version 1 released 10.08.06
Version 2 released 03.10.07

SCIENTOLOGY AS AN "FEEL GOOD" PARADIGM

Tom Cruise feelin' so good about his relationship with Katie Holmes that words can not describe it... He jumps on the couch instead. That's one uptone thetan!!!

These days when I read about celebrities, of which Tom Cruise is the most famous, as well as normal, everyday people emerged in the world of Scientology, part of me sees how they are headed for a brick wall called REALITY. On the other hand, I understand the attraction to the Scientology worldview.

While I now see much of Scientology as bizarre science fiction at best and bankrupting mind control at worst, I must admit that on a personal level, Scientology is a "feel good" paradigm in more ways than one. The Scientology world view generates feelings of power. It happens on many different levels and it resonates in the core of the psyche. This is not a "good side" of Scientology. This is Scientology pandering to the ego and playing on the psyche. While there is no such thing as too much happiness, excessive enthusiasm and over confidence can breed misconception and misjudgement. Being upbeat and enthusiastic all the time has a way of obscuring reality. Besides, Scientologist feel all the right feelings for all the wrong reasons.

Speculating on the source of what made the Scientology paradigm so "feel good," I considered the possibility that I might just be nostalgic... Nope, there clearly had been something there. I had been more confident, enthusiastic and happier as a Scientologist, no doubt about it. I came to realize that happiness and joy had originated from different concepts held firmly in my consciousness.

CERTAINTY AND KNOWINGNESS

Scientology has an explanation for EVERYTHING. LRH wrote prolifically. The Scientology philosophy is very cohesive. The many concepts fit together and interact with each other very well. Scientology appeals to the intellect in this sense. Scientology is a thinking man’s cult. It takes some intelligence to grasp the concepts and fit the pieces together. Yet that is only a small part of the seduction.

While I believed I was sufficiently skeptical, Scientology gained my confidence, hijacked my critical thinking and shut down skepticism. This was accomplished many different ways:

1. The presence of some genuinely effective and legitimate ideas and techniques mixed in with Scientology. Mixing lies with the truth. The effective ideas lend credibility to the stupid parts of Scientology through association. What is effective in Scientology is subjective from person to person. For me, it is some aspects positive thinking techniques of Scientology.
2. 
   

   In an auditing session, the auditor helps another examine specific areas of their existence so they can rid themselves of unwanted spiritual conditions and increase awareness and ability. ( Except from www.scientology.org, the official Church website. )

   Techniques attributed to Scientology, which, in reality, are recycled from other sources. For instance, the practice of looking up misunderstood words in Scientology study tech greatly assist in comprehension while reading. That’s great, but that’s not unique to Scientology. Dictionaries have been around a long time. Getting off destructive drugs and overcoming< addiction through a Scientology program and drying out can be life saving. Again this is not new to Scientology. Many drug rehab programs exist and save lives everyday. The belief that Scientology invented the wheel when, in actuality Scientology is merely reinventing the wheel or plagiarizing the wheel lends false credibility to Scientology.
3. 
   The Church of Scientology presents itself as a professional and reputable organization. The atmosphere in a Church of Scientology is decidedly business-like, academic and clinical all at the same time. In fact all Church transactions and interactions are conducted with this ambiance of professionalism. Pseudo-scientific test such as the personality test and pseudoscientific interpretation of e-meter measurements lend credibility to Scientology.
4. 
   Persistent assurances that Scientology could be proven effective by scientific method(1) ; put simply, persistent lying. Despite LRH’s claims, Scientology is unscientific, most likely conjecture and definitely metaphysics.
5. 
   Persistent assurances that Scientology works. The given reasons Scientology doesn’t work on some people is because either (a.) they don’t properly understand Scientology or (b.) they are insane or (c.) they have been adversely effected by either a person who was insane or who didn’t properly understand Scientology . (2)

   The Electropsychometer, or E-Meter measures the mental state or change of state of a person, helping the auditor locate areas of spiritual distress or travail so they can be addressed and handled in a session. (except from www.scientology.org, the official Church website.)

6. 
   Pseudo-evidence in the form of “wins” achieved by psychological slight of hand, yet considered valid and attributed to Scientology technology. I experienced very little Scientology auditing and am not sure what psychological mechanisms make it feel good. Some possibilities may be the placebo effect, false memory syndrome, hypnotic techniques and cognitive dissidence. Also, priming by way of building expectation (via course work) coupled with the use of techniques inducing a hypnotic-like state of suggestibility (via auditing, routines and processes). What I do know is that there is ZERO real scientific evidence that it “works” in any sense other than making the subject feel good. In effect, Scientologists feel all the right feelings for all the wrong reasons.
7. 
   A misunderstanding of the e-meter and how it really works. While LRH provides a metaphysical explanation of how the e-meter works, it is actually a simple mechanism for measuring electrical resistance; kind of a simplified lie detector. Evidently, it is easily fooled once understood.
8. 
   Faulty documentation on this pseudo-evidence in the form of anecdotal evidence, called “success stories” in the Church of Scientology. The writing of success stories is compulsory in the Church of Scientology, i.e. a student must write a success story in order to graduate from a class and move on to the next level. Anecdotal evidence is not considered sufficient evidence in the scientific community.
9. 
   Rationalizations for lack of evidence. Super natural capabilities promised by Scientology were not to be demonstrated as such would cause a war between humans and the spiritual beings liberated by Scientology . (3)
10. 
    The demonization of the established mental health community by LRH. Mental health scientists as a group were slandered to dis-repudiate them. Thus the group of people with the expertise to apply scientific rigor to Scientology had no credibility in the view of Scientologist. A real mental health scientific review could aptly explain the scientific faults and psychological slight of hand of Scientology.

    Scientologist take to the streets to protest the evils of psychiatry in what is called a psych-bust! Go get those evil psychs, Scientologist!

11. 
    Simple flattery of Scientologist by LRH producing an over confidence and an inflated self image. This would be trivial save for that the Church of Scientology is a cult of L. Ron Hubbard. This opens Scientologist emotionally and makes agreeable, a la “How to Make Friends and Influence People, ” by Dale Carnegie.
12. 
    The searching out and exploitation of any self-perceived weakness, called a “ruin.” Scientology claims it can help with any ruin. At the same time, fostering a belief that only Scientology could help, while psychology would bring disaster. Thus creating a false monopoly in the field of mental health, self improvement and a dependence on Scientology.
13. 
    As aforementioned, the presentation of an intellectually appealing, cohesive mental model which explains everything. The prospect of universal understanding is very congenial to the human psyche as well as very appealing to the ego. This provides an opening or window for Scientology. Simply put, Scientology provides easy answers.
14. 
    Often Scientologist are overloaded with information and given little time to mull it over. “This overloads the person's mind with information since the mind can only handle a certain amount of information at one time. The overload will cause the person to blank out and go into a noncritical trance state where they will just uncritically soak up the information like a sponge.”(4)

    "Introduction to Scientology Ethics" by L Ron Hubbard. The book to read if you need to "Get your ethics in," or if you need to get "ethics in" on others.

15. 
    The use of positive and negative reinforcement in the Scientology community.(5) This serves to conform the behavior of Scientologist, which, in turn, transforms the thoughts of the Scientologist via cognitive dissidence. But to be fair, the use of positive and negative reinforcement is common everywhere. Dog trainers use it on dogs and investors use it on CEOs. The use of positive and negative reinforcement is blatant in Scientology. Some Scientology applications are based on lies and/or are especially insidious.(6)
16. 
    Extraordinary promises of power, understanding, freedom and happiness provided
    Scientologist apply Scientology and adhere to the writings of LRH. Anxiety or desire for such
    abilities and happiness overrides the critical thinking of Scientologist. Such promises provide a false base for positive reinforcement.
17. 
    The expulsion of anyone not properly submitting to the authority of the Church of Scientology.(7) This is not just reverse psychology. Scientologist become emotionally dependent on
    Scientology as LRH insisted that without Scientology an individual will only get worse and worse in future lifetimes. In the parlance of other religions, a fear of “hell” is instilled in Scientologist. This is an insidious form of negative reinforcement.
18. 
    The demonization of critics of Scientology, its controlling authority or its founder, LRH. The writings of LRH claim that such critics are criminals by nature and are motivated out of a desire to destroy humanity. This only sounds stupid when you say it out loud. (8)
19. 
    Encouraged or mandated disassociation with critics of Scientology. This practice called disconnection extends to family members such as parents or children if deemed necessary. Disconnection insulates Scientologist from alternate views of Scientology and reinforces the effects of group think and peer pressure. Additionally, it discourages members with family in Scientology from becoming critical of Scientology.(9)
20. 
    The active practice of harassing or suing any person or organization thus critical .(10) This practice impedes critics of Scientology, regardless of whether their criticisms are valid or invalid, and silences many. Read here negative reinforcement used on non-Scientologist.

    Tom Cruise as depicted in South Park. I believe he really did sue them in England.

21. 
    The willful self-censorship of negative thoughts and negative thoughts about Scientology by Scientologist. Also Scientologist will avoid all critical accounts of Scientology while welcoming positive accounts. Thus, counting the hits and not the misses. This insulates Scientologist from alternate thoughts and views of Scientology and reinforces the effects of group think and peer pressure. (The rationale is discussed later in this essay under the heading SELF CENSORSHIP AND ENTHETA.)
22. 
    The belief in the concept of knowingness and the positive association of certainty in the Scientology paradigm (discussed later in this section).
23. 
    LRH’s misrepresentation of himself in such as way as to give him credibility as well as likeability, i.e. false credentials. Example: while it is doubtful LRH ever saw combat, he claimed to be a war hero. While claimed to heal his battle injuries, which caused him to be blind and crippled with the techniques of Dianetics, there is no record that LRH ever suffered such injuries let alone healed himself. This list of claims versus confirmable reality goes on for quite some time. The inflation of the status of LRH gives him undue credibility and influence (11)

    L. Ron Hubbard - Writer & Professional in Dozens of Fields as well as the reincarnation of Guatama Buddha.

24. 
    The stated humanitarian aspirations of the Scientology movement are appealing to the sensitivities of human compassion (discussed further under the heading THE
    HUMANITARIAN MOVEMENT).
25. 
    The creation of new words with loaded meanings serving to mislead the intellect and usurp the process of critical thinking. (Discussed in part under the heading SELF CENSORSHIP AND ENTHETA).
26. 
    The use of celebrities to create a positive public image for Scientology. In our celebrity obsessed culture, movie stars such as Tom Cruise and musicians like Beck add credibility to Scientology. The Church sees celebrities such as these as opinion leaders who can be used as spokesmen for the movement and makes active measures to get them involved in Scientology. (12)
27. 
    Fellow Scientologist lend credibility to Scientology. They are often rational, accomplished and can be very intelligent. While their actions in the Scientology movement might lead them to do questionable things, such as harass critics or stretch the truth, they generally act out of pure motives and not out of greed (as an outsider might be tempted to believe). The high-pressure environment and the underlying philosophy of LRH ethics can desensitize staff members emotionally. This is a psychological adjustment to the Scientology environment. At heart Scientologist tend to be very nice and reasonably smart people.

The listed methods of striping of skepticism toward Scientology helped cementing my belief in the Scientology worldview.

There was a sort of smug happiness I got out of knowing that I was right. I felt certain that I knew the truth of life the universe and everything. That's not so unreasonable to believe, is it? Scientology gave me a window of truth into how the universe worked. I didn't just believe what LRH had said, I knew it to be true. My knowledge came from my knowingness. Knowingness is Scientology jargon. Knowingness means the capability to know and to ascertain within oneself truth.(13)

In the Scientology paradigm, thetans (spiritual beings) already know the truth of the whole universe. They just choose to not remember it and choose to forget they have a choice in remembering it. (14) This metaphysical model of the universe facilitates the concept of knowingness.

LRH wrote, “Knowledge itself is certainty; knowledge is not data. And knowingness itself is certainty.
Sanity is certainty...”(15)

While at the St. Louis org had a conversation with a staff member who was training me to be a recruiter
although I had recently been recruited myself. The issue of how people recognize Scientology as truth
came up.

She had asked me, “When you heard about Scientology, how did you know it was true?”

“Well,” I hesitated, “It made a lot of sense when I read it...”

She cut in, “You had knowingness.”

“Yeah, that’s right,” I responded. I felt that somehow deep down inside I had always known about Scientology.

“Yeah,” she agreed, nodding. Her statement had validated my intuition that Scientology was the real deal.

In that moment a new ability opened itself to me. That was the ability to know by intuition. Knowingness was knowing by intuition or exploration, both were equally valid. It was more than intuition though. It more like a super strong intuition where I couldn’t imagine I was wrong. LRH wrote, “Scientology, of all the sciences does not teach you, it only reminds you, for the information was yours in the first place. It is not only the science of life but it is an account of what you were doing before you forgot what you were doing.”(16)

In my mind, anything that LRH put to paper or had said in a lecture was true. Say what you will about that level of belief; its gullible, foolish, sheep-like. What it gave me was certainty and radiating from that certainty was confidence, stability and peace of mind. Had you been in doubt about the laws of the universe, I might have felt sorry for you. I had everything figured out.

Once I was at a party talking to a girl. Excited as I was about Scientology, the subject came up. I wasn't interested in trying to recruit her or even in getting her to come into the Church of Scientology to take a class for which I could get a cash referral. I was just interested in talking about Scientology. By the end of the night I had told her all about the 76,000,000,000,000 year history of the universe, complete with space ships and ray guns and I remember telling her in a matter of fact manner that she, nor I, were from this planet. She gave me an askance look, got up from the table and I never saw her again.

This is one of those memories that I recall from time to time. It haunts me. I'll be sitting down, eating breakfast and I'll recollect that once, in all earnestness, I told a cute girl that she, nor I, were from this planet. "What the hell was I thinking?" I'll think to myself. Then I'll put my hand to my forehead and, if no one is around, shake my head. It’s a traumatic level of embarrassment really. I imagine that most people are haunted by regret over stupid things they've done. Telling a girl about the beliefs of a Scientologist is one of mine.

“Certainty is a wonderful thing,” wrote LRH.(17)

I didn't just believe it back then, I knew it. What's more, it made me feel good to know it while many others didn't know it. Most people were stuck in their lives of working at boring jobs and paying bills while I had been busy finding the answers to all the questions that really mattered. Additionally, I had the knowingness to know the truth when I had read it. Some one could have called me a complete idiot for believing in such an unfounded, half-baked scenario. But I would have thought them the idiot. Wow did I have it wrong. But still certainty feels good. It breeds confidence. And certainty in what others think is sheer lunacy feels even better. It can be interpreted to mean that you are much smarter than everyone else, which in turn, breeds even more confidence.

LRH stated, “The less certain the individual is on any subject, the less sane he could be said to be upon that subject...”(18)

If you begin to doubt when naysayers come out of the woodwork to call you a nutcase, then you haven't reached the level of certainty. I would call that something like strong belief. Certainty is certainty even when you find yourself sitting in a room with people from the “real world” slowly and patiently pointing out valid flaws in your paradigm. Certainty doesn't move; only your opinion of the intelligence of people from the “real world” does.

Footnotes:

1. L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology: Fundamentals of Thought (Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1997) The Parts of Man

2. HCO PL 5 April 1965 Issue II, THE NO-GAIN-CASE STUDENT

3. L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology: A History of Man (Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1988) Chapter 6

4.Monica Pignotti MSW, CSW, The Use of Mind Control in Scientology, http://www.garloff.de/kurt/sekten/mind1.html)

5. HCO PL 6 March 1966 REWARDS AND PENALTIES and also appears as L. Ron Hubbard, Introduction to Scientology Ethics (Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1989) Rewards and Penalties

6. Ibid

7. HCO PL 7 March 1965R Issue I SUPPRESSIVE ACTS, SUPPRESSION OF SCIENTOLOGY AND SCIENTOLOGIST

8. L. Ron Hubbard, (Article) Criminals and Psychiatry, Crime and Psychiatry also Ron’s Journal ‘67

9. L. Ron Hubbard, Introduction to Scientology Ethics (Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1989) Disconnection

10. HCO PL 18 October 1967 Issue IV PENALTIES FOR LOWER CONDITIONS as see HCO PL 21 October 1968 CANCELLATION OF FAIR GAME

11. Jon Atack, A Piece of Blue Sky, Scientology, Dianetics and L. Ron Hubbard Exposed (New York 1990) Part 2

12. HCOPL 11 May 1971 Issue II OPINION LEADERS, HCOPL 23 May 1976 CELEBRITIES
and FLAG ORDER 3323, 9 May 1973, CELEBRITIES AND THE SEA ORGANIZATION

13. L. Ron Hubbard, (Article) Certainty

14. L. Ron Hubbard, A New Slant on Life (Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1990) What is the Basic Mystery?

15. L. Ron Hubbard, (Article) Certainty

16. L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology: Fundamentals of Thought (Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1997) Causation and Knowledge

17. L. Ron Hubbard, (Article) Certainty

18. Ibid

As a Scientologist, I never gave much mind to the critics of Scientology. Among many reasons was the positive and humanitarian nature of the Scientology movement. The writings of LRH include passages about loving others, being happy, helping others and being positive.

The Scientology cross, while similar in appearance to the cross of Christianity, the significance of the cross has absolutely nothing to do with Jesus Christ.

"The hardest task one can have is to continue to love his fellows despite all reasons he should not.

"And the true sign of sanity and greatness is to so continue."(1)

The above quote from an article titled "What is Greatness" reinforced LRH's humanitarian credentials. There on the printed page was Scientology's gold standard of greatness, "to continue to love...despite all reasons he should not." While I had read that LRH advocated harsh treatment of those he considered suppressive persons(2), such treatment was merely self-defense from those who wished to destroy Scientology, the "most vital movement on Earth today," according to LRH.(3)

The Aims of Scientology, "A civilization without insanity, without criminals and with out war..."(4) seemed consistent with the ideals I held as a young man. Come to think of it, they're consistent with the ideals I hold today. Moreover, these Aims of Scientology fit in with LRH's greater standard of ethics, "An optimum solution to any problem would be that solution which brought the greatest benefit for the greatest number of dynamics (individuals, families, groups and mankind).(5)

Not only did LRH want to help the world through Scientology, he also had a high regard for man. "Years ago, " wrote LRH, "I discovered and proved that man is basically good." (6) Here I saw a positive affirmation on the nature of man, a cohesive philosophy of wanting to help mankind and believing that such an effort was good.

There is much controversy over the motives of LRH in founding Scientology. While Scientologist revere and show gratitude for LRH by applauding and cheering a portrait of LRH at the end of classes, critics of Scientology see LRH as a megalomaniac, pathological liar and a vicious swindler. The true motives of LRH are ultimately irrelevant to the true believer. The stated Aims of Scientology and the human compassion of the Church's members are very real. Scientologists see Scientology as the ultimate positive force for change. They believe that Scientology alone has the power to lift mankind out of the mud.

For all the high-pressure sales tactics, threats and "heavy ethics" employed by Scientologist, underneath it all are good intentions. In fact, the rank and file Scientologist, in even the most severe heavy-handed acts of cohesion and deceit, hold the best of intentions. "A civilization without insanity, without criminals and with out war..." That's what 99% (maybe 100%) of Scientologist really believe and are working for.

Scientology volunteer ministers working for free!

It is a part of Scientology's public relations strategy to depict itself as having qualities that the general public finds favorable. Perhaps, since our culture values charity, Scientology portrays itself as a charitable organization. But this would be misleading. LRH wrote, "Charity is charity. It benefits the donor, giving him a sense of superiority and status. It is a liability to the receiver but he accepts it as he must and vows (if he has any pride) to cease being poor and get to work."(7)

LRH had very strong ideas about the exchange of goods and services. To get something for nothing or to give something for nothing would be called "out-exchange." An out-exchange transaction is unethical in the Scientology paradigm.

"The SURVIVAL of any group depends utterly upon things like PRODUCTION and EXCHANGE. That is the way the universe runs. When these factors are not competently handled the group is in poverty or vanishes," wrote LRH.(8)

Hence the kind of love Scientologist feel for humanity is a sort of tough love. The only philosophy I've encountered with a similar flavor to Scientology in the area of distribution of wealth and charity is Objectivism, the Ayn Rand philosophy. I got t

his general feeling that, in the view of the Scientology community, the poor should pull themselves up by he bootstraps.

In the Scientology community, the homeless, mentally ill and chronically ill are labeled "degraded beings." (9) Such unfortunate people are not seen as prestigious in any culture, but the label "degraded beings" is clearly derogatory.

LRH's views on helping the less fortunate extend past opinions on charity and venture into the realm of taxation and governance. "Not everyone realizes how socialism penalizes an up statistic. Take health taxes. If an average man adds up what he pays the government, he will find his visits to the medico are very expensive. The one who benefits is the chronically ill, whose way is paid by the healthy. So the chronically ill (down statistic) are rewarded with care paid for by penalties on the healthy (up statistic)." (10) What is implied here is that the chronically ill are somehow being lazy and not pulling their weight which lends to the unsympathetic view of the chronically ill which exist in the Scientology community. This might seem as a paradox, but a wider understanding of Scientology provides context: quoting LRH, "Nobody else can do anything to you but you... You can do something to you, but it requires your postulate, your agreement, and your disagreement before anything can happen to you. People have to agree to be ill, they agree to be stupid, they have to agree to be in mystery."(11) In other

words, if you are chronically ill, or a degraded being, it is ultimately your own fault. Scientology is very big on accountability.

Even if the charitable fronts of Scientology exist for the sole purpose of providing good PR and creating a potential prostilatisyzing pool by making Scientology appear to be charitable, this is ultimately trivial deception in the mind of the true believer of Scientology. What ever the true motives of LRH might have been, the congregants of his Church espouse real humanitarian convictions. The seeming contradictions of Scientology's charitable outreach verse LRH's austere views on charity can be justified by the rationalization that Scientologist believe Scientology will ultimately help with all problems. So to provide good PR or to create an interest in Scientology, in the long run, benefits humanity much more than mundane charity.

While I was on staff, it was my understanding that the degraded beings would literally be one of the last people on earth to be helped. The strategy was to further empower the most capable (who just happened to be the most wealthy) first and then work down to towards the lower strata of society; working from the top down. The ultimate goal of the Church of Scientology was to disseminate Scientology to everyone on Earth – rich folks and celebrates first; degraded beings and suppressive people last. So, I conceived that some time in the distant future, perhaps next lifetime, degraded beings would get "rehabilitation" and processing from Scientology.(12)

Eventually, Scientology would succeed in ending war, crime and insanity. To play on a modern proverb, the Scientology position is: "Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Give him Scientology and you give him super-natural god-like powers for the rest of eternity."

Footnotes:

1. L. Ron Hubbard, A New Slant on Life (Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1990) What is Greatness

2.HCO PL 1 March 1965 ETHICS, SUPPRESSIVE ACTS, SUPPRESSION OF SCIENTOLOGY AND SCIENTOLOGIST

3. L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology 0-8, The Book of Basics (Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1989) A Description of Scientology and L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology: Fundamentals of Thought (Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1997) The Aims of Scientology

4. Ibid

5. L. Ron Hubbard, Introduction to Scientology Ethics (Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1989) Ethics, Justice and the Dynamics

6. Ibid

7. L. Ron Hubbard, Introduction to Scientology Ethics (Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1989

) Rewards and Penalties, also HCO PL 6 March 1966 REWARDS AND PENALTIES, HOW TO HANDLE PERSONNEL AND ETHICS MATTERS)

8. HCO PL 1 Sept. 1973, ADMIN KNOW-HOW No. 30 ADMINISTRATORS

9. For more information see HCO B 22 March 1967 ADMIN KNOW-HOW, ALTER-IS AND DEGRADED BEINGS

10. L. Ron Hubbard, Introduction to Scientology Ethics (Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1989) Rewards and Penalties, also HCO PL 6 March 1966 REWARDS AND PENALTIES, HOW TO HANDLE PERSONNEL AND ETHICS MATTERS

11. L. Ron Hubbard, A New Slant on Life (Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1990) What is the Basic Mystery

12.(While on staff I had several conversations on this subject and recall hearing in a taped LRH lecture, but I can't recall what the title of that lecture was)

During my year as a staff member in the Church of Scientology and the Sea Organization, I learned about attitude and how to look at things in life. While I see aspects of Scientology doctrine and technology as mind control and pseudo-science, the lessons on attitude are something I can almost thank LRH for.

David Miscavage the current big cheese of the Church of Scientology. See how productive and happy he looks? That's Scientology working!!!

Among other things Scientology is a lifestyle and an attitude. According to LRH, individuals created their own happiness by getting themselves interested in life.

LRH stated, "Well, the clue to happiness is being interested in life. People's happiness is as great as they create it. They will not experience happiness from any other quarter than their own generation. They will get the amount of happiness that they can generate."(1)

This worked for me. I applied the principle everyday, for free! Life became more interesting and happier. LRH had pointed out that the genesis of happiness was myself. The paragraph appeared to be factual and not just philosophical when taken against the backdrop of Scientology. This particular writing struck me as deeply profound. There was more.

LRH's two rules for happy living: "1. Be able to experience anything and 2. Cause only those things which others are able to experience easily.(2)" So maybe rule #2 was a rip off of Jesus' golden rule (do unto to others as you would have done unto you). Regardless it appealed to the sensibilities of human compassion. Rule #1 on the other hand was a serious tool for fortifying attitude. Tempering myself to psychologically withstand anything was an exercise of pure empowerment.

Scientology reinforced this idea with the concept of confront, that is facing problems. "It is a truism that one never solves anything by running away from it,"(3) taught LRH. He went further stating, "The handling of a problem seems to be simply the increase of ability to confront the problem, and when the problem can be totally confronted, it no longer exist. This is strange and miraculous."(4)

The concept of confront is huge in Scientology. The stated point of Scientology processing is to increase a person's ability to confront. In Scientology auditing a person confronts traumatic events of their past thus helping them to confront in the present. Also there are Scientology processes that allege to directly heighten a person's ability to confront problems in the present. Scientologists don't see themselves as a bunch of namby-pamby pantywaist dilettantes freighted by life; Scientologists handle the problems of life. The ideal is to confront and handle problems without blinking and without hesitation. In confronting a problem, ideally, a Scientologist would throw open the throttle full and feel the wind in his face. Full speed ahead – total confront! That's the LRH way!

LRH wrote, "Man's difficulties are a compound of his cowardices. To have difficulties in life, all it is to do is to start running away from the business of livingness. After that, problems of unsolvable magnitude are assured… The world is never bright to those who cannot confront it. Everything is a dull gray to a defeated army. The whole trick of somebody telling you ‘it's all bad over there' is contained in the fact that he is trying to keep you from confronting something and thus make you retreat from life."(5)

Pricilla Presley being audited on a Scientology process called False Purpose Rundown and feelin' great!!

There is a lot of power in such a willingness to confront and handle problems. While LRHs whole bit about difficulties being a direct result of a lack of ability to confront sounds like more metaphysical rambling, I see the spirit in which problems are taken on as an empowering aspect in the Scientology philosophy. It's unfortunate that Scientologists don't confront certain aspects of criticism of Scientology or even their own negative thoughts regarding Scientology (more on this in the section SELF CENSORSHIP AND ENTHETA).

The concept of confronting seems straightforward and obvious. I recall a conversation where I discussed the concept of "confront" with a friend while in high school.

"That's just common sense, really," he responded.

There was no come back for that. I wondered how "confront" could seem such a revelation to me and just common sense to him.

One possibility is the way in which Scientology appeals to the intellect by providing long winded and involved explanations for simple concepts. Then those explanations were fit into a comprehensive, cohesive philosophy/world view. Right or wrong, such comprehensive explanations would appeal to the analytically minded. Common sense ideas became brilliant revelations via involved explanations.

Paradoxically, in the Scientology worldview, one needs problems. LRH wrote, "Launched into total freedom (man) is purposeless and miserable."(6) Problems were things of interest and remember interest was essential to happiness. Scientology would help me, empowering me, so I wouldn't be overwhelmed by problems, instead allowing for more fun problems which I could approach with what LRH called the "spirit of play." As a Scientologist I believed life was a game.(7) There were parts of the games I didn't like, but that was part of the game. Seeing life as a game and then bringing to that game the spirit of play, a terrific sincerity and verve just as LRH extols (8) was quite a good feeling in itself.

LRH pointed out that the happier I was, the more I would see life as a game.(9) That seemed to ring true, as when I felt great I could really imagine that the whole point of life was to have fun, so likewise at my lower points, I could imagine that my mood had obscured the truth that life was a game.

On a practical level, viewing life as a game felt good. Perhaps seeing life as a game and my role as a player in that game took the gravity out of the pain and suffering in life. In other words, the belief that life was just a game served to minimize the severity of problems in the mind. Thus I didn't take life so seriously and was less anxious about troubles. Perhaps, such a paradigm awoke my spirit of adventure as well as psychologically enabling my desire to have fun in life.

The concept of "life as a game" is much more compelling when held as fact as opposed to a point of view or "way of seeing things." As a Scientologist I held "life as a game" as unwavering fact. Now I see the concept as a philosophical speculation and metaphysics. As a result, the concept has lost a lot of its power.

As I wrote earlier, the lessons on attitude are something I can almost thank LRH for. The reason that I can almost thank him instead of unconditionally thanking him is because LRH exploits the positive attitude of Scientologist. It is as if somebody taught you how to lift weights and eat right, so as to become stronger. Then when you were adequately fit, that same man turned around and put you to work doing heavy lifting as slave labor. Thus exploiting your strength for his own gain.

The human infrastructure of the Church of Scientology wouldn't last 5 minutes without all of the power of positive thinking stuff in Scientology. Staff members cope with long hours, horrible pay, no or poor medical benefits as well as a demanding workenvironment. In addition, Sea Org members cope with austere living conditions and the prospect of never being able to retire.

So while I do see some value to creating my own happiness and being willing to experience anything. I can also see that such a positive state of mind facilitated my enduring the comfortless conditions of Scientology staff life and the Sea Org.

Footnotes:

1.L. Ron Hubbard, A New Slant on Life (Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1990) Happiness and Interest

2.L. Ron Hubbard, A New Slant on Life (Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1990) Two Rules for Happy Living

3.L. Ron Hubbard, A New Slant on Life (Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1990) Confronting

4. Ibid

5. Ibid

6. L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology: Fundamentals of Thought (Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1997) The Reason Why

7. L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology 0-8, The Book of Basics (Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1989) The Prelogics and Scientology Axioms, Axioms of Scientology [1954] Axiom 48: Life is a game

8. L. Ron Hubbard, (Article) The Ability to Be

9. L. Ron Hubbard, The Problems of Work (Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1988) Life as a Game

Once a fellow staffer named Randy and I went to lunch at some fast food burger joint (I can't remember which). I put $2 into french fries for lunch.

As I was scooping up ketchup with the fries, I remember asking Randy, "So what would Ron (what Scientologist call L. Ron Hubbard) do if he were in our situation."
Randy soberly replied, "Produce, produce like mad."

The view of production is very black and white in Scientology. It is very well defined and clear-cut. The philosophy of Scientology very much connects production with goodness and lack of production with a degraded state of being. "The avoidance of work is one of the best indicators of a decayed state on the part of a personality," (1) assessed LRH.

While a staff member in St. Louis, I came to work early, doing Scientology course work in the morning and then worked a full day until about 10 pm. I can't say exactly why money was so scarce. We were paid a percentage of the church's gross income for the week, and not a fixed wage or salary. I know that some of the gross income was transferred up lines to the Sea Org to fund the efforts to expand Scientology world wide. A key problem through was that not enough people were coming into the church and paying to take services such as classes. There never seemed to be more than a few people at a time in the only Scientology classroom in the entire city of St. Louis.

Which seemed odd at the time. Scientology admin was supposed to be ground breaking and super effective. There are even Scientology front groups that promote Scientology admin and sell courses to businesses. When I joined staff, I inquired about the disparity. It was explained that the psychiatrists and the government where covertly working to sabotage the Church. Such a response is odd in itself as it is an excuse and a "reason" for failure. Scientology admin dictates against accepting excuses and being "reasonable."

Scientology admin dealt with Hubbard's ideas of how the Church should be run. Hubbard detailed grand schemes of how to run a church containing thousands of employees. He also enumerated the small details, right down to the mundane duties of taking papers out of an "in" basket and placing them in the "out" basket when done with them. (There is also a "pending" basket for appropriate papers.)(2) Thus there was a lot of ground to be covered in Scientology admin.

There were ten encyclopedia size volumes written by Hubbard explicitly about scientology admin. The volumes were filled with HCOPLs (Hubbard Communication Office policy letters) written by LRH. Most of the HCOPLs in those volumes covered mind blowingly boring details like staffing, staff meetings, staff training and job descriptions, etc. Perusing through the HCOPLs today, some seem trivial, some drivel and some just common sense. In some ways it is like reading a washing machine instruction manual that gets ideological at points.

At the time, genuinely impressed by Hubbard's prolific writings, I was in awe that he had established an organization with policies for everything. In my youth it seemed the policies were so genius that I had problems grasping them. Now I realize that I was quite intelligent and that the writings were difficult to wrap my head around as they were filled with arbitrary rambling, irrelevant information and their connection to each other was disjointed and random.

Flag Processing Completions, 1976 - 2004. While this graph was created by critics of Scientology at truthaboutscientology.com, it is not unlike graphs Scientologist would create to measure there own progress.

Scientology admin is, in reality, over simplified business administration theory. It consist mostly of assigning accountability, monitoring production and an over simplified statistical analysis. Every staff member is given responsibility of an area of production and held accountable for that area. Progress is monitored by charting indicators of production over a given period of time. These indicators are graphed so as to create a statistical trend. If the statistical trend goes up (called up stat) that's good. If the trend moves down or stays level (called down stat), that's bad. Lastly, the administrator does not get "reasonable" about down statistics. This means not accepting excuses for an employee being down stat.(3)

For instance: a staff member is given the job of stuffing envelopes. He would record the number of envelopes stuffed per shift. This is his indicator of production or stat. He would then chart out his progress by graphing his stat on a piece of graph paper. At the end of the week, if the stat is trending up, he is to be commended. If it is trending down, he is to catch hell.

LRH wrote, "Reward the up statistic and damn the down and we'll all make out"(4)

LRH admonished a "reasonable" attitude for down stats. "Don't get reasonable about down statistics. They are down because they are down,"(5) wrote LRH. There are no excuses for a down statistic. Illness and accidents are not excuses, nor is the poor public image of Scientology. The fact that Scientology cost an arm and a leg is certainly not an excuse. A down statistic due to emotional distress on the job is called "case on post" and is a punishable offence let alone inexcusable.(6) To accept any excuse would exemplify being "reasonable."

LRH wrote, "Reasonableness is suppressive since it lets oppression continue without action being taken.

"Suppressive reasonableness is a common trait. It comes from the INABILITY TO CONFRONT EVIL."(7)

In the Sea Org this somehow translates into a lot of yelling and threats from superiors to subordinates who were down stat. Yelling and cursing were not at all uncommon. Depending on the circumstances it might happen every day. At times yelling could climax into hysterical ranting and cursing complete with threats of heavy ethics. Heavy ethics might mean a sentence in the Scientology's rehabilitation program that can last for years or it might take the form of being declared a "Suppressive Person" meaning excommunication from the Scientology community including any and all family members or friends in the community.

Although I've never read a policy letter extolling administrators to yell hysterically and threaten their subordinates, somehow this "management style" seems constant throughout the Sea Org. From what I've read it appears to be a vestige of LRH's "management style."

I found accountability was motivating. It was very simple as well as being an effective approach to production. After all, that's a lot like life. Life doesn't reward you for failure and doesn't let you off the hook for excuses.

"Only the tigers survive," asserted LRH.(8)

However, it was this kind of corporate philosophy that made the Church of Scientology such an tiring place to work. I could give a great effort, pull out all the stops and do everything to "make it go right" and still be down stat. And I always could think of excuses; even valid excuses. Yet I dared not utter them. For some reason, very few people were interested in Scientology. But I couldn't very well say that my stats were down because Scientology classes were too expensive and few people were willing to mortgage their house to afford enrollment. At the time, I got "reasonable" with Scientology's failure and justified it to myself by buying into LRH's excuse. I actually believed that the psychiatrists and governments were engaged in a conspiracy to usurp and undermine Scientology. To my mind, suppressive elements had to be hindering the Scientology movement.

I signed a billion year contract for the Sea Org and took the oath to work for the benefit of humanity. Every waking moment, I was earnest in fulfilling that commitment. The pay was crap and the benefits were poor or non-existent. I never had free time or days off. The living conditions were Spartan at best and squalid at worst. The last thing I needed was to be given a hard time for giving a honest effort. Well, that's life in the Sea Org for you.

After a year on staff, I walked out of the Sea Org in the middle of the night. Even while undertaking this task of self-empowerment, somehow I believed it was due to my shortcomings. In my mind I had failed, I accepted accountability and I didn't get reasonable with myself.

Footnotes:

1.L. Ron Hubbard, A New Slant on Life (Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1990) Past, Present and Future

2.HCO PL 30 March 1966 THE THREE BASKET SYSTEM

3.For more information see L. Ron Hubbard, Introduction to Scientology Ethics (Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1989) The Ethics Condition

4.L. Ron Hubbard, Introduction to Scientology Ethics (Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1989) Rewards and Penalties, also HCO PL 6 March 1966 REWARDS AND PENALTIES, HOW TO HANDLE PERSONNEL AND ETHICS MATTERS

5. Ibid

6. L. Ron Hubbard, Introduction to Scientology Ethics (Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1989), Offenses and Penalizes and also HCO PL 7 March 1965 OFFENSES & PENALTIES

7. HCO PL 7 December 1969 Issue II THE ETHICS OFFICER, HIS CHARACTER

8.HCO PL7 February 1965R KEEPING SCIENTOLOGY WORKING

LRH and Scientologist prefer the extroverted outlook to the introverted. That is Scientologist prefer to be outgoing, interested in the outside world as opposed to being reflective, meditative and inward looking.

Scientology's Training Routine 0 demonstrated by ex-Scientologists Stacy Brooks and Jesse Prince. This routine consist of sitting across from the coach with eyes open for hours while not moving or twitching for about 2 hours. Critics charge this routine induces a trance like state, and indoctrinates Scientologist into a state where they are more easily controlled and more willing to control others.

LRH created exercises meant, in part, to extrovert attention. In doing so the subject would feel better, more energetic and happier. The simplest of these was a process called "Talk a Walk." LRH himself called it laughable in its simplicity.

LRH explains, "Now here is a process known as ‘Take a Walk.' This process is very easy to perform. When one feels tired on finishing his work, no matter if the thought of doing so is almost all that he can tolerate without falling through the floor, he should go out and walk around the block until he feels rested. In short, he should walk around the block and look at things until he sees the things he is walking near. It does not matter how many times he walked around the block, he should walk around the block until he feels better."(1)

This was proffered as a solution for exhaustion and negative emotion by way of creating a state of extroversion in the subject. Again LRH provided a metaphysical, pseudo-scientific sounding explanation for how this works which I won't waste time with.

"Take a walk" is one of those Scientology processes that works. I can only speculate as to how. The simplest explanation is that it diverts attention away from a negative internal dialog. In short, in "Taking a Walk," you are getting your mind off your problems and taking time to relax. Attention is refocused on looking at things while walking around the block. Also, I think the physical stimulation of walking helps by increasing the metabolism. The increased blood flow can better nourish the brain and the body, creating a heightened alertness.

"Take a Walk" isn't going to brainwash you. It's a neat exercise really. But if you believe LRH's metaphysical explanations for how "Take a Walk" works, then that lends credibility to the whole Scientology metaphysical model. Such credibility, in my opinion, would be misplaced. Also, there is something to be said for introversion. I think that an introspection of thought and emotion in yourself can be healthy in measure.

LRH wrote, "This mechanism of ‘look in to yourself' is the aberated activity of the other fellow trying to make you pull back your space, your outflow, your anchor points. If you'll make nothing of yourself, he doesn't have to."(2) So here LRH equates "looking into yourself" with "making nothing of yourself." I find Scientology's diminishment of introversion and premium on extroversion suspect, as it tends to take away from meaningful self-reflection. Such a practice might eventually psychologically alienate someone from them self. I don't know how this can be mentally healthy. Especially considering the Scientology practice of "writing up overts and with holds." An overt is a transgression against others; Scientology's version of a sin. A withhold is an overt which is hidden, not divulged and not spoken about. LRH wrote that withholds get in the way of making gains in Scientology. Thus to make gains in Scientology the Scientologist must "write up" overts and withholds. The practice consist of remember offenses and mistreatment against others, writing down the offenses and handing the paper over to Scientology officials. The Scientologist might even have to review and testify to the write up while attached to an e-meter, which works like a lie detector. The entire practice of writing up overts and withholds seems to be nothing but introversion. Moreover it is introversion on the most negative and least desirable aspects of the self.(3)

The focusing, directing and controlling of attention is central to all Scientology processes. Actually, it all takes place between the ears.

"The Creation of Human Ability" by L. Ron Hubbard. The definitive book to read if you want to be "three feet back of your head."

I was taught a process called Opening Procedure 8-C or body control. This was commonly referred to as 8-C. In this process, commands were given to a subject such as "Look at that wall," "Walk over to that wall," "Touch that wall," "Look at that chair," and so on. The practitioner would wait until each command was complied with before saying "Thank you," and moving on to the next command. This could easily go on for over 10 minutes. As explained by LRH, the exercise was meant to bring the subject into communication with his surroundings thus benefitting his emotional state. But LRH's explanation of how 8-C works is again metaphysics.(4)

I always felt more interested in the world after doing an 8-C or doing the process of "Take a Walk." I felt happier and more energetic. But as I've mentioned before, Scientologist feel all the right feelings for all the wrong reasons.

While I am not trained in mental health sciences, it appears to me that, Opening Procedure 8-C produces a state of heightened suggestibility in the subject through a series of hypnosis-like techniques. While there is much debate on the subject of hypnosis itself, 8-C resembles hypnosis in that it.

• Focuses attention. Instead of a using a swinging watch or whirling disc, attention is focused on walls, chairs, tables or any such item.

• Uses repetitive suggestion to open the mind psychologically. This puts the subject into a state of mind where it is easier to just following instructions without mentally challenging the suggestion. Blindly following repetitive commands, in the process of 8-C for 10 minutes or more, will do that. A "hyper-suggestibility theory" of hypnosis provides that by controlling the attention of the subject, the words of the hypnotist eventually take over the inner voice of the subject.

• Builds on expectation created by Scientology course work. Or expectation could be created by the practitioner stating at the beginning of the procedure how the subject should feel by the end of the procedure. These expectations become the suggestions (a la "The Power of Suggestion") that the subject responds and conforms to.

• Builds rapport between the subject and practitioner which is important to increasing suggestibility.

• Increases suggestibility by getting the subject more relaxed. Although the subject is walking around the room in following suggestions, this is still a relaxed state of mind.

Other Scientology processes and routines are heavy on hypnotic like states from what I've read about them. I can see how the 8-C increased suggestibility and further opened my consciousness to Scientology.

Footnotes:

1. L. Ron Hubbard, The Problems of Work (Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1988) Exhaustion

2. Taped Lecture, L. Ron Hubbard, Man's Relentless Search Lecture 5610C05 1956

3. HCO PL 5 April 1965 Issue II ACADEMIES RELATION TO HCO JUSTICE STUDENT TRAINING, THE NO-CASE-GAIN STUDENT

4. L Ron Hubbard, The Phoenix Lectures (Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1982) Opening Procedure of 8-C

MIND OVER MATTER

All Scientology principles and concepts are based on and tied into an extensive and intricate metaphysical model or cosmology. This Scientology cosmology would best be classified, I think, as a kind of new age mysticism. It incorporates belief in reincarnation, the supernatural potential of the mind, collective consciousness and the conviction that mind can come to total comprehension of the universe. While Scientology uses different terms to explain its presumptions and does not classify itself as new age mysticism, the similarities remain. This metaphysical model rationalizes all Scientology processes and claims.

At the core of the Scientology metaphysical model is the idea of mind over matter. LRH exploits this concept to lend credibility to the idea that supernatural powers are innate to the spirit and can be harnessed. "Mind over matter" is not a Scientology phrase. Scientology uses terms like the "power of the positive postulate," "total ARC," "Tone 40" or "causative thinkingness."

Cover art for "Scientology 8-80" by L. Ron Hubbard. The mystery behind this image is revealed at higher levels of Scientology training.

In Scientology cosmology, theta (collective consciousness) created the universe 76 trillion years ago. As our thetan (individual consciousness) is part of theta (the collective consciousness), we are ultimately capable of creating, changing and stopping the universe with thought. Scientology claims to offer processes to restore that capability; for a price.

Addressing the nature of reality, LRH stated, "Lets look at this very carefully - at what reality is. Reality is a postulated reality..."(1)

Also

"The reason we have space, energy, time, objects is that life (theta) has agreed upon certain things, and this agreement has resulted in a solidification."(2)

In Scientology cosmology, theta (the collective consciousness) ranks over the MEST universe (the physical universe - acronym for Matter, Energy, Space and Time). "Considerations take rank over the mechanics of space, energy, and time"(3)

Scientology is similar to new age thought; they both teach that thoughts, considerations or postulates, as LRH called them, have the power to shape the material universe. LRH stated, "Nobody else can do anything to you but you... You can do something to you, but it requires your postulate, your agreement, and your disagreement before anything can happen to you. People have to agree to be ill, they agree to be stupid, they have to agree to be in mystery."(4)

LRH took the concept well beyond what even contemporary New Age believers might consider possible. As theta created the MEST universe, it could come to total understanding of the universe and thus control of the universe,(5) LRH offers a taste of what is possible in his statement,

"...your beingness is so tremendous that the force and power of this small can actually burn down mountains. If it couldn't why do they go to so much trouble to fix you so you can't."(6)

This paradigm felt good to me when all was well, but had the capacity to be patronizing when things went wrong. When I got a cold I would ask myself "How did I agree to get sick?" as I sucked on cough drops and inhaled on a cigarette.

Consciousness (theta) itself is of primary importance in Scientology. Ultimately consciousness (theta) has the power to alter or change the universe on its own power; mind over matter. This is the metaphysical underpinning behind all Scientology processes that deal with attention: directing attention, focusing attention, controlling attention of the Scientologist.. All Scientology processes are exercises in attention and affect the mind. The rationale LRH gives for this is that by clearing consciousness of negative influences or by putting conscious in better communication with the universe, the power of consciousness will strengthen and achievement of mind over matter power will be one step closer. But the real reason Scientology places such an emphasis on consciousness is because it is an all out effort to alter the mental paradigm of the Scientologist in a way that seemingly validates itself. Thus, Scientology is more "mind over mind" than "mind over matter." Scientology is a super charged endeavor to mentally prove to yourself something that you want to believe.

In my opinion postulates, if applied to your own attitude can have a seemingly practical application, i.e. postulating that you are happy. I can get this to work every once in a while.

As much as I would like to believe that my beingness is so tremendous that the force and power of this small can actually burn down mountains, I'll look toward empirical sources for proof and not my own imagination.

Footnotes:

1. L Ron Hubbard, The Phoenix Lectures (Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1982) Isness

2.L Ron Hubbard, The Phoenix Lectures (Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1982) Considerations, Mechanics and Theory

3. Ibid

4.L. Ron Hubbard, A New Slant on Life (Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1990) What is the Basic Mystery

5. L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology 0-8, The Book of Basics (Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1989) The Prelogics and Scientology Axioms, Axioms of Scientology [1954] number 23

6. Taped Lecture, L. Ron Hubbard, Early Methods of Dealing with People, Entitles Lecture 5205C20

"MAKE IT GO RIGHT" AND TONE 40 INTENTION

According to LRH, "THE SUPREME TEST OF A THETAN IS HIS ABILITY TO MAKE THINGS GO RIGHT."(1) All Scientologist know this quote. Often Scientology management would respond to protest of seemingly impossible demands with the phase, "Make it go right." Entire list of unreasonable demands would be rationalized with the phase, "Make it go right."

The Scientology vessel Freewinds a 440-foot ship based in the Caribbean. Wealthy or debt laden Scientologist go to the Freewinds for vacations and to learn to make it go right! The highest level of Scientology training, called OT 8, is available exclusively on the Freewinds.

LRH continues, "This of course is a rather savage and brutal datum for it thrust aside all justification, reasonableness, excuses and even does not take into account the size or obstacles of the opposition."

Full appreciation the concept of "Make it go right" is absolutely integral to an understanding of the Scientology paradigm. "Make it go right," means to circumvent, overcome or destroy all obstacles to success.

Qualities like patience, humility and compromise might be virtues in other metaphysical philosophies, but in Scientology those concepts are worthless trash. The Scientologist optimally has a sense of enthusiasm in whatever they're doing, a very high self-image and unshakable resolve to win whatever "game" they are playing.

"Make it go right," means (in my words) going full bore, all out, no holds barred, using every possible resource and attacking the problem from every possible angle as hard and heavy as supernaturally possible. Given certainty of their convictions, a Scientologist pulls out all the stops and works up every ounce of mental and physical power to "Make it go right."

When I joined the Church of Scientology staff, I learned that staff members were constantly plagued by financial difficulties. We didn't make a lot of money and paying for food and rent could be tricky. Just getting by in the Scientology staff Bohemian lifestyle became an exercise in "Make it go right." "Making it go right" might have meant doing some odd jobs on our day off, scraping money up form some hence un-thought of source or engaging in some uncompromisingly austere level of thrift. Of course, we attempted to "make it go right" in efforts to produce wealth and conditions of affluence, but it did not go right in those cases. We would "make it go right" however when it came to just scrapping by, teetering on the edge of disaster and not starving to death. And that was more than enough to give validity to the idea of "make it go right." Some times just scrapping together enough money to put some gas in my car could produce some feeling of pride in that I had passed the "supreme test" and "made it go right."

While I never disparaged myself as a Scientologist, I can see now that by the standard of "make it go right," I was a slug. It was not "going right" back then. My present paradigm is more practical. I account for extenuating circumstances and lack of resources.

LRH would disagree with being reasonable, "People who explain how wrong it is all going and who have reasons why and WHO AREN'T PUTTING IT RIGHT are the real crazy people in the universe. The only ones crazier than they are the ones who are quite happy to have everything fail and go wrong with no protest from them. And the only ones even worse are those who work endlessly to make things go wrong and prevent anything from going right and oppose all effort instinctively."

The concept of "might it go right" has no provisions for difficulties and no room for excuses. Either you make it go right or you don't. "Make it go right" has metaphysical significance. It is a test of mind over matter. The only difference between "Make it go right" and failure, in the mind of a Scientologist, is intention. The level of intention needed to guarantee success is called "Tone 40."

A phrase similar in meaning and metaphysical connotation to "Make it go right" was "Be tone 40." A glance at Scientology's Tone Scale in Full identifies tone 40 as the highest level a spiritual being can reach and tone -40 as the lowest.

The tone scale shows the potential heights to which a thetan can rise or sink. Tone is most strongly associated with emotion. The higher the tone the happier the emotion. But tone is also tied to ability, power and knowledge. A thetan at tone 40 would be all-powerful, all knowing and capable of god like powers of creation.

Image from a Scientology poster "Illustrated Tone Scale in Full" depicting Tone 40, Serenity of Beingness. This is the highest possible tone for a thetan (spirit being). A being at tone 40 does not need a body to operate in the universe.

The human range of the tone scale is as low as zero (body death: the point at which a thetan can no longer keep a human body alive) and as high as 4 (enthusiasm). There are 36 degrees from tone 4 (enthusiasm) to tone 40 (serenity of beingness) available to a thetan where the thetan does not need a body to interact with the universe.(2) This suggests quite a potential to be happier than happy. If you can imagine that the 4 degrees of the tone scale are the difference from death to enthusiasm, then tone 40 must feel 10 times more enthusiastic than enthusiasm.

While it is safe to assume that no Scientologist ever reached tone 40, they could act with tone 40 intention. That means they could focus all their concentration, energy and will power to the task at hand. That is total intention and focus - holding nothing back.(3)

Naturally, my level of intention falls quite short of literal tone 40. If I had actually been tone 40, my problems would be solved immediately as if by magic through the power of my postulate.

Once a Scientologist and I were trying to scrounge up some money to go out on the town. We were completely broke.

"I'll just call my bank to see it I can get any money out of there.," I explained, picking up the phone. I was hoping that between my savings and checking accounts I had $20. If that was the case I could transfer the money into my checking account and have the minimum balance for an ATM withdrawal.

Calling the bank, I was told I had ample money in my account. "I've got $500 in my account!" I told my friend, bewildered.

Well, he was quite impressed with my tone 40 ability to "Make it go right!" He was quite enthused and expressed that I had postulated that money into being. At that time, I was no longer a Scientologist myself and tried to explain that another friend, who was selling my motorcycle for me, must have deposited the money without telling me. Still my Scientologist friend felt that I had somehow supernaturally "made it go right." Perhaps he attributed it to my Sea Org training. Part of me was being sensitive to his Scientology inclinations and another part of me was fine with him thinking I had supernatural powers. So I pressed the issue no further.

Nevertheless, to focus every last bit of concentration and will power toward a goal is indeed an act of self-empowerment. Additionally, the belief that levels of intention existed far outstripping anything possible encouraged me to focus ever more intensely. If the level of intention was unlimited, then there was no reason to stop increasing intention.

The concepts of "make it go right" and "Tone 40" suggest all problems can be solved. The implication is integral with the principle of "make it go right," and "Tone 40." That implication is consistent with in the new age "mind over matter" assumptions of the Scientology paradigm. By being "certain" and having knowingness of the principles, I mentally trained myself that all problems had accessible solutions and acted on that assumption automatically. This mode of thinking is very similar to the new age concept of "you create your own reality," but the Scientology application brings much more tenacity and focus.

Granted, the persistence and resourcefulness of Scientologist, in the application of the metaphysical principles of "Make it go right" and "Tone 40," can be impressive. But often times, it can be much less than impressive, as Scientologists are only human. For reasons of greed or sadism or both, LRH omitted to tell Scientologist that some obstacles can't be knocked down and a man or woman has a finite level of energy. Thus, the real life application of "Make it go right" and "Tone 40 intention" is infinitely more human than super-human.

Footnotes:

1. HCO PL 19 Aug, 1967 THE SUPREME TEST

2. L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology 0-8, The Book of Basics (Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1989) Scales, The Tone Scale in Full [1978]

3. Scientology Communication Course, Training Routine 8: Tone 40 on objects

SELF-CENSORSHIP AND ENTHETA

Here is the juxtaposition of the Scientology terms theta and entheta:

It is the conflation of the word theta:

Life = Positive Thought

and entheta:

Agitated Life = Negative Thought

which I find relevant here. The reason is that life is being equated with positive thought and life which is agitated is equated to negative thought.

Tom Cruise refuses to be a victim and confronts Merchant of Chaos Matt Lauer on the dangers of psychiatry and psychotic drugs; thus delivering a very theta message.

Technically, theta is not thought. Theta just is. The only capability of theta is thought. And thought can only come from theta. As positive thought helps theta, the two concepts share a word.

As this integral connection was part and parcel of the Scientology paradigm, I equated life with positive thought. Say what you will about the power of positive thought, but to equate positive thought with life itself was, in my case, to give unprecedented authority to keeping my thoughts happy, loving and full of sweetness and light. I was an actual positive thought dynamo. Well, at least I tried to be.

I found that there was more to being happy than just deciding to be happy, it also entailed deciding not to think entheta or expose myself to entheta influences. I decided I would live a life of fun and adventure and I didn't want any rain on my parade. I learned to block out sources of entheta.

News reports were a key source of entheta. LRH refered to journalist as Mechants of Choas. They made their living through sensationalist headlines and spreading bad news.

LRH wrote, "For instance, we speak loosely of ‘good press.' Is there any such thing today? Look over a newspaper. Is there anything good on the front page? Rather, there is murder and sudden death, disagreement and catastrophe. And even that, bad as it is, is sensationalized to make it seem worse.

"This is the cold blooded manufacture of a ‘dangerous environment.' People do not need this news; and if they did, they need the facts not the upset. But if you hit a person hard enough, he can be made to give up money. That's the basic formula of extortion. That's the way papers are sold. The impact makes them stick.

"A paper has to have chaos and confusion. A ‘news story' has to have ‘conflict,' they say. So there is no good press. There is only bad press about everything. To yearn for ‘good press' is foolhardy in a society where the Merchants of Chaos reign."(2)

Of course, members of the Sea Org very rarely had time to watch television and when we did we were usually watching movies on video cassette. We wouldn't have wanted to see the evening news even if given the chance after taking to heart what LRH had written about the Merchants of Chaos. All that was to be seen on television and read in newspapers was bad news and maybe even negative statements about Scientology, which we wouldn't have believed anyway and wouldn't subject ourselves to them.(3)

Image from a Scientology poster "Illustrated Tone Scale in Full" depicting Tone .1 , victim. Being a victim is not okay. At tone 0 is death and from there the scale continues to tone -40; negative emotions for a thetan (spirit being) in which the thetan is incapable of controlling a body, yet can still cause considerable havoc.

The ways of the world were the ways of the world, I thought to myself and Scientology was the only movement that would bring sanity and peace to the planet. I didn't focus on world events or politics, I focused my efforts on Scientology. Scientology would make the world a better place, I told myself. Not worrying or caring about who shot who and which country was at war with what ever country did make my life that much easier and happier.

In keeping my thoughts theta, I censored the entheta thoughts and blatantly avoided the influences that might disturb me. This meant news reports and even vicious gossip. I was a pretty good thought policeman for my own mind. I wanted to avoid those influences. So I policed myself.

That's what a lot of people outside of Church of Scientology don't understand; I wasn't brain washed into believing what I believed. I consciously filtered my own thoughts and influences in a way which was consistent with the writings of LRH.

Honestly, I can't draw an appropriate line between positive thinking and negative thinking or positive influences and negative influences. I imagine they both have their place. I am a big on the power of positive thinking. But that power is not a super power. While I admit that I felt better as a Scientologist it is also true I wasn't so well informed. What I do know for sure is when it comes to self censor ship of criticism of Scientology, ignorance is not bliss.

Footnotes:

1. L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology 0-8, The Book of Basics (Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1989) The Prelogics and Scientology Axioms, Axioms of Scientology [1954]

2. L. Ron Hubbard, A New Slant on Life (Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1990) The True Story of Scientology

3. L. Ron Hubbard, Introduction to Scientology Ethics (Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1989) Disconnection

THE SCIENTOLOGY IDEAL

In the Scientology paradigm the good guys are the social personalities and the bad guys are the anti-social personalities. In the book "Introduction to Scientology Ethics," there are two chapters outlining the motives and characteristics of these two types of people. I have taken from these two chapter and drawn from my personal experience in the Scientology community to create lists defining the Scientology Ideal and its negative counterpart. For the sake of brevity here, let's just categorize some characteristics and attributes of the two types of personalities...

Before you say that this is Orwellian "Newspeak" from the book "1984," let me say you're not the first to make that observation. LRH is clearly conflating a person that benefits from Scientology with a "nice to meet you" kinda character and likewise a person who gets no gain from Scientology with a " cold blooded, sadistic jerk" kinda guy.(1)

L Ron Hubbard in his Sea Org uniform seated next to his daughter, Diane Hubbard. Hubbard claimed many titles in his life including Admiral, Executive Director and "The Source."

As a Scientologist, I looked to the social personality as a model for my behavior. The social personality is the a large part of the Scientology ideal. I fancied myself a fun, positive person who liked everyone and was well liked in turn. I became that person in many respects. Inside and out, I strove to emulate the social personality, not because I didn't want to be confused with the anti-social/ suppressive personality, but because I believed that the social personality was saner and happier. I wasn't a whiner, I didn't complain and didn't dwell on negative thoughts. I kept my thoughts theta and created my own interest and happiness.

The quintessential Scientology ideal was, of course, LRH. Who styled himself an adventurous humanitarian, scholar and artist. The message of Scientology is very theta and LRH happened to be the "source" of Scientology. According to LRH, man has had no better friend than LRH. In fact LRH is so great in the Scientology paradigm, that he is nearly worshiped by Scientologist.

Other Scientology ideals, I felt, were Johnny Goodboy, the hero of Battlefield Earth and Jettero Heller, the hero of the Mission Earth series. Currently, Tom Cruise is the poster boy/ideal that Scientology presents to the media. It is interesting to note that Johnny Goodboy, Jettero Heller and LRH, as he depicted himself, are all fictional characters and never actually existed. Sort of like the John Galt of Ayn Rand's Objectivism. The front that Tom Cruise puts to the media is, understandably, most likely just PR hype.

So next time you are in a jam, try asking yourself, "What would Johnny Goodboy do?"

In pursuing the Scientology ideal I took the further step to observe the Scientology "Code of Honor" as well as I could. Points of the code included, "Never disparage yourself or minimize your strength or power," "Never need praise approval or sympathy," and "Never regret yesterday. Life is in you today and you make your tomorrow."(2)

Not reaching this "ideal" I would be left to feel inadequate in silence. There are no shoulders to cry on in the world of Scientology. Expressions of negative emotions were frowned on. The Scientologist ideal would never express negative emotion, much less feel it.(3)

Battlefield Earth hero Johnny Goodboy possesses traits of intelligence, courage, ability and the will to kick the butts of the aliens who invaded Earth. Watch out John Travolta!

This created a dual self-image where I felt over-confident towards the real world and insecure in the Scientology world. My inflated self-confidence toward the real world led to some embarrassment as well as misconceptions. On the other hand, in the Scientology world, I was insecure. During my employment in Church staff and the Sea Org, my time spent in the Scientology world, I was constantly worried about being down stat or otherwise not measuring up.

Aspiring to a ideal can be good; even an impossible, unattainable ideal. Barring the implied links between the social personality and how that person reacts to Scientology, I feel the social personality is a benign ideal. But the development of a ideal is a personal affair. Creating an ideal is making a statement that you want to be different than you are now. And that's fine but I would caution against letting anyone else define that difference.

In the following except from Brian Ambry's Critique on Scientology, "The Bridge to Total Freedom," Ambry explains how identity can be washed away and recreated by Scientology. I believe what Ambry refers to as the "Rondroid," is the same as what I call the "Scientology Ideal."

"Even pampered celebrities and wealthy ‘paying public,' while being spared the crude methods designed to degrade and dominate... are yet subject to the more subtle ‘Hidden Bridge.'

"Auditing, when utilizing the fundamental process of abreaction, can remove stale ‘programming.' This is undesirable unconscious programming. The idea, it would seem, is to free the person to do his own programming, to be the boss of his own mind.

"What isn't realized is that, while the old programs are being deleted, and a new Rondroid Program is being inserted. This is a gradual affair. One agrees, then agrees to a little bit more, then a little more, and so on.

"For example:

"Joe realizes through auditing that he has been in his father's ‘valence' (identity) all these years. Now he is free of it and can be himself. What a relief! He had unconsciously adopted his fathers mannerisms, habits, prejudices and general outlook on life. And since his dad happened to be an anti-Semitic hypochondriac who never knew what to do with his hands and was certain that all women were no good, it's hard to argue that freeing himself of these traits is somehow bad.

"What Joe doesn't realize is that the Church of Scientology has a new ‘valence,' a new identity, new habits, prejudices, and outlook waiting for him. And they are those which, for all practical purposes, will be adopted by him just as unwittingly as were his father's characteristics.

"So he gradually loses his old enforcements and inhibitions, only to have them gradually replaced by a collection of official Church of Scientology enforcements and inhibitions.

"He was told, initially, that he could become the master of his own universe; but as it ends up, he finds himself swallowed up by the universe of the Church of Scientology. Typically, and his is the great tragedy, by the time the process is complete, he doesn't know the difference.

"This is the other Bridge, the Hidden Bridge, the hypnotic Bridge. The one that sneaks up on you bit by bit. It is the Bridge leading to Total Agreement and Total Compliance."(4)

Footnotes:

1. HCO PL 5 April 1965 HANDING THE SUPRESSIVE PERSON, THE BASIS OF INSANITY

2. L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology 0-8, The Book of Basics (Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1989) The Code of Honor [1952]

3. L. Ron Hubbard, Introduction to Scientology Ethics (Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1989) The Social Personality)

4. Taken from Bent Corydon, L. Ron Hubbard, Messiah or Madman? (Fort Lee, N.J.: Barricade Books, 1992)

THE HOPE FOR TOMORROW

Well, the promises of Scientology. I don't know where to start... I should have known better. I guess what Scientology sells is just as "pie in the sky" as the concept of eternal heavenly bliss of the Christian and Muslim faiths. Still LRH made some pretty outlandish claims. According to Scientology, thetans have innate supernatural abilities, which have been obscured by malicious forces. These powers can be regained through a series of therapeutic processes outlined in books such as "The Creation of Human Ability,"(1) in which a thetan regains the power and ability of his own considerations. Processes outlined in secret and copy written materials such as the OT (Operating Thetan) Levels further the thetans mastery of MEST (matter, energy, space and time).

LRH details some potential powers of the theta being. A thetan at the level of Operating Thetan (a relative not absolute term) does not need a body to communicate or work in the MEST universe. A thetan at this level of ability can exteriorize from the body at will without the body dying.(2)

In the book a "History of Man," LRH elaborates on the innate abilities of the thetan. "A theta being is capable of emitting a considerable electronic flow. This is... actually a creation of the motion which we now know was ‘electricity.' A theta being produces considerable voltage and amperage, enough to give somebody a very bad shock, to put out his eyes or cut him in half.(3)

"Thetans communicate by telepathy. They can move material objects by throwing an energy flow at them. They can travel at very high speeds. They are not bound by atmospheres or temperatures.

"Thetans can feel pain. He can be crippled or dismembered, but this requires force which would blow half a town off the map.

"Thetans live in the same time stream with the difference that they can alter concepts of time and get future or past at will - it is the thetan who is altering this concept, not the time that is changing."

While I was in the Scientology movement it was rumored that OTs had the ability to influence weather and had heightened levels of intuition. In addition to those powers listed by LRH and those rumored by my colleague; as a part of the Scientology auditing process, the subject gained a recall of their past lives. "Have You Lived Before This Life" by LRH(4) documents several cases of past lives ranging from the modern era to 76 trillion years ago.

Cover art for the book "Have You Lived Before this Life?" by L. Ron Hubbard. In case you were wondering, the answer is yes. In fact you might well have been a robot in a past life in a galaxy far beyond the moon!

While I was told discussions of past lives were discouraged, I did hear several first person accounts of recalled past lives. Now, most Scientologists have memories of past lives, but it is rare that Scientologist discuss them. Let me take this opportunity to note here that my colleagues seemed perfectly rational. You might visualize them as wearing those contraptions that make it appear as if an arrow had been shot threw their heads, but that wouldn't be an appropriate visualization. They were well spoken, rational and nonchalant in recollecting incidents from their past lives. Their accounts captivated me. I came to believe that I had a rich history, which had been forgotten. The prospect of remembering it was exciting.

At the time I heard the accounts of past lives, I had never heard of false memory syndrome. Now I know that in the right circumstances, false memories can be produced, false memories of this life or even previous lives. Psychologist have demonstrated the validity of false memory syndrome in controlled studies.(5)

I suspect the reason why LRH prohibited the discussion of past lives is that the past can be verified. History is a matter of record. Also past life accounts can be compared to each other. I suspect that if Scientologist were to attribute their personal whole track (past life) histories to a collective whole track history of the past 76 trillion years, then some inconsistencies would become apparent. Either past live recollections are inconsistent with provable history or conflict with other past life accounts. But this is just speculation on my part.

The beliefs in OT powers are far simpler to explain - wishful thinking. Its natural to want something more out of life. Its natural look for answers and its good to look up at the stars and ask, "What's my place in the universe?" Scientology is a manipulation of this healthy aspiration.

Between the thought that I could become supernaturally powerful in the future and the thought that I had a rich history dating back 76 trillion years that Scientology would help me remember, I felt elated. The exciting world of Scientology thrilled me with its promise of a glorious destiny. The joy of knowing what I had not seen knew no bounds.

Perhaps this was the true joy of creation, the real power of the positive postulate. While LRH promised happiness via supernatural means, the true source was simpler; the mind itself created this powerful joy out of interest in illusion. So maybe there were no OT Levels and no "Bridge to Total Freedom" - but the happiness of believing they really did exist was real. And the whole point of progressing up the "Bridge to Total Freedom" was to find happiness, ultimately to feel good.

The illusion of Scientology can drain Scientologist of their life and their efforts. Hundreds of thousands of dollars or decades spent in service to the Scientology movement are unreasonable prices for a "feel good" illusion. The illusion is a prison for the mind. The Scientologist's hope for tomorrow is anticipation for a tomorrow that will never arrive. Until one day the dream ends and the Scientologist finds himself back on in the real world, nothing more than human.

Footnotes:

1. L. Ron Hubbard, Creation of Human Ability (Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1989) A Summary of Scientology

2. L. Ron Hubbard, Creation of Human Ability (Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1989) SOP 8-C The Rehabilitation of the Human Spirit

3. L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology: A History of Man (Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1988) chapter 6

4. L. Ron Hubbard, Have You Lived Before This Life (Los Angeles: Bridge Publications, 1989)

5. See the wikipedia entry for "false memory" for more information and sources on this. Also see Carl Sagan, The Demon Haunted World, Science as a Candle in the Dark (New York: Random House, 1996) Hallucinations, for insight in to the psychology behind cases of purported alien abduction.

AFTERWORD: THE POWER OF BELIEF AS MAGIC

Scientology provides purpose, direction and a cohesive philosophy. Scientology lays down structure to life, gives guidelines for self fulfillment, provides for rules for social interaction and unveils the mysteries of the cosmos all in lengthy detail. It's a shame that all the structure, guidelines, rules and revelation that give the Scientologist purpose, lead in the direction of a dead end street. Of course, Scientologists have no way of knowing this until they get off the road. But all the while on the road they can feel the magic of Scientology.

The magic of Scientology is belief. It is the belief in Tone 40 intention that gives the postulates of a Scientologist a magical quality. It is the belief in genius of LRH that cuts through the Scientologist's confusions and gives him peace of mind. And it is the belief that life is a game that makes life feel like a game.

The magic of belief manifests itself in the certainty and knowingness of the Scientologist; knowingness in the promises of Scientology, certainty that Scientology works. The hypnotic techniques, the e-meter, the complexities of LRH's writings merely coax belief along. After the euphoria of "wins" in mind blowing auditing sessions had faded back into the hum-drum vicissitudes of life, the real magic of Scientology which persist is belief.

The dilemma behind recapturing those good feelings of Scientology while not believing in Scientology is that Scientology can't generate those feelings without belief. The magic of Scientology is belief in Scientology. Without the belief those good feelings and enthusiasm won't materialize. The key to belief is the unconscious desire for the claims of Scientology to be true. Given the unconscious desire, the sole obstacle between acceptance of Scientology or rejection is skeptism. Whether in the form of reason or gut instinct, skeptism can counter a psychological need to believe in Scientology.

The author, Tom Weeks, as a lad in Hollywood with one of Scientology's many properities in the background.

Arguably I can't consciously force myself to believe something that I don't believe. It is true that I do desire for the claims of Scientology to be true. Of course, I would like to have super natural psychic powers and super natural levels of happiness. Besides the power to tele-kenetically move objects would be good for impressing girls at parties. But I can't force myself to believe in Scientology after my experiences with the movement; nor would I want to. Believe without basis is baseless belief.

If I can somehow strip away illusions created by belief in Scientology - the "certainty" and "knowingness" - could I still somehow reclaim that level of happiness that I had as a Scientologist? My experience revealed to me that those feeling of "feeling good" are innate inside of me. Scientology showed me that apparently there is no difference between changing my mind and changing the world. How can I conjure those feelings from inside of myself? How do I