Reporter: Your Grace, what stops so many people from becoming Kṛṣṇa devotees?
Prabhupāda: Join this, our center. You come here, you'll become Kṛṣṇa devotee. Just like these boys. They are not imported from India. They are European, American and South African. (to devotee) You are South African?
Devotee: British.
Prabhupāda: British. And who is South African?
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: They're South Africans.
Prabhupāda: So we welcome everyone, African, South African, North African.
Reporter: What stops so many millions of people from doing that?
Prabhupāda: Well, knowledge means it is meant for few men. If you want men without any university degree, you will get many thousands. But as soon as say: "We want graduate," it will be minimized. Or as soon as you say "postgraduate," it will be still minimized. So as soon as there is question of knowledge, the number of people will be diminished. So we cannot expect mass of people. But if there are good persons, exemplified person, vivid example, that will help the whole society—"There is ideal class. They know everything."
Reporter: You're going to be delivering two addresses next week at one of our biggest universities.
Prabhupāda: (referring to Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa) That he knows.
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Monday and Wednesday. It would be nice if you would mention that in your article.
Reporter: Yes, I will. But I want to know what will you tell the people.
Prabhupāda: These things in different way that "Come to your pure knowledge and make your plan. Then you will be happy. And if your basic principle is wrong, then whatever plan you make, it is useless."
Reporter: Yes. But, you see, the thing that worries me is that how do people begin to understand that their basic principle might be wrong?
Prabhupāda: Just as one goes to a school and gradually he understands what is one, what is two, what is three, what is "Two plus two equal to four," . . . (indistinct) . . . it is a question of learning, education.
Reporter: Yes, but this doesn't affect the ordinary man in the street, Your Grace.
Prabhupāda: Huh?
Reporter: This doesn't affect the masses.
Prabhupāda: Masses?
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: The mass of people, he says it doesn't affect them.
Prabhupāda: Mass of people will follow. Yad yad ācarati śreṣṭha (BG 3.21). Just like everywhere, in politics there is in one leader and people follow him. So we want first-class leader. Then mass will follow. If the leaders are rascals and fools, then what will be result? Andhā yathāndhair upanīyamānāḥ (SB 7.5.31). If the leader is blind, how he can help other blind men? He must be open eyes. Then he can lead thousands of blind men—"Come here." And if he is himself blind, then what . . . how he can help? That is wanted. One blind man . . . one open-eyes man is sufficient to lead many thousands of blind men. But if the leaders are also blind, then it is useless. He must be in perfect knowledge. That is wanted. We do not expect that mass of people will understand this philosophy. It is not possible. But at least the leaders, they must know how to lead people—the father, the teachers, the government, like that. Then people will follow.