Search
Close this search box.

Bringing peace of mind to India’s armed forces and police units

Police practice meditation outside
Paramilitary learning IAM in Gangtok, Assam in the North East of India. It is an area with multiple armed factions and insurgency movements.

Key Points

  • In response to high stress levels in Indian paramilitary forces, Amma introduced the Integrated Amrita Meditation Technique (IAM) in 2007 to alleviate stress and improve mental well-being.
  • IAM significantly reduced stress hormones in a study, and by the end of 2008, around 800,000 paramilitary personnel had learned IAM, reducing their stress levels. The initiative expanded to include Indian Army, Navy, and police units.
  • AYUDH, the international youth wing, also contributed by instructing IAM to police units and Navy officers, adapting meditation to meet modern needs for inner peace and improved mental faculties.
1 May 2019
Main topic
Humanitarian
Related topics
Meditation

It started in 2007 when members of the Indian government approached Amma for advice regarding the inner psychological state of its paramilitary forces. As is well known, the stressful experiences in this field can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder, domestic strife and high suicide rates.

Amma decided to reach out to the men and women working in the forces by teaching them meditation–a practice that goes beyond the written history of humankind. Through the ages, it has been used to bring calm and stability back to agitated minds.

The Mata Amritanandamayi Math’s Integrated Amrita Meditation Technique (IAM) is a simple sequence to combine traditional practice with the needs of current times. It is taught around the world in Asia, Africa, Europe, North America and South America. A five-year study conducted at the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences in Kochi, Kerala concluded IAM had a significant impact decreasing the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol.

Hundred of soldiers sit outside and learn to meditate
Paramilitary learning IAM in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir. The region has experienced three wars since Partition in 1947, along with several other armed skirmishes.

Instruction for the paramilitary began in July 2017. The process was modified to a 20-minute version of IAM that is meant for busy professionals who do not have much spare time. It combines the best steps and methods from other meditation techniques, while at the same time organizing a logical way to accelerate the practitioner’s transition to a more complete state of peace and calm.

As is ancient tradition in India, meditation is always taught free of charge, and so, a group of 30 certified IAM instructors formed ten teams and spread out in all directions across India.

Officers sit cross legged on the floor with eyes closed
Police in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh in meditation during IAM training.

The paramilitary forces who learned IAM included:

– Border Security Force (BSF) – Some of the most inhospitable terrain is manned by the BSF, including the extremely sensitive borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh.

– Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) – The Himalayan mountain police force patrols areas with elevations between 2,500 to 5,500 meters along the Indo-China border. They are also engaged in VIP security and guarding Indian missions in war-torn countries like Afghanistan.

– Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) – SSB guards the borders with Nepal and Bhutan and also fights Naxal terrorism.

– Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) – This force protects all the sensitive industrial installations such as air and maritime ports. They have the added responsibility of VIP security.

– Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) – CRPF is India’s largest paramilitary force with 300,000 personnel. They are assigned counter-insurgency operations in places like Jammu & Kashmir, as well as United Nations missions outside India.

Police lay on the ground in savasana, final relaxation pose
Police in Indore, Madhya Pradesh in relaxation pose after completing the IAM sequence.

By the end of 2008, about 800,000 paramilitary had learned IAM, and unit heads stated they already saw a reduction in stress levels for their troops. As a result, a select group was identified from paramilitary personnel to become trainers so they could continue IAM instruction and support the practice on a regular basis in their units.

Having seen the success of IAM training with the paramilitary, the Indian Army and Navy requested instruction for their forces to achieve inner peace and heighten their mental faculties. Classes began immediately. Soon after that, police units across India asked for the same and as of today, the program is ongoing.

In an interesting addition, members of AYUDH, our international youth wing, have also been trained and dispatched as instructors. For example last August in Ludhiana, Punjab, 100 policemen learned IAM. Shweta with AYUDH was one of their teachers.

“Meditation is not a new thing at all. For thousands of years, meditation in various forms has been taught in India,” she explained. “However, sages always create new forms to fit the culture, capabilities and needs of the current times.”

The police unit in Ludhiana was grateful for the instruction. Said Major Singh with the Punjab Police, “The IAM meditation and yoga class was motivating and relaxing. I was very impressed listening to the lecture on meditation and hope to attend further such sessions until I perfect this technique to have mental peace and inner calm.”

Officers sit outside in warm jackets
After IAM training in Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir. It is a high altitude region near Pakistan and China.

Most recently, AYUDH IAM instructors have begun teaching Navy officers in Kerala. At the Kochi Naval Base, almost 100 officers attended. The attendees included some of the highest ranks with people such as Vice Admiral Anil Kumar Chawla, a Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief with India’s Southern Naval Command.

Meditation teacher speaks with police
Renewed energy after IAM training. On the left is Vice Admiral Anil Kumar Chawla, a Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief with India’s Southern Naval Command. On the right is Brahmachari Amit, a certified IAM instructor and AYUDH coordinator.

Latest news

Watch Amma’s daily livestream

Amma offers us the possibility to connect online with her on a daily basis. During these livestreams, we can meditate with Amma, chant bhajans (devotional singing) and hear spiritual teachings.

Registration is required to access these livestreams:


Add Your Heading Text Here