Misplaced Pages

Revision as of 15:23, 16 October 2012

The TM-Sidhi program is a form of meditation introduced by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in 1975. It is based on, and described as a natural extension of the Transcendental Meditation technique (TM). The goal of the TM-Sidhi program is to enhance mind-body coordination and to support the "holistic development of consciousness" by training the mind to think from what the Maharishi called a fourth state of consciousness. or Transcendental Consciousness.

"Yogic Flying", a mental-physical exercise of hopping while cross-legged, is a central aspect of the TM-Sidhi program. The TM website says that "research has shown a dramatic and immediate reduction in societal stress, crime, violence, and conflict—and an increase in coherence, positivity, and peace in society as a whole" when the TM-Sidhi program is practiced in groups. This is termed the Maharishi Effect. While empirical studies have been published in peer-reviewed academic journals they have been met with both skepticism and criticism.

Skeptics have called TM or its associated theories and technologies a "pseudoscience" and have generally discounted the claims made by its practitioners. It is difficult to determine definitive effects of meditation practices in healthcare as the quality of research has design limitations and a lack of methodological rigor.

Origin and description

According to TM Movement websites, the Transcendental Meditation technique gives the experience of pure consciousness, described as the state found at the source of the mind. The TM-Sidhi program, also called "Maharishi Technology of Unified Field", aims to train the practitioner's mind to operate without losing connection with that source. According to the Maharishi, by learning to function in this way, thinking becomes increasingly coherent, mind body coordination is strengthened, and the practitioner's desires may be fulfilled more easily.

Derived from the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, which taught that there were 52 siddhis or special powers that accompany enlightenment the TM-Sidhi Program consists of formulas or sutras (threads), the practice of which proponents say can lead to development of advanced human abilities, which the program calls Sidhis. The essential aspect necessary to gain these powers is called samyama, a synthesis of three methods taught by Patanjali. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's samyama includes the incorporation of Yogic Flying and other sidhis. According to Anna Bonshek, by practicing the TM-Sidhi program, a person starts to operate from "self-referral consciousness", and that Yogic Flying shows mind-body co-ordination and the person's ability to "act from self-referral awareness". Physicist Brian David Josephson wrote that the TM-Sidhi techniques operate from the level of pure consciousness, a state which the Sidhis "perturb" by introducing sutras or phrases, containing ideas, which in turn determine the nature of the subsequent effect. According to Josephson, the Sidhis provide experimental evidence of the existence of the creative ability of the state of pure consciousness, as each technique produces a corresponding result.

According to the Maharishi, Yogic Flying is a phenomenon created by a specific thought projected from the simplest state of human consciousness called Transcendental Consciousness. Practitioners say that there are three distinct stages of Yogic Flying: hopping, floating, and flying. Referring to quantum electrodynamics, the Maharishi explained the physics of Yogic Flying this way in a conversation with two scientists: "We teach our students that by concentration through meditation they can create an impenetrable field of energy between the ground and their bodies.The greater the field of energy, the higher the meditating man can rise. It is simple Q.E.D."

The hopping stage is described as "the body moving forward in short jumps". Since 1986, there have been public demonstrations of the hopping stage of Yogic Flying in numerous countries including many locations in the United States. There have been no demonstrations of stage two: hovering or floating, nor any demonstrations of stage three: flying through the air. Pictures of people "hovering" are in fact photographs taken at the top of a hop. Musician Paul McCartney was with The Beatles in Rishikesh in 1968 for TM training and he asked if the Maharishi could provide a demonstration of levitation. According to McCartney, the Maharishi said "I personally have not practised this art" and did not personally know anyone in the area who did and was therefore unable to demonstrate it.

History

The TM-Sidhi program, is sometimes referred to as Yogic Flying and was introduced during a downturn in TM program enrollment. It is said to cost thousands of dollars. The organization directed itself inward and offered additional products and practices to its committed practitioners to continue on the path to enlightenment. These included, in the words of Bainbridge, supernatural compensators, including the TM-Sidhi program. During this period, the Movement began making increasing claims about the powers of TM and the TM-Sidhi program, including the reduction of crime. In her book, author Nancy Cooke de Herrera writes that Charlie Lutes, former President of the Spiritual Regeneration Movement, saw the introduction of the TM-Sidhi program as a financial ploy to increase income in the wake of declining public interest in TM.

The Maharishi appeared as a guest on The Merv Griffin Show in 1975 and again in 1977. According to author James Randi, a magician and critic of paranormal claims, the Maharishi said during a Merv Griffin Show appearance that he had enrolled 40,000 students in the TM-Sidhi program. When Griffin, a practitioner of TM, asked how many of them had learned to levitate, the Maharishi answered: "Thousands". According to a 1977 article in The Los Angeles Times, a spokesman said that Yogic Flying would only be demonstrated if a group of ten individuals each paid $1,000 for the showing. The article quoted Swami Vishnu-devananda as saying that the assertions of flying is a "hoax". Brahmachari Silendra, an Indian Physicist described TM and the TM-Sidhi as an incremental process like "following a map": "We are following the path and right now we are on schedule."

In 1985, civil suits were filed against the World Plan Executive Council and MIU by Robert Kropinski, Jane Greene, Patrick Ryan and Diane Hendel claiming fraud, psychological, physical, and emotional harm as a result of the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi programs. Following dismissal of the other claims by the trial judge, the jury awarded Kropinski $137,890 on the fraud and negligence claims. The appellate court overturned the award, the case was remanded for retrial. The Kropinski, Green, and Ryan cases were then settled on undisclosed terms. The remaining suit by Hendel, not included in the settlement, was later dismissed because the claims were barred by the statute of limitations. In affirming the dismissal, the Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit held that Hendel's claims were time-barred under the discovery rule because ...the defendants made representations which any reasonable person would recognize as being contrary to common human experience and, indeed, to the laws of physics.   If, as Ms. Hendel alleges, she was told that meditators would slowly rise in the air, and that some of them were “flying over Lake Lucern” or “walking through walls, hovering, and becoming invisible,” and that her failure to go to bed on time could bring about World War III, then a reasonable person would surely have noticed, at some time prior to September 1, 1986, that some of these representations might not be true.

Bevan Morris, president of the Maharishi International University, held the First North American Yogic Flying Contest in 1986, at the Civic Center in Washington DC. 22 TM-Sidhi meditators participated in competitions including the 25-meter hurdles, the 50-meter dash, and the long jump. The winning times and distances: 11.53 seconds in the 25-metre hurdles; 23.33 seconds in the 50-metre dash; 70 inches in the long-jump; and the high jump 24.75 inches. Reporters describe the participants hopping on foam mattresses while sitting cross legged or in a seated "lotus position". Victoria Dawson, a reporter for the Washington Post, observed that, "The hoppers remained seated, hopping vigorously among themselves, mixing and mingling with spiritual energy and good feeling". The contest was held annually through 1989. The champion long jumper at the 1989 event explained that the "changing of physiology of the subtle self" enabled him to lift off the ground, and predicted that he would accomplish full flight within three years.

In 1986, the Maharishi organized yogic flying demonstrations, reportedly taking place simultaneously in 1000 cities in 108 countries. Documented countries included Hong Kong, India, Pakistan, Philippines, Nicaragua, Shri Lanka, Iran, Thailand, Cyprus, Ghana, Israel, Lebanon, Kenia, South Africa,Turkey, and the United Kingdom.

In a 1987 Washington Post article, the Cult Awareness Network criticized Yogic Flying as "fake". Two former students from Maharishi International University said the activity was "strictly physical exercise ... nothing spiritual about it". The Washington Times report that a student from the University stated that the technique was natural; "If it was strictly physical you'd find people sweating, gasping and panting at the end. And if you did it on your own you wouldn't want to continue."

In the 1998 ABC News special The Power of Belief, journalist John Stossel reported on paranormal beliefs including Yogic Flying. Stossel said Yogic Flying looked like bouncing, and costs several thousand dollars to learn. A stock analyst who practices Yogic flying and who was interviewed said it brought him bliss and helped him perform his job more effectively.

Robert L. Park, professor of physics at the University of Maryland and author of the weekly science Internet column, What's New, attended a demonstration in 1999 that was presented at a press conference at the Washington, DC Press Club by physicist and Natural Law Party US Presidential candidate, John Hagelin. Park described 12 "fit-looking" young men who demonstrated levitation following a meditation session and "popped up a couple of inches and thumped back down." Park wrote that "the scene looked like corn popping", and that "there was nothing to suggest they didn’t follow parabolic trajectories".

According to the Global Good News website "on 28 November 2006, the United States achieved invincibility and is stabilizing the number of Yogic Flyers—rising from 1,600 to 1,730—assembled at the Invincible America Assembly in Fairfield, Iowa".

Practice

The term "siddhi" means "perfection" and refers to the development of a perfected mind/body coordination. Early advertisements for the TM-Sidhi program stated that its practice could lead to the development of extraordinary abilities such as Yogic Flying, the creation of peace, invisibility, walking through walls, mind-reading, colossal strength, extra sensory perception, empathy, compassion, omniscience, perfect health, and immortality. The difference between the TM technique and the TM-Sidhi program is that the TM technique gives the practitioner the experience of their inner Self, the "field of all possibilities", whereas the TM-Sidhi program is a practice that develops the ability to "activate the field of all possibilities". The program claims that one is able to gain the power of levitation and invisibility, walking through walls, colossal strength, ESP, perfect health, immortality and more, as "signposts" of spiritual progress. During an interview with Merv Griffin, the Maharishi said that "thousands" had learned to levitate, but skeptic James Randi reports that according to his investigations, there is "no levitation, no walking through walls, no invisibility". Australian psychiatrist Byron Rigby, Chief Minister for Health and Immortality in the TM Movement presented a paper at the Sixth World Congress of Psychiatry in 1977, in which he stated that practitioners of TM-Sidhi had already achieved extraordinary hearing, the ability to see inner organs of the body and objects inside sealed containers with eyes closed, and the early stages of flying and invisibility. Doug Henning explained the invisibility sidhi in a lecture: "You can disappear at a high state of consciousness because your body just stops reflecting light". More important than these abilities is the development and control of the mind that is said to occur.

There are currently 18 sidhis, each with an associated sutra, which is a word or phrase in English. The current TM sidhis include friendliness (repeating the word "friendliness"); knowledge of the motions of the stars (repeating the word "polestar"); omniscience (repeating the phrase "distinction between intellect and transcendence") and levitation or flying (repeating the phrase "relationship of body and akasha (ether)-lightness of cotton fiber"). The chosen sutras are repeated mentally every 15 seconds, and repeated twice. The flying sidhi, which was emphasized by the Maharisihi over the other sidhis for unknown reasons, is practiced after completing the other sidhis, and may be repeated for 5 to 30 minutes, followed by a rest period, and then a 10-minute reading from an English translation of the Rig Veda. According to Williamson, the version of TM-Sidhi that is taught to "Citizens" (those who are not also TM teachers) is slightly different from the version taught to "Governors" (TM teachers).

According to Lola Williamson, who practiced the TM-Sidhi program until 1981, the Maharishi directed that, after practicing the flying technique each day, practitioners read the Ninth Mandala of the Rig Veda. Williamson writes that Maharishi told a group that the purpose of reading this text was to feed the Soma created in their guts to the Vedic gods, particularly Indra.

Research

Studies of practitioners of the TM-Sidhi program have found positive changes in hormones associated with stress. In addition, a study showed an increase night-time plasma melatonin associated with the practice of the TM-Sidhi program. An early study by researchers at Maharishi University found that practice of the TM and TM-Sidhi programs is associated with a slowing of the aging process.

A review by Sibinga and Kemper in Pediatrics in Review notes a study by researchers from Maharishi International University and another one by researchers from MIU and University of Northern Iowa that "suggest increased creativity, intelligence, and learning ability" may be associated with the practice. A review of studies by Maharishi University researchers and others by Roy Horan says that practice of the TM-Sidhi program, which he characterizes as a form of sanyama training, may enhance creativity and hearing. According to Horan, a study by Orme-Johnson and Granieri discovered a strong increases in originality and fluency in visuo-spatial creativity in individuals practicing the TM-Sidhi program. A 1980 study also showed greater creativity in subjects who practiced the TM Sidhis Horan found methodological drawbacks in all meditation studies he reviewed, but suggested they could be resolved with further evidence from neuropsychological investigations into the nature of creativity and meditation, within a framework of transcendence and integration.

Maharishi Effect

The Maharishi Effect is a hypothetical societal benefit resulting from a "significant proportion of the population" practicing the Transcendental Meditation technique. In the 1960s the Maharishi postulated that the quality of life, the growth of harmony and order in society, would be noticeably improved if ten percent of the population practiced the Transcendental Meditation technique. This requirement later changed to one percent in 1960 and became known as the "Maharishi Effect".

With the introduction of the TM-Sidhi program in 1976 it was postulated that the square root of 1 percent of the population practicing the TM-Sidhi program, together at the same time and in the same place, would increase "life-supporting trends". This was referred to as the "Extended Maharishi Effect". These effects have been examined in 14 published studies, including a study that looked at a gathering of over 4,000 people in Washington DC in the summer of 1993. The Maharishi and his associates have likened the Maharishi Effect to the Meissner effect in superconducting materials Saying that both are a phase transition of increased orderliness that occurs at a certain threshold.

References

1. Shear, Jonathan, ed. (2006). Experience of Meditation: Experts Introduce the Major Traditions. St Paul, MN: Paragon House. ISBN 978-1-55778-857-3.
2. "Beatles guru dies in Netherlands". USA Today. Associated Press. February 5, 2008.
3. ^ "The TM-Sidhi techniques enhance the effect of Transcendental Meditation in improving coordination between the mind and body." Cite error: The named reference "MPTCWP" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
4. Goldberg, Phillip (2011) Harmony Books, American Veda, page 170
5. Russell, Peter, The TM Technique: A Skeptics Guide to the TM program. Rutlidge, Boston.1977. pg.91-93
6. ^ Mahesh Yogi, Maharishi (2001). Ideal India: the lighthouse of peace on earth. Maharishi University of Management Press. p. 308. ISBN 978-90-806005-1-5. Yogic Flying is a phenomena created by a specific thought projected from Transcendental Consciousness, the Unified Field of Natural Law, the field of all possibilities. This is the simplest state of human consciousness, self-referall consciousness, which is easily accessible to anyone through Transcendental Meditation, and is enlivened through the TM Sidhi Programme, which leads to Yogic Flying.
7. Mishlove, Jeffrey (1988). "Chapter 3". Psi Development Systems. Ballantine. ISBN 978-0-345-35204-0.
8. JOHNSON, CHIP (October 9, 1997). "Meditate, Then Levitate / Devotees of TM are flying high". San Francisco Chronicle. p. A.19.
9. "Society and Peace". TM.org. Archived from the original on September 8, 2010.
10. Regal, Brian (2009). Pseudoscience : a critical encyclopedia. Santa Barbara, Calif.: Greenwood Press. ISBN 978-0-313-35507-3.
11. "James Randi Educational Foundation — An Encyclopedia of Claims, Frauds, and Hoaxes of the Occult and Supernatural".
12. Sagan, Carl (1997). The demon-haunted world: science as a candle in the dark. New York: Ballantine Books. p. 16. ISBN 0-345-40946-9.
13. • Boa, Kenneth,Cults, World Religions and the Occult, David C. Cook, 1990 ISBN 0-89693-823-9, ISBN 978-0-89693-823-6 p. 204
    • Carlson, Ron, Decker, Ed, Fast Facts on False Teachings Harvest House Publishers, 2003 ISBN 0-7369-1214-2, ISBN 978-0-7369-1214-3 p. 254
    • Irving, Pocket Dictionary of New Religious Movements, InterVarsity Press, 2002 ISBN 0-8308-1466-3, ISBN 978-0-8308-1466-4 p. 74
    • Marvizon, Juan Carlos "Meditation", Shermer, Michael (ed)The Skeptic: Encyclopedia of Pseudoscience ABC-CLIO, 2002 ISBN 1-57607-653-9, ISBN 978-1-57607-653-8 p 141
    • Meera "Postmodernism, Hindu Nationalism and Vedic Science", Koertge, Noretta Scientific Values and Civic Virtues, Oxford University Press US, 2005 ISBN 0-19-517225-6, ISBN 978-0-19-517225-6 p 232
    • John M., Of One Mind:The Collectivization of Science Springer, 1995 ISBN 1-56396-065-6, ISBN 978-1-56396-065-9 p 130
    • Ernest B, Prematurity in Scientific Discovery; On Resistance and Neglect University of California Press, 2002 ISBN 0-520-23106-6, ISBN 978-0-520-23106-1 p 215
    • Carl B. Paranormal Experience and Survival of Death, SUNY Press, 1993 ISBN 0-7914-1475-2, ISBN 978-0-7914-1475-0 p 1
    • William Sims, Across the Secular Abyss: From Faith to Wisdom Lexington Books, 2007 ISBN 0-7391-1678-9, ISBN 978-0-7391-1678-4 p 10
    • Stenger, Victor, Quantum Gods: Creation, Chaos and the Search for Cosmic Consciousness Prometheus Books, 2009 ISBN 1-59102-713-6, ISBN 978-1-59102-713-3
14. Krisanaprakornkit, T.; Krisanaprakornkit, W.; Piyavhatkul, N.; Laopaiboon, M. (2006). Krisanaprakornkit, Thawatchai (ed.). "Meditation therapy for anxiety disorders". Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (1): CD004998. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004998.pub2. PMID 16437509. The small number of studies included in this review do not permit any conclusions to be drawn on the effectiveness of meditation therapy for anxiety disorders. Transcendental meditation is comparable with other kinds of relaxation therapies in reducing anxiety
15. Ospina MB, Bond K, Karkhaneh M; et al. (2007). "Meditation practices for health: state of the research". Evid Rep Technol Assess (Full Rep) (155): 1–263. PMID 17764203. Scientific research on meditation practices does not appear to have a common theoretical perspective and is characterized by poor methodological quality. Firm conclusions on the effects of meditation practices in healthcare cannot be drawn based on the available evidence. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help); Invalid |ref=harv (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
16. Krisanaprakornkit T, Ngamjarus C, Witoonchart C, Piyavhatkul N (2010). Krisanaprakornkit, Thawatchai (ed.). "Meditation therapies for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)". Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 6 (6): CD006507. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD006507.pub2. PMID 20556767. As a result of the limited number of included studies, the small sample sizes and the high risk of bias{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
17. ^ "The TM-Sidhi Program". Arab Maharishi Health Center. Retrieved December 30, 2009.
18. Evripidou, Stefanos (September 30, 2009). "100 yogic flyers could bring peace to Cyprus". Cyprus Mail. Nicosia.
19. ^ Chryssides, George D. (2001). Exploring New Religions. Continuum International Publishing Group. pp. 301–303. ISBN 0-8264-5959-5, 9780826459596. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)
20. Forsthoefel, Thomas A; Humes, Cynthia Ann (2005). Gurus in America. SUNY Press. p. 66. ISBN 0-7914-6573-X, 9780791465738. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)
21. ^ Bonshek, Anna Corrina; Fergusson, Lee (2007). The Big Fish: Consciousness as Structure, Body and Space. Rodopi. pp. 143–146. ISBN 90-420-2172-1, 9789042021723. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)
22. Brian D. Josephson, 1980, “Conscious experience and its place in physics", pp. 14-15, cited in Science and Consciousness, Two Different Views of the Universe edited by Cazenave, Michel Pergamon Press, 1984 isbn=0-08-028127-3H
23. ^ "Seer of Flying". Time. August 8, 1977.
24. Pearson, Craig (2008). The Complete Book of Yogic Flying. Maharishi University of Management Press. p. 546. ISBN 0-923569-27-8.
25. "What is Yogic Flying?". permanentpeace.org. Archived from the original on September 7, 2010. Retrieved December 30, 2009.
26. "A Lift for lives of stress". Times Herald. August 15, 1986.
27. Associated Press (July 9, 1986). "And awaaaaaaaay we go".
28. Mehta, Gita (1979). Karma cola: marketing the mystic East. New York: Simon and Schuster. pp. 112–113. ISBN 0-671-25083-3.
29. (Paul Mason, 1994, The Maharishi, p. 249), cited in Kelly, Lynne (2004). The Skeptic's Guide to the Paranormal. Crows Nest, NSW Allen & Unwin. p. 235. ISBN 978-1-74115-323-1.
30. ^ Dawson, Victoria (July 10, 1986). "At the Hop: The Flying Yogis' Olympiad". Washington Post.
31. Maharishi's Programme to Create World Peace. Age of Enlightenment Press. 1987. p. 1. ISBN 0-89186-052-5, 978-0891860525. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)
32. "Yogis Say They're a Hop, Skip and Jump From Flying". Los Angeles Times. July 10, 1986.
33. Wynn, Charles M. (2001). Quantum leaps in the wrong direction : where real science ends-- and pseudoscience begins ( ed.). Washington, DC: Joseph Henry Press. ISBN 978-0-309-07309-7. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
34. Miles, Barry (1997). Many Years From Now. Random House. p. 425. ISBN 978-0-7493-8658-0.
35. ^ Bainbridge, William Sims (1997). The sociology of religious movements. New York: Routledge. p. 188. ISBN 0-415-91202-4.
36. ^ Forsthoefel, Thomas A.; Humes, Cynthia Ann (2005). Gurus in America. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press. p. 72. ISBN 978-0-7914-6573-8. Cite error: The named reference "Forsthoefel" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
37. Williamson (2010) p. 97
38. ^ Williamson, Lola (2010). Transcendent in America: Hindu-Inspired Meditation Movements as New Religion. NYU Press. pp. 96–99. ISBN 978-0-8147-9450-0.
39. Cooke de Herrera, Nancy (1992). Beyond Gurus: A Woman of Many Worlds. Blue Dolphin. p. 432. ISBN 978-0-931892-49-3.
40. "The Merv Griffin Show: December 14, 1977". TV.com web site. Retrieved December 30, 2009.
41. ^ Woo, Elaine (February 6, 2008). "Maharishi Mahesh Yogi; founded Transcendental Meditation movement". Los Angeles Times.
42. Royko, Mike (September 13, 1985). "FLIGHTY LAWSUIT HAS LOUSY KARMA". Chicago Tribune. p. 3.
43. Randi, James (June 1982). Flim Flam! Psychics, ESP, Unicorns and Other Delusions (Reprint ed.). Prometheus Books. pp. 93–108. ISBN 0-87975-198-3, 978-0879751982. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)
44. DART, JOHN (October 29, 1977). "TM Ruled Religious, Banned in Schools". Los Angeles Times. p. 29.
45. India, Society, September 1986
46. United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Civil Suit #85-2848, 1986
47. Kropinski v. WPEC, 853 F.2d 948 (CADC 1988)
48. "Meditation groups settle fraud cases", Associated Press, reprinted The Tuscaloosa News (April 21, 1991)
49. Hendel v World Plan Executive Council, 124 WLR 957 (January 2, 1996); affd 705 A.2d 656, 667 (DC, 1997)
50. ^ "Yogis hop, skip and jump for world peace". Toronto Star. July 19, 1986. p. L2.
51. Kelly, Lynne (2005). The Skeptics Guide To The Paranormal. Basic Books. p. 234.
52. Van Ripper, Frank (July 10, 1986). "Followers of Yogi Do the Bounce". New York Daily News.
53. ^ Staats, Eric (September 3, 1989). "Yoga champ gets prepared to 'fly'". Houston Chronicle. p. 8.
54. United Press international New Delhi, India August 15, 1986
55. Meditators in 108 Countries to Levitate Friday for Peace The Associated Press August 14, 1986
56. Parkinson, Nicola, South China Morning Post, August 16, 1986
57. Meditating for Peace Hong Kong Business standard, August 16, 1986
58. Watts, Carolyn It’s Fly-day so Hop for the best… Hong Kong Business standard, August 16, 1986
59. Human Flying “Miracle” in Bhopal on Aug. 15, Madhya Preadesh Chronicle, August 15, 1986
60. Yogic Flying in City Indian Express, Bangalore, August 16, 1986
61. Yogic Flying: Higher functioning of mind demonstrated Pakistan Morning News, September, 1986
62. Meditators in 108 countries to levitate for world peace Taiwan China Post August 16, 1986
63. Pramualratana, Promporn Promoting peace through meditationThe Nation, August 16, 1986 Australia, New Zealand
64. Caught on the hop, Western Mail, 16–17 August 1986
65. Dashfield, Prue Peace for the world and Yogis might fly Sunday Star, 17 August 1986
66. Doing the peace hop East City News 20 August 1986
67. Meditating on the prospects for world peace Cyprus Mail, September 10, 1986
68. Yogis put the bounce into meditation, The Cyprus Weekly 12–18 September 1986
69. ' Ghana to host 'flying olynmpics The Mirror, 6 September 1986
70. Meditator Compete in floating in the air Sunday Standard, September 14, 1986
71. Vol Yogique grace a la MT L’Orient le Jour, August 26, 1986
72. Wanted: 130 Yogic fliers to beat Soweto crime Sunday Times, September 7, 1986
73. Yoga he ayaklari yerden kedildi Gunes, July 11, 1986
74. Hymas, Charles, Art of Flying by meditation is shown to the public Western Mail September 11, 1986
75. McCombs, Phil (July 2, 1987). "Group says movement a cult". Washington Post.
76. Keyser, Lucy 3000 meditators assemble, seeking peace, soft landings Washington Times July 10, 1986
77. John Stossel (October 6, 1998). "The power of belief". 20/20. American Broadcasting Company.
78. Park, Robert (September 28, 2001). "Levitation: The "science" of Yogic Flying". What's New. Archived from the original on September 7, 2010.
79. ""Seven Invincible Countries" ''Global Good News''". Maharishi-programmes.globalgoodnews.com. Retrieved 2011-01-15.
80. Skolnick, Andrew A. (1991-10-02). "Maharishi Ayur-Veda: Guru's Marketing Scheme Promises the World Eternal 'Perfect Health'". JAMA. 266 (13): 1741–1750. doi:10.1001/jama.266.13.1741. PMID 1817475.
81. Epstein, Edward (December 29, 1995). "Politics and Transcendental Meditation". San Francisco Chronicle.
82. Ryan, Leyland (January 8, 1978). "Transcendental Meditation hits hard times" (PDF). The Colombia Missourian. p. B3.
83. "TM-Sidhi Advertisements". trancenet.net. Archived from the original on September 8, 2010. Retrieved December 30, 2009.
84. Williams, Patrick Gresham (2002) Incandescent Press, The Spiritual Recovery Manual: Vedic Knowledge and Yogic Techniques for, page 159
85. Lansky EP, St Louis EK (2006). "Transcendental meditation: a double-edged sword in epilepsy?". Epilepsy Behav. 9 (3): 394–400. doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2006.04.019. PMID 16931164. {{cite journal}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
86. ^ Randi, James (1982). Flim-flam!: psychics, ESP, unicorns, and other delusions. Buffalo, N.Y: Prometheus Books. p. 106. ISBN 0-87975-198-3.
87. Berryman, Nancy, "A flight of fancy - or is it the real answer?", Sydney Morning Herald (October 12, 1980)p.9
88. Rigby, Byron, Enlightenment in world psychiatry: The Transcendental Meditation technique—new light on consciousness, MERU Press, 1977.
89. Gardner, Martin, "Doug Henning and the Giggling Guru", Skeptical Inquirer Vol 19.3 (May/June 1995)
90. Ryan, Patrick L. (1995). Langone, Michael D. (ed.). Recovery from Cults: Help for Victims of Psychological and Spiritual Abuse. W. W. Norton & Company. pp. 132–134. ISBN 0-393-31321-2, 9780393313215. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)
91. Gilpin, Geoff (2006). The Maharishi Effect: A Personal Journey Through the Movement that Transformed American Spirituality. Penguin. ISBN 1-58542-507-9, 9781585425075pages=unpaginated. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)
92. Werner, O.R.; Wallace, R.K.; Charles, B.; Janssen, G.; Stryker, T.; Chalmers, R..A. (1986). "Long-term endocrinologic changes in subjects practicing the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi program". Psychosomatic Medicine. 48 (1): 59–66.
    Seeman, Teresa; Fagan Dubin, Linda; Seeman, Melvin (2003). "Religiosity/Spirituality and Health: A Critical Review of the Evidence for Biological Pathways". American Psychologist. 58 (1): 53–63. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.58.1.53. PMID 12674818. p. 58
93. Glaser, Jay; Brind, Joel; Vogelman, Joseph; Eisner, Michael; Dillbeck, Michael; Wallace, R. Keith; Chopra, Deepak; Orentreich, Norman (1992). "Elevated serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels in practitioners of the Transcendental Meditation (TM) and TM-Sidhi programs". Journal of Behavioral Medicine. 15 (4): 327–341. doi:10.1007/BF00844726. PMID 1404349.
    Epel, Elissa; Daubenmier, Jennifer; Tedlie Moskowitz, Judith; Folkman, Susan; Blackburn, Elizabeth (2009). "Can meditation slow rate of cellular aging? Cognitive stress, mindfulness, and telomeres". Longevity, Regeneration, and Optimal Health: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 1172: 34–53. doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.04414.x. PMC 3057175. PMID 19735238. p. 47
    Loizzo, Joseph (2009). "Optimizing Learning and Quality of LIfe throughout the Lifespan: A Global Framework for Research and Application". Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 1172: 186–189. doi:10.1196/annals.1393.006. p. 191
94. Tooley, Gregory; Armstrong, Stuart; Norman, Trevor; Sali, Avni (2000). "Acute increases in night-time plasma melatonin levels following a period of meditation". Biological Psychology. 53 (1): 69–78. doi:10.1016/S0301-0511(00)00035-1. PMID 10876066. "To determine whether a period of meditation could influence melatonin levels, two groups of meditators were tested in a repeated measures design for changes in plasma melatonin levels at midnight. Experienced meditators practising either TM-Sidhi or another internationally well known form of yoga showed significantly higher plasma melatonin levels in the period immediately following meditation compared with the same period at the same time on a control night. It is concluded that meditation, at least in the two forms studied here, can affect plasma melatonin levels."
    Cahn, B. Rael; Polich, John (2006). "Meditation States and Traits: EEG, ERP, and Neuroimaging Studies". Psychological Bulletin. 132 (2): 180–211. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.132.2.180. PMID 16536641.
    Pandi-Permal, S.R.; Srinivasan, V.; Maestroni, G.J.M.; Cardinali, D.P.; Poeggeler, B. (2006). "Melatonin: Nature's Most Versatile Biological Signal?". The FEBS Journal. 273: 2813–2839. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |unused_data= ignored (help)
95. Lindberg, Deborah (2005). "Integrative Review of Research Related to Meditation, Spirituality, and the Elderly". Geriatric Nursing. 26 (6): 372–377. doi:10.1016/j.gerinurse.2005.09.013. PMID 16373182. " Early research by Wallace and colleagues evidenced slowing of the aging process in a cross-sectional group of subjects who practiced TM. This finding is supported by additional studies."
    Template:Cite article
    Wallace, Robert Keith; Dillbeck, Michael; Jacobe, Eliha; Harrington, Beth (1982). "The Effects of the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi Programs on the Aging Process". International Journal of Neuroscience. 16 (1): 53–58. doi:10.3109/00207458209147602. PMID 6763007.
96. Jedrczak, Andrew; Beresford, Michael; Clements, Geoffrey (1985). "The TM-Sidhi program, pure consciousness, creativity and intelligence". The Journal of Creative Behavior. 19 (4): 270–275. doi:10.1002/j.2162-6057.1985.tb00409.x.
    Cranson, Robert; Orme=Johnson, David; Gackenbach, Jayne; Dillbeck, Michael; Jones, Christopher; Alexander, Charles (1991). "Transcendental Meditation and improved performance on intelligence-related measures: A longitudinal study". Personality and Individual Differences. 12 (10): 1105–1116. doi:10.1016/0191-8869(91)90040-I.
    "This two-year longitudinal study investigated the effect of participation in a special university curriculum, whose principal innovative feature is twice-daily practice of the Transcendental Meditation (TM) and TM-Sidhi program, on performance on Cattell's Culture Fair Intelligence Test (CFIT) and Hick's reaction time. These measures are known to be correlated with general intelligence. One hundred college men and women were the subjects—45 from Maharishi International University (MIU) and 55 from the University of Northern Iowa (UNI). The experimental group (MIU) improved significantly on the CFIT (t=2.79, P<0.005); choice reaction time (t=9.10, P<0.0001); SD of choice reaction time (t=11.39, P<0.0001), and simple reaction time (t=2.11, P<0.025) over two years compared to the control group, which showed no improvement. "
    Sibinga, EM (2010 Dec). "Complementary, holistic, and integrative medicine: meditation practices for pediatric health". Pediatrics in Review. 31 (12): e91–103. doi:10.1542/pir.31-12-e91. PMID 21123509. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
97. Horan, Roy (2009). "The Neuropsychogical Connection Between Creativity and Meditation". Creativity Research Journal. 21 (2–3): 199–222. doi:10.1080/10400410902858691. "Sanyama training, through neuropsychological transcendence and integration, appears to enhance the creative capacity of TM practitioners." p. 216
98. Cite error: The named reference Dawson was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
99. ^ Wager, Gregg (December 11, 1987). "Musicians Spread the Maharishi's Message of Peace". Los Angeles Times. p. 12. Cite error: The named reference "Wager" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
100. Wallis, Roy (1984) Routledge & Kegan Paul, The Elementary Forms of The New Religious Life page 24
101. ^ Karam, Ted (2005) Jumping on Water: Awaken Your Joy, Empower Your Life, page 137
102. "Maharishi Effect Research on the Maharishi Effect". Maharishi University of Management. Archived from the original on July 30, 2010. Retrieved December 29, 2009.
103. • Dillbeck, M. C., G. S. Landrith III, and D. W. Orme-Johnson. "The Transcendental Meditation program and crime rate change in a sample of forty-eight cities." Journal of Crime and Justice 1981; 4:25–45.
     • Orme-Johnson, D. W., M. C. Dillbeck, R. K. Wallace, G. S. Landrith. “Intersubject EEG coherence: Is consciousness a field?” International Journal of Neuroscience 1982; 16:203-209.
     • Dillbeck, M. C., K. L. Cavanaugh, T. Glenn, D. W. Orme-Johnson, and V. Mittlefehldt. "Consciousness as a field: The Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi program and changes in social indicators." The Journal of Mind and Behavior 1987; 8(1):67–104. (presents five studies)
     • Orme-Johnson, D. W., C. N. Alexander, J. L. Davies, H. M. Chandler, and W. E. Larimore. “International peace project in the Middle East : The effect of the Maharishi Technology of the Unified Field.” Journal of Conflict Resolution 1988; 32(4):776–812.
     • Dillbeck, M. C., C. B. Banus, C. Polanzi, and G. S. Landrith III. "Test of a field model of consciousness and social change: The Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi program and decreased urban crime." The Journal of Mind and Behavior 1988; 9(4):457–486.
     • Gelderloos, P., M. J. Frid, P. H. Goddard, X. Xue, and S. A.Löliger. "Creating world peace through the collective practice of the Maharishi Technology of the Unified Field: Improved U.S.-Soviet relations." Social Science Perspectives Journal 1988; 2(4):80–94.
     • Orme-Johnson, D. W., and P. Gelderloos. "The long-term effects of the Maharishi Technology of the Unified Field on the quality of life in the United States (1960 to 1983)." Social Science Perspectives Journal 1988; 2(4):127-146. (presents two studies)
     • Travis, F. T., and D. W. Orme-Johnson. “Field model of consciousness: EEG coherence changes as indicators of field effects.” International Journal of Neuroscience 1989; 49:203-211.
     • Dillbeck, M. C. "Test of a field theory of consciousness and social change: Time series analysis of participation in the TM-Sidhi program and reduction of violent death in the U.S." Social Indicators Research 1990; 22:399–418.
     • Assimakis P., and M. C. Dillbeck. "Time series analysis of improved quality of life in Canada: Social change, collective consciousness, and the TM-Sidhi program." Psychological Reports 1995; 76:1171-1193.
     • Hatchard, G. D., A. J. Deans, K. L. Cavanaugh, and D. W. Orme-Johnson. "The Maharishi Effect: A model for social improvement. Time series analysis of a phase transition to reduced crime in Merseyside metropolitan area." Psychology, Crime & Law 1996; 2(3):165-174.
     • J. S. Hagelin, M.V. Rainforth, D. W. Orme-Johnson, K. L. Cavanaugh, C. N. Alexander, S. F. Shatkin, et al. "Effects of group practice of the Transcendental Meditation program on preventing violent crime in Washington, DC: Results of the National Demonstration Project, June–July 1993." Social Indicators Research 1999; 47(2):153-201.
     • Orme-Johnson, D. W., M. C. Dillbeck, C. N. Alexander, H. M. Chandler, and R. W. Cranson. “Effects of large assemblies of participants in the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi program on reducing international conflict and terrorism.” Journal of Offender Rehabilitation 2003;36 (1/2/3/4):283-302.
     • Davies, J. L. and C. N. Alexander. “Alleviating political violence through reducing collective tension: Impact Assessment analysis of the Lebanon war.” Journal of Social Behavior and Personality, 2005, 17: 285-338.
104. "19 January 2005 Press Conference Highlights". Global Good News. January 19, 2005. Retrieved January 6, 2010.
105. Hatchard, G. D., Deans, A. J., Cavanaugh, K. L., & Orme-Johnson, D. W. (1996) The Maharishi Effect: A model for social improvement. Time series analysis of a phase transition to reduced crime in Merseyside metropolitan area. Psychology, Crime and Law, 2(3), 165–174.
106. Orme-Johnson, David; Oates, Robert (Fall 2008). "A Field-Theoretic View of Consciousness: Reply to Critics". Journal of Scientific Exploration. 22 (3): 139–66.

External links

• The TM-Sidhi Program on the United States Peace Government website
• Yogic Flying Clubs
• Yogic Flying - Meditation and Yoga official video

• Transcendental Meditation
• Pseudophysics
• Parapsychology