The symbol and mantra ‘Om’ is everywhere in the ashram, from satsang to the yoga classes to the meals. It’s pronounced ‘aum’ and looks like a three with a circle on the right and a crescent shape above. During meditation, they encourage us to use it if we don’t already have a mantra, constantly repeating “Aaauuuuuuuuuummmmmmm” with each breath. During yoga to get our attention at the beginning of class or get us up from savasna, they say Om. We’re supposed to eat our meals in silence, and when the room get to noisy, someone will come on the mic and say “Om, please eat in silence, Om”. When we want more food, we say Om to attract the food server’s attention. In the men’s dorms in the morning, someone walks along saying “Om wake up Om”, and will come right up over the bed to wake people up! We aren’t so lucky in the women’s dorm, we just have the normal wake up bell.
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