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Happiness and scn

xstaffWPB

Patron
I remember when I was regged for Life Repair auditing in 1978, that both the Reg and the Auditor validated me for telling them of my specific ruin that I wanted handled in Life Repair versus just me stating the generality of "I want to be happier" after Life Repair. According to this Div 2 Reg and that particular Auditor, many people could only state the generality that they "wanted to be happier" as a goal of auditing.

For some reason, that 2 or 3 minute interlude has stuck with me for the past 32 yrs.

About a year ago, I read a book titled "Happy for No Reason" by Marci Shimoff. I was impressed by the research she had done of the subject of "happiness" and how little I really understood the subject. She developed some amazingly effect tools to increase a person's level of true happiness.

It wasn't until after reading this book and gaining a deeper understanding of the subject of happiness, that I realized that much of trap of scn revolves around pushing the happiness button on people.

My experience with scn proved to me that scn can, to some degree, increase awareness, raise IQ, increase general ability, increase communication ability, and generally help a person to be more causitive in life. Increasing these qualities however, does not in anyway, guarantee that a person will be "happier" afterward. Even IF you could read minds, be cause over life and/or mest, knock hats off, obtained a high IQ, etc, does not mean you'd be any happier at all. "Increasing one's abilities" and "being happy" are not necessarily mutually inclusive.

In this way, scn is a failure (with the exception of the short-lived and superficial feeling of happiness gained when "blowing charge", hence, the addictive nature of auditing).

True happiness is not available within the tech of dn and scn regardless of the sanity level of the organization itself.
 

FinallyMe

Silver Meritorious Patron
Excellent point, xstaff! I had never paid attention to the difference, but I think you are spot-on that having all of those "abilities" (assuming you can get them) do, indeed, NOT automatically mean happiness! That's a very helpful distinction, and points out to me that I need to examine my own definition of what is happiness!
 

blownstaffmember

Patron with Honors
Good points. Yes, some of the "tech" (and I hate to use that term) is useful somewhat, but in a study of people recently in Europe, as adults, people's happiness level remains pretty much the same throughout their adult lives no matter what. It can get temporary bumps (winning the lottery, going on a great vacation) or dips (losing a loved one, divorce) but shortly after these temporary events, the person returns for their equilibrium level of happiness. I count myself as fortunate because my level is pretty high. I can disappear at sea alone for a few weeks and come back very comfortable and at peace (what I call happy.) Not everyone is so inclined.

The bottom line is you aren't supposed to be euphoric all of the time. Happiness isn't necessarily a desirable condition. Given the choice to be happy or curious, you may be better to take the latter. Life is a journey of discovery and adventure, and that means fear, surprise, love, distrust, anger, and every other human emotion, not some hedonistic quest for celestial euphoria. Do you wonder why depressed, impressionable young people are the main target for the Co$.
 

Cattack

Patron
You speak the truth

"My experience with scn proved to me that scn can, to some degree, increase awareness, raise IQ, increase general ability, increase communication ability, and generally help a person to be more causitive in life. Increasing these qualities however, does not in anyway, guarantee that a person will be "happier" afterward..."

That's EXACTLY right.

Well put.

Good insight.
 

R6Basic

Patron Meritorious
enlightenment=miserable as ever.

When I was younger I figured if I wasn't bored then I would be happy. This is one of the things that led me to take up so many practices like martial arts, guitar, reading... etc. It did keep me busy.

I will probably have to get the book as well. I find the idea of a "happiness set point" interesting.

This thread reminds of a story I read about a monk that had achieved enlightenment. his fellow monks, that had not attained it yet, asked how he now felt. His statement was "I'm as miserable as ever."
 

Zinjifar

Silver Meritorious Sponsor
the *last* thing Scientology wants in its 'members' is happiness. Dedication, fear, greed, monomania; yes. But, it's all about the 'ruin' and implanting the 'ruin' that 'the world is a mad mad place that won't be sane till Scientology is everywhere'.

Zinj
 

Good twin

Floater
the *last* thing Scientology wants in its 'members' is happiness. Dedication, fear, greed, monomania; yes. But, it's all about the 'ruin' and implanting the 'ruin' that 'the world is a mad mad place that won't be sane till Scientology is everywhere'.

Zinj

Yes, but it's also mandatory to be uptone about being dedicated, afraid, greedy and maniacal. I know 'cause I was very good at it. :yes:
 

VaD

Gold Meritorious Patron
I know one thing. - It's never been a Scientology that made me be myself.

Am I happy? - Yes, I am.
Is it due to anyone? - Hell, no!


P.S. The fact being here, being alive... made me happy!. Hubbard is a thief! He made my happiness owed to him. He's a scammer of a 1st degree!!
 

Good twin

Floater
I know one thing. - It's never been a Scientology that made me be myself.

Am I happy? - Yes, I am.
Is it due to anyone? - Hell, no!


P.S. The fact being here, being alive... made me happy!. Hubbard is a thief! He made my happiness owed to him. He's a scammer of a 1st degree!!

Yes. :thumbsup:
 

Good twin

Floater
I found the book today at Barnes and Noble. I'll let you know when I've finished reading it. So far it's real good.

There are a lot of "Law of Attraction" fans on this message board who will probably like this book.

Thanks again for the tip. :)
 

TR'SIN

Patron with Honors
I can't remember if it was Forest Gump or Mary Tyler Moore who said "Happy is - as Happy does." :whistling:

So for me . . . it's very much a personal thing.

And I'm thankful that it is. :yes:
 
the *last* thing Scientology wants in its 'members' is happiness. Dedication, fear, greed, monomania; yes. But, it's all about the 'ruin' and implanting the 'ruin' that 'the world is a mad mad place that won't be sane till Scientology is everywhere'.

Zinj

Happily laughing here. When the "Happiness Rundown" first came out, the EP (end phenomena, result) was that people left the cult, both public and staff! I believe the rundown was abandoned for a while, then later regurgitated with a "new improved" one. (yes, I know, there are arguments about who wrote the original and other versions, who cares).

Remember, terms like happy or love are not part of the tone scale either.

The real ultimate goal of OT is one of complete irresponsibility, not happiness.
The Normal responsibilities of human beings (ugh!) is about taking care of your body even in old age, your own personal goals, likes, dislikes, your family, friends, career, finances, homes, social groups, maybe even environment, etc., etc.

If one is honest, look at the goals and purported OT phenomena. It's an effort to not be responsible for these things and making it okay because the ends justifies the means... you will be "above" all these earthly things with these new "powers and abilities".

Just my opinion and view after taking a long hard look at it.
 

apple

Patron Meritorious
"My experience with scn proved to me that scn can, to some degree, increase awareness, raise IQ, increase general ability, increase communication ability, and generally help a person to be more causitive in life. Increasing these qualities however, does not in anyway, guarantee that a person will be "happier" afterward..."

That's EXACTLY right.

Well put.

Good insight.

So true Cattack. Also I noticed in Scientology the "normal" could go crazy and the crazys could get crazyer.
 

Voltaire's Child

Fool on the Hill
I think that there are many things that can result in happiness, temporary, fleeting or long lasting. I think that removal of certain considerations a person has can assist in that regard but, I hasten to say, that's not the only thing or things that can produce happiness.

My thought, such as it is, is that whatever a person achieves in auditing in CofS is countered by all the other shit that goes on. And, also, Hubbard didn't think of everything, of course, and downplayed, ignored or sometimes derided concepts, thoughts, and techniques developed by others. This is detrimental.

That's one of the areas where he went wrong, IMO. This insistence on Scn being THE ONLY THING. It just doesn't cover everything. Even if you had NO cultic bullshit, no insane or nasty policies, it still wouldn't handle EVERYTHING.
 
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