Endorsements of the Vedic Defense
“This book describes an unprecedented breakthrough in our ability to understand and seriously address the fundamental problems of violence and terrorism.”
—Dr. John Davies, Ph.D., Co-Director, Partners in Conflict and Partners in Peacebuilding Projects, Center for International Development and Conflict Management, University of Maryland
“The hypothesis [that violence can be prevented by Maharishi’s Yogic Flying program] definitely raised some eyebrows among our reviewers. But the statistical work is sound. The numbers are there. When you can statistically control for as many variables as these studies do, it makes the results much more convincing. This evidence indicates that we now have a new technology to generate peace in the world.”
—Dr. Raymond Russ, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, University of Maine and Editor, Journal of Mind and Behavior
“The claim can be plausibly made that the potential impact of this research exceeds that of any other ongoing social or psychological research program. The research has survived a broader array of statistical tests than most research in the field of conflict resolution. I think this work, and the theory that informs it, deserve the most serious consideration by academics and policy makers alike.”
—David Edwards, Ph.D., Professor of Government at the University of Texas at Austin
“The data show an impressive, statistically significant correlation: a decrease in violent crime for the time period over which the group meditated.”
—Beverly Rubik, Ph.D., biophysicist and President of the Institute for Frontier Science in Oakland, California
“In the studies that I have examined on the impact of [Maharishi’s Vedic peace technologies] on conflict, I can find no methodological flaws, and the findings have been consistent across a large number of replications in many different geographical and conflictual situations. As unlikely as the premise may sound, I think we have to take these studies seriously.”
—Ted Robert Gurr, Ph.D., Author, Violence in America, Bantam Books and U.S. Government Printing Office, Distinguished University Professor, Department of Government and Politics, University of Maryland
“The possibility is that we have made one of the most important discoveries of our time.”
—Dr. Juan Pascual-Leone, Professor Emeriti, York University in Ottawa, Canada, a member of the review board of the Journal of Conflict Resolution
“I want to express my support for this research. What we really are looking at here I think is a new paradigm of viewing crime and violence . . . .”
—Anne Hughes, Ph.D., Professor of Sociology, University of District of Columbia
“I was initially skeptical, but having studied the research completed to date, I have concluded that these studies on the [Vedic peace technologies] have subjected theory to proper empirical tests. They have shown sound results which demand serious interest. This method should be applied more widely in programs to reduce crime.”
—Ken Pease, Ph.D., Professor of Criminology, University of Huddersfield. Board Member, British Home Office National Crime Prevention Board, 1993–96. Chairman of CIRAC, Centre for the Independent Research and Analysis of Crime
“I have been following the research on Maharishi’s [defense] as it has developed over the last twenty years. There is now a strong and coherent body of evidence showing that [this approach] provides a simple and cost-effective solution to many of the social problems we face today. This research and its conclusions are so strong, that it demands action from those responsible for government policy.”
—Huw Dixon, Ph.D., Professor of Economics, York University, England
“[People] have to know there is no political or educational solution to the problems in Iraq, Iran, Israel and Palestine. It is impossible to educate everyone, using conventional means of education. There is too much propaganda, too much government influence over the educational system, and too many poor people to try to educate. However, Maharishi’s program wakes the people up and melts their hard feelings, producing the effect that is the goal of a good educational system.”