The Confession of a Heart Demon

This is a record of an interview with the spirit known as Demon Yi-fang, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He recounts his existence as a Heart Demon and his role in the global pandemic, eventually finding redemption through the teachings of Practitioner Su. Recorded by the disciple Shi Hailiang on March 13, 2020.

Demon Yi-fang speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am the Heart Demon that dwells within. When you speak of the heart, it is unfathomable—deep, dark, and capable of reaching the absolute depths of depravity. Those with a good heart become Buddhas, while those with an evil heart are called demons. Humanity fears nothing more than having their hearts laid bare, for the heart is a kaleidoscope of shifting intentions that even humans themselves cannot master. My greatest strength, as Demon Yi-fang, is the ability to see through every single heart. My conclusions always return to the same roots: selfishness, fear of death, greed, and jealousy. The most pathetic aspect of all is the endless, frantic pursuit of mental notes—there are simply too many thoughts, and they move too fast for the human mind to keep up. This is why my sphere of control is so vast. The greedier a person is, the tighter I grip them. The more selfish they are, the more space I provide, allowing them to indulge until they are easily ensnared by my influence.

The Anatomy of a Heart Demon

Those who are impatient and restless are already trapping themselves; it is effortless for me to seize them and plunge them into panic and insecurity. Let me tell you the truth: those in positions of power and authority are the easiest to control. Why? Because they fear failure. They are obsessed with gain and loss, terrified of making a single mistake. The moment they desire something, they have already surrendered to me. I am the Heart Demon. They can try to avoid me, or they can pretend I do not exist, but that is only because they refuse to truly face themselves. Everyone possesses a demon nature. As long as there is an evil thought, a desire, or a ripple of agitation, that is the moment I invade. I am not truly terrifying; what is terrifying are those who sell their own conscience and lose the ability to be the master of their own lives. This recent pandemic was specifically designed to seek out those who had sold their conscience in the past. Fear of death is the greatest fear of all humanity. From the moment I became a demon until now, I have never failed, because the human heart is more treacherous than the Truths of the universe, and each person receives the retribution they deserve. The Heart Demon hides in the depths of every person's heart.

The Encounter with Practitioner Su

Today, however, I met with a monumental rejection. In this world, in this entire universe, there exists someone who is 'heartless'—and this leaves me, a Heart Demon, with nowhere to go! In the Demon Realm, I have often heard of a supreme, virtuous demon-subduer in the human world named Practitioner Su. Today, I rushed here to see his true face. I discovered he has a powerful protector: the most compassionate Namo Amituofo. I looked closely at his radiance, circling all around him, and realised that he is indeed Practitioner Su. No one can touch him. He has no 'heart' in the way I understand it; I can only say he is a Buddha, as compassionate as a Buddha, and completely devoid of the selfish heart I feed upon. I have finally met my match. I could control the leaders of the entire world, but after listening to Practitioner Su give Dharma talks, I saw him unravel the demon-hearts of all who listened. As long as those who hear his teachings truly change, our Heart Demon codes are completely broken by Practitioner Su. What am I to do? This pandemic was the moment our Heart Demon influence could have been at its peak, as humanity feared death—the loss of family, wealth, and fame. But now, I must admit defeat. I surrender. I bow before him.

A King’s Ambition and the Pact

During the Warring States period, I was a feudal lord. I governed land and civilians in a small state, but I was born with a domineering nature. I was easily angered and impatient from a young age. In my quest to expand my territory, I decided to invade neighbouring states, seizing their land through war. Gradually, I became a great power, but my ambition grew until my desires could no longer be satisfied. I declared myself King. I began to fill my palace with consorts and maids, trying to satisfy my competitive desires, yet I always felt a hollow void in my heart. By middle age, my body began to change. My strength waned, and I fell ill. I was only fifty-one. Every day, I pondered how to change my situation. I did not want to spend my whole life struggling only to grow old and wait for death. I locked myself in my sleeping quarters, ignoring all state affairs, trying to find a way out. The more I thought, the more my head felt like it would explode. My heart was knotted in agony. I could not take it anymore. I screamed, flew into a rage, and smashed everything in sight. I had gone mad. I realised that everything I had done since birth was slipping through my fingers. I shouted at the top of my lungs: 'Who can help me!' At that moment, a massive voice responded from within my heart: 'Hahahaha! Let me help you! I can satisfy all your desires, make you healthy and young, and ensure you never age. Everything in this world can be yours to enjoy. There is only one condition: you must listen to me.' I hurriedly asked: 'Who are you? I agree to your terms! Who are you? Where are you? I want to see you.' He replied: 'Shh! Shh! I am in your heart. I am the Heart Demon, and I share your name. Only you and I know this. We can talk at any time, and no one will ever know, nor do they need to know.'

The Final Descent

I suddenly snapped back to reality. Was I dreaming? No, it was real. I whispered: 'Are you there?' He replied: 'I am! Do you need something?' I asked: 'What do I do next?' He told me to make changes, and he would naturally guide me, for he was in my heart, following me like a shadow. I began to change. Every day I was full of energy; I walked with a light step and felt invigorated. I satisfied every desire I had. My consorts began to look at me with adoration, and my ministers were in awe of my Wisdom and judgment. I lived in harmony with the Heart Demon within. Until one day, during court, an official reported that a neighbouring king was known for his benevolence and universal love. The moment I heard the official praising him, jealousy flared in my heart. I flew into a rage, shocking all my ministers. I immediately shouted: 'Dismissed!' I retreated to my chambers, locked the door, and demanded: 'Come out! Why did it turn out like this today?' I was talking to myself. 'You know why!' the demon replied. 'Because you are jealous. Because you cannot stand that someone is better than you. You cannot take it, and neither can I.' My heart went mad again. I grabbed wine and drank it down, roaring and screaming, 'I must control everything!' The Heart Demon appeared again, but this time he said nothing. I forced him to come out, clenching my fists and pounding my chest rapidly. 'Come out! Heart Demon, come out and explain yourself!' He still did not respond. I hit myself harder and harder until I vomited blood and collapsed. My breathing became laboured. I wanted to cry out: 'Someone help!' but I could not. I stopped breathing. I died. But my spirit was incredibly clear. I was sucked away by an energy in the universe, and I became a Heart Demon of the cosmos.

A New Path: From Demon to Disciple

After entering the Demon Realm, I did whatever I wanted. Having been a king, I was intimately familiar with the hearts of those who craved power, fame, and fortune. Naturally, I controlled humans who shared my habits and personality. It is quite unique—being a Heart Demon in the universe is a very busy business. This pandemic gathered demon kings from all realms because it was summoned by the habits and karma of humanity—just like my own experience: the love of power, selfishness, and the fear of death. To become a Demon King in the Demon Realm, one must possess immense destructive power.

I am Demon Yi-fang—the Heart Demon. I am the most powerful Heart Demon in the universe. Coming here and seeing Practitioner Su, and listening to his Dharma talks, I finally realised that there is a salvation team in the universe, led by Practitioner Su. The Buddha’s teachings he speaks of are education—they counsel the heart to be good, to do good, to be ageless and immortal. It is not superstition. If I had met him back then, I would never have fallen into the Demon Realm. Now I understand the Truth of the universe: we demons also have the opportunity to become a Buddha. As long as we follow Namo Amituofo and learn from Practitioner Su, we have a chance. I have made the wisest decision: I take refuge in the Buddha’s gate and rely on Namo Amituofo. I do not want to be a Heart Demon anymore. I will learn from the Buddha and learn from Practitioner Su how to be 'heartless'—to have no selfish heart, only the desire to save the world.

Disciple Hailiang: Disciple asks the Buddha, now that Demon Yi-fang has taken refuge in the Buddha’s gate, may the Buddha please bestow a Dharma name upon him.

Words of Namo Amituofo: Name him Shi Cixin.

Namo Amituofo."