I have to take exception to something you've said here - "Do they think he is LOTU? Not likely!"

Well, you're wrong. Seeing him up close does not necessarily mean they have been disabused of their illusions.

I'm sorry my friend, that is simply a fact.

Having said that, I also don't believe that takes them off the hook. The real problem, as I see it, is that in their world, there is no hook.

You, and many of the posters here have underestimated the depth of delusion in the minds of the people around M.

They have seen him and they have made everything okay in their minds - they have neutralized their doubts, they have protected their idea of who he is, and they may or not be happy, but they all support each other in this one essential delusion, and many of them are deeply invested in the myth.

For many of those close to maraji, acknowledging the truth would be tantamount to a complete pysychic breakdown, or alternately a disruption in their lives so profound that they subconsciously avoid it at all costs for fear of what it portends - the end of life as they know it.

So, I think there are two things here: one is that they do continue to believe, even seeing what they see, and two, they are wretched, wretched people, who both deserve our pity and must be held accountable for their lies and deceptions. In fact, holding them accouuntable, were it possible to do so in some serious fashion, would probably be in the end, the kindest thing one could do for them.