Scientology: The Rise And Fall
One fine day many, many years ago there began an internal dialogue rooted in wonderment as to what makes great men great. What is it that elevates mortal man into Stratospheric heights of thinking and being that defies ordinary concepts and ideas? How can one capture the essence of that something 'special' which these great men have imbibed themselves within, fully and completely. They make it look so darn easy...
This self reflection came to be interrupted as a knock was heard upon the door. "Have you heard about Dianetics?"
It was a salesman offering his wares. It's funny how the saying comes to be full-filled that when the student is ready, the teacher appears. After reading about two thirds of the way through "Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health", I became a convert into the science and philosophy of Scientology by taking the Communications Course at the local Mountain View, California mission. All I can say is, "Wow!".
In my experience there has been nothing like it before, and since. All my questions and all of my answers died during that course into my own nature of being. I have no idea if that course is still taught in the same manner it was then, but the stars were certainly aligned during that time period. It all fell into place - the people, the subject, the movement. Years later I posted an small extract onto the forum at Free Zone America which perfectly described the event:
There is no seeing. Seeing is only being. The state of Self-realisation, as we call it, is not attaining something new or reaching some goal which is far away, but simply being that which you always are and which you always have been. All that is needed is that you give up your realisation of the not-true as true. All of us are regarding as real that which is not real. We have only to give up this practice on our part. Then we shall realise the Self as the Self; in other words, "Be the Self". At one stage you will laugh at yourself for trying to discover the Self which is so self-evident...
- "The Teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi", edited by David Godman
The event was looking in the mirror and noticing that the body's eyes were very sharp and clear. I could see my self! And in that moment of seeing, there was being. And in that moment of being there was a reality which far exceeded such as small thing as being. There was eternity and I was it!
After the Communications Course it was all fluff 'n stuff. Nothing but the momentum of that course carried me forward and nothing of note came as a result. Sometimes, it can take a great while to fully come to terms with one single 'small' event. In this way, Scientology is merely the background where the happenings happened in much the same as what occurs to others in different backgrounds and scenarios. It really doesn't matter what form it all takes, but what does matter is the internal realization.
Therefore, as a result of the above description, Scientology is viewed as the background upon which the stage of life played out it's role. The philosophy, any philosophy, is merely a pointer and free will requires us to make of it what we will. Judgement, or evaluation, can be laid upon any and all things and so they 'become' ranked in order of importance among our store house of knowledge, data and store receipts. The bottom line is it's all useless in direct relation to it's assigned importance. There is nothing in existence but what we create.
The funny part of all this is that the moment of looking in the mirror and seeing was like looking in the mirror of one's self reflection and saying "Boo!". When-ever and where-ever I look, all that I see is the reflection of my being.
All this is predicated upon the fact that Scientology was the method which was used to release the beingness from it's own clutches. In that single moment of letting go, nothing happened.
It's like waking up from a dream that seemed so real. At first, the experience lingers and thinking is used to keep it alive. And then a moment later it's as if nothing really happened. I am that which is and no definable label is worthy of attachment.
It's too bad that the Church of Scientology, as an organization, has fallen. I suppose that even as I was taking the Communications Course, the fall was already in motion. But in reality, this makes no difference as the philosophy lingers while Rome burns. There is always a Rome to burn and a philosophy to run rampant as well as it's course. It's not the events which occur outside of our selves which matters, it's what happening within that counts.
Just follow the pointers. Since you are the pointer and the follower, how can you go wrong when your movement occurs? I suppose one could vehemently fight and deny one's own existence, but inevitability always sets in. Sooner or later, the lights will go out on the stage and we will see that the play is over. As we once again look around from our own perspective we see that it is just we, ourselves, who are doing the looking, the feeling, the thinking and the acting.
Diving deep into our own nature is like sinking into the depths of the greatest chasm imaginable and never coming up for air again. To be swallowed up into that which is the totality of ourselves and being that - totally and completely. The limitation of being doesn't even come close to a comparison that can not take place.
It is beyond this limitation that any effort on my part is devoted. May you dispense with the rest.