What is Dianetics?

Dianetics comes from the Greek words dia (through) and nous (soul). Dianetics could be said to be what the soul is doing to the body. It provides answers to the fundamental riddles of the mind with a thoroughly validated method that increases sanity, intelligence, confidence and well-being. It gets rid of the unwanted sensations, unpleasant emotions and psychosomatic ills that block one’s life and happiness. Dianetics rests on basic principles that can be easily learned and applied by any reasonably intelligent person—as millions have. It is the route to a well, happy, high IQ human being. Dianetics addresses the part of the mind that operates below the conscious level, exerting a hidden influence that causes you to react irrationally, say and do things that “aren’t you,” and have inexplicable emotions and ills that hold back intelligence and ability. It all resolves with Dianetics.

The Goal of Life

One of the most fundamental breakthroughs of Dianetics is the concise statement of the goal of life itself. This, the dynamic principle of man’s existence, was discovered by L. Ron Hubbard. From this fundamental discovery many hitherto unanswered questions about man and life were resolved. The goal of life can be considered to be infinite survival. That man seeks to survive has long been known, but that it is his primary motivation is new. Man, as a life form, can be demonstrated to obey in all his action and purposes the one command: SURVIVE!

SURVIVE! is the common denominator of all life, and from it came the critical resolution of man’s ills and aberrations. Survival is not only the difference between life and death. Nor does it mean merely existing. It encompasses things like ideals, love and art as vital aspects. The better one is able to manage his life and increase his level of survival, the more he will have pleasure, abundance and satisfaction.

Pain, disappointment and failure are the result of actions which do not promote survival. Dianetics addresses these moments of pain and threat to survival, and it provides a precise technology to increase your ability to survive and live a happier, healthier life.

Dianetics Results

When you hear that using Dianetics can enable you to live a better, happier life, it isn’t exaggeration. Asked to estimate how it had affected them, users said on a scale of 1 to 10, that Dianetics increased their personal level of happiness from an average of 3.9 on the scale to 7.7.

How the Mind Works

The mind records data using what are called mental image pictures. Such pictures are actually three-dimensional, containing color, sound and smell, as well as other perceptions. They also include the conclusions or speculations of the individual. Mental image pictures are continuously made by the mind, moment by moment.

Analytical Mind and the Reactive Mind

The mind has two distinct parts. One of these — the part which one consciously uses and is aware of — is the analytical mind. This is the portion of the mind which thinks, observes data, remembers it and resolves problems. It has standard memory banks which contain mental image pictures, and uses the data from these banks to make decisions that promote survival.

In moments of intense pain and unconsciousness, the analytical mind is suspended and the reactive mind takes over. It records everything that happens during unconsciousness in its own banks, unavailable to the individual’s conscious recall and not under his control. It has the power to react obsessively upon him at a later time, forcing irrational “solutions” on the individual.

The reactive mind can cause unknowing and unwanted fears, emotions, pains and psychosomatic illnesses that one would be much better off without. It holds a person back, getting in the way of his survival and success in life.

With Dianetics auditing, the contents of the reactive mind can be erased, freeing the person from its adverse influence. The previously hidden memories are now stored in the analytical mind, under the control of the individual.

A person who no longer has his own reactive mind is called a Clear. What he is left with is all that is really him, and with his mind’s potential now fully available.

The Clear

The goal of Dianetics is a new state for the individual never before attainable in man’s history. This state is called “Clear.” A Clear possesses attributes, fundamental and inherent but not always available in an uncleared state, which have not been suspected of man and are not included in past discussions of his abilities and behavior.

The Clear is:

- Freed from active or potential psychosomatic illness or aberration
- Self-determined
- Vigorous and persistent
- Unrepressed
- Able to perceive, recall, imagine, create and compute at a level high above the norm
- Stable mentally
- Free with his emotion
- Able to enjoy life
- Freer from accidents
- Able to reason swiftly
- Able to react quickly
- Healthier

Happiness is important. The ability to arrange life and the environment so that living can be better enjoyed, the ability to tolerate the foibles of one’s fellow humans, the ability to see the true factors in a situation and resolve problems of living with accuracy, the ability to accept and execute responsibility — these things are important. Life is not much worth living if it cannot be enjoyed. The Clear enjoys living to a very full extent. He can stand up to situations which, before he was cleared, would have reduced him to a shambles. The ability to live well and fully and enjoy that living is the gift of Clear.

Dianetics: The Book that Started it All

First published on May 9th 1950, few predicted the astonishing impact Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health would have on the lives of millions. As prominent American columnist Walter Winchell then reported: “There is something new… called Dianetics. A new science which works with the invariability of physical science in the field of the human mind. From all indications it will prove to be as revolutionary for humanity as the first caveman’s discovery and utilization of fire.” Today, more than half a century later, Dianetics is an international phenomenon, transcending political, cultural and ideological boundaries in 150 nations. Its popularity is based solely on one fact — results. Testimonials from users tell the story: greater intelligence, awareness, vitality, understanding of life, and the resolution of previously “unsolvable” problems.

With more than 20 million copies printed in over 50 languages, Dianetics stands as a best seller world over. It has appeared more than 100 weeks on the New York Times best seller list and in fact returned to the Number One position decades after its first publication. More Dianetics days, weeks and months have been proclaimed in tribute to it — by city and state governments — than any other book or self-help subject in history.

Dianetics at its simplest levels can be applied by virtually any two reasonably intelligent people, just by reading and using the procedure contained in the book. It’s being done everywhere — from the outback in Australia to corporate empires of America; from Tibetan monasteries to Venezuelan cathedrals. In fact, every 4.8 seconds, somewhere in the world, someone picks up a copy of Dianetics and begins the adventure.

Why is Scientology a Religion?

Scientology meets all three criteria generally used by religious scholars when examining religions: (1) a belief in some Ultimate Reality, such as the Supreme Being or eternal truth that transcends the here and now of the secular world; (2) religious practices directed toward understanding, attaining or communicating with this Ultimate Reality; and (3) a community of believers who join together in pursuing the Ultimate Reality.

Scientology’s belief in an Ultimate Reality that transcends the material world include its concepts of the thetan, the spiritual world (the seventh dynamic) and the Supreme Being (the eighth dynamic). The second element can be found in Scientology’s life-rite ceremonies such as naming, marriage and funeral services, but predominantly in the religious services of auditing and training, through which Scientologists increase their spiritual awareness and attain an understanding of the spiritual world and, ultimately, their relationship with the Supreme Being. As to the third element, a very vital community of believers can be found at any church of Scientology at almost any time of the day.

Scientology is thus a religion in the oldest sense of the word. Scientology helps man become more aware of God, more aware of his own spiritual nature and that of those around him. Scientology Scripture recognizes that there is an entire dynamic (urge or motivation in life) devoted to the Supreme Being (the eighth dynamic) and another dynamic that deals solely with one’s urge toward existence as a spirit (the seventh dynamic). Acknowledgment of these aspects of life is a traditional characteristic of religions.

What is Scientology?

Introduction to Scientology

The word Scientology literally means “the study of truth.” It comes from the Latin word “scio” meaning “knowing in the fullest sense of the word” and the Greek word “logos” meaning “study of.”

Scientology is the study and handling of the spirit in relationship to itself, others and all of life. The religion comprises a body of knowledge extending from certain fundamental truths. Prime among these:

Man is an immortal, spiritual being. His experience extends well beyond a single lifetime. His capabilities are unlimited, even if not presently realized — and those capabilities can be realized. He is able to not only solve his own problems, accomplish his goals and gain lasting happiness, but also achieve new, higher states of awareness and ability.

In Scientology no one is asked to accept anything as belief or on faith. That which is true for you is what you have observed to be true. An individual discovers for himself that Scientology works by personally applying its principles and observing or experiencing results.

Through Scientology, people all over the world are achieving the long-sought goal of true spiritual release and freedom.

The Parts of Man

Man consists of three parts. The first of these is the spirit, called in Scientology the thetan (from the Greek letter theta, meaning “thought” or “spirit”), which is the individual himself.

The second of these parts is the mind. The thetan uses his mind as a communication and control system between himself and his environment.

The third of these parts is the body. The body is not the person.

The most important of the three parts of man is the thetan, which is the spirit, or you.

The Dynamics of Existence

The basic command followed by all life, “Survive!” is subdivided into eight dynamics (dynamic meaning urge, drive or impulse). All activities in one’s varied life can be inspected, understood and harmonized with all others to increase survival.

8th Dynamic INFINITY, also commonly called God, the Supreme Being or Creator.

7th Dynamic SPIRITUAL dynamic — anything spiritual with or without identity, life source.

6th Dynamic PHYSICAL UNIVERSE with its four components of matter, energy, space and time.

5th Dynamic LIFE FORMS including all plant and animal life.

4th Dynamic MANKIND as a species.

3rd Dynamic GROUP SURVIVAL whether friends, a club, company, nation or race.

2nd Dynamic FAMILY and children and all other creativity.

1st Dynamic SELF — the individual, including his body, mind and immediate possessions.

Through Scientology, a person realizes that his life and influence extend far beyond himself. By understanding each of these dynamics and their relationship, one to the other, he is able to do so, and thus increase survival on all of these dynamics.

ARC Triangle and Tone Scale

A principle of considerable importance in Scientology, and one that greatly assists interpersonal relationships, is that of affinity, reality and communication.

The three form an interdependent triangle and add up to understanding.

The Tone Scale

The Tone Scale is a tool used in everyday life to understand what is occurring with individuals and how best to communicate with them. One can find himself or any individual on the Tone Scale and thus know how, using Scientology, he may best be moved up to the higher tones — and thus increased competence, self-esteem, honesty, well-being, happiness and other desirable attributes.

40.0 Serenity of Beingness
30.0 Postulates
22.0 Games
20.0 Action
8.0 Exhilaration
6.0 Aesthetics
4.0 Enthusiasm
3.5 Cheerfulness
3.3 Strong Interest
3.0 Conservatism
2.9 Mild Interest
2.8 Contented
2.6 Disinterested
2.5 Boredom
2.4 Monotony
2.0 Antagonism
1.9 Hostility
1.8 Pain
1.5 Anger
1.4 Hate
1.3 Resentment
1.2 No Sympathy
1.15 Unexpressed Resentment
1.1 Covert Hostility
1.02 Anxiety
1.0 Fear
0.98 Despair
0.96 Terror
0.94 Numb
0.9 Sympathy
0.8 Propitiation
0.5 Grief
0.375 Making Amends
0.3 Undeserving
0.2 Self-Abasement
0.1 Victim
0.07 Hopeless
0.05 Apathy
0.03 Useless
0.01 Dying
0.0 Body Death

The Effects of Drugs and Chemicals

We live in a chemical-oriented society. The past century’s technological advances have produced many damaging by-products that threaten well-being — from the smog in the air we breathe to the thousands of chemical additives in the food we eat. Moreover, the use of street drugs has proliferated since the mid-20th century at all levels of society, as well as prescription of mind and mood-altering drugs.

Drugs, pollutants and other chemicals are essentially poisons and take their toll on a person’s body by depleting its stores of vitamins and minerals, leading to susceptibility to other health problems.

Quite in addition to physiological damage, drugs and toxins decrease mental alertness and perception and can contribute to many undesirable states, from unfeeling to hostile. This biochemical factor is a barrier to spiritual freedom.

The Solution

L. Ron Hubbard discovered that drug and chemical residues are stored and trapped in the fatty tissues of the body and remain long after a person has been off drugs. As long as the person has these residues in his body, his awareness, abilities and attitudes can remain suppressed, adversely affecting his ability to succeed to his full potential in life.

The Purification Rundown includes exercise to dislodge toxic residues.

Followed immediately by sweating in a sauna, these toxins are flushed from the system. Mega-vitamin and mineral dosages and extra oil are vital factors in helping to repair the body.

Good nutrition and adequate rest are vital to the success of the program.

The Auditing Session

The primary way that Scientology’s principles are applied to an individual is called auditing — from the Latin word “audire,” meaning “to listen.”

It is the central practice of Scientology, and is delivered by an auditor, “one who listens.”

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.

The E-Meter

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. The E-Meter does not in itself do anything to a person. It is a highly sensitive instrument that reacts to changes in mental activity.

The States of Existence

Man is so visibly MAN that he overlooked in most of his philosophies and all of his sciences that there is more than one state of existence attainable by man. There are many states of existence besides that of man. This has been touched on by earlier philosophies. What is new about Scientology is that one being can attain several different states of existence in just one lifetime. Some savants amongst the Himalayas have worked in this direction. Gautama Siddhartha (Buddha) spoke of it. Fifteen or twenty years of hard work were said to result in a nebulous conclusion. With Scientology, there are no such uncertainties. These higher states can be attained through Dianetics and Scientology auditing.

Communication

We instinctively revere the great artist, painter or musician and society as a whole looks upon them as not quite ordinary beings. And they are not. They are a cut above man. He who can truly communicate to others is a higher being who builds new worlds.

Problems

What distinguishes civilized man as MAN is that he is mired into PROBLEMS which just get worse the more he “solves” them. The being who can recognize the actual source of problems and so see them vanish is too rare to be easily comprehended. When a being can do this — make problems vanish with a glance — he certainly is no longer “man.”

Relief

Man has never known, except in some of the rare miracle workers he regarded as saints, how to bring relief to various ills. The secret was that one is connecting oneself to what he abhors. To be able to easily bring relief to oneself and others from the hostilities and sufferings of life is a skill man has seen only in healers.

Freedom

Man is chained to the upsets in his past. He has never understood why he felt so upset and misunderstood about his family or people or situations. Most men dwell perpetually on troubles they have had. They lead sad lives. Freedom from the upsets of the past with the ability to face the future is almost an unknown condition to man.

Ability

Man’s abilities tend to be individually specialized. He is so intent upon some action that he is clumsy in performing others. When one moves out of fixed conditions, he can experience a huge resurgence in the ability to choose, partake in and enjoy new activities.

Power

Man can seldom handle POWER. He retreats from it or abuses it. When he has it he often misdirects it. One can, in Scientology, acquire the ability to stably handle power.

Clear

Here is a being who has forever vanquished his own reactive mind, the source of man’s misery. He has a very high degree of personal integrity and honesty, and is a living proof that man is basically good. His own basic beingness returns and his own personality flourishes.

Operating Thetan

By “operating” is meant “able to act and handle things” and by “thetan” is meant the spiritual being that is the basic self. “Theta” is Greek for thought or life or the spirit. An Operating Thetan then is one who can handle things without having to use a body of physical means. Basically one is oneself, can handle things and exist without physical support and assistance. It doesn’t mean one becomes God. It means one becomes wholly oneself.

The Aims of Scientology

civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where man is free to rise to greater heights, are the aims of Scientology.

First announced to an enturbulated world in 1950, these aims are well within the grasp of our technology.

Nonpolitical in nature, Scientology welcomes any individual of any creed, race or nation.

We seek no revolution. We seek only evolution to higher states of being for the individual and for society. We are achieving our aims.

After endless millennia of ignorance about himself, his mind and the universe, a breakthrough has been made for man.

Other efforts man has made have been surpassed.

The combined truths of fifty thousand years of thinking men, distilled and amplified by new discoveries about man, have made for this success.

We welcome you to Scientology. We only expect of you your help in achieving our aims and helping others. We expect you to be helped.

Scientology is the most vital movement on Earth today.

In a turbulent world, the job is not easy. But then, if it were, we wouldn’t have to be doing it.

We respect man and believe he is worthy of help. We respect you and believe you, too, can help.

Scientology does not owe its help. We have done nothing to cause us to propitiate. Had we done so, we would not now be bright enough to do what we are doing.

Man suspects all offers of help. He has often been betrayed, his confidence shattered. Too frequently he has given his trust and been betrayed. We may err, for we build a world with broken straws. But we will never betray your faith in us so long as you are one of us.

The sun never sets on Scientology.

And may a new day dawn for you, for those you love and for man.

Our aims are simple, if great.

And we will succeed, and are succeeding at each new revolution of the Earth.

Your help is acceptable to us.

Our help is yours.

L. Ron Hubbard