Helena's fondness for Muriel reminds me of something I read in Raymond Smullyan's *excellent* book 'The Tao is silent'. He presents as beings wi= th perfect 'Buddha nature'... his dogs. They only eat, sleep and play and desire nothing. They possess complete mental peace. Muriel is, maybe, a b= it like that. = By the way, Scottie, Smullyan is an example of an *aboslutely* first rate= mind (he is a famous logician and a very witty and good writer) who has a= n open mind to religion. Paul Janse