Vrindavan Safaikrama Feb. 28- Mar. 1, 2012

1. VrindavanSafaikramaFeb. 28- Mar. 1, 2012

2. Much money has been spent • We need to build on it.

3. Three gunas • Rajas : building • Tamas: destruction • Sattva : maintaining • Vishnu is the God of maintenance. • India is dominated by rajas and tamas. What is the point of making nice things if there is no maintenance? • Will the Vrindavan Project come to nought, just like so many temples have fallen into ruin?

4. It is seen as the normal state

5. Nobody sees anything wrong with it.

6. Building materials are dumped on the street everywhere.

7. Paçyannapinapaçyati Open your eyes and see!

8. Have we no pride? • India wants to become world class. THIS is where to begin! • We are trying to attract tourists. • Foreigners come and see what people here have stopped seeing. • Indians who have traveled see it: There is NO country in the world that is this dirty. • What principles are we teaching the deshi pilgrims who come here? • We are reinforcing the negative traits rather than building positive ones.

9. The cricket stadium

10. Cleanliness is next to Godliness • Even animals keep themselves clean. • Cleanliness prevents disease. • Purity is a universal principle of sädhana: sattva-çuddhaudhruvänusmåtiù…. • Personal purity is related to environmental purity. • Purity is related to the aesthetic sense. The awareness of attraction of beauty. Krishna is all attractive, all beautiful. So should be his Dham.

11. PremaPrayojan • The whole world is sacred, the presence of God is everywhere, but we must start with this awareness in our holy places. • Love means mamatä. Vrindavan is mine. I take care of what is mine. • At the same time, the public space belongs to all of us in common. We share responsibility. • At the same time, Vrindavan belongs to Radha and Krishna and we are their servants.

12. Premaseva: Cleaning the kunj राधामाधवयोर्यशांसि सततं गायंस्तथा कर्णयन् तज्जीवेषु च वर्णयन् समरसैः सम्भूय सन्तर्कयन्। कुञ्जं कुञ्जमनारतं बहु परिष्कुर्वन् महाभावतो देहादौ कृतहेलनो दयित हे वृन्दाटवीमावस॥ O dear one, Constantly singing and hearing the praises of Radha and Madhava, describing the same to the creatures of Vrindavan, seeing them all with the same vision, going from kunja to kunja, cleaning without stop in ecstatic service mood, give up all thought of your body and reside in VrindavanDham. (Våndävana-mahimämåtam1.59)

13. There is no excuse • People in poor countries around the world keep their homes clean • Poverty is NO EXCUSE • This is everybody’s responsibility • Where there is a will, there is a way. There is no will. • It may take generations to make a change. • Schools, parental guidance, social condemnation.

14. Why? Ignorance • The world is false prabhukahevaiñëava‑dehapräkåtakabhunaya apräkåtadehabhakteracid‑änanda‑maya • An incorrect understanding of renunciation na dveñöy akuçalaà karma kuçale nänuñajjate | tyägé sattva-samäviñöo medhävé chinna-saàçayaù ||10|| • Absence of bhaktiseva spirit

15. Why? Ignorance • The caste system • Safaikarmis are human beings, eligible for devotion, and Krishna is their God too • The work they do is not validated • Cleanliness and service to the environment are jobs for everyone, not just caste sweepers • It is not the person who cleans who is unclean, • It is the person who makes filth who is dirty.

16. Safaikrama

17. Too much for any one group. • Too much for voluntarism alone. • A systematic plan with government involvement is needed.

18. Safaikrama * Krishna Kripa Ashram * Friends of Vrindavan * Food for Life Vrindavan * PrayaasPariwar * VrindaKunj

19. Purposes of the Safaikrama • Actually cleaning Vrindavan • Setting the example • Creating awareness • Demanding government action

20. 1. Actually cleaning the Dham • A massive effort to make a real difference • Efforts of NGOs like FOV providing their facilities • Monetary donations to engage regular safaikarmis. • Groups of volunteers from different sansthas with banners • Self identifying • Identifying the program • Competition?

21. 2. Setting the example • All the dharma acharyas must come on board. • All sadhus must participate. • Volunteers are needed to go to visit and invite these leaders to come with their disciples and participate directly. • Like Prataparudra • Like Narottama Das

22. It can be done!

23. 3. Creating awareness • Billboards and pamphlets announcing upcoming event • A special Hindi edition of Vrindavan Today on paper, to be distributed as a part of the cleaning activity • Pamphlets to be distributed to incoming visitors • Evening programs with speeches, etc.,

24. 4. Demanding improved services • The municipality must provide garbage collection services (public or private sector). • Appropriate facilities must be provided for collection and disposal. • Communities must be organized and self policing. • The municipality must levy fines for leaving refuse and rubbish in the streets. A special patrol for that purpose must be created and empowered.

25. Jaya ÇréRädhe

26. Our Faith • Acting in faith confirms faith. • If we sit back, our faith will be weakened. • We will ask, “How can any religion that results in such indifference to its sacred symbols be true?” • The PIZZA EFFECT.