We have often heard that Srila Prabhupada said that even if one percent of the world’s people becomes Krsna conscious, the present world situation would change for the better. Here is one such quote from a lecture delivered in London on 8th of September 1971: “Therefore this Krishna consciousness movement… Even a certain little percentage of people become Krishna conscious, the whole face of the world will change. It is so nice.” (SB7.5.22.30)

Listening to Srila Prabhupada’s lectures carries an advantage over reading them. Certain nuances, emphases, and pauses – rarely captured in the written word – make a huge difference when it comes to understanding exactly what Srila Prabhupada was saying.

One of the most quoted passages, if not THE most quoted Srimad Bhagavatam passage in lectures was: yasyatma-buddhih kunape tri-dhatuke, sva-dhih kalatradisu bhauma-ijya-dhih, yat-trtha-buddhih salile na karhicit, janesu abhijnesu sa eva go-kharah. [SB 10.84.13]

Srila Prabhupada once pointed to insects swarming about a light in his room. He mentioned that this was one of the great wonders of Krsna’s far-reaching power. These mosquitoes could move through the air with great dexterity and speed, without ever so much as touching one another. Even with more advanced research in aerodynamics humans still have nothing like this to show. Srila Prabhupada pointed out that a hundred 747 airplanes (which he traveled on) could not maneuver through the air in patterns like mosquitoes, and never crash touch one another.

Once, in India, Srila Prabhupada was confronted with a question about the tradition of women sitting at the rear. He addressed the woman’s concern by telling her the story of the bug and the king. The story, according to the Prabhupada Meditations Calendar, goes like this: “A king is sitting on the throne and there is a bug. The bug and the king, they are on the same throne, but the bug and the king, much difference. Sitting on the same throne does not mean that they have become equal. Why? Due to the constitutional position. The bug’s constitutional position is to bite only, and the king’s position is to rule. Although they are on the same level, the difference is great gulf of difference. Similarly, God and living entity may sit down together, may talk together, they like together, eat together, but that difference will be there.” (From a class given by Srila Prabhupada on Bhagavad-gita 4.5, Montreal, January 10,1968).

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati is known, among other things, for saying ‘daso smin,’ or ‘I am your servant.’ He is reported to have said this even to his disciples. The reciprocation that takes place between Krishna and his devotee or between Krishna’s servants and one another is nicely encapsulated in this excerpt from one of Srila Prabhupada’s Nectar of Devotion lectures in Vrndavana on 23 Oct 1972: “But the spiritual master does not think of himself as Hari. Although he’s offered the respect of Hari, he thinks himself as humble servant of Hari and all others. A spiritual master takes his devo…, disciples as his spiritual master. That is the position. He thinks that “Krsna has sent me so many spiritual masters.” He does not think himself as spiritual master. He thinks himself their servant. Because they have to be trained. Krsna has appointed him to train them. Therefore he thinks himself as servant of the disciples. This is the position. So when one is advanced, he can see the importance of devotees.”

Quite literally – for many years – I’ve been trying find a citation about “cooperation,” something that Srila Prabhupada is reputed to have emphasized. Here’s one I found in the Bhaktivedanta Veda Base: “You are all my limbs of my body. Unless you cooperate, my life will be useless.” (letter to Brahmandanda, dated 17 July 1968.)

Through Srimad Bhagavatam and Caitanya Caritamrita we find reference to the “heart” or hrdaya. In these references the heart is far from a central bodily organ that pumps blood to the rest of human body. These ‘affairs of the heart’ are addressed thousands of times in the Vedic literature in a very thorough way – a way that comprehends feelings, emotions, psychology, viewpoints and visions. This concept of the heart is more like a vision. It’s a deep set of feelings that can be material or spiritual. When the heart becomes attached to Krsna we are indeed fortunate. In the Srimad Bhagavatam is said (Prabhupada’s translation) that Vyasedeva was “dissatisfied at heart,” before he wrote his proper version of the book. It’s important that the mundane affairs of our hearts – also sometimes referred to as our attachments, or anarthas – be eradicated to make way for pure devotional service.

Srila Prabhupada is reputed to have said that rhythm, not music, is the universal language. Does this help explain the need for drums in all forms of popular music around the world?

Ultimate generosity, or giving up one’s own self, is described by Sukadeva Gosvami in terms of nature, in Srimad Bhagavatam 10.20.6: “Flashing with lightning, great clouds were shaken and swept about by fierce winds. Just like merciful persons, the clouds gave their lives for the pleasure of this world.”