Om is the sound of the creation. (When the Elements originated and Creation started, the sound Om was produced.) By chanting Om, we are awakening the God within us. The chanting generates spiritual vibrations that purify the atmosphere in the classroom and simultaneously lifts the child’s mind to a higher level.

OM is the primeval sound; the sound caused by the vibrations of creation. It is a composite of the sounds of A, U amd M. Just as G, O, and D pronounced God, not ‘jee-oh-dee’, so too the letters A, U and M are uttered as ‘OM’. The letter 'A' emanates from the gullet, ‘U’ from the tongue within the mouth and ‘M’ from the lips. But when OM is uttered, the sound emanates from the region of the navel.

OM must be recited slowly and with deliberation. The sound must be like an aircraft, first approaching from a distance to the spot where you are, and then flying away again into the distance. It should start softly at first, but gradually become louder and louder, and then slowly relapsed into silence; this silence after the experience being as significant as the Pranava.

• Baba

The prayer for peace(Shanti) is usually repeated thrice (‘Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti’) since Peace is prayed for in the physical, mental and spiritual planes.

- Baba