VRINDAVAN SAFAIKRAMA

Feb. 28- Mar. 1, 2012

Much money has been spent

We need to build on it.

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?

It is seen as the normal state

Nobody sees anything wrong with it.

Building materials are dumped on the street everywhere.

Paçyann api na paçyati

Open your eyes and see!

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.

The cricket stadium

Cleanliness is next to Godliness

Even animals keep themselves clean. Cleanliness prevents disease. Purity is a universal principle of sädhana:

sattva-çuddhau dhruvänusmåtiù…. 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.

Prema Prayojan

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.

Prema seva: Cleaning the kunj

रा�धा�मा�धावयो�यो�शां�सि� �तत गा�योस्तथा� कर्ण�योन्�तज्जी�व�षु� च वर्ण�योन्� �मारा��� �म्भू�यो �न्तक� योन्�।क� ञ्जं क� ञ्जंमान्�रात बहु परिराष्क� व�न्� माहा�भा�वत�

दे�हा�दे+ क, तहा�लन्� देयियोत हा� व,न्दे�टव�मा�व�॥  

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 Vrindavan Dham. (Våndävana-mahimämåtam 1.59)

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.

Why? Ignorance

The world is false prabhu kahe vaiñëava‑deha präkåta kabhu naya

apräkåta deha bhaktera cid‑änanda‑maya

An incorrect understanding of renunciation

na dveñöy akuçalaà karma kuçale nänuñajjate |

tyägé sattva-samäviñöo medhävé chinna-saàçayaù ||10||

Absence of bhakti seva spirit

Why? Ignorance

The caste system Safai karmis 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.

Safaikrama

Too much for any one group.

Too much for voluntarism alone.

A systematic plan with government involvement is needed.

Safaikrama

* Krishna Kripa Ashram* Friends of Vrindavan* Food for Life Vrindavan * Prayaas Pariwar* Vrinda Kunj

Purposes of the Safaikrama

1. Actually cleaning Vrindavan2. Setting the example3. Creating awareness4. Demanding government

action

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

safai karmis. Groups of volunteers from different

sansthas with banners Self identifying Identifying the program Competition?

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

It can be done!

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.,

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.

Jaya Çré Rädhe

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.