The Ancient Demon’s Long Journey Home

This is a record of an interview with Mo Yuping (Dharma name: Shi Guiyuan), an ancient demon who has existed for 35.2 billion years. He sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia and now resides in the Western Land of Dharma Nature. This account reflects upon his existence across the cosmos. Recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe, on December 31, 2023.

Mo Yuping speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Mo Yuping. I know that the figure—thirty-five point two billion years—piques everyone's interest. People wonder, 'Can a demon really exist for that long? Have the laws of karma and cause and effect never caught up with you?' It is not quite that simple.

It is true that this duration is not short. I have witnessed the rise and fall of countless stars and galaxies across the universe, and so many bitter, sorrowful events have simply become part of the past. Because of this, I now choose to desire nothing and to know nothing. Even if I perform an action, I do not dwell on it. Why overthink? Everything is empty. This is my way of life; it is the best way to pass the time. It is not that the laws of karma and cause and effect have never come knocking at my door, but perhaps I have been lucky. I have always found a way to survive one demonic tribulation after another. Many of my partners and close friends have vanished in the midst of various demonic affairs, each meeting different causes and consequences. If one vanishes because they have been seized by the laws of karma and cause and effect, you can imagine that the days ahead are not pleasant. There are only two words to describe it: extreme suffering.

The Art of Survival in the Cosmos

In truth, we ancient demons are quite advanced in age. Do you think we are unaware of the laws of karma and cause and effect? But knowing them, what can we do? We cannot escape them, but through the cultivation of skills, we can temporarily hide from them. In a deep meditative state, I could make my breathing so faint that it was almost non-existent. I could reach a state where I felt no fluctuations at all, and that is how I survived for thirty-five point two billion years. The core principles are very simple; it all depends on whether you can hold your ground. If you can hold it, you might live this long. If you cannot, then naturally, you are easily captured.

Now that I am here, you must understand that this is a Buddha-land. A Buddha-land is not an ordinary place of practice. Wherever a Buddha resides, there are demon crowds acting as Dharma protectors. This is the true nature of a Buddha appearing in the world. No demon would be foolish enough to strike a stone with an egg; if you strike a stone with an egg, you are naturally shattered into pieces. Fortunately, Practitioner Su is of extreme compassion. He does not let us be shattered; instead, he leaves us a way out—a path to survival. In these thirty-five point two billion years, the last time I showed my face was ten billion years ago. To be blunt, I have been in a deep meditative state for nearly ten billion years, so I actually knew what needed to be done next. Naturally, I knew about Practitioner Su. Those who are clever will surrender directly; those who are stubborn will simply repeat the same mistakes, walking the same paths that previous demon crowds have trodden. After all, since everyone is at the temple, one must abide by the rules of the temple, both large and small. You cannot act recklessly, thinking that you can just drift through the days without consequence. That is called delusion; the laws of karma and cause and effect do not work that way.

The Work of a Demon

I imagine you are all curious about what I have been doing for these thirty-five point two billion years? To put it plainly, I treated demonic affairs as a job. Work and life can be integrated into one, but they can also be viewed separately. In the beginning, my life and work in the Demon Realm were fused together, day and night. After doing this for a long time, having seen so many sudden events—some tragic, some deeply memorable, and some surprisingly warm—I changed. However, for a demon, warmth is not a good thing because it softens your heart and makes it impossible for you to strike. Therefore, one must always have a protective wall to shield oneself, preventing one's good roots from being revealed. Otherwise, it becomes your weakness; others can attack you, and you become the weak one. Because I protected myself so well, I was able to live for so long. Eventually, my demonic work and my true self became separate.

During that middle period, when my life and work were fused, it was a life-or-death struggle. Once I had secured a place for myself and solidified my position, I would sometimes look back at the past and suddenly feel a sense of hesitation. But I could not show it, so I had to retreat slightly. At that time, my 'work' meant that when I was performing demonic acts, I would display that well-defended side of myself—I was a demon, and I was excellent at being a demon. But when I was not working, when I was quiet, a faint voice would tell me: 'Continue like this.' If I did not want to, I would do less demonic work and give myself more time. What did I do with that time? Because I knew my sins were heavy, I wanted nothing and did nothing—I simply entered samadhi!

A Turning Point in the Dharma

My ability to enter samadhi was gained from a Great Virtuous One of the Buddha’s teachings. This Great Virtuous One would not remember me, but I remember him so clearly because he changed my life. I am able to live this long because of his blessing. He allowed me to see clearly the things I had done in the past and the harm I had caused others. He taught me what repenting and reflection truly mean. During the time I spent with him, I was a student who received teachings and was very obedient. I knew I was a demon and he was a Buddha, so I learned from him with the same mindset I used to learn in the Demon Realm. It was then that I discovered I was actually quite studious and possessed good roots. During the time I learned from him, he taught me how to let go of myself, let go of the past, focus on the present, and adjust my heart and spirit. In fact, the state of the body, mind, and spirit was already proposed in the Buddha’s teachings at that time, but many later masters did not have the opportunity to spread this knowledge about spirits to the public, leaving the 'spirit' aspect shrouded in mist for humanity. When a human spirit is in a clear state, it is united with the heart and body; but once one falls asleep, one does not know what the spirit is doing. Over a long period, people have accumulated a lack of understanding that they possess a spirit, and they do not know how to face it. They only have some recognition through the Buddha’s teachings and religion. However, to avoid people mixing the true meaning of the Buddha’s teachings with other demonic beings, the topic of the spirit was rarely mentioned.

Today, I know that Practitioner Su has a profound understanding of the spiritual realms and the human spirit. That is why he is spreading this knowledge widely now. Although some people lack the karmic fortune to listen, for us demons, it is truly wonderful to hear. It is rare to hear humans discuss the spirit so deeply, because we ourselves are spirits—and we are spirits of extreme evil, known as demons! To be a demon who has lived for so long—not just an old demon of over a billion years, but a combination of an old demon and an ancient demon of over ten billion years—is truly not easy! I know there are a few other ancient demons like me in the universe, but I have not bothered to check where they have scattered. This, too, is something I have had to let go of. Although we once fought together in the Demon Realm and later occupied our own territories, I do not know if they are still around now that I have awakened. I do not know if they have the same karmic fortune as I do. Why do I call it karmic fortune? To encounter two Buddhas—if that is not karmic fortune, what is?

"Sometimes I can foresee the future, yet the dramatic turns in my own life were something I never anticipated. It is a source of great regret for me. That connection of Dharma affinity from over thirty billion years ago—who would have thought it would still exist? You might say it is hard to believe, yet it happened to me. The words of the Buddha are so incredibly profound, and my own experience serves as a testament to them. If I recall correctly, the teaching says: 'Even after a hundred or a thousand kalpas, the karma one has created does not vanish; when the causal conditions meet, one must bear the fruits of that karma themselves.' After more than thirty billion years, to actually encounter that great virtuous one again—it perfectly validates this truth. Fortunately, the connection I formed with that great being back then was one of Goodness, which allowed my life in the Demon Realm to reach a positive conclusion rather than one of extreme, retributive suffering. This is truly a stroke of immense fortune!"

A Glimmer of Goodness in the Dark

"I know that when you hear of my thirty-billion-year history in the Demon Realm, you understand how heavy my sins must be. It is indeed true. In the past, for the sake of survival and driven by a competitive, combative nature, I harmed many planets and countless lives. It was only when I realised I should stop that a glimmer of my original, kind heart emerged. That was the moment I formed the intention to change, and I acted upon it. I handed over all matters to the demon crowds beneath me, letting go of everything myself. I wanted to leave the Demon Realm behind, so I sought a quiet place. There are many such places in the universe; it just depends on whether you can find one that matches your own energy field. And I did find one! It was a wonderful, secluded place, not easily discovered. Of course, my skills in entering samadhi were also quite formidable, ensuring that no other beings—not even the demon crowds—could track me down. So, although my tenure in the Demon Realm was long, for the last twenty billion years or so, I remained almost entirely in a deep meditative state, untouched by demonic affairs. This, too, was my good fortune."

The Call of the Buddha-Light

"During those days, I would occasionally emerge to see if anything had changed between the planets and sentient beings after such a long time. I always felt I needed to know. So, whenever I did appear, I would inevitably come to Earth to take a look. For this small, beautiful planet, the cleaner and purer the environment, the easier it is to nurture beings who are as pure and wise as oneself. This time, I received a massive influx of mental notes released into space—a shockwave caused by Practitioner Su in the Demon Realm. Under the constant pressure of these mental notes, I stepped forward. Many demon crowds, even the old and ancient demons, did not recognise me. That is fine; I am nothing special, just a spirit still living in the Demon Realm. Many old and ancient demons, far more senior than I or on par with me, had long since been seized by the laws of karma and cause and effect. I was merely lucky enough to survive until today, and even luckier to encounter two Buddhas who could save me."

A Rare Blessing in Australia

"In the current environment, encountering the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is truly an extraordinary thing, especially here in Australia. It is no small feat for Practitioner Su to have survived here for so long, navigating different languages, lifestyles, and dietary habits. I also know that the holy Namo Amituofo has truly manifested at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, and at that moment, all doubt vanished from my heart. If these two were not doing something to help save sentient beings, it would be a great pity; it is certain that they will help all beings. Currently, the Demon Realm—including the demon kings, demon children, and demon grandchildren—does not understand how precious the current situation of the demon crowds is! I know many old and ancient demons have issued appeals, hoping to guide everyone on what to do. But for the new generation of demon children and grandchildren, and even the middle-generation demon kings, some are not just unaware of what Practitioner Su is doing; they are suspicious or hold other perceptions. They do not realise what a massive blessing this is! So, I decided to bring them here to see for themselves."

Seeing is Believing

"Many demon crowds who came here before were subdued, but many who did not come still do not understand the difference between a Buddha and a demon. If you try to preach to them, many cannot listen or do not want to listen; they lack the meditative concentration to take it in, especially the new generation of demon children and grandchildren. So, 'hearing a hundred times is not as good as seeing once.' I brought them to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, and as for what happens next, they must take responsibility for themselves. I have said what I could; everyone is a Buddha, it is just a matter of whether they have seen the world and whether they have had the experience of encountering a Buddha. The things I have said in this interview are things I have never spoken of before. I have not said much, but I have touched upon the essentials. If they are willing to listen, that is good. If I do not speak and they do not want to listen, then the affinity is exhausted. There is no such thing as emotion in the Demon Realm; when the affinity ends, it ends."

The Radiance of the Buddha

"Before even entering the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, one can see the Buddha-light piercing through to the outer heavens. This is rare; only the Buddha's light has such power. Bodhisattvas, ordinary people, or those who can become Buddhas under the Buddha's teachings all possess good roots from past lives. This is why the senior veterans in the temple have been able to stay, even though some have already departed. The place where I lived was very quiet. These are things I knew just by entering a deep meditative state slightly before deciding to come here; it was very easy. I suddenly remembered the great virtuous one who taught me back then saying: 'The Buddha’s teachings can allow you to see things clearly in a deep meditative state, but that is not for you to find comfort in that state.' I understood then, so I emerged from my meditative state and set out. The Buddha’s teachings must be integrated into daily life."

A Moment of Humility

"In short, everyone was astonished when they saw the Buddha-light! I introduced it to them: 'This is the Buddha-light. The difference between it and us demon crowds is that the Buddha-light is so bright and pure that it can pierce through to the horizon.' They replied: 'Ancient Demon, isn't your demonic light like this too? We saw your demonic light shining far away when you came out this time; we saw it from the closest distance.' The old demons quickly interjected: 'Ancient Demon, our apologies! The demon kings or demon children and grandchildren taught by us old demons are unruly, lacking in proportion and respect. Sometimes their speech, expressions, and personalities are very infuriating. Please, forgive them.' I smiled and said: 'It does not matter!'"

Repentance and Tears

"Well, after entering the temple and seeing the appearance of the Buddha, I told my demon children and grandchildren: 'This is the Buddha; it is truly Namo Amituofo.' Although I had heard of the Buddha long ago, this was my first time seeing one. It was truly dignified and awe-inspiring. I could not help but kneel and prostrate to the Buddha along with everyone else, repenting for my body full of sins. I did not expect the Buddha to smile at me. It made me feel so ashamed that I could not help but shed tears! This Buddha-light and the Buddha's smile seemed to be washing away the dust on my heart and my body full of sins, and many of them were cleared away in those falling teardrops."

A Debt of Gratitude

"Seeing me like this, they had no choice but to follow me and kneel to perform three prostrations. I noticed that some of the old demons also had tears hanging on their faces. Perhaps this is the power of the Buddha’s compassion, allowing the kindness that had been covered up in our hearts to manifest. Because demons do not shed tears; if they do, they must not let other demon crowds see. If seen, one would have no status left and would be thoroughly treated as a weakling with no chance of turning things around. Therefore, the gratitude toward the Buddha was a feeling deeply hidden in the bottom of my heart."

The Master and the Disciple

"Afterwards, I met Practitioner Su. I do not know if you noticed, but several times when I mentioned Practitioner Su earlier, I involuntarily called him 'Lay Practitioner Su'? At that time, he was using the identity of a lay practitioner to save sentient beings with karmic affinity—whether they were humans, demon crowds, animals, or even celestial beings; as long as they had affinity, they were the objects of his teaching. And now, the Practitioner Su I see is still teaching sentient beings, and he is so compassionate, performing Chao Du for so many demon crowds. Some have a connection to me, and I bless them to live a life of turning over a new leaf in the Dharma-Nature Land; others have no connection to me, and I bless them too. They must have done good deeds in the past to have the possibility of encountering Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su today. Actually, every word I have said is very precious, because I have never confessed so directly and frankly before. In the Demon Realm, this would be seen as a sign of weakness. An ancient demon must at least maintain some status! Everyone is watching your every move."

A Final Blessing

"I want to thank Practitioner Su a thousand times over. Practitioner Su might think: 'What connection do I have with you? You, this ancient demon, must have done all kinds of evil; what could you have to do with me?' Because the great virtuous one who led me back then is none other than the current Practitioner Su! So, when I saw Practitioner Su, I also knelt and performed three kowtows, because a master-disciple connection from thirty billion years ago saved the me of today! At that time, I was also a demon, but I put down my demonic identity and, as a spiritual being, followed Practitioner Su to travel everywhere, teaching everywhere. He taught the Dharma, and I listened to the Dharma. So, I have applied the label of 'master-disciple connection' to myself; it is easier to explain. Perhaps I should say 'believer,' because I am not a monastic, so I am not qualified to call myself a disciple. Can I be considered a believer? That Dharma affinity from back then allowed me to end my thirty-billion-year history in the Demon Realm in the hands of Practitioner Su today. I am truly grateful!"

Entering the Dharma-Nature Land

"When I knelt down, Practitioner Su was busy in the air, leading many demon crowds into the light. He was using his manifestation to subdue the demon crowds in the sky, sweeping the entire field with the Twelve Lights. Almost none of those touched by the light would return to the Demon Realm; they could only go to the Dharma-Nature Land of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. I knelt for a while, and everyone knelt with me. We were all simultaneously illuminated by the Buddha-light released by Practitioner Su, which not only shone upon my spirit but also shone open my heart. I chanted 'Namo Amituofo' and was then sent into the Dharma-Nature Land."

Mo Yuping

The Buddha gave Mo Yuping the Dharma name "Shi Guiyuan" (Returning to the Original).

Reflections of Shi Guiyuan (Mo Yuping) after participating in the Thrice Yearning Ceremony.

"Once delivered to the Western Land of Dharma Nature, one can naturally observe the proceedings of the Dharma assembly and witness how Practitioner Su performs the deliverance. Practitioner Su truly displays his full capabilities in saving the demon crowds. He freely utilizes his spiritual power, even when they attack him, cast spells to make him dizzy, blur his vision, or make his legs feel so heavy and leaden that he can barely move. Even in such conditions, he continues to deliver the demon crowds because he possesses the compassion of a Buddha—a heart dedicated to saving both demons and all sentient beings.

The Miracle of the Twelve Lights

Practitioner Su delivers everything. Although his primary focus is the demon crowds, every being illuminated by these Twelve Lights comes back to life. It is not easy for spiritual beings to be revived or awakened; it requires constant infusion of energy. In the spiritual realms, most beings exist in a state of darkness. Only high-level spirits can maintain a state of light, as they possess the purification to continuously generate endless energy to sustain that radiance. For the vast majority of vulnerable spiritual beings, they lack the ability to revive themselves. Even high-quality spiritual beings can only maintain their current state. Therefore, these Twelve Lights are truly a supreme grace. They descend from the heavens, reach the ground, and penetrate deep into the earth, allowing all beings to receive the grace of the Buddha-light and return to life. Once revived, they hear the Buddha-name of Namo Amituofo. With the infusion of these two energies, they can elevate their spirituality and receive deliverance! This is why there is a miracle at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre: beings can be delivered to the heavenly realms, the human world, or, for those who chant the Buddha's name, to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, without having to return to the ghost realm or the lower realms. This is no easy feat!

A Vision Beyond the Physical

In the current world, which is shrouded in gloom, the ability to receive the energy of this light is a supreme grace for the spiritual realms! It is a great pity that the human world cannot see this light, and thus they remain unaware of the many things happening here. If these accounts were not written down or spoken of, the human physical eyes would only see a peaceful plot of land with a temple, a Practitioner Su, monastics, and Buddha statues. Only those who have practiced purification and have 'open eyes' can see that this place is not only peaceful but also filled with radiance. They know that such light is rare and are willing to stay here. Only those at the higher levels of the spiritual realms have the ability to see the Buddha.

The Ancient Demon's Confession

As for us in the Demon Realm, I, this ancient demon, can be considered a top-tier demon. One must have true attainment to survive until now. One of my skills is that my eyes can penetrate space. This space is not limited to the Demon Realm or the Buddha's path; I can penetrate many spaces—the bad, the evil, the extremely evil, the good, the virtuous, and the extremely virtuous—all can be seen. Therefore, when I came here, I could see Amitabha Buddha, and I could also see that Practitioner Su was the benefactor who saved me in the past. In truth, I knew this before I even entered the temple. Now that I have seen him, my heart is filled with deep emotion. If not for that past encounter, I would not be alive today; I would likely have been seized by the laws of karma and cause and effect long ago to suffer retribution. I am very clear about the retribution for demon crowds, especially for old demons and ancient demons. Furthermore, for an ancient demon, it should mean being unable to be delivered for eternity, much like being trapped in the Avici Hell forever. There are such places in the Demon Realm, and the suffering endured there is suffering upon suffering—extreme suffering! I usually do not touch upon these matters; once stirred, my heart becomes chaotic. So, I do not dwell on them; I just watch the changes as they come. I do not want to think about it. Now that I have met Practitioner Su, the past has surfaced, and only now do I dare to face my history and the retribution I would have faced. The gratitude and being stirred in my heart are beyond words! If not for Su manifesting in the world, or if not for Practitioner Su's bold and resolute subduing of the demon crowds this time, I would not be here to appear and surrender.

A Final Plea to the Demon Crowds

It is because I can see the scenes of the Thrice Yearning Ceremony that I have come to realize the radiance of the Twelve Lights of the Buddha. Therefore, I solemnly tell all you demon crowds, ancient demons, old demons, or demon kings, demon children, and demon grandchildren: the Twelve Lights of the Buddha are a great grace for the demon crowds.

My experience is but one or two instances; there are too many cruel things I have done, such as harming others until not even their bones remained. Perhaps you, too, have done such things. If we bring them up and dwell on them, it will only increase our own sins. Since that is the case, now that there is this opportunity to surrender, then surrender! Do not hold on any longer; you will never encounter such an opportunity again. It took me over thirty billion years to encounter this once. So, I ask you, how many more thirty-billion-year cycles do you have to wait? When the laws of karma and cause and effect manifest and you are pulled away by the gravitational force of the universal principle, you will call to the heavens and receive no response, and call to the earth and receive no answer. Without Practitioner Su, and without this connection to Amitabha Buddha, there will be no one to save you. Therefore, those of you who are currently casting spells or attacking the body, stop immediately! Although the consequence of casting spells and attacking the body will also lead you to the Western Land of Dharma Nature, every thought and intention in the Buddha's teachings is considered creating karma. What you are doing is negative karma, and you are trying to harm Practitioner Su. To harm the Buddha-body is a sin upon sins. Stop immediately; do not do it anymore!

Of course, for the ancient demons and old demons that I, Mo Yuping, belong to, this is exactly what you must do! If you can still listen to what I say, do not do any more meaningless things that only exhaust your own energy. Just take the path of surrender! I have given very clear and explicit instructions; you should all be able to hear them. As for whether you will do it after hearing this? I have no opportunity to ask; it depends on whether you can awaken your Wisdom now. This Wisdom is not the 'wisdom' of doing evil that demon crowds speak of, but the Wisdom to treat yourself with Goodness. Without surrendering, it is impossible for demon crowds to turn their lives around. The laws of karma and cause and effect are recorded very clearly, point by point. Everything must be repaid; no one can take your place. It is very painful, very painful.

Therefore, I ask everyone to bring forth your own Goodness and Wisdom to treat yourselves well, and to accept and seize this great opportunity for surrender that Amitabha Buddha and Practitioner Su have gifted to the demon crowds. I, Mo Yuping, have spoken so clearly; whether you will follow suit depends on your own choice.

Blessings to all!

Shi Guiyuan"