Violence and conflict have plagued mankind throughout history, and
the terrorist attacks by Boko Haram are just a current manifestation.
How can Nigeria protect itself from future attacks? Ideally, the best
way to guard against emerging terrorist threats would be to have no
enemies. No enemies no terrorism! An unfamiliar but effective human
resource-based approach
called Invincible Defence Technology would help the military of Nigeria
to begin creating a lasting peace by preventing such enemies from
arising, both internally and externally.
Invincible Defence Technology (IDT) is a scientifically validated
solution to conflict and violence. There are over 50 published studies
confirming its effectiveness. This recently revived method of preventive
defense promises to end terrorism and conflict. Its adoption in Nigeria
can set an example of peace-based defense for the rest of the world –
something all military
leaders would value.
Militaries have tried to quell violence and conflict through a
dynamic approach, i.e., with weaponry and military personnel. But,
interestingly, even with advanced weapons, they cannot eliminate
problems like terrorism.
New terrorist threats constantly emerge, and the number of terrorist
cadres and cells continues to grow. Even with more fully equipped police
and paramilitary forces, militaries cannot eradicate them. More
alarming, defense experts predict that terrorists will soon start using
portable,
easily concealed weapons of mass destruction to launch their attacks
around the world. Imagine the dire ramifications for Nigeria if a
dangerous terrorist group like Boko Haram could obtain such devastating
weaponry.
War, conflict, violence and terrorism are human problems. They
require a human solution. So the question remains: Can war and terrorism
be prevented with the military methods used in the past? Again and
again, history shows that the answer is “no.” War, conflict, violence
and terrorism are human problems.
Therefore, they require a human solution. Their underlying cause is
accumulated stress in society’s collective consciousness. If the
collective consciousness is full of tension and fear, then disorder is
more likely to erupt into some specific act of violence than if the
prevailing mood is one of contentment. Social injustice and unfavorable
economic conditions thrive
in and contribute to chaotic environments. Unresolved religious,
territorial, political, and cultural differences further add to the
unrest.
A dissatisfied and frustrated population contributes to its own
instability. Thus a dissatisfied and frustrated population contributes
to its own instability. The build-up of this sort of tension is
dangerous to any nation’s sovereignty, producing an unstable government
that is prone to war.
However, if the collective social stress driving these problems is
prevented, negative manifestations would cease. Thus, zero collective
stress ultimately means no war and no terrorism.
Invincible Defense Technology is rooted in the ancient Vedic
knowledge of India, which describes the best approach to prevention as
Heyam duhkham anagatam (Yoga-Sutra 2.16): “Avert the danger before it
arises.”
Similarly, Yoga-Sutra 2.35 affirms Tat sannidhau vairatyagah: “In the
vicinity of Yogic influence – unifying influence, integrating
influence, coherent and harmonious influence – conflicting tendencies do
not arise.” These ancient principles were effectively applied in past,
and they have already been successfully applied in today’s world, with
commendable results.
According to Vedic tradition, conflict results from ignorance –
ignorance of how to prevent the build-up of collective stress through
the harmonizing influence of coherence. For example, the Ramayana states
that “…ignorance will have no access within eight miles from (the
Yogi’s hermitage).”The Ramayana describes the ancient city of Ayodhya,
whose name means
“Invincible.” Certainly, Ayodhya relied on the conventional defense
technologies of its time. For instance, “It was enclosed by strong
fortifications and a deep moat, which no enemy, by any expedient
whatsoever, could penetrate.”
Also, “Ayodhya abounded in warriors undefeated in battle, fearless
and skilled in the use of arms, resembling lions guarding their mountain
caves.” However, the descriptions of the enlightened, stress-free life
of the inhabitants of Ayodhya indicate that its first line of defense
was the city’s freedom from collective stress. According to the
Ramayana, this low stress level, based on life in harmony with Natural
Law, made Ayodhya worthy of its name.
In today’s modern cities, however, social stress gets generated by
countless violations of natural laws (i.e., crimes are committed every
day). People’s weakness results in an inability to find positive and
life-supporting ways to fulfill their desires. Crime contributes to a
growing cloud of negativity for a city and for a nation. When the stress
from crime, frustration, unhappiness and lack of national fulfillment
grows beyond a certain limit it spontaneously erupts into terrorism and
war. Therefore, ignorance, or lack of understanding of how to act in
accord Natural Law, is responsible for suffering in human affairs.
Implementing Ideal National Defense
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi revived the practical components of this silent
approach for national defense. They are all-known around the world as
the Transcendental Meditation R and TM-SidhiR program. These programs
are evidenced-based solutions, with a substantial amount of published,
peer-reviewed research that has accumulated since 1970. Because they are
human resource-based technologies, they are easy to implement and
practice.
It is important to note that they do not involve religious belief or
practices. Members of many faiths worldwide have practiced these
meditation techniques. Extensive scientific research documents the
ability of the TM and TM-Sidhi program to dissolve stress on the
individual and collective levels.
Could the ideal of Ayodhya’s preventive defense again be accomplished
by militaries today? Yes! It is already starting to happen now.
Military-related leaders in the USA, Latin America, and Africa, are
applying TM because peer-reviewed scientific papers have confirmed that
regular
practice produces many other wide-ranging, measurable benefits. These
include increased intelligence, creativity; reduced stress and improved
health; and more fulfilling and harmonious interpersonal relationships.
Most importantly to warriors, TM increases resilience, mental clarity
and physical strength as well enhancing mind-body coordination (See
Defence and Security Alert, Vol. 4, Issue No. 8, pages 34-39). Also,
from a practical standpoint, the TM program is easy to do and has no
religious philosophy attached. For nearly sixty years it has been taught
to millions of people (including schoolchildren and their teachers)
around the world from every race, cultural background, religion,
ethnicity and educational background.
Are soldiers willing participants in such an unusual endeavor? Again,
yes! A study was conducted by Ecuadorian army psychologists to assess
the value of the IDT preventive defense program after its soldiers had
been practicing it for one month. The results? Over 96% of the soldiers
thought it was a very practical activity. Why are these warriors
convinced? As the study showed, 92% felt their performance in activity
had improved and they were better able to deal with stress; 96% declared
their relationships with others had improved; and 95% said their
practice of IDT was completely satisfying.
The operative part of IDT requires having a Prevention Wing of the
military. This wing is comprised of a small portion of the armed forces
of a country. The rest of the military carries on with their usual
duties. The Prevention Wing of the military creates societal coherence
by practicing the TM and TM-Sidhi program in large groups morning and
evening. Their collective
practice produces positive benefits for both themselves and their adversaries. Peaceful overtures increase from all sides.
Similar coherence-creating groups have been deployed in many war
zones and conflict-prone areas with great success. Extensive scientific
research indicates that when the square root of 1% of the population
practices the advanced TM-Sidhi program in a group, a “field effect” is
created.
Scientists call this field effect the “Maharishi Effect.” Many carefully
controlled studies have documented and validated positive social trends
such as reduced conflict and lowered crime rate resulting from the
Maharishi Effect. These studies have been scrutinized and published in
respected peer-reviewed journals such as Social Indicators Research,
Journal of Conflict Resolution, Journal of Mind and Behavior and Journal
of Crime and Justice.
This coherence-creating effect has also been documented on a global
scale in a study published in the Journal of Offender Rehabilitation.
When large assemblies of practitioners of the TM-Sidhi program exceeded
the Maharishi Effect threshold for the world (about 7,000 at that time)
during the years 1983-1985, international conflict decreased 32%,
terrorist casualties
decreased 72%, and violence was reduced in other nations without intrusion by other governments.
IDT is a force multiplier because it creates coherence for the entire
military and the whole country, thus making everyone’s jobs easier.
While the majority of the military continues with the dynamic approach
(weaponry, equipment, training), the minority implements the silent
approach of Invincible Defense Technology. Defense of the nation is
perfect, thus
invincible, when both these approaches are combined.
The military of Nigeria cannot solve the problem of terrorism by
standard military means alone. It also needs a silent approach that will
help people focus more on peaceful means of settling differences.
Nigeria needs to deploy Prevention Wings of the Military immediately to
prevent terrorism, and achieve true invincibility and permanent peace.
The authors urge Nigerian leaders to immediately adopt this
evidence-based approach.
Major General Singh (rtd) leads an international group of generals and
defense experts that advocates Invincible Defense Technology, while
Leffler is the Executive Director of the Center for Advanced Military
Science (CAMS).
