Modern Science Upholds All Disciplines of Maharishi’s Vedic Science
It is noteworthy that the understanding of the Unified Field of all the Laws of Nature from the perspectives of modern science and Maharishi’s Vedic Science is identical. These two traditions of knowledge–objective and subjective, modern and ancient–uphold one another and together rejoice in providing mankind with the necessary and timely knowledge of Natural Law.
In our time, after hundreds of years of scientific research, it is becoming increasingly evident that all the theories of modern science–not only of physics, but also of chemistry, biology, ecology, mathematics, etc.–originate from the same Unified Field. Through the Maharishi Vedic Technologies of Consciousness, it is possible now for any individual to function from the level of the Unified Field, and thereby engage the support of all the Laws of Nature in every field of scientific knowledge to support his thought and action. When we base agriculture on this holistic understanding and experience of Natural Law, then its application will produce all life supporting and balanced effects in the environment.
The field of Total Natural Law is the basis of the profession of agriculture. It is the most fundamental field of intelligence in Nature, a Unified Field of Consciousness, the source of both the Laws of Nature that modern science investigates, and the source of our own subjective experience of the world around us. The Unified Field of Total Natural Law is thus the unified basis of both the subjective and objective means of gaining knowledge.
When a farmer rises to higher Consciousness (Vedic Consciousness) through Maharishi’s Technologies of Consciousness, he gains this ability to function with the support of all the Laws of Nature described by all the theories of modern science. Then, finally, agriculture is truly and entirely scientific.
Dr. Michael Dillbeck, lead editor of the eight volumes of research on the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi programme, reprinted from leading scientific journals, has described Maharishi’s techniques for developing Consciousness.
More than 700 scientific research studies have been conducted worldwide on the benefits of the Maharishi Technologies of Consciousness for the farmer, society, and the greater environment. These benefits are found in the areas of developing maximum brain coherence and functioning, improved mind-body coordination, improved health, improved creativity and clarity of mind, enhanced skill in action, improved inter-personal relationships, and a harmonizing influence on the society and the environment.
In addition, research findings confirm that group or collective practice of the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi programme creates an even greater influence of orderliness and harmony in society, which in turn promotes greater balance in Nature.
The practice of Transcendental Meditation has been learned by over 10 million people worldwide.
From the extensive benefits in all areas of life, which are detailed below, we can understand why the experience of transcending, easily and naturally achieved during the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi programme, cannot be over-emphasized in the practice of Vedic Agriculture.
Transcending could easily be considered the most precious and beneficial human experience because it develops the enhanced perception and refinement of physiology that are needed to develop higher states of Consciousness, the basis of a successful and happy life. Transcending develops a deep inter-connectedness with our fellow men and our environment, an inter-connectedness that is vital in Vedic Agriculture.
Transcending opens up new perceptual experiences, new levels of awareness, new levels of feeling and intuition. It takes us to the heart and soul of things, and we perceive their inner creative essence—those reverberations, those deep impulses of creative intelligence from which the object itself is constituted. We literally learn to see the inner Being, the inner Self of Nature. This intimacy opens a deeper appreciation and communication with deeper levels of our natural environment, where everything is united.
This brings the farmer into a relationship with his crops, and with the environment that is creating those crops. It allows the farmer’s inner desires, feelings, and needs to be communicated to the natural world around him, and gives the natural world the opportunity to respond favourably to the farmer, because of the unified, supportive relationship that is connecting the two.
Masanobu Fukuoka, the Japanese pioneer and visionary in the field of natural farming who revolutionized rice farming with fully sustainable, natural methods, expresses this idea:
“We must look carefully at a rice plant and listen to what it tells us. Knowing what it says, we are able to observe the feelings of the rice as we grow it. However, to “look at” or “scrutinize” rice does not mean to view rice as the object, to observe or think about rice. One should essentially put oneself in the place of the rice. In so doing, the self looking upon the rice plant vanishes. This is what it means to “see and not examine and in not examining to know.” Those who have not the slightest idea what I mean by this need only devote themselves to their rice plants. ”
Renowned India botanist and plant researcher Jagadish Chandra Bose expresses the same experience when he says,
We should abandon all our preconceptions, most of which are afterward found to be absolutely groundless and contrary to facts. The final appeal must be made to the plant itself and no evidence should be accepted unless it bears the plant’s own signature.
And again, biographer Evelyn Fox Keller, writing about Nobel Laureate Barbara McClintock and her revolutionary research on corn genes and their interaction with the environment, quoted McClintock as saying that one must understand how [a plant] grows, understand its parts, understand when something is going wrong with it. It isn’t just a piece of plastic, it’s something that is constantly being affected by its environment ... You need to have a feeling for each individual plant. No two plants are exactly alike. They’re all different, you have to know that difference.
Keller further quoted McClintock as saying:
I start with the seedling, and I don’t want to leave it. I don’t feel I really know the story if I don’t watch the plant all the way along. So I know every plant in the field. I know them intimately, and I find it a great pleasure to know them.
This is also expressed beautifully in the following quote from one of the Indian Epics, the Råmacharitamånasa:
मागंे बारिद देहिं जल रामचंद्र के राज।
Råmacharitamånasa, Uttara Kanda
The clouds poured forth showers for the mere asking in the kingdom of Ramachandra.
Maharishi commented on this verse in the following manner:
In the Reign of Rām, [a time when Total Natural Law is most lively on earth], anyone who requires water just needs to ask “Please, give me water,” and there comes the shower of rain; the shower of rain comes from the need of the individual, not only the need of society. The need of society is implied in this, but ... [the rain comes from] the desire of the individual. The individual desires, looks up: “Water, please, sky! Rām Brahm, I need water. This is the crop that I’m going to grow, and I need water, in this month, in five weeks, in six weeks, in ten weeks. Water is my desire.” And his desire is fulfilled by the omnipresent administration of Rājā Rām, Brahm [Total Natural Law].
The Vedic farmer develops a particular quality of knowing—direct knowing, direct perception—and it is through this more enlightened perception that he gains more complete knowledge of anything, the deeper truth behind anything. It is with this highly developed perception that, with his intuitive insight, he can look into any situation in his agriculture project or farm, and know exactly what to do, when to do it, and how to do it. He just knows, from his deep understanding of how Nature itself is functioning.
By learning to transcend through Transcendental Meditation, the farmer is able to follow his own thoughts into the deeper levels of his thinking and feeling process, into that awareness which is giving rise to those thoughts. This is a level of perception with fewer boundaries, more openness, more connectedness, a level that is shared with the living beings around him, including his crops.
The farmer opens his awareness to those essential resonances in the environment, the essential reverberations that are the essence of each thing in that environment. The fully developed Vedic farmer is able to see and understand the connectedness of those resonances with the resonances of the Veda and the Vedic literature that he uses in his Vedic Agriculture procedures, the resonances that are the blueprint of all of creation. He is able to perceive within himself what Maharishi, in the quote below, calls vibrational modes of Consciousness:
“Thus it is clear that the concrete universe is essentially a bundle of vibrational modes of Consciousness—eternally reverberating self-referral intelligence. This is upheld by modern Physics, which tells us that all the structures and dynamics of the universe can be understood as resonant (vibrational) modes of underlying quantum fields, and that the most fundamental level of Quantum Cosmology deals with the “wave function of the universe”.”
Then the farmer, through his mere intention, moves the intention of Nature to support his farming activities. He is able to coordinate the vast array of factors involved in farming from his simple unified awareness.
This is what being in tune with Natural Law means—that the level of experience, of perception, of inter-connectedness, of communication, is such that the farmer’s internal environment and his external environment become merged.
The Vedic tradition has always recognized the value of Consciousness and awareness in plants, animals, and the environment. That is why, from the very beginning of the tradition of agriculture, the techniques and procedures of Vedic agriculture have been Consciousness based. Maharishi captured this when he said:
Now the Vedic Consciousness of the farmer will make the farmer smile in his fields, and the happy farmer, entering his field, will be welcomed by the smiles of every plant growing in his field. The Vedic Consciousness of the farmer will create a Vedic Breath and Vedic Smile in every plant in the field and this will implant a real nourishing value in the crops. He will celebrate the waves of higher Consciousness within himself every day in his home and bless the whole population—season after season—generation after generation.
Scientific Research on the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi Programme
Developing the Total Brain Functioning and Good Health of the Farmer
The experience of Transcendental Consciousness—unbounded awareness—during the practice of the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi programmes is a unique experience that enlivens the total functioning of the human brain. Since the brain is the primary regulator of all aspects of the physiology, this development of brain functioning has a profound influence in promoting health, vitality, and successful action for the farmer. It is this growth of a holistic, integrated state of brain functioning that is able to support thinking and action in harmony with Total Natural Law.
In addition, research studies show greater integration in the overall functioning of the brain, the peripheral nervous system, and neuroendocrine processes, as indicated by faster recovery of the autonomic nervous system from stress, more adaptive neuroendocrine response to stress, and improvement in physiological, cognitive, and behavioural abilities that usually decline with ageing.
Most significant are the results of research studies that show reduced hospitalization and medical expenditures among those who learn the practice of Transcendental Meditation. For example, a study of insurance statistics of 2,000 participants in the Transcendental Meditation programme found that they had an average of 50% less hospitalization and less outpatient doctor visits than the population norms.
Among the many other research findings demonstrating improved health for the farmer through the practice of the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi programme are the following:
Decreased Blood Pressure in Hypertensive Subjects
Decreased Serum Cholesterol Levels in Normal and Hypercholesterolaemic Patients
Improvements in Patients with Angina Pectoris: Improved Exercise Tolerance; Increased Maximum Workload
Reduction of Atherosclerosis
Improvements in Patients with Bronchial Asthma: Reduced Severity of Symptoms, Reduced Airway Resistance
Decreased Use of Cigarettes, Alcohol, and Non-Prescribed Drugs
Benefits for the Elderly Demonstrating Reversal of Ageing: Increased Longevity (Higher Survival Rate)
Hormone Levels and Blood Analysis Indicating Younger Biological Age
Increased Psychological Health
Reduction of Mortality, Heart Attack, and Stroke
Schneider RH, Grim CE, Rainforth MA, Kotchen TA, et al. Stress reduction in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease: Randomised controlled trial of patients with documented coronary heart disease found that those randomly assigned to learn the TM technique showed a reduction of 48 percent in the risk of mortality, non-fatal myocardial infarction, or stroke over the follow-up period averaging 5.4 years, in comparison to a control group in a health education programme. Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.5(6):750-8,2012.
The American Heart Association has conducted a meta-study of all the commonly available personal development techniques for improving heart health, and has found that only the Transcendental Meditation programme shows significant clinical outcomes, resulting in their recommendation of Transcendental Meditation as an effective therapeutic modality.
Developing the Farmer’s Creativity and Clarity of Mind
Creativity is the very essence of the farmer’s profession, and since creativity and clarity of mind are essential for the far-reaching decisions of the farmer and the agribusiness manager, the practice of the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi programme is important for everyone in the field of agriculture.
Scientific research studies indicate that the practice of Transcendental Meditation develops creativity. For example, research on different types of creative thinking shows that individuals develop greater originality in problem-solving; greater fluency of ideas; greater flexibility of thinking in solving problems; increased field independence, which is a measure of broad comprehension together with the ability to focus sharply; increased practical intelligence, by which one sees the practical consequences of actions; increased mental efficiency; and increased fluid or general intelligence.
Among the many other research findings which demonstrate increased clarity of mind and improved mind-body coordination are the following:
Improved Problem-Solving Ability
Increased Innovation
Improved Memory
Faster Processing of Cognitively Complex Information
Increased Clarity and Flexibility of Perception
Increased Vigilance and Improved Capacity for Selective Attention
Holistic Improvement in Intellectual Performance
So KT, Orme-Johnson DW. Three randomized controlled studies among Chinese students found that, in contrast to controls, those who learned the TM technique showed significant improvement in five measures of intellectual functioning; they also showed decreased anxiety. Intelligence. 2001:29(5):419-40.
Developing the Farmer’s Skill in Action
Skill in action begins to grow right from the first days of practice of Transcendental Meditation. An important aspect of growing skill in action—action supported by Natural Law—is that action is increasingly effortless, causing no strain to the performer, and meeting with no resistance from the environment. The development of this quality of skilful action is indicated by the research finding that employees who learn the practice of Transcendental Meditation show decreased stress during task performance—greater physiological calmness in the midst of their job activity.
Greater skill in action is also confirmed by the following research findings:
• Improved Work and Personal Relationships
• Improved Relations with Co-Workers and Supervisors
• Increased Sociability
• Greater Marital Adjustment
• Greater Family Health
• Enhanced Inner Well-Being
• Increased Contentment
• Increased Effectiveness
• Increased Time Competence: Increased Ability to Think and Act Efficiently in the Present
• Faster Reactions
• Increased Energy and Enthusiasm
• Decreased Fatigue
• More Effective Interaction with the Environment
• Improved Resistance to Stress
• Increased Job Satisfaction
Improved Work and Personal Relationships
A study of executives and workers found that after three months of regular practice of the TM technique, participants showed improved work and personal relationships, in comparison to controls from the same work sites. Reference: Anxiety, Stress and Coping: An International Journal 6: 245–262, 1993.
Creating an Orderly, Harmonious Society, the Basis of Balance in Nature
It is well understood that human society has an enormous influence on the natural environment. When the collective Consciousness of society is disorderly, and both citizens and leaders lack breadth of comprehension, pollution of air, water, and soil, misappropriation of natural resources, endangering of species, and overall disruption of environmental balance result.
What is less well understood is that because human Consciousness is fundamentally connected with the totality of Natural Law, the build-up of stress, tension, and turbulence in society as a whole—imbalance in human life—has a direct effect of disrupting balance in Nature. Human incoherence creates environmental incoherence, with the result of frequent natural disasters such as drought, hurricanes, earthquakes, etc. Maharishi has expressed this idea as follows:
The destiny of the whole population affects agriculture, in addition to the forces of Nature, such as rain, sunshine and the season. I am using the word destiny, but it should not be considered mystical, or implying faith, or anything like that. Destiny is a translation of a phrase which is very well known everywhere, “As you sow, so shall you reap.” This is the definition of what we call destiny. When famine comes and people do not get food, it is they who collectively created a situation such that Nature became imbalanced, and did not produce rains at the right time. When individuals begin to violate the Laws of Nature in their own lives, these violations cause negative influences in the collective atmosphere, which eventually turn into natural calamities.
This relationship between coherence and purity in collective Consciousness and the extent to which Natural Law expresses itself to support the activities of mankind, is a fundamental principle in Maharishi Vedic Organic Agriculture.
From this knowledge coming to us from the Vedic tradition, we gain the most fundamental understanding about the relationship of man and Nature—that the consciousness of man influences the functioning of Nature, and vice versa.
The level of purity, orderliness, and coherence achieved in individual and collective Consciousness, in any local area, or in any society or any nation, determines the vitality, functionality, and totality of the Laws of Nature expressing themselves in that area—in the sun, the stars, the rain, the soil, the air, the wildlife, the soil life, and the farmer himself. This is a unique Vedic understanding.
Manu Smriti, the ancient law-giving text from the Vedic Tradition, states this principle in terms of Natural Law. Caring for Natural Law is said to be the means for assuring that, in turn, we are cared for by Natural Law:
/moR r=it r=t"
He who cares for Natural Law, the Natural Law cares for him.
—Manu Smriti 8.15
As we have noted throughout this site, the Unified Field of Natural Law is the most fundamental and basic level of Nature’s orderliness. This can be understood as what Maharishi calls the “Constitution of the Universe” or the government of Nature, containing the fundamental Laws of Nature that govern evolution. It is from this holistic level of Nature’s functioning that all aspects of society can be maintained in an always positive direction, with the consequent creation of balance in the environment.
When large groups of individuals practice Maharishi Technologies of Consciousness together in one place, an influence of order, coherence, and harmony is created in the whole collective Consciousness, as documented by 50 scientific research studies that show reduced negative trends and increased positive trends in society. These studies provide evidence that this influence can be created for the whole nation by a very small proportion of the population—on the order of the square root of 1%—participating in collective practice of the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi programme, including Yogic Flying.
Senegal, and Mozambique indicate that on occasions when large groups of participants in the Transcendental Meditation programme or the TM-Sidhi programme have been created, conditions of drought have been alleviated. For example, the former Commander of the Armed Forces in Mozambique, in whose ranks group practice of the TM-Sidhi programme was instituted, reports the following results after five years of the worst drought of the century in Southern Africa:
The coming of the rains in 1993 supports the idea that large groups of individuals practicing the TM-Sidhi programme bring balance to Nature. The rains were only expected in the month of July, but they came six months in advance, in the month of February, immediately after thousands of people were taught the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi programme. On the other hand, as soon as the big groups stopped practicing (last week of January 1994) [due to demobilization of the armed forces], there was a predicted and almost immediate, cessation of the rains (last week of January 1994).
These results indicate the possibility of maintaining balance in Nature through permanent large groups practicing the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi programme, including Yogic Flying.
(For more information on the scientific research on the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi programme, please refer to http://www.tm.org/research)