The Demon Who Challenged the Light: An Interview with Mo Qian Sui

This is a record of an interview with the demon Mo Qian Sui, 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 past attempts to challenge the light of the Buddha. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxin, on April 25, 2022.

Mo Qian Sui speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Mo Qian Sui. I have spent my existence roaming the Ten Directions of the Dharma Realm, always searching for a new place to sink my claws in. I love a challenge; the more difficult the target, the more I crave the attempt. I have always treated humans like mere puppets. I tell them to lift a hand, and they lift it; I tell them to run, and they run. Every step they take, every movement, and even their very thoughts—they were all under our control. When we seize a body, we use it to the absolute limit. For a long time, we were incredibly effective, and our influence spread far and wide. Humans are so easily manipulated; we find a handle, a weakness, and we control them. A single stray thought or a careless action is all it takes for them to be in sync with us."

The Universe as a Playground

"We slip into their bodies and use them, and they have no idea. In fact, they often cooperate with us perfectly, as if we have become one. Once we have control in the human world, we look for new territories across the universe, fighting other demon crowds for turf. Seeing them defeated, broken, and scarred by our hands—that is when we laugh the loudest. In the vastness of the universe, we are known as 'cosmic hooligans.' We love to stir up chaos wherever we go. We are slippery, too. Up until now, no other demon crowd has ever been able to catch us. That is our greatest pride.

So, we kept challenging ourselves, moving into different spaces to control humans and seize more territory. Most beings simply had no way to deal with us. Our skills are incredibly versatile; we adapt to the environment and the shifting states of the human heart. We are always changing. We keep a close watch on the changes in the various spaces, and for some time now, the entire great space has been undergoing a massive shift. This change is profound, and it has fundamentally altered the Demon Realm itself. Originally, the Demon Realm was a place where many 'big bosses' roamed, each holding their own territory and developing their own power. But for a long time now, these leaders have been disappearing. They go out on a mission and never return."

The Shifting Landscape of the Demon Realm

"The 'demon children and grandchildren' are in a state of panic. Without a leader, chaos has erupted. Every little demon is trying to rise up and seize power—it is a true battle for supremacy! While the Demon Realm was in this state of turmoil, a brilliant light began to enter, again and again, gathering the demon crowds into the light and taking them away. Where were they being taken? I had no idea. I felt a flicker of curiosity. What kind of divine being could cause such upheaval in the Demon Realm? I have roamed everywhere for thousands of years, and this was the first time I had ever encountered such a thing.

I decided to do some digging. I went to a place where I thought the light might appear, wanting to see for myself if this light was truly as formidable as the rumours suggested. I hid in the shadows, waiting. When the light arrived, I saw a figure moving with incredible speed. Behind this figure followed a large group of beings with shaved heads, dressed in formal attire, looking very much like Dharma protectors. Some were in front, some on the sides, and some at the rear. Everywhere they passed, they gathered the spirits and brought them into the light. The energy was immense. Even though I did not get close, I could already feel it. In just a short time, the entire magnetic field had changed. What incredible skills! How could they possibly do this?"

A Fatal Challenge

"I spent several days observing, even secretly following the light. Everywhere the light went, the spirits underwent a transformation. I was astonished—truly shocked by the power of this light. It made me feel strangely excited. My demon nature drove me to challenge it, to see if I could break through this light.

I sent one of my 'demon children and grandchildren' who had volunteered to test the waters, while I watched from the side. To my shock, as soon as he entered the light, he was swept away by the waves of radiance. Even his face changed completely! My heart trembled. I paced back and forth, thinking, 'This is the greatest challenge I have faced since entering the Demon Realm.' If I could break through this, I would surely reach a new level of power. Relying on the experience and demon power I had accumulated over the years, I decided to concentrate all my energy into one point to break through this seemingly impenetrable barrier. I believed that everything has a flaw, so there must be a way to break through.

I transformed into a black sphere and arrived above the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. I targeted the eyes—a place where I knew an attack would cause discomfort. As I drew near, I knew Practitioner Su was aware of me, so I pushed harder and harder. Just as I summoned my greatest confidence, a force struck me and sent me flying. Once I was repelled, I had no chance to recover. I was seized by the Dharma protectors and sent into the brightness. Now, I am locked here. The Buddha-light shines upon me, and I cry out, 'No, no!' But the light continues to shine. My entire being has finally calmed down, and I am now observing the changes here at every moment."

Practitioner Su, in his compassion, gave Mo Qian Sui the Dharma name Shi Wenming.

Namo Amituofo.