Let’s build on the Vrindavan Project investments.

Rajas : building

Tamas : destruction

Sattva : maintaining

India is dominated by rajas and tamas.

Vishnu is the God of maintenance.

What is the point of making nice things if there is no maintenance?

Will the Vrindavan Project (rajas) come to nought, just like so many temples have fallen into ruin (tamas)?

What kind of reputation do you expect to win ?

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, beauty.

Krishna is all attractive, all beautiful; his abode should also be all attractive, all beautiful.

The whole world is sacred, the presence of God is everywhere, but this awareness must begin in our holy places.

Love means mamatä: Vrindavan is mine. I take care of what is mine.

Public spaces belong to all of us in common. We share responsibility.

Vrindavan belongs to Radha and Krishna and we are their servants.

राधामाधवयोययशाांसस सततां गायांस्तथा कर्ययन ्तज्जीवेषु च वर्ययन ्समरस ् सम्भूय सन्तकय यन।् कुञ्जां कुञ्जमनारतां बहु ऩररष्कुवयन ्महाभावतो देहादौ कृतहेऱनो दययत हे वनृ्दाटवीमावस॥

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)

Poverty is NO EXCUSE

Even uneducated people in most poor countries around the world keep their homes clean

But it is everybody’s responsibility

Where there is a will, there is a way. This can be changed!

It may take generations to make a change in the mentality.

Schools, parental guidance, social condemnation.

The world is not false !

Brahman is the world

The world is Krishna’s energy

Maya means how we see the world.

An incorrect understanding of renunciation

Renunciation means service without attachment

To the kind of work. Do the needful.

To the results. Do the needful.

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.

“[I hope that one day] there will

only be one caste known by the

beautiful name bhangi, that is

to say the

of all dirt.” (Harijan,

1946)

One who neither hates work that is considered inauspicious, nor is attached only to work that is considered auspicious is a tyagi situated in the sattva-guna. He is intelligent and free of doubts. (Gita 18.10)

Meeting with Gyanananda Maharaj at Krishna Kripa Ashram.

This is too much for any one group.

Too much for voluntarism or NGO’s.

A systematic plan with government involvement is needed.

Therefore:

Public opinion must be won

Popular will must be created and heard

Attitudes and behavior must be changed.

• Krishna Kripa Ashram

• Friends of Vrindavan

• Food for Life Vrindavan

• Prayaas Pariwar

• Helping Hands for Vrindavan

1. Actually cleaning Vrindavan

2. Setting the example

3. Creating awareness

4. Demanding government action

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?

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

Billboards and pamphlets announcing the upcoming event

A special print edition of Hindi Vrindavan Today, to be distributed as a part of the cleaning activity

Pamphlets to be distributed to incoming visitors

Evening programs with speeches, plays, etc.,

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.

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.