|
New Delhi, 29 January 2003
Dr
David R. Leffler, an occasional contributor to our website has sent
in this article, which emphasises the success of the so called 'Invincible
Defence Technology' or the practice of mass Transcendental
Meditation to prevent war and conflict.
"Project:
Coherence" by Lieutenant Gen José Martí Villamil is the story
of why and how he deployed Invincible Defence Technology in Ecuador.
The article also briefly discusses his plans to deploy it again in
the future. Ecuador is perhaps a South American success story. Its
military used Invincible Defence Technology to quickly end its war
with Peru. The authors suggest that perhaps India could learn from
Ecuador's example, as they claim that this human resource-based
technology could be used to prevent further terrorist attacks in
India.
Perhaps
the Indian Armed Forces can think of employing this ‘technology’
in their never-ending conflict with Pakistan!
Project:
Coherence
By Lieutenant General José Martí Villamil de la Cadena, (Retd)
Ecuadorian
Army with Dr. David Leffler
Prevention
is the best way to avoid the dangers of war and terrorism. Terrorist
attacks are nearly impossible to defend against. The build up of
collective social stress is the source of war and terrorism. To
permanently sustain peace, conflicts must be prevented at the
source. War and terrorism could be prevented by reducing social
stress with Invincible Defence Technology.
I
was an instigator of The Coherence Project in Ecuador, a quiet test
of an unusual military technology. I was both surprised and
privileged to be part of this historical undertaking. But first, I
implore you to review some Ecuadorian history.
Perhaps the longest and most intense border conflict in South
America persisted from colonial times between Ecuador and Peru. In
question were territories of the Amazon region and certain western
plains near the Pacific Ocean.
Historians
suggest that roots of the conflict extend back to the Incas. But
changes in territorial administration during the colonial era led to
overlapping claims. With independence, states were formed with the
boundaries that had already been established. Peru claimed its
version and Ecuador set forth its own. This resulted in a new
fratricidal war even before the independence campaign finished.
A
peace treaty was eventually signed and borders established, but a
number of armed conflicts occurred in subsequent years. In 1941, in
the environment of a worldwide conflict between the Axis and the
Allies, a brief military conflict obliged Ecuador to sign the 1942
Protocol of Rio de Janeiro.
Instead
of creating peace, it resulted in tension between Ecuador and Peru,
complicating diplomatic and commercial relations despite the
integration of their economies and the similarity of their cultures.
Sporadic confrontations continued between military patrols and
outposts. In the first days of December, 1994, a face-off along a
disputed section of frontier in the high jungle escalated into a
major confrontation. There followed various skirmishes that created
the risk of a new generalized conflict.
In
those days, I held the position of Vice-Minister of Defense of
Ecuador and received an invitation from Maharishi Vedic University
Headquarters, in Vlodrop, Holland to participate in an international
military conference. This conference would discuss the application
of a new, unconventional preventive defense technology called
Invincible Defense Technology.
Invincibility is a bold claim, and I was intrigued. Little did I
know that this unusual human resource based technology would soon be
used by Ecuadorian military and civil volunteers –– in what came
to be known as "The Coherence Project."
Invincible
Defense Technology involves the practice of the Transcendental
Meditation program. I had learned the Transcendental Meditation
technique in the early 1980's. Although I had practiced it
irregularly, I was perhaps the only senior military man in Ecuador
who knew of the practice. The coincidental timing of the invitation
caused me some surprise.
It
had occurred to me to present the invitation to the Minister of
Defense, but I knew him well and thought that he would not accept
Invincible Defense Technology. Although the practice of the
Transcendental Meditation program need not involve religious belief,
it originates from the ancient Vedic tradition of India. For this
reason, I was concerned that I might be falsely accused of trying to
introduce a new religion. I believed that the invitation was meant
specifically for me, so I decided to approach my peers rather than
go up the chain of command. What did I have to lose? I thought
about the goals and they seemed to me to be more valuable than
anything else, including my future career.
The
border dispute kept growing, and it was impossible to hide despite
efforts to handle it at the lowest possible level.
I
mentioned the invitation to the Chief of the Joint Command, a friend
from childhood. Probably due to his trust in me, he was convinced.
With his approval I immediately sent a message to Maharishi's
headquarters. The communiqué outlined our precarious situation and
the impossibility for us to participate in the military conference.
I let them know, however, that if they wanted to help us in some
way, we would appreciate it.
In the beginning of January, a professor arrived, representing the
Maharishi Universities in Spain and the United States. I found him
to be an uncomplicated man, serene, friendly, and agreeable. He
created a favourable impression with everyone.
Briefed
on the grave situation, he confidently asked us to gather together
the greatest possible number of volunteers. We managed to obtain
about six hundred civil volunteers in Quito the capital city of
Ecuador, and about three thousand reserve soldiers in another city.
The Coherence Project got underway.
As
the heat of a stove boils water in a pot, it generates entropy,
which expands and stirs the contents. Much the same occurs with
human passions. The best solution would be to turn off the stove,
but sometimes that is not possible. Pouring some cold liquid into
the container lowers the temperature and pressure, creating a state
of greater molecular coherence and resulting in a pause that allows
definite measures to be taken.
The main responsibility of The Coherence Project volunteers was to
practice meditation collectively in order to generate widespread
coherence in Ecuador's disturbed, chaotic, pre-warlike state.
We
were informed that certain European and North American cities with
serious social problems had experimented with the program with
excellent results, reducing violence and crime, and increasing
economic growth, progress, etc. These positive trends, as well as
other positive results, on national and international levels, such
reduced terrorism and war, had been documented in leading scientific
journals such as Social Indicators Research, Journal of Conflict
Resolution, the Journal of Mind and Behavior and Journal of Crime
and Justice.
Despite
this carefully scrutinized and impressive research, we hardly dared
believe!
According to Maharishi, the goal of Invincible Defense Technology is
"victory before war." He says the best way to achieve this
goal is to prevent an enemy from arising in the first place. Due to
historically long-held and deeply-rooted collective stress that
fuelled the animosity between Ecuador and Peru, as well as the
heated environment of conflict that arose from this powerful stress,
it was not possible to totally remove the stove of violent passions.
We could only lower the collective stress level and increase our
country's coherence. But now it was not for preventing an enemy from
arising (as the enemy was already attacking us); rather, it was to
avoid greater confrontations.
Those
gentle, generous, dedicated volunteers, answering their inner call,
devoted themselves diligently to meditation twice a day, sacrificing
their free time and time with their families. In the end, they
received their reward.
To
avoid jealousy between various commands, the technique was initially
presented as a stress-fighting concentration mechanism that had been
used successfully in high-level sports. The armed forces of various
countries had also used it to reduce combat fatigue and facilitate
breathing techniques for firing weapons. The idea was accepted and
we had more than three thousand soldiers - officers, cadets and
troops - meditating and creating a formidable wave of positive
energy that could be felt at a great distance.
That
was how the national coherence of Ecuador was enhanced during the
conflict. The President made effective decisions and was able to
galvanize the national will. The Minister of Defense and the High
Command kept the nation informed and worked as a team. The middle
ranks demonstrated their capabilities in combat, while small units
and individual soldiers fought with courage.
It
was the first time in modern history that Ecuador did not suffer a
retreat. This was due primarily to the wave of patriotism that arose
from the wellspring of Ecuador's powerful new spirit of unity. I am
convinced that The Coherence Project's collective meditation was the
key factor that brought about this change.
Today
Ecuador has a new external threat, this time from violent narco-guerrillas
infiltrating the northern border with Colombia. On the other hand,
corruption and poverty remain. Despite these formidable challenges,
the future looks bright. It is significant that commerce and
diplomacy between Ecuador and Peru continue to improve. Defense
expenditures have not greatly decreased, but neither have they
increased. The two armed forces are now even at the point of
engaging in combined maneuvers to confront common threats. Tourism
has increased and cultural ties are
improving.
Ecuador
has recently elected a new President. I am confident that a true
democracy is dawning in our country because Colonel Lucio Gutiérrez
appears to represent the new collective desire for positive change
in Ecuador. It is my hope that his new government will take the
first step of the great changes that South America needs to
implement. Peru, as well as other countries like Brazil and
Argentina, appears to be aware of the need to change, too.
I
am currently working with an international group of generals and
defense experts that advocates Invincible Defense Technology. Our
goals are twofold: to establish a new, larger and more powerful
coherence group in Ecuador that will meditate and create societal
coherence in support of the new government; to create the conditions
necessary for economic and social progress that will lead Ecuador
out of "underdevelopment" by 2025. Our strategy is to make
Ecuador "invincible" in the sense that it will no longer
have any enemies. No enemies, whether foreign or domestic means - no
war or terrorism. We are now working with Maharishi's newly
inaugurated organization, The Global Country of World Peace (http://www.globalcountry.org)
which promotes this goal in every country to create world peace.
The
people of Ecuador aspire to a lasting peace, improved government,
and expanded development. It is my hope that they will soon inspire
others on the path of development, justice and welfare, and
transform all humankind to becoming ONE without fear, guarded
borders, terrorism and wars. This is why I am hopeful that our
reinvigoration of The Coherence Project in Ecuador will again bring
together those who wish to participate, renewing the coherence
effect to achieve these noble objectives.
_____________________________
Lt. Gen. José Martí Villamil de la Cadena (Ret.) graduated as a
second lieutenant of Cavalry from the Ecuadorian Military School
"Eloy Alfaro" in 1962. He is a graduate of the
Interamerican Defense College in Washington, D.C. where he later
served as Chief of the Ecuadorian Military Mission and Delegate to
the Inter-American Defense Board. He was a Professor at both the War
Academy and the Institute of Higher Defense Studies and was a fellow
of the Center for Strategic Studies in London. A former brigade
commander, he served as Chief of Staff of the Army and Commander of
Ground Theatre Operations, Chief of Staff of the Joint Command,
Vice-Minister of Defense, and General Secretary of the National
Security Council. He retired in April 1996, and now collaborates
with the newspaper El Comercio and the economic magazine Gestión.
He also serves as Deputy Minister of Defense for South
America in Maharishi's Global Country of World Peace.
Dr.
David Leffler received his Ph.D. on the topic of Invincible Defense
Technology from Union Institute & University. His other academic
degrees include: a B.A. in Education, an M.A. in the Science of
Creative Intelligence from Maharishi University of Management and an
M.M. in Education from New Mexico State University. He was a member
of the U.S. Air Force for eight years. Dr. Leffler is a founding
member of the Center for Advanced Military Science (CAMS) at
Maharishi University of Management. He also serves as a Peer Member
at The Union Institute and is a member of the U.S. Naval Institute.
Dr. Leffler has given presentations on Invincible
Defense Technology at the Russian Air Force Academy, the Russian
Academy of
Sciences, and defense-related institutions in the United States. Dr.
Leffler lives in Wappingers Falls, New York, USA.
Articles
about Invincible Defense Technology, published in Defence India,
Defence Review, Indian Armed Forces, Indian Defence Consultants,
Indian Defence Review, Indian Strategic Review, and Security and
Political Risk Analysis (SAPRA) Bulletin, are available at: http://www.davidleffler.com.
© 2003 David R. Leffler and José Martí Villamil de la Cadena. All
rights reserved
Disclaimer Copyright |