Increased Coherence Within the Nation;
Decreased Regional and International Conflict

Research shows that the influence of coherence created by the Maharishi Effect can be measured on both national and international levels. Increased coherence within the nation expresses itself in improved national harmony and well-being. In addition, this internal coherence and harmony generates an influence that extends beyond the nation's borders, expressing itself in improved international relations and reduced international conflicts. Following is a brief summary of these research findings. (The numbers following each finding indicate the research references listed on the last page.)  

Studies on the Maharishi Effect repeatedly demonstrate that the rate of crime and violence within society drops significantly immediately after a group of experts in Maharishi's TM-Sidhi Programme exceeding the square root of one per cent of the population is assembled for twice-daily practice. This effect has been demonstrated repeatedly in countries around the world.

Research also shows that during periods in which the number of experts practising Maharishi's TM-Sidhi Programme is sufficient to create the Maharishi Effect, economic indicators improve, as measured by such variables as reduced inflation and unemployment; and quality of life improves, as measured by overall indices that include many social variables.  

The Maharishi Effect has consistently been found to reduce conflict and violence on the regional and international levels.

For example, in 1978 Maharishi implemented a 'World Peace Project', in which 1400 experts went to five trouble-spot regions (Southeast Asia, Middle East, Iran, Zimbabwe [southern Africa], and Central America) to reduce violence through collective practice of the TM-Sidhi Programme. An extensive analysis of international relations and conflict data from an independent research group (the Conflict and Peace Data Bank of the University of Maryland) showed that during the three months of the project there was a significant reduction of hostile acts and an increase in cooperative events in these trouble-spots (16).

In Lebanon, a series of research studies repeatedly demonstrated reduction of armed conflict and increased progress towards peace during periods when there were large groups of individuals participating in Maharishi’s Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi Programme - including Yogic Flying. These studies, begun by Professor Tony Nader*, MD, PhD, and extended by other researchers, indicate that the effect of very large groups of Yogic Flyers extends over a larger geographical area.

The first of these studies was conducted on a Lebanese town that was situated in a conflict area in Lebanon. When one per cent of the population of this town was instructed in the Transcendental Meditation Programme, the result was an immediate cessation of hostilities, and an improvement in social, economic, and ecological conditions in the town. These improvements were in sharp contrast to the continuing violence in surrounding control towns (19).

A second study by Professor Nader* and colleagues examined the influence on Lebanon of three large assemblies of TM-Sidhi Programme Yogic Flyers held in a six-month period—one assembly in Lebanon, one in southern Europe, and one in North America; each assembly was large enough to positively influence Lebanon according to the square root of one per cent formula noted earlier. Time series analysis found that during each assembly there was significantly increased progress towards peace, as indicated by daily news reports and a significant reduction of war deaths (20).

A later investigation (refer to the chart below) replicated this study and extended it to a longer period of time, two years and three months (1983–1985). During this period of time, seven assemblies of TM-Sidhi Programme Yogic Flyers were held in the Middle East, in Europe, or in North America, which were predicted to have an influence on Lebanon according to the size of the group of Yogic Flyers. A time series analysis of daily data found that during these seven assemblies there was a 71% reduction in war casualties, a 68% reduction in war injuries, a 66% mean increase in cooperation among antagonists, and a 48% reduction in level of conflict; each of these effects was statistically significant. When all four of these variables were combined into one overall index of peace, a statistically significant increase of peace was measured in Lebanon during each of the seven assemblies (21).