A scientific means to unity in Libya

Libya’s leaders call for unity, hoping to end the bloody civil war that has engulfed the country since 2011. They face a challenging task: uniting a fractured and crippled war-torn country while in the midst of a raging pandemic with its resulting economic devastation and societal discord. Achieving unity under these stressful conditions is a daunting task but it can and must be done.

Leaders are simply a reflection of the Collective Consciousness of the people they lead. According to psychologist Roger K. Allen, PhD: “People live in one of four states of being, which could be considered levels of emotional development or maturity. These are: survival (fear-based living); security (duty-based living), success (ego based living) and serenity (love/trust-based living).”

The best way to gain leadership grounded in love/trust-based living rather than fear-based living is to elevate the Collective Consciousness of Libya. Transcendental Meditation (TM) and its advanced programs are an effective, evidence-based, scientifically validated means to do that.

When sufficient numbers practice TM, and particularly the more advanced TM-Sidhi program in large groups together, a powerful field effect of coherence and peace is generated. This effect spills over into the surrounding population. This has been substantiated by extensive research published in the following refereed journals: Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, International Journal of Neuroscience, Journal of Conflict Resolution, Journal of Crime and Justice, Journal of Mind and Behavior, Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, Journal of Social Behavior and Personality, Psychological Reports, Psychology Crime and Law, Social Indicators Research, Social Science Perspectives Journal, Society of Neuroscience Abstracts, and Studies in Asian Social Science.

Hundreds of scientific studies have been conducted at more than 200 independent universities and research institutions and published in peer-reviewed scientific and medical journals. They confirm that regular practice of TM produces major increases in calmness, happiness, creativity, energy, and clarity of mind. Over six million people worldwide of all religions, cultures and ages have learned TM and experienced these benefits.

This TM field effect was demonstrated in 1993, when over 4000 TM experts gathered in Washington, DC as a “National Demonstration Project to Reduce Violent Crime and Improve Governmental Effectiveness in Washington.” As predicted, research published in Social Indicators Research showed that crime dropped 24% and public approval of the US president suddenly changed from a negative trend to a positive trend. Image what Libya’s leaders could accomplish together if permanent groups of experts were established to meditate twice daily and reduce high-stress levels.

Research indicates that such calming effects can also be created on a national level. A recent study published in Studies in Asian Social Science showed that large group practice of these programs in Cambodia between 1993 and 2008 was associated with a 96.2% decline in sociopolitical violence in that war-torn country compared to violence in the preceding three years. The authors conclude the likelihood this reversal in the rising 1990–1992 trend of violence occurred randomly was one chance in 10 million. Other published research has shown that after advanced TM was applied, Cambodia’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth rates averaged 8.9%, and poverty was reduced by 63% between 1994 and 2008. By 2010, Cambodia was ranked 63rd out of 152 countries on the international scale of poverty, an unprecedented jump of 89 places in less than one generation. Despite such promising scientific results, this TM research and the actual military field tests in other countries have so far been largely ignored by Libya’s policymakers.

Lasting peace could be established in Libya if it is based on science rather than politics. In order to best succeed, it would be wise to advocate this simple and cost-effective approach. Any large group of experts trained in advanced TM techniques can produce similar results. These groups could be comprised of military units, congregations at places of worship, prisoners, the elderly in retirement homes, even students as was done in Cambodia. The important factor is that the techniques be performed by trained TM experts consistently in groups twice a day. Simply by doing this, high societal tensions would be eradicated.

Violence has historically been the response to national differences, despite its costs both in financial and human terms. What Libya’s divided country needs now is for all leaders to recognize that there is a more effective proven way to resolve differences. TM is that scientifically verified approach, and now is the time for Libya’s leaders to utilize this new brain-based technology to dissolve high political tensions and create lasting stability and unity.

About the Authors:

Arlene J. Schar has served as Dr. Leffler’s Executive Assistant at the Center for Advanced Military Science (CAMS) http://www.StrongMilitary.org since 2015. She has edited and co-authored many of Dr. Leffler’s articles.

Dr. David Leffler served as an Associate of the Proteus Management Group at the Center for Strategic Leadership, US Army War College. Currently, he serves as the Executive Director at CAMS.