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A few devotees, eager to learn whether Srila Prabhupada's arrival press conference or interview had received any publicity, waited outside the local newsagency to purchase all the morning papers.

The previous night's Herald had already published a frivolously-worded article. Entitled "Even the Divine get Blueys" -- referring to the parking ticket slapped onto the car's windscreen by a zealous parking officer -- the reporters made a point of mentioning their disapproval of Srila Prabhupada's use of a Rolls Royce.

It was obvious from the superficial news reports that, despite the fact that this was Prabhupada's fourth visit to Australia, most press reporters still had no idea of Prabhupada's actual position. To the press, Prabhupada was just another celebrity in a constant parade of faces and events.

The morning's Age followed in the same vein, with another sarcastic headline: "Divine Grace Comes Rollsing In." It also displayed the press' fascination with the trivial:

Sixty young Hare Krishna devotees yesterday welcomed their earthly leader to the city with obeisances -- but official Melbourne met him coolly. His Divine Grace Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada came out of the airport to find pink parking tickets on the windscreens of his Rolls Royce and two supporting cars.

The devotees were already disgusted with the fault-finding and negative press. But an article on page two of the morning's Sun topped it off. The reporter who visited the previous night had totally misconstrued Prabhupada's warnings about the dangers of sinking down to the animal kingdom. He had come to an amazing conclusion:

"Krishna Sect Founder: 'I'll return as Animal.'

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, is resigned to dying soon, then returning to Earth as an animal"

Amogha immediately started drafting a letter to the editor, asking that they publish what Prabhupada had actually said. By the time Prabhupada returned from his walk, the whole temple was discussing the article. "What will Prabhupada think about it?" they wondered.

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The bright morning sun shone through the saffron curtains behind Prabhupada's red and orange vyasasana. Srila Prabhupada was giving the morning class from the Second Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam to a packed temple room. The business of a saintly person, he explained, was to perform welfare work for the people in general, and the best welfare was to awaken people to their sad-dharma, or real occupational duties.

"At the moment, I may be working as an American, or a European, or an Australian, but this is temporary because the body is temporary. But as soon as this body is finished, I will begin another chapter of duty. Suppose this life I am a human being; next life I may not be a human being."

Srila Prabhupada paused. Grinning, he looked around the room. "This statement was not liked by the newspaper man."

The devotees laughed. Obviously Prabhupada had read the article. "He was told that next life you can become animal, so he has published in my name, 'The Swami can become an animal'. The Swami can become an animal. The so-called swamis, they will become animal." (More laughter).

"So that is not wrong. But we devotees, we are not afraid of becoming animal. Our only ambition is that we become Krsna conscious. So the animals, the cows, the calves who are Krsna conscious. You have seen the picture of Krsna? Yes. So, better that we should become animal of Krsna.

"So there is nothing wrong. Even if we become an animal of Krsna, that is also very worthy. That is not an ordinary thing. Any associate of Krsna, either his cowherd boyfriends, or calf or cows, or the Vrndavana trees, plants, flowers or water, they are all devotees of Krsna. They like to serve Krsna in different capacities. So to become an animal of Krsna is a great, great fortune."

The devotees were delighted to hear Srila Prabhupada take positive meaning from the foolish article. But there was more. Simply the printing of the holy names, Hare Krsna, greatly benefited the readers, he explained, regardless of whether the names were mentioned in reverence or disrespect.

"Just like in the newspaper you hear so many news. But if you hear something about Krsna, that is the only perfect thing. That news has been published in many morning papers: 'Krishna, the leader of the Krishna movement' or 'this Hare Krishna movement' There is some vibration of the word 'Krsna'.

"That makes the atmosphere purified, surcharged. So many thousands and millions of people will read, 'Krsna', willingly or unwillingly. That is their profit. Immediately they once utter the word 'Krsna', they become benefited. Never mind what is the news. We don't care for that." (Laughter)


- From "The Great Transcendental Adventure" by HG Kurma Prabhu