Preaching in India or preaching in the West?

Towards the end of September 1976, Guru Kripa Swami visited Srila Prabhupada in Vrindavana. After six months as the GBC for the Australian and New Zealand temples, Guru Kripa admitted that he did not want to continue his management tenure in that zone. He preferred, he said, to concentrate on preaching Krishna consciousness in Japan. It was clear to Srila Prabhupada that a replacement had to be found. Not long after, Srila Prabhupada learned that Bali-mardana had arrived in Vrindavana, looking for some new service. Prabhupada offered him two scenarios. He could take up the task of managing the soon-to-be-opened guest house in Bombay, or come to Australia.

Bali-mardana asked Prabhupada: "What do you consider to be more important? Preaching in India or preaching in the West?" Prabhupada told him that preaching in the West was more important. He agreed to go, and a few days later left for Australia as ad hoc GBC. Srila Prabhupada confirmed the new appointment soon after in a letter to Guru Kripa Swami.