By Steve Spargo

My First Philosophy

A philosophy contains information about how a subject works as well as an approach to better handle that subject.

The first effective philosophy I ran into was written by Hashim Khan.  He outlined every key point to a successful squash game with stable data like:

* Good condition

* Strong attack.

* Have reason for every stroke.

Hashim’s philosophy made him the world’s greatest squash player and began a 30 year era where international squash was dominated by his own small circle of family and friends. I adopted Hashim’s squash philosophy as my own.  It helped me understand the game and gave me data that helped me come out on top when I was under pressure on the court.  For me, these are the key requirements for any philosophy.  A philosophy must answer questions and help you handle some part of life.

Scientology

One day I found myself in a Church of Scientology on a “Communication Course.”  I learned how to use some basic Scientology principles.

I was astounded to find that these principles improved my squash game!!!

It was interesting to me that I could study communication and obtain immediate benefits in other fields. But I soon learned that Scientology principles apply to every part of life. 

Applicability

There was a long list of Scientology principles that directly improved my squash game. I can give a few examples here.

A big one was confront and the ability to hold a position in space. My focus and reaction times improved because I was doing the zen thing. Just playing squash and not playing mental games.

Another one was randomity (unpredicted motion). The whole idea of squash is to give your opponent more randomity than he can handle. I thought that meant giving your opponent less time and required maximum velocity on the ball. But Scientology data  predicts that whacking the ball as hard as you can all the time will eventually become no randomity at all. It will be predictable. Sure enough, I found that breaking up the pace of my games with lobs and drops had a devastating effect on opponents.

Striving to attain the highest tone on the day would give me more stamina and flexibility. On the other hand, there is a common tactic where someone gets very angry and starts whacking the ball all over the place. This sudden burst of energy overwhelms the opponent and sends the angry player uptone with a burst of confidence.

Knowing this, and the fact that the tone scale says anger cannot long sustain energetic bursts, I met such attacks with an immediate slowing of pace so that they couldn’t rush round like wild men bashing the ball. If I did it well, they shortly collapsed into frustrated despair and I would likely win a few easy points. Very useful.

Scientology Contains the Basic Components Of All Life

There are many more examples of how Scientology principles applied to squash. The amazing point here is that they apply to any subject at all and that includes needlework, flying jet-planes and washing dishes.

When you study Scientology principles, the concepts are embracive of all life and will thus help you in ANY endeavour.

No matter what your activity, it will be found to be composed of a small number of factors which Scientology defines and shows you how to manage.  

Some of these factors include a definition for life itself, the motivation of all life, postulates, considerations of existence, cycles of action, affinity, reality, communication, intention, randomity, confusion and control.  There has never been an activity yet that does not throw problems and  ARC breaks at us.  All activities consist of various forms of communication.  Scientology contains the anatomy and rationale of all these. 

The Value Of Scientology

When you know Scientology well, you can look at any situation, analyse the basic components and come up with a way to improve things.

I have seen people who look at the extreme simplicity of these things and say “Well, I learned that in the Second Grade.” That’s actually what my Mum said.

So let’s take just one very simple Scientology principle called Gradient Scales.

Everybody knows about gradient scales. I remember a dissertation on the subject from my Ski Instructor.  He had never even heard of Scientology.

Yet when I coached A-Grade players trying to make the jump to State Grade, I found every single one of them were bogged because of a skipped gradient. They were trying to master advanced skills without learning more basic skills.

They wanted to improve their drives.  But when I drew a circle on the floor 4 feet from the front wall and told them to hit the ball off the wall into that circle 20 times in a row without error, none of them could do it.  It took them a number of hours to master that simple drill before I took them back a few feet and gradually increased the gradient.

Two of my students did the drill and made the jump to State a few months later.

Several others didn’t have the patience (confront) to stick with the drills.  They didn’t advance quickly.  In other words, knowing about gradients is not enough.  To succeed, you need a broad knowledge of life.

Postulates

There was a point when my ball control took a considerable leap after I applied some information about postulates. Scientology teaches that postulates are incredibly precise and that “imprecision” has to be postulated very carefully.  It doesn’t just happen.

One day I was coaching and decided to see how this applied.   I asked this guy to hit a few drives into the corner and they were going all over the place.  I asked him where he was intending to hit it. He waved his hand vaguely at the back of the court.  I had to question him carefully to find he was aiming at a spot about 4 feet wide!

I took the hint and tightened up my own game after that.  I modified all my drills to include a fantastically precise postulate of what I was trying to do with each shot. Exact placement on the front wall, precise trajectory off the wall, where it would bounce and how it would hug the side-wall. I achieved very satisfying improvement with my ball control on just that one tip.  But of course I use it in so many other areas now.  At work, in the garden and in my relationships.

Me And Scientology

Scientology answers the questions I have about life.  It gives me the tools to analyse and improve what I am doing.

Above all, Scientology gives me a better approach to life.  It says my life will be better if I help more, if I get more engaged in life, if I create, if I enjoy good relations with the people around me.  Scientology never says that’s “all you can do” or “good enough.”  Life can always be better if you put in the effort. 

For me, the future with Scientology is limitless.

Comments   

 

+1 # Silvia 2013-03-28 13:54

Steve, thank you. You expressed it so simply, joyful and truthful that I ended smiling at your write up. I definitely can back it up by saying that the more I use and understand Scientology, the more simple and joyful life and any of its activities become. Simple does NOT mean "bored", to the contrary, it just means that; not complicated, enjoying every moment, learning new things, seeing others getting better and so on...infinte.Glad we found this philosophy, more glad that it works and good for those who use it and win with it. Now, that is simple
SILVIA

 

 

# steve 2013-03-28 17:38

Thanks Silvia. What you say is so true.

 

 

+1 # Lana M 2013-03-28 16:03

What I really like about your article Steve is that it shows how the simple basics of Scientology are so applicable and useful in any area or field. It is just so true. Whether it is improving your squash game, becoming a better cook, honing your skills as a public speaker, or even growing organic vegetables. And this is totally over and above the miracles it creates in an auditing scenario.

 

 

# steve 2013-03-28 17:41

Thanks Lana. It's one heck of a philosophy that's for sure.

 

 

# calvin b. duffieldI 2013-03-28 23:31

Thank you Steve, for a most illuminating and broad application of the philosophy of Scientology. Like you, as a person formerly involved in sport and coaching, ( former motorcycle racer, gymnast and trampolinist, followed by bodybuilding, powerlifting, then on to the "returnflow" as a personal trainer,nutritionist and sports coach (as a gym owner,) I naturally identify with so much of your post (in all respects.)

What you went on to achieve, in applying
your acquired Scn skills and knowledge, is a wonderful testament to what can be accomplished, through a thorough understanding of both the philosophy and technology.

You can be justly proud of your achievements, and how you have set about attaining them. And further,this is a fantastic example of how Scn, can be gainfully employed in any sphere of life's activities.

Very well done indeed!

ML, Calvin.(Durban, South Africa)

 

 

# steve 2013-03-29 18:43

Thanks Calvin. There's a few sides of you I didn't know about. Gymnast, cyles and power lifting. That's great.

 

 

# calvin b. duffield 2013-03-30 00:57

Appreciate the ack Steve. I did an announcement on Marty's blog, Mother's Day,
12 May 2012, (half way down the page,)if you're keen to look at the nuts & bolts that keep me together!

ML, Calvin.

 

 

# Sparks 2013-03-29 01:11

I enjoyed this article a lot.

You make a point that is noteworthy when you bring up comments some make, such as your mother's for example, about the simplicity of Scientology. The distinction is the difference between an existing mechanic of life (such as gradients) -- and the method by which they can be handled, i.e. tool.

These are two distinctly different things. Hubbard did not invent gradients, of course! Gradient are a physics element of this universe. What he did innovate, after observing and quantifying them, was applicable tools to employ and utilize toward gradients, tools that enable one to understand and utilize gradients productively.

That, the tool(s), is Scientology. Hubbard observed extant components of this universe -- be it gradients, communication, being there, confront, confusion -- whatever -- and devised tools with which to address them.

I admire the brilliance of that engineering, and that's the devotion evident in Hubbard's contribution to so many.

As for simplicity, be it about style, engineering or truth, Leonardo da Vinci said it well: "“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” And when truth is observed down to its axiom, that is when it is most vast.

Thanks for taking the time to communicate your experience.

 

 

# calvin b. duffieldI 2013-03-29 02:01

Wonderful erudite views, Sparks! How I just love being able to share in the rich contributions to this blog, such as yours.

Thank you,
ML, Calvin.

 

 

# steve 2013-03-29 18:49

Thanks Sparks. It's true that simplicity is power. And Scientology has that in spades.

 

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