(17 December 2003) His Holiness Maharishi Mahesh Yogi declared that the knowledge of total Natural Law – which administers the universe with perfect order – is now available for governments and peace-loving philanthropists who desire to create an ideal civilisation and end the barbarism that has gripped the world for centuries.

Maharishi also praised Dr John Hagelin, world-renowned quantum physicist and President of the US Peace Government, along with other wise leaders of America for their resolve to raise a $1 billion endowment to establish in the United States a University of World Peace with a permanent group of 8,000 peace-creating experts. Dr Hagelin also serves as Minister of Science and Technology of the Global Country of World Peace.

"Hundreds of billions of dollars are spent each year to build weapons of destruction, but only one billion dollars is needed to create permanent world peace. This is because the power of good is far greater than the power of evil," Maharishi said.

Maharishi’s pronouncements came on Wednesday, 10 December during his global news conference, which was broadcast live via satellite and Internet webcast from the Capital of the Global Country of World Peace in Meru, Holland. During the news conference, Maharishi answered questions from members of the Washington international press corps who had assembled at the Maharishi Peace Palace in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, for the broadcast.

Maharishi’s peace plan was featured in hundreds of newspapers and radio and television broadcasts worldwide. Maharishi’s next news conferences will be held on 17 and 18 December.

Maharishi said that the prevailing system of administration – democracy – is at the basis of today’s problem-ridden world. Maharishi dismissed democracy as "childish and lacking in intelligence" because it promotes opposition and division within a nation. However, Maharishi added, he was heartened by the growing realisation among intelligent people that a change is needed in the administration of society – and Maharishi offered Vedic administration as the solution.

"Vedic administration provides the programmes and procedures for any government to engage total Natural Law to make national administration as orderly, evolutionary, and blissful as the administration of the universe," Maharishi said. "Total Natural Law – the Constitution of the Universe – together with the man-made constitutions of every country will create a perfect civilisation in the light of God."

Maharishi explained that proper education is key to this global transformation. "The nature of life is bliss. And the purpose of education is to connect the conscious mind with this basic reality of life, which has been lost to memory due to improper education. This is easy to achieve because the field of bliss – the Unified Field of Natural Law – is the self-referral consciousness of everyone. Through Vedic education, the nature of life will be brought up from this transcendental field to conscious awareness, and mankind will live in bliss, peace, affluence, and all possibilities," Maharishi said.

In response to a reporter’s question, Maharishi said that the $1 billion endowment will be used to employ a permanent group of 8,000 peace-creating experts to promote coherent world consciousness. "The cost to create world peace is small. For a minimum expenditure, we can establish on a permanent basis a high degree of coherence in world consciousness so that cruel and disruptive forces will not erupt anywhere on earth," Maharishi said.

Only the investment income of the endowment fund will be used for the peace projects; the principal will always remain as a permanent basis for world peace. To contribute to the endowment fund, please visit www.globalcountry.org.

Maharishi concluded by saying that despite today’s global problems, the world is destined to be happy and peaceful in the light of total Natural Law – the light of God. "It could happen any day," Maharishi said. "It only needs one or two wealthy well-wishers of peace to realise that their money, which has been used for killing and war, can now be used for peace and happiness. So we thank all those who aspire to transform our world and create a beautiful civilisation for all times to come."