Contents:
Introduction
Review
of Scientific Research
The Mechanics
of Social Coherence
Invincible
National Defence
Prevention
Wing of the Military Practically Demonstrated
in Mozambique
Conclusion
A
Scientific Formula to Create Invincible
National Defence
Introduction
The
past few years have seen an increase
in intractable regional conflicts
that the international community has
been powerless to resolve. The global
relief and freedom from fear that
resulted from the "grand handshake"
between the superpowers in 1988 has
soon become meaningless, ending up
in the Gulf Wars, Somalia, the Balkans
as well as other hot spots. Many of
these conflicts are so deeply rooted
within the societies in which they
manifest that only fundamental changes
in the methods being employed to resolve
conflicts have any hope of success.
This
article outlines an approach to conflict
prevention and resolution, and social
progress that has its roots in India's
ancient Vedic tradition. Scientist
and educator Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
has recently brought this ancient
knowledge to light. The programmes
underlying this approach have been
validated by almost fifty scientific
studies, some of which are reviewed
below. The positive effects of these
programmes were demonstrated in Mozambique.
Comments from Lt. Gen. Tobias Dai,
(Ret.) now the Defence Minister of
Mozambique, are also included below.
The
basis for this approach to preventing
and resolving conflict is the understanding
that conflict, and other forms of
social disorder, are manifestations
of accumulated stress within society.
Stress in the individual leads to
a wide range of problems, from ulcers
and heart disease to anxiety, hostility,
and aggressive behaviour. In a similar
way, Maharishi's Vedic Science suggests
that stress in the collective consciousness
[1]
of society creates
a fertile ground for a wide range
of social problems—including violent
crime and socio-cultural conflict
leading to the disintegration of society
and ultimately war. The means proposed
to reduce violence and social disorder
is a coherence-creating group that
reduces stress in the collective consciousness
of society as a whole.
Review
of Scientific Research
As
early as 1960, Maharishi predicted
that when 1% of a population practiced
the Transcendental Meditation programme,
a measurable increase in orderliness,
coherence, and positive trends would
be observed in society. On the basis
of initial research in 1974 and the
introduction of the more powerful
TM-Sidhi programme in 1977, it was
predicted that when the square root
of 1% of a population practiced the
TM and TM-Sidhi programme together
as a group, a similar increase in
orderliness would be observed in society.
The formulae for the size of the group
necessary to create a "phase
transition" to a measurable higher
quality of life in society were calculated.
These calculations were based on analogous
phase transitions from disorder to
orderliness as studied in physics.
The
earliest research documenting reduced
violence throughout society examined
the effects of the Transcendental
Meditation programme on twenty-four
U.S. cities that had 1% or more of
their population individually practising
this technique in their own homes.
Research found that the total crime
decreased 16% in the "1% cities"
compared to matched control cities.
The study
[2]
also found that
crime rate trends remained significantly
reduced in the 1% cities compared
to controls over the next five years.
A
dramatic experiment testing the ability
of the practice of the Transcendental
Meditation programme to reduce armed
conflict was conducted in the Lebanese
village of Baskinta, population 10,000,
situated at the centre of the Lebanese
conflict.
[3]
The number of shells
coming into the village, the number
of people killed and wounded, and
property damage in Baskinta was compared
with the same statistics from three
control villages in the same area.
The baseline period was from the autumn
of 1978 to the spring of 1982, and
the experimental period from the summer
of 1982 through the winter of 1984.
The TM programme was first introduced
to Baskinta in May 1981 and the town
reached the 1% threshold in June 1982.
The
results sharply contrasted with the
village's history, and to what was
happening to control villages in the
same area. As predicted, hostilities
completely ceased in Baskinta from
the time 1% of its population began
to practice the TM programme. This
cessation of violence in Baskinta
was in sharp contrast to the worsening
trends in all surrounding control
villages.
More
recently, research has evaluated the
effects of the advanced technology—group
practice of the TM-Sidhi programme.
These studies report that when even
a relatively small group of individuals
(approximately the square root of
1% of a population) practiced the
TM-Sidhi programme together in groups,
crime and other indicators of social
disorder decreased in the whole society.
When these coherence-creating groups
were dispersed, crime and other societal
disorders returned to their former
levels.
The
following is a brief review of some
of the studies on coherence creating
assemblies, showing reduced crime,
violence, and warfare, and improved
international relations.
In
Britain, the ability of a coherence-creating
group to reduce crime has been convincingly
demonstrated in the Merseyside metropolitan
area. The crime rate has shown a relative
fall of 60% compared to national trends
since a coherence-creating group was
established in the area. In six years,
the crime rate has fallen from the
third highest of all metropolitan
areas to the lowest in England.
[4]
Over
a two-year period, a week-by-week
study showed that whenever attendance
at a large coherence-creating group
in Washington D.C. increased, violent
crime decreased.
[5]
Another,
more recent study in Washington, D.C.
[6]
demonstrated that
during a two-month coherence-creating
assembly in the city from June to
July 1993, violent crime in the city
decreased by 20.1%. The public's decreasing confidence in the Clinton
administration dramatically reversed.
The Washington crime results were
based on statistics received from
the District of Columbia Metropolitan
Police Department.
Analysis of the results was
approved by an independent Project
Review Board of thirteen leading scientists
in the field of social science.
An
analysis of public statements of the
U.S. president concerning the Soviet
Union indicated a warming of U.S.-Soviet
relations associated with periods
of high participation in a coherence-creating
group in the U.S.
[7]
In another study,
statistics provided by the Rand Corporation
showed that during the three largest
coherence-creating assemblies ever
held (approaching or exceeding 7,000
participants), worldwide terrorism
dropped by 72%. At the same time,
all international conflict reduced
by more than 30%.
[8]
A
day-by-day study of a two-month-long
coherence-creating assembly in Israel
showed that, on days of high attendance,
war deaths in neighbouring Lebanon
decreased by 76%. On the same days,
a composite quality-of-life index
showed decreased crime, traffic accidents
and fires in Jerusalem, and decreased
crime accompanied by improvements
in the stock market and national mood
throughout Israel. Other possible
causes (weekends, holidays, weather,
etc.) were statistically controlled
for and could not account for the
results.
[9]
A follow-up day-by-day
study of more than two years showed
that during seven different coherence-creating
assemblies, war deaths in Lebanon
decreased by an average of 71%.
[10]
The
research results on the effects of
coherence-creating assemblies on the
Lebanese conflict are of particular
significance to UN peacekeeping forces.
One study covered the period from
July to August 1983, and the other
covered the two-year period from 1983-1985.
During these periods, international
peacekeeping forces were on duty with
UNIFIL in South Lebanon. The research
indicates that during the coherence-creating
assemblies, decreased stress and increased
coherence in regional collective consciousness
may have diminished violent outbursts
in Lebanon and facilitated more co-operative
interaction among typically antagonistic
factions
[11]
. This research
provides strong evidence for the reliability
of coherence-creating groups even
under extreme conditions of protracted
political violence.
The
Mechanics of Social Coherence
The
idea that individuals in one place
can influence individuals at a distance
with no apparent behavioural interaction
between them is counterintuitive to
most people. The natural sciences,
however, provide strong support for
this sort of action-at-a-distance
phenomenon. Gravity and the transmission
of radio and television signals are
both examples of action-at-a-distance
phenomena that have become familiar
to us today. To understand these phenomena,
physicists developed the concepts
of "fields" to mediate these
long-range effects. The basic understanding
given to us by the quantum theory
of physics is that the entire manifest
creation is the fluctuations of underlying
universal fields, and that all bodies
and processes are connected at fundamental
levels.
In
recent years, the concept of fundamental
force fields, and matter fields has
been replaced with a single field—the
unified field or "superstring"
field. Thus modern science has identified
a single, universal field of nature's
intelligence at the basis of all forms
and phenomena in the universe.
The
Transcendental Meditation technique
is a systematic procedure to refine
human awareness to experience and
explore deeper levels of intelligence
of the mind. This systematic refinement
of human awareness culminates in the
experience of a level of intelligence
that is completely unified and universal
in its nature—the experience of the
unified field itself. The generation
of social coherence through the group
practice of the TM and TM-Sidhi programme
takes place at this most fundamental
level, where the influence is most
powerful and pervasive in its effect.
[12]
Many
countries have experience of how a
small group of disciplined people
can completely disrupt a nation, having
an effect that is completely disproportionate
to their size and resources. The opposite
can also be true—national incoherence
can be neutralised by small groups
of experts functioning from the Unified
Field of Natural Law.
Invincible
National Defence
In
view of the empirical research on
the effectiveness of coherence-creating
assemblies it is now possible to envision
a new type of National Defence Strategy
based on the establishment of permanent
coherence—creating groups of experts
in the military. Such a strategy,
by ensuring the integrity of national
consciousness, will create an invincible
nation—one without internal incoherence
and thus less susceptible to external
threats to its well being. Thus, if
there are no internal or external
threats, there are no enemies. No
enemies, no wars. The nation becomes
invincible in the sense that it prevents
enemies from arising. Victory before
war.
A
universal principle in nature is that
internally coherent systems possess
the ability to protect themselves
against disruptive influences, while
incoherent systems are easily penetrated
by disorder from outside. This principle
is clearly illustrated in the quantum
physics of superconductivity as the
Meissner Effect
[13]
. In an ordinary
electrical conductor, incoherent,
disorder electrons allow penetration
by an external magnetic field. However,
in a superconductor, coherent collective
functioning of the electrons spontaneously
excludes an external magnetic field,
and maintains its impenetrable status.
This
example of invincibility is not unique
in nature; parallel phenomena of invincibility
are found in many areas of the physical
and biological sciences. In each case,
the ability of the system to resist
disorder is always based on coherent
collective functioning.
Maharishi's
Vedic Science suggests that such an
effect can be created on the national
level through the growth of harmony
in society resulting from the practice
of Transcendental Meditation and Yogic
Flying by a small proportion of the
population. When this influence—known
as the Maharishi Effect
[14]
, in honour of Maharishi,
who predicted it—reaches a sufficient
intensity, an integrated national
consciousness is created. The result
is the development of self-sufficiency
and an invincible armour for the nation,
which automatically repels any negative
influence coming from outside. Thus
the integrated state of national consciousness
created by the Maharishi Effect produces
a "Meissner Effect" for
the nation, rendering it impenetrable
to external disorder.
Scientific
studies have shown that the Maharishi
Effect can be created by as little
as the square root of one per cent
of the population of a nation, region,
or large city practising Transcendental
Meditation and TM-Sidhi programme
together in one place. One group comprising
of the square root of one percent
of the world's population (about 7,000
at that time of the study) was found
to create the Maharishi Effect for
the whole world
[15]
. Ultimately the
Global Maharishi Effect needs to be
created because even if one nation
does not enjoy invincibility, that
nation will be a danger to the entire
world.
In
his book Maharishi's
Absolute Theory of Defence
[16]
, Maharishi has
brought out a new approach to achieve
the ultimate strategy of defence—create
a Prevention Wing of the Military
whose responsibility will be to maintain
integrated national consciousness
and make the nation invincible. Maharishi
proposed to train 3% of the military
forces of every nation to be Yogic
Flyers—experts in enlivening the underlying
unity in nature. These experts will
create a strong, integrated national
consciousness that will disallow the
rise of any destructive influence
from inside or outside the country.
Such groups established in every nation
will enjoy victory before war by preventing
an enemy from arising, and fulfill
the supreme goal of every military
force. The other 97% of the military
forces in each nation will continue
their dynamic approach to the defence
of the nation. Only 3% forming a Prevention
Wing of the Military will be enough
to prevent war, and avert the danger
before it arises.
Prevention
Wing of the Military Practically Demonstrated
in Mozambique
Mozambique
was the first country in the world
to establish a Prevention Wing of
the Military. This step was taken
after the signing of a General Peace
Agreement in Rome in 1992, which followed
a disturbed period of war during the
previous 16 years.
Shortly
after the peace agreement, individuals
at high levels in the country's government
were informed about the research on
the Maharishi Effect. After serious
and critical study of the technologies
that were being offered, the Joint
Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces
of Mozambique were charged with analysing
the possibilities of its implementation
in the Armed Forces. According to
Lt. Gen. Tobias Dai, Chief of the
Delegation for the creation of the
new Armed Forces for the Defence of
Mozambique and Former Commander of
the Armed Forces
[17]
;
After
having completed a thorough evaluation
of the proposal, the Joint Chiefs
of Staff decided to implement the
Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi
Programme, including Yogic Flying,
in the Armed Forces of Mozambique
with the aim to create the Maharishi
Effect in the country. It was a matter
of decision. Either to try it or leave
it aside. Our decision was to try.
This occurred before the arrival of
the UNO forces in Mozambique.
The
Transcendental Meditation programme
was taught to the different military
units of the country, involving Ground,
Naval, and Air Forces. During 1993,
about 15,000 people were taught, and
in 1994 a further 1,000 were taught.
Also, schools of police training,
pertaining to the Ministry of Home
Affairs, began the programme, and
in all, more than 3,000 people were
trained in the TM-Sidhi Programme.
Maharishi
Effect predictions were made prior
to the implementation of the training
programme. According to these predictions,
the increase of coherence in collective
consciousness created by the Maharishi
Effect was going to maintain the peace,
bring reductions in crime, decrease
the number of car accidents, and bring
an improvement to the economy.
After
thousands of people were trained in
the Transcendental Meditation and
TM-Sidhi programmes, it was possible
to assess a decrease of 20% in the
crime index in certain areas, and
the number of car accidents reduced
by 75%, on a pro-rata basis. During
1993, an economic growth of 6% was
expected, but in fact growth was 19%.
[18]
According to Lt. Gen. Dai, it is clear is that
once the positive effect is created,
if group practice is stopped, the
previous tendencies of higher collective
stress, as determined from crime indexes,
and the tense situations in the country,
begin to rise again. He comments that,
In
1994, there was a remarkable decrease
in coherence in the country as a result
of decreased participation in the
group practice of the Transcendental
Meditation and TM-Sidhi Programme.
This was due to the demobilisation
of the troops practising the programme
and the anticipated ending of police
courses that included the programme,
two months before the elections.
[19]
Finally,
Lt. Gen. Dai noted that although with
several difficulties, the maintenance
of peace had been possible because
during 1993/94, the free and just
elections had been carried out—the
only successful UNO mission in the
world.
Conclusion
This
article has outlined a new approach
to conflict prevention and resolution
based on the deployment of a Prevention
Wing of the Military. This approach
has age-old authenticity. However,
it is also supported by extensive
modern scientific research that validates
the power of the TM and TM-Sidhi programme
to bring peace even to the most troubled
areas of the world. Another consideration
is the individual benefits of stress-reduction
that military personnel could gain
from the regular practice of the Transcendental
Meditation and TM-Sidhi program. These
programmes have been adopted to reduce
stress and increase performance in
military, governmental and other institutional
settings. (India Defence Consultants
has published a paper that summarizes
research relating to military performance.)
The positive effects of these human
resource-based technologies are well
documented in over 600 scientific
studies. For these benefits alone,
military and civilian leaders would
be wise to deploy a Prevention Wing
of the Military.
Defence
based on the accumulation of destructive
military force has proven to be a
failure over the course of human history.
Great military powers have risen and
fallen, at a huge expense to humanity.
Clearly, a new strategy of defence
is the requirement of every military
force. This strategy must enable them
to fulfill the responsibility that
every nation has given the military—to
keep the nation safe and protected
from any danger of destruction.
A
group of retired Indian military leaders
assert that the time has come for
all militaries to adopt such a new
strategy. It is based on the ancient
Vedic
tradition of Ayodhya, which created
peace under the rulership of Sri Ram.
This group includes Major
General Kulwant Singh, Major General
D.D. Ghoshal, Major General K.K. Ganguly,
Major General G.K. Sahney, Major General
G.H. Israni, and Colonel S.P. Bakshi.
They are the directors responsible
for organizing an initiative to create
a Prevention Wing of the Military
in India. (Please refer to the website
http:/www.invincibledefence.org
for further information.) Today's
militaries are increasingly required
to fulfill a peacekeeping role, but
are only armed with the technology
of destruction rather than the technology
of peace. This initiative hands military
leaders another weapon: the weapon
of peace. If civilian and defence
leaders deploy the Prevention Wing
of the Military, Ayodhya may no longer
be an ancient Vedic legend, but a
historic, achievable reality.
Note
from Editor: Lt. Gen. José
Villamil, the former Vice-Minister
of Defence for Ecuador tells of his
experience implementing Invincible
Defense Technology in Project:
Coherence.
Please
also see these related articles published
in THE MODERN TRIBUNE:
"Terrorism
- Violence - War: There is a Solution!"
by Major General (Dr.) Kulwant Singh
(Retd.) and Dr. David R. Leffler
"No
One Wants the Nobel War Prize"
by Dr. David Leffler
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:
The
authors very much appreciate the assistance
of Lee M. Leffler, Dr. Michael C.
Dillbeck and Dr. Kenneth G. Walton
in the proofing of this paper and
for contributing their expert knowledge.
About
the Authors
Dr.
Brian Mc Enery is an independent research
scientist and former Army Officer.
He joined the Defence Forces of Ireland
in 1973 and was commissioned into
the Infantry Corps in 1975. He completed
a honours B.Sc. Degree in Mathematics
and Mathematical Physics at University
College Galway in 1977. During his
army career he served mainly in the
Eastern Command, and served with the
52nd Infantry Battalion in UNIFIL,
South Lebanon in 1982/83. Following
his retirement from the Defence Forces
in 1985, he resumed his academic studies
in the Mathematical Physics department
at University College Cork (UCC),
and was awarded a Ph.D. in computational
mathematics in 1990. He continued
to lecture and conduct research at
UCC until 1991. Since then, Dr. Mc
Enery has been investigating the many
practical applications of Maharishi's
Vedic Science. Included in this investigation
has been a comprehensive review of
the natural law based technologies
of consciousness, especially the research
on the effectiveness of coherence
creating groups in conflict prevention
and resolution.
Dr.
David R. Leffler (Founding member,
Center for Advanced Military Science,
Maharishi University of Management)
Dr. David R. Leffler received his
Ph.D. on the topic of Invincible Defense
Technology. Articles about Invincible
Defense Technology, published in SAPRA
Bulletin, Defence India,
Indian Armed Forces, Indian
Defence Consultants, Indian Defence
Review, Indian Strategic Review,
and Defense Review, are also
available at: http://www.davidleffler.com
More
About Author
Notes:
