SUBJECT: 1. Maharishi's message to the world press about their responsibilities;
2. Invitation and press statement for Maharishi's global press conferences on Wednesday and Thursday this week

If you promote killing and destruction- even in the name of "press objectivity"- you will reap the effects

His Holiness Maharishi Mahesh Yogi offered a warning to the world press that they are responsible for their role in promoting, through their reporting, the killing and destruction promoted by their governments-and they will reap the effects.

Maharishi described the press as "mature minds" and "the thinkers of the nation" whose words shape public opinion. However, Maharishi said, the press can't hide behind words like "objectivity" and "subjectivity" in what they promote.

"If you promote destruction-subjectively or objectively or in whatever manner-you promote sin, you promote hell-whether for your country, for your family, for yourself, or for the world. Just by being 'objective,' you won't save yourself from going to hell," Maharishi said. He added that in the name of objectivity it is not enough to say, "'A fire is there.' You have to get some water to put the fire out. Don't fool around in these words. They will not save you from sin."

Maharishi said that each member of the press has to make a choice-to promote destruction, or to promote protection and peace. "Be brave in promoting peace-be brave in promoting good things," Maharishi said. "'Objective' and 'subjective'-these words will not protect you. 'As you sow, so shall you reap.' You can amuse the worldly man with your words, but you can't fool the omnipresence of the Will of God with your logic, so don't think that way. Be sincere-be simple."

(28 January 2003) His Holiness Maharishi Mahesh Yogi offered all heads of state his Vedic approach to administration to bring stability to their governments, and presented his practical formula to create permanent world peace by promoting the perfect health and peace of every individual - thereby ending the bloody legacy of war that has gripped mankind for millennia.

Speaking to the world press during his weekly global news conference last Wednesday, Maharishi also cautioned journalists against hiding behind the façade of objectivity when promoting news of their government's policies of war and destruction: "If you are promoting destruction, you are promoting sin." Instead, Maharishi urged them to bring his message of peace to the leaders of their countries. "You cannot simply say that 'the fire is there.' You have to get some water to put the fire out," Maharishi said. "Be brave in promoting the knowledge to create a peaceful, coherent world."

Maharishi's global news conference was broadcast live via satellite, Internet webcast, and teleconference call to media on all continents. Maharishi's next news conferences will be held on Wednesday, 29 January, and Thursday, 30 January 2003. (Please see below for details.)

Maharishi told the press that governments today are "groping in darkness" - they are ridden with problems and incapable of satisfying their people. "Every government knows it is not ideal. That is why there is a tradition to change administrations every three or four years. The people feel fed up with the government and the government feels fed up with the people - so they change hands."

Maharishi said such constant turmoil is not satisfactory. "I want every administration to be stable, to be so successful, that the people will not want to change the government. For this to happen, the government has to be prevention oriented - it has to be able to prevent problems for the people."

Maharishi said this goal is now readily achievable for any government by contracting with the Global Country of World Peace. "Through the complete scientific knowledge of Total Natural Law, which administers the infinite diversity of the universe with perfect order, the Global Country of World Peace can create prevention-oriented, problem-free administration in every country, so every administration is as orderly, as evolutionary, and as stable as the Administration of Natural Law."

In response to a question about the effectiveness of conventional approaches to peace, Maharishi was firm that such approaches offer a false hope, or worse, intensify the problem. Maharishi said:

Failure of peace treaties: "Take a lesson from world history. How many treaties have been signed and great hopes raised - but wars have continued. Words on paper do not create peace. All these discussions and resolutions are a waste of human effort - a waste of human hope."

Failure of the military: "Offensive means of defence are a dangerous path that will lead to more killing and destruction: 'As you sow, so shall you reap.' No military today can ensure peace against an enemy who does not show his face or against a single missile that can turn society to ashes."

Failure of protests: "I am not in favour of agitation; I am in favour of creating a harmonious world consciousness. There have been agitations throughout history, but the world has not been peaceful. My message is, 'Don't fight the darkness - quietly put on the light and darkness will disappear."

Maharishi concluded his response by saying that while he speaks to the press in "plain and simple" language, his comments should not be misunderstood to imply that he is opposing anyone. "I know that everyone has their own level of consciousness and that everyone can only understand and act from that level. What I am saying is what I see. Just as there are other viewpoints, I have a viewpoint - and that is what I am expressing in this press conference."

Maharishi said that the programme offered by the Global Country of World Peace to create permanent world peace will be successful because it creates a coherent, harmonious world consciousness and promotes the peace of the individual - the unit of world peace. The programme includes establishing in India and throughout the world several large groups of 8,000 peace-creating experts, and building a Peace Palace in each of the 3,000 largest cities in the world, including 51 in the UK.

"The formula to create world peace is through individual peace; individual peace is through individual health; and individual health is through the knowledge of prevention and cure of Vedic medicine. These 3,000 Peace Palaces will offer courses in the total knowledge of Natural Law from both the physical sciences and the Science of Consciousness of the Vedic tradition of ancient India, so that the life of every individual and every nation is spontaneously in harmony with Total Natural Law - in perfect health and permanent peace."

Maharishi added that Peace Palaces will be built according to the design principles of Vedic architecture in harmony with Natural Law "to connect individual life with Cosmic life and thereby promote the health and peace of the whole population." Maharishi called on "well-wishers" of peace in every city to build the Peace Palaces as soon as possible. "If there is any intelligence left in the world, my advice is to build these Peace Palaces quickly and you will be better off."

Maharishi acknowledged that his message of "national administration in accord with the administration of Total Natural Law" is beyond the comprehension of any individual or government: "Whatever science they learned in their childhood, it is outdated." Nonetheless, Maharishi said, the world needs the most complete up-to-date knowledge of Natural Law. "Fortunately, the Global Country of World Peace has the knowledge to engage Total Natural Law to create prevention-oriented and problem-free administration in every country. To enjoy this supreme administration, a government only has to sign a contract with the Global Country of World Peace."