The Demon King's Repentance: From Plague to Peace

This is a record of an interview with Mo Ligang, 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 life approximately 1,600 years ago, during the Wei, Jin, and Southern and Northern Dynasties. Recorded by the disciple Shi Hailiang on March 11, 2020.

Mo Ligang speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Mo Ligang. Hahaha! I have finally joined this grand struggle to destroy humanity—a war I have been striving to wage for so long, all for the sake of revenge. You see, I was not always this way. Once, I was a young man full of ideals and lofty ambitions. In my era, becoming a government official was the highest honour, the most respected path one could take. I spent ten years studying by the light of a flickering candle, enduring the bitter cold of winter and the sweltering heat of summer, all to pass the imperial examinations. I succeeded, becoming the top scholar, and I was eager to serve the people and bring glory to my family name.

A Scholar's Rise and Fall

I worked with such diligence. I held the Emperor's own sword of authority and presided over many complex cases, clearing the names of nearly a thousand innocent people. When I returned to the capital to report to the Emperor, I was rewarded with promotions and high praise. I was young and unmarried, and the Grand Tutor of the imperial court even offered his daughter’s hand in marriage to me. For ten years, my career flourished. I had two sons and a daughter, and I was known for my courageous, outspoken advice in the court. But in my ignorance, I did not realise that I was offending many powerful people along the way.

It happened during an imperial victory banquet. I was poisoned. A week later, the symptoms began: piercing pain throughout my body, an unbearable itching, and these torments would strike at fixed, predictable times. I reported this to the Emperor, who sent the royal physicians to treat me. But heavens, the treatment only made it worse! My condition deteriorated rapidly. I spent my nights coughing until I could barely breathe, my body burned with fever, and soon, I was left completely without strength. A voice of rebellion stirred within my heart, whispering, 'I cannot die so easily! There is so much left undone!'"

The Physician's Cruel Experiment

"I decided to visit an old acquaintance, a retired physician, to beg for his help. When I arrived at his door, I was shocked. The eighty-year-old man had suddenly transformed into a withered, ancient-looking figure, appearing as if he were over a hundred years old. Yet, his spirit and the tone of his voice were remarkably vigorous. I soon learned why: he was obsessed with researching the origins of human illness. His home was filled with a foul, suffocating stench, but I was desperate for a cure and dared not ask questions. Only later did I discover that the jars lining his walls were filled with animals and toxic insects used as medicinal ingredients. I forced myself to act as if nothing were amiss and explained my condition to him.

The old physician agreed immediately, promising he could cure me. But there was a condition: I had to return every seven days so he could experiment with different medicinal ingredients and observe the changes within my body. To put it plainly, I had become a human test subject for his twisted research. For about half a month, my symptoms seemed to improve, but then I had to fulfil my end of the bargain. I became his living specimen. He possessed the most bizarre, terrifying instruments and concoctions. Sometimes he would force me to drink them; other times, he would smear them onto my skin. At times, it felt as if ten thousand insects were burrowing through my heart; at others, I felt as if I were trapped in a mountain of ice or engulfed in a raging inferno. Every time he finished his experiments on me, he would let out a wild, maniacal laugh. This cycle of torture continued for two years.

The Birth of a Demon King

"I was broken, my spirit shattered. One day, I drank the concoction he gave me in one desperate gulp. My internal organs felt as if they were being incinerated; my body was being torn apart. I lost consciousness, and that was the end. In my final moments, I was filled with nothing but resentment and a complete lack of understanding. I hated the people who had poisoned me, and I hated that physician with every fibre of my being. Suddenly, a force from the universe swept me away, and I entered the Demon Realm. I realised then that the medicine the old physician had used on me had all transformed into my 'demon children and grandchildren.' They possessed the ability to regenerate, and my power grew exponentially. I found I could easily control those who were sick or terrified of death, and my demon offspring would then amplify my energy even further.

So, whenever there was talk of healing or coughing, it would ignite my memories of that agony. With my intelligence and wisdom, I would sabotage their efforts, ensuring they felt the same unbearable suffering I had endured—crying out to the heavens with no response, begging the earth for mercy with no salvation. This became my joy. I had actually become a Demon King. When I heard in the universe about the pandemic intended to destroy humanity, I participated. I had waited over a thousand years for this! I was finally going to satisfy the hatred in my heart. I prepared to strike, bringing with me my demon children and grandchildren who shared my tragic history, intending to escalate the pandemic. But the one who led the charge, Zhou Chuanfu, was subdued. I had to see for myself what was happening.

Confronting the Light of Compassion

"I discovered that a person known as Practitioner Su was presiding over the situation. He was teaching the Infinite Life Sutra and sharing the words of Namo Amituofo. I saw that the entire space was packed with sentient beings. I stomped my feet in rage—how could one person suppress our momentum? But when I looked closer, I saw that within his aura was a Buddha. I saw his true Dharma Body, and it instantly softened the burning rage and injustice in my heart. This is what they call 'transforming through virtue.' Listening to his counsel, I became willing to set aside my disguise and my anger. I wanted to learn compassion. He awakened the seeds of Goodness within my heart.

I also heard about the case of Zhou Chuanfu and learned that those who had harmed him were suffering in the hells. I saw the old physician; he is currently suffering in the hells, enduring the brain-gouging hell and the hell of ten thousand insects burrowing through his heart. I saw the laws of karma and cause and effect he is receiving, and I decided I would no longer seek revenge. I, who once stood for justice and the people, realised that the salvation team led by Practitioner Su was the only path I truly wished to follow. We accepted Practitioner Su's invitation. From this moment on, I am willing to learn the Dharma, join the salvation team, and help save the world. If not for this Causal Condition, the negative karma I created as a demon would be impossible to repay. I am so grateful to the Buddha and to Practitioner Su. I, Mo Ligang, will lead my demon children and grandchildren to take refuge in the Buddha’s gate, repent of our sins, and join the salvation team."

"I, Shi Hailiang, respectfully ask the Buddha: Mo Ligang wishes to take refuge in the Buddha’s gate; please grant him a Dharma name."

Words of Namo Amituofo: "His name shall be Shi Shunde."

"Namo Amituofo."