BEWILDERED by Buddhism? Don't just turn to Google or Wiki. Shave your head, pick up your begging bowl and live in a monastery for a month, immersing your self in the religion from the inside.

Ignorant about Islam? Become a Muslim for a month, staying with a Turkish family, studying the Koran, sharing the daily prayers and living the life of the devout.

Melbourne's Daniel Manning with fellow novice Buddhist monks in Thailand.

If Islam's mystical Sufi tradition appeals more, study the life and times of its founder, Rumi, visiting his Turkish home town of Konya.

These ''praycations'' are three of the spiritual holidays available through an aid organisation founded by an Australian, Ben Bowler. He ploughs 20 per cent of the profits to aid programs in Thailand and Burma - or, at least, he will if ever there are any profits. ''People say they get perspective and a new understanding, from the inside as opposed to looking from outside in,'' Mr Bowler said yesterday in Melbourne, where he has returned to earn money to keep the project going.