Not a topic that is comfortable to discuss. 30 years ago I used to visit a   
   monk in a remote part of Northern Thailand who had lived in a cave for 6   
   years. I am an atheist. We would visit this pleasant man over 3 or 4 years. He   
   lived alone. I knew where    
   he slept in the cave and he would 'entertain' visitors in a 'salathai'   
   structure. Many long conversations.He said he only slept in the cave when he   
   felt he had to. Many bats, Time passes and I go back to see if he is still   
   there...20 years later. He is    
   gone. A large wall is built separating the Hill people from the New people.   
   There was one young boy in yellow robes cleaning the new big house. I told him   
   I will go to the caves....he was hesitant, "my master" is not here. I say in   
   Thai..."no problem, I    
   go alone." I found the 'master' who was polite and offered me a headlight and   
   water. A very pleasant man in white robes. Nice people...some of the things I   
   encountered were curious. I am an atheist, so I have no fear of ghosts,scams   
   etc.. However, there    
   is a booming business in the 'Buddhist' selling of charms, luck, love and   
   death. Theravada and spirits are not uncommon. The Tibetans have more ghosts   
   than most. However....in this situation the primal figure was a horned,   
   bearded personage typical of 13    
   century European   
   Catholicism. Quite interesting. I believe that 'culture' is a mere 'frosting   
   on the cake'. We are the same people and are manipulated in the same ways. If   
   anyone chooses to see these images. Be polite, no problem. It is not real,it   
   is theatre.       
    ....Ken   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)