The King Who Chose Death over Submission

This is a record of an interview with Gai-ta-ya, a former king of the Pukalosu Kingdom, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now seeks to leave the cycle of samsara and enter the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his history and his transformation, recorded by the chief writer, Disciple Haize, on August 27, 2017.

Disciple Haize speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I humbly ask the Buddha: should I record the Buddha’s words, or should I conduct an interview at this time?"

"Haize, please interview the spirits from the Demon Realm! The opportunity today is rare, and it is a connection formed by karmic affinity."

"Yes, thank you for your guidance, Buddha. Is there any spirit from the Demon Realm willing to be interviewed?"

"Let me do it!" (One could hear voices in the background calling out: "King! King! King!")

"Namo Amituofo. May I first ask for your name and where you originate from?"

A Kingdom’s Final Choice

"I am called Mo Xiangtian. I come from the Pukalosu Kingdom in the Western Heaven. It was a nation that was destroyed during a holy war. We were located to the west of India, which is why we were called the Western Heaven. Why do we call it a holy war? It was a desperate struggle to defend our national territory from being trampled and to protect our people from being ravaged, even though our national strength was insufficient. We were defeated in that war. This was a collective decision made by all the citizens of our nation. After we were defeated, the surviving people did not wish to live on in shame. Everyone, regardless of age or gender, was willing to live and die with the nation. Some took poison, some hanged themselves, and others starved. In the end, there was not a single living soul left in the country. Because their beloved King had died on the battlefield, everyone faced death as if returning home. There were no complaints, only the belief that dying with the nation was a fate without regret!"

The Courage of the Innocent

"Your entire nation’s resolve is truly moving!"

"Even the young children, who would usually cry over the smallest scratch, drank the poison courageously after their parents tearfully explained the reason. This poison was a secret ancestral formula; it did not let the children suffer for long before they passed away."

"Namo Amituofo! May I ask how you all ended up becoming beings of the Demon Realm? And why have you come here today? Are you seeking Chao Du, or have you come to congratulate Shi Changren?"

The Unexpected Rescue

"After we all passed away, our entire nation—including the warriors, generals, horses, and citizens—entered another place, a space that you might call a different dimension. This space was very similar to our original country. We were very clear that we had died and no longer had physical bodies, but we were still together. We cherished this connection deeply, so we remained in that space. We grew our own fruit trees, rice, and vegetables, and we did not need to eat much to feel satisfied.

One day, a group of heavenly generals approached us, but suddenly the sky darkened. They were a group of demons who had descended from the sky, intending to attack our nation. We were outnumbered and held out for two days, but because we were still suffering from the wounds and illnesses of our final battle, our strength was weak. We truly did not want to fall into the hands of the demon crowds. Just then, another group from the Demon Realm arrived. They were much more refined and gentle. After asking about the situation, they were actually willing to draw their swords and help us. They fought off the attacking demons. It seemed they possessed immense power, and in less than a day, they forced the attackers to flee in defeat. We were incredibly grateful that our nation was preserved. To our astonishment, they did not ask for anything in return. How could such a Demon Realm exist? Are they not usually overbearing and prone to bullying the weak? They were about to leave after withdrawing their troops. I asked them to stay, and through our conversation, I learned that they were merely on a routine patrol. This was not their usual route, but their King had ordered them to inspect the terrain, and they had happened upon our battle. Their King had intuitively judged that we needed rescue and ordered the support. We were completely humbled. We never expected to encounter such a Demon Realm. Furthermore, all their subordinates—their 'demon children and grandchildren'—are subject to routine patrols, support, and rescue. If we were willing to surrender, we could keep our nation without having to offer it up, and we would also receive support in terms of medicine, food, and financial resources. Thus, we became the 'demon children and grandchildren' under the throne of this Demon King. This Demon King is the one you call Shi Changren, who is here today to participate in this grand assembly. We have learned that he has been transformed by Practitioner Su, has left the Demon Realm, taken refuge in the Buddha’s gate, and has become a disciple of Practitioner Su. We are very happy for him. This must be the good reward for the many good deeds he performed while in the Demon Realm!"

A Plea for Liberation

"We also wish to be like our King—to leave the Demon Realm and take refuge in the Buddha’s gate. After experiencing so many things, we realise that only by returning to the seat of the Buddha can we be liberated from suffering! Please accept our request."

"Namo Amituofo. The Buddha is full of compassion. With your sincere hearts, as long as you are willing to repent and turn back, the difference between a demon and a Buddha is but a single thought. Practitioner Su has always been performing Chao Du for the Demon Realm; he will certainly accept your request. How many of you are there? Are you representing them?"

"Yes, I am the King of this nation, and I am also the current Demon King of our realm. I wish to restore my original name: Gai-ta-ya. Our entire nation has come together."

"Very well. I will write your names on the memorial tablets."

"Thank you for restoring our freedom and for performing Chao Du so that we may leave our suffering behind and come to the seat of the Buddha."

"You must thank Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su. That is the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss—a beautiful kingdom where there is no suffering, only the reception of all happiness."

"We are infinitely grateful to Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su. Their great compassion saves all sentient beings."

Namo Amituofo."