Could Meditation Influence Reality?

By Wes Annac, Openhearted Rebellion

Closely associated with spiritual practices and their accompanying philosophies, meditation is believed to provide an extra dimension to the human experience. When practiced individually, it can induce a sense of calm and provide insight into the ways of the self. Some meditators report an awareness of states of consciousness ordinarily hidden, accompanied by revelatory thoughts on the nature of life.

Visual phenomena often accompany this experience: lights, colors and patterns that are subtle at first but can become vivid. Experienced yogis tend to discourage a focus on these sensations, as the desire to bring them about can be a distraction from the goal of a typical meditation. That goal is to sink into the depths of the subconscious with no intent to experience anything mystical. You simply exist.

Meditating by yourself can be a profound way to aid your mental and emotional health. It slows you down, which is uncommon in a world where everyone is rushed and anxious. We would all benefit from taking a little time to breathe, and anecdotal evidence suggests this is a valid way to improve mental health.

So, what about group meditation? This is generally defined as any number of people getting together with the singular goal of quietening the mind. Although meditation is considered beneficial in either setting, it is believed to have a more profound and measurable benefit when done en masse.

What is it about group meditation that makes it so much better than practicing alone? To find out, we must explore the idea that we are all connected, and that a person’s emotional energy influences another’s. In spirituality and metaphysics, two ideas support the notion that we affect each other’s internal states: the ripple effect and the Maharishi effect.

Humanity Healing breaks down the ripple effect, explaining that this idea proposes we are all connected within a “tapestry” of consciousness. Inside of this tapestry, what we think, say and do will ripple outward, affecting other people whose thoughts and expressions will affect even more people. Our choices thus have consequences beyond what we can immediately see. (1)

To provide more context, Humanity Healing gives a brief explanation of quantum physics: protons, neutrons and electrons make up the atom, which makes up our reality. We can break those components down into smaller particles (“leptons” and “quarks”) then break those down, then rinse and repeat until we are left with nothing but energy. They theorize that at its most basic level, matter is pure energy. The belief is that the mind can influence this reality-constructing energy to literally change the world. (1)

Disclaimer: I am no quantum physicist by far! I know very little about quantum physics and am only sharing what I’ve learned from a few web searches. As always, use discernment and listen to the experts when it comes to this stuff, as I merely explore these ideas for fun.

To understand how meditation fits into the ripple effect, we will look to the famous guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Guru to the Beatles and Deepak Chopra among many others, Maharishi is the founder of transcendental meditation (TM) and figure behind the Maharishi effect. This is the theory that group meditation in a particular area can influence that area’s population.

Via Maharishi International University, Maharishi believed that if one percent of an area’s population practiced TM, life would noticeably improve for people in that area. Basically, if positive energy is produced via group meditation, that energy will ripple out to the community. To back up this idea, a paper published in 1976 reported a reduced crime rate of 16% on average in an area where 1% of people meditated together. (2)

Taking this 1% figure a few steps further, Maharishi International University explains that any group equaling in size to the square root of 1% of the population could influence said population through TM. 200 meditators in a four million-population city could affect the entire city for the better; and just 1,600 American meditators could influence the entire United States. Globally, 7,000 meditators could influence the entire world. (2)

These figures would of course need to be adjusted to account for the higher populations today in the U.S. and the world, respectively.

MIU explains that in 1987, as large groups practiced TM with scientists analyzing the effects on the surrounding communities, an 11% decrease in violent crimes was observed in Washington, D.C. That same year, a decrease of the same percentage in total crime was observed in Metro Manila as well as the Union Territory of Delhi. These results have been consistent enough to be accurately predicted before a group meditation takes place. Additionally, in 1993, a “distinguished review board” in Washington, D.C. found that group meditation decreased violent crime by up to 23.3% (2)

Societal benefits aside, are there any personal benefits to meditating in a group? Elizabeth Blasi at Aaptiv says yes. She explains that group meditation holds the individual accountable to show up for their practice while giving them a collective energy source from which to thrive. (3)

Elizabeth cites meditation teacher and Exploring Meditation author Susan Shumsky, who explains that the benefits of a lone practice (relaxation, increased awareness, etc.) are enhanced when done in a group. Additionally, as we’ve learned, this positive energy ripples out to the surrounding community. (3)

Elizabeth also cites Peace Unleashed founder Ellie Shoja, who tells us that humans naturally feed off each other’s thoughts and feelings, be them joyful or painful. We will feel the “raised vibrations” of our fellow meditators during a group practice, even if we are beginners who might not get much out of meditating on our own. (3)

The takeaway is that group meditation unites us all with the goal of raising our vibration personally and collectively. Sejal Shah at Thrive Global likens group meditation to a cooperative effort in an energetic tug of war. By practicing together, we can create noticeable collective peace comparable to an energetic “rising tide”. (4)

If we are all connected, then what we think and do will ripple out to affect the people around us. Group meditation can enhance this ripple effect while helping to deepen our self-awareness and bring about peace. This may even have a measurable impact on society.

Beyond the social benefits, group meditation can open a novice to the heightened vibration of the group, giving them a tangible transcendent experience right away. If all of this is true, then we could potentially divert the tide of our collective energy away from hatred, greed and violence toward empathy and peace.

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