The vision for the OM Ashram came to me during my meditation one day in Prague. I then met with some professors from Charles University in Prague and some others from Bruno. They asked me to describe how the OM Ashram looks. I drew a picture and they said, we will realise this vision.

OM is the cosmic sound, the origin of everything. A U M means the creator, the protector and the liberator. In India for the last 17 years we have been constructing the OM Ashram, a 280m x 250m building carved in pink marble and sandstone, expertly sculptured. Each pillar is carved according to the ancient, authentic traditions of temple buildings.

There are 108 apartments and the half moon shape in the OM is a man-made lake. I would like this Vedic University to bring ancient wisdom back to humans; Ayurveda, Yoga, Astrology, Palmistry, spiritual science.
But we need more funding. It began in 1990 when I bought 300 hectares of land with a 5km boundary wall. There is an animal shelter, hospital, horses, education from nursery school to college and now a university. It is a pollution free zone. Each of the 108 apartments I would like to dedicate to different cultures.

There is already an Australian apartment that South Australian Premier Mike Rann has donated to. It will be a multicultural, international centre. Once finished, the OM Ashram will be an education centre for spiritual seekers, one wing will be set aside for short term yoga students, not everyday tourists, but disciples of masters, those who understand and respect the ancient traditions.

         
I met a man travelling in India who said that until he visited the Taj Mahal he would not feel that his journey is complete. I thought to myself that I would like it that people will feel that until they see the OM Ashram their journey in India is also not complete.

Interview given by H.H. Swamiji at Yoga in Daily Life Brisbane, Australia – April 11, 2009