Many stories could be told in this relation. Let my person tell one on hunters, non-human and human.
Some years ago my person was wandering north, reached the province Preah Vihear, he came along the famous mountain "Phnom Tabaing", thought, why not walking up there. A very silent little road having crossed the main road, from there, to the stairs (still in building at this time) up to the main monastery at the east of the mountain, not even knowing what might be up there, good 3-4h from settlements.
Atthe foot some buildings indicating that many people come here sometimes. Just a lonly seller of standard food and drinks there and the whole way just shortly two people passed by. "He is arrived", one sad to the other...
After a short rest, finding luckily some stored wasching water at the rest place on the foot of the stairway, of course weak from a 30-40 km walkthis day, "climed" up the steps at late after noon.
A thorns overgrown ghost-forest all around, plants of very old origin, never seen before. At the top, a plateau, like in another world. A nice and lovely arranged Wat after a walk through the forest on the plateau. No people anywhere. Just empty houses, some huts of farming people, monastery building. After looking around a wide open behind the building, left and right maybe 50 kuties, empty accept the first, where a younger couple with a child lived. Seeningly such as house keeper.
Kindly and joyful approached, provided with drink and given a quick prepeared Kuti to rest in the disappearing dailylight.
A Brahmanism and Iddhi world, full of powerful human and non-human beings, most not very really welcoming and advocating the three Juwels.
An abbot, living under a waterfall, talented to disappear. Three dark appearing old woman, forest people, shamanics, attendant of the hinding abbot, a brahmanic "Bhikkhu", a healer and seeer, with his lay attendant, a white clothed, goat bearded, eager to test and place pitfalls. Two old Upasakas in other refunctioned Kutis on the huge empty field in the middle of the forest.
Sleeping outside, walking for alms in the morning there amoung to lay people, my person spend good a week or two there.
One day longhair ascetics crossing the field to the next monastery, about 4 km south and other cult places deeper in the forest to the west. Another day asctetics wearing leopard skins, another day ascetics in white. Behind the kuti along the forest, a shy naked ascetic, from time to time, passing by early morning, early night, always cutting throw the line for the robe for a new.
After some while, short having given the hidding abbot a visit at his remote dwelling place, my person, there alway required to reject tries touch, walked to the next monastery "three rocks monastary" heartily received by first a brahmanic healer and seer in robes and then by the abbot, a master of Jhana.
Ther being told about the prophecy that if a European monk and a Japanees monks will appear this days, there will be no religious world war, suggesting that they are happy that the prophecy seemingly runs well now. Not sure if a Japanese came later.
Being told that the place is said to be the one the future Buddha will appear meditate between the three rocks and that all monks and people trying to do so, not much later died or became total incane, my person stayed their in a small building erected next the maybe 100 m deep huge cliffs edge, together with 5000 shorty donated Buddha-images of all sizes, for a couple of days, in seclusion, here and there.
Not far from a nearby 20 huts native forest people, the only on this mountain plateau, served as place to walk for alms. It was the first time they happened to meet a beggar, althought often hundred monks dwelling next. Usually they get provided. How ever, even here, and there, told as impossible, always enough and joyful provided.
Staying longer would have require to maybe display approve of many things not good to approve.
Although some many worked protective, silent, unseen, the poposite deed likewise in other direction.
Having heard of a soon huge deligation, a big parisa, to come and other thing, my person walked on. Through the pathless thorny far remoted forest, sleeped well compfortable protected on the floor of the roots of the trees there, crossed and climed, as not realy skilled weak and having not really head for heights, usually not even desiring looking up and down such cliffs places seeming of having no entrance no exit.
After spending another good time around and on the mountain, "luckily" always provided with alms, there where nobody normaly is, even a good day-walk into the center of the forest plateu, finding the holly places, without paths, crossing forests on thiny boar tracks, sleeping on rock on dry and uge river beds, providing holes with some water in the middst of the try season, around the eights, only sounds, signs, plants, land scapes, never heared, seen before, "dark" to that extent, even by day, and bright, to that extent, even in cold and dark night, seemingly void of beings but full around in all sphears, my person walked on to the north.
Finding a unknown Vinaya monastery, after meeting countless stories of deities, seer, powerful people and cheaters, my person stayed there.
Feared by some of the authority and to cause others no troubles, then after some two weeks further into the borderland of the north, the most remoted from civilication areas, place of soldies, hunters hidden Bramanic temples, their deities and protectors.
Once reached a isolated forest village with a actually very "bad" young abbot who was nevertheless very devoted and welcoming, my person got gravely sick.
A groupe of Vietnamese people, searching along the old Ho Chi Min path for bones of their relatives, cased foolish rasism to increase. Sometimes on hunt after animals sometimes other, the forest floor and the air was full of gun fire, visibly and "invisible". High fibre since three weeks on walk and very weak did not allow to walk on.
Unbelieveable goodness at the same time, and protectikn, all around. Who would ever visit a stranger every day, to give him a masage, wash and tread of wounds? Not even most patents would receive such.
Death all around and inside, "imposible" "Devas" found my person. Some times later a off road car entered the monastery, as fast appeared the driver, having given accepance to transport this monk, disappeared from this fearful land into the south. Treaded a good while in the capital later arived here.
Not different. People no metta, no Silas, not even able to come or stay daytimes here. Those of them nevertheless stayed, have been haunted, scared, troubled, could not sleep. Have been disturbed by animals, non-human...
But if Dhammica and people like devas come, not a little disturbance, clear sky, no rains, no winds, no creeping attacks and pests, not even dogs barking in the far.
Not only therefore, for yourself, for many, be a "selfmade" protection by developing metta, developing right resolve, being a gift for the world with your restrain of not vitreous deeds.
Many "empty" books could be written, but better to put it into action and see it for yourself. Even to ask many of the witnesses, doubt is just solved by knowing for yourself.
There then, if mastered the first steps and turn of the dhammic wheel is where Vipassana starts, found on right view, right resolve, firm in conviction, then carried by those never seen, never assumed.
What have been given, one receives in even more refined kind.