WORKING PHILOSOPHY: YOU CAN FOOL SOME PEOPLE ALL THE TIME. (These are the ones to be worked on!).
The erstwhile Princely State of Hyderabad (India) is unofficially recognized as a "Hub" for such clandestine practices (even though it is widely acknowledged that the "Ilm" (Art/Knowledge) practiced in Bengal has no equal). Hyderabad, boasting the world's very best, state of the art Hi-Tech facilities, is also generally recognized as a crucible for practitioners of the occult; some, who could baffle the judgment of even the most acclaimed physician. But also flaunting in the shadows of these accomplished beings are hoards of charlatans and tricksters out to make a quick buck! They offer a custom solution for your every problem!
So, one would ponder, "Why do a multitude of troubled clients from all walks of life (laborers, hookers, academicians, politicians, judges) patronize such 'shamans' if they are indeed mostly fraud"?
DILUTING ONE'S FAITH FOR MISERABLE GAIN - BARTERING THE SOUL TO CHANCE - CORRUPTING THE WORLD ONE SOUL AT A TIME:
Our proclivity toward harboring and acting upon the inexplicable (and often destructive) power of the occult stems from a crippling dependence on this physical world with its "mysteries" unfolding before our eyes that we can rationalize, understand, and, to some extent, work within our Space/Time limitations. But to circumvent or overcome these earthly obstacles to one's desires, we proceed to summon "more potent" assistance from the invisible, mystical, parallel world; "assistance" we hold to be more enormous and overpowering, undoubtedly because is not possible to neither witness this "other" World through our mortal eyes, nor comprehend its workings through our limited mortal capacity.
These mystics represent our tangible, visible link with the unseen, abstract "other world" and they certainly speak and dress the part (which makes it very difficult to distinguish between the genuine and the fake)! Nevertheless, we choose to put faith in these practices and practitioners like a drowning person grabbing at straws (when a lifebuoy is closer on hand).
Business is almost exclusively generated through referrals. If someone's desires are fulfilled, credit goes to the magician. And clients flock for services. If faced with failure, more "intense" measures are employed. Finally, the quest is abandoned for lack of money, patience, or "it wasn't really God's Will"! (Smart move: If they don't acknowledge God, or "gods", as the Deciding Force, who else could they blame for their failures?). It's important to note that sometimes, even the "genuine" holy people are unable to fulfill the clients' desires (Divine Disapproval?). So, Whaddaheck! In any event, no refunds are entertained because of the intense "labor" devoted toward the work.
Anyway, such "occult" practices prosper in a very amenable business climate where one can write his own ticket ( and they all do). You have the proverbial "Captive Crowd" here: a pool of troubled, vulnerable prospective victims ready for the fleecing. The clientele is often desperate for a speedy outcome and prepared to pay (cash, of course!). Income is undisclosed and unregulated; no receipts! There is no requirement for capital or a business license, no overheads, no taxes and, best of all, negligible police intervention for fraudulent practices because the "work" solicited would be otherwise considered illegal anyway (e.g., to kill someone, ensnare and seduce another's wife, etc.). One rarely hears of arrests unless the event involves "respected", "pillars of the community", holds sensationalism, provokes public interest and is newsworthy. One such recent scandal involved two adolescent daughters of a Bombay couple whose business was plummeting. See Links: click here
http://www.echarcha.com/forum/showthread.php?p=419745
Pursuant to advice from a Tantric friend of the family, Daddy Dearest had no other recourse to resuscitate his business but to engage in sex with his eldest teenage daughter - FOR NINE ROLLICKING YEARS (...some perseverance, eh?). But when business didn't improve despite the monkey business, the Tantric friend joined in for more "power-packed" sessions with Mamma's guiding presence (Bless her heart!). As business slumped further down, the Tantric suggested jumping for the younger daughter ("Fresh Talent" and all that.. ). And they did! The poop hit the fan when the eldest eavesdropped on a secret phone conversation and got wind of this switcheroo. A fight broke loose amongst the sisters and the rest is history! Or "Her"-story, depending on your gender preference. (Aaah! Jealousy " Jealousy! Hell hath no fury ".etcetera " etcetera!).
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