Interviewer: Would you say, then, the young mind is more susceptible or capable of changing his mode of life? We know for one instance one disciple that you have was cleansed of his use of drugs, and that’s a point that we want to talk about. In other words, a younger person is capable of the transition.
Prabhupāda: Yes, that is in every case; therefore education is given in younger ages, not in old ages. I have got experience that in an examination, a father and his young girl appeared. The young girl passed, and the father failed. Therefore the young age is the proper time for taking education.
Interviewer: Now in your case you are of at least seventy years in this earth form. We understand the path that you’re trodding here on earth as a svāmī, as a head of the Kṛṣṇa movement, not only in America but throughout the world. Do you feel that your life has been completely dedicated from the very outset? Were you born into the Kṛṣṇa, or did you . . .?
Prabhupāda: Yes, I was born in a family of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. My father was a great devotee, and from my childhood he trained me. I got the opportunity for becoming Kṛṣṇa conscious from the very beginning of my life.
Interviewer: So this has been your lifestyle all these years.
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Interviewer: Now, we understand, Your Divine Grace, that at this point in time, you as the titular or the actual head of the Kṛṣṇa movement in the world, you have no successor when you move into another dimension; that from the masses, from the disciples that you have throughout the world, someone will rise to take your place when you move to another world?
Prabhupāda: Not someone, but so many, because I am teaching all the students to work in future. I may die, but the movement will go on, because all these young boys and girls, they are complete in knowledge of this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. So it cannot be stopped.
Interviewer: Oh, no! No, no, we did not mean that it would be stopped or cease at any given time, but someone will succeed you. But you say many will.
Prabhupāda: No, why someone? Many will succeed.
Interviewer: Yes. Now, the growth of the movement in America, as you have indicated, is very great, very rapid. What would you attribute this most to? The enthusiasm? Or how do you feel it . . . why is it growing?
Prabhupāda: Yes, amongst my students the enthusiasm is very nice. So I expect that each one of them will be future preachers.
Interviewer: A teacher, or did you say . . .?
Prabhupāda: Yes, teacher and preacher, both.
Interviewer: And you use the words preacher as well as teacher?
Prabhupāda: Yes.