A trip to Mexico

from Moksananda


Just back from Mexico after a 10-day visit.

The trip out was, as always, pretty horrible. I don't like being stuck in an aeroplane for more than 11 hours, not least after having first travelled from Valencia to Madrid. And I don't tend to sleep on long flights. The flight from Madrid was also delayed, so I finally arrived at the Buddhist Centre in Mexico about 1 a.m. Mexico time, or 8 a.m. Spanish time.

But hey, I do like Mexico. And particularly connecting up with our Sangha there. I've been visiting for some 12 or 13 years now. Participating in the Order and movement there is an important part of my life. I've ordained many of the Dharmacharis, privately, publically or both, and am president to one of our two Buddhist Centres, el Centro Budista de la Ciudad de México, which is in the area of Mexico known as La Roma. This is run by Upekshamati, who is the chairman and who started Order activities in Mexico, and by Virasiddhi, Dayachandra, Padmabandhu and Abhayagita. There is also another centre of the movement in Mexico City, BudaMandala, run by Jñanadakini, Saddhajyoti, Akasavajri, Rocani and Kavindu. This is in Coyoacan, for anyone who knows Mexico.

Some 5,500 miles away from Europe and 2,000 miles from the nearest other centre run by order members (San Francisco), the FWBO in Mexico is relatively small. There are 13 order members living there, all of them Mexican, and well over 100 mitras, about 30 of whom have asked for ordination. I don't think any of the order members there would mind me saying that there have been some tensions between some of them over the last couple of years. It's not easy building a Sangha from scratch, a long way from other order members etc and in a very different culture from anywhere else in our movement. And especially so perhaps during a period when our community as a whole has been in a period of flux. But things seem to be coming together again and personally I have only admiration for what my brothers and sisters in the Order are doing there.

I met up one way or another with all the men who are actively pursuing ordination in Mexico, some 16 men. I was glad to see that the 4-year mitra study course is getting underway, or about to get underway, in both centres there. One of the things I am concerned about, as public preceptor for Spanish-speaking men, is that those who ask for ordination are able to follow through their request. This is not always easy in a situation a long way from other parts of the movement. Dharma study, longer intensive retreats and meaningful contact with order members are not so easy to come by and it has taken time to build these things up. But even in the last few years I have seen definite development in all these areas in Mexico and I think that is reason for celebration.

Since Upekshamati started Buddhism courses etc in Mexico there has been a gentle stream of Mexican men and women visiting the UK and Spain, even living here for extended periods. Several Mexican order members have been ordained while living in the UK. At present both Saddhayu and Maitrigosha are in Cambridge at Windhorse, and Ivan, who has asked for ordination, also lives there. Samamati, who lived in Mexico working at the centre for many years, also works at Windhorse.

Apart from the opening of BudaMandala and developing conditions for the men and women who have asked for ordination, the last year or so has also seen the translation and publication of quite a few of Bhante Sangharakshita's books in Mexico. This is an important project that has benefits not just for the movement in Mexico, but in Spain and Venezuela too. Upekshamati has been leading a small team that plans to translate and edit a number of Bhante's books, and some by other order members, over the coming years.

Last year also saw the birth of 'Karuna', a project to raise money or goods for charities and NGOs in Mexico. Mexico has a population of some 105 million people. 40% of the population share only 11% of the wealth and are considered to live below the Mexican poverty line. Many families live in total poverty and children are compelled to work on the streets in order to supplement the family. Some 44 million Mexicans live in poverty; 14 million live in conditions of extreme poverty, with children on the streets. You can read more about Karuna Mexico on the movement's news page here.

Approximately 400 people a week are involved with Buddhism or meditation classes/courses at the Mexico City Buddhist Centre (I don't know the figures for BudaMandala). Some 150 of those are in weekly study groups. OK, with a metropolitan area population of over 21 million they say anyone can draw a crowd in Mexico City. That the Dharma could have a very positive effect on a lot of men and women in Mexico, and on the society as a whole, I have no doubt. At the moment the work of order members and other Buddhist groups in Mexico is just a drop in the ocean. But it's a drop of something very special indeed and with our growing Sangha in Mexico beginning to find its feet I think that the Three Jewels may yet find a place in the heart of many, many Mexicans. And that could have quite some effect.

I left Mexico thinking that I must go back again soon. Even if I do find the long flights difficult. And the trip back home? Well that was pretty horrible too.

But hey, I do like Spain ...