Reference: The Book of Scientology
Survival
Please see the original section at the link above.
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Summary
According to Hubbard, “The goal of life in the MEST universe is survival and only survival.” Survival is the state or fact of continuing to live or exist, typically in spite of an accident, ordeal, or difficult circumstances. But it is quite obvious that nothing in this universe remains the same for ever. Everything is changing. Survival is something passive. The active form of survival is evolution. The very appearance of life in this universe is the result of evolution.
Of course, all life is surviving, but life is evolving too. We see that rapid evolution in Man and his societies. Survival is the basis of evolution; and evolution is the purpose of survival. We need to emphasize evolution along with survival.
Hubbard says, “It [survival] also covers the wide field of ethics.” According to Hubbard ethics is guided by “maximum survival on the maximum number of dynamics.” But this, as a guideline, is too general to be practical. We need to emphasize the principle of oneness (continuity, consistency and harmony), which is a very specific guideline that works as a constraint at all levels. The constraint of oneness keeps ethics in. The MEST universe itself follows the principle of oneness from which all physical laws are derived. These laws keep the ethics of the MEST universe in.
Hubbard says, “The principle of survival was never intended to embrace theta itself.” Survival, and more accurately evolution, requires the ability to postulate. That ability is theta. The source of theta is unknowable. Survival itself is a postulate of theta. Therefore, theta is beyond, the consideration of survival.
Hubbard says, “Survival is nothing if not dependent upon havingness, action and beingness.” Havingness is the outcome of doingness (action), and doingness follows naturally from beingness. Beingness is the passing identification of awareness with some postulate. Survival has to do with this identification. As this identification deepens so does survival.
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Comments
Survival results from the passing identification of awareness with some postulate. The identification may continue to change. That is the type of survival that contains most freedom. If the identification becomes fixed and starts to deepen, the freedom suffers. The deeper is the identification, the lower is the awareness of a person on the tone scale, and the more constrained is his freedom in his survival.
But the person learns from this experience. As he overcomes the constraints of his fixations, he tastes freedom. Thus come about evolution as he is able to change his identifications while he survives. New postulates and forms come about, and the evolution of the universe takes shape. This occurs under the overall constraint of oneness (continuity, consistency and harmony), which provides the perfect balance of freedom with evolution.
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