At the Buddhist monastery in Thailand where this photograph was taken, my assistant and I were speculating that there must be some fast bats flying around. Something too quick to be seen kept brushing by our hair and ears. But it felt strange, not exactly like a physical touch, more like a loud buzzing that could be felt--like a bird that might fly too close you can feel the wind from its wings.
One evening my assistant and I were sitting and talking on the temple floor when in the middle of a sentence I screamed and almost landed in her lap. Something had gotten hold of the back of my neck. The problem was, the lights were on and no bat or anything else was to be seen.
The next day I was to photograph and interview the head Mai Chi (nun) of the monastery. During her interview, she explained that she was called to the service of others through a special gift. She was blessed with the ability to help the dead through the realms of hell. Many of the spirits came to this monastery for her guidance. She suggested that the spirits bothered us because, while we had asked permission from her and the Abbot to stay and work there, we had neglected to ask the spirits and indeed the Buddha.
After a meditation session in front of an altar to the Buddha, all of my group asked permission to be there and made an offering. The incidents stopped after that. Since that time, I have tried to remain mindful of the spirits and ask permission from the unseen world to be in certain places or even in a particular country.
