I suspect that some people don't appreciate just how effective Scn is at controlling you because so MANY definitions and terms are "open-ended". Meaning that, just as AngeloV so accurately points out,
so many terms can mean anything to anyone.
That wouldn't be so bad, at least in normal life where people can freely communicate and discuss such things. But, always keep in mind that in the ultra-controlled environment of Scientology, that 1) all discussion of case is forbidden (per policy), and 2) ALL discussion of the "tech" is forbidden (Verbal Data heavily pounced upon whenever it occurs).
So, within the confines of the Church environment, nobody much compares notes, and most people walk around with VERY DIFFERENT ideas about all sorts of things related to Scientology, but they don't know it. And, the only things that does get promoted and constantly pushed in their faces are "wins", success stories, the OT VII completion standing and telling the biggest and best "success" he or she can muster up, etc.
Also, Hubbard, as usual defines "OT" in MANY different ways in many different places. He tells you on the one hand that an "OT" can operate and effect MEST by intention alone (entirely out of body, with no need for a body, and no tendency to go "back in" when hurt), and then also tells you that you have a "hidden standard" if you EXPECT such things as a result of auditing!
People can argue what the term "OT really means" until Hell freezes over, but the truth is that it is PROMOTED in Advance Mag and Souce Mag, and by regges, and at briefings, and has been for many decades, as including all sorts of strange and powerful "parapsychological" sort of phenomena.
The biggest problem, to me, about Scientology auditing is that the results are utterly RANDOM. There is no aspect where a person gets to a point where he or she can CAUSE such things AT WILL. These phenomena "happen to you", just as do sunsets, the weather and accidents. Actually, most people are the "effect" of these phenomena just as they are anything else. They don't and can't CAUSE them AT WILL.
I have an affinity for occult subjects, because some do involve extensive training techniques where one does learn to control ones own mind, imagination, intention, etc. Some Scio-defenders might say, well OF COURSE, we will learn to do all of that above OT8.
That might be true. But, then why even call anything under OT9 an "OT Level"? Because, really, up through OTVII has NOTHING to do with TRAINING to be an "OT". NOTHING. Like so much in Scientology, it is just more PR and spin, necessary to get people to pay money and do services. If they were told that the REAL OT LEVELS start above OT8, and that everything else below that is SETUP, well, who would buy THAT? Of course, it is highly unlikely that ANYTHING exists above OT8! It seems Hubbard didn't leave it all "mapped out", and the Church managers will put together some version of the upper OT levels. But again, what they will be is anyone's guess.
One of the largest flaws of Scientology is THIS:
Nobody is going to DROP "OT powers" onto you by paying money and answering some questions in session. It will not happen. If you want to get good at anything, you must PRACTICE, and practice long and hard. The same is true for "powers of the mind". But, nobody is practicing anything even remotely like that in Scientology. And, they all walk around in this cloud of delusion imagining themselves somehow "better" and "more able" than everybody else.
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