Peace in the individual

Over 50 years of scientific research demonstrate the holistic positive benefits of the Transcendental Meditation technique on the individual. Numerous physical and mental health benefits result in a more peaceful, settled mind and body.

The research shows that meditators become more tolerant and compassionate, and their personal and professional relationships become more harmonious and supportive. Anti-social behaviour and negative trends decrease, as the accumulated stresses are dissolved.

The less stressed we are, the more peaceful we become, and each peaceful individual contributes towards a more peaceful world.

Demonstrating peace in the physiology

Numerous scientific studies demonstrate how TM* practice brings deep rest to the body and mind, giving rise to a more peaceful state in the individual.

When you access that state of inner calm effortlessly, research shows your body gains a unique state of deep rest. There’s a reduction of cortisol levels that has been documented in peer-reviewed research. During a night’s sleep, cortisol levels drop about 10%, but during 20 minutes of TM practice, cortisol levels drop 30-40%. This shows a significant reduction of stress in the individual physiology, helping to create more peaceful individuals.

Peace at scale: the
Maharishi Effect*

Extensive published research confirms that collective practice of the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi programmes by groups of several hundred to several thousand trained experts quickly neutralises acute societal stress—including the ethnic, religious, and political tensions that fuel violence and conflict.

The immediate, practical result is markedly reduced crime and social violence, and improved positive trends throughout society. This phenomenon of increased coherence and peace throughout society was first reported in research published in 1976, which found that when 1% of a community practised the Transcendental Meditation programme, the crime rate dropped by an average of 16%.

This phenomenon was named the “Maharishi Effect” in honour of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who first predicted it in 1960. This term now includes the influence generated by group practice of the advanced TM-Sidhi programme, through which even the square root of 1% of a community is sufficient to create measurable changes in social trends. The reduction of social violence, terrorism, and war through group practice of the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi programmes is the most extensively researched and thoroughly established phenomenon in the history of the social sciences.

We aim to establish permanent groups to practise these techniques together, to ensure peace at scale for our precious world.

Demonstrations of peace-creating technologies: The Middle East

This study, conducted in the Middle East during the height of the Lebanon War, summarises the findings of seven periods between 1983 and 1985 when groups of participants in the TM-Sidhi programme assembled.

The finding was that peace in the region significantly increased, as measured by an index that included increased cooperation, reduced level of conflict, reduced war fatalities, and reduced war injuries. The increased order and coherence in society, shown by this and many other studies, suggest how a more peaceful world can be created through group practice of the TM-Sidhi programme.

Demonstrations of peace-creating technologies: The United States

A large group of TM-Sidhi participants assembled from 2007 to 2010 at Maharishi International University, Iowa, USA

Research shows that during this period, there were significant reductions in violent crime in urban areas.

Additionally, across the nation, there were reduced homicides, reduced traffic fatalities and other accidental deaths, reduced drug-related deaths, and reduced infant mortality.

The researchers used time series analysis methods, which control for past trends and cycles in society.

World peace created from this level
will uphold dynamism in peace
—progress in fulfilment
for everyone of every nation

MAHARISHI MAHESH YOGI