(March 3, 2003) Maharishi Mahesh Yogi offered a “peaceful, cosmic challenge to warring nations” during a global news conference on Wednesday: “Your time to destroy is coming to an end. We are creating a coherent world consciousness that will prevent any negativity from arising anywhere on earth and that will bring peace, prosperity, and happiness to the whole world family.”

Maharishi’s declaration was broadcast live to media on all continents via satellite, Internet webcast, and teleconference call. Maharishi’s next global news conferences will be held on March 5 and 6.

Maharishi’s program to create permanent world peace

During the news conference, Maharishi presented his program to create permanent world peace, which calls for establishing groups of 8,000 peace-creating experts on every continent, including a larger group of 40,000 experts in India, to create coherence and harmony in world consciousness—the basis for lasting world peace. In addition, the plan calls for building 3,000 Peace Palaces in the world’s largest 3,000 cities to offer the complete knowledge of peace to the whole world’s population. Efforts are already under way to establish the first 100 Peace Palaces in the United States.

“These Peace Palaces will offer the knowledge of peace—the Science of Consciousness—to enrich all areas of life and make the administration of every nation prevention-oriented and problem-free,” Maharishi said.

Consciousness is the basis of life

Maharishi explained that consciousness is the basis of life. “Scientific research reveals that the entire physical universe—including the human physiology—is just the expression of consciousness. Fortunately, the complete Science of Consciousness to bring perfection in life is available in the Vedic literature of ancient India, and in the literature of every religion. It is just a matter of introducing this knowledge into the health care, education, and defense programs of every country for every nation to enjoy freedom, dignity, and invincibility.”

Maharishi acknowledged that his offer might sound “too fantastic to be true.” But he emphasized that the offer is based on nearly 50 years experience of bringing enlightenment to millions of people throughout the world through Transcendental Meditation and its advanced programs—and on hundreds of scientific research studies that document the effectiveness of these programs for creating peace in the individual, the nation, and the world.

President Bush is doing what he thinks is right

In response to a question about an impending U.S.-led war against Iraq, Maharishi acknowledged that President Bush is doing what he thinks is best to create peace—even though it violates the teaching of all religions that “killing is sin.”

“There is something in the brain of President Bush that makes him think that the world will be neat and clean if he eliminates wrong people from the earth,” Maharishi said. “President Bush wants to promote peace through violence. We want to promote peace through a peaceful approach. But President Bush has made his decision and the American people have made their choice to support him. That is America today. What can we do?”

Maharishi cautioned that while everyone is free to choose what they want in life, nevertheless, they have to be prepared to accept the consequences of their actions. “Both poison and nectar are sold in the market. Those who want poison can poison themselves. Those who want nectar can take nectar. It’s a choice. You can do what you want, but you must bear the consequences of your choice.”

Consciousness-based education for spontaneous right decisions

Maharishi said that the only way to ensure that people make the right choices—and avoid the effects of wrong actions—is to develop total brain functioning through his Consciousness-based approach to education.

“We want the administration of every country to be in accord with Total Natural Law—the Constitution of the Universe—which administers the infinite diversity of the universe with perfect order,” Maharishi said. “Then everyone will use their full brain potential and rise to higher states of consciousness so that spontaneously they will never do anything that is considered a sin or wrong—they will never encounter problems or difficulties.”

Science of Consciousness is destined to be adopted by every government

Mahaishi closed the news conference by saying that the transformation of today’s problem-ridden world into a world of peace, prosperity, and happiness can take place overnight because “the moment a candle is lit the darkness disappears.”

And Maharishi emphasized that his Science of Consciousness is destined to be adopted by every government. “It may happen today, it may happen tomorrow—or a government may wait for 100 years and introduce it then. Governments can be wise and introduce it now—or they can be unwise and continue down the path of problems and suffering. It is their choice. However, as soon as any government indicates a desire, we are ready to create the effect of coherence and peace.”