The General Who Became a Demon: A Path to Redemption

This is a record of an interview with the spirit known as Mofu, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Dharma-Nature Land and has been given the Dharma name Shi Yongan. This account reflects upon his life as a general approximately 2,000 years ago and his subsequent transformation. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxin, on August 22 and 24, 2021.

Mofu (Shi Yongan) speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. When I was in the Demon Realm, my body was still pierced with countless needles. I refused to pull them out; I needed them to remind myself of the excruciating pain I felt when I first entered that dark realm. I demanded that I remain alert at all times. As I roamed through the spaces of the universe, any stray needle could pierce my flesh, and I would tell myself through the agony: 'Do not be weak.' In this way, I wandered the Demon Realm for over two thousand years, and every goal I set for myself was achieved without failure. When I participated in The Pandemic, my heart was filled with complex emotions. I felt that I had finally waited for the moment when I could unleash a massive, long-awaited revenge."

A Vow Forged in Betrayal

"In a past life, I was a general who led a million-strong army into battle. Yet, I was betrayed. I was so furious that I transformed into a demon. The five hundred thousand enemy soldiers who ambushed us were hailed as heroes for their treachery, while my entire army was wiped out. That betrayal burned into my heart. The war passed into history, and almost no one remembers it now, but I never forgot. I wanted to exact revenge on those five hundred thousand soldiers. My hatred carved this mission into my very heart. After I died, I first became a spirit of pure hatred, observing those five hundred thousand individuals from the shadows of the spirit realm.

I marked every single one of them. Lifetime after lifetime, I watched them fall into the six realms of reincarnation. Some became humans, some fish, some turtles, and some even became the metal forged into swords. I waited. I waited for every single one of them."

The Endless Cycle of Retribution

"When they were human, I ensured their lives were filled with misfortune, causing their families to collapse and their spirits to break. When they were animals, I made them howl in confusion or drive themselves to madness, crashing into walls until they died. As long as they possessed a physical form—no matter what kind—I would find a way to exact my revenge. Across the various realms, I had already taken my vengeance upon fifty thousand of them.

Sometimes, a faint voice would whisper from the depths of my heart: 'You have been waiting and clinging to them for so long—are you not tired?' But as soon as that thought emerged, a powerful, darker voice would roar back: 'I am not tired! I must have my revenge. I must settle the score with every single one of them, or I would be failing my million fallen brothers.' Those million brothers who sacrificed their lives were the very needles piercing my body. I would never forget them. The more I sought revenge, the more the evil nature of my soul intensified, until I finally became a demon, moving through the spaces of the universe with terrifying speed."

The Cold Calculation of The Pandemic

"Now that The Pandemic is raging, I joined other demon crowds, taking the virus and spreading it far and wide. I began to search for those I had not yet punished, determined to make them fall ill and die in a short period of time. I was fast, ruthless, and precise.

The enemies I sought numbered about eight thousand who were currently living as humans, scattered across the globe. They were adults, children, men, women, white, black, Asian, African—it did not matter. I planned my strikes carefully. After observing them, I decided to target those living in large cities first. They appeared to live lives of luxury, seemingly untouched by the suffering I had endured. I watched for the perfect moment—in schools, in hospitals, in crowded streets—and I struck. I injected the virus into their bodies with cold precision, ensuring they would be diagnosed and marked as the focus of public concern. For those who harboured selfishness and a cruel streak, the virus naturally took hold, leading them to their deaths.

I had already claimed seven hundred targets, with one hundred and thirty deaths. I was expanding my operations from one district to another, when suddenly, a resistance appeared in the space around me. I was astonished. How could anyone possibly block me? I gathered my helpers and began to search for the source of such immense energy."

The Light of Compassion

"Following the light, I arrived at the place in this universe where this tremendous energy was radiating. As I approached, my foot was touched by the Buddha-light. The moment the light shone upon me, the countless needles that had been embedded in my leg for aeons vanished instantly, and my leg returned to its original state. I was stunned. My heart of hatred and my purpose for coming here were instantly transformed! In a single moment, the Buddha-light bathed my entire body, smoothing over the scars, the wounds, and the places where the needles had been. The compassionate Buddha-light even shone upon my chest, and I felt a stirring of emotion I had never known before.

I had originally intended to stop Practitioner Su from resolving the conflict, but I had been subdued before I even reached the boundary. I was led into the Dharma-Nature Land. This world of light was something I had never seen before. A few days later, my temperament changed; I was no longer so rigid. Listening to Practitioner Su give Dharma talks, I finally realised how foolish I had been. Why had I allowed myself to spend two thousand years consumed by hatred? For two thousand years, I watched everyone else reincarnated, yet I could not wake up? Arriving at the Buddha-land, I began to reflect on my life."

A General's Burden

"Looking back, I was a formidable general, born into a military family. From a young age, my father was strict with me. When I was only three, he began training my physique. Before I could even walk properly, he tied sandbags to my legs, making me stumble as I walked. Later, he placed me on a small horse; the moment the horse moved, I nearly fell, and my father only caught me at the last second.

From childhood, my father instilled in me that we must be loyal to our country, for it is the country that gives us life and sustains us. Even if we had to go to the battlefield, sacrificing our lives for the nation was our duty. Every word my father spoke was carved into my heart.

My father was a military official in the imperial court. Every morning he would attend court, and afterwards, he would train the soldiers, always keeping me by his side. Beyond his rigorous training, my father treated every soldier with genuine sincerity. If a soldier needed help, no matter what it was, my father would do his utmost within his power to assist. Sometimes he would provide their salaries early, or give them grain or warm clothing. My father never haggled with his soldiers; he treated every one of them like family.

After the war broke out, my father tried his best to minimise the damage. For soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the country on the battlefield, my father would help petition for pensions and ensure their families were cared for. Everything my father did was etched into my heart, and he became the person I respected most."

The Final Battle

"At twenty-one, my father took me to the battlefield for the first time. In that war, my father won through wisdom, truly succeeding in keeping casualties to a minimum. In one battle, only dozens were injured and five died. My father gave those five soldiers a proper, honourable burial.

I saw his respect for every life with my own eyes. In my heart, my father was the most benevolent general. He won battle after battle and was eventually appointed as the commander-in-chief. He retired from the court at sixty and passed away from illness in his later years. After he retired, the court relied heavily on me, and at forty, I was made commander of the great army. I did not disappoint the country; I was cautious and diligent in every battle, never daring to be negligent.

Until I was forty-three, when a neighbouring country tried to invade, nearly breaking through our border city. The Emperor gave me a million-strong army. I led the troops, but I had no intention of harming the other side; I only hoped to force them to retreat.

When we reached the city, our army pressured them to withdraw. I led the army in pursuit, hoping to negotiate terms of peace and ask them not to invade our country again. We pursued them into a valley. We were unfamiliar with the terrain. The front was silent, but there was an eerie atmosphere. After marching a few miles, fireballs suddenly rolled down from the mountains, followed by a rain of arrows. Our army fell into chaos. When we tried to retreat, the enemy appeared from behind. To save my soldiers' lives, I had to shout 'Kill!' hoping to break through the encirclement. I never expected the enemy to unleash such a barrage of fire and arrows that we could not defend against. I watched my soldiers fall one by one, some burned to death by the flames. For the first time, I lost control and fought with a wild, desperate fury, until I was finally shot down by a volley of arrows. My entire army was sacrificed, defeated in that war, and I died there. As I fell, I saw the bodies of my soldiers strewn across the physical world. I was filled with extreme grief and rage at the ruthlessness of the enemy, and it was this that caused my spirit to wander into the Demon Realm."

A New Beginning

"Now that I have arrived at the Buddha-land, I am purifying myself every day. I am increasingly able to see the good side of myself—the upright, honourable person I once was. I am so grateful to the Buddha. Every day, I diligently join the temple in the morning service and listen to the Dharma talks, seeking to find myself again and repay the Buddha's grace. I am deeply thankful to the Buddha and Practitioner Su for their compassion. The Buddha has given me the Dharma name Shi Yongan."

Witnessing the Magnificence of the Dharma Assembly

"During the Dharma assembly, I saw the room filled with golden light. Countless spirits were pouring in. In just a moment, I looked up and saw the entire site of the ceremony filled with sentient beings. Practitioner Su stood in the centre of the field, and with a wave of his hand, he instantly manifested thousands of millions of bodies, scattering to every corner. His Dharma Body flew forward without stopping, and every recitation of the Buddha-name led countless sentient beings to salvation. I watched the scenes of Chao Du one after another, unable to look away. With a single blink, countless more sentient beings were sent to the light. I heard that the destination of that light is the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, a world filled with joy and peace. I am so happy that so many people can go there. Countless spaces and dimensions were opened, and I also saw many generals and soldiers being rescued from the war zones. I am truly happy for them.

This place is truly magnificent. Before coming here, I did not believe anyone could resolve the conflict of The Pandemic. After seeing Practitioner Su's Chao Du, I believe that this place can truly resolve the conflict. I fully identify with Practitioner Su's mission to save the world, and I hope that I, too, can contribute. The past is in the past. I have let it all go. Since arriving at the Buddha-land, everything has begun anew. Namo Amituofo."