1. Foolish Questions, Perfect Answers

    Prabhupada's flight to Melbourne landed and he was escorted to a press conference in the airport's VIP lounge. A hundred jubilant devotees sat on the floor as reporters questioned Prabhupada, who sat with Madhudvisa on a raised dais. The questions were the usual:

    Reporter: What is your name?

    Prabhupada: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami.

    Reporter: What do the "A" and the "C" stand for?

    Prabhupada: If I say, you will not understand.

    Reporter: Please, I'd like to know what the "A" and the "C" stand for?

    Prabhupada: You will not understand.

    Reporter: What do the "A" and the "C" stand for?

    Prabhupada then said "Abhay Caranaravindam." He pronounced "Abhay Caranaravindam" so fast that even I could not understand his words.

    Reporter: I'm sorry, I couldn't follow that. What did you say?

    Prabhupada: Abhay Caranaravindam. [Prabhupada again quickly pronounced his name.]

    Reporter: Could you repeat that again?

    Prabhupada: I told you that you would not understand.

    * * *

    Prabhupada was clearly unimpressed by the reporter's superficial question, and he playfully outmaneuvered him as easily as an adult outmaneuvers a child.

    (From My Glorious Master (ch. 17) by Bhurijana Dasa)