According to the studies from The American Journal of Physiology, Scientific American, Lancet, the Journal of Counselling Psychology, the International Journal of Neuroscience, the Journal of the Canadian Medical Association, the British Journal of Educational Psychology, and the Journal of Conflict Resolution: Meditation Practitioners (MP) on average have the biological age of a person 5 to 12 years younger, as well as significantly reduced incidence of illness and risk of heart disease. Studies also show that MPs have warmer interpersonal relationships, less anxiety, increased self-esteem and self-confidence, increased problem-solving ability and greater creativity. The individual spontaneously radiates a purifying and nourishing influence of positivity and harmony in society as a whole.

MPs gain inner strength, physiological balance, contentment, and awareness, and reduced stress, enabling them to give more attention, appreciation, and love to family and friends, and continually grow in effectiveness in their professional and personal lives. Moreover, with this growth, dependence on any external substances naturally disappears.

The research findings include:

• Increased happiness
• Reduced stress
• Increased intelligence
• Increased creativity
• Improved memory
• Improved health
• Reduced high blood pressure
• Improved relationships
• Increased energy
• Reduced insomnia
• Reversal of biological aging
• Reduced crime and improved quality of life in society

Research findings resulting from more than 500 scientific studies conducted at 200 independent universities and institutions in 33 countries and published in over 100 leading scientific journals have documented that meditation brings benefits to every aspect of life: physiological, psychological, sociological, and ecological. A comparison of the results of these studies indicates a high degree of consistency. There is no question about the fact that meditation causes a wide range of benefits in mental potential, health, and social behavior. These results are reliable in terms of the methods of validation utilized.

Meditation and Education:

Meditation, in any of its many forms, practiced on a consistent basis, has the potential to reveal and facilitate the development of the special gifts of each student. If everyone truly has the potential for genius in some respect, meditation and the higher level of consciousness that it produces in practitioners, is the most totally reliable pedagogical method for its realization and development. Through meditation the mind becomes clear, inducing greater alertness and comprehension. Thoughts become more positive and nourishing. One begins to make fewer and fewer mistakes in life and effortlessly begins to live more in harmony with the universal order.

Numerous studies indicate that meditation produces a significantly larger reduction in tobacco, alcohol, and nonprescribed drug use than standard substance abuse treatment and prevention programs. The effects of conventional programs are short lived, showing declines within 3 months. The effects of meditation increase over time, with total abstinence from tobacco, alcohol, and nonprescribed drugs ranging from 51%–89% over an 18–22 month period. The effects of Meditation are based on fundamental and naturally occurring improvements in the individuals' psychophysiological functioning.

Additional Educational Findings:

Additional Educational Findings:

Increased Intelligence in Secondary and College Students
Journal of Personality and Individual Differences 12 (1991): 1105–1116.
Perceptual and Motor Skills 62 (1986): 731–738.
Dissertation Abstracts International 38 (1978): 3372B–3373B.

Improved Academic Grades in Undergraduate and Graduate Students
British Journal of Educational Psychology 55 (1985): 164–166.
Improved Memory
Memory and Cognition 10 (1982): 207–215.
Higher Levels of Moral Maturity
Dissertation Abstracts International 36 (1975): 4361A–4362A.

Increased Field Independence — Increased Resistance to Distraction and Social Pressure
Perceptual and Motor Skills 39 (1974): 1031–1034.
Perceptual and Motor Skills 65 (1987): 613–614.

Greater Interest in Academic Activities
Western Psychologist 4 (1974): 104–111.
Dissertation Abstracts International 38 (1976): 649A–650A.

Greater Intellectual and Scientific orientation
Western Psychologist 4 (1974): 104–111.
Dissertation Abstracts International 38 (1976): 649A–650A.

Increased Intelligence in Secondary and College Students
Journal of Personality and Individual Differences 12 (1991): 1105–1116.
Perceptual and Motor Skills 62 (1986): 731–738.
Dissertation Abstracts International 38 (1978): 3372B–3373B.

Improved Academic Grades in Undergraduate and Graduate Students
British Journal of Educational Psychology 55 (1985): 164–166.
Improved Memory
Memory and Cognition 10 (1982): 207–215.
Higher Levels of Moral Maturity
Dissertation Abstracts International 36 (1975): 4361A–4362A.

Increased Field Independence — Increased Resistance to Distraction and Social Pressure
Perceptual and Motor Skills 39 (1974): 1031–1034.
Perceptual and Motor Skills 65 (1987): 613–614.

Greater Interest in Academic Activities
Western Psychologist 4 (1974): 104–111.
Dissertation Abstracts International 38 (1976): 649A–650A.

Greater Intellectual and Scientific orientation
Western Psychologist 4 (1974): 104–111.
Dissertation Abstracts International 38 (1976): 649A–650A.

Increased Self-Development
Education 107 (1986): 49–54.
Decreased Dropout Rate and Increased Self-Actualization Among Economically Deprived Adolescents
Dissertation Abstracts International 38 (1977): 3351B.
Additional Findings of Social Behavior:

Increased Capacity for Warm Interpersonal Relationships
Journal of Counseling Psychology 20 (1973): 565–566
Perceptual and Motor Skills 39 (1974): 623–628
Zeitschrift für Klinische Psychologie [Journal for Clinical Psychology] 7 (1978): 235–255

Decreased Depression
Journal of Counseling and Development 64 (1986): 212–215
Journal of Humanistic Psychology 16(3)(1976): 51–60
Gedrag: Tijdschrift voor Psychologie [Behavior: Journal of Psychology] 4 (1976): 206–218

Increased Tolerance
The Journal of Psychology 99 (1978): 121–127
Dissertation Abstracts International 38 (1978): 3372B–3373B
Dissertation Abstracts International 38 (1978): 3895B

More Positive Self-lmage
British Journal of Psychology 73 (1982): 57–68
Journal of the American Association of Nephrology Nurses and Technicians 3 (1976): 119–125
Gedrag: Tijdschrift voor Psychologie [Behavior: Journal of Psychology] 4 (1976): 206–218

Orientation Towards Positive Values
Perceptual and Motor Skills 64 (1987): 1003–1012

Improved Perception of Others
Perceptual and Motor Skills 49 (1979): 270
Perceptual and Motor Skills 64 (1987): 1003–1012

Greater Marital Satisfaction and Adjustment
Psychological Reports 51 (1982): 887–890

Healthier Family Life
Psychological Reports 51 (1982): 887–890
Journal of Counseling and Development 64 (1986): 212–215
Dissertation Abstracts International 45 (1984): 3206B

Improved Employment Status
Journal of Counseling and Development 64 (1986): 212–215

Increased Integration of Self with the Social Environment
Journal of Social Behavior and Personality 6 (1991): 189–247

Improvements in Post-Traumatic Adjustment Problems
Journal of Counseling and Development 64 (1986): 212–215