Stress is often at the root of many societal issues, including crime, drug abuse, and other forms of anti-social behaviour. A significant number of offenders have experienced high levels of stress throughout their lives, stemming from childhood abuse, school failure, poor socio-economic conditions, family breakdown, and long-term unemployment. These stressors create a deeply ingrained emotional and psychological burden that can lead to destructive behaviours.
Research has shown that when offenders are taught Transcendental Meditation (TM), their recidivism rate—meaning the likelihood of returning to prison—decreases significantly. Additionally, the success rate of addiction recovery is markedly higher when TM is incorporated into traditional rehabilitation programs. The calming, stress-relieving benefits of TM provide a powerful tool for breaking the cycle of criminal behaviour and helping individuals recover from addiction.
Just as personal stress can lead to crime, the cumulative stress within a society can lead to broader social issues, such as conflict, accidents, violence, and even war. This phenomenon highlights the need for collective mental and emotional healing to address larger societal challenges.
Studies have shown that when even a small number of people in a community practice Transcendental Meditation, social stress as measured by crime, accidents, and conflict decreases. This reduction in social tension helps to ease animosity and restore a sense of order and harmony within the community.
This transformative effect is known as the Maharishi Effect. The impact becomes even more pronounced when a group of individuals practices Transcendental Meditation alongside advanced techniques like Yogic Flying. The number of people required to create this effect is relatively small—approximately the square root of 1% of the population. For instance, it would take around 500 people to create a peace-enhancing effect in Australia and 8,000 people globally.
Over the past 25 years, this innovative and peaceful approach has been extensively tested in real-world situations—across regions like the Middle East and other areas facing significant social and political unrest. The results have consistently shown dramatic reductions in terrorism, war, and social violence. These findings have been documented in leading academic journals, and the method has received endorsements from hundreds of independent scientists and scholars. Today, the efficacy of this approach is widely accepted and recognised.
With the establishment of permanent groups of peace-creating experts in every country, we now have a real opportunity to safeguard nations against violence, social disorder, and unrest. Through collective, focused efforts, we can promote peace and harmony on a global scale, fostering a safer, more peaceful world for future generations.