Reference: A Course on Buddhism
L. Ron Hubbard claimed to be the reincarnation of Buddha. He believed that his system of Scientology was a much improved version of Buddhism. However, I found myself rejecting the claim because of the following fundamental difference between Scientology and Buddhism.
Scientology believes that a soul is eternal, and that its individuality is maintained forever. God has an individuality too. Therefore, the souls cannot merge with each other or with God.
Buddhism, on the other hand, does not believe on logical grounds that there can be eternally unchanging substance. Therefore, it does not believe in the eternity of soul. According to Buddhism, souls are part of a changing reality that has the property of “Oneness.” (See Ground State of the Universe). In short,
Scientology is based on the stable data of “Being”; whereas, Buddhism is based on the stable data of “Oneness.”
In Scientology 8-8008 Hubbard says, “There is evidently no Nirvana. It is the feeling that one will merge and lose his own individuality that restrains the thetan from attempting to remedy his lot.”
Hubbard did not understand that Nirvana is the attainment of oneness that permits the wisdom of seeing things as they are.
With this fundamental difference in Scientology and Buddhism, I must reject Hubbard’s claim that he is the reincarnation of Buddha. Scientology is unable to produce Nirvana that permits a person to, “See with wisdom.”
But Scientology does push the activity of meditation to produce rapid improvement in the beginning. It is more suited to get a person started on the path of improvement, even though it cannot carry that improvement all the way through.
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My Conclusion
I have decided to be consistent in my thinking with the stable data of ONENESS of Buddhism. At the same time I feel that the insightful innovations of Scientology, when applied to Buddhism, will make Buddhism better appreciated by the modern mind.
Scientology has a modern vocabulary that can be used to better explain the concepts of Buddhism. Scientology vocabulary has to be updated with better definitions from the consideration of ONENESS.
Scientology also has a better organizing system, such as, the “Grade Chart,” to explain spiritual progress. This system can be used quite beneficially to make Buddhism more effective.
By making the approach of Scientology more consistent with Buddhism, it is possible to come up with a powerful system of rapid spiritual progress. This system is currently being attempted through Subject Clearing.
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