This interview was recorded on March 19, 2020, at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre. It features the spirit of Mo Li Shi, a former scholar who, after suffering a grave injustice in his past life, transformed into a powerful demon of vision. Seeking deliverance from his cycle of resentment, he approached Practitioner Su during a talk, eventually finding refuge and clarity within the compassionate gaze of the Buddha.
Mo Li Shi speaks:
". I am Mo Li Shi. As I listened to Practitioner Su deliver his Dharma talks, the demon crowds of the universe began to flock to him, one after another. I managed to squeeze into Practitioner Su's eyes. Oh, what compassionate eyes they are! Inside them, I felt like an infant resting in a mother's embrace—it was so soft, so incredibly gentle. Had it not been for Practitioner Su continuing his lecture, the urging of the Dharma protectors, and Practitioner Su's stern reprimands, we would never have wanted to leave. From within his eyes, we could see the outside world with perfect clarity. Now that we have been invited out, let us tell you our story."
The Scholar's Tragic Fall
"The eyes are the windows to the soul. A child's eyes are clear and bright, while some people's eyes are murky. But Practitioner Su's eyes are as clear as the vast ocean, with the black and white distinct and sharp. About two thousand years ago, I was a scholar from a family of intellectuals. Books were everywhere in my home. My father was a scholar, and my mother was a gifted lady. I was their only son. Because of my upbringing, I was immersed in literature from a young age; by the time I was three, I could already recite short poems, much to my parents' delight. To achieve success and bring honour to my family, I studied bitterly every day. In the end, I truly achieved success—I passed the imperial examination as the top candidate! But the very next day, news arrived that the list was erroneous, and my name was nowhere to be found. This sudden change was like a bolt from the blue. From a top scholar, I became worthless and obscure. I could not accept it. I did not believe it. I decided to go to the capital to find out the truth and confront the chief examiner."
The Pursuit of Justice
"After bidding farewell to my parents, I arrived in the capital. My investigation revealed that the chief examiner had colluded with others, accepting bribes, and sacrificed me. Because I lacked a powerful family background or connections, I was expected to silently accept this injustice to avoid inviting a death sentence. But I did not give up. I set up a stall in the capital, specialising in writing legal petitions to seek justice. Because my writing was sharp, powerful, and logically sound, many who had been wronged came to me. Through the petitions I wrote, they beat the drums of justice and had their grievances redressed. As I cleared more cases, my fame grew. Within half a year, I became the most renowned petition writer in the capital."
The Imperial Inspection
"One day, an official came to me, asking me to write a petition to the 'Blue Sky'—the impartial judge—to report the local magistrate. He told me, 'Tomorrow, an imperial envoy appointed by the Emperor, holding the Shangfang Sword with the authority to execute first and report later, will arrive in town.' I immediately wrote the petition for him, and I also wrote one for myself. I wanted to report the examiner, to reclaim my innocence and my official position. The next day at noon, the streets were crowded. The official sedan chair arrived, and guards were busy maintaining order. The man who had hired me suddenly rushed out, knelt before the guards, and shouted, 'Injustice!' I seized the opportunity and shouted, 'Injustice!' as well, holding my petition high. The person inside the sedan chair ordered the guards to accept our petitions and said he would review them the next day. A heavy stone in my heart seemed to lift. I slept soundly that night, knowing the truth would soon be revealed, for the imperial envoy would surely grant me justice."
The Truth Revealed
"The next day, I dressed neatly. The guards informed me that my case would be heard in the morning. After the previous case concluded, the official who had hired me walked out, exclaiming, 'Impartial and selfless! Truly impartial!' and left happily. The guards led me into the yamen. The guards on both sides shouted, 'Wei—Wu—!' The imperial envoy asked, 'I have read your petition. Is what you say true?' I replied, 'Everything written in the petition is true, word for word.' The envoy said, 'After a thorough investigation, we shall have a confrontation in court.' About a month later, I was summoned to court. The envoy asked, 'Is this the essay you wrote?' and handed me a document. I confirmed it was indeed my work. The envoy said, 'There are two copies of the same essay, but the handwriting is different.' When I confirmed this, the envoy immediately summoned the examiner and asked him to explain why the same essay had different handwriting and signatures. The envoy then asked, 'Whose is this other one?' and brought the other person into court. He asked him the same question. The man claimed he wrote it. The envoy asked the examiner, 'Whom do you judge to be the true author?' The examiner replied, 'The latter is the true one, based on the published list.' The envoy retorted, 'If that is true, why is there a complaint?' He then said, 'Since you both claim to have written it, you must remember it. Please recite a passage.' I recited it fluently, while the other man stuttered and could not complete a single sentence. Everyone in the court understood. The examiner was speechless. Finally, the envoy announced he would report the case to the Emperor to restore my innocence and my position. I knelt and thanked the envoy for his impartiality."
Betrayal and the Demon Realm
"Two days later, I returned home to tell my parents the truth. About a week later, the good news arrived: I was to return to the court to take up my post. I was the true top scholar—Zhao Dengke. I brought my parents to the capital. I met the Emperor, clarified everything, and he asked me to learn under the imperial envoy. Because the Emperor saw my fluent writing and the petitions I had written, he felt I could become a civil official to record the history of the court. From then on, I entered the court, thinking my path was clear. But three years later, the former examiner, who had been dismissed for his corruption, managed to manipulate officials within the court to frame me. I was falsely accused of colluding in a rebellion and treason. A document containing a list of rebels somehow included my name, and it fell into the Emperor's hands. Just like that, I was disgraced, dismissed, and sentenced to have my nine generations exterminated. I was so young, my ambitions yet unfulfilled, and I was to die an unjust death. I could not find justice anywhere. Every day, I opened my eyes wide, looking at the 'Bright Mirror Hanging High' in the courtroom—how could it not reflect my innocence? I resented the Emperor for his lack of discernment, and I hated the examiner for his treachery. I wanted revenge. How could a scholar end up like this? Where was the Truth? I could not defend myself and could only suffer. As I stood on the execution ground, my heart was filled with resentment. Was this how my life would end? Before I breathed my last, I opened my eyes wide to look at the world, staring at the executioner who was about to behead me. My spirit was sucked away, and I was pulled into the Demon Realm. The 'Heavenly Eye' of the Demon Realm, calling itself 'Mo Li Shi' (Demon Power Vision), sees through the human heart; not even the slightest detail can escape the demon's eye."
The Demon's Repentance
"Because of my victimization, my eyes became even sharper, seeing clearly the difference between good and evil. With my intelligence and ability, I quickly became a Demon King. I led my demon children and grandchildren to hate evil with a passion. We saw clearly the unfairness of the world and understood the schemes of humanity perfectly. I saw through these hypocritical humans and knew their time for retribution was coming. I sent my demon children and grandchildren to watch every person who deserved retribution with our demon eyes. The hypocrites were the first to suffer, and the selfish and evil would also be sanctioned. As for the current pandemic, every strain of the virus was under the control of my demon children and grandchildren, causing them to be infected, to face retribution, to confront death and fear—it was helpless, just like my past self. Unexpectedly, my demon children and grandchildren reported: 'Demon King! An opponent has appeared to your plan of revenge against humanity. The Demon Realm calls him Practitioner Su.' I decided to investigate for myself. I came to Practitioner Su's eyes and looked at their structure; there was not a single trace of evil! I could not hold on! When I was about to be ejected, Practitioner Su, in his , invited the monastics to write my memorial tablet, allowing me to go to the Dharma-Nature Land to listen to the Dharma and accept this interview. I, Mo Li Shi, have heard the Dharma spoken by Practitioner Su: to look at the good in people, not their shortcomings, only then can one achieve success."
A Final Vow
"Everything in the universe is transformed by the spirit. All those involved in this pandemic are victims. Whether they are demons or Plague Gods, they are all here to let humanity know that the heart cannot be evil. One cannot sacrifice others for one's own benefit. One cannot be selfish; one must benefit the masses. Most importantly, one must learn the spirit of the Buddha: to save all beings. Everything Practitioner Su has said has moved me. I will lead my demon children and grandchildren to take refuge in the Buddha, to let go of the resentment in our hearts, and to be grateful to the Buddha and Practitioner Su."
"I, Hai Liang, join my palms and ask the Buddha to bestow a Dharma name."
"The Buddha bestows the Dharma name: Shi Jue Ming."
"Interview recorded by the chief writer, Buddhist disciple Shi Hai Liang."
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