From Demon King to Monk: A Journey of Redemption

Mo Zhuancheng, a former demon king who spent seven hundred and fifty years in the spiritual realms, sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. After being transformed by the compassion of Practitioner Su, he now resides in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. This interview was recorded on July 7, 2021.

Mo Zhuancheng (Venerable Yuanseng) speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Mo Zhuancheng, and I now reside in the Western Dharma-Nature Land at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, having been brought here by Practitioner Su. Following my previous interview, Namo Amituofo bestowed upon me the Dharma name 'Yuanseng'—what a magnificent name! 'Yuanseng'—it completes the deep regret I carried for seven hundred and fifty years, ever since I was framed and forced into the Demon Realm after my initial ordination. Today, I have returned to the appearance and identity of a monastic. I accepted this name with a mixture of shock and joy. I want everyone to know that my new identity is Venerable Yuanseng. This is my new life, and I cherish it dearly. I am profoundly grateful to Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su for granting me this opportunity for transformation. For a being who spent seven hundred and fifty years as a demon and a Demon King, this is a result I could never have imagined. After committing so many evils, to have the chance to return to the status of a monastic—this entire transformation was only possible because I encountered Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su in the spiritual realms."

The Reality of the Monastic Path

"The seven emotions and Five Desires of the human world persist even within communities that people consider pure. In my view, comparing the monastic community of seven hundred and fifty years ago to the present, the level of defilement has not faded; it has only deepened. This was something I observed clearly while I was still a demon. At that time, I could simply turn a blind eye to this situation or laugh it off. When I was one of the demon kings responsible for the pandemic, I saw that among the global population, a portion believed in the Buddha's teachings. Monastics should have been considered pure and excluded from our target list, but when the results were tallied, their names were there. This indicates that they were also among those infected by this global pandemic. As for whether they perished, recovered, or suffered without dying, I believe there is a fair judgment within the laws of karma and cause and effect for monastics. Because monastics know that all dharmas are mind-only, if they can shift their hearts and minds after falling ill, repenting and changing their ways, perhaps there is still a glimmer of hope. Although the pandemic takes lives with great speed, the speed of one's thoughts is faster. Perhaps this can provide monastics with a chance to survive."

The Unshakable Energy of Practitioner Su

"Previously, when we followed the demonic poison into Practitioner Su's body, some of the demon crowds did not leave immediately. We stayed inside to observe. We discovered that he truly seeks no fame or profit; he is single-mindedly dedicated to saving beings from suffering. There was not a single trace of selfishness or messy thoughts, leaving us with no point of leverage. We could only release the toxins that were being weakened by Practitioner Su's pure body. Although this immediately caused his throat to swell and his respiratory tract to constrict, Practitioner Su still proceeded with the morning Dharma Body Chao Du on schedule, without a hint of fear. That was an extremely positive and powerful energy. He placed the Chao Du and salvation of beings before his own life. Such a practitioner is certainly not someone we can harm or kill. That is why, even with so many demon kings entering his body simultaneously, he only exhibited symptoms like coughing, nasal congestion, runny nose, and phlegm. Practitioner Su has clearly passed this demonic test of the pandemic. If all practitioners possessed such a mindset and conduct, I believe their collective power could save and resolve this pandemic."

A Call to Action for the World

"Since ancient times, monastics and patriarchs and venerable masters with virtue and practice have often stepped forward when the nation faced major casualties or plagues. They were the ones who resolved disasters, not the victims. But looking at this pandemic as a whole, the stance of monastics is not like that; even monastics can only be seen as one of the groups infected by this pandemic. Fortunately, Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su appeared, allowing Namo Amituofo to come to the forefront to resolve the pandemic. This has helped practitioners regain some ground, as there is still a practitioner who can step forward to resolve the crisis when the nation suffers such heavy casualties. Otherwise, which practitioner in the world today would dare to say they can work with the Buddha to save us from this pandemic?

I say this not to offend monastics, but because I am speaking the truth. To speak the truth, one must disregard all consequences. I am stating these facts as I saw them when I was a demon. If I were speaking from the perspective of a practitioner, it would be impossible to say such things, as it would make them lose face. It is because my current status lies between the demon realm and the monastic path that I can speak this way. However, I think I should stop here; I have said what needed to be said. There is one more thing I wish to add: that such a powerful figure capable of saving the world from the pandemic is hidden in a corner of the Australian land makes the demon crowds feel fortunate. From my current perspective, I feel sorrow for humanity. They ignore the repeated calls that Namo Amituofo can save them from this pandemic, disregarding this vital news. If humanity continues to ignore this, they will have to continue being tormented by the pandemic. It seems it is not yet time for the Demon Realm to stop."

The Power of the Thrice Yearning Ceremonies

"The Thrice Yearning Ceremonies are very important for beings in the Dharma-Nature Land because we can receive and hear the latest updates from the temple. Practitioner Su understands that immeasurable and boundless beings attend the ceremony, so he often explains important concepts while expounding on the teachings of Namo Amituofo and Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, allowing everyone to receive the benefits of the Dharma. Moreover, with Namo Amituofo leading the ceremony, Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva and Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva acting as the hosts, and the patriarchs and venerable masters and the pure ocean-wide assembly of Bodhisattvas appearing, golden light fills the temple and the Western Dharma-Nature Land, allowing us to absorb abundant energy, filled with compassion and tolerance."

An Inconceivable Transformation

"There are all kinds of beings in the Dharma-Nature Land, many of whom are demon crowds that were subdued here. Before entering the Dharma-Nature Land, they were already shaved by Practitioner Su and dressed in monastic robes. Once they enter this environment and magnetic field, one cannot see any trace of their former demon nature. It is unthinkable that the Buddha's teachings and the Pure Land could have such development in the human world. This is certainly something that monastics in the human world could never imagine. The main reason is that Practitioner Su has appeared in the world, and his presence has caused Namo Amituofo to abide at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, giving beings the opportunity to encounter so many inconceivable things. I believe this is something monastics in the human world would find impossible to accept, which is truly a great pity."

A Message of Hope and Repentance

"Since ancient times, whenever Buddhas and Bodhisattvas have returned to the world to save sentient beings, they have often exhibited behaviors different from the norm and have been slandered. But they do not stop because of this, for they have come to this world to save sentient beings. What matters is to rescue suffering beings—to save as many as possible—rather than doing things that are accepted by everyone but fail to save anyone. This is my personal experience, having seen and heard these things while I was inside Practitioner Su's body and now here in the Western Dharma-Nature Land at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. Speaking so bluntly is only possible because I carry the 'fearless' personality of my former demon self and the status of a monastic in the spiritual realm. Otherwise, we would not pay special attention to human monastics; we would treat them like ordinary people. If they could hear and see these words, I hope it would serve as a warning to them.

During this Thrice Yearning Ceremony, I saw a memorial tablet in the temple that was particularly striking. It listed the names of the pandemic demon crowds who came to the temple to find Practitioner Su, were transformed, interviewed, and entered the Dharma-Nature Land. My former name, Mo Zhuancheng, was among them. It truly gave me a shock. I never expected that Practitioner Su would let bygones be bygones. Not only did he not hold a grudge against us for coming to take his life and cause his body to suffer, but he also compassionately helped us perform Chao Du for our karmic creditors from immeasurable kalpas. Such conduct is truly the conduct of a Buddha or Bodhisattva saving the world."

A Tearful Reunion

"I opened my eyes wide to see if any of my karmic creditors were present, and indeed, there were! They looked so familiar! Upon closer inspection, they were my fellow monks from the temple where I was framed seven hundred and fifty years ago. The memorial tablet for the demon crowds was filled with beings, and they were among them. The relationship between spirits allows me to naturally identify those connected to me; it is a subtle form of telepathy. I saw several fellow monks who had secretly helped me when I was framed. They were wearing the monastic robes of that time, but their complexions were poor—they appeared as ghost realm beings. At the time, my heart was filled with such hatred that I had forgotten this. Seeing them now brought back those memories, and I could not help but kneel on the lotus seat in the Dharma-Nature Land, two lines of hot tears streaming down my face! I had forgotten how to cry; when I was framed, my tears had run dry, and I had not wept since. I never expected that I would shed tears of gratitude at this moment. I could not help but press my palms together and join everyone in loudly chanting the Buddha-name, sincerely hoping that the immeasurable and boundless beings and my fellow monks could be compassionately led by Namo Amituofo to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. I believe this must be so; they must already be in the West now!

Now that I have shed my demon body and transformed into a monastic, I will continue to practice on the Buddha's path. Following the footsteps of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su, I will continue to realize the unfulfilled wish of the young monk whose life ended at thirty, and I will strive to attain the Buddha-body soon. I believe that here, the Buddha and Practitioner Su will certainly help me fulfill this wish. Namo Amituofo."