JMVRI Issue JMVRI Issue No. 27 focuses on the Maharishi Effect. It features two research studies: “Evaluating a Field Theory of Consciousness and Social Change: Group Practice of Transcendental Meditation and Homicide Trends”, by Kenneth L. Cavanaugh, Michael C. Dillbeck and David W. Orme-Johnson (pp. 11–68); and “A Proposed New Formula to Create the Maharishi Effect: The Perúvian Example”, by Lee Fergusson, Anna Bonshek and Javier Ortiz Cabrejos (pp. 69–110).
JMVRI Issue Number 27
JMVRI Paper 27.1
Evaluating a Field Theory of Consciousness and Social Change: Group Practice of Transcendental Meditation and Homicide Trends
Authors: Kenneth L. Cavanaugh, Michael C. Dillbeck and David W. Orme-Johnson
This paper can be downloaded via the following link:
Citation: Cavanaugh, K. L., Dillbeck, M. C., & Orme-Johnson, D. W. (2025). Evaluating a field theory of consciousness and social change: Group practice of Transcendental Meditation and homicide trends. Journal of Maharishi Vedic Research Institute, 27, 11–68.
Summary (excerpt):
This study outlines and empirically tests a field-theoretic view of consciousness and social change based on the ancient Vedic tradition of knowledge as brought to light by Maharishi. In contrast to most contemporary theories of mind and consciousness originating in the West, Maharishi Vedic Science posits the existence of an interpersonal dimension of consciousness—a unified field of consciousness—that underlies both individual consciousness and the collective consciousness of society.
The study reviews previous empirical tests in Cambodia, India, the Philippines and other countries of hypotheses derived from this field-theoretic view of consciousness. It then presents empirical results, which together with prior research, provide compelling evidence for inter-personal consciousness.
Segmented-trend regression analysis of data from a prospective, 15-year national social experiment found support for the hypothesis that the field effects of consciousness created by group practice of Maharishi’s Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi program by a theoretically-predicted number of participants contributed to a reduction in social stress in national consciousness as indicated by improved monthly homicide trends during the study’s experimental period.
The results are consistent with reductions in crime and violence associated with group practice of Maharishi’s Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi program reported in previous peer-reviewed research. Of interest is the finding that these reductions were followed by a subsequent increase in homicide trends after group numbers fell below the required threshold.