The Demon's Confession: From Outer Space to the Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with Mo Baoming, a spirit from the Columbia Planet who participated in the spread of the pandemic. He sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia and now resides in the Western Land of Dharma Nature. This account reflects upon his experiences during the pandemic and his subsequent transformation. Recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe, on July 21, 2021.

Mo Baoming speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Mo Baoming. I come from a distant outer planet known as the Columbia Planet. In the demon realms, the reputation of Practitioner Su and his ability to subdue demon crowds has long been known—not just on Earth, but throughout the various planets in the universe. The Pandemic: A Message from Namo Amituofo currently ravaging Earth was not merely the work of Earth-bound demons; it was a collaborative effort involving demonic forces from many different worlds, including my own.

A Mission from the Columbia Planet

Our primary objective was to infiltrate the human body with the pandemic virus. We caused the virus to interfere with and destroy healthy cells, leading to respiratory tract failure and death. The progression of this illness was incredibly rapid, leaving humans with no time to defend themselves. It created a sense of overwhelming fear and helplessness. However, news began to circulate that Practitioner Su was waiting for a national leader to come to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to request that Namo Amituofo save the world from this pandemic. We realised that if this were to happen, the progress of the pandemic would be obstructed, or perhaps even halted entirely. This was no small matter! Consequently, I led my 'demon children and grandchildren' to the temple to investigate. I had never seen Practitioner Su before, and I thought that if I had the chance to enter his body, I could see the situation for myself and understand the reality of his power.

Infiltrating the Body of Practitioner Su

Upon arriving at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, we saw the entire temple enveloped in a brilliant golden light. Our momentum and arrogance were instantly diminished. We observed the temple, searching for the right moment to enter Practitioner Su's body. That night, we encountered a group of other demons who were also involved in the pandemic. We recognised them immediately, and within a short time, we joined forces. We merged into the air and successfully entered Practitioner Su's body. We had long known that the Buddha's body is priceless and that one should never harm or disturb a Buddha, but we were on a mission. We had to steel ourselves and enter, even though this was never part of our original pandemic plan.

In truth, the moment we entered Practitioner Su's body, our energy and the toxicity of the virus we carried were significantly weakened. Still, we released the remaining toxins. These toxins naturally gravitated toward the respiratory tract and throat, as these were the areas we were most familiar with—the very places we usually targeted, along with the lungs and chest cavity. However, inside Practitioner Su, the lungs and chest seemed to be protected by layers of impenetrable barriers. We could not break through. We were forced to remain in the respiratory tract and throat. Although our power was diminished, the basic toxicity still caused physical reactions, leading to the inevitable symptoms of coughing, nasal congestion, and a runny nose. When we first entered and passed through the throat, the rapid influx of toxins caused the throat to swell instantly. This is one of the most distinct symptoms of the pandemic—it does not always occur, but when it does, it often poses a life-threatening risk. Yet, because Practitioner Su is so single-mindedly devoted to beings, he continued to use his Dharma Body to go out and perform Chao Du. His mental note and actions were pure and good, without a single trace of selfishness. The compassion and powerful positive energy field he radiated not only forced the demon kings and toxins to retreat, but also caused the swelling in his throat to subside by more than half.

The Transformation in the Western Land of Dharma Nature

Because it had been so difficult to get in, we decided to stay until our toxins were exhausted. When Practitioner Su's body was no longer in any major danger, we took the opportunity to exit while he was coughing. However, we were discovered and our names were written on memorial tablets. We suffered the same fate as the other demon crowds: Practitioner Su shaved our heads, changed our clothes, and dressed us in monastic robes. We heard a loud, resonant sound and were suddenly pulled by a powerful force into the Western Land of Dharma Nature. Later, we learned that this sound came from the large qing. To us, the qing is a highly attractive and powerful Dharma instrument.

Upon arriving in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, we discovered that the receivers on our heads—which looked like a few strands of hair—were gone. We used those to transmit messages between our companions. When they vanished, we felt incredibly dejected. On our planet, the loss of these receivers meant that one's spirit was beginning to wither and degenerate. While the spirit does not die, degeneration renders it useless. This was a stark contrast to the powerful demonic magic we once possessed. Later, we realised that even without the receivers, our thoughts could still be received by our companions. We concluded that in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, the transmission of messages and thoughts is seamless; it does not require physical receivers. It seems this is a highly advanced place to be capable of such things. The monastic robes we wore made us feel as though we were in a completely different realm, as if we had been reborn. It was like discovering a new world, observing the changes in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, and everything around us.

The Nature of Buddha Power versus Demonic Power

Our spirits have the ability to expand and contract rapidly, a skill we often used to escape danger. When we first arrived at the lotus seat in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, we were bound by a tight, restrictive clasp. I tried to shrink my spirit to create a gap between myself and the clasp so I could escape, but to my surprise, the clasp shrank along with my spirit. I then tried to expand my spirit, but the clasp expanded with me. There was simply no opportunity to escape. My companions tried the same, only to meet the same result. We never expected this clasp to be so sentient. What kind of world is this? It is a world where technology and spirituality are perfectly integrated.

We are now in the Western Land of Dharma Nature. It is a wonderful place. The Buddha's teachings are truly profound. To be able to live without worry, simply listening to sutras, hearing the Dharma, chanting Namo Amituofo, and making prostrations—and to know that if we make a vow to go to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, we can actually go there—is a tremendous blessing. We never imagined we would find ourselves in such a position.

As far as we know, for a human to cultivate and purify themselves to the point of becoming a Buddha is extremely difficult. Throughout history, those who have managed to realise their true nature and attain Buddhahood have only done so after undergoing rigorous tests. We knew this even in outer space. We had no intention of actively offending Practitioner Su, but as members of the pandemic demon crowd, we felt compelled to follow orders, which is why we entered his body. We offer our sincerest apologies to Practitioner Su.

A Final Reflection: Finding the Light

To Earthlings, our planet is at the edge of the universe, calculated in light-years. Yet, we can reach Earth in a short time because we exist and interact through thought power. The receivers on our heads were essential structures for this transmission. On our planet, everyone had several receivers; the more you had, the deeper and broader your reception. We were originally a kind planet, but after our energy was exhausted, we were invaded by evil forces from the universe. Our planet survived, but it was transformed into a world of demonic magic. This is the tragedy of the strong preying on the weak in the interstellar realm. Unless a planet chooses to destroy itself, its inhabitants must accept this arrangement. Some of our people chose death over submission; to keep their spirits pure and unpolluted, they chose self-destruction, allowing their receivers to shrink along with their spirits until they merged with the planet itself. We believe these souls did not vanish but transferred to another space. It took great courage to do so, as they had to leave their familiar environment and companions.

Our spiritual appearance is different from that of Earth's spirits. Our planet sent us to Earth to support this pandemic, and we have been here for quite some time. In the current pandemic team of the demon realm, we were treated no differently, even though our magic and demon nature were distinct from Earth's demons. Because we were accustomed to the zero-gravity state of outer space, we could move freely and rapidly on Earth. However, this was merely a result of our environment. It is completely different from the freedom, coolness, and pure light of Buddha power. Demonic power carries a destructive energy that causes pain; the more pain we caused, the more we could vent our dissatisfaction. This is the polar opposite of the compassionate energy field of the Buddha, which exists to help beings leave suffering behind. This was our greatest realisation while inside Practitioner Su.

We never expected that during this mission, our spirits would undergo such a profound transformation. But for us, this is a good thing. The environment of the Western Land of Dharma Nature is somewhat similar to the kind environment of our home planet. Everything we see, smell, and hear here possesses a high degree of spirituality and autonomy. The natural transmission of thoughts and the clasp on the lotus seat are examples of this. Our spirits rely on energy to survive. After our planet was occupied by evil forces, the energy we inhaled was malignant, filling our hearts with greed, aggression, and defiance. Here, the air is also filled with energy, but when we inhale it, we feel filled with gentle, kind, and equal goodness. This energy is pure and abundant, and it does not produce any evil thoughts. Because of this, we have shed the evil intentions we brought from our planet, and we are gradually returning to our true selves.

Practitioner Su has given Mo Baoming the Dharma name Shi Jingxin.

Shi Jingxin's (Mo Baoming) Reflections on the Dharma Assembly

Based on our observations, there is no crisis of energy shortage here. If the energy here is eternal and the environment of the Western Land of Dharma Nature can be maintained, then this truly is an inconceivable place—a place that technology can hardly fathom. Is this the profound and immeasurable nature of the Buddha's teachings? This was my initial question. After observing for these past few days and attending the Thrice Yearning Ceremonies, the answer is a resounding yes. This is truly an inconceivable place!

Through these Thrice Yearning Ceremonies, we discovered that the assembly is the best time to absorb energy. Within the visible range, everything is bathed in golden light. This light comes from the collective presence of Namo Amituofo, the many Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, and the ancestral masters from the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Each of them, like Practitioner Su, radiates this golden light. We have concluded that through cultivation in the Pure Land Dharma, one's spirit can emit a purified radiance. If one has a body, one can use that purified body to help other beings, because the practitioner's ability is a combination of spirit and body. For instance, the Western venerable masters we see at the assembly possess only spiritual power and light. Practitioner Su is currently the only one who possesses the spiritual power of the West and can use his physical body to manifest that power to save beings. At the assembly, we see immeasurable and boundless beings entering the golden light through Chao Du and heading to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, leaving suffering behind and gaining happiness. This is a completely different world from the demonic work we previously did, which only caused beings to suffer.

Sometimes, Practitioner Su's spiritual power is limited by his physical body, but his spirit can freely leave the body to perform Chao Du and travel back and forth to the West. What the spirit needs to do can also be achieved through the body—this is something ordinary people cannot do. To us, the bodies of ordinary people are filled with a collection of souls, and often these souls use the human body to do their own bidding. Although Practitioner Su's body also contains many beings, these beings are mostly in a quiet and peaceful state. Furthermore, Practitioner Su's spirit has complete autonomy over this body; he is the master and is not disturbed by any of the beings within. In our view, besides the demon crowds, perhaps only Practitioner Su can achieve this so thoroughly. Thus, Buddha and demon are two forces existing in the world that can contend with each other. Since many demon crowds are involved in this pandemic, the only power that can resolve and neutralise this demonic power is Buddha power. This is an undeniable fact as we see it now. Any effort by humans is difficult to contend with the demon crowds, because the demons possess abilities equal to or greater than those of humans. Unless the demons are willing to stop, any human effort is limited; it only provides temporary peace of mind and cannot truly stop the pandemic from developing. This is the conclusion I have reached after observing Practitioner Su, the Western Land of Dharma Nature, and the Thrice Yearning Ceremonies.

Today, although we come from an outer planet, we have taken on the appearance of monastics after being transformed by Practitioner Su. In the days to come, we have no other choice; our only exit and direction is the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This is a smooth, broad path. We silently accept this in our hearts, for we are currently immersed in the energy and light that many outer planets yearn for. Yet, many of our companions on our home planet remain in darkness. It was only by coming here and meeting Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su that we were given the chance to escape the control of the dark demonic forces of our planet. We believe that Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su have the power to protect us from further intrusion by dark demons. This is a power that brings peace and security. We can finally stay here with ease. We have finally found the true home for our spiritual light.

Namo Amituofo."