Well I have told you many things on this blog about the Scientology religion. Particularly about groups and activities that help others.

One thing I haven't touched on in this one is the "Freewinds." It has many functions and one of them is hosting conferences and also helping the local area, so here are a few things about that.

Firstly, so you know what the "Freewinds" looks like:



Now not to be confused with the Freewinds Charter Company, the Freewinds Motor Vessel cruises the Caribbean.

Here is a page that shows the versatility of the different functions the Freewinds performs.

In fact a number of my friends have blogs with different aspects of the Freewinds, they are all kind of cool and interesting:

Cindy's Premier Exec Freewinds Page

Scientologist.blogspot.com - a Freewinds archive page

This one has a couple of entries on the Freewinds

Lots of links to lots of Freewinds photos

and of course the Freewinds Blog.

One thing that would really help the world and all people is human rights. We don't really have to come up with something new on the subject. The United Nations' Universal Declaration on Human Rights has been endorsed by most countries on earth. If we would just get this applied there could be no war, no slavery, no ethnic cleansing, no racial or sexual discrimination, no terrorism.

My church, the Church of Scientology International and other Scientology churches, believe in human rights as a basic principle of our religion. It is covered in the Scientology Creed and the Code of a Scientologist. That's why we work to promote the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to make sure people know their rights and insist on human rights for themselves and others.

Here's an article I found in the North Devon Journal in England about one of the activities Scientologists work on to accomplish this.

Copyright 2004 North Devon Journal
North Devon Journal


Booklet tells all on rights

As can be seen in the daily news, we live in a world where intolerance and human rights violations too often prevail against humankind's more positive attributes. This is all the more possible where ignorance exists as to what human rights actually are.

In the wake of the Second World War and the widespread destruction of those years, the United Nations and world leaders adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which set out what basic rights all people should have.

Yet today, billions of people are not granted these rights, and most people in the world don't even know what they are.

Philosopher and humanitarian Ron Hubbard stated that, "Human rights must be made a fact not an idealistic dream." Youth for Human Rights, a campaign launched by members of the Church of Scientology and open to people of all faiths or none, has been created to educate today's youth - who of course include the leaders of tomorrow - on the subject of human rights.

The campaign recently introduced a booklet, What are Human Rights? laying out the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and making it easy for anyone to learn what their rights are.

To obtain your own personal copy of this free booklet, please send a stamped (21p) addressed envelope (C5 in size 22cm x 16cm) and copy of this letter to Liza Stumbke, Youth for Human Rights UK, Suite 3, 31a High Street, East Grinstead, West Sussex, RH19 3AF.

Once again, the Scientologists in Clearwater and Tampa have shown what help is really all about. As in disaster scenes all over the world, the Scientology Volunteer Ministers of the Tampa Bay area have proven themselves to be dependable, caring and effective in their efforts following hurricane Charley's devastation.


"Tampa) Tampa Bay Volunteer Ministers of the Church of Scientology have joined with hundreds of other churches and organizations under the authority of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help the victims of one of the worse hurricanes in US history.

But Yamila Sene, the spokeswoman for the Volunteer Ministers, reported that much more is still needed. She said, "With all the outpouring of help by way of supplies, food and volunteers, we are still far short of what is needed to address not just the larger cities like Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda but the many small towns which can no longer be easily reached due to the eradication of roadway signs by Hurricane Charley. 'Some of these towns are completely unrecognizable," said Mrs. Sene.'"

"The Scientology Volunteer Ministers Response teams are active in 50 US states and in many countries around the world, providing service at a national and international level. 800 volunteer ministers served at Ground Zero for weeks following that disaster.">>

Scientology in Europe - AOSHEU (AOSH EU) in Denmark

I love meeting people from different places, and one thing I've noticed is how easy it is to make friends with Scientologists no matter where they are from.

Scientologists have so much in common - not only in our use of Scientology applied religious philosophy but, for example, our agreement in the way people should be treated, the importance of communication, the need to help others in the community with programs like the Scientology Volunteer Ministers, and our belief in the goodness or our fellow man and his/her importance.

Nowhere is the comeraderie among different kinds of people more obvious than at AOSH EU (AOSHEU) in Copenhagen.

Here are some links to find out more about this special place:

Scientology on Two Coasts
AOSH EU posting
Fortgeschrittenen Organisation für Europa - AOSH EU
Organizzazione Avanzata per l'Europa - AOSH EU
Advanced Organization & Saint Hill Europe - AOSH EU
What is Scientology - Japanese - AOSH EU (AOSHEU)
Elôszó - AOSH EU
What is Scientology - AOSH EU (AOSHEU) in Russian
AOSH EU (Hebrew)
Avancerede Organisation for Europa, København - AOSH EU

Sometimes good advice is a change of environment, to get out for a while and chill. Then you can come back refreshed and ready to tackle life again with a new perspective.

Getting out could mean a number of things: catching a plane somewhere exotic, going hiking in the mountains or taking a cruise on a charter yacht.

I would take the charter yacht route myself, but thats because I learned to sail at an early age and while I don't get to do it so much these days, it is still something I thoroughly enjoy.

I found a web site that charters yachts in the UK and this would be fun - so long as it was Summer of course!

Anyhow, the Freewinds Yacht Charter is one such idea.

Boy, has it been a while or what.

Okay so I want to include some interesting data.

First of all, how do like my new cool blog?

Freewinds

Secondly, I would like to bring your attention to this cool link. Beliefnet is a very multi-religious web site, giving all viewpoints. This is an important things these days. Religious tolerance is an important thing.

Beliefnet Article on Scientology

One of my favorite things to do is use what I've learned as a Scientology Volunteer Minister to help people.

Here's an example.

My mother is getting on in life, and a few years ago she had to have double bypass surgery. It was very rough on her, and she suffered complications. I took care of her for 10 days and used what I'd learned about "Scientology assists". These are simple techniques anyone can learn and use.

In Scientology we recognize that there are three parts to man. There is the body, the mind and the being, called the "Thetan" in Scientology. You don't have a thetan - you are a thetan.

A Scientology assists helps the thetan (you) confront the environment, and brings him or her into better communication with the body. By doing this, the being helps heal the body much faster than if one were to rely simply on medical treatment. In fact I have seen it occur that medical treatment got nowhere until Scientology assist were also applied.

At any rate, with my mother, it was so gratifying being able to help her with these techniques. It made her recovery much smoother, and it made me feel great to be able to help.

Here's something about the Scientology Volunteer Ministers that was printed in the Daily News in Novermber 2001

"From: News and Views | Daily Dish | Wednesday, November 07, 2001

SCIENTOLOGY EARNS AN ASSIST AT GROUND ZERO, TRAVOLTA SAYS

John Travolta is thrilled that his beloved Church of Scientology found its way to Ground Zero.

When the longtime devotee of the religious group heard that his church was aiding rescue workers at the World Trade Center site, he told Rosie O'Donnell that "Some of our volunteer ministers who are on Ground Zero along with the Red Cross are using these assists that are taking people out of shock. And they really work."

The 'assists' to which Travolta refers are procedures used to get an individual to confront and handle physical difficulties by addressing spiritual trauma. It was "these assists" that attracted Travolta to Scientology in the first place.

'I was in Mexico, shooting a movie with an actress who was a Scientologist,' Travolta told O'Donnell in the December issue of her magazine, Rosie. 'I wasn't feeling well, and she gave me one of these assists, and I felt better immediately, and I thought, 'Hey, there has to be something to this.' I was only 21.'

Travolta adds that Scientology even helps him know what role his own celebrity should play in the world — especially at a time like this.

'One of my favorite quotes from [Scientology founder] L. Ron Hubbard is, 'It's all right to think that you're the most important person in the world, as long as everyone else is equally important.'

'Celebrities can be more valuable in the time of crisis, but we are not more important.' As all of us have seen these last two months"

More Information about Scientology Volunteer Ministers

Scientology Volunteer Ministers
Scientologists, volunteers feed thousands of workers
Abbas Zawawi & JoJo Zawawi - Volunteer Ministers
Scientology Volunteer Ministers bring practical help to Hounslow
Scientology Volunteer Ministers Centrre opened by Sharron Davies, MBE
Scientology Volunteer Ministers - Clergy Corner
Worldandnation: Scientology reaches out to troubled with ad campaign

As the date for the completion of the new Scientology building in Clearwater approaches I thought it would be good to look back at the groundbreaking event for the building. What Mr. David Miscavigesaid at that time is even more true today than it was then. David Miscavige is a very inspirational leader, who always emphasizes how important it is to help others.

Here's more on the groundbreaking ceremony:

On the evening of November 21st 1998, in Clearwater Florida, Mr. David Miscavige, Chairman of the Board Religious Technology Center, officiated a milestone event in Scientology’s history.

Mr. Miscavige gave an insightful speech detailing the significance of the new building as the mecca for the Scientology® religion. Over 6,000 were in attendance, including, state and local officials, community leaders, local residents and neighbors and ScientologistsTM, many of whom had traveled from around the world.

Welcome to a groundbreaking like none you’ve ever seen.

This is a moment of great significance in the history of Scientology.

Indeed, tonight is a watershed.

For as we stand on the cusp of our 50th year – millions strong across 59-nations – this building represents far more than mere concrete and steel.

As a matter of fact, when considering all that will eventually comprise the mecca of our religion in this city —here is a project greater in physical scope than the combined total of all Scientology just twenty-five years ago.

And so it’s not for nothing that I also say—here will stand a structure that will symbolize our pledge for a better culture—a civilization without insanity, without criminals, without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where man is free to rise to greater heights.

Now, on one hand, maybe this building can only be appreciated in terms of it’s sheer physical size.

You can read the full text of the speech here: Groundbreaking Ceremony Clearwater Florida with David Miscavige

Here's an interesting article about helping people. It was written by Rev. Cathy Norman who is the Director of Special Affairs for the Church of Scientology of Texas

Scientology's volunteering can be applied by anyone
By Cathy Norman
Saturday, November 16, 2002

More than 25 years ago, Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard observed that we as a society were faced with rising problems of crime, illiteracy, immorality and drug use. He saw this as the result of a world more and more dominated by materialism and disappearing spiritual values.

His answer to this was the Scientology Volunteer Ministers program, which aims to "restore purpose, truth and spiritual values to the lives of others."

Describing this program, he said: "A Volunteer Minister in Scientology is defined as a person who on a strictly voluntary basis helps out his fellow man by providing simple, basic counseling to people he meets to assist them in overcoming difficulties they may be having in life. A Volunteer Minister understands that something needs to be done about the world and . . . he wants to do what he can to help those around him."

The whole article is online on the Austin Interreligious Ministries web site: Scientology's volunteering can be applied by anyone

There are more articles by the same Scientology minister:
'
Affinity, Reality and Communication Form a Powerful Tool

Celebrating Hubbard's Message

Use a Map to Find the Path to Happiness

Cuban Family's Quest for Freedom Reminds Us to Cherish Ours

Scientology Gives Believers a Map on the Road to Self-fulfillment"

This article from the Filipino Post about Dianetics, tells it better than I could.



If you have had more than your fair share of accidents and injuries
lately, Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Healthby L. Ron Hubbard , is
the book you should be reading.

According to a survey by the National Safety Council, the number of
unintentional injury deaths in America has been in excess of 90,000 per year.
In the year 2000, traffic accidents were the leading cause of death for teens
between age 16 and 19, according to federal data that also showed that the
youngest teens were the most accident-prone.

In the best-selling self-help book Dianetics, author and humanitarian L.
Ron Hubbard explains what makes a person accident-prone. "If one knows the
cause of something, he can usually prevent the cause from going into effect,"

Writes Hubbard. The discovery and proof that the malaria germ was carried
by the mosquito is what makes it possible to prevent the disease.

Similarly, when you know the cause of accidents you can do a great deal
toward preventing them.

Hubbard's research identified exactly what occurs when our analytical
mind is shut down by physical pain, drugs, or other means: the subconscious or
reactive mind is opened for direct recording of what is going on around us and
this recording has the power to command our actions in the future.

Just as subjects who have been hypnotized will do exactly as they were
commanded under hypnosis, so we react according to commands in our reactive
mind.

Hubbard named this moment of lowered analytical awareness or
unconsciousness an engram--and engrams can determine our fate. "When that
recording has verbal content," says Hubbard, "it becomes most severely
aberrative."

"The accident prone person is a case where the reactive mind commands
accidents," writes Hubbard. "The terrible and awesome death toll taken by our
automotive transport is almost all attributable to reactive mind driving rather
than learned response driving."

Engrams subtly weave their way from incident to incident and cause
catastrophe in the life of the accident-prone person and those around him.

Stress, depression and anxiety as a result of accidents can by themselves
cripple one's ability to deal with everyday life. "The aberree, in thousands of
ways, complicates the lives of others," writes Hubbard.

But with the information in the book Dianetics, an aberree, or one
affected by engrams, can be sorted out--these engrams can be cleared away and
the reactive causes and commands can be handled by getting rid of the
source--the reactive mind.

So if you or someone you know has been bumping into things, having little
incidents and accidents or even causing general turmoil--read this book. It may
just save your life or perhaps the lives of others.

Scientology and Dianetics Links

Church of Scientology Advanced Organization & Saint Hill in Copenhagen, Denmark AOSH EU
Drug Free Ambassadors - Leading the way to a drug-free Australia
Scientology Study Technology: Effective Education and Training

Here's an article with some good suggestions for anyone who wants to be happier.

Reaching Goals of Happiness

By Trevor Gordon


What makes you happier than anything else you do? Where does real
contentment come from? If you understand and apply the following
definition of happiness, you also open the door to unlimited success for
yourself, your family and your group.

"Happiness could be defined as the emotion of progress toward desirable
goals. There is an instant of contemplation of the last goal in which one
is content. But contentment becomes boredom immediately that new goals do
not come to view. There is no more unhappy thing than a man who has
accomplished all his ends in life." - L. Ron Hubbard

Examine how three facts, from this definition of happiness, make
happiness come and go in your life.

1. "There is an instant of contemplation of the last goal in which one
is content."

Think of goals you have reached in the past. Remember how you felt on
your wedding day or when you graduated from school or a training course?
In each case, you achieved a goal!

At every point in your life when you felt content or happy, you can
probably find you were either making progress toward a goal or had reached
a goal.

2. "But contentment becomes boredom immediately that new goals do not
come to view."

Without a new goal, you experience boredom leads to stress and misery.
Studio v.9: Offers exciting features for users.

For example, planning a vacation is exciting. But toward the end of a
vacation many people are bored to tears as they no longer have a goal.
Arguments during honeymoons
are common if the newlyweds do not set goals
for their marriage.

Planning your retirement and the first day of retirement is a thrill.
But the joy of freedom quickly turns to boredom and early death if you do
not work on new goals.

"There is no more unhappy thing than a man who has accomplished all his
ends in life."

Think of a time you were very bored. Had you completed a major goal
without starting a new one? Examine your goals, or lack of goals, at those
times.

3. "Happiness could be defined as the emotion of progress toward
desirable goals."

We can use this definition to understand unhappiness as well. When were
you last unhappy? In each case, you probably had no goal; you were trying
to reach an undesirable goal; or you were making no progress toward a
goal.

Using the definition of happiness makes happiness easy to achieve.
Simply chose desirable goals and make progress toward them! The following
steps will help you put this definition of happiness to use.

1. List goals you have not yet reached. Small goals, large goals, old
goals, failed goals and current goals. Make a very complete list.

2. Circle those goals that interest you the most. Omit goals that do not
excite you as you can't reach a goal unless it interests you.

However, if an uninteresting goal is vital for you to reach, find ways
to get excited about that goal. Examine the goal's benefits.

For example, maybe the goal to "Pay off all debts" does not thrill you
until you examine the benefits: Save $5319 in interest this year,
financial freedom, less anxiety. If you cannot find any benefits of the
goal, eliminate it.

3. Add new, desirable goals. Push your self limitations and set goals
you really, really want. What are your greatest desires? If you had
unlimited time, money and support, what would your life be like? If you
knew you could accomplish anything, what would your goals be? Add these
goals to the list.

4. Line up your goals in a logical sequence. The better your goals align
with each other, the more likely you will reach them. Say, you have a goal
to travel the world for six months this year and another goal to make more
money this year than ever before, you might have problems.

However, if you line up your goals, your odds of success are better
because your focus is constant. Example of aligned goals: "Finish my
training programme so I can double my productivity and income." "Help my
husband lower our monthly debts so we can spend more time with the kids."

5. To complete the procedure and become happier, you now need to start
making progress toward your goals.Big or small steps, any progress is
progress. Plan out next week. Plan out the next month. Plan your best year
ever.

At the start of each day, ask yourself: What can I do today to make
progress toward my goals?

The more progress you make toward your most desired goals, the happier
and more successful your new year will be!

More Scientology Resources

Scientology Effective Solutions
Scientology (CESNUR)
Allexperts Scientology Q&A

One of the best things about Scientology churches is the dedication of the staff: unlike some other churches which are only open a few times a week, Scientology churches are open 7 days a week - usually from 9 AM to 10:30 PM every day. If you have a problem, or situation in your life, or know someone who does, there is always someone there you can talk to about it and get help. And the help is real help - not a prescription for drugs that will just make you worse. Here's a link to be able to find a Scientology church or mission or if you prefer you can contact someone online here

More Information on Scientology

Scientology Technology to Help Children

Dianetics

Scientology: Freeing Society from Drugs

Scientology Study Technology: Effective Education and Training

L. Ron Hubbard: Study Technology

L. Ron Hubbard, The Humanitarian - Education

New Era Dianetics by L. Ron Hubbard

Drug Free Ambassadors in Australia - Leading the way to a drug-free Australia

L. Ron Hubbard: The Founder of Scientology

Scientology Practical Solutions

Theology & Practice of a Contemporary Religion: Scientology

Scientology: Individual personal stories and successes

Abbas & JoJo Zawawi have a cool web site about their activities as Scientology Volunteer Ministers

The Volunteer Ministers at the Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization in Clearwater are a very active team, and you can read more about what they do here.

I found some interesting sites that have good information on Scientology.

Ontario Consultants on Relgious Tolerance - Scientology This is run by a fellow named B.A. Robertson who has information on many religions and has excellent research that debunks myths about religions, helping to foster tolerance by defusing prejudice. His entry on Scientology is very thorough and clear.

Selectsmart - Scientology . Selectsmart provides various "selectors" which are quizes or questionaires on various topics, such as who is the Presidential candidate who most closely matches your own political and social views, what job is right for you, and what religion most closely aligns with your beliefs. This particular page on Scientology lists out some of the basic principles of the Scientology religion.

Scientology (CESNUR): CESNUR stands for Center for Studies on New Religions. Information on this site is available in English, Italian, French and Spanish. It presents factual information on new religions including copies of court decisions and other legal information, as well as essays and news articles.

Allexperts Scientology This site provides experts on many different subjects, who will answer questions submitted by site visitors. These experts cover such diverse fields as sports, education, kids, money, and the various religions and beliefs. This page provides experts on the subject of the Scientology religion. They are all very experienced Scientologists and they answer questions with reference to the writings of Scientology founder, L. Ron Hubbard. Very helpful.