A Vedic Response to Terrorism

By Prof. Mukund D. Apte and Dr. David R. Leffler

Executive Summary

Today the entire world faces the threat of terrorism. Arab-Israel wars and India-Pakistan
conflicts are too well known to need detailing. The unending Arab-Israel hot wars over
the last 55 years show that a violent response to terrorism can be irresponsibly disastrous.
It could be argued that, in order to prevent the further escalation of violence, India has
embraced a ‘no action’ response over the last 30 years. If so, this strategy does not appear
to have been effective in controlling escalating terror activities. However, India’s ancient
Vedic tradition, revived by the late Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, provides a practical means
to apply the 6–7th steps of Ashtaang-Yoga Darshan to this situation. Peer-reviewed
scientific research has shown that Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s Transcendental Meditation
and TM-Sidhi program can effectively reduce protracted conflict by alleviating the
underlying collective societal stress responsible for social problems such as crime,
terrorism and war. This non-violent and non-invasive approach can be used confidently
by India under the present conditions as a long-term solution to extremist violence.

Introduction

India has suffered from terrorism for the last 50 years. The Indian government’s
responses to terrorism have varied from soft to strong but have mostly been spoken or
written. It could be argued that Indians strive for tolerance and that their government’s
mild response reflects this tendency. If true, this strategy may have prevented at least
some escalation of the problem. However, this strategy has not lessened the sufferings of
the victims of terrorism.

A primary duty of any government is to protect its citizens and reduce suffering. Methods
currently used to stop terrorism include strong measures like military strikes at the
location where terrorists are raised/born (as some would argue Israel is doing) and/or
softer measures, such as removing the causes of distrust from the concerned peoples’
minds (if the people are local). But history shows that even if governments adopt these
approaches (or adopt neither, as could be argued in India’s case), terrorism not only
continues but often escalates and spreads all over the country. When terrorism escalates,
citizens become antagonistic, which often causes further violence to erupt. And under
these conditions, the government seems powerless to prevent or control the continuing
cycle of violence.

The problem of terrorism cannot be entirely solved by addressing only local issues such
as social services, poverty mitigation, law and order. Terrorism also originates from
outside India, so it is being faced by the Indian Republic from all directions, e.g., from
Pakistan. But even if India could count on Pakistan’s help, India and Pakistan together
can do precious little to solve the problem by using conventional defence strategies only.
This is because terrorism is a human problem that requires a human solution.

The underlying cause of extremist social violence is accumulated collective social stress.
Therefore, to eliminate such social problems, India needs to reduce its collective societal
stress. Clearly a new approach is needed to accomplish this objective. India’s largely
forgotten ancient Vedic tradition offers such an approach.

Background of the Non-violent and Non-invasive Response

According to ancient Vedic tradition, soon after human beings appeared in this world the
great Vedic Rishis (teachers) in India cognized the deep structure of the laws of nature.
They compiled and passed down most of these cognitions and called them Veda or Pure
Knowledge. More instructions and information were added subsequently as further
knowledge and experience revealed effective applications of natural law to sort out
difficulties arising in human life.

According to this tradition, the role of human beings on earth is to realize their full
unbounded potential and to protect and nurture the ‘Charaachar Srushtee’ (the whole
world, including the environment). Humans are expected to use Nature’s resources for
their needs, but not to exploit them ever. In this way they can enjoy their earthly tenure in
health, happiness and comfort. To enable them to carry out their responsibility
effectively, they were given three ‘extra’ gifts: ‘Vichaar’, ‘Karunaa’, and ‘Aatmiyataa’.
Detailed instructions regarding proper behaviour, known as ‘Manav Dharma’ or
Sanaatan (‘since time immemorial’) Dharma, were laid down at various places in the
Vedic Literature for them to follow. The path provided by the Vedic Richas was natural
and simple so that the tenure of duty of Mankind finished with pleasure for everyone.

As time passed, a culture of respect towards all slowly spread through adjoining regions
to Bhaarat, and a Vishal Bhaarat developed from the Red Sea in the West to the Pacific
in the East, with a similar culture throughout. Culture really is the collective effect of
human behavior as people try to gain comfort and happiness while carrying out
responsibilities on the planet that respect natural laws and each other, including
responsibilities for the environment as a whole. Historically, the National Consciousness
of the Vishaal Bhaarat consisted of ‘Respect for Vedas’, ‘Thinking about welfare of
Community (over self)’, ‘Respect to elders’, ‘Respect for and protection of Nature’ and
‘Tolerance towards variations in the activities of individuals who aim at the same ideals’.
The concept of Community includes plant, beasts and birds as well. These qualities
became the basis for Indian and Eastern Culture.

Over time, however, as the number of kingdoms/republics functioning simultaneously in

the Indian sub-continent continued to expand, this original cultural unity began to break
down, and both the rulers and the people began to lose their inner connectedness to
universal laws of nature within themselves and to the Vedic teachings that helped
maintain that connection. With a view to guiding the people back to the natural path of
mental and spiritual development, Mahamuni Paatanjali collected various Sookts spread
across the Vedic literature concerning psychology and at the start of Kaliyug compiled
them into a textbook, Ashtaang-Yog Darshan, consisting of four sections. He described
the natural process of human development in eight steps (or limbs) for reaching
(returning to) one’s Cosmic Home. All obstacles that might lie along the way (including
the means to overcome them) are also described in detail therein.

Many spiritual pandits or Rishis studied the Yoga Sutras of Paatanjali (sometimes spelled
Patanjali) and developed what they proposed to be easy ways or shortcuts to trace the
path to realization of higher states of consciousness. Absorbing every step fully before
progressing to the next was considered by them to be too tedious and difficult for
common people to follow. They therefore concentrated on meditation, i.e., the 6th and
7th steps combined. As a result the progress to Samadhi (enlightenment) or the 8th or
final step, though assured, became slower to achieve.

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi was the exponent of the Vedic knowledge in the form of
Transcendental Meditation (TM). He was a disciple of Brahmananda Saraswati,
Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Jyotirmath (also known as Guru Dev.) Maharishi
developed the Transcendental Meditation program for daily practice by everyone to gain
happiness regardless of one’s religious beliefs. It is his view that through his revived
system of meditation all eight steps of Yoga can be developed at the same time.

In modern times, however, many Indians have lost their Shraddhaa, i.e., their trust and
faith in Vedas, and accordingly they did not flock to Maharishi’s Ved Vidya Bhavans to
learn the TM program. Still, in large towns and cities, Maharishi in India maintained his
Ved Vidyaan Bhawans for whoever wanted to learn the technique. However, Maharishi
began to concentrate his efforts in foreign countries like the USA, where the TM program
eventually spread like wildfire. (Today, six million people around the world have learned
the TM technique.) He developed an advanced course based on the Yoga Sutras of
Paatanjali called the TM-Sidhi program. To convince the world about the benefits for
everyday life, he inspired scientists worldwide to conduct hundreds of scientific
experiments on the TM technique, mostly in advanced laboratories in the USA and
Europe, and to publish the results in reputable peer-reviewed journals.

Ashtaang-Yog Darshan by Mahamuni Paatanjali, the textbook of Bhaarateeya

psychology, was forcefully reiterated by Maharishi. The structure of subtle mind as
suggested by Western or Experimental Psychology and understood from the Bhaarateeya
Psychology or Paatanjali psychology is shown in the figure below.
Maharishi predicted in the early 1960s that if just 1% of the population would practice
the TM program they could produce positive changes in society; he hypothesized that just
one person practicing the TM technique could affect over 100 persons in the local
environment by reducing the collective societal stress. Later scientists who carried out
experiments that validated the 1% social coherence-creating field effect theory named it
‘The Maharishi Effect’– a phenomenon similar to the ‘Meissner Effect’ in quantum
physics relating to super-conductivity, where a superconductor having all its elements in
the same magnetic orientation is in a position to prevent penetration of any other force
within its field.

In 1976 Maharishi also predicted that a large group of people practicing the advanced
TM-Sidhi program together in group could have an even more profound effect by
creating ‘The Extended Maharishi Effect’. Once again he based this on ancient Vedic
tradition as well as his consultations with quantum physicists who had studied super-
conductivity-based field effects such as the ‘Meissner Effect’. It was shown that when
just the square root of one percent of the population of a social system practiced the TM-
Sidhi program together, indicators of collective social stress improved. For instance,
crime, war and terrorism declined during experimental periods when the number of
meditators practicing together in a group rose above the critical threshold of the square
root of one percent of the population. Leading scientific journals like Journal of Conflict
Resolution, (i) Journal of Crime and Justice (ii), Social Indicators Research (iii) and
Journal of Mind and Behavior (iv) have published the results of well-controlled
experiments in this regard. (v) These outcomes have been described by Maharishi in his
book ‘Maharishi’s Absolute Theory of Defence’. (vi) research Findings

In July-August 1993, a two-month

Maharishi Effect intervention (known as
the Invincible Defense Technology in
military circles) was implemented in
Washington, DC. Predictions of specific
drops in crime and other indices were
lodged in advance with government
leaders and newspapers. An independent
Project Review Board approved the
research protocol. The findings showed
that crime fell 24 percent below
expected levels when the size of the group of TM and TM-Sidhi practitioners reached its
maximum. The study was published in Social Indicators Research. (vii)

Invincible Defense Technology experts gathered in Washington, DC, lowering the crime
rate 24%
A study in the Journal of Conflict Resolution (viii) of a two-month-long coherence-
creating assembly in Israel showed that war deaths in neighboring Lebanon decreased by
76%. A composite quality-of-life index showed decreased crime, traffic accidents and
fires in Jerusalem, and decreased crime accompanied by improvements in the stock
market and national mood throughout Israel. Other possible causes (weather, weekends,
holidays, etc.) were statistically controlled for and could not account for the results. A
follow-up study in the Journal of Social Behavior and Personality (ix) showed that
during seven different coherence-creating assemblies, war deaths in Lebanon decreased
by an average of 71%.

[Quality of life in Israel improved and intensity of the conflict in Lebanon decreased in
direct proportion to the number of Invincible Defence Technology experts in the
coherence-creating group. A short online video featuring Dr. John Hagelin explains this
finding. Dr. Hagelin is the Executive Director at the International Center for Invincible
Defense in New York City.]

The Maharishi Effect has also been documented worldwide in a study published in the
Journal of Offender Rehabilitation (x) using data provided by the Rand Corporation.
When large assemblies of IDT experts exceeded the Maharishi Effect threshold for the
world, terrorism decreased globally 72%, international conflict decreased 32%, and
violence within nations was reduced without intrusion by other governments.

Examples of Collective Consciousness in Vedic Literature

Maharishi often quoted two verses from the Vedic tradition illustrating the use of the
Maharishi Effect to create an ideal Vedic prevention-oriented defence:

{Tat sannidhau vairatyagah. (Yog-Sutra, 2.35) In the vicinity of Yogic influence —

unifying influence, integrating influence, coherent and harmonious influence —
conflicting tendencies do not arise (xi)

Heyam duhkham anagatam. (Yog-Sutra, 2.16) Avert the danger before it arises (xii) }

The Charaka-Samhita, (xiii) an ancient book of Ayurvedic medicine (sometimes spelled

Caraka-Samhita), stated:

{Likewise, unrighteousness [caused by incoherent collective consciousness] is also the

cause of the destruction of the community by weapons. Those who have excessively
increased greed, anger, attachment and conceit, disregarding the weak, attack each other,
or their enemies or are attacked by their enemies, resulting in the loss of themselves, their
kinsmen and enemies.}

According to ancient Vedic tradition, unrighteousness was the result of ignorance of how
to create coherence in the societal collective consciousness. For example, the Ramayana
stated that “…ignorance will have no access within eight miles from it” [the Yogi's
hermitage]. (xiv)
The Ramayana of Valmiki described the ancient city of Ayodhya. Certainly Ayodhya
relied on traditional defense systems of its time. For example, “It was enclosed by strong
fortifications and a deep moat, which no enemy, by any expedient whatsoever, could
penetrate (xv). Also, “Ayodhya abounded in warriors undefeated in battle, fearless and
skilled in the use of arms, resembling lions guarding their mountain caves”. (xvi)
However, based on the descriptions of the righteous stress-free lifestyle of the inhabitants
of Ayodhya, a more enlightened interpretation could be argued. What if Ayodhya’s first
line of preventive defence was created by the purity of its inhabitants’ collective
consciousness, which automatically created the Maharishi Effect? This would explain
why, according to Valmiki, “…the brilliance of which spread for four miles, [Ayodhya]
was worthy of its name ["The City none can challenge in warfare"]”.(xvii)

It is more than 5000 years since Kaliyug started and the Bhaarateeya people drifted away
from the Vedic knowledge. But since that knowledge is their ancient heritage, it
apparently has not completely washed off from their collective psyche. Fortunately, some
small inherent seed appears to be remaining. Hopefully, if cultivated with vigor, it should
be possible for them to regain those lost bits and pieces of Vedic knowledge in order to
raise the collective consciousnesses of the nation.

War and Terrorism are Created by Stress in Collective Consciousness

Maharishi’s Absolute Theory of Defence (xviii) propounds the theory that the outbreak of
collective violence or warfare is due to the buildup of stress and tension in society’s
collective consciousness. If the collective consciousness is full of tension and fear, then
disorder is more likely to erupt than if the prevailing mood is one of contentment. Social
injustice and unfavorable economic conditions thrive in, and contribute to, chaotic
environments. Unresolved religious, territorial, political, and cultural differences further
contribute to unrest. Thus, the frustrated and dissatisfied population of any country
contributes to national instability. The buildup of this sort of tension becomes dangerous
to national sovereignty, producing an unstable government that is more prone to war.

History supports this view. A relentless series of tensions and crises led to the
assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand and his wife, triggering World War I. Social
unrest and political instability also contributed to Adolf Hitler’s rise to power. Disorder
can take the form of civil strife or of conflict with neighboring countries. If a war
between nations, a civil war, or even a coup d’état occurs, the possibilities of escalation
may increase because, frequently, other nations or groups become tempted to take
advantage of the situation. For instance, at the outset of World War II, Italy invaded
Ethiopia. After war had broken out in Europe, Japan sought to gain new footholds in
other territories besides China. These are just a few among many historical examples of
collective stress driving social disorder, spilling out into other nations, and creating the
reign of terror called war.

The Present Situation

In any country the political consciousness of its citizens must be in a coherent, unified
state to avoid internal conflicts. It might be argued that this situation could have been
ensured in India at the time of Independence itself, if the first Indian Government had
passed a Unified Civil Code for all citizens. However, for whatever reasons, this did not
happen, and today India’s national consciousness is deeply divided. For example,
whenever police arrest suspected local people for involvement in terrorist acts, so-called
secular leaders and thinkers often blame the police and government (even before the
enquiry is finished) for abusing innocent citizens just because they are from a particular
community. Authorities often have to wear kid gloves, and as a result terrorist attacks
may not be investigated thoroughly to their logical conclusion. Other people argue that
terrorist attacks continue unabated for this very reason. Even where obvious perpetrators
of terrorist acts are found, often the police cannot take any direct action but must wait for
the results of a court case after they have filed a report. Since the accused have Human
Rights, they are guarded with gusto by the secular leaders. Sadly, the victims of the attack
(though Indian citizens) appear to have lost their Human Rights; they are dead, and
nobody bothers about them. In short, the usual ‘suspect-arrest-investigate-court case’
route is not achieving the desired level of success.

To deal with such dastardly attacks, the Indian Government is considering actions such as
reducing damage to property and paying compensation to the victims of such acts. India
also accuses Pakistan of involvement in these acts from time to time. All these
approaches indicate the Government’s inability to stop these attacks. But since the mid-
eighties, such acts have become very serious; they are now well organized, planned and
executed. Most people would probably agree that India’s current responses are definitely
inadequate, to say the least.

However, history shows that responding to violence with more violence cannot stop it.
The answer has to be something else. The response of violence will merely escalate
violence by the initiator. The Israel-Arab conflict does not appear to be waning even after
55 years! Neither will there be any respite for either party.

Violent action needs a non-violent means to extinguish it. Anyone abusing loudly will get
tired and stop only if the other party responds by maintaining silence! Mahatma Gandhi
was the lone proponent of this philosophy in the 1920s. He was fully committed to Indian
culture and to the principle that to combat violence successfully, the response should be
non-violence. If someone abuses you, your response in kind will only ensure a further
escalation of hostilities. As a contrasting example, Sant Eknath of sixteenth century
Paithan in Maharashtra was a true model of this culture of non-violence. One early
morning when Eknath was returning home after his bath in the river Godavari, a person
sent by Eknath’s detractors spat on Eknath’s face. Without annoyance and without
uttering a single word, Eknath returned to the river and after another bath walked towards
his home. The person again spat on his face, and Eknath repeated his response. The
person repeated his action more than 20 times without getting any other response from
Eknathjee. At the end, the person bowed before the Sant and became his disciple!
It is unlikely that any foreigner can enter India and commit any terrorist action without at
least some kind of help from some local citizens (i.e., friends, relatives, etc.). Therefore
one way to help discourage terrorist activities in India would be ensure that the local
people do not assist the terrorists. On an obvious level, local people, being Indians,
should promptly report to local authorities any inkling that they get about anyone (who
may be visiting them or meeting them someplace) planning such activity—and in any
case should never help the terrorists. But for this to happen, all citizens must have a
similar or compatible consciousness, and it must be in tandem with the well-being of
Bhaarat Nation. Currently, however, due to divisions within the collective consciousness
of society, the individual consciousness of some people (relatives/friends of the terrorists)
is not compatible with that of other citizens. Therefore unity and harmony must be
restored within society. This would be the best possible way of dealing with terrorism.
But how can we ensure that this situation takes place?

Practical Application

To help create a more powerful and unified national consciousness in India, we can use
the non-violent approach of the ‘Maharishi Effect’ (described above). To produce this
effect most powerfully, all patriotic citizens of India should learn the TM program and
maintain their daily practice as per instructions. While other varieties of meditation may
have some effect as well, the TM technique alone stands scientifically ‘certified’ to
produce the desired benefits for both the individual and society, as validated by the
world’s most modern laboratories. Brainwave patterns have been scientifically studied
and confirm that different physiological processes take place during various forms of
meditations. Meta-analyses have shown that the TM technique produces uniquely
beneficial effects. Although some other forms of meditation have been found to produce
good effects in specific areas, EEG and neural imaging studies show that only the TM
technique creates unique brainwave coherence throughout the brain. The research also
shows that the TM technique is most effective at reducing depression and anxiety, and
increasing self-actualization. The TM technique also provides much deeper rest for the
body than do other practices. (xix)

For all these reasons, regular TM practice by the citizens of India would develop
brainwave coherence which, by enlivening the most fundamental level of the unified field
in Nature, would spread from their location to other minds nearby. These positive
vibrations would reduce negative impulses and tendencies in the population. Since people
with negative or destructive tendencies may be found all over India, at least one percent
of the Indian population, or around 15 million Indians, would need to practice
Transcendental Meditation regularly twice a day to have effective control of terrorist
activities on a long-term basis. Alternatively, as noted above, a peace-creating group of
around 3400 Indians (the square root of one percent of the population) practicing the
advanced TM-Sidhi program in one place could create a similar effect throughout
society. For obvious reasons, we feel that all personnel who deal with the local
population, such as the police, CRP, SRP, etc., should have the TM program available to
society.
The military could easily create its own peace-creating groups from among its personnel.
Regularly meditating squads of adequate size could be deployed in front-line formations
as a means to help prevent cross-border patrols and terrorists from entering India.
Extensive scientific research confirms that when peace-creating groups reach the required
size threshold, crime, violence, and terrorism within the population all decrease
markedly.

For obvious reasons, we feel that all personnel who deal with the local population, such
as the police, CRP, SRP, etc., should have the TM program available to them. Also, all
gazetted officers of the Centre as well as the States should be practicing the TM
technique. This will ensure that their decisions/suggestions will all be in the best interest
of the Nation. Moreover, the implementation of decisions will be in accord with the Laws
of Nature and hence will not encounter resistance at any level of execution.

It is hoped that the establishment of a permanent peace-creating group will start a phase
transition in India’s national collective consciousness that will inspire all the Bhaarateey
people to learn the Transcendental Meditation program. The resulting increase in
coherence and harmony could absolutely ensure that local people and visitors do not
carry out terrorist attacks either in Bhaarat or anywhere else in India.

It appears that the non-violent, non-invasive approach of widespread TM and TM-Sidhi

practice is likely to be most effective as a long-term measure to protect the nation against
crime, violence, and terrorism. The short-term measures include keeping a watch on
persons entering India, being vigilant on suspects, and trying to reduce the likely severity
of terrorist activities. These measures must of course continue as important deterrents to
terrorism.

Conclusion

In ancient times, India had a reputation as a peaceful and prosperous country which
attracted outsiders. It was known as Suvarnabhoomee then. Military attacks from
foreigners were invariably repulsed successfully and the attackers merged into Indian
population automatically. These outcomes were the result of India’s Nature-friendly
culture which had developed over the three previous Yugas. But with the onset of
Kaliyug, divisions in society have naturally arisen; it is normal that the people have
become less interested in spirituality, more attracted towards outside cultures, and greedy
for bodily comforts, in the process destroying their happiness and themselves by chasing
‘Artha’ and ‘Kaam’ and neglecting Manav ‘Dharma’. The present conflict-ridden
national situation is the result, even though many great souls have tried to guide the
people and restore the original dignity of the nation.

As Indians, we have to develop (return to) our internal power to purify the minds of the
whole world. As Jagadguru, Indian citizens have a responsibility to make the world a
peaceful and enjoyable place for all. To do so we have to develop ourselves first, as per
Bhaarateeya Psychology norms. As a natural byproduct of growing individual
enlightenment, society will rise to indomitable coherence and invincibility. Maharishi
Mahesh Yogi has started to teach foreigners this Vedic Defence technology, but with
India’s inherent connection to it, Indians can surely employ the technology most swiftly.
It is the call of the whole world now! India needs to maintain a minimum of
approximately 3,391 (xx) Invincible Defense Technology (IDT) experts practicing the
advanced TM-Sidhi program together twice a day in one location to be invincible. Once
this goal has been achieved, it would be ideal to teach more than 15 million citizens of
India the TM program (one percent of the entire Indian population) as soon as possible to
eliminate terrorism forever.

References :‐  

1. Maharishi  Mahesh  Yogi’s    book:  ‘MAHARISHI  VEDIC  UNIVERSITY  –  INTRODUCTION 

(1994)’ 
2. Indian scriptures like Mahamuni Paatanjali’s  ASHTAANG‐YOG DARSHAN 
3. Waves  2008  Conference  at  Orlando,  USA  in  Jun  ’08  Paper  ‘Science  of  Psychology’ 
presented by Prof M D Apte. 
4. Experiences of the authors