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Assist (Scientology)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In Scientology, the Assist is described as a "process which is done to alleviate a present time discomfort". [1]
Despite the use of assists to treat pain and injuries, the Scientology Handbook (1994 edition) states:
"An assist in no way intrudes upon the role of medicine. Medical examination and diagnosis should be sought where needed, and where treatment is routinely successful, medical treatment should be obtained. As an assist can at times cover up an actual injury or broken bone, no chances should be taken, especially if the condition does not easily respond. In other words, where something is merely thought to be a slight sprain, to be on the safe side an x-ray should be obtained, particularly if it does not at once respond. An assist is not a substitute for medical treatment and does not attempt to cure injuries requiring medical aid, but is complementary (adds) to it. It is even doubtful if full healing can be accomplished by medical treatment alone and it is certain that an assist greatly speeds recovery." (pg. 205) [2]
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Scientologists (especially Volunteer Ministers) are taught to administer what Hubbard called the "touch assist", a procedure supposed to help heal illnesses or injuries. The Scientologist is to perform a sort of laying on of hands to the subject, and in so doing, relieve pain stored in the subject's nerves. This contradicts mainstream science's current conception of the nervous system, which holds that nerves transmit pain, not store it. [3]
According to the Handbook (pg.207), "There is a basic principle in Scientology which consists of putting an injured body member exactly on and in the place it was injured. Doing this can have a therapeutic effect and is called a Contact Assist." [4] The Handbook then goes on to give an example:
"Let’s say a child stubbed his shin on the lawn mower and now doesn’t want to come nearer than one hundred feet from that lawn mower. You would make him do a Contact Assist with his shin and body at that point (one hundred feet from the same lawn mower), having him go through the motions of the accident. Gradually, gradient by gradient, you narrow the distance that he is willing to approach it and eventually he will go up and do a Contact Assist on the lawn mower." [5]
The Nerve Assist is related to chiropractic, as its purpose is to straighten joints and the spine. From the Scientology Handbook:
"Chiropractic spinal adjustment is often successful. But sometimes the spine goes out of place again and has to be adjusted time after time. The Nerve Assist was actually developed as a favor to chiropractors, many of whom now use it." (pg.219) [6]
An increasing number of Scientology-oriented chiropractors have been doing business in recent years. [7]
This assist is intended for "a person who is unconscious, even someone who has been in a long-continued coma". The person doing the assist takes the unconscious person's hand and places it on various objects, commanding them to feel it as they go along. The idea is to reach not only the person's subconscious mind, but the person's Thetan. The Handbook states: "Don’t fall for the belief that “unconscious” people are unable to think or be aware in any way. A thetan is seldom unconscious regardless of what the body is doing or not doing". It also notes: "If you are handling a person in a coma, you may not get him back to consciousness in a single assist session." [8]
In this assist, one simply points to various objects and asks the subject to acknowledge them. The purpose is "directing a person’s attention off the painful area of his body or his difficulties and out onto the environment." [9] The Locational Processing Assist is touted as an antidote to alcohol intoxication. The Handbook claims "It can make a drunk person sober in a very few minutes". [10]
- L. Ron Hubbard's Assists Processing Handbook lists over 130 different Scientology Assists, giving "detailed instructions for assists to handle toothaches, a fight with a spouse, nosebleeds, newborn babies, people with fevers, even a person in coma". [11]
- The Scientology book Assists for Illnesses and Injuries deals with the most common and basic Assists, such as the ones described here.
- The basic Assists are also covered in The Scientology Handbook.
- EssentialAuditing.org: Recovery from Disease and Accidents
- Scientology Handbook: "Helping Others Recover from Illness and Injuries"
- Volunteerministers.org: "Assists for Illnesses and Injuries"