Despite the sincere efforts of leaders in every generation, conflict and war continue to plague humankind. Since the United Nations’ founding after World War II to "prevent the outbreak of further conflicts," there have been more than 120 wars. Today, with the widespread proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, we must do everything in our means to prevent the outbreak of war.

In response to this urgent need, many of the world’s foremost peacemakers, scientists, scholars, humanitarians, and political leaders are uniting to found the Maharishi University of World Peace— a global university dedicated to the prevention of war, and to researching and promoting effective solutions to crime and international conflict.

This University will establish a new, much needed profession in the world— that of professional peacemaker: individuals equipped with the knowledge and practical programs to alleviate crime and prevent violent conflict.

The Maharishi University of World Peace will have campuses in key population centers throughout the world. Each campus will have instructional and residential facilities to accommodate at least 1,000 students. The first campuses of the University are now being constructed in Israel, in India, and at a beautiful site in the near vicinity of Washington, D.C.

The Urgent Need for a New Approach—at Home and Abroad
Since 1000 BC, there have been more than 2,000 peace treaties, each lasting an average of less than nine years. In modern times, similar results from negotiations by the League of Nations and the United Nations confirm the fragility of treaties as a foundation for lasting peace.

A more fundamental approach is needed to diffuse deep-seated societal stress and conflict—one that addresses the core psychological, physiological and sociological roots of violent behavior and social conflict.

Reversing the Neuropathology of Violence
Recent research indicates that stress is strongly linked with aggression and violent behavior. Chronic acute stress leads to imbalances in neurophysiology, as evidenced by brain biochemistry (elevated cortisol and suppressed seratonin), brain electrical patterns (low encephalographic coherence), and "cortical fragmentation" caused by regions of low metabolic activity. Over time, these imbalances lead to severe brain dysfunction, violence, and other behavioral pathologies.

Exciting new research has shown that the Transcendental Meditation technique effectively reverses neurochemical, electrophysiological, and metabolic imbalances in the brains of violent individuals. This research reveals that there is a simple physiological approach to treating violent offenders and "at-risk" children, providing a promising antidote to the current epidemic of violence.

Reversing the Sociology of Violence 
On a societal scale, a growing body of research implicates rising stress levels in society as a primary causative factor in social violence, including youth and school violence. More than 40 published studies have shown that the large-scale application of the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi programs reduces societal stress, leading to significantly reduced crime, social violence, and even open warfare in war-torn areas.

A Lighthouse of Coherence
The Maharishi Universities of World Peace will perform another key service to the world. Research on the societal effects of coherence-creating groups indicates that these Universities can serve as powerful generators of social coherence, reducing societal stress and conflict. The U.S. Campus is close enough to Washington, D.C. to have a powerful, positive impact on the capital city and the decisions of the federal government. The practice of Transcendental Meditation by the students and faculty will help diffuse deep-seated tensions in Washington, D.C., thereby improving the atmosphere in which decisions are made that affect the safety and security of the entire world.

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