December 2023
Dear Friend,
We all wish to see mutual understanding, love and appreciation arise in the people of all nations so that 2023 will end with peace on earth. This last issue of the year is dedicated to explaining our scientifically documented approach to creating world peace and harmony.
- Last month’s blog written by women for women
- Articles
- The Maharishi Effect: how it creates coherence and reduces violence in society
- Ten thousand TM meditators to assemble for a peace-creating course
- Two new books describe how TM benefits the individual and the world
- Q&A: How is peace of mind mapped in the brain?
- What women say: a sense of peace even during war
Twice-monthly we post new articles on our blog. These posts cover various subjects in the light of the development of consciousness, including topics as diverse as The Power of Silence, The Ultimate Stay-cation, and Being Your Husband’s Caretaker. You can visit our main blog page to search for any topic. If you haven’t read the November 2023 posts, the links are below.
Hypertensive? How to Reduce High Blood Pressure Naturally
Blood pressure is a measure of the force against the walls of your blood vessels as the heart pumps blood through the body. Highblood pressure (hypertension) damages blood vessels, strains the heart, and is one of the most serious risks for cardiovascular disease. More than half of all deaths from stroke and almost half of all deaths from coronary heart disease are attributed to hypertension.
Two Women Visionaries Impact South African Youth
In 2012, Dr. Melanie Brown and Marcia Abraham founded The Communiversity of South Africa, a community-based educational enterprise designed to prepare unemployed, at-risk youth to enter higher education. Due to their complete dedication, creativity, and focus, the Communiversity is now one of the most successful foundational programs for this large demographic…
The Maharishi Effect and How it Impacts Society
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi brought the Transcendental Meditation®️ program and all associated technologies for the development of consciousness to the world. In 1960, he predicted that when one percent of a population in a given society practiced the TM®️ technique, measurable benefits to individuals and that society would arise.
How it Works
Physics recognizes the interconnectedness of everything in the universe—all of creation is interconnected through fluctuating fields which pervade the universe. Similarly, consciousness is a field which underlies and connects everyone and everything. By transcending thought during the TM technique, our attention goes to the underlying field of consciousness and enlivens its qualities in our own lives. Because consciousness is a field, the effect can instantly radiate out and influence the environment in much the same way as a drop falling into water creates waves which spread out in all directions. This is called action at a distance, or the field effect, or—in this case—the Maharishi Effect because Maharishi predicted it and provided the means to create it.
The first scientific paper on this phenomenon was published in 1976. That year, Maharishi introduced an advanced consciousness-developing methodology called the TM-Sidhi®️ program, which was learned by many of those already enlivening their full potential of consciousness through the TM technique. The subsequent research on this expanded technology of the Maharishi Effect showed that only the square root of one percent of a community practicing the TM-Sidhi program was needed to create significant results. To date, more than thirty published studies have verified the benefits of the Maharishi Effect to communities, states and nations, including significant reductions in crime, fatal accidents, hospitalization, and suicides along with increased positive economic indicators.
Chart: Three large assemblies of groups practicing the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi program —in Iowa, the Netherlands, and Washington DC—achieved the size needed to generate the Maharishi Effect for the entire world, resulting in a 72% reduction in international terrorism and a 33% decrease in international conflict. Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 2003, 36:283-302
An Assembly to Change the Trends of Time
Approximately seven thousand residents of India, including college students, who have completed and practice the TM and TM-Sidhi program will participate in this World Peace assembly along with more than three thousand others who will be traveling to join the assembly from around the world.
Foreign dignitaries, scientists, and prominent Indian government and business leaders who have the potential to support a permanent group of 10,000 for world peace will witness the assembly and assess the impact of the group during this period.
The purpose of this historic gathering is to create a measurable upsurge of peace in the world at the end of the year. With documented published research based on results of previous assemblies, there is certainty that the Maharishi Effect will be observed to be re-directing the current trends of violence and distress in the world.
This amazing assemblage of these experts in the development of their own consciousness through regular participation in the TM program will end on January 13th, 2024. The participants are giving of their time, trusting that the prominent members of society observing the outcome will then facilitate the continuation of this gift to the world, so that peace can become a permanent reality of all peoples and nations.
The TM and TM-Sidhi Book: Enlightenment, Invincibility, World Peace
“The TM & TM-Sidhi Book” provides a comprehensive introduction to the Transcendental Meditation program and related programs for personal growth, inner peace, self-actualization, enlightenment, and world peace. This book, an updated and expanded version of the 1975 international best-seller “The TM Book”, uses informal dialogue, cartoons and whimsical drawings to make it fun and easy to read.
A companion volume, the “TM Research Summary Book” is a compilation of 85 scientific charts; both books are available for purchase on Amazon. (The research summary is also available for free as an online flip book.) The chart book contains the latest research on the Maharishi Effect that inspired the 10,000 assembly described above.
Q: How is peace of mind mapped in the brain?
A: Twelve studies have shown that Transcendental Consciousness is characterized by long-range coherence in brain wave patterns, as measured by electroencephalography (EEG). Ordinarily, during the waking state of consciousness, EEG patterns are scattered, disorderly, and rapidly changing. As the mind settles to Transcendental Consciousness, by contrast, brain waves tend to become rhythmic and orderly, and to move synchronously over large areas in the frontal regions of the brain (as shown here), extending eventually toward the posterior regions as well.
Neuroscientists have found that during TM practice, the brain produces high-power alpha waves with slow alpha frequency power in the frontal cortex. This distinct brain pattern corresponds to a state of relaxed inner wakefulness—an experience of serenity, expansion and bliss. No other meditation technique has been found to consistently produce alpha coherence throughout the brain. Researchers have found that the experience of “transcending” restores neurological balance, inner silence, and clarity of mind.
Adiva Trachtenberg is a survivor of the October 7th attack on the population in Southern Israel. With enormous costs to human life on both sides of the border, unspeakable trauma is the reality of survivors. The Transcendental Meditation technique is now being taught to reduce the psychological and physical effects of trauma—with expenses covered by donation—in camps for evacuees. Hopefully everyone affected by this war will soon have access to TM courses. Adiva learned the TM technique and wrote:
“It has been an incredibly challenging period for me. TM gives me a sense of inner peace and the means to confront the anxieties and fears pervading these trying times. My frequent nightmares after October 7th have diminished. And it helps me to manage my anger and bring a sense of calmness to floods of emotions, pain, and sadness.”
Editor’s note: We’d love to hear your comments on the benefits you’ve received from the TM practice. And, with your permission, we’ll publish them here for other women to enjoy. Send your comment to info@tm-women.org
