The Inner Void of the Great Demon King: An Interview with Venerable Changren

This is a record of an interview with Venerable Changren, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his past existence as a powerful being within the Demon Realm. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa-jing, on April 11, 2023.

Venerable Changren speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Within the beautiful landscapes of the natural world, it is shocking to realise how many spirits are trapped, suffering and undergoing karmic retribution. Where are these suffering spirits? They are everywhere—hidden within stones, deep beneath the earth, submerged in the vast oceans. You can find the presence of these sentient beings in every corner of existence. Among all these suffering spirits, the demon crowds endure the most excruciating tortures, for the sins they have created are far too deep and far too heavy.

The Path to the Demon Realm

The demon crowds are typically intelligent and quick-witted. Within the six realms of rebirth, every one of them once possessed a human body. However, when they were human, they suffered great trauma or possessed an intensely volatile personality. These factors led them, after death, to descend into the Demon Realm, becoming members of that dark collective. Even when one becomes a demon, there are moments of regret. But who offers these demons a chance? In truth, the Buddha has always been waiting for the demon crowds to turn back, yet they do not know this, nor do they understand how to find their way home. This situation is something I, Changren, understand very clearly, for I was once exactly like them.

In the moment of committing evil, there is a sense of excitement and stimulation. Especially when witnessing the agony of those we control, a feeling of victory naturally arises in the heart. This sensation drives us, the demon crowds, to commit evil again and again. It is also because the hatred within our hearts has never been resolved that we willingly fall, preferring to remain as demons, creating karma throughout the universe.

The Prison of Negative Beliefs

It is not that the majority of demons are unaware that they must face karmic retribution; in fact, most of them know it perfectly well. So why do they still choose to continue committing evil? A heart filled with injustice, a powerful force of vengeance, and a burning hatred that desires to destroy the Earth—these are common mindsets among the demon crowds. But there is another type: a mindset that views neither oneself nor others in a positive light. This intense mental note keeps many Demon Kings trapped, unable to escape. Because they view themselves negatively, they do not believe they can do anything right, nor do they believe this universe can accept them. Furthermore, they do not believe that the Buddha would look upon them with equal compassion. These various negative beliefs make them prefer to stay in the Demon Realm, choosing to be the most wicked and most despised demons of all.

Viewing others negatively is also a common trait of the demon crowds. They view everything with cynicism, and therefore, they view any potential for change in others with the same negativity. This mental note is extremely powerful. The demon crowds often use this mindset to control human hearts, causing humans to fall into the same state of constantly seeing the worst in everything. Under such circumstances, these demon crowds become linked and in sync with human hearts; humans cannot leave the demons, and the demons have no desire to release their control over human hearts.

The Mask of the Performer

Are demons truly as evil as they appear? In reality, they are not. Within the heart of a demon, there is a side of Goodness, but that side has been buried so deep—so deep that even the demons themselves have long forgotten it, remembering only their capacity for evil. While the demon crowds may feel excited and lively in the midst of their many evil deeds, their hearts are often filled with desolation afterward. It is much like an actor or a singer on a stage in the human world; they perform with all their might, appearing happy and joyful, but once they step off the stage, their hearts are profoundly empty. The demon crowds are exactly the same. They cannot find a goal or hope, and that feeling of desolation is the true experience of the demon crowds. Yet, no demon would ever speak their inner truth or their real feelings; they only continue to cover them up, repeating the cycle of creating sins.

The Digital Stage of Control

Today, during the Chao Du performed by the Dharma Body of the Grandmother, many demon crowds who were still undergoing retribution were saved. They had been suffering extreme torture, day after day, undergoing retribution in pits of fire and beneath great mountains. These demon crowds were all Great Demon Kings from video games. Within these games, they controlled a vast number of players. The heads of these players became the stage for their performance, where they could exert their influence to the fullest, causing these players to be deeply intoxicated and addicted to the games, unable to pull themselves away.

The people who invented these video games are also under the control of the demon crowds. Many associated demon crowds are already undergoing retribution, but there are still many new-generation demons constantly emerging. The entire Demon Realm is as vast and as numerous as the boundless ocean, and many demon crowds continue to create karma even now.

The Choice to Repent

Not every one of these video game Great Demon Kings can be saved. There are still too many who do not know how to repent. Even with the Chao Du performed by the Grandmother’s Dharma Body, their hearts do not know how to repent, and combined with their extremely deep sins, they remain unable to be saved. There are far too many spirits suffering and undergoing retribution. I, Changren, counsel everyone: do not commit any evil, and practice all Goodness. Only by doing so can you create fewer sins, chant Namo Amituofo, and achieve liberation from suffering. Namo Amituofo."