The young men and women sat nervously before Srila Prabhupada. The men were shaven-headed and wore dhotis made of cheap synthetic peach-coloured material. The ladies were wrapped in saffron saris fashioned from the same simple cloth. Those who were married, or were going to be married, wore lemon-coloured material of a similar quality.
Hardly anyone amongst them knew much of Krsna consciousness, and Srila Prabhupada knew he was taking a risk initiating such neophytes. Most probably some of the candidates sitting before him would not fulfil the exclusive lifelong commitment a disciple owes to his guru. And although the reactions for a disciples past sins were removed at initiation, the spiritual master would remain responsible until the disciple was delivered from the material world. Lord Caitanya had warned, therefore, that a guru should not accept many disciples. But despite their disqualifications, Prabhupada took it as his responsibility to engage whomever had come forward to help him in his mission. Prabhupada was offering them the methods which, if followed, would protect them from ever falling down. Those who followed his instructions to chant Hare Krsna and avoid sinful activities would be successful.
- From "The Great Transcendental Adventure" by HG Kurma Prabhu
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