"Only a new seed will yield a new crop. Only new knowledge, new principles, and new programs can put an end to conflict, sickness and suffering, and prevent such problems from arising in the future. Only new knowledge can create a healthy, prosperous, harmonious society and a peaceful world."

- Maharishi

Scientific Research on the Transcendental Meditation® program

Scientific Research Findings for the Individual and Society

Scientific Research on Maharishi's Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi program—Collected Papers (over 5,000 pages)

More than six hundred scientific research studies on the Transcendental Meditation technique and its advanced practice, the TM-Sidhi^® program including Yogic Flying, have been conducted over the last 35 years at over 250 independent universities and research institutes in 33 countries. These studies have been recorded in seven volumes of scientific research of over 5,000 pages. This research has demonstrated profound benefits in all fields of life and throughout society—health, education, defence, business and industry, criminal rehabilitation and crime reduction, and administration in the direction of world peace.

The scientific research on the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi programs is the largest and strongest body of research in the world on any program to develop human potential. Studies published in over 100 leading scientific journals have documented that this technology benefits every sphere of life. The findings in each area of study have been replicated many times, and meta-analyses, which are the most quantitatively rigorous means to review a body of research, have found a high degree of consistency of the results.

Benefits for the Individual-Sample Research Findings

Development of Total Brain Functioning

• Increased use of latent reserves of the brain
• Greater synchrony and coherence of brain functioning in all cortical areas
• Increased cerebral blood flow
• Activation of each brain hemisphere
• Faster response of the brain in sensory and cognitive processing of stimuli

Greater Use of Mental Potential

• Increased intelligence, even after the age when abstract intelligence usually stops developing
• Increased creativity
• Increased problem-solving ability
• Improved academic performance

Better Health

• Increased resistance to stress
• Decreased hospitalization and doctor visits
• Decreased health expenditures
• Reduction of psychosomatic health problems
• Reduction of stress-related biochemicals
• Reduced substance abuse

Greater Emotional Stability and Improved Social Behavior

• Reduced anxiety; reduced depression
• Increased self-development to uniquely high levels
• Orientation towards more positive values
• Reduced aggression and hostility
• Higher levels of moral reasoning
• Increased tolerance

Benefits for the Society-Sample Research Findings

The following research findings document the effects on society of large groups of people practicing the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi program together in one place. Through time series analysis and other rigorous methods, the studies evaluated the specific time periods when these groups were established. The size of the group necessary to create effects at the national or international level is at least the square root of one percent of the population, as described in the theoretical principles of these research studies.

Development of Peaceful National Life

• Decreased crime
• Decreased homicide, suicide and motor vehicle fatalities
• Improved economic trends
• Improvement in comprehensive quality-of-life indices

Reduced Regional and International Conflict

• Improved international relations
• Reduced regional conflict (pdf format)
• Decreased war intensity and war fatalities
• Decreased fatalities and injuries due to international terrorism

More detailed information on the scientific research on the Transcendental Meditation program can be found at the website of Maharishi University of Management.