SCN 8-8008: Thought, Emotion and Effort

Reference: The Book of Scientology

Thought, Emotion and Effort

Please see the original section at the link above.

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Summary

Thought is the least condensed substance that there is. It starts to become condensed down the tone scale. At the top of the tone scale the thought is free and the awareness is clear. Down the tone scale the thought acquires stimulus-response characteristics due to increasing identification, and the awareness becomes cloudy.

Hubbard believed that the clear thought is established by will, and that the stimulus-response characteristics come from counter-efforts of the surrounding MEST universe. But, will is the faculty of conscious and deliberate action associated with the concept of self, and self comes from a lasting identification of awareness with the postulates. Self is a subjective feeling that it is the source of postulates, but it is not aware of its own nature.

Ideally, awareness is completely free and fully aware of the postulates it is surrounded by. It is aware of postulates, just like it is aware of energy and matter. But as awareness is identified with postulates, there comes about the thought of a self as the source of postulates. As that identification deepens, the thought of self condenses, and MEST characteristics of stimulus-response start to manifest.

We see a law of thought emerging here. Stimulus-response behavior is proportional to the degree of identification of awareness with thought, resulting in increasing fixation of attention on self.

Thought is intimately associated with the idea of self. Self is then defined as the source of thought, while it itself is a thought. Thus we have a circular definition, which is the hallmark of identification. 

Thought is the lightest substance, which starts unbounded and free at the top of the tone scale. As it descends down the tone scale it gets condensed with increasing identification with the concept of self. It thus acquires stimulus-response characteristics. This has nothing to do with “thetan inside the head,” but it has to do with fixation on the body.

Postulates provide the framework in which reasoning takes place. As thought condenses, reasoning also becomes increasingly illogical taking on stimulus-response characteristics.

Emotions are the expression of the tone characteristic of the thought. These emotions become quite observable at the lower part of the tone scale. The emotions link the thought to the effort exerted through the body.

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Comments

Hubbard starts out with a mathematical equation for life as the Theta-MEST theory. This is the dichotomy of two extreme conditions of life. Theta is total freedom and MEST is total slavery.

Hubbard associates the mathematical symbol ‘theta’ with the subjective feelings of self and will; and the mathematical symbol of MEST with the surrounding universe. He then identifies the surrounding universe with what is being postulated by self.

To Hubbard, this theory encompasses all that one can know, and nothing falls outside of it. Hubbard does not entertain the concept of unknowable. But all that we know is through postulates. What then is this self that postulates?

If we look closely, the Theta-MEST dichotomy ultimately reduces to the dichotomy of Unknowable-Knowable.

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May 14, 2019 – 8:17 PM Categories: Scientology | Post a comment

Einstein 1920 (XVI) Experience and Relativity

Reference: Einstein’s 1920 Book

Section XVI (Part 1)
Experience and the Special Theory of Relativity

Please see Section XVI at the link above.

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Summary

The theory of relativity explains the phenomenon known as “aberration”—the yearly movement of the apparent position of the fixed stars resulting from the motion of the earth round the sun. It also explains the slight displacement of the spectral lines of the light transmitted to us from a fixed star due to radial motion (Doppler principle). The various experimental arguments in favor of the Maxwell-Lorentz theory, also favor the theory of relativity.

The electrons are a substance of very small inertia and large velocity. The electrodynamic theory is unable to give an account of their nature, but it hypothesizes that the electron experience a contraction in the direction of motion in consequence of that motion. This hypothesis is not justifiable by any electrodynamical facts, but it is easily justified by the theory of relativity.

The reference body K refers to aether in electrodynamics, which is equivalent to infinite inertia and zero motion. The reference body K’ refers to “æther-drift” and electrodynamics assigns complicated laws to it. Electrodynamics then looked for “æther-drift” with respect to earth’s surface (K’), which was not to be found. It requires overcoming the inherited prejudices about time and space to resolve this dilemma.

The theory of relativity overcomes the inherited prejudices about time and space, and discards the ideas of “æther” and “æther-drift.” Here the contraction of moving bodies follows from the motion with respect to the body of reference chosen in the particular case in point. Thus for a co-ordinate system moving with the earth the mirror system of Michelson and Morley is not shortened, but it is shortened for a co-ordinate system which is at rest relatively to the sun.

Comments

Maxwell-Lorentz theory of electromagnetic phenomena deals with lines of force, or force fields. An analysis of these force fields leads to the velocity of light of 3 × 108 m/s. This may be interpreted to mean that the force field is the substance which fills the space in the absence of matter. This substance is of the same nature as light.

The velocity of light is a measure of the flexibility of this force field, just like the velocity of material bodies is a measure of their flexibility (the opposite of inertia). Einstein extrapolates the flexibility, as related to motion, from matter to light by assuming the velocity of light to be a universal constant. This, makes it possible to relate the velocity of matter to imperceptible changes in its flexibility, or inertia. 

Electrons are not the same as charged particles (ions), so, in cathode ray, they cannot be distinguished from each other as “separate particles;” and, therefore, there is no repulsion to scatter the cathode ray. A cathode ray simply consists of “electronic substance” of certain inertia as dealt with in the theory of relativity.

The idea of “contraction” simply reflects the change in the consistency (inertia) of the substance filling the space, instead of change in some abstract idea of coordinate systems. Space denotes the extents of the substance; and time denotes the duration of the substance. Therefore, any notion of spacetime coordinates is just a reflection of the consistency of the substance filling the space.

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May 14, 2019 – 4:26 PM Categories: Einstein | Post a comment

SCN 8-8008: Behavior of Universes

Reference: The Book of Scientology

Behavior of Universes

Please see the original section at the link above.

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Summary

Hubbard differentiates between a person’s own universe of postulates and the MEST universe. Unfortunately, Hubbard does not believe in the principle of oneness; and, therefore, he fails to see how postulates explain the MEST universe. 

The postulates discovered by Einstein, which gave birth to his theory of relativity, explain the concepts of substance (matter and energy), extents (space), and duration (time) beautifully. This explanation provides a much fuller picture of the MEST universe than what Hubbard describes. The postulates and the MEST universe are intimately related through the principle of oneness. Oneness is described by the continuity, consistency and harmony of substance. The substance consists of thought in addition to energy and matter.

Hubbard appears to decry against the watchfulness and the cooperation required in the MEST universe. But those are the very qualities that the scientific method brings into play to resolve the anomalies in our perception of the MEST universe.

In opting for one’s own universe, Hubbard says, “One’s universe is an unthwarted sway, the MEST universe is a compromise.” Unthwarted sway means that one does not want any checks and balances, but an undisciplined existence where one can do anything one wants. It sounds like a wishful thinking after one has failed to resolve most of the situations in one’s life. It is a reaction to overwhelm. It only leads to a defeatist philosophy. What you want to rehabilitate is the person’s ability to discover the postulates that underlie the MEST universe, so he can resolve the situations he is facing in life.

Hubbard’s approach to use mock ups in auditing is useful only to the degree it helps a person understand why certain situations exist in his life. The person should not be using mock-ups to escape the realities of life and live in a dreamworld. Maybe Hubbard did not intend it to be an escape from reality, but he makes it sound that way by continuously railing against the MEST universe.

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Comments

There is no personal universe separate from the MEST universe. There is only one universe that can be explained through the oneness of postulates. Hubbard’s personal universe comes from arbitrary, contradictory, and missing “postulates” that spring from Hubbard’s fixation on self. 

As a person comes to understand the MEST universe better through the use of the scientific method, he can operate with greater freedom. Science has been very successful in exploring the laws of matter (classical mechanics). Currently, it is successfully exploring the laws of energy (quantum mechanics). It has yet to explore the laws of thought (postulate mechanics); but that is currently being attempted through subject clearing.

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May 14, 2019 – 8:11 AM Categories: Scientology | Post a comment

SCN 8-8008: Terminals

Reference: The Book of Scientology

Terminals

Please see the original section at the link above.

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Summary

According to Hubbard, “A terminal is, in essence, any point of no form or any form or dimension from which energy can flow or by which energy can be received.” So, a battery has positive and negative terminals. Similarly, an electric motor has terminals. The motor runs when a current of electricity flows through the terminals. A stimulus-response behavior is like the running of the motor. It occurs when there is a flow of energy. The MEST universe is like that.

Hubbard, therefore, says, “… a viewpoint can be affected by the MEST universe only when the viewpoint has identified itself with some MEST universe article, such as a body.” This identification manifests itself as fixation of attention. So, a viewpoint should have the ability to unidentify itself, or release itself from fixation, rapidly. 

A terminal, therefore, is related to the phenomenon of identification with the MEST universe. This makes the viewpoint subject to MEST laws, which make it stimulus-response. When one mocks up a terminal similar to the MEST universe terminal and puts the two terminals side by side, there is a discharge. This discharge is in terms of the person getting an insight into the MEST universe terminal. This approach is different from the Dianetic process that uses recall. Like Dianetics, this is also a limited process.

Hubbard believes that if a person owns two of the same item, then the chances of misconstruing that item are less. A viewpoint is more apt to identify itself with an item if its duplicate is missing. According to Hubbard, “This fixes him in the belief that he cannot alter his relationship to the MEST universe.” The more aberrated a person is the more easily he gets fixated on terminals.

Hubbard says, “It could be said that the MEST universe is the average of agreement amongst viewpoints and that the laws of the MEST universe, no matter how physical, are the result of this agreement.” This assumption of Hubbard is in conflict with the work of scientists like Galileo and Einstein who exposed a new reality that went against the general agreement.

Not every person’s reality is the same because their ability to perceive the universe is different. A hypnotized person’s reality can even be controlled by the hypnotist. The struggle is to define reality, and Hubbard settles on reality being the average of agreement among viewpoints. But the actual definition of reality remains elusive in Hubbard’s Scientology.

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Comments

Hubbard does not see self as a MEST universe article. Therefore, he does not even consider the possibility that attention can be fixated on self. This is because self is in the domain of thought and, to Hubbard, thought is not part of the MEST universe.

However, thought can be sensed like energy and matter, and Hubbard also found that thought upon condensation becomes increasingly stimulus-response like energy and matter. We may, therefore, consider thought also to be part of the MEST universe. In that case, not only the body, but also the self can be a terminal. From this point of view, fixation on self becomes possible and it can be seen as an aberration.

The substance (thought, energy and matter) is the basis of the knowable universe, and of our sense of reality. The substance has the property of continuity, consistency and harmony. We may refer to this as the principle of oneness. The oneness of the universe provides the ideal scene of reality. Such reality is free of anomalies, fixations, and aberrations.

The reality of a person departs from the ideal as the oneness is violated in his perception. The anomalies appear as missing data, contradictory data and arbitrary data. They are manifested in the fixation of his attention, which is the basis of all human aberrations.

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May 13, 2019 – 8:06 PM Categories: Scientology | Post a comment

SCN 8-8008: Universes

Reference: The Book of Scientology

Universes

Please see the original section at the link above.

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Summary

Hubbard defines universe as a “whole system of created things,” and believes in the existence of many universes; but this generates an anomaly. Many universes can be defined together as a “whole system of created things” or an overall universe. The same anomaly exists with the multiverses theory in physics. The universe is correctly defined by its etymology that emphasizes the property of oneness. There is only one universe, where oneness is defined as continuity, consistency and harmony.

Hubbard differentiates the physical universe of matter, energy, space and time from the thought universe of the thetan. Hubbard does not see that thought is a substance that condenses into energy. He also does not see that thetan is the identification of theta with thought. Hubbard’s very concept of thetan comes from his fixation on self.

The thought and MEST universes do not behave in a similar manner, because as the substance condenses from thought to energy and matter, the laws also change. To Hubbard, the thought universe a person’s own universe in which he controls everything. But he is surrounded by a MEST universe that he does not control, and which is quite overwhelming.

High operating level is when one is operating without fixation. To operate, one obviously uses forces across the spectrum of thought, energy and matter. The forces in the universe may appear to be gigantic, crude and brutal from the viewpoint of the humans, but they always follow the laws of nature. According to nature, the forces are continuous, consistent and harmonious; but misunderstanding may cause anomalies. However, the anomalies can be resolved and the forces can be harnessed. 

Hubbard says, “In the MEST universe ethics seem to be a liability.” Obviously, the laws of the MEST do not cover ethics. Ethics lies in the domain of the thought universe. As far as energy and matter go, science has been doing a great job of resolving the anomalies. The focus needs to be on resolving the anomalies in the thought universe. 

Hubbard’s solution is that a person should strengthen his own thought universe as a “solution” to the problem of the MEST universe. This requires asserting one’s own will to overcome “agreements” with the MEST universe. Thus he recommends Creative processing that helps overcome the mental conditioning due to continuous contact with the MEST universe. He also recommends rehabilitating one’s ability to perceive present time in order to overcome the fear of the MEST universe.

According to Hubbard, the primary process to rehabilitate one’s own universe is to exercise the ability to postulate. 

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Comments

Hubbard is correct in establishing that the primary process is to exercise the ability to postulate. However, he does not go into detail other than outlining some exercises. 

A postulate is a creative thought, which brings oneness to existing data. It helps us fill holes in our understanding of what is there. For example, “The speed of light is a universal constant,” is a famous postulate made by Einstein that helped explain the concept of space and time. This helped us understand many phenomena that were puzzling before.

A postulate is not something formed arbitrarily. It is a well-thought out form and meaning given to perceived sensations that leads to the resolution of anomalies in our thinking. This is the very quality that makes a postulate self-evident. Thus it becomes possible to use the postulates as the basis for further reasoning and prediction.

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May 13, 2019 – 10:00 AM Categories: Scientology | Post a comment