Here are a few recovering addicts, each of whom had taken  de-addiction and rehabilitation therapy at the VVM Research Centre and had gone through our step by step 7 point programme. After their de-addiction & rehabilitation course, each one has gone back to the society and many of them are living a normal life with the blessings of His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

In a pledge to help those who are suffering from the malady of drug or alcohol addiction, these people have agreed to come forward and share their experiences with the rest of the world.

‘My return to the path of light’
By Mr Shymal Chatterjee
Mobile : 9239729527

It was a world of darkness from which I journeyed to a world of light, it sounds simple but it was not, for this you need a God like all knowledgeable being who will show you the way.

There was a time when I was enveloped in darkness and alcohol my constant company, I began with one drink as time went by I became a slave to my addiction, my identity was lost, my family, society, well wishers and their valuable advise meant nothing to me, I was journeying to a bottomless pit.

It happened in 2008, to me this is a miracle, one morning just as I woke up a few persons came and by force took me to my heavenly abode ‘Geeta Bhavan’ VVM De-addiction Research Centre which is a temple of well being, initially I felt as though I was criminal being taken to a jail but on reaching there I saw so many people like me admitted with addiction problems.All in various stages of recovery.

From 12th. March 2008 I am walking the path shown by my mentor. The whole hearted effort of all the staff at the treatment centre, the diet, counseling, yoga and most importantly the rhythmic breathing(Sudershan Kriya) practice gave me the inner strength to understand there is a beautiful world outside which I now know how to appreciate. My health improved, and other chronic problems began to improve. Whenever stress or anger bothers me I promptly sit and practice breathing techniques, and meditate.

Today the joy that I feel, in staying well, I wish others with similar problems can avail of this great opportunity, this centre is unique in its treatment approach attending to the physical,therapeutic, and spiritual aspect. It also has a big Rehab Centre for longer stay.Clients now come from all over India, and abroad.I want them to have this Phone Number and get help.

Today the victory that feel is actually the victory of the lord residing in me, it is Guruji to whom I have surrendered everything.

Runa Ray
(Mother of an addict)

Life had without needed reasons become just hard for me to cope with especially being a single mother of a boy of 19 years and a girl of 11 years. It was even harder for my son. His problems began when he was 13 years of age as he began the abuse of drugs with the company of his schoolmates, and from there on things had taken a drastic change in our lives.... a change which brought me to the doorsteps of Geeta Bhavan about 8 months back. The main turn which brought me and my son there was my son's college authorities suggesting a treatment of his "ill habits" which were causing them and my son trouble. They first mentioned his ill habits to be actually a disease!

Geeta Bhavan is a place for people suffering from the disease of addiction, better known socially as a rehabilitation centre or rehab. But it was different from other rehabs as their approaches to the problem was different and inspired and guided by the concepts of Shri Shri Ravi Shankar, founder of "ART OF LIVING". I came to know about it from a friend of mine who is a devotee of SHRI SHRI.

In Geeta Bhavan, my son was inquired about his troubles on the day of is entry and then I was asked to leave him in the hands of the staff. He was to stay with few more people (approximately 20 or 22) of different ages, suffering from the same problem. I was honestly scared yet helpless at that moment, and was wondering about how my son was going to be treated and what he felt about my decision, but the people of the place told me to be relaxed and not to worry. The idea of being at a rehab is still a social stigma and a tatoo but I was least bothered about that as I wanted my son's welfare and was concerned more about his physical and mental health than anything else.

Everyday I used to call the authorities in Geeta Bhavan and enquire about the condition of my son. I was told that he was following a routine which adhered to the treatment of the mind, body and soul. They didn’t let me speak to him for the first month after which I met him for half an hour in the presence of their trained staff. Everything was under the instructions of psychiatrists and psychologists who pay regular visits there and interact with the patients, discuss their problems and helps them to regain positive attitude towards life.

These restrictions regarding meeting parents / relatives was also a part of their treatment, as they didn’t want any kind of emotional disturbances at such a feeble and vulnerable stage. He stayed there for 2 months, then I took him out on my own risk so that he could attend his exams. The officials of the place had warned me that its too early and his treatment was not over, and they were right as he just came and went back to his old self immediately. So within 4 days, this time without his knowledge, he was taken back by the staff in a forceful manner, as it was obvious that he would have not wanted to return to a total environment of lock and key. This time I totally surrendered to the place and their instructions, and I took him out of that place after a period of 5 months with their approval. Since then it has been about a month he has stayed away from drugs willingly, by God's grace and their treatment.

He gave me detailed description of his stay on his return, where he stayed in a routine of morning prayer, yoga, pranayam, meditation and also gained the practice of the valuable "Sudarshan Kriya". He also underwent classes informing him about this incurable yet arrestable disease, lifelong and fatal as stated by WHO, took part in Satsangs and also underwent counselling. All these things ultimately did what magic I have no idea, yet I can see the result - which is that my son has stayed clean and sober for last few weeks and I thank God and Geeta Bhavan for this and just hope this continues throughout his life.

Abhijit Sarkar
Mob. (+91) 99032 15339

Geeta Bhavan was my second rehabilitation Centre for addiction treatment. As I am an Engineer by profession, I was under tremendous mental pressure and became drug dependant (pain killers and sedatives) while being fully aware of its implications.

While my earlier stint with a rehab centre had kept me away from drugs for a while, Geeta Bhavan’s experience was much more complete. Here they not only tried to keep me away from drugs, they made me understand the reasons behind my drug dependency, to know it as a disease, learn the possible methods to arrest it and also to start afresh in life. Absorbing the inputs given to me, I learned to introspect, self analyze and realize my mistakes and chalk out a new course in life. In short they not only addressed the cause but they tried to sort out the effects so that, my future could be as fresh and sound as possible.

Another unique thing that I have observed about the Geeta Bbhavan (VVMDRC) is their continuous support and guidance to a client even after he has left the centre and gone back to normal life.

I wish the Centre well in its all round multipurpose growth, expansion and development for the benefit of more and more individuals like me in the days to come, helping other addicts to get out of this menace and acting as their peer educator.

Today I firmly believe that Guruji is showing me the way through my mentor. It will be quite ungrateful if I don’t mention his name. but my mentor does not want to reveal his name and he is an important person in the centre. I am grateful to all the people over here, all the people who are behind this project, which is turning around the lives of several addicts like me."