Reference: The Book of Scientology
Differentiation, Association, Identification
Please see the original section at the link above.
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Summary
To differentiate is to recognize or ascertain what makes (someone or something) different. To associate is to connect (someone or something) with something else in one’s mind. To identify is to establish or indicate who or what (someone or something) is.
In Hubbard’s mind, sanity is the ability to differentiate. Buddha called it mindfulness, which is to see things as they are. As this ability deteriorates, one starts to see associations when there are no associations. This ends in thinking two things are identical when they are not. To Hubbard, this is the condensation of thought as one descends the tone scale.
Hubbard says, “Differentiation is at the top of the tone-scale and is a condition of the highest level of sanity and individuality.” Hubbard is associating sanity with individuality. He does not see that individuality is an identification of awareness with a postulate. So, all awareness then filters through that postulate; and that postulate appears as a fixed individuality.
Hubbard says, “The condition of the preclear can be established readily by his ability to associate.” To associate two things, one should be able to differentiate between them first; and then knowingly postulates a relationship that associates them. If things are being identified as being the same in his mind as “A = A = A = A” he cannot associate them. His ability to be logical then depends on his ability to differentiate and knowingly associate. He should be fully aware of the postulates that exist. Buddha knew that individuality itself is a postulate, while Hubbard takes it for granted.
Hubbard correctly observes, “Insanity is the inability to associate or differentiate properly. Experience itself becomes ungovernable at the lowest depth of identity. The more fixed the identity of the person may be, the less the experience of which he is capable.”
Hubbard says, “The widest possible differentiation exists at the moment of creation.” But he does not explain how a “thetan” is created. An individuality is the basic identity. Therefore, all individualities exist on the tone-scale and they increasingly become condensed as they descend the tone-scale. At the bottom of the tone-scale a person treats even thoughts literally like solid objects. The tone-scale provides a good estimate of a person’s level of fixation and his capability to associate.
Hubbard says, “Mathematics could be said to be the abstract art of symbolizing associations.” It is true that mathematics provides a general method of bringing to the fore associations which might not be perceived readily without their use; but equalities must not be viewed as fixed in the real universe. Absolutes are unobtainable in experience but may be symbolized by mathematics.
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Comments
Hubbard’s observations about logic are very astute. He is correct in saying that absolutes are unobtainable in experience. However, he does not follow that logic when he assumes individuality to be absolute, and postulates a thetan to be eternal.
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