Our Story

In 1978, during Cambodia’s darkest days under the Khmer Rouge, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi launched a peace initiative by sending 200 practitioners of Transcendental Meditation (TM) to nearby Thailand. Though direct access to Cambodia was limited, regional efforts continued, especially in Vietnam, to promote harmony and collective wellbeing.

By 1990, Maharishi proposed a comprehensive recovery plan for Cambodia focused on education, health, agriculture, and food security. This led to the founding of Maharishi Vedic University (MVU), supported by Maharishi Foundation Australia, which also established Australian Aid for Cambodia.

In 1993, 550 high school graduates—mostly orphans or children of single parents—were selected to begin a Consciousness-Based Education at MVU. From 1993 to 2008, up to 700 students practiced TM daily, contributing to improved mental health and academic outcomes, as well as Cambodia’s rapid national development.

Although MVU’s original curriculum ended in 2008 due to national reforms, the impact endures.

Today, over 4,000 MVU graduates remain active, with many participating in regular group meditations—especially through a growing alumni business network in Phnom Penh.