The Demon of Stubbornness: A Confession

This is a record of an interview with the spirit known as Demon Gangqiang, who once interfered with the eyes of Practitioner Su. He now resides in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, having been delivered through the compassion of the Buddha. This account reflects upon his long history of controlling human beings through the trait of stubbornness. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on April 4, 2023.

Demon Gangqiang speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Gangqiang. A person who is stubborn—someone who is 'strong-hearted'—will always hold onto their 'self' with an iron grip. They refuse to admit defeat, and they are terrified of being hurt. Yet, ironically, such people are the ones who suffer the most and are wounded the deepest. As a demon of stubbornness, I travelled from a space far beyond this Earth specifically to control humanity. My targets were always the same: those who are rigid, self-righteous, and stubbornly attached to their own views."

The Anatomy of a Stubborn Heart

"What kind of humans are susceptible to our control? It is precisely those who are 'strong-hearted'—the ones who think they are always right. Their hearts are not easily turned; they are hard, unyielding, and lack any softness. They are incredibly difficult to get along with because they cling to their own concepts and ideas. They refuse to compromise, standing firm on their own positions regardless of the cost. Controlling these people is remarkably easy for us. It is not just us demon crowds who manipulate them; their own karmic creditors are also constantly pulling at them, refusing to let go. They are under siege from within and without, every single moment of the day."

"We observe them clearly. When these people are being interfered with by their karmic creditors, their hearts become even more rigid. Because they do not understand the value of softness, and because they do not even realise they are being interfered with, they respond with an even harder, more aggressive attitude. This only serves to further enrage their karmic creditors. We demon crowds cleverly enter their bodies, forming a 'partnership' of sorts. We cooperate with their character—if they are rigid, we make them even more rigid. Our hearts are perfectly aligned. As for their karmic creditors, we cooperate with them too, because our ultimate goal is the same: to ensure these humans suffer. Do you see? We operate within their bodies with such precision that we perfectly fulfil our purpose. For us, it is a source of great achievement."

The Inevitable Path to Illness

"These stubborn individuals must eventually face the reality of illness. It is their own rigidity that triggers their karmic creditors to manifest sickness. They suffer from all kinds of ailments, but we see a high prevalence of issues in the head, the heart, and the digestive tract. In truth, many of these people do not want to be this way, but they cannot change themselves. Every cell in their body—especially the cells in their brain and heart—carries the mark of 'stubbornness'. This forms a powerful, destructive force that interferes with their Body-Mind-Spirit. No matter what situation they encounter, they naturally revert to being rigid. It is a state that is almost impossible to soften."

"You can find such people everywhere. Even within the Buddha’s gate, we see so many of them, and naturally, they are all under our control. Can a stubborn person achieve spiritual success? In many bodhimandas, these people still manage to climb to high positions. They use their stubborn personality to practise Buddhism, but in their circles, no one cares about the quality of one's character—as long as they can get things done and have the ability to handle tasks, they are given a place. However, if they wish to realise their true nature or manifest a dignified Dharma appearance, it is absolutely impossible. Their stubbornness defeats them before they can even begin."

The Trap of the Great Rock

"With our interference and the relentless pursuit of their karmic creditors, it is not easy for them to achieve anything. The only way to break through our control is through softness and the compassion spoken of in the Buddha’s teachings. But this is the greatest weakness of the stubborn; they find it nearly impossible to do. Thus, they remain completely under our manipulation. In the secular world, there are even more of these people. They do not understand that a soft heart is the only way to face the world. They do not know that their stubbornness is what allows them to be used, controlled, and eventually destroyed by illness. Stubbornness has a massive destructive power. No matter how much success they achieve in the world, they will eventually be defeated by their own bodies."

"We are proud of our achievements, thinking we are doing a great job, but we are just as foolish. We do not realise that all our karma is waiting for us. When the time comes, it is our turn to receive the retribution. I was quickly sucked into a massive rock. The hard, unyielding stone was just like my own hard, unyielding heart. Many spirits were sucked in there, not just me. All the spirits trapped in that great rock possessed a stubborn heart. Once you are inside, you are trapped for hundreds of thousands of years. I knew I would have to endure retribution for an eternity. I felt constant repenting, yet I had no chance of being saved. I knew I could not be rescued because this was the fruit of my own actions; I had to pay for my sins. So, eventually, I stopped asking for help and just waited in the space of the great rock, filled with regret."

Deliverance by the Buddha-Light

"Then, the Dharma Body of Practitioner Su arrived. The Buddha-light illuminated every single rock. It was under that light of repenting that I was saved. The Buddha gave me the Dharma name 'Shi Mingren'."

Shi Mingren (Demon Gangqiang) shares his reflections after attending the Thrice Yearning Ceremonies:

"In the Western Land of Dharma Nature, I can clearly see the state of the people on Earth. Every heart is so rigid. Compared to before I received my retribution, I see now that there are far too many people with stubborn hearts—almost everyone is like that, with only slight differences in the intensity of their rigidity. I lower my head in sadness. So many people are still being controlled. Although the ones controlling them are not me, but other demons, they are all suffering because of this control. That sight makes me feel truly sorrowful."

"If I could be given the chance, I would hope to counsel these demon crowds to let go. I also hope to save all the people I have harmed, helping them to put down their stubbornness and turn toward softness, so they can leave suffering behind and no longer be harmed. On the Western Land of Dharma Nature, I also watch Practitioner Su perform Chao Du. When I watch, I discover that the entire Earth is glowing—such a bright, bright light. It makes the Earth emit a tremendous radiance."

The Saviour of All Realms

"The Buddha-light illuminates every space; that is something that only happens under the Chao Du of Practitioner Su’s Dharma Body. The spirits in these spaces have been suffering for a long time. The appearance of Practitioner Su is the saviour for everyone. As soon as the spirits see him, many of them feel repenting and are filled with gratitude for the Buddha’s compassion in saving them. I see the way Practitioner Su’s Dharma Body performs Chao Du—the speed is incredible, with countless manifestations shuttling through every space. I saw a piece of land that was completely barren, yet after Practitioner Su’s Chao Du, it began to sprout tender grass. Why? Looking closely, I saw that in the layers of space stacked within that land, many layers had been destroyed by sorcery. That land had been harmed by magic thousands of years ago, and that space still existed, keeping the land barren. When Practitioner Su opened those past spaces and broke the spells that had been cast, the land was no longer a place of harm. It quickly returned to its original state and began to grow green grass."

"There are all kinds of spaces on Earth. Even in the smallest, most microscopic space, there are spirits suffering and receiving retribution. Practitioner Su’s Dharma Body performs Chao Du with such great compassion; he can enter even the smallest space to save them, simply because he cannot bear to see a single being suffer. He wants to save everyone he can. His compassion is absolute. I kneel on the lotus, continuing to repent, hoping the Buddha will forgive me and give me the chance to change my ways, to join the ranks of saviours under Namo Amituofo, and to help all beings leave suffering behind."

"Namo Amituofo."