Jefferson Hawkins provides Scientology a way to happiness that actually works

Jefferson Hawkins is a man who is very well known to our readership. We’re big fans of his terrific book about his experiences as a Scientologist, Counterfeit Dreams. We learn in that book how Jeff was Scientology’s top marketing expert, and was responsible for the famous “volcano” television commercials of the 1980s that helped the organization reach its greatest extent.

Hawkins is also known for another book, Leaving Scientology, which has proved to be a valuable asset for people trying to adjust from life in Scientology (especially in its controlling “Sea Org”) to the modern world.

We’re fortunate that Jeff continues to think about these issues, and sent us the following item that has timeless advice not only for struggling former Scientologists, but for the rest of us as well. It’s a small masterpiece.

 
Twelve lessons every ex-Scientologist needs to learn

1. The world outside Scientology is not a dangerous or degraded or hostile place. You’ll find that on the whole, people are pretty nice, and you’re likely to encounter more kindness, empathy, and friendliness — and less judgment — than you did inside Scientology.

2. You have your own ideas and opinions separate from those of L. Ron Hubbard and Scientology. Learn to differentiate. Ask yourself, “is this really what I personally think or believe, or is this just what I was taught in Scientology?” Stop putting everything through a Scientology filter to determine if it is good or bad, true or false. Make your own decisions. And it’s OK to disagree with Hubbard and Scientology.

3. You have the right to privacy and to your own personal space. Your private life, your activities, your lifestyle are your own choice and no one has the right to pry or invade your space or pass judgment. You do not have to reveal or confess everything about your life to anyone. People in general do not care or judge you.

4. Learn to relax and live your life. You don’t have to be “productive” every moment. Take the time to relax, go for long walks, daydream, read a book, hang out with friends and family. You are not on the clock and you don’t have to measure every minute of your life against some arbitrary standard of “production.”

5. Make an effort to overcome any prejudices instilled by Scientology. Gays are not “covertly hostile.” Psychiatrists are not evil. Journalists are not “merchants of chaos.” “Wogs” are not degraded or out-ethics. And they are not “wogs.” Try to re-examine generalities like this and see people and institutions for who they actually are, not what Scientology told you they are.

6. People who disagree with you are not “enemies.” People who challenge your opinions are not “attacking” you. Loosen up. Try to see other viewpoints. Re-examine your own opinions and conclusions. You will never learn anything if you only reactively defend your own position and demonize those who disagree.

7. It’s important to take care of yourself. See a doctor regularly. Get a checkup. See the dentist. Take needed medication. Get over any preconception that doctors, dentists, or medicine are bad, scary, invalid, or unnecessary.

8. Emotion is a good thing. It is not a sign of a weak person or a “lesser being.” Emotions are a part of life, and everyone feels them. It is not shameful to feel anger, grief, or depression, and it does not make you less of a person. If you try to suppress your so-called “lower” emotions, you may end up being unable to feel anything.

9. Whatever wins you have had, remember that nothing in Scientology has made you superior to others. Get over any sense of superiority or entitlement. Realize that Scientologists have the same hang-ups, problems, foibles, and faults as anyone else. They make the same mistakes and commit the same sins. Scientologists have not reached a “higher state” where they have super powers or are morally or intellectually or spiritually superior to others. Try to see yourself objectively and with humility. Do not approach others with arrogance or condescension.

10. Get over the idea that your life only has meaning if you are “serving a higher purpose.” Just living your life with love, tolerance, kindness, and charity is what gives it meaning. If the world is to be improved, it will be through individual acts of kindness, friendship, and generosity, not some organized international movement to “save the planet.”

11. You don’t need to follow someone else on your life’s journey. You don’t need a leader or a guru or a “source.” You don’t need an “ism” or “ology.” Get over the idea that Scientology — or anyone for that matter — has all the answers. Broaden your horizons. If you are interested in learning more about the mind and spirit, read or study broadly. You don’t need someone else to define truth for you. You are fully capable of coming up with your own ideas, opinions, and conclusions. Blaze your own trail to your own truth.

12. You don’t need to be constantly “fixed” or corrected. You don’t need constant auditing or interviews or therapy to survive. Scientology only exists by constantly “finding people’s ruins” and convincing them of their failings and imperfections all the way up the line. In all likelihood, there is not as much wrong with you as you might have been led to believe and you are pretty much fine just as you are.

— Jefferson Hawkins

 
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Vance Woodward (center) with Karen de la Carriere and Jeffrey Augustine

Yesterday, Vance Woodward had another day in court, asking Judge Michael Johnson of the LA Superior Court to reconsider the decision he had made earlier, to grant Scientology’s anti-SLAPP motion which dismissed the lawsuit Woodward had brought against the organization.

Woodward spent 22 years in Scientology, then left and wrote a book about his experiences and helped us blog Dianetics from cover to cover. He sued Scientology last year, saying he wanted back $200,000 he had put on account for services he would never receive, but he also targeted much of his lawsuit at Scientology’s processes, which he says harmed him. Judge Johnson granted Scientology’s anti-SLAPP motion, criticizing Woodward for making the suit about the church’s religious practices rather than solely about a refund.

Woodward filed the motion, asking Johnson to reconsider his decision, complaining that Scientology had sandbagged him when it switched up the order of the motions it wanted heard in court. But Judge Johnson wasn’t swayed.

Plaintiff’s arguments only constitute further elaboration on the matters presented in his opposition to the motion, and Plaintiff appears to have been aware of them at the time of the hearing. Plaintiff claims that he was misled by Defendants’ arbitration motion which caused him to focus on certain issues to the exclusion of others. But this also could have been raised at the time of the hearing. Plaintiff has not presented any persuasive reasons to re-examine the court’s 10/8/14 ruling, and the motion for reconsideration is denied.

The judge also granted Scientology’s request for attorney fees and costs, and after some criticism of the high rate being asked for by church attorney Gary Soter ($750 an hour), granted Scientology 70 percent of what it was asking for, saddling Woodward with a bill of $90,507.50.

Woodward plans to appeal the ruling.

Here’s the judge’s order…

Woodward v. Scientology: Motion to Reconsider Denied

 
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Bonus photos from our tipsters

London is still making auditors? Who knew!

 
If you were a quadruple humanitarian with the power to affect matter with your mind for the good of mankind, how would you spend your time?

 
Scientologists are using social media more than ever. Drop us a line if you spot them posting images to Instagram or Facebook!

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on January 8, 2015 at 07:00

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Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…

BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of LA attorney and former church member Vance Woodward

UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists

GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice

SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING (Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49

PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | Scientology’s Private Dancer
The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ