I just went to the bookfair again today. And it struck me that in such book fairs we have quite a number of christian and buddhist bookstores peddling books, cassettes, CDs and religious goods of all varieties. It is interesting how each is selling their own brand of truth, partial truths and fiction; I could never tell the difference when it comes to religious writings. It is interesting how so many are buying into the hopes which are sold.

I read a poem of how some monks buried statues of the Buddha beneath the ground so that it will not be destroyed by invading armies when they sweep across the lands.

The armies have casted their enemity into the words and form of the Buddha.

And the monks have casted their hopes of salvation into the words and form of the Buddha.

Both are trapped.