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us 06
---
title: "Understanding Scientology — us-06"
source: https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Library/Shelf/wakefield/us-06.html
retrieved: 2026-06-28
---
Understanding Scientology, by Margery
Wakefield
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Chapter 6
## Grade 0 to Clear -- The Yellow Brick Road to Total Freedom
The E-meter is never wrong. It sees all. It knows all. It
tells everything.
-- L. Ron Hubbard
A clear can be tested for any and all psychoses, neuroses,
compulsions and repressions and can be examined for any autogenetic
(self-generated) diseases referred to as psychosomatic ills. These tests
confirm the clear to be entirely without such ills or aberrations.
-- L. Ron Hubbard, Dianetics: Modern Science of Mental
Health
Hanging on the wall of every Scientology organization around the
world is a large chart, lettered in red ink, and boldly marked across
the top: THE BRIDGE TO TOTAL FREEDOM. The chart lists the main courses
available in Scientology, arranged in hierarchical sequence.
In the instructions at the bottom of the chart, Hubbard writes:
It is hard for Man in his present condition to even grasp that
higher states of being exist. He had no literature about them, really,
or any vocabulary for them.
Factually you've been traveling this universe a very long time
without a map.
Now you've got one.
Below is a chart of the "processing levels" of Scientology. These
are the levels through which a person will progress from first beginning
in Scientology to achieving the celebrated state of "Clear."
## Processing Levels of Scientology
LevelAbilities Gained
OT VIII
Confidential
OT VII
Confidential
OT VI
Confidential
OT V
Confidential
OT IV
Confidential
OT III
Confidential
OT II
Confidential
OT I
Confidential
CLEAR
A being who no longer has his reactive mind
SOLO
Freedom from dramatization and return of powers to act on own determinism
GRADE 4 (Abilities)
Moving out of fixed conditions and gaining abilities to do new things
GRADE 3 (Upsets)
Freedom from the upsets of the past and ability to face the future
GRADE 2 (Overts and Withholds)
Relief from the hostilities and sufferings of life
GRADE 1 (Problems)
Ability to recognize the source of problems and make them vanish
GRADE 0 (Communication)
Ability to communicate freely with anyone on any subject
DIANETICS
A healthy and happy human being
ARC STRAIGHTWIRE
Knows he/she won't get any worse
OBJECTIVES
In present time and able to control and put order in the environment
The lowest level of auditing in Scientology consists of what are
called the "objective processes." These are often programmed for a
newcomer to Scientology after he has completed the introductory course.
The stated purpose of these drills is "to get the preclear more in touch
with his environment (reality)." The hypnotic content of these drills,
however, could indicate that they were conceived to do just the
opposite.
One of the most frequently used of the "objectives" is a process
called "Opening Procedure by Duplication," or, more familiarly, "OP Pro
by Dup." In this process the preclear is taken into a room in which two
objects are placed, usually on a table, several feet away from each
other, so that the preclear has to walk to get from one to the other.
The commands of this drill are:
"Go over to the book."
"Look at it."
"Pick it up."
"What is its color"
"What is its temperature?"
"What is its weight?"
"Put it down in exactly the same place."
"Go over to the ashtray."
"Look at it."
"Pick it up."
"What is its color?"
"What is its temperature?"
"What is its weight?"
"Put it down in exactly the same place."
"Go over to the book..."
Etc.
This drill may be done for several hours at a time, "until the
preclear can do it without delay, without protest, without apathy, but
with cheerfulness." (1)
Other examples of Objective processes include the commands:
"Spot some spots in your body," alternated with "Spot some spots in
the room," and continued for at least an hour;
"Examine your chair," alternated with "Examine the floor," and
continued for at least an hour;
"Where's your face," given continuously for at least an hour; and
"Start laughing," "Keep on laughing," "Laugh," and "Keep on
laughing," given alternately for at least an hour. (2)
In another series of fifteen objective processes called the CCHs
(abbreviation for the words control, communication and havingness, the
last a Scientology word), a preclear is steered around the room for
hours at a time with the commands:
"Look at that wall." "Thank you."
"Walk over to that wall." "Thank you."
"With the right hand, touch that wall." "Thank you."
"Turn around." "Thank you." (3)
In his book Creation of Human Ability, Hubbard acknowledges
that some people might think these drills hypnotic. But in actuality, he
states, these drills "run out" hypnosis. "(They) induce no trances.
People who think so simply don't know much about hypnotism." (4)
In ARC Straightwire, the second level on "the Bridge," the emphasis
is upon improving a person's ability to recall memories from the past.