Peace Palace eyes town move

The Standard, Stratford-upon-Avon


23 August 2002

Followers of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi believe centre will help cut crime

(with large colour image of artist's impression of the Peace Palace)

A £3 million peace palace designed to cut crime with meditation and yogic flying could be built in Stratford.

The massive 6,300 square metre building would house up to 1,500 followers of the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi - the man who developed transcendental meditation.

Members of the Maharishi Foundation believe when enough people collectively practise techniques such as yogic flying they will actually reduce the crime rate of the surrounding area.

Plans to find a big enough site in Warwickshire - the followers have their eyes particularly on Stratford district - were unveiled at an inter-national conference at Stratford's Heart of England Transcendental Meditation Centre this week.

The Maharishi himself appeared for the first time in 20 years via a live satellite link as plans to build six more palaces across the Midlands were read out at the Albany Road centre.

Yogic flying involves followers wearing white clothes and meditating cross-legged. After some time in this position they begin to shake, giggle and hop across a mat, bouncing up to half a metre in the air. Accomplished yogic flyers are said to be able to levitate.

Huw Meads, who runs the centre, said the foundation expects to find a site for one palace within the next three to six months.

He insisted studies for the Journal of Psychology, Crime and Law showed when enough people practised yogic flying the crime rate dropped by 14 per cent.

A garden measuring 1,500 hectares is also on the drawing board as a way to fund activities at the palace by selling organic produce.

Transcendental Meditation is practised by five million people world-wide.

Investors are being urged to come forward to fund the project and would be able to recoup their money with returns from the organic produce. Anyone interested should contact Mr Meads on 01789 298367.

Copyright 2002, Stratford Standard