Scientific Research on the
Maharishi Effect

Research Findings Indicating Reduced International Conflict—Radiating Harmony to Prevent the Birth of an Enemy:

• Improved International Relations (34-37)
• Reduced Regional Conflict (23, 35, 38, 39)
• Decreased War Intensity and War Fatalities (23, 35, 38, 39)
• Decreased Terrorism (36)

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 (35).

In 1983, a group of Yogic Flyers was established for two months in an area near an ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Research studies published in the Journal of Conflict Resolution verified that during the period when the size of this group was large, there was a significant decrease in war intensity and war fatalities (23, 39). (Refer to chart below.)

Reduction of Domestic and International Conflict through the Group Practice of TM-Sidhi Yogic Flying During periods when a large group was participating in the Transcendental Meditation Sidhi Programme in the Middle East, there was a significant drop in war intensity and war deaths in the Middle East conflict. Reference: (23).