SCI
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Because Hubbard says that each person on earth has hundreds of body
thetans, Scientologists can spend a hundred hours or more auditing on OT
III. The result, in theory, of being freed from all one's body thetans
is that one should be able to "exteriorize," or go out of one's body at
will. Although many Scientologists claim this ability, there is in
Scientology no objective test to determine if this ability has ever been
achieved.
The purpose of the remaining OT levels is to reorient the "newly
exteriorized thetan" with the physical universe, and through a series of
drills, to help him regain his long lost powers.
On OT IV, the Scientologist practices "mocking up" (mentally
recreating) implants and GPMs until he or she is "proofed against any
possibility of being reimplanted" now that he/she has finished running
implants on OT III. (10)
On OT V, the "thetan exterior" is "refamiliarized with the physical
universe in
order to increase his ability to communicate with the environment.... He
learns to use his new abilities as a thetan with wisdom and judgment."
OT V, subtitled "Cause Over MEST," consists of a series of drills, done
while the person is lying down with eyes closed:
- "Spot a spot in the room."
"Spot a spot in your body."
(These are done alternately, until a "cognition" is reached.)
- "Spot a spot outside."
"Spot a spot on the sun."
In other drills on this level:
The pre-OT is to pick out an object ahead of him and wrap an energy
beam around it and himself and pull himself toward the object with
shortening of the beam.
Notice what happens.
Locate an object, draw energy from it into you. Repeat at least ten
times.
Notice a cloud and notice the space between you and it.
Notice the motion of the earth and your relationship to it.
Notice something about ten people. (11)
OT VI consists of more drills to "rehabilitate the thetan,"
including:
"Be three feet in back of your head. Whatever you are looking at,
copy it a dozen times, put it into you. Find the two back comers of the
room and hold onto them without thinking for two minutes."
"Find two corners of the planet Earth, hold onto them for two
minutes."
"Find a place where you are not."
"Spot three spots in your body."
"Spot three spots in the room."
"Be in the following places: The room, the sky, the moon, the sun."
"Locate an animal. Postulate him moving from one spot to another.
Observe him doing this."
"Find a man walking. Postulate his walking faster. Do this with 20
people."
"Find a person in a distant land. Notice the time of day. Notice the
terrain. Notice the general environment. Smell the air. Locate a thought
that is his. Locate a thought that is yours."
"Postulate anger, boredom, grief, cheerfulness and serenity in that
order. This is continued until you are sure that you can create any
emotion."
"Exteriorized, visit a friend who lives in another state. Greet him
and flow affinity to him. Ask him to communicate to you by letter." (12)
OT VII has to do with "rehabilitating the intention of the thetan."
On this level, the person practices psychically placing his "intention"
into another person or object:
"Find some plants, trees, etc., and communicate to them individually
until you know they received your communication."
"Go to a zoo or a place with many types of life and communicate with
each of them until you know the communication is received and, if
possible, returned."
"Go out to a park, train station or other busy area. Practice
placing an intention into individuals until you can successfully and
easily place an intention into or on a being and/or a body." (13)
Since no one outside of Scientology has seen the contents of OT
VIII, one can only wonder at the contents of this secret level, the end
result of which is to become completely "at cause" over the physical
universe.
The OT levels have changed somewhat over time; however, there is
more that is unchanged than changed.
Other than the time and money expended in pursuit of the ambiguous
goals promised for each of these levels, is there any danger in these
drills?
Yes, say several researchers.
In a study of the psychological effects of several different cults,
psychologists Conway and Siegelman found that, "... hour for hour,
Scientology's techniques may be more than twice as dangerous as those of
any other major cult.... On the average, former Scientologists surveyed
reported more than twice the combined negative effects of all other cult
groups." Some of the negative effects observed among former
Scientologists were: sexual dysfunction, violent outbursts,
hallucinations and delusions, and suicidal or self-destructive
tendencies. (14)
Dr. John Clark of Harvard University agrees, stating that, as with
all cults, many former Scientologists have experienced severe mental
breakdowns:
Even if members do leave the group, it may take months or even years
for them to regain lost intellectual powers and their sense of
well-being.... To me the latest casualties of these extended