Maharishi's Transcendental Meditation (TM) is a simple, natural, easily-learned mental procedure practised for 15-20 minutes in the morning and evening while sitting comfortably with the eyes closed.
Revived by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi nearly 50 years ago, the technique, which is many thousands of years old, has been learned by nearly five million people of all religions, ages, and from every walk of life. More than 60 000 South Africans have learned TM.
It is a scientific technique, requiring neither specific beliefs nor adoption of a particular life-style.
Maharishi's Transcendental Meditation allows the active, thinking mind to settle down and experience a unique state of restful alertness --- transcendental consciousness --- the simplest form of human awareness, the mind's full creative potential. Research has shown that as the mind settles down, the body also gains a unique state of deep rest, releasing accumulated stress and revitalizing the nervous system.
Research consisting of 600 studies conducted at 200 universities and research institutions in 30 countries has shown that TM improves intelligence, creativity and academic achievement, reduces stress, anxiety and insomnia, decreases drug and alcohol abuse, improves all aspects of health (health care costs are reduced by an average of 56%), reverses ageing, and improves social behaviour. This is the largest and strongest body of research in the world on any programme for human development.
The technique is practised by workers and managers in some of the world's largest corporations. Over 6000 medical doctors in the USA alone have learned TM and many prescribe it as an effective, non-medical way to reduce stress and stress-related disorders, which make up 80-90 percent of all illness.
Scientific research has shown the effectiveness of TM not only for reducing individual stress but also for reducing social stress and violence. This is known as the Maharishi Effect, or group effect.
More than 40 studies have shown that group practice of Transcendental Meditation and the advanced TM-Sidhi programme, including Yogic Flying, reduces crime and violence in society, decreases accidents and illness, and leads to greater progress towards peace, improved quality of life and stronger positive social and economic trends. This research has been published in leading scientific journals such as the Journal of Conflict Resolution.
A permanent group of experts in these programmes established in any country will immediately transform the trends of time to positivity, harmony and unrestricted progress in national life. South Africa requires a group of 1000 experts.
Scientists theorize that consciousness is a fundamental field which pervades nature --- just like electromagnetism or gravity. This field has been identified by leading scientists as the unified field, the most basic level of nature. In much the same way as light waves spread through the electromagnetic field, TM enlivens the field of consciousness (unified field) and spreads an influence of coherence throughout the consciousness of society. This increase of coherence in collective consciousness reduces stress and violence and promotes harmony and progress in society.