The World Plan - early 1970s
Early in 1972, Mahesh Yogi presented his "World Plan", according to which all the people on Earth were to learn TM within a period of 3-4 years. By June 15 the same year, 350 SCI centres were supposed to be established around the world. Six months later, the number should be 3500 centres, including 700 in China. Mahesh appealed to all the world's governments to help make this dream come true.

The World Plan entailed seven specific goals (cf. http://www.alltm.org/Maharishi/Maharishi_year2.html):

1. To develop the full potential of the individual
2. To improve governmental achievements
3. To realize the highest ideals of education
4. To solve the problems of crime, drug-abuse and all behavior that brings unhappiness to the family of man
5. To maximize the intelligent use of the whole environment
6. To bring fulfillment to the economic aspirations of society, and the individual
7. To achieve the spiritual goals of all mankind in this generation

By June 15 there was little evidence of the 350 SCI centres. Nothing had come of the innumerable fascinating SCI exhibitions that were intended to be staged all over the world. Hardly any of the publications about the World Plan that were supposed to be distributed to influential people and government bodies everywhere saw the light of day. Those that did appear were shortlived, for instance the journal Worldplan Weekly, the first and last issue of which appeared in February 1972.

Before the break, the TM movement had criticised Acem leaders for saying that the World Plan was unrealistic, but after 1972, the World Plan was mentioned less and less often in the TM movement. This was predicted in a letter to the editor in Dyade, a magazine published by people close to Acem, as early as June 1972 (no. 4 1972):

What will Maharishi do when it becomes obvious that the world plan is a failure? Probably, he will come up with something new in an attempt to divert us and make us forget. And many will surely be keen to assist him in forgetting...

The writer of this letter could not have foreseen how true his prophecy would prove to be.

The World Government - the mid 1970s
On January 12 1975, Mahesh Yogi declared that the Age of Enlightenment had begun, because his movement had taught so many people to practise TM. The idea was that the mind power of the meditators would affect man's collective consciousness and create more harmony. The world would be more peaceful, and everything would develop in a positive direction, both in society and for the individual.

Although it was never made explicit, January 12 was tacitly understood as Mahesh Yogi's date of birth. In fact, however, it was not his real birthdate. According to sources in India, he was born in the autumn. A highly respected Indian astrologist once worked out his horoscope based on his original birthdate, concluding that Mahesh Yogi had only reached the half-way stage in his spiritual development. This unwelcome pronouncement seems to have been the trigger for Mahesh Yogi's claim that he was born on January 12, according to Indian tradition the date that inaugurates a new era.

On January 12 1976, Mahesh Yogi unilaterally appointed "the World Government". Having authority over no national territory, and naturally not being taken seriously by any official state governments, the so-called World Government was said to preside over a realm of consciousness.

World Government News, published by the TM movement under the name of "World Government of the Age of Enlightenment", was first issued in February 1978. It was printed on high-gloss paper and with so much gold print that the residue stuck to one's fingers. Each issue carried photographs of all members of the government, along with their names, titles, ministries and brief details of their responsibilities. Every ministry had a Chief Minister, titled The Right Honourable. To judge by their family names, two of these were probably close relatives of Mahesh Yogi.

The government consisted of 10 ministries: Ministry for the Development of Consciousness; Ministry of Natural Law and Order; Ministry of Cultural Integrity, Invincibility and World Harmony; Ministry of Education and Enlightenment; Ministry of Celebration and Fulfilment; Ministry of Prosperity and Progress; Ministry of Information and Inspiration; Ministry of All Possibilities: Research and Development; Ministry for the Capitals of the Age of Enlightenment; and Ministry of Health and Immortality.
The constitution of the World Government was described as follows:

The Constitution of the World Government embraces the constitutions of all governments, the scriptures of all religions, the textbooks of all sciences and arts, the inspiring and uplifting literature of every country, and above all the Science of Creative Intelligence - that beautiful, practical knowledge which enlivens the full potential of the evolutionary nature of life in the individual and in society, and brings fulfilment to the noble aspirations of all constitutions, all religions, all sciences, all arts, all literature.

This all-embracing, cosmic constitution ... has the ability to create an ideal society in every part of the world and thereby perpetuate the Age of Enlightenment.

Having come to light with the dawn of the Age of Enlightenment, this constitution establishes the World Government of the Age of Enlightenment with sovereignty in the domain of consciousness and a parental role in the family of nations.

The main theme in number 1 of World Government News was invincibility: "Invincibility to all nations - Maharshi's unconditional gift to man". We quote:

His Holiness Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who has single-handedly turned the trend of time from chaos and problems towards wisdom and fulfilment, made an unprecedented offer of Invincibility to Every Nation during global celebrations at the International Capital of the Age of Enlightenment, Seelisberg, Switzerland, 12 January 1978.

Seelisberg is a small town in Switzerland. Mahesh Yogi had his main base there for some years, in a hotel purchased by the movement.