An Ideal Org at the Gateway of the Chinese-Speaking World

On Saturday, December 7, amidst a burst of confetti and beneath a cloud of balloons, a ribbon was cut on the new Church of Scientology Ideal Organization of Kaohsiung, Taiwan. More than 4,000 Scientologists and guests from across Asia and Oceania were joined by national and city dignitaries for the dedication ceremony.

Situated just one block from the Love River, site of all traditional Taiwanese celebrations and festivals, the Church’s new home stands on Seven Sages Road in the heart of Kaohsiung. The 13-story structure measures 108,000 square feet, making it the largest Scientology Ideal Organization (Ideal Org) in the world and the first of its kind in Asia.

The Kaohsiung Ideal Org was a gift to Taiwan from the International Association of Scientologists (IAS), made possible by the generous contributions of IAS members from Taiwan and more than 100 nations around the world.

The inauguration of this new Church is especially significant for the fact it immediately follows the monumental release of the Golden Age of Tech Phase II. In preparation for grand opening, a team of 30 senior Taiwanese ecclesiastical staff graduated Golden Age of Tech Phase II training in the United States at Flag, the spiritual headquarters of the Scientology religion. These highly trained staff, coupled with Scientology materials never before available in Chinese, make it possible for this new Church to train Scientology auditors (spiritual counselors) on Taiwanese soil for the first time. In that way, the Kaohsiung Ideal Org will provide auditors for Taiwan’s growing network of Scientology Missions, which currently number 16 and stretch from Tainan to Taipei.

The inauguration holds even deeper significance for the fact Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard, as a young man, trekked across Asia pursuing fundamental questions on the origins of Man and the ultimate source of life. He explored remote cultures and arcane wisdom, during which he also gained entrance to forbidden Buddhist lamaseries in China’s Western Hills. It was these many firsthand encounters with Eastern religious traditions which spurred his subsequent research into the human mind and spirit, and ultimately led to the founding of the Scientology religion.

Crowning the grand opening was the first visit to Taiwan by Mr. David Miscavige, Chairman of the Board Religious Technology Center and ecclesiastical leader of the Scientology religion. Mr. Miscavige led the dedication ceremony and addressed the gathering of Scientologists: “It is truly my honor to join you on a day when so many dreams come to fruition: your enduring dream for what now looms before us; the abiding dream of all Scientologists to bring the legacy of LRH to the Chinese-speaking world; and fulfilling L. Ron Hubbard’s dream of returning to Asia in spirit and giving back the wisdom he glimpsed through a long tunnel of time. All these dreams will now come to pass, for this is that day when—as in a Chinese epigram—a ribbon falls like windblown silk as we present Scientology to Asia with a first Ideal Org of Taiwan.”

Founding Taiwanese Scientologist and Master of Ceremonies Dr. Oliver Hseuh welcomed the crowd with this: “On behalf of all Scientologists of Taiwan, we give our sincerest thanks to our community friends and partners who have worked with us for so many years—in particular, to the Civil Affairs Bureau of Kaohsiung City, for their gracious support and sponsorship of our event today. With this opening, we not only extend our thanks, we extend our enduring help to all corners of Kaohsiung. Be it through human rights, drug education, morals education, criminal reform, whatever the need may be—our doors are open and our help is yours.”

National and city dignitaries were on hand to welcome the new Church, including National Policy Advisor to the President of Taiwan, Liang-Chi Tan; Representative of the Ministry of Interior, Dr. Cheng-Hsiung Huang; Founder and President of the Jinghua Society Cultural Foundation, Master Ching-Yao; Director General of Kaohsiung’s Civil Affairs Bureau, Tzu-Wen Tseng; Kaohsiung City Councilor Po-Lin Huang; and Chairman of the International Foundation for the Peaceful Elimination of Opium Crops, Lung-Hui Chung.

In acknowledgement of the Church’s years of voluntary service, National Policy Advisor to the President of Taiwan, Liang-Chi Tan, said: “Your Church has carried a legacy of help in our land for more than two decades. As anyone would recall, when the mega 921 earthquake hit Taiwan, it was a disaster of immense magnitude. The Church of Scientology immediately dispatched volunteers to help handle the disaster. So it came as no surprise to me that you were presented by the President of Taiwan with the ‘Good citizens, Good deeds’ award for your work on that earthquake.”

Further recognizing the significant contribution of Scientology volunteers at all levels of Taiwanese society was Representative of the Ministry of Interior, Dr. Cheng-Hsiung Huang, who said: “For years you have dedicated your time and lives to anti-drug work and human rights dissemination. And so I speak to you today on behalf of the Ministry to proclaim that the Church of Scientology has now won the national ‘Excellent Religious Group Award’ for 10 consecutive years.”

Founder and President of the Jinghua Society Cultural Foundation, Master Ching-Yao, honored the work of Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard when he said: “Mr. Hubbard cared deeply about Man’s destiny. We share the same goal—a better world. It must be said that this Church is built to practice all that he envisioned for Man. So you have my most heartfelt blessings that through your kindest efforts, you will make a more beautiful world and bring happiness to humankind.”

In her salutatory address, Director General of Kaohsiung’s Civil Affairs Bureau, Tzu-Wen Tseng, said: “On behalf of the City Mayor and the Kaohsiung City Government, I would like to express our appreciation and warm welcome to every Scientologist from Taiwan and overseas. It is our wish that the Church of Scientology’s expansion empowers the City of Kaohsiung to flourish and prosper. Let us work together to create a better world.”

Kaohsiung City Councilor Po-Lin Huang highlighted the Church’s human rights initiative: “I am particularly proud that I have partnered with your human rights program now for over five years. I have been honored to support many of your city events, all of which resulted in thousands of our citizens becoming informed of their rights. You are making a huge impact because your program is not just citywide, it is countrywide, and that means a better and brighter Taiwan for us all.”

Lung-Hui Chung, Chairman of the International Foundation for the Peaceful Elimination of Opium Crops, spoke of his successful partnership with the Scientology-sponsored anti-drug program: “As a veteran of drug prevention activities in Asia, your Truth About Drugs materials have given me power and confidence. And most importantly, you have given me hope that even one person can take a giant’s step with the tools provided by your Church.”

The new Kaohsiung Church provides all visitors an introduction to Dianetics and Scientology, beginning with the Public Information Center. Video displays, featuring more than 500 films, present the beliefs and practices of the religion, as well as the life and legacy of Founder L. Ron Hubbard. The Information Center also offers a detailed overview of the many Church-sponsored humanitarian programs—including a worldwide human rights education initiative; an equally far-reaching drug education, prevention and rehabilitation program; a global network of literacy and learning centers; and the Scientology Volunteer Minister program, now comprising the world’s largest independent relief force. The Center is open morning to night for visitors to tour at their leisure and to return as often as they wish.

The Church’s Chapel provides for Scientology congregational gatherings, including Sunday Services, weddings and naming ceremonies—as well as a host of community-wide events open to members of all denominations. The new Church also houses multiple seminar rooms and classrooms, in addition to dozens of auditing rooms for Scientology auditing (spiritual counseling).

The Church further includes facilities to translate and produce informational materials on Dianetics and Scientology as well as Church-sponsored humanitarian initiatives.

Ideal Orgs reflect the fulfillment of Founder L. Ron Hubbard’s vision for the religion. They not only provide the ideal facilities to service Scientologists on their ascent to greater states of spiritual awareness and freedom, they are also designed to serve as a home for the entire community and a meeting ground of cooperative effort to uplift citizens of all denominations.

The Church of Scientology of Kaohsiung follows the opening of Ideal Orgs in Portland, Oregon; Pretoria, South Africa; Cambridge in Ontario, Canada; Padova, Italy; Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Israel; Los Gatos, California; Buffalo, New York; Phoenix, Arizona; Denver, Colorado; Stevens Creek in San Jose, California; Orange County, California; Greater Cincinnati, Ohio; Sacramento, California; and Hamburg, Germany.

Other Ideal Orgs opened in recent years include London, Moscow, Brussels, Berlin, Madrid and Rome in Europe; Melbourne, Australia; Johannesburg, South Africa; New York, New York; Washington, D.C.; Los Angeles, Inglewood, Pasadena and San Francisco, California; Tampa, Florida; Nashville, Tennessee; Seattle, Washington; Dallas, Texas; Quebec City, Canada; and Mexico City, Mexico.

For a complete list of Scientology Ideal Orgs, visit Scientology.org.

The Scientology religion was founded by author and philosopher L. Ron Hubbard. The first Church of Scientology was formed in Los Angeles in 1954 and the religion has expanded to more than 11,000 Churches, Missions and affiliated groups, with millions of members in 184 countries.