1. Narottama dasa Thakura on living among devotees

    Everyone is being washed away by the big waves of the ocean of nescience, but if he simply accepts, "No, I am krsna-dasa. I am not master. I am not God. I am simply a servant…" And the more you become servant of the servant, more you are perfect. Not directly servant. Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, gopi-bhartuh pada-kamalayor dasa-dasa-dasanudasah [Cc. Madhya 13.80]. This is perfection. Don't try to become directly krsna-dasa. Krsna's servant, his servant, his servant, his servants — you come down to the hundredth point of servant; then you are perfection. tandera carana-sevi-bhakta-sane vas janame janame mora ei abhilas Narottama dasa Thakura said, "Let me become the servant of the servant and live with devotees. That is my desire." So this Krsna consciousness movement is that let us live amongst devotees. Why we are struggling to get so many centers open? Because devotees will live there, follow the regulative principles according to the instruction of the sastra and spiritual master, guided by, and people will get chance. As soon as one comes in this society of devotee, he'll get some opportunity.

    From Srila Prabhupada's lecture on Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 20.108–109 — July 15, 1976, New York