The Demon Who Found Compassion

This is a record of an interview with the spirit known as Mo Yan, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, having taken the Dharma name Shi Kuan Ci. This account reflects upon his life as a monastic and his subsequent time in the Demon Realm. This interview was recorded by the chief writer, Shi Hailiang.

Mo Yan (Shi Kuan Ci) speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I led my demon children and grandchildren as we flew toward the place where Practitioner Su was giving Dharma talks—the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. We circled the air several times and then crawled along the ground like a carpet, searching meticulously. I had heard long ago that Practitioner Su was here, so why could I not find him? I ordered my demon children and grandchildren to help me search. Could it be that Practitioner Su possessed the art of invisibility? I am Mo Yan; even as a Demon King, I had to carry out this task personally."

The Atmosphere of a Bodhimanda

"While searching, I inadvertently observed the inner states of the monastics and the fourfold assembly of disciples. In such a dignified bodhimanda, with Practitioner Su absent, even the spirits of the grass, trees, and flowers seemed listless. The result of my inquiry was that 'Grandma' was missing. In short, there was a lack of lively, joyful vitality. Although there were two innocent little children trying to amuse the adults, it was only fleeting, for it was not the joy of hearing the Dharma from within. Some elderly volunteers would sit down to chat after chopping vegetables or cooking, and sometimes they would inadvertently gossip about others, leading to anger or petty arguments.

While I was pondering this, I saw others silently doing what needed to be done—working, prostrating to the Buddha, and reciting the Sutras—yet their hearts remained heavy, and they could not explain why. When I saw several monastics walking toward me, I could sense they had things on their minds, but they did not want to speak. They felt that speaking was useless, as if words were empty. They kept it to themselves, muttering internally, wondering when things would return to normal and when 'Grandma' would return to give Dharma talks here. Ever since I took the Precepts and became a monastic, I often heard Grandma say: 'Being a monastic is nothing special; it is just shaving your head. Therefore, the monastics at Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre are different from those outside. You must truly practise to realise your true nature, and only then can you save the world.'"

The Burden of Hidden Thoughts

"If not for Grandma's sincerity and her skill in giving Dharma talks, I truly do not know if I would have had the confidence to realise my true nature. These inner thoughts could not be shared with anyone; I feared that if Grandma knew, I would be subjected to the Lion’s Roar. Especially when listening to the Sutras, I would clearly intend to listen attentively, but I would suddenly become drowsy and drift into a space of sleep. I did not like people noticing that I had fallen asleep. In truth, I thought I was awake, but everyone who saw me said I was sleeping. Grandma often said that I was distracted by women and that my energy was being drained. How unjust! If she were talking about another monastic, I might believe it, but to say it of me—it felt so unfair! It simply was not true, yet because I was associated with women in my dreams, I became uncertain. Wave after wave of doubt rose in my heart.

After hearing the inner thoughts of so many people, I dared not listen or look any further. Because my name is Mo Yan—Demon of Aversion—I am specifically known for being annoying, so I cannot see or hear anything well; that is my specialty. However, I do have one advantage: I can easily hear the inner voices of others. What I have described is only a small fraction. Just as I was becoming afflicted, my demon children and grandchildren reported, 'Practitioner Su is not giving a talk here; he is at another location.' I led them to where Practitioner Su was speaking. Upon arriving, I was stunned—there were so many Demon Kings and demon children and grandchildren there! I heard Practitioner Su tell the assembly: 'If you want to achieve success in your practice, you must have nothing on your mind; your heart must not move.' Oh my! If those monastics and disciples I saw earlier do not deal with their internal self-dialogue, they cannot achieve success! Shh—I cannot let that out, for I am Mo Yan, and I do not want to be annoying again!"

A Life of Rigid Truth

"Let me tell you my story. I grew up in a Buddhist family. Both my parents were Buddhists, busy volunteering at the temple every day. Because my father inherited wealth from my grandfather, we did not have to worry about food or clothing, allowing us to focus on studying the Buddha's teachings. My mother, being an only daughter, brought a large dowry when she married my father—gold ingots and two maids to serve her. When she married into the Chen family, she saw that although my grandparents were wealthy, they were frugal and diligent. A week later, she sent the two maids home and began doing the housework herself, becoming a true daughter-in-law of the Chen family. My father was moved by this and respected her even more. Both of them saw the suffering in the human world; despite our family's wealth, the families of our long-term workers and maids were struggling. One maid had been orphaned and destitute since childhood; her mother was gravely ill, and unable to afford a doctor, she had to sell herself into servitude to pay for her mother's treatment. Another worker, who had married and had children, thought it would bring him a happy life, but his wife fell into a chronic, debilitating illness after giving birth.

To satisfy my grandparents' expectations of continuing the family line, my parents had only me. They left me in my grandparents' care while they went to the temple to serve. When I was about twelve, they brought me to the temple to pay respects to the Buddha and serve as a young volunteer. Although I was twelve, I was very simple-minded and often made mistakes. What worried my parents most was that I spoke the truth directly, hurting others without even realising it. I would offend people unintentionally, yet if one wanted to hear the truth of a situation, I described it most clearly. Once, a master stole food and was discovered by the temple manager. When asked if I had seen it, I said directly, 'Yes, I saw it.' That master glared at me, but I still had no awareness of the social consequences. Therefore, it was best not to let me know or see anything in the temple, as things would inevitably become complicated, leaving everyone both crying and laughing."

The Descent into the Demon Realm

"I grew up in the temple, and by the age of twenty, my parents decided I should become a monastic. After taking the Precepts, I was strict and dared not violate them, but my habits and personality remained. I was still honest, speaking directly and offending people without knowing it. For nearly thirty years in the temple, my habits were hard to change, and no one dared to tell me the truth. Thus, time passed quickly. Without realising it, I developed the habit of easily seeing the faults of others. It was only when I became old and fell ill that I discovered I was so annoying. My heart was filled with dissatisfaction. I asked myself, 'Is there something wrong with speaking the truth? Why do you all hate me?' I could not forgive the fellow monastics who bullied me; their mockery made me sad, and I was not good at defending myself. In the end, all the rights and wrongs of the temple were blamed on me. I could not take it anymore; I went into a frenzy and screamed. At that time, I was considered to have good meditative concentration, but I flew into a rage, my spirit left my body, and I was taken to the Demon Palace. It was then that I suddenly discovered my heart was filled with dissatisfaction and resentment. Just like that, I entered the Demon Realm and took the name Mo Yan. I enjoyed patrolling various bodhimandas, specifically recruiting the neglected monastics and volunteers to become my demon children and grandchildren."

A New Path of Compassion

"Whenever I heard Practitioner Su giving Dharma talks, they were always filled with compassion. Every word and sentence urged the importance of changing one's personality. One cannot be selfish and only think of oneself; one must change thoroughly to help oneself and others. I have now recalled the germs of this pandemic and have asked my demon children and grandchildren to withdraw. I beg for the Buddha's blessing. I, Mo Yan, have led my demon children and grandchildren to take refuge in the Buddha’s gate. I listen to the Buddha's teachings, I listen to Practitioner Su's Dharma talks, and I listen to Practitioner Su's guidance. I am no longer Mo Yan; I will become a disciple of the Buddha. I am grateful to the Buddha, and I am grateful to Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo.

The Buddha has bestowed upon me the Dharma name: Shi Kuan Ci."