Scientology Volunteers

People helping people all over the world.

 

Gulf Coast Still Recovering, with the Help of Volunteers

There's an interesting story in the San Francisco Chronicle today about volunteers who stayed on to help the people of Louisiana recover.

I have a number of friends who were there during the worst of the ordeal following the hurricanes. Not only did they help with the cleanup but they used the Scientology tools they know to help the kids with their schooling, and provide Dianetics counseling to help with trauma.

Now, in addition to the Scientology Volunteer Ministers who have stayed on in New Orleans and Baton Rouge where we already had Scientology missions, new Scientology missions have opened in Lake Charles, Louisiana and Biloxi, Mississippi.

My hope is that the people of this region not only recover, but come out of this who ordeal in much better shape than they were to begin with, and with the help of L. Ron Hubbard technology I'm confident this will occur.

posted by: jbasoon at 01:28 | link | |

Scientologists Working against Drug Abuse

Drug addiction is such a pervasive problem and affects everyone -- the addict, the family of the addict and the rest of us through increased crime that affects us personally through the loss of property and risk to life and safety, but also through increased taxes to pay for our ever-expanding prison system.

Far more sensible to but off drug abuse before it starts. And far more humane!

Today is the UN International Day Against Drug Abuse and Trafficking. If every person who thinks kids should not take drugs were to contact one child or teen today and help them learn the truth about drugs do you have any idea what an effect that could have?

That's the whole concept behind the Drug Free Marshals.

The Scientology anti-drug campaign is something Scientologists in churches around the world participate in. From the Church of Scientology of Tampa, to the Church of Scientology of San Francisco -- From the Church of Scientology South Africa to the Church of Scientology of Sydney, and everyplace in between.

A few years ago David Miscavige presented the International Association of Scientologists Freedom Medal Award to two Swedish Scientologists for their work to handle drug abuse in their country. I was personally very inspired by Mr. Miscavige when he said that these two people were "doing more to handle the drug problem than any other group on the planet." (The story is on the David Miscavige blog)

I though it was time I did something too.

I know I'm not doing anywhere near as much as those two, but at least I make a point of passing out anti-drug literature whenever I can and directing people to the Scientology anti-drug web site so they can find out the truth about drugs themselves and help the kids and teens they know learn the truth.

posted by: jbasoon at 17:51 | link | |

Scientologists Combat Drug Abuse

I was really happy to see this article on the Church of Scientology of San Diego web site and thought I'd pass it along:

At a time when illegal drug trafficking generates as much money as the oil industry — upwards of $400 billion a year internationally — and America's taxpayers now pay more than $100 billion as a consequence of illicit drug consumption, Scientologists are dramatically stepping up their two-decade-long efforts to tackle the spread of drug abuse at its source. Leaders of the Church of Scientology International's "Say No to Drugs, Say Yes to Life" campaign are calling upon community leaders and concerned citizens to join initiatives organized in major cities around the world in observance of the United Nations' International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on Monday, June 26.

Bob Adams, former American football pro who now coordinates the worldwide "Say No to Drugs, Say Yes to Life" campaign, explains, "Experience teaches us that people in general — and youth in particular — when they understand the destructive effects of drugs, and when they are provided with positive role models and the support of their peers to remain drug free, inevitably come to the conclusion: 'I don't want to take drugs.' This is of course the ultimate purpose of our program." >>continued on the Scientology San Diego web site

posted by: jbasoon at 02:53 | link | |

Scientologists of New York

I grew up in New York, and though I haven't lived there in many years I still consider myself a New Yorker.

So at an international event, when David Miscavige, Chairman of the Board of Religious Technology Center, announced that the International Association of Scientologists was going to fund the renovations of their church in appreciation for the work of the Scientology Volunteer Ministers of New York and the help they gave the emergency relief workers after 9/11, I was the first person in the audience on her feet for the standing ovation.

Mr. Miscavige even went to the Grand Opening of the new Church of Scientology of New York and gave the keynote speech.

But what he said in that speech is so true. The really selfless work of the New York Scientologists, when so many of the rest of us were in shock from the terrorist attack, was an inspiration to Scientologists around the world, as it really showed us how much a few dedicated people, with the help of L. Ron Hubbard's technology, can accomplish in terms of real help when it is most needed.

posted by: jbasoon at 16:45 | link | |

Why do People Volunteer?

So many people volunteering their time and help to people in their communities.

But why do people volunteer?

The Articles Factory has a good article on two Scientology Volunteer Ministers -- sisters who spent the greater part of the past year working as Scientology Volunteer Ministers after the 2005 tsunami and in South America.

One sister expressed why she volunteers this way:

Throughout our time in Sri Lanka, we were fortunate to work with local and international Rotary Clubs, Lions Clubs, police, teachers, and business, religious and community leaders.

The people we worked with in Sri Lanka survived and continued to rebuild their lives with an unparalleled determination and resiliency.

For me, the most incredible sight was the restoration of the ability to help, on a local and international scale: children who once screamed at the thought of going near the ocean were not only able to calmly face it once again, but could now help others overcome their fear of the sea as well. I saw this with my own eyes. Community leaders who had been overwhelmed by the destruction now had the tools and support they needed to systematically rebuild their communities.

I helped mothers who were completely distraught over the loss of their children. After helping them with assists and Dianetics techniques, not only were they able to get on with their lives, they were eager to help others who had lived through similar tragedies.

Any volunteers who want to learn the technology the Scientology Volunteer Ministers use is invited to take disaster relief training. This is based on The Scientology Handbook which is online as well.

posted by: jbasoon at 20:49 | link | |

Volunteering against Drugs

Scientologists are dedicated to helping people avoid getting hooked on drugs. In the late 1960's Scientology Founder, L. Ron Hubbard, made vital discoveries about drugs. At that time, street drugs were being promoted as a way to increase awareness and spirituality. He discovered that they have the exact reverse effect. They actually prevent spiritual progress. But as drug use had become very widespread, he had to develop technology to reverse the effects of drug use. This technology is an important aspect of the Scientology religion. Scientologists, knowing the effect drugs have on the being, are passionate about helping people avoid the problems drugs cause. The Scientology anti-Drug web site is a resource for anyone to use to get the real information about drugs. There are booklets that describe the most commonly abused drugs, and they are there for anyone to read or download.

posted by: jbasoon at 04:28 | link | |

Scientology Volunteers Helping in Time of Need

Anyone who can do so is urged to go to Indonesia, where the < href="http://www.volunteerministers.org">Scientology Volunteer Ministers are helping following the Java earthquake. All help is welcome.

posted by: jbasoon at 15:14 | link | |

The Scientologists in Hungary have outdone themselves this year, with the fifth annual Hungarian Anti-Drug Marathon. Many Scientologists are active in Anti-Drug activities but these guys shine!

This whole program was sponsored by the Church of Scientology of Budapest. Here is part of a press release from the Scientology Effective Solutions Web site:

A dedicated team of Scientologists have gained support from all sectors of Hungarian society to bring about a Drug-Free Hungary. With the completion of the Fifth Annual Anti-Drug Marathon they have brought the message to towns and cities throughout the country to "Say NO to Drugs."

It takes dedication to run the 26.2 miles or 42 kilometers of a marathon. But these athletes were not content to run just one such event — they wanted to reach all the youth of Hungary. So for 42 days they crisscrossed the country visiting towns and cities in 19 counties and covering 2088 kilometers — the equivalent of nearly 50 marathons.

Beginning with their opening event — a concert at the Hungarian Parliament in Budapest — the runners were welcomed in town after town by mayors, officials and entire schools. And in each town the marathoners gave drug-education lectures in schools and town squares, passed out booklets giving the truth about drugs and swore in children to be Drug-Free Marshals, a program where children pledge not to take drugs and to help their friends make the same decision.

In the town of Fuzesabony the Under-Secretary of the Ministry for Youth, Family Affairs, Social and Equal Opportunity gave his thanks to the marathoners for the work they are doing and the mayor of the town, who organized a whole series of events for the team, laced up his own running shoes and joined the race.

In Kiskunhalas the Mayor took his own drug-free pledge alongside hundreds of children from his town. In Szolnok, Natasa Janics, Hungarian Olympic kayak world champion and the entire kayak team endorsed the program.

For five weeks the 2006 Hungarian Anti-Drug Marathon athletes carried out their mission to spread the word about drugs and promote drug-free living. Through their actions they touched the lives of thousands of Hungarian youth who have made the commitment to "Say NO to Drugs."

For more information on there is an excellent statement on it in the speech Mr. David Miscavige gave, titled "This is Scientology."

posted by: jbasoon at 17:43 | link | |

Scientology Volunteer

In the book Scientology:Theology and Practice of a Contemporary Religion there is a description of the Dymamics of Existence. It states:

Existence, according to Scientology, may be recognized in eight different divisions in an ascending order of magnitude, each being designated as a dynamic. Briefly described these are: 1st, the self dynamic, the urge of the self for existence; 2nd, the sex dynamic, which incorporates both the sexual act and the family unit and the maintenance of the family; 3rd, the will to existence, which is found in a group or an association, such as the school, the town, or the nation; 4th, the dynamic will of mankind to maintain its existence; 5th, the existence and will to survive of the entire animal kingdom, which includes all living entities; 6th, the urge towards existence of the entire physical universe of matter, energy, space and time; 7th, “the urge towards existence as or of spirits”, which includes all spiritual phenomena, with or without identity; and finally, the 8th dynamic: the urge towards existence as infinity. This dynamic is identified as the Supreme Being, which also can be called the “God dynamic”. Scientology is concerned with survival, and the survival of each of these dynamics is seen as part of the goal of the practice of Scientology. Thus although much of the initial practice of Scientology is concerned more narrowly with more personal spiritual benefits for those (preclears) who seek Scientological assistance, ultimately the Scientologist must realize that his present life is but a fragment of his continuing existence as a thetan, and that the life of the individual is linked to each of these ascending levels described in the eight dynamics, and so ultimately to the existence and survival of the Supreme Being or infinity.

Personally, I have noticed that when people become more confident, more extroverted, less consumed by their own problems, they tend to want to reach out to help others -- to move out onto the 3rd and 4th dynamic as described above.

There's a DVD I've mentioned before that is one of my favorite things to show people to explain what the Scientology religion is all about. It is called "This is Scientology" and it is a recording of a speech Mr. David Miscavige gave a couple of years ago at the annual celebration of the anniversary of the founding of the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre. In this speech Mr. Miscavige describes a number of programs Scientologists are involved in, and how much impact they are having on society.

There are so many people from all walks of life who are motivated by a selfless purpose to help their fellow man. The point I feel Mr. Miscavige makes in this speech is that the reason the programs Scientologists are involved with are so effective is because they use the technology developed by L. Ron Hubbard.

As Mr. Miscavige puts it in this speech: "The answer to this planet’s problems will not be found in the "material." Of this there can be no question. For if those solutions can't prevent war nation to nation, how then can it be expected to answer questions like "love," "happiness" or "peace of mind?" So, we can’t expect the answer to be found in chemicals. Not unless one buys into a synthesized utopia, or a "Brave New World," with a perfect pleasure drug.

This lecture can be purchased online at the Scientology bookstore.

posted by: jbasoon at 00:40 | link | |