Opinion | A new approach to lasting peace in Sudan

Despite ongoing efforts to ease tensions and stabilize Sudan, long-standing differences remain unresolved and the civil war continues. Achieving a sustainable and lasting peace remains challenging. It is imperative to quickly de-escalate rising tensions, prevent further escalation, and bring this 14-month conflict to an end.

Why is it so difficult to ease tensions? In essence, the root cause of social violence is the accumulation of collective social stress. Solving this human problem requires human-centered solutions. (See:Peace through health: the role of traditional medical meditation in preventing collective stress, violence, and war” was published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health.)

The best way to eliminate social problems such as war, conflict, terrorism and crime is to directly reduce social and collective stress quickly and effectively.

Numerous scientific studies have shown that the most effective way to reduce collective social stress, eliminate extremism, and eradicate war, conflict, and terrorism is through an ancient strategy. The late Maharishi Mahesh Yogi revived the non-religious method known as the Invincible Defense Technique (IDT), which people of many faiths have successfully and quietly used to resolve conflicts in the past. Now is the time to consider using this brain-based technology to help Sudan achieve lasting peace.

We can reduce social tensions and end the Sudanese civil war by establishing a preventive unit within the Sudanese army or, if necessary, the army of a neighboring country. This special unit will be trained to: Transcendental Meditation (TM®) program and its advanced technologies, including TM-Sidi® Program. This IDT approach has been extensively tested in war-torn regions such as the Middle East. Numerous studies have shown that when large groups practice these techniques twice a day, there is a measurable impact on social harmony and peace: reduced crime rates, improved quality of life indicators, and less war and terrorism. This large group practice appears to create a “field effect” that extends to the surrounding population, producing a palpable peaceful impact.

For example, in 1993, an IDT intervention was studied in Washington, D.C. Forecasts were submitted in advance to government leaders and newspapers. An independent project review board approved the study protocol. When the group reached its peak size, crime fell 24% from the predicted level. The change could not be explained by temperature, weekend effects, or previous trends in the data. The results were published in Social Indicators Research.

A study published in Asian Social Science Studies Previous empirical testing of IDT in Cambodia, India, the Philippines, and other countries was reviewed. The findings are consistent with earlier peer-reviewed research showing significant reductions in crime and violence associated with group practice of TM and TM-Sidhi programs.

this World Social Sciences Journal published a study showing that when √1% of the population practiced IDT together, multiple stress indicators in the United States fell. Subsequently, when the size of the IDT group decreased, these stress indicators rose again. Other factors such as economic conditions, political leadership, and demographics were taken into account but could not explain these results. The consistent pattern of stress indicators falling and then rising in tandem with changes in the size of the IDT group strongly suggests that the group itself is responsible for the effect.

Twenty peer-reviewed studies, Many of them are listed herewhich has validated the effectiveness of IDT. Although the exact causal mechanism is not entirely clear, other studies have shown that practicing TM can enhance EEG coherence (see International Journal of Psychological Research and International Journal of Neuroscience). This biological effect, combined with the deep rest that the practice brings, helps reduce stress and tension, increase alertness, and enhance personal well-being and resilience.

A study Journal of Social Behavior and Personality (JSBP) provides a possible biological explanation for the causal relationship of IDT. Research on the neurotransmitter serotonin shows that it is associated with feelings of happiness, satisfaction, and well-being, while low serotonin levels have been associated with violent, aggressive, and depressive mood states. The JSBP study found that the greater the number of IDT practitioners in a group meditation, the greater the production of serotonin in members of the community who did not practice meditation and were unaware of the group size. Levels of the stress-related hormone cortisol showed the opposite relationship. When group size decreased, cortisol levels increased. These statistically significant changes occurred after a period of increased participation, suggesting the existence of a plausible, stress-related, neurophysiological mechanism that can reduce aggression and hostility in society.

IDT’s global influence has been Criminal Rehabilitation Magazine Using data from the RAND Corporation, between 1983 and 1985, when large IDT gatherings exceeded the threshold predicted to have a measurable global impact, deaths from global terrorism fell by 72 percent, international conflict fell by 32 percent, and violence in other countries also fell without external government intervention.

The IDT approach also offers tangible personal benefits to both military personnel and civilians affected by the consequences of conflict and war. For example, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common among both veterans and civilians. According to one study The LancetAs a non-trauma-focused therapy, TM may be a promising option for reducing PTSD symptoms to within normal ranges in veterans with PTSD and an effective alternative for veterans who choose not to receive or do not respond to common long-term exposure-based PTSD treatments.

Militaries are charged with the duty of protecting their country. They have a responsibility to rigorously explore practical, scientifically proven methods to eliminate war and terrorism. Military personnel are paid for their service and for protecting their country. Given the funding they provide for this purpose, we believe that militaries have a responsibility to establish IDT prevention units within their armed forces.

We strongly encourage militaries to rapidly implement IDT approaches to stabilize the volatile situation in Sudan.

Ideally, 15,000 advanced TM meditators practicing IDT in sync twice a day would be enough to create a global coherence effect that would initiate a phased shift in all nations toward lasting world peace. Once this shift occurs, the military that first initiates such a large-scale IDT deployment will receive international recognition not only for promoting lasting peace at home, but also for playing a critical role in averting the escalation of global conflict and potentially protecting our endangered planet.

About the Author:
Arlene J. Schar is the communications director for the Center for Advanced Military Sciences (CAMS)
Dr. David Leffler is Executive Director of CAMS (https://www.istpp.org/military_science/).

The opinions expressed in “Opinion” articles published by Radio Tamazuj are solely those of the author. The authenticity of any statements made is the responsibility of the author and not Radio Tamazuj.