From Demon Melodies to the Sound of Buddha

This is a record of an interview with the being known as Youqin, a Demon King who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. This account reflects upon his transformation from a master of malevolent sound to a practitioner of the Buddha’s teachings. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on May 3, 2022.

Demon King Youqin speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. My strings had never broken before. Not once. But that day, there was a sudden, sharp 'snap.' I stopped mid-motion, my fingers hovering over the instrument, my mind racing: 'What on earth has happened?'

In the Milky Way, no one could rival my demonic music. Whenever I plucked those strings, the resulting vibrations would instantly seize control of whatever I targeted. Planets that had drifted off course would be pulled further away, spiralling toward their inevitable destruction. I fed on the thoughts and desires of all beings across the stars. These were my two primary levers of control. Once I had a grip on those, it was nearly impossible for any being to escape my influence."

The Breaking of the Demon's String

"The moment that string snapped, I took flight. I had been standing on a planet within the galaxy, weaving my dark melodies to orchestrate its ruin. I was waiting for the final collapse, and then—my string was severed. Who could possibly possess the power to do such a thing?

I was consumed by rage. I used the remaining strings to strike out a chaotic, frantic melody—a sound imbued with immense demonic power. As I did, Demon Kings from every corner of the galaxy gathered around me. 'Demon King Youqin,' they asked, 'what has happened?' They all knew the potency of my music; when they heard such erratic, wild notes, they knew something monumental had occurred.

I demanded of them, 'Who broke my string?' They looked at one another, confusion etched on their faces. No one knew."

Tracing the Source of the Sound

"Just as I was about to lose my composure, one Demon King stepped forward. 'When you were playing,' he asked, 'was there anything unusual in the surroundings?' I thought for a moment and replied, 'In the distance, there was another wave of sound.' The Demon King immediately suggested, 'Perhaps that wave is what broke your string.'

I found it hard to believe. That sound had originated from a distance of fourteen million planets away. How could such a distant vibration possess the power to snap my string? I had to investigate. I had to see what kind of sound could carry such a devastating impact.

I waited in the void of the galaxy, my focus entirely on that distant resonance. I vowed that the moment it appeared again, I would fly straight toward it. No sooner had I formed the thought than the sound returned. I channelled my immense demonic power to propel myself toward the source. As I traversed the endless expanse of stars, the sound grew clearer and clearer. I could feel it—a wave of overwhelming energy."

The Encounter with Practitioner Su

"In a very short time, I reached the source. What I saw before me was a 'planetary being.' I did not know which world he hailed from, but his form was extraordinary. He moved through the galaxy, radiating a brilliant, golden light. Furthermore, the entire space was filled with a unique, melodic harmony. Looking at the waveform, I knew instantly: this was the exact energy that had broken my string. I was struck with awe. 'This is incredible!' I thought.

I watched him, mesmerised. He was unlike anything I had ever seen. I saw him guiding countless planetary beings toward the light. What was this light? Where were these spirits going? My mind was flooded with questions.

I continued to observe him. I found that this being appeared almost every day. I could see him in the galaxy, and I could feel that he was a 'being of Goodness'—he belonged to a different realm entirely from our demonic world. Yet, I witnessed a strange phenomenon: even though he was not of our kind, many Demon Kings were actively seeking him out. What was happening?"

The Secret of the Earthly Body

"I followed him, determined to uncover the truth. I trailed him to a specific planet, one I heard was called 'Earth.' Upon arriving, I was shocked to discover that the 'Earthling' I had seen in the galaxy was not the 'original.' When he returned to Earth, there was another body waiting for him—an identical physical form. This, I realised, was his true self.

I was astonished. I had no idea that an Earthling could possess such ability—to manifest a projection, enter the galaxy, and lead all those beings to liberation. In that moment of surprise, I decided I would follow this Earthling and learn his skills.

I hovered around his eyes, joining the many other Demon Kings already gathered there. One of them recognised me: 'We know you, Demon King Youqin. It is said you never leave your own domain. Why have you come to Earth?' I replied, 'My string broke. This had never happened before. I investigated and found it was this Earthling. He brought a powerful energy into the galaxy that snapped my string. I was doing "evil," and he represents the side of "Goodness." It was his energy of Goodness that broke my instrument and stopped me from disturbing the planets. This skill is truly remarkable, so I have come to study him and steal his techniques.'"

A Transformation of Sound

"Through the introductions of the other demons, I learned that the spiritual realms called this Earthling 'Practitioner Su.' I had never heard of the Buddha’s teachings, nor did I know what a Buddha was. But seeing Practitioner Su, I began to understand: a Buddha is someone with immense energy, someone who is Good, and someone who is willing and able to help all beings—even those of us from the demon realms. This was my own definition of 'Buddha,' based on my observations.

I lingered around Practitioner Su’s eyes, sometimes resting upon his very pupils. When I stayed there, everything I saw became 'Good' and pure. The world, as seen through his eyes, was entirely, perfectly pure.

While I was still observing, Practitioner Su discovered my presence. Along with the other demons, I was brought out. Now, we have all been sent to the Dharma-Nature Land. When I arrived and reached for my instrument, I found that the music produced by this broken-stringed lute was entirely different. The 'demonic' nature was gone. No matter how I played, the only sound that emerged was 'Namo Amituofo.' Every note carried a surge of energy.

This instrument is no longer a demonic lute; it is a lute imbued with Buddha-nature. I am filled with praise and joy, sitting upon my lotus seat, playing endlessly: 'Namo Amituofo, Namo Amituofo, Namo Amituofo...' I feel surrounded by boundless energy. The more I play, the happier I become, and the more energy I feel.

I am filled with joy, and I have decided to follow the Buddha forever. The Buddha has given me the Dharma name 'Shi Jingyin.' Namo Amituofo."