From the Demon Path to the Buddha's Path

This is a record of an interview with the spirit known as Shi Benyang, who sought Spiritual Deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. Formerly known as the 'Eye-Hating Demon' for his interference with Practitioner Su's eyes, he now resides within the Buddha-land. This testimony was recorded by the chief writer, Venerable Shi Faxin, on April 18, 2022.

Shi Benyang (the Eye-Hating Demon) speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. The power of Namo Amituofo is truly worthy of my deepest praise. The 'Universal Buddha'—the Dharma Body that permeates all realms—is a reality, and Practitioner Su is the greatest living testament to this truth. Opening up the universe in this way has allowed me to witness the countless, diverse manifestations of existence. Looking across the vastness of the cosmos, I realise that my own spirit is but a tiny, insignificant particle. The number of lives within the universe is beyond calculation, and they are divided between Goodness and evil. When Goodness outweighs evil, a spirit dwells within the path of Goodness; when evil outweighs Goodness, the spirit falls into the demon path, the evil realms, or even suffers karmic retribution. The difference between Goodness and evil lies entirely in the mental note of the present moment."

A Transformation Beyond Imagination

"I, Benyang, never once imagined that I could one day turn away from the demon path and enter the Buddha's path. My stubborn personality was completely unable to manifest itself within the Buddha-land. The Dharma and Truth spoken by Practitioner Su went straight into my heart, forcing me to reflect deeply upon who I have been from the past until now.

In the past, I was always accustomed to listening only to myself, driven by intense ego and subjective views. Now, however, I see things differently. I see so many spaces before me, and in every single one of them, there exist sentient beings—dense, crowded, and beyond all counting."

The Reality of the Demon Realms

"Back when I was in the Demon Realm, I used to wander through different spaces on my own several times. On a few occasions, I accidentally trespassed into the territories of other demon crowds. I was immediately surrounded by swarms of demons who demanded to know my purpose. I told them I was merely passing through and had no other intentions. They did not believe me, for so many demons had previously intruded under the guise of 'passing through' only to seize territory. Wars between demon factions are common occurrences. I had to lower my own demonic aura to the absolute minimum to make them believe my words. In truth, demons are not so different from beings in the human world; the biggest difference is simply that certain aspects of a demon's personality are far more intense. Looking at it now, 'demon' is merely a label; in reality, every being is a mixture of both Goodness and evil."

The Power of Equality and Sincerity

"After listening to several Dharma lectures, I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have come here. What I feel in this place is equality, and the most important element within that equality is sincerity. It is this heart of equality that can subdue so many demon crowds under the power of the Truth. In reality, every demon who commits evil acts possesses a fragile heart underneath. Upon arriving at the Buddha-land, this fragile heart finds purification and understanding. Seeing so many Bodhisattvas of the universe who have transformed from demons—each with a different face, yet all so purified—I can truly say that 'Appearance arises from the mind.'"

The Endless Flow of Deliverance

"I have been observing the activities of the Buddha-land. Every day, sentient beings from all directions pour in continuously. Because the scope of Practitioner Su's spiritual deliverance has become wider and more expansive, the number of beings following the path to listen to the Dharma continues to grow.

Last week, for several days, the temple was surrounded by clouds and mist. Within that mist were countless beings, many wearing tattered clothing or suffering from broken, mangled limbs. All kinds of creatures came seeking Spiritual Deliverance. The Venerables compassionately wrote memorial tablets, and Practitioner Su used spiritual deliverance to help them. When the light of deliverance arrived, many of these beings knelt and wept; it was a scene of profound, moving emotion.

During the Dharma assembly, everyone stood in orderly rows, chanting the Buddha-name in unison. The sound of the Buddha-name pierced through the void, spreading across space and opening up countless dimensions. I tried with my own eyes to keep up with the speed of the deliverance, but the entire space was shifting so rapidly that I could not keep pace. When the Dharma Body traverses these realms, wherever it reaches, the space is constantly receiving beings. Seeing hope, these beings flock toward the light.

In my heart, Benyang has always held a small wish: that all that is bad may turn into Goodness. The entire void has become different because of this deliverance. Although there are still countless spaces in the universe, Practitioner Su has truly turned the impossible into the possible, forging karmic connections of Goodness with countless realms. These seeds of Goodness, these seeds of the Buddha, have already been scattered throughout the void. More and more beings will be saved, for Practitioner Su is constantly cultivating new talent. Soaring through the void, with an endless body of light—the Buddha's skills are truly the 'Universal Buddha,' with a compassion that broadly embraces endless beings. Namo Amituofo."