I just happened into a group of websites describing some monasteries in Thailand called Buddhist

[Nitram]

1. As with all religions, people in every Buddhist culture wrapped the original kernels...

Last edited Fri Apr 1, 2016, 08:51 AM - Edit history (1)

...of the Buddha's insight under layer after layer of superstition, ritual and bits and pieces of their own traditional culture. You are correct in observing that hell in Buddhism is on earth and inside each person. Buddha actually considered avoiding the unpleasant out of fear or disgust just as ignorant as lusting after pleasure, wealth and power. So the idea of scaring people with hell to make the be better people is totally contrary to Buddhist thought.