Today I was watching people buy flower ornament offerings at an informal little stall and leave them at a nearby whitewashed shrine. I was sitting there praying for the people that are caught in this striving way of life, when i noticed the offering vendor glance around to see if anyone as in sight. Satisfied that she was reasonably unobserved, she furtively ducked around the shrine, retrieving dozens of her wares. I was incredulous as she bustled back to her stand and hung them up for resale. It seems she sells the offerings for the faithful to offer to the spirits, but has no qualms about robbing the same spirits of those offerings. Its a poor life, having such objects of worship as these. And indeed, as the quote runs, a people has never risen above its gods.
ps. good news- they ate the dog when i was out today.
