65-553: The Natural Law Party ( NLP ) is a transnational party founded in 1992 on "the principles of Transcendental Meditation ", the laws of nature, and their application to all levels of government. At its peak, it was active in up to 74 countries; it continues in India and at the state level in the United States. The party defines "natural law" as the organizing intelligence which governs the natural universe. The Natural Law Party advocates using
130-583: A mantra or sound, and is practiced for 15–20 minutes twice per day. It is taught by certified teachers through a standard course of instruction, with a cost which varies by country and individual circumstance. According to the Transcendental Meditation movement, it is a non-religious method that promotes relaxed awareness , stress relief , self-development , and higher states of consciousness . The technique has been variously described as both religious and non-religious. Maharishi began teaching
195-570: A "reasonable return for a campaign which began only three weeks before polling day." In addition the NLP "notched up" a "headline-grabbing record" when it put forward candidates for all 87 United Kingdom seats in the 1994 European Parliament ; the first party to do so. George Harrison performed a fund-raising concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London for the NLP on 6 April 1992, his first full concert in
260-413: A TM teacher training program as a way to accelerate the rate of bringing the technique to more people. He also inaugurated a series of tours that started in India in 1955 and went international in 1958 which promoted Transcendental Meditation. These factors, coupled with endorsements by celebrities who practiced TM and claims that scientific research had validated the technique, helped to popularize TM in
325-456: A cult. Participants in TM programs are not required to adopt a belief system; it is practiced by atheists, agnostics and people from a variety of religious affiliations. The organization has been the subject of controversies that includes being labelled a cult by several parliamentary inquiries or anti-cult movements in the world. Some notable figures in pop-culture practicing TM include
390-750: A legislator to the state assembly, and the Croatian NLP, which elected a member of their regional assembly in 1993. In 2002, in the USA, its organization was reported to rival that of other "established third parties", but most party chapters have since disbanded. According to the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi , the Natural Law Party (NLP) was first founded in the United Kingdom in March 1992 and was later established in
455-591: A potential for bias and conflicting findings more research is needed. The Transcendental Meditation program and the Transcendental Meditation movement originated with their founder Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and continued beyond his death in 2008. In 1955, "the Maharishi began publicly teaching a traditional meditation technique" learned from his master Brahmananda Saraswati that he called Transcendental Deep Meditation and later renamed Transcendental Meditation. The Maharishi initiated thousands of people, then developed
520-450: A potential risk of bias indicated the necessity of further evidence, conducted by researchers without bias. By 2004, the US government had given more than $ 20 million to Maharishi International University to study the effect of meditation on health. In his 1963 book, The Science of Being and Art of Living, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi says that, over time, through the practice of the TM technique,
585-454: A regional basis, 0.2% in the whole country). The Natural Law Party contested New Zealand general elections such as the 1996 election. It did not win any representation. The Natural Law Party in Trinidad and Tobago contested the 1995 general elections . It received 1,590 votes, but failed to win a seat. The Natural Law Party was founded in the United Kingdom in March 1992. Geoffrey Clements
650-506: A seven-step course, and fees vary from country to country. Beginning in 1965, the Transcendental Meditation technique has been incorporated into selected schools, universities, corporations, and prison programs in the US, Latin America, Europe, and India. In 1977, a US district court ruled that a curriculum in TM and the Science of Creative Intelligence (SCI) being taught in some New Jersey schools
715-448: A system of building and architecture called Maharishi Sthapatya Ved. The TM movement's past and present media endeavors include a publishing company (MUM Press), a television station ( KSCI ), a radio station ( KHOE ), and a satellite television channel (Maharishi Channel). During its 50-year history, its products and services have been offered through a variety of organizations, which are primarily nonprofit and educational. These include
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#1732844460361780-471: Is "ever present wakefulness" present even during sleep. Research on long-term TM practitioners experiencing what they describe as cosmic consciousness, has identified unique EEG profiles, muscle tone measurements, and REM indicators that suggest physiological parameters for this self described state of consciousness. However, the Cambridge Handbook of Consciousness notes that it is premature to say that
845-625: Is not science. Theologian Robert M. Price , writing in the Creation/Evolution Journal (the journal of the National Center for Science Education ), compares the Science of Creative Intelligence to Creationism . Price says instruction in the Transcendental Meditation technique is "never offered without indoctrination into the metaphysics of 'creative intelligence ' ". Skeptic James Randi says SCI has "no scientific characteristics." Astrophysicist and sceptic Carl Sagan writes that
910-421: Is reported to have an estimated net worth of USD 3.5 billion. The TM movement has been characterized in a variety of ways and has been called a spiritual movement, a new religious movement , a millenarian movement, a world affirming movement, a new social movement, a guru-centered movement, a personal growth movement, a religion, and a cult . Additional sources contend that TM and its movement are not
975-523: Is sometimes self described as a technology of consciousness. According to author Michael Phelan, "The fundamental premise of the psychology of fulfillment is that within every person exists a seemingly inexhaustible center of energy, intelligence, and satisfaction... To the extent that our behavior depends on the degree of energy and intelligence available to us, this center of pure creative intelligence may be described as that resource which gives direction to all that we experience, think and do." According to
1040-557: The 1999 Dublin South-Central by-election , spent only £163 on his campaign. After 1999, the party ceased to field candidates in Ireland. The amount of corporate political donations in 2000 was nil. The Natural Law Party of Israel ( Hebrew : מפלגת חוק הטבע של ישראל , Mifleget Hok HaTeva Shel Yisrael ) was a minor political party in Israel. Its leader was Amihai Rokah. In the 1992 elections
1105-572: The Advaita Vedanta school of Hindu philosophy , representing the entirety of the ayurvedic tradition. Mukesh Nayak Mukesh Nayak is an Indian politician and a member of the Indian National Congress party. He became an MLA in 2013. He is married to Mrs. Shashi Kiran Nayak, and has one son and one daughter. Mukesh Nayak on Facebook This article about an Indian National Congress politician from Madhya Pradesh
1170-571: The American Heart Association said that TM could be considered as a treatment for hypertension , although other interventions such as exercise and device-guided breathing were more effective and better supported by clinical evidence. TM may reduce blood pressure according to a review that compared TM to control groups . A trend over time indicates practicing TM may lower blood pressure. Such effects are comparable to other lifestyle interventions . Conflicting findings across reviews and
1235-587: The Electoral Commission at the end of 2003. It contested its first election in Northern Ireland in the 1994 EU elections . According to the NLP, they prepared a 70-page report in response to the "1996 Framework Document of the British and Irish governments." The report was presented to leaders in Ireland, Northern Ireland and the U.S. Afterwards, NLP representatives participated in the "special elections to
1300-456: The Reform Party in 2000. The NLP in the United States was largely disbanded in 2004. However, some state affiliates, such as Michigan, have kept their ballot positions and allied with other small parties. Transcendental Meditation Transcendental Meditation ( TM ) is a form of silent meditation developed by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi . The TM technique involves the silent repetition of
1365-505: The TM-Sidhi program 's yogic flying practice to reduce crime and war deaths. In the U.S.A. its platform included clean energy, labeling of genetically modified foods, a ban on the construction of nuclear energy plants, and an end to political action committees. The Natural Law Party was reported to be active in 74 countries including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Finland, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, New Zealand,
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#17328444603611430-568: The Transcendental Meditation technique and the TM-Sidhi program as tools to enliven natural law and reduce or eliminate problems in society. Prominent candidates included John Hagelin for U.S. president and Doug Henning as representative of Rosedale, Toronto , Canada. George Harrison performed a benefit concert in support of the party in 1992. Electoral success was achieved by the Ajeya Bharat Party in India, which elected
1495-491: The credulity of believers. Critics, such as James Randi , have called this research pseudoscience . Randi says that he investigated comments made by former Maharishi International University faculty member Robert Rabinoff in 1978. He spoke to the Fairfield Chief of Police who said local crime levels were the same and the regional Agriculture Department who reportedly deemed that farm yields for Jefferson County matched
1560-597: The "Hindu doctrine" of TM is a pseudoscience . Irving Hexham , a professor of religious studies, describes the TM teachings as "pseudoscientific language that masks its religious nature by mythologizing science". Sociologists Rodney Stark and William Sims Bainbridge describe the SCI videotapes as largely based on the Bhagavad Gita , and say that they are "laced with parables and metaphysical postulates, rather than anything that can be recognized as conventional science". In 1979,
1625-485: The 1950s in India and has continued since the Maharishi's death in 2008. The organization was estimated to have 900,000 participants worldwide in 1977, a million by the 1980s, and 5 million in more recent years. Programs include the Transcendental Meditation technique, an advanced meditation practice called the TM-Sidhi program ("Yogic Flying"), an alternative health care program called Maharishi Ayurveda , and
1690-488: The 1960s and 1970s. By the late 2000s, TM had been taught to millions of individuals and the Maharishi was overseeing a large multinational movement. Despite organizational changes and the addition of advanced meditative techniques in the 1970s, the Transcendental Meditation technique has remained relatively unchanged. Among the first organizations to promote TM were the Spiritual Regeneration Movement and
1755-436: The 20 by-elections held between 1992 and 1997, with every candidate losing their deposit. The NLP ran eight candidates for the 16 by-elections held between 1997 and 2001, averaging 0.10% of the vote, with every candidate losing their deposit. The NLP did not run any candidates for Parliament in the 2001 general election or in the succeeding by-elections. The party, along with its Northern Ireland wing, voluntarily deregistered with
1820-669: The Assembly. It received 0.5% of the vote and won one seat in the 320-member state assembly. The following year, that member switched parties, leaving the Ajeya Bharat with no representation. In 2008, Nayak left the party to rejoin the Congress Party. In 2009, the Ajeya Bharat Party president, Ambati Krishnamurthy, filed a complaint against another party for using a flag similar to its own. The Natural Law Party became active in Ireland in 1994 and
1885-573: The Beatles , the Beach Boys , Kendall Jenner , Hugh Jackman , Tom Hanks , Jennifer Lopez , Mick Jagger , Eva Mendez , Moby , David Lynch , Jennifer Aniston , Nicole Kidman , Eric André , Jerry Seinfeld , Howard Stern , Julia Fox , Clint Eastwood , Martin Scorsese , Russell Brand , Nick Cave and Oprah Winfrey . The first studies of the health effects of Transcendental Meditation appeared in
1950-568: The EEG coherence found in TM is an indication of a higher state of consciousness. In 1961, the Maharishi created the "International Meditation Society for the Science of Creative Intelligence". In 1971 the Maharishi inaugurated "Maharishi's Year of Science of Creative Intelligence" and described SCI as the connection of "modern science with ancient Vedic science". Author Philip Goldberg describes it as Vedanta philosophy that has been translated into scientific language. A series of international symposiums on
2015-578: The February 1998 parliamentary election from Madhya Pradesh . The Maharishi was said to be "keenly interested" in building a political base in his native province. The MVVP received 0.28% of the vote in its first election. Mukesh Nayak left the cabinet and the Congress Party to assume the leadership of the Madhya Pradesh MVVP. For the November 1998 election, the Ajeya Bharat had a list of 100 candidates for
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2080-491: The Global Country of World Peace, is Tony Nader . The meditation practice involves the use of a silently-used mantra for 15–20 minutes twice per day while sitting with the eyes closed. It is reported to be one of the most widely practiced, and among the most widely researched, meditation techniques, with hundreds of published research studies. The technique is made available worldwide by certified TM teachers in
2145-794: The International Meditation Society. In modern times, the movement has grown to encompass schools and universities that teach the practice, and includes many associated programs based on the Maharishi's interpretation of the Vedic traditions. In the U.S., non-profit organizations included the Students International Meditation Society , AFSCI, World Plan Executive Council , Maharishi Vedic Education Development Corporation , Global Country of World Peace , Transcendental Meditation for Women, and Maharishi Foundation . The successor to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, and leader of
2210-715: The Maharishi developed a World Plan to spread his teaching of SCI around the world. The theoretical part of SCI is taught in a 33-lesson video course. In the early 1970s, the SCI course was offered at more than 25 American universities including Stanford University , Yale University , the University of Colorado , the University of Wisconsin , and Oregon State University . Until 2009, Maharishi University of Management (MUM) required its undergraduate students to take SCI classes, and both MUM and Maharishi European Research University (MERU) in Switzerland have awarded degrees in
2275-405: The Maharishi, it was perceived in 1974 after an analysis of crime statistics in 16 cities. With the introduction of the TM-Sidhi program including Yogic Flying, the Maharishi proposed that the square root of 1 per cent of the population (around 6325 people, the square root of 40 million (1% of the global population of about 4 billion people in 1974 )) practicing this advanced program together at
2340-456: The Maharishi, there are seven levels of consciousness: (i) deep sleep; (ii) dreaming; (iii) waking; (iv) transcendental consciousness; (v) cosmic consciousness; (vi) God consciousness; and, (vii) unity consciousness. The Maharishi says that transcendental consciousness can be experienced through Transcendental Meditation, and that those who meditate regularly over time could become aware of cosmic consciousness. An indication of cosmic consciousness
2405-563: The Natural Law Party won 1,734 votes (0.06%), and in the 1999 elections , won 2,924 votes (0.09%), both below the then 1.5% electoral threshold required to enter the Knesset . It has not run in an election since and its website states it has ceased political activity, but as of 2018 it is still registered as a party in Israel. The Natural Law Party in Italy ( Partito della Legge Naturale , PLN) participated in several (both general and local) elections in
2470-686: The Netherlands, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Kingdom and the United States. In 1993, Bevan Morris campaigned for a seat in a district in suburban Adelaide for the Australian House of Representatives on the NLP ticket. The party contested several federal and state elections between 1990 and 1998. The Natural Law Party was active in the Canadian federal elections of 1993, 1997 and 2000 and in provincial elections in Ontario and Quebec during this period; it
2535-497: The Northern Ireland Forum", but withdrew before the election. The Natural Law Party (United States) ran John Hagelin as its presidential candidate in 1992 , 1996 , and 2000 . He was on ballots in 48 states and received 110,000 votes (0.12%) in 1996. The party also ran congressional and local candidates. In California, psychiatrist Harold H. Bloomfield ran as candidate for governor in 1998. It attempted to merge with
2600-448: The Science of Creative Intelligence were held between 1970 and 1973 and were attended by scientists and "leading thinkers", including Buckminster Fuller , Melvin Calvin , a Nobel Prize winner in chemistry, Hans Selye , Marshal McLuhan and Jonas Salk . These symposiums were held at universities such as Humboldt State University and University of Massachusetts . The following year,
2665-647: The Spiritual Regeneration Movement, the International Meditation Society, World Plan Executive Council, Maharishi Vedic Education Development Corporation, Transcendental Meditation for Women, the Global Country of World Peace , and the David Lynch Foundation . The TM movement also operates a worldwide network of Transcendental Meditation teaching centers, schools, universities, health centers, herbal supplements, solar panel, and home financing companies, plus several TM-centered communities. The global organization
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2730-418: The TM technique over its 50-year history has been praised for its high visibility in the mass media and effective global propagation, and criticized for using celebrity and scientific endorsements as a marketing tool. Also, advanced courses supplement the TM technique and include an advanced meditation program called the TM-Sidhi program, the unveiling of which created media controversy and a time of crisis for
2795-481: The UK since 1969. According to Harrison, a week before the general election, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi suggested to Harrison that he, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr stand for election as MPs for Liverpool as NLP candidates, but they declined. In the 1997 general election , the NLP ran 197 candidates for Parliament in the UK, garnering 0.1% of the vote, with every candidate losing their deposit. The NLP ran 16 candidates in
2860-427: The United States in 2004 and was discontinued in the Netherlands in 2007. The party had its foundation in the principles of Transcendental Meditation and was committed to "prevention oriented government and conflict free politics" through holistic health programmes and the practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique . In Scotland and Wales, party advertisements proclaimed that "natural law which silently governs
2925-631: The United States, France, Austria, Germany, Croatia, Israel, Japan, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, Australia, Norway, Sweden, New Zealand, Chile, Thailand and Canada. The American branch of the party was founded later that year in Fairfield, Iowa U.S.A. by educators, business leaders, lawyers and other supporters of the Transcendental Meditation movement . The party was active in many countries and delegates from 60 countries attended an international convention in Bonn, Germany in 1998. The party became largely inactive in
2990-479: The campaign. A significant number of constituencies were contested by nationals of countries outside the UK, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and India, as British electoral law allows any member of a Commonwealth country to stand for Parliament. Among them was Canadian-born magician Doug Henning . Despite the "dismal" number of votes, an article in The Herald of Scotland reported that it could be considered
3055-446: The conscious mind gains familiarity with deeper levels of the mind, bringing the subconscious mind within the capacity of the conscious mind, resulting in expanded awareness in daily activity. He also teaches that the Transcendental Meditation practitioner transcends all mental activity and experiences the 'source of thought', which is said to be pure silence, 'pure awareness' or 'transcendental Being', 'the ultimate reality of life'. TM
3120-425: The court case Malnak v Yogi determined that although SCI/TM is not a theistic religion, it deals with issues of ultimate concern, truth, and other ideas analogous to those in well-recognized religions. Maharishi biographer Paul Mason suggests that the scientific terminology used in SCI was developed by the Maharishi as part of a restructuring of his philosophies in terms that would gain greater acceptance and increase
3185-736: The early 1970s. There is no good evidence that TM reduces anxiety, or has any beneficial effect on forms of psychological stress or well-being. A 2012 review found that Transcendental Meditation performed no better overall than other meditation techniques. The authors' analysis of a subset of these studies, those that studied specific categories of outcome, found that TM might perform better in reducing negative emotions, trait anxiety, and neuroticism and improving markers of learning, memory, and self-actualization , but performs more poorly in reducing negative personality traits, reducing stress, improving attention and mindfulness and cognition, in comparison with other meditation approaches. A statement from
3250-477: The fall of the Berlin Wall and a reduction in global terrorism, US inflation and crime rates to the Maharishi effect. The Maharishi effect has been endorsed by the former President of Mozambique Joaquim Chissano . As the theories proposed by TM practitioners go beyond modern science , the Maharishi effect still lacks a causal basis . Moreover, the evidence has been said to result from cherry-picked data and
3315-551: The field. The Independent reports that children at Maharishi School learn SCI principles such as "the nature of life is to grow" and "order is present everywhere". SCI is reported to be part of the curriculum of TM related lower schools in Iowa, Wheaton, Maryland and Skelmersdale , UK. In 1975 SCI was used as the call letters for a TM owned television station in San Bernardino, California . The Science of Creative Intelligence
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#17328444603613380-414: The movement’s image. In 2014, a meta-analysis of research found insufficient evidence that meditation such as TM "had an effect on any of the psychological stress and well-being outcomes". The Transcendental Meditation movement consists of the programs and organizations connected with the Transcendental Meditation technique and founded by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Transcendental Meditation was first taught in
3445-671: The nineties. In the 1994 general elections it won 24,897 votes (0.06%) for the Chamber of Deputies and 86,588 votes (0.26%) for the Senate . The list was on ballot in a few constituencies only. In the 1996 general elections the Natural Law Party ran candidates only in the Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol region, who won 8,298 votes for the Chamber of Deputies and 5,842 for the Senate (about 1% on
3510-421: The number of people starting the TM technique. He says that this change toward a more academic language was welcomed by many of the Maharishi's American students. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi claimed that the quality of life would noticeably improve if at least the square root of one per cent (1%) of the population practised the Transcendental Meditation technique. This is known as the "Maharishi effect" and according to
3575-419: The psychological impact of meditation found that Transcendental Meditation had a comparable overall effectiveness to other meditation techniques in improving general wellbeing, but might have distinctive effects on specific psychological variables. A 2017 overview of systematic reviews and meta-analyses indicates TM practice may lower blood pressure, an effect comparable with other health interventions. Because of
3640-521: The same time and in the same place would create benefits in society. This was referred to as the "Extended Maharishi Effect". Author Ted Karam claims that there have been numerous studies on the Maharishi effect including a gathering of over 4,000 people (just under two thirds of the square root of 1% of the population as of 1974) in Washington, D.C. in the summer of 1993. The effect has been examined in 42 scientific studies. The TM organisation has linked
3705-473: The state average. The Maharishi proclaimed 1981 as the Year of Vedic Science. It is based on the Maharishi's interpretation of ancient Vedic texts and includes subjective technologies like the Transcendental Meditation technique and the TM-Sidhi program plus programs like Maharishi Sthapatya Veda (MSV) and Maharishi Vedic Astrology (MVA) services which apply Vedic science to day-to-day living. Vedic science studies
3770-505: The technique in India in the mid-1950s. Building on the teachings of his master, the Hindu Advaita monk Brahmananda Saraswati (known honorifically as Guru Dev), the Maharishi taught thousands of people during a series of world tours from 1958 to 1965, expressing his teachings in spiritual and religious terms. TM became more popular in the 1960s and 1970s as the Maharishi shifted to a more secular presentation, and his meditation technique
3835-460: The various aspects of life and their relationship to the Veda. Maharishi Ayurveda or Maharishi Vedic Medicine is a form of alternative medicine founded in the mid-1980s by Maharishi. Distinct from traditional ayurveda , it emphasizes the role of consciousness, and gives importance to positive emotions. Maharishi Ayurveda has been variously characterized as emerging from, and consistently reflecting,
3900-434: The whole universe in perfect order and without a problem." The Scotland and Wales branch of the party promised reduced pollution, the elimination of genetically modified crops and an increase in sustainable agriculture. They also supported free college education and the use of the Transcendental Meditation technique in the school system. In the UK, NLP candidate Geoffrey Clements advocated the use of Transcendental Meditation and
3965-507: Was based in Dublin . The party leader was John Burns, who was one of nine Natural Law Party candidates in the 1997 general election . In addition, there were four candidates in the European elections of 1999 . Burns endorsed the alternative health system of Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health and the five European candidates gained about 0.5% of first-preference votes cast. Burns, who also contested
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#17328444603614030-651: Was deregistered in 2003. In Croatia , a party member was elected to a regional assembly in 1993. Benoît Frappé of France was the party's candidate for the European Parliament . The Natural Law Party in India is known as the Ajeya Bharat Party (AJBP) or Invincible India Party. It promotes a Vedic way of life. It was formed in late 1998 as the political wing of the Maharishi Vedic Vishwa Prashasan (MVVP (Maharishi Global Administration Through Natural Law)), which had nominated thirty-four candidates in
4095-400: Was its leader. The UK manifesto, as published on its website, listed five key aspects of a successful government including: In the 1992 general election , held on 9 April, the NLP contested 310 seats in the UK, garnering 0.19% of the vote, with every candidate losing their deposit for failing to receive at least 5% of the vote. The group announced that they had budgeted nearly £1 million for
4160-431: Was practiced by celebrities, most prominently members of the Beatles and the Beach Boys . At this time, he began training TM teachers. The worldwide TM organization had grown to include educational programs, health products, and related services. Following the Maharishi's death in 2008, leadership of the TM organization passed to neuroscientist Tony Nader . Research on TM began in the 1970s. A 2012 meta-analysis of
4225-634: Was religious in nature and in violation of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. The technique has since been included in a number of educational and social programs around the world. The Transcendental Meditation technique has been described as both religious and non-religious, as an aspect of a new religious movement, as rooted in Hinduism, and as a non-religious practice for self-development. The public presentation of
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