The Sad State of Affairs of ISKCON Mexico

I have been invited to become the GBC here I have been in the country for the last three months. This is an exploratory tour--I have not yet committed to take up the service. I have been traveling and getting to know the devotees. I have been to Tijuana, Mexico City, Leon, Guadalajara, Saltillo and Monterrey.

The situation of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, after nearly 38 years of preaching, is disconcerting.

ISKCON Mexico hasn't managed to produce even one initiating spiritual master. By comparison Italy, a smaller country and a yatra started around the same time, has produced four gurus (OK, two of them faced personal problems and relinquished the duty, but two are still active).

Srila Prabhupada visited Mexico twice, the maximum number of visits to any Spanish-speaking country.

In the thirty years after Srila Prabhupada's departure we have not managed to secure even one new property or temple in the name of ISKCON. The only premises legally in control of the Society are those of the temple that Srila Prabhupada visited.

Legally the devotees have secured the status of an "A.R." (Asociacion Religiosa), or a Religious Society recognized by the government, but the Board of Directors hardly meets and includes people who have been inactive for so long that the official secretary doesn't even remember their names.

The ad hoc National Council isn't faring much better: largely apathetic and fuzzily defined (some people are members in name only), they hardly even meet with a quorum. Two members have recently been suspended for adultery.

I could go on and on describing different anomalies, past scandals, existing tensions and individual and collective struggles, but I categorically refuse to adduce the intrinsic nature of Mexicans as the reason. In fact I must report that Mexico appears as one of the best places on the planet for spreading Krishna consciousness. Expert book distributors who traveled throughout Latin America consider Mexico as the best place to sell Srila Prabhupada books, and some of them travel transferred here from distant countries to take advantage of the local receptivity. People are friendly and naturally respectful, open and inquisitive. The Sunday program in the capital is always packed with people from all age groups. And I could go on and on describing the marvelous opportunities offered by this country of almost 110 million people.

There are signs of life and growth; for instance in Mexico City there are already 14 active Nama-hatta youth groups and this indicates that the potential for development and success is great.