Caru: We had to sit in the waiting room for a while before going on. Meanwhile, a wall-mounted television monitor was screening a movie depicting a graphic rape scene in a swamp. I was shocked. It was the most explicit material I had ever seen on television. I glanced over at Prabhupada. He watched for a few moments, then looked at us. He was smiling. It was not a smile of pleasure, though, but rather of sadness. Then Prabhupada shook his head with disbelief and looked down. Perhaps he had never witnessed such a thing before. Certainly it would have been hard to imagine the mentality that prompted broadcasting such scenes to the public. Prabhupada's look said: "This is unbelievable."
On air, Bob seemed uncomfortable, even a little agitated. Since his questions were of the trivial variety, and since his mood was somewhat condescending, Prabhupada reciprocated by looking very grave. At one stage, Bob asked why the devotees chanted. Prabhupada briefly explained, still with a very serious expression, about the sankirtana movement. "You say that this chanting makes people happy," Bob challenged, "but you don't look very happy."
Exhibiting the same solemn appearance, Prabhupada replied, "Oh! We are happy .." He paused, and added. "Very happy!"
Prabhupada's countenance suddenly changed. His eyes lit up and sparkled. He gave a broad smile -- and started to laugh. To the devotees present who had been feeling a little uncomfortable, it was as if the sun had come out on a rainy day. They all spontaneously uttered: "Jaya, Prabhupada, jaya." Bob, embarrassed, changed the subject. After another minute, it was all over.
In the taxi on the way back to the temple, Caru outlined his plans for the two or three more national TV shows that he had lined up, but Prabhupada cut him off. He appeared disgusted. "They do not know how to ask questions. Tell them they have to give me at least half-an-hour, otherwise I will not go." Next morning, Caru rang around the TV stations with Prabhupada's ultimatum, but no-one could offer more than ten minutes, and so future TV plans were dropped.
- From "The Great Transcendental Adventure" by HG Kurma Prabhu
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