Let's Sell These People a Piece of Blue Sky: Hubbard, Dianetics and Scientology Read Online Free PDF Page B

dismissed with “Well, you can’t believe anything you read in
the papers,” diverting attention from the complaint. It sounds remarkable, but
many people would agree, and abandon their criticism. This trained tactic
underlies Scientology’s self-defense: divert the critic, attack the source not
the information.
    Next, I was told to direct the person to their “ruin”;
whatever they thought was ruining their life. I would keep asking questions
until they showed genuine emotion about some aspect of their life. Then I was
supposed to “bring them to understanding” by letting them know that whatever
their problem was, there was a Scientology course that dealt with it. “You’re
frightened of dying? Scientology has a course that can help you!” “Oh, yes,
Scientology can help you with your asthma!” I was told to say these things, and
I believed what I was saying. The course which would help their problem, from
obesity to pre-menstrual tension, was always the “Communication Course.”
    I would take an interested person to the Mission, and hand
them over to a “Registrar” to be given a lengthy Scientology personality test,
or a free introductory lecture. I took many strangers into the Mission, and
most of my friends. Several started courses, though most drifted away without
finishing.
    The yellow walls of the Mission were covered with small
notices, newspaper clippings about Scientology “wins,” testimonials (“Success
Stories”), and Hubbard quotes: “Scientology leads to success in any walk of
life,” for instance. The Mission consisted of a course room, an office, a tiny
kitchen, a lavatory, and two counseling rooms. The course room could hold about
30 people, but most of the time only a few students were present. The
receptionist doubled as a Course Supervisor. In the evenings seasoned
Scientologists would arrive to take more advanced courses. Among these were a
bank manager and his wife, who held a senior position with the county Health
Authority. I also did drills with the managing director of an engraving business,
and with an active Quaker.
    They were all very encouraging about the benefits they felt
they had experienced because of Scientology.
    I expected to take a short course in Dianetics, and then
start shifting my engrams around. This was not to be. In the quarter century
since the publication of “ Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health ,”
Hubbard had allegedly conducted a great deal of research, and the original
procedure was now outmoded. A rigidly defined series of steps constituted the
Scientology “Bridge.” It was possible to receive counseling for a fee, or to
train as a counselor and co-counsel with another student for free. There were
several courses involved, but before Mission staff would even discuss the cost,
they insisted that I do the Communication, or “Comm,” Course.
    The Comm Course is the beginning of most Scientology
careers. Hubbard claimed to have been the first person to scientifically
dissect communication. The Comm Course drills are called Training Routines, or
TRs. 6
    The first two TRs are similar to meditation. They are
supposed to help you focus your attention on the person you are talking to. Two
people sit facing each other, without speaking or moving. In the first drill
(OT TR-0) they sit with their eyes closed, in the second (TR-0) open and
staring at one another. These drills are often done for hours without pause,
and form part of most Scientology courses. As with meditation, I hallucinated
while doing the open-eyed TR-0. My coach explained vaguely that people who had
taken drugs often found this. In fact, hallucination is not unusual for anyone
who stares fixedly for long enough, but I did not realize this, and was
genuinely concerned.
    The next step is “TR-0 Bullbait.” One student baits the
other, verbally and through gestures, trying to disturb the recipient’s
motionless composure. If the student moves, laughs, speaks, or even blinks