In 1974 these predictions were validated by scientific studies showing that in cities where one percent of the population learned the transcendental Meditation technique there was a sudden decrease in crime rates.
On 12 January 1975, As a result of scientific research conducted during the past decade on Transcendental Meditation, the practical aspect of the Science of Creative Intelligence, at more than two hundred universities and research institutes in different countries, including Germany, England, Canada, United States, Holland, India, South Africa, and Australia, involving the trends of life of about eleven hundred million people in the vicinity of eleven hundred World Plan centres in over eighty-nine countries on all continents, as endorsed and proclaimed by legislators, governors, mayors, educators, doctors, lawyers, businessmen, organizations, and individuals, and as a result of his successful world-wide activities, His Holiness Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, founder of the Science of Creative Intelligence, through the window of science, saw the coming dawn of the Age of Enlightenment and inaugurated it for the whole world in Switzerland. "Through the window of Science we see the Dawn of the Age of Enlightenment. Good time for the world is coming. Now, a few people in any country will be able to change the destiny of their nation for all good. One percent of the population will be sufficient to design the direction of time for all happiness, progress, and fulfillment everywhere. I see the dawn of the Age of Enlightenment. In this scientific age, it is no longer necessary for any nation to continue living with problems." It was at this time that research scientists discovered that in cities where one percent of the population was practicing Transcendental Meditation, the cities' crime rates decreased. As more and more cities rose to one percent of the population practicing Transcendental Meditation, scientific research found that not only did crime decrease, but accidents, sickness, and other negative trends also decreased, and positivity increased. Research scientists named this phenomenon the Maharishi Effect in honor of Maharishi. With this formula, Maharishi realized that it was now easily practical to produce positive trends in all cities throughout the world. With this inspiration, Maharishi envisioned a new age dawning for mankind. On 12 January 1975, he inaugurated the dawn of the Age of Enlightenment proclaiming, “Through the window of science I see the dawn of the Age of Enlightenment.” This is the time of the dawn of the Age of Enlightenment. I am only giving expression to the phenomenon that is taking place. One percent of the people in any country can herald the dawn of a new age for the whole nation by devoting only fifteen minutes of their time twice a day. It is in the hands of a few individuals in every country today to change the direction of time and guide the destiny of their nation for all harmony, happiness, and progress. It is my joy to invite everyone to come in the light of the knowledge and experience that the Science of Creative Intelligence provides and enjoy participating in this global awakening to herald the Age of Enlightenment. -Maharishi 12 January 1975
