We tend to think that we must give to charity or build schools in developing countries to contribute to a better world. Although those actions are wonderful and should be encouraged, did you know that you can also contribute to a better world simply by meditating?

As the Dalai Lama once said:

“If every 8-year-old in the world is taught meditation, we will eliminate violence from the world within one generation.”

In the past 40 years or so, rigorous scientific studies have demonstrated the impact of a group of people meditating together has on decreasing violence. Participants in the studies were experienced meditators trained in Transcendental Meditation (Mantra Meditation).

While they were meditating, the amount of crime, bombing, terrorist attacks, and war injuries dropped by as much as 23%. Mathematically, the chances for this reduction in violence to happen randomly was less than 2 in 1 billion (p < .000000002). (Source: World Peace Group)

These studies demonstrate the power of inner peace to bring outer peace and how we all directly contribute to a more peaceful world by simply increasing our own inner peace. And one of the best ways to achieve that is through the practice of meditation.