A Book-Auditor Looks Back

A 'Sort of History' of Dianetics - by Bob Arentz

EDITOR'S NOTE - This concludes the "Sort of History of Dianetics" series. And now that the "Defense' has rested, we open these columns to factual testimonials as to chat Dianetics DID or DID NOT do - both for the "book auditor" and the school-trained one. Next month, Dr. Idella Stone - who has had experience with both - will present a partial case history of "auditing by the book" - a story of success we know has been paralleled many, many times. But there have been failures, too - and still are, in spite of the boasts coming from Headquarters - and these columns are as open to one as to the other.

Chapter VIII

In his original concept of the application of Dianetics as presented in his book, "Modern Science of Mental Health ", L. Ron Hubbard envisioned serious and determined individuals who would work together on long-ranged and positive goals. Men and women who could keep their counsel, who could be trusted to not only persevere, but also depended upon to prevail over the difficulties of learning and applying the principles of a complex art.

In 1950, an essay in a magazine, that probably should have been reprinted for distribution to all book buyers, outlined probable working times that would be required for substantial gains. It is the opinion of this writer that Hubbard's genius for extrapolation was clearly revealed in the article and any serious evaluation of the art /science of " auditing " (audit - to listen) would indicate that a person with good recalls, good health, and high motivation would use a minimum of around 800 to 1200 hours for achieving goals. The average person would run more like 1800 to 2600 hours, and the usual bedraggled and besozzled wretch that the'c at dragged in for "treatment" would run up to 5,000 hours, if anyone had so little to do with their life as to waste it in such tomfoolery.

It was enough to think that fairly well-off people could smooth out troubled areas of physical and emotional action, and better themselves, wasn't it? The answer was NO ! It was enough that a person with good potential might want to improve himself, and a few bona fide friends, wasn't it?

The answer was NO!

Who could find eight hours a week for "auditing", out of the fine round of T-V watching, driving, boozing, eating, sleeping, working, and other diversion, t take a self-betterment project that might require two or three years of fairly serious attention?

But of course there was always the family idiot-drunkard who was just the logical contender for Dianetic "treatment" after all else had failed.

So there arose a spontaneous demand a the inception of the program for "professional " auditors. This demand was fantastically out of proportion at a time when there were no professional auditors available. During the first few years, rather than "professionals ", the need was for a few reasonable and conscientious persons to get enough experience and practical knowledge for any professional work to begin.

And, conversely enough, now that men and women of professional caliber are available, both in Hubbard's present-day headquarters in Washington, D.C., and elsewhere, the demand has diminished to only a small fraction of the outcry in 1950 to 1954. Therefore, Hubbard's first prediction may still hold - that a few serious men and women working with determination and fortitude will be the real builders of "the better bridge". Among them are graduates of every school of Dianetics and Scientology that left its snowy contracts against the azure skies of Hope, and faded quickly (but not many of such school graduates did prevail against the difficulties! Many persevere - perpetual students perpetually seeking outwardly, looking for the Fountain of Youth, the Magic Pill, the Philosopher's Stone, never looking within, ever forgetful of the dictum, "Know thyself". Most have drifted like autumn leaves, willy-nilly on the winds of chance to other cults and schisms.) However, also among the serious worker today are an unknown and unguessable number of" book " auditors who never even got into the "game'', but kept their own counsel, and worked along on practical application and minor goals, with now an impressive collection of gains.

There can be no doubt that a need has been proven for a competent core of well-qualified professional auditors, such as that now established around the magnetic personality of L. Ron Hubbard in his Dianetic and Scientology Headquarters in the nation's capital city - and in smaller groups in other centers of population coast to coast - but the long haul is for the individual out for Number One.

As both Fred Hand and Alphia Hart have