Part 1 - Scientific research on Maharishi’s Transcendental Meditation

[Full title: Summary of Scientific Research on Maharishi’s Transcendental Meditation and TM-Siddhi Program]

Scientific research carried out on the Transcendental Meditation (TM) and TM-Siddhi program(which is derived from yogasūtras of Patañjali) of Maharishi-Mahesh Yogi is one of the largest type of research work carried out to develop human potential.The studies on TM span across five continents, in more than 25 countries, over 350 scientific studies in over 160 independent universities and institutions. The studies are published in more than 100 leading scientific journals. The studies and results thereof have revealed that the TM concept benefits physiological, psychological, sociological and ecological spheres of everyday life. The tools used in the research such as meta-analysis have found a high degree of consistency of the results.

Research conducted around the world has documented that TM program is effective for all cultural and ethnic groups, across age groups, spanning full range of socio-economic levels and intellectual abilities.

The body of research is unique in the extent of cross validation. Dr. David Orme-Johnson, the Dean of Research, Maharishi International University has explained that the findings are validated by many different types of physiological, psychological and sociological measures. For example:

TM Meditation and TM-Siddhi Program decreases Stress is validated by:

1) Physiological changes such as decreased cortisol, decreased muscle tension, normalization of blood pressure, increased autonomic stability, increased EEG coherence.

2) Variety of Psychological changes indicated through decreased stress, decreased anxiety and depression, decreased post-traumatic stress syndrome, increased self-actualization.

3) Sociological changes demonstrated by decreased hostility, increased family harmony, reduction in criminal behavior in incarcerated felons.

4) Studies have found that at ecological level, reduction of stress in meditating individuals creates an influence of harmony in the environment (subjectively it has been our very normal experience that at the places where intense meditation practices are performed such as Yoga āśramas, Meditation centers of Vipassanā, a certain harmonious and tranquil atmosphere prevails which is deeply relaxing and spiritually elevating even for those who are not participating in the meditations there). According to Mahesh Yogi, individual peace is a prerequisite for world peace. Scientists have named this phenomenon as the ‘Maharishi Effect’.^[1] It is found that even 1% of the population practicing the TM technique, or the square root of one per cent practicing the more advanced TM-siddhi program, improves the quality of life as indicated by such changes as reduced crime in larger society.

A) The bibliography:

There are over 500 studies conducted and they are published in six volumes. The bibliography is available to access through gopher://info.miu.edu/. The overall research findings are categorized as Physiological, Psychological, Sociological and Ecological and are discussed below in summarized way.^[2]

B) Physiological Benefits

Science, American Journal of Physiology, American in 1970-72 (Papers 1,3 & 4) have published original landmark research on the physiological correlates of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s Transcendental Meditation Technique. The research established that the TM technique generates a state of restful alertness.

During the practice, the physiology becomes deeply rested as indicated by—

1. Significant reduction in respiration;
2. Reduction in minute ventilation, tidal volume and blood lactate;
3. Significant Increase in basal skin resistance.

The physiology is alert rather than asleep as indicated by increased abundance of alpha waves in the EEG.

The researchers concluded that restful alertness is a fourth major state of consciousness, termed Transcendental Consciousness, which is physiologically different than waking (jāgṛti), dreaming (svapna) and deep sleep (nidrā).

In very important research on TM, researchers have found that through regular practice of TM, technique, physiology becomes more relaxed outside of meditation as well. Baseline levels of respiration rate, heart rate plasma lactate, and skin resistances are lower. The autonomic nervous system becomes more stable, integrated and adaptable, indicated by the increased ability to recover rapidly from the effects of stress. Brain functioning becomes more orderly, as indicated by growth of physiological correlates of creativity and intelligence such as shorter latencies of cognitive evoked potentials, faster paired H-reflexes, increased EEG coherence.

Medical researchers have found that people practicing TM techniques have reduction in important cardio vascular risk factors such as high blood pressure and serum cholesterol.

C) Psychological Benefits^[3]

Research has established that TM and TM-Siddhi program increases broad comprehension, improves ability to focus sharply. Through regular practice, the physiology becomes habituated to sustain the experience of restful alertness at all times which is the best means to reducing anxiety, depression and anger. TM consciousness, the experience of one’s higher sense of self becomes a stable internal frame of reference and provides unshakable sense of self even during dynamic activity. Meditators though being able to see another person’s perspective, are not easily swayed by social pressure to act in a wrongful manner. They tend to perceive the world more positively and holistically.

Creativity increases as measured by tests of verbal and pictorial fluency, flexibility and originality. Perception becomes accurate and less driven by preconceptions and misconceptions. It also helps in improving basic memory. In school, children practicing TM are observed with significant improvement in basic skills of mathematics, reading and language study.

In high-school and graduate students and adults practising TM increases IQ scores compared to non-meditating control groups over the same period. A ten-year longitudinal study following meditating college students after their graduation found significant increase in holistic measures of self-development compared to control groups across three US universities matched for age and gender. The meditators reached higher levels of moral reasoning, autonomy and integration.

In a nutshell, Maharishi’s TM is found to be is very effective in ability to fully develop unique potential of the individual for self-actualization. The persons become more self-sufficient, more spontaneous, more productive capable of warm interpersonal relationships.

D) Sociological Benefits^[4]

A quantitative review of 198 studies found that Maharishi’s Transcendental Meditation program is the most effective means of preventing and treating drug and alcohol abuse. In a study of transient, chronic alcoholics it was found that the technique produced a 65% abstinence rate and another study of high school and college drug users in a rehabilitation center found an 89% reduction in drug usage. A study of war veterans with post-traumatic adjustment problems found that Maharishi’s Transcendental Meditation technique produced significant decreases in emotional numbness, alcohol consumption, family problems, insomnia, and overall post-traumatic stress disorder, in comparison to controls receiving psychotherapy. These techniques are also very effective in prison rehabilitation.

E) Ecological Benefits

Maharishi has brought to light that the most important single ecological consideration is a pervasive field of collective consciousness -the collective influence of the consciousness of individuals that comprise a society. Stressed individuals create an atmosphere of stress in collective consciousness that reciprocally affects the thinking and actions of every individual in that system. Maharishi maintains that crime, drug abuse, armed conflict, and other problems of society are more than just the problem of individual criminals, drug users, and conflicting factions in society. Such problems are more fundamentally symptoms of stress in collective consciousness. Maharishi has introduced a new theoretical understanding of society, which concludes that the only practical way to handle large-scale problems is to approach them holistically by creating coherence in collective consciousness.Maharishi has estimated that 1% of the population practicing his Transcendental Meditation technique and as few as the square root of 1% collectively practicing his Transcendental Meditation and TM-Siddhi program would be enough to create an influence of coherence in collective consciousness capable of neutralizing the stresses that are the root cause of social problems.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

https://www.mum.edu/pdf_msvs/v06/orme-johnson.pdf

&https://www.mum.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/orme-johnson.pdf:—Journal of Modern Science and Vedic Science, p.217,16 August 2017

[2]:

https://www.mum.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/orme-johnson-1.pdf p.62,18^th sept 2017

[3]:

9https://www.mum.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/orme-johnson-1.pdf, p.63,17^th Sept 2017

[4]:

https://www.mum.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/orme-johnson-1.pdf, 16 sept 2017