Optimum Strategy for Creating the Maharishi Effect Using Composite Transcendental Meditation and TM–Sidhi Practitioner Groups
Vyas O’Neill
Journal of Maharishi Vedic Research Institute November 3, 2026 DOI: 10.66743/breb1224 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key points | Proposes a mathematical "Composite Maharishi Effect" function that models the combined contribution of TM-only and TM-Sidhi practitioners within a single group, extending prior formulas based on 1% of a population practicing TM or the square root of 1% practicing TM-Sidhi together. By incorporating differential marginal costs of participation and non-zero initial conditions, the authors argue the framework can identify when a composite group is the optimal and most efficient strategy for a given target population. |
Abstract
This study develops a mathematical framework for analysing composite groups of Transcendental Meditation and TM–Sidhi practitioners with reference to the creation of the Maharishi Effect. Building on established formulae that associate the creation of the Maharishi Effect with either 1% of the population practising Transcendental Meditation in isolation or square root of 1% of the population practising the TM–Sidhi program together in a group, the present study introduces the Composite Maharishi Effect (CME) function that represents the combined contribution of Transcendental Meditation-only and TM–Sidhi practitioners within a single group. It then extends this model by incorporating differential marginal costs of participation, allowing the creation of a Maharishi Effect group to be examined not only in terms of theoretical sufficiency but also in terms of practical efficiency. On this basis, the analysis identifies and quantifies the conditions under which a composite Transcendental Meditation and TM–Sidhi group provides the optimal strategy for achieving the Maharishi Effect for a given target population. The framework is further extended to account for non- zero initial conditions, reflecting the pre-existing distribution of Trans- cendental Meditation and TM–Sidhi practitioners in the population. The resulting model provides a decision-making tool that can be used to evaluate alternative strategic pathways for establishing groups capable of producing the Maharishi Effect under practical, real-world conditions.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. | 2004 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mechanisms of mindfulness | 2005 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective | 2011 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression | 2006 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-transcendence (S-ART): a framework for understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of mindfulness | 2012 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
Citations in the library
Cites 10
- International Peace Project in the Middle East Journal of Conflict Resolution December 1, 1988
- 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 July 1, 1996
- Global Impact of the Maharishi Effect from 1974 to 2017: Theory and Research Journal of Maharishi Vedic Research Institute August 1, 2018
- Quantification of the Global Maharishi Effect: A Quasi-Experimental Study of the Three Most Violent Countries in the World Journal of Maharishi Vedic Research Institute November 1, 2025
- Maharishi Vedic Science and Technology: A Systematic Approach to Creating Permanent World Peace Journal of Maharishi Vedic Research Institute April 1, 2018
and 5 more in the library