(21 January 2004) His Holiness Maharishi Mahesh Yogi announced that groups of peace-creating experts from India are now being established in countries throughout the world as the first phase of his programme to create permanent world peace. The specially trained Vedic scholars will reside in Peace Palaces and utilise Vedic performances, including Transcendental Meditation and Yogic Flying, to enliven total Natural Law and create coherent world consciousness.

Maharishi also announced that a special course for Administrators of the Global Country of World Peace is now under way. The Administrators, or Rajas, are being trained to spontaneously utilise the power of total Natural Law – which manages the universe with perfect order – to promote prevention-oriented, problem-free administration in every nation.

"The thrust of this new year is to build Peace Palaces, establish groups of Vedic scholars, and create such a high intensity of coherence that negative trends will never arise in society," Maharishi said.

Maharishi’s historic global initiative comes after decades of scientific research documenting the effectiveness of these groups in creating harmonious collective consciousness and peace in the world.

Maharishi’s announcement came during his global news conference on Wednesday, 14 January, which was broadcast live via satellite and Internet webcast from the Capital of the Global Country of World Peace in Meru, Holland. Maharishi’s next news conferences will be held on
21 and 22 January.

Maharishi said that prevention is the target of his peace plan. "‘Avert the danger that has not yet come’ is the theme of the Vedic approach to administration," Maharishi said. To achieve this goal, the Vedic scholars will also utilise the Vedic science of prediction, Maharishi Jyotish, to predict negative influences coming to a nation, and Grahashanti to neutralise these negative influences before they strike.

Maharishi explained that the groups of Vedic scholars will peacefully create a global effect through their daily Vedic performances – not through lecturing or giving advice. "These groups will function from the basic level of life – the Constitution of the Universe – which harmonises infinite silence and infinite dynamism in the ever-expanding universe. From this level, they will harmonise all the differences in every nation," Maharishi said.

Maharishi said the Peace Palaces will be designed and constructed according to Vedic architecture in harmony with Natural Law and will serve as Capitals of the Global Country of World Peace. "Just as the life-giving sun spreads light everywhere, so too, the global administration of His Majesty Raja Raam, First Ruler of the Global Country of World Peace, will have capitals everywhere," Maharishi said. "Each capital will be like a lighted lamp that will disallow any darkness in the nation. It will promote life in accord with the evolutionary power of total Natural Law for all the people."

Maharishi’s peace plan also calls for establishing universities, colleges, and schools in the Peace Palaces to educate the people how to fulfil their desires through "soft thinking" – not hard work. "Vedic education promotes thinking from the level of Being – ‘softest’ thinking – to engage total Natural Law to fulfil the desires of the people and promote life in perfection. This is the education we want to provide the children of this generation and all future generations," Maharishi said.

Maharishi concluded by inviting the press to suggest ideal locations to establish Peace Palaces in their countries and to join in a partnership with the Global Country of World Peace to create permanent world peace. "The press are knowledgeable about their countries and their culture. I invite them to tell us their preferences and to be our partners in establishing these Capitals of the Global Country of World Peace in every country. I invite them to be our partners in establishing a permanent state of world peace. Together, we will accomplish our task far more quickly," Maharishi said.