In 1974 it was discovered in 11 cities in the USA that when the number of people participating in the Transcendental Meditation Programme reached one per cent of the city population the trend of rising crime rate was reversed, indicating increasing order and harmony in the life of the whole city. The research scientists named this phenomenon of rising coherence in the collective consciousness of the whole society through the practice of the Transcendental Meditation Programme the Maharishi Effect in honour of His Holiness Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who predicted this effect as early as 1960. Research involving several hundred other cities subsequently replicated this original finding.
As Maharishi explains the mechanics of this effect, during the practice of Transcendental Meditation individuals experience and enliven the field of Transcendental Consciousness—the experience of the Unified Field of Natural Law. When a sufficient number of individuals enliven this field, then through a ‘Field Effect’ of consciousness (the Maharishi Effect) an influence of orderliness and harmony is radiated from the level of the Unified Field of Natural Law to the whole population.
The Maharishi Effect: Increased Coherence
in Collective Consciousness through the Practice
of Maharishi’s Transcendental Meditation Technique
Improved Quality of City Life:*Decreased Crime Rate (Vol. 1: 98, Cities, USA, 1973; Vol. 2: 166, Suburban Communities, USA, 1974–1976; Vol. 4: 318, Cities, USA, 1973–1977; Vol. 4: 319, Cities, USA, 1975–1976; Vol. 4: 320 and Vol. 5: 402, Cities, USA, 1972–1978, and Metropolitan Areas, USA, 1973–1979)
*Decreased Suicide Rate (Vol. 4: 317, Cities, USA, 1973–1977)
*Decreased Automobile Accident Rate (Vol. 4: 317, Cities, USA, 1973–1977)
Cessation of Attack on a Community and Protection from Ongoing Armed Conflict in the Surrounding Area (Vol. 4: 331, Baskinta, Lebanon, 1982–1984)
