(February 23, 2004) His Holiness Maharishi Mahesh Yogi proclaimed that his Peace Governments are on the right path to quickly achieving their goal of a happy, prosperous, unified world. For this, Maharishi said, Peace Governments are establishing groups of peace-creating Yogic Flyers in every country and building Peace Palaces in every major city to raise the whole population to enlightenment through the knowledge of total Natural Law.

"It doesn’t matter how long darkness has existed because we know how to light the lamp. That is why we are confident that no one will ever have to live in darkness again," Maharishi said.

Maharishi’s proclamation came during his most recent global news conference on Wednesday, February 18, 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 February 25 and 26.

Maharishi said that his Peace Governments will administer society with the support of the silent, eternal administration of total Natural Law, which governs the infinite diversity of the ever-expanding universe, from point to infinity, in an evolutionary direction. "By engaging total Natural Law—the Constitution of the Universe—it is possible for every nation in our dear world to enjoy the same perfection in administration as the administration of the universe."

Maharishi said that groups of Yogic Flyers will improve national administration. "Governments are deeply influenced by the quality of collective consciousness. To improve national administration we just have to increase coherence in national consciousness. That is why we are establishing in every country groups of a few hundred to a few thousand Yogic Flyers who will enliven total Natural Law and create coherent collective consciousness. This will make every system of government— monarchy, dictatorship, democracy—successful," Maharishi said.

The number of Yogic Flyers in a nation required to create coherent collective consciousness will depend upon the size of the country’s population.

Maharishi also announced that his Peace Governments are establishing 3,000 Peace Palaces in the world’s largest cities. The Peace Palaces will be centres for Vedic universities, colleges, and schools, which will provide Vedic education to enliven the infinite creative potential of total of Natural Law in the thought, speech, and behaviour of every student for a mistake-free, problem-free life.

In contrast, Maharishi dismissed today’s education as "appalling" because it provides only a tiny fragment of the knowledge of total Natural Law through the study of physics, chemistry, physiology, etc.—and thus wastes the cosmic potential of the student.

"It is easy and delightful for any student to enliven total Natural Law within his own self-referral consciousness. However, it is a rather strenuous and difficult process—and not satisfying to anyone—to gain only partial knowledge of Natural Law. It is like a billionaire who is only given a small amount of money to spend in the market—he will never be satisfied," Maharishi said.

Maharishi called on educators to provide Vedic education in their schools. "It is a great joy to offer this knowledge to everyone irrespective of any differences that may exist between us—language, culture, religion, or system of administration—because such differences do not matter. We can present this knowledge in the language of any science, any religion, or any culture. So be kind to your children and educate them fully," Maharishi said.

Maharishi concluded by acknowledging that his offer may be difficult to understand for those who have endured a lifetime of inadequacies in education, health care, agriculture, defence, etc. "We are talking about perfection when everything in the world is inadequate. So we accept that we may be either misunderstood or understood by just a few fortunate people in the world. But fortunately, those few people are enough for us to create a world of good citizenship," Maharishi said. "So we invite as many people to come with us as quickly as possible, and we will create a bright sunshine of enlightenment for every individual and a brilliant good fortune for the world—now and for all generations to come."