SUBJECT: Update on progress of Maharishi's Vedic Pandit world peace project in India; and appeal for support in reaching target of $1 million dollars contribution from Britain to the World Peace Fund so that we can qualify to send two national delegates to Maharishi's new Administrators' conference.

On 12 January, Maharishi proclaimed 2004 to be his "Year of Peace Palaces of the Global Country of World Peace" -- a year when Maharishi's global organisation will focus on constructing Peace Palaces in every country, and specially trained Vedic scholars from India will come to reside in these Peace Palaces and utilise Vedic performances to create peace, progress and affluence in the local community, the nation, and the world.

Maharishi's two-month training programme for Administrators of the Global Country of World Peace, which he had first announced on 24 December, has also now started at Maharishi's headquarters in Meru, Holland. Several participants have already joined the programme, and others are joining as their funds become available (see: www.GlobalCountry.org for details of the programme). This unique programme is designed to train Administrators who will spontaneously utilise the power of Natural Law to promote prevention-oriented, problem-free administration in every nation.

It is also a pleasure to inform you that our nationwide fundraising campaign in the UK for Maharishi's World Peace Fund has made excellent progress over the past year and there is now over $700,000 in the collection due to the generous contributions of about 600 Meditators, Sidhas, and Governors.

Now, we have a new immediate target. If we can increase the amount to $1 million then we will qualify to send two delegates to Maharishi's two-month Administrators conference (you will see from the explanation at www.GlobalCountry.org that the minimum contribution per delegate is $500,000). As usual all donations will go to support the Vedic Pandits in India. We would like to qualify to send two delegates from this country since Maharishi has indicated that he would like Peter and Deirdre Warburton, who have been working for many years for his global organisation, to attend the Administrators conference as soon as possible.

Our contributions to the World Peace Fund are of immense value to support the initiative now underway in India to train large numbers of experts in Maharishi's Vedic technologies of consciousness. His Excellency Dr Girish Varma, Minister of Higher Education for the Global Country of World Peace, reported in a global broadcast on 10 January that Maharishi's organisation in India has now set up 5,000 Vedic schools in towns and villages throughout India. At these schools, there are currently 200,000 students receiving training in all 40 aspects of Maharishi's Vedic Science.

Dr Varma announced that several thousand of these students have already reached a level of training where they are able to perform Maharishi Yagyas, Graha Shanti and Vastu Shanti -- to create a profound state of peace, happiness, and affluence for the individual and society. It is planned that groups of these qualified Vedic Pandits will go to all of the 3,000 Peace Palaces in the major cities of the world. Maharishi said: "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."

The widespread implementation of the training programme for these Vedic experts is a direct result of the substantial contributions that have been made by so many people to the World Peace Fund in recent years, and we would like to warmly encourage everyone to continue supporting the Fund in whatever way they can. Not only will this be helping to create world peace, but it will also bring peace and relief from problems in our own lives and to our country. As Maharishi says, this is not charity but an investment in our own future.

As mentioned by Bibette Leadbetter during the National Coherence Day conference call on Sunday, it will also benefit this country in many respects if we can collectively make sufficient contributions to the World Peace Fund to be able to send two delegates to Maharishi's Administrators conference. The country will be making a significant contribution towards world peace by donating $1 million to the World Peace Fund, thereby neutralising some of the negative effects of Britain's past actions in the world. At the same time, the two delegates attending Maharishi's conference will be trained in the guiding principles to create problem-free administration in society – Heaven on Earth.

Since the new target of $1 million for our collective fundraising was announced at the Maharishi Golden Dome in Skelmersdale on the 11 January, and on the Coherence Day call last Sunday, about £9,000 ($16,000) has been contributed, bringing us that much closer to the goal. Only a further £156,000, or $284,000, is required to reach the target, and it will be wonderful to achieve this as soon as possible.

HOW TO CONTRIBUTE
Many of you will already be making contributions to Maharishi's World Peace Fund, This is very greatly appreciated and has helped to bring us to the present level of achievement. Anyone who would like to make a new contribution, or increase their existing contribution, is warmly invited to do so. All contributions of any amount are deeply appreciated.

Please make your cheque payable to "Maharishi Foundation -- Vedic Pandit Groups in India", and send it to: Maharishi Foundation, Vedic Pandit World Peace Project, FREEPOST NWW9061A, SKELMERSDALE WN8 6ZZ

For further details or a copy of the donation form that allows the charity, Maharishi Foundation, to reclaim the tax you may have paid on your donation and add it to the donation, please call Bibette on: 01695 722240; e-mail: Bibette@AofE.net.

CREDIT CARD or DEBIT CARD payments can also be taken over the telephone.

PLEDGES
If you would like to contribute a more substantial sum and need time to transfer the funds, please call Bibette to indicate the amount you would like to pledge towards Maharishi’s World Peace Fund.

With all best wishes for your peace and happiness, in Maharishi's Year of Peace Palaces,