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RE: Yasgur said, “If we join them, we can turn those adversities that are the problems of America today into a hope for a brighter and more peaceful future.” The 60s’ dream of building a better world seemed as though it was finally going to become a reality.

Hindus believe the universe began with the primordial vibrational sound of OM (which properly pronounce has all the vowel sounds in “aummmm”) and sound is directly connected to cosmic consciousness. The Upanishads state (paraphrased) “Om is seen as the representation or embodiment of this fundamental, omnipresent, and omnipotent vibration, the original sound of the universe, from which all other sounds and creations emerged.”

So music is related closely to the spiritual.

A portion of the opening statement to the crowd (said to be a version of a benediction) from Swami Satchidananda.

My Beloved Brothers and Sisters:
I am overwhelmed with joy to see the entire youth of America gathered here in the name of the fine art of music. In fact, through the music, we can work wonders. Music is a celestial sound and it is the sound that controls the whole universe, not atomic vibrations. Sound energy, sound power, is much, much greater than any other power in this world. And, one thing I would very much wish you all to remember is that with sound, we can make—and at the same time, break.

I took a transcendental meditation course in my early 20s on my doctor’s advice for migraines. At the end of one of the sessions I was given my personalized meditation phrase which I was supposed to keep secret. It was “om,” which I’m pretty sure was the phrase given to everyone there. I never became an aficionado of TM, but I did learn how to relax my body which helped my headaches somewhat.