Back in the 70's Srila Prabhupada warned devotees on several occassions about the possible outburst of world war. Namely, he mentioned that the next world war would probably start between Pakistan and India. These two countries would serve as proxies and the real conflict and war would be between Russia and America.
At that time, it was the cold war time and both countires were ideologically opposed as well. Russia as opposed to the States was staunchly communist until the late 80's. Many things changed since then. Communism is no longer prominent ideology in Russia and one of the last prominent Russian communist leaders mentioned the Hare Krishna devotees as main causes of the communism's fall. Indeed, the devotees in Russia have undergone severe austerities to distribute the message of Srila Prabhupada all across the country. Sometimes they would be arrested, sometimes even killed. Their preaching had a major impact on the Russian people which contributed to the fall down of the communist regime. "Distribute books!" was the most famous instruction Srila Prabhupada gave to all the devotees of the Hare Krishna movement. Also, in 1977, Srila Prabhupada stated the following about the world war three:
Ramesvara: Now, what I am thinking is this, that you have mentioned many times, several times, that there is a conflict which is inevitable between Russia and America.
Prabhupada: Hm. No, if they understand Krsna consciousness, both of them -- now we are publishing -- then there will be no conflict on...
(Room Conversation -- January 21, 1977, Bhuvanesvara)
Srila Prabhupada here states that if people in both countries Russia and America understand Krsna consciousness, there does not have to be a war. Did the world understand Krsna consciousness? Certainly there has been a tremendous change felt and although we might not see the connection right away, the rising interest in yoga, meditation, karma, reincarnation, mantras all over the world is remarkable and is directly caused by the sankirtana movement Srila Prabhupada has inaugurated. Still, there is a lot to do and we feel the need for more manpower in our preaching work since the devotees attention in later years has shifted from the real goal of the sankirtan movement. The real goal of the sankirtan is to introduce people of the world to the principles of unalloyed (namely unconditional) devotional service as taught to us by the most prominent disciples of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the six Goswamis. Anyone can become a devotee preacher if he simply and sincerely applies the principles of the bona fide acharya Srila Prabhupada in his life and teaches the same to his friends, relatives, etc. Just as with fire, there is a side effect in the form of a smoke, similarly, the sankirtana movement brings with it many auspicious and pious changes in people's life, increase in religious practices, morality, non-violence, scientific research, etc. There is no shortage of evidence for this in the sastras. However, sincere devotees must be careful to keep the fire burning. Without the fire, all these auspicious effects will also die off. A class of pure devotees who will distribute themselves to the masses of misguided population and guide them to the lotus feet of the Lord is needed and such class, even in small quantity is better than thousands of shooting stars. All the acharyas are praying for such devotees to manifest in this world so we can not only avert a nuclear holocaust but also get out of the holocaust of the samsara and help others to do the same.
