The Bridge to Total Freedom
The Bridge to Total Freedom was introduced by L. Ron Hubbard between about 1965 and 1983[1] to codify every training and processing course he (and his assistants like David Mayo) had invented so far in Scientology. This spiritual route is mapped out in a large diagram called the Classification, Gradation and Awareness Chart, that lists many sequential paid religious services, and is prominently displayed in every Scientology organization.[2]
Contents
Purpose
Every new Scientologist is supposed to ascend "The Bridge" to the state of Clear, where one is believed to have freed oneself from the "reactive mind" and becomes much more effective.[3] This will require many processing sessions in Church of Scientology auditing, and is a lifetime commitment.[4]
Once an individual has reached Clear status, they are claimed to feel more self-confident and happy, and become generally successful in careers and relationships. Many former members allege these benefits are completely illusory, but others believe they are real, and continue to ascend the Bridge in the Free Zone.[5] Beyond the state of Clear, Scientologists move through several auditing steps called Operating Thetan levels, where even greater benefits are said to await.
An OT is a state of spiritual awareness in which an individual is claimed to be able to control self and the environment through supernatural powers, though Hubbard forbade members from displaying these powers or discussing them with each other, and they have been further de-emphasized in recent years.[6] Hubbard originally wrote: "lets not go upsetting governments and putting on a show to 'prove' anything to Homo Sapiens for a while- it’s a horrible temptation to knock off hats at fifty yards and read books a couple of countries away and get into the rotogravure section and the Hearst Weeklies".[7]
Two sides of the Bridge
The Bridge is divided into two parallel paths, Training and Processing. Processing is said to address the Scientology devotee's "case" or how they function in life as influenced by their "aberrations". The Training path teaches Hubbard's theories on the nature of reality and the techniques of auditing. Scientologists can travel up either side of the Bridge, and most do at least a portion of both sides, most famously Tom Cruise, who has audited other people for their spiritual benefit.[8] Those who choose the training route must also process through Clear and beyond to advance. Processing is more expensive, and it can cost over $50,000 to reach the state of Clear.[9][10]
Ascending on a gradient
Critics claim that this sequence of courses has been designed to keep members spending money, by giving them the illusion of constant improvement.[11] Participants are required to write "success stories" at each step. Others claim that this process has greatly enhanced their ability to be effective in life, whether they audit others or only take paid services, though these benefits have not been scientifically tested. Although not part of the formal Bridge, the chart also lists many optional courses and training actions that can be done by Scientologists, like the Superpower rundown.[12]
References
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- ↑ Scientology: History of the Grade Chart. ©1983 (early Oct) First time it is called: “Bridge to Total Freedom”. http://www.wiseoldgoat.com/papers-scientology/hubbard_story_of_mayo5a_grade_chart.html
- ↑ Official Scientology site, retrieved Jan 19 2017. http://www.whatisscientology.org/html/Part02/Chp06/pg0181.html
- ↑ Scientology 101 blog, State of "Clear", retrieved Jan 19 2017. https://scientology101.org/scientology-secrets/technology/state-of-clear/
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Scientology Reviews, retrieved Jan 19 2017. http://www.scientologyreviews.com/auditing/state-of-clear
- ↑ Mental Floss article, retrieved Jan 19 2017. http://mentalfloss.com/article/12352/7-superpowers-available-scientologists
- ↑ "History of Man", 1968 edition (does not appear in 2007 edition). https://backincomm.wordpress.com/2013/11/23/missing-changed-in-the-basics/
- ↑ LA Times, Dec 18 2005. http://www.latimes.com/news/la-fi-scientology18dec18-story.html
- ↑ alt.religion.scientology archived post, Sep 20 1995. https://www.sweenytod.com/cos/pricelist.html
- ↑ scanned price lists, retrieved Jan 19 2017. http://www.xenu.net/archive/prices.html
- ↑ http://bernie.cncfamily.com/sc/works.htm
- ↑ Scientology promotional materials, copied from "Source" magazine issue 194, Sep 2007. http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Scientology/Miscellaneous/superpower.html
