Journey to the Pacific Rim, by Bali Mardan Das, one of Srila Prabhupada’s early disciples, recounts his experiences helping spread Krishna consciousness and establish ISKCON in Australia and Asia. Published in 1996, thirty years ago, the book preserves a participant’s account of the movement’s pioneering years.
Read Journey to the Pacific Rim on Google Drive
Following Srila Prabhupada’s instructions, Bali Mardan Prabhu left America to preach overseas. His recollections cover Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Japan in the late 1960s and early 1970s, with further accounts of Fiji and Thailand. Throughout the book, personal memories are accompanied by letters from Srila Prabhupada, showing how he guided and encouraged his disciples’ efforts in distant places. Bali Mardan explains that, for almost two years, from 1969 to 1971, correspondence was his only direct contact with his spiritual master.
The book grew out of requests from devotees during Navadvipa-parikrama in February 1993, as they discussed the approaching Srila Prabhupada Centennial. They encouraged Bali Mardan Prabhu to record his experiences, particularly his memories of the early preaching in Asia. These remembrances preserve both the history of that service and his personal appreciation of Srila Prabhupada’s guidance.
We are sharing the full book for readers who would like to explore Bali Mardan Prabhu’s firsthand account of those early years of service to Srila Prabhupada. Read Journey to the Pacific Rim on Google Drive.