When 1% of a city’s population engages in meditation the results can be surprising.
More than 40 studies over a period of 20 years (at 160 universities and private institutions in 27 countries) have shown that transcendental meditation (TM) not only have a positive effect on the individual practising it, but also on their environment. It appears that if 1% of the population of a city or country practises TM then there is a general improvement in the social climate. Among other things, this so-called 1%-effect (or Maharishi effect) brings down the crime-rate, the number of traffic accidents as well as the number of missed days at work due to illness. A study published in the Journal of Crime and Justice (vol. 4, 1981) shows a 16% decrease in crime if 1% of the population of a city practises TM, for example.
Consequently, attempts are being made all over the world to assemble large groups of TM practitioners in order to counteract negative trends such as war, sickness and hunger, and to replace them with positive tendencies like peace and understanding.
In Washington a group of 4,000 TM practitioners came together in 1993. The results of their group meditation were evaluated by independent scientists, political leaders and police representatives. At the end of the research period the observers noted that violent crime in the area had dropped by 23%.
Studies show that the larger the group the greater the range of impact. Experts speculate that it would only take a brief meeting of 7,000 advanced TM practitioners to have a global impact.
For more information: www.tm.org.
