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 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.

It is a place like heaven. Where every evil power is destroyed from me. Where I met a man, my GURU , my friend , my guide, my GOD. I became a real hero of myself . It is an excellent journey of life. And my life became full of JOY,LOVE and enthusiasm. JAI GURUDEV

-------Pulak B

I feel very good and inspired in my recovery . My hope and strength is so powerful that I can maintain my recovery strongly.

------Abhinava B

All the people were very cheerful. I enjoyed the food and hospitality . All my best wishes to every bodyand wish them a very happy and fulfilling life.

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.