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Gujarat joins in Drug-Free India campaign

Service & Social Programs | Updated: | 4 min read


Gujarat joins in Drug-Free India campaign  

Gurudev’s initiative of Drug-Free India, which has been an ongoing pan-India mega campaign, reaches Gujarat.

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Gurudev’s initiative of Drug-Free India, which has been an ongoing pan-India mega campaign, reached the western shores of Gujarat. The Art of Living and Gujarat Technological University organized the drug-free India program in Ahmedabad. It was attended by State Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi and State Industries Minister Balwant Singh Rajput. Gurudev led the oath-taking ceremony by making all the attendees pledge to ‘Nasha na karenge aur na karne denge’ (will not do drugs and not let others do it).

Gurudev said when anxiety in any human is very high, they consume intoxicating substances to get rid of that anxiety and this leads them to the path of drugs and lose their lives; this is a sad situation and therefore, the drug-free India campaign has been launched to arrest it.

Addressing the youth present at the event, Gurudev encouraged each one of them to get intoxicated with things that are life-supportive and creative.

The Vice-Chancellor of the Gujarat Technological University (GTU), Dr. Pankaj Rai Patel, Registrar of GTU K. N. Kher, artists, writers, and singers from the Gujarati film industry, science city officials as well as students were present at the event. Speaking at the event, Minister Sanghvi urged everyone to be vigilant of their surroundings and inform the authorities of any suspicious drug-related activities in their vicinity.

This event was a part of Gurudev’s much-awaited Gujarat tour. During the tour, Gurudev had several events lined up including the Happiness Festival held in Ahmedabad. The Happiness Festival event was a culmination of the happiness events organized by the Art of Living volunteers in thousands of cities in the last four months and saw the attendance of over 15,000 people who completed their Happiness Program (a beginner’s course).

In the address to these participants, Gurudev said achieving one’s goals in life requires both self-effort and prayer. We want people in every home to mediate, not a single person should be unhappy in any house. Not a single tear should fall from any eye. It is our responsibility. For this, we should help each other to become mentally strong. When our mind is strong then we can face any difficulty and knowledge and meditation are needed to strengthen the mind.

The participants learned to be happy and live a stress-free life as Gurudev explained practical ways to handle minds and emotions and stay happy. Gurudev told the participants that the pandemic, the increase in stress and anxiety have had an impact on people’s mental health.

In the almost a week-long tour, Gurudev gave a commentary on the Kashmiri Shaivism sacred text, Vigyan Bhairav, which saw an overwhelming attendance held in Surat. Gurudev also presided over a Mahasatsang – an evening of music, knowledge, and meditation – held in Surat where over a lakh people got an immersive experience leading to a blissful state of mind.

On the sidelines of the many events, Gurudev also interacted with the businessmen, industrialists, and business leaders of Ahmedabad, Vapi, and Gandhidham. Gurudev also led another drug-free India campaign event in Anand and an interactive special session with the Indian Coast Guard in Daman.

The tour also saw devotees thronging the Vasad center of the Art of Living where Gurudev stayed and met all the attendees, volunteers, faculty members of The Art of Living, and others who had come to seek blessings.

Gurudev at Vasad Ashram
Thousands gather to meet Gurudev at Vasad Ashram

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