Dilettante
Patron Meritorious
My avatar is looking a little introverted. Wait.....whew! She's smiling.
Hubbard extols LOOKING as the highest method of gaining knowledge, and I largely agree. Yet, quite strangely, if you honestly take a look at this, he basically forbids any person from looking inward!
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And quite possibly, if an honest survey could be completed, MOST people who get into Scientology are really not much concerned with "knowing thyself".
Though I could be wrong on that last.
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If that's true, it would explain some things for me ...
... but please go on -- if not to "know thyself," then what do you think was the reason (or top five reasons, let's say) most people got into scientology?
I happen to be one of those for whom the primary reason was to "know thyself." I was not successful at being a "good scientologist," and I admit to being baffled as to why some folks ended up there, what were they looking for, what did they hope to achieve.
I will try to explain.
Yes, I also got in with the aim to learn about the "truth". I was never body-routed in or brought in by a friend. I had a history of meditation, and occult studies, and after reading Dianetics I decided that I might want to address and handle my "out of control thinking mind" before going to India to find a "master". I realy did think that at the time. The big mistake was assuming that Scientology would handle the "internal yapping", instead of just learning how to do it on my own through self-examination and inner work.
But look at that DAMNED ruin-finding. It is a very slick procedure. ANYBODY who comes in, whether by body-routing, through a friend, or as a walk-in, is put on the meter and the ruin found. I never was because I just walked in and said, I want to go clear. What do I have to do? And, I did it.
But most people sit down and spit out some ruin:
talking to girls
talking to boys
making money
being happy
being stable
not being depressed and sad
I can't study
I can't find a job
I get nervous talking to people
I piss my pants when a dog approaches
I am attracted to goats
I have nightmares
My wife cheats on me
I can't get a boner
or any of a near infinite number of possible ailments that any person can have. See, Hubbard rigged it so the Div 6 line was entirely "equal-opportunity". It made no difference what the EXACT ruin was, or even whether the person doing the ruin-finding actually knew what certain Scientology "tech" would "handle" that problem. The person doing the ruin-finding simply had to DO THE DRILL just as Ron says. Oh, and it definitely WORKS. No doubt about that.
The insidious nature of the Div 6 and other reg drills is what the totally scripted method (exact patter) does next.
The Scientology staff member INTENTIONALLY, with full Tone 40 and excellent TRs, asks the person, "what would happen if that got WORSE". The aim, as directed by Hubbard in the drill, is to get the newbie really wallowing in the RUIN. Really PUSH his or her face into it HARD. Get the person squirming, even crying, and REALLY CONFRONTING what would happen if and WHEN IT GETS WORSE!
And, then, as directed by the Grand Manipulator, L. Ron Hubbard, you tell the person with the best of all possible trumped-up affinity and feigned caring (phony manipulative ARC), that "Scientology can handle THAT".
And the poor sobbing slob looks up, hopeful for the first time in many years or even in his or her life, and says "really"? And from there the sucker is put on the conveyor belt of Total Bank Account Reduction (by a carefully planned series of gradients of course).
So, I think there are MANY reasons WHY any person originally decided to "try" Scientology to see if it might help some personal "problem". But, once there, then Hubbard's well-greased indoctrination system turns that theetie-weetie gaze of the newbie into a "dedicated glare" of the fanatic in no time.
It is such a well-planned trap!
Actually, I was often amazed at the utter LACK of any sense of spiritual anyhting in so many of the Church members. They were often more like Amway victims, or some crazed member of some new Ponzi-like MLM scam.
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I remember how the definition of "introversion" in the Tech Dictionary showed a picture of a fellow, head heavily weighing in his hand, staring off into some distance (internally). Hubbard also describes it as:
introversion: a looking in too closely; having one’s attention and interest directed upon oneself. (Google: "tech dictionary introversion Scientology")
He gives the word itself a negative slant, a negative bias that most accept without question - this bias slips into the C of S member's subconscious, where from there it controls his or her viewpoint.
Look at how Hubby Dub the Tubby Flub uses the word "introversion":
Introversion Rundown - This is a procedure that is intended to handle a psychotic break or complete mental breakdown
Again, Hubbard covertly hijacks the word entirely by associating it with "a psychotic break or complete mental breakdown". What an idiot.
Your whole message is based on the supposedly incorrect use of the word "introversion." There is no such rundown, it's called the INTROSPECTION RUNDOWN.
I torch your straw man.
This is a very cogent comment. You're right the church is designed to run this as a way of "motivating" converts. Still, I found for myself that the auditing I received on my lower bridge was very useful for my own purposes of introspection. My conclusion is that the auditing tech is itself useful although the climate within the church is poisonous.
Mark A. Baker
Not so fast, and actually, you torched nothing.
I made a mistake in using the term "introversion rundown". My bad, as I had done a quick Google search and found this as the Tech Dictionary definition:
Introspection Rundown - This is a procedure that is intended to handle a psychotic break or complete mental breakdown.
I accidentally typed "introversion" instead of "introspection". I MEANT to type "introspection". No straw man - typing error. I will go back and correct the typo - the argument stands quite well.
Typo or not, there is NO concept anywhere within Hubbard's subject of a "positive" or "useful" type of introversion or introspection. All definitions, usages and applications paint both words with a "negative meaning". THAT is a major flaw as I see it.
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You still flubbed it. Here's the CORRECT Tech Dictionary definition:
INTROSPECTION RUNDOWN, the essence of the Introspection Rundown
is looking for and correcting all those things which caused the person to look
inward, worriedly and wrestle with the mystery of some incorrectly designated
error. The end phenomena is the person extroverted, no longer looking inward
worriedly in a continuous self-audit without end. (HCOB 23 Jan 74RA)
Don't rely on the internet for correct Scientology quotes or definitions.
<snip, only for brevity>
So, I think there are MANY reasons WHY any person originally decided to "try" Scientology to see if it might help some personal "problem". But, once there, then Hubbard's well-greased indoctrination system turns that theetie-weetie gaze of the newbie into a "dedicated glare" of the fanatic in no time.
It is such a well-planned trap!