|
This
article appears in India
Defence Consultants.
  
WHAT'S
HOT? ANALYSIS OF RECENT HAPPENINGS
'PROJECT COHERENCE' -- INVINCIBLE DEFENCE
TECHNOLOGY IN PRACTICE
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,
Ecuadorian Army (Ret.) 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.
|
Other
Compelling Articles by Senior Military Officers
|
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
|