Contrary to Dr. Park, the project was set up as a scientific experiment to test an important hypothesis: that reductions in social stress could reduce urban crime. More than 40 research studies testing this hypothesis have been done in the last decade and published in leading peer-reviewed journals. A 27-member independent scientific review board was set up to monitor our Washington experiment and evaluate its outcome. Preliminary data indicate total violent crime in Washington dropped significantly during the eight-week experiment, as predicted. JOHN S. HAGELIN Director, Institute of Science, Technology and Public Policy Fairfield, Iowa, Dec. 19, 1993

What's wrong, according to Maharishi, is that the root cause of violence -- both in crime and war -- has not been addressed. Both are the outburst of built-up stress in society. And stress in society is created by all the people in society continually violating the laws of nature. "As long as individuals continue to violate the laws of nature, they will continue to create stress in their own lives and create stress in the collective consciousness of the whole nation," Maharishi says. "As a result, governmental efforts to promote peace will prove ineffective, and the world will face violence and conflict everywhere. Peace will only remain an abstract, unattainable ideal."