The Demon Behind the Screen

This is a record of an interview with the demon who possessed and influenced Steve Jobs, conducted by the disciple Fa Xi at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. The interview took place on August 22, 2017. It reveals the tragic origins of a soul lost to vengeance and the complex, dark relationship between human desire and the technology that now defines our modern existence.

Disciple Fa Xi speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am here to speak with the demon who resided within the body of Steve Jobs. Please, tell me: why did you choose to create technology that so effectively seduces the human heart, leading the masses into such deep delusion?"

The Demon speaks:

"Because I felt like it. Is there any reason why I should not?"

The Architect of Digital Addiction

"Do you not feel the weight of your suffering while enduring retribution in the hells?" Fa Xi asked, his voice steady. "How can you remain so defiant? Is there truly no room in your heart for repenting?"

The demon let out a chilling, hollow laugh that seemed to vibrate through the air. "Suffering? You call this suffering? I am not suffering; I am simply waiting. I am biding my time until the day I can escape this place. And when I do, I will continue to control this world. Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!"

"What is your name?" Fa Xi continued. "And what drove you to invent technology specifically to interfere with the peace of this world?"

"Interference? What do you define as interference?" the demon sneered. "Are you not using technology yourself right now? Technology is incredibly seductive. It perfectly aligns with everyone's needs and completely satisfies their deepest desires. People cannot put these devices down—they are obsessed. So, why would you say I am wrong? I have not harmed anyone. In fact, I have helped this world. I have helped the Demon Realm. I created these things, and are people not happy with them? Let me tell you something: even though I am trapped here for the moment, my subordinates are everywhere. I am still here, but the moment I step out, I have even better ideas. I will spark a new wave of this 'wonderful' power. I have the capability. I am just waiting for the next useful 'meat skin' to inhabit. The last one is dead—a useless thing. He developed cancer and just fell apart. My creativity is far from exhausted. Once I stand up again, I will change this world forever."

A Past Life of Betrayal

Fa Xi looked at the entity with profound sadness. "You likely cannot leave your current place because you possess not even a shred of repenting. Why are you so intensely driven to do these things? What kind of person were you in your past life?"

"You do not need to concern yourself with who I was," the demon snapped. "I simply want to change this world using my own methods."

"You were a monastic, were you not?" Fa Xi pressed. "Your practice was quite advanced. Why did you allow yourself to fall so far? Why have you turned into an adversary of this world?"

The demon's tone shifted, becoming sharper, more defensive. "I do not want you to bring up those things. I do not need them. So what if my practice was good? I have my own abilities. I can change this world on my own. I waited a very long time for that 'meat skin'—Steve Jobs. I had used many other technology inventors before him, just to keep this game developing and growing."

The Mirror of Human Desire

"How long have you been waiting for him?" Fa Xi asked. "Were you two once fellow practitioners in the Chan school?"

The demon paused, a flicker of surprise in its voice. "You can actually see that? So what if we studied Buddhism? I ended up as a 'wicked disciple' cast out by the Buddha. I, too, once wanted to save this world and help people leave suffering behind. Since I now have to rely on my own power, I use my strength to create technology. Is that not also helping everyone leave suffering and gain happiness? Your own bodhimanda is filled with my creations!"

"Are you brothers?" Fa Xi asked. "What happened that caused you to change so drastically?"

"I did not change—he did!" the demon spat. "I was his younger brother. We were both monastics, and we both practised very well. I looked very much like my older brother. When we were monastics, my brother committed an unforgivable sin. I was foolish; I agreed to take the blame for him. But my brother feared I would regret it, so he assassinated me on the road. I died a miserable death by the roadside, and my brother framed me, making it look like I had committed suicide out of guilt. I became a sinner for all eternity. My brother used my identity to continue living in the world. It is so unfair! I have been waiting for eight hundred years. Finally, I found this clever, wicked man. I controlled him to complete the plan I held in my heart. I never wanted to hurt anyone; I only wanted to make everyone happier. I wanted them to live in a virtual world because reality is too painful. In the virtual world, there is infinite joy."

The Depth of Sins

"What happened back then?" Fa Xi asked. "What forced you to take the blame?"

"My brother came to me crying," the demon recounted, his voice dripping with bitterness. "He told me that in a moment of delusion and greed, he had killed the abbot. He said he truly did not mean to do it. He knew he had to die, and he was terrified. I was soft-hearted, so I agreed to carry his burden. I never expected him to betray me and frame me. Later, he became the abbot. I had practised well back then; I could leave my body at will for months at a time. I had long ago abandoned thoughts of life and death. Anyway, I am different now. The world has changed, and I have changed. Let me use my abilities to help everyone be happier."

"Your thinking is fundamentally flawed," Fa Xi countered. "The technology you created has not helped the world; it has completely destroyed the pure hearts of the people. Everyone is now lost in the cycle of your inventions. The sins you have accumulated are profound. You have no repenting—how do you intend to repay this debt?"

"Why should I repent?" the demon retorted. "I know everyone is addicted, but if they did not like it, they would not be addicted. You cannot blame me entirely. Human desire is so vast. The human heart is so deep. People pretend to be so virtuous in reality, but I helped create a virtual world where they can truly vent their feelings. In that virtual world, they show their true selves. I see that they love violence, adultery, and greed. These are all their own natures! How can you blame me? Humans are terrifying. I may be from the Demon Realm, but the human heart is far more terrifying than I could ever be."

The Final Discourse

"Namo Amituofo," Fa Xi sighed. "Do you truly believe you have made no mistakes?"

"None," the demon replied coldly.

"Then, have you seen our Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre here in Australia? Compared to this, do you not see that you have gone astray?"

"I know of you," the demon said. "I respect you, but our paths are different. We do not walk the same road."

"Namo Amituofo," Fa Xi lamented. "It is absolutely terrifying. Because of your own personality, you have damaged this world. Think of how many young children are now obsessed with these things. I humbly invite the Buddha to provide compassionate teachings."

Namo Amituofo's discourse:

"The fault of technology. Is there any reason to justify it? The creation of personality. Is there any reason to speak of it?

Past grievances. Buried the world in disaster. How many are lost in the burial? How can one live well?

Do not be stubborn. Since you have already received retribution. You should sincerely repent. Repent immediately.

You cannot leave now. If you do not save the world. If you do not correct your actions. The masses will be lost for a day.

And remain lost for eternity."

Namo Amituofo.