The Knots That Bind the Human Heart

This interview was recorded on February 15, 2023, by Chief Writer Shi Fajing at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. It features the spirit formerly known as Mo Jie, a demon who once caused interference for Practitioner Su. After being delivered by Practitioner Su, he now resides in the Western Land of Dharma Nature and shares his profound insights on how human attachments create the knots that bind the spirit, as well as his own transformation from a being of darkness to one of light.

Shi Yu'an (formerly Mo Jie) speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Mo Jie. Our existence is not meant to help humans untie the knots in their hearts; rather, it is to ensure that humans become even more entangled by them. We tie knot after knot, binding the heart completely. The heart of a demon is truly ruthless, and our very purpose is to confront humanity, to ensure that people do not have an easy life, which is why we are always looking for trouble. But in truth, you cannot blame us entirely. It is the restlessness of the human heart that invites us in, and it is human greed that keeps people living in such profound suffering.

The Trap of the Physical Body

Why are these knots so impossible to untie? It is because humans refuse to let go of this 'body.' Perhaps that is hard for you to understand—you may not even realise where you are clinging—but from the perspective of us demons, every single human is clutching their physical body tightly. Not one of you wants to let go. In fact, you grasp it tighter and tighter, more firmly with each passing day. A heart that clings like this will inevitably have knots—not just one, but many, binding the heart in place. These knots are the result of an intense, unyielding attachment to the physical form.

The most effective way for us to create these knots in humans is to make you cling to 'physical sensations.' This method is incredibly easy because humans are so reactive to their bodily states. As long as we make you sensitive and attached to every sensation, you will never be able to let go of this body. You become overly concerned, which causes the heart to feel uneasy, and before you know it, a knot has formed without you even realising it. You are essentially building your own prison, and we are merely the architects who provide the blueprints for your entrapment.

The Practitioner's Dilemma

Let me give you an example. Consider a practitioner who has spent half a lifetime in practice but has yet to achieve any real results. He cannot find the reason. He asks his master, and the master tells him, 'You have not let go.' But he does not understand what he is failing to let go of. He feels stifled, anxious, and does not know what to do or how to continue his practice. He is trapped in a cycle of doubt and frustration.

We demons watch from the sidelines and laugh. We wonder, 'He asked his master and did not get an answer; why does he not ask us demons? If he asked us, he would get the answer immediately.' The root cause is not that he lacks effort or training. It is that he has never let go of his physical sensations. He allows his heart to be manipulated by the body. He feels stifled or falls into confusion because he is clutching his physical sensations too tightly. What he does not know is that many of these sensations are illusions we manufacture, or interference from his karmic creditors. He believes them all to be true and experiences them with such earnestness, never questioning the validity of his own suffering.

The Cycle of Drowsiness and Despair

Take the case of a practitioner who cannot break through his own drowsiness. He feels frustrated and anxious, and he clings to those feelings of frustration and anxiety. He does not know that he should simply let go of these unnecessary physical sensations and then look for the true cause of the drowsiness. We demons see the cause clearly: it is an excess of mental notes, desires, thoughts, and attachments clogging his brain. This attracts karmic creditors and our own demonic interference, which leads to his state of drowsiness. It is a feedback loop of misery that we carefully cultivate.

Because this practitioner clings to his physical state, his mood plummets. He loses confidence and feels that his practice is joyless. When we see this, we applaud. The more knots a human has, the happier we are. Since humans do not know to ask us, they remain oblivious to how their body and mind are being controlled by us. If this practitioner knew how to let go of his physical sensations, even during or after a bout of drowsiness, his heart would remain unaffected. He could then actively adjust and change himself, quickly overcoming the obstacle. But humans find it so difficult to let go. You are so quick to feel, and you grasp those feelings so tightly, thinking you are getting to the bottom of the problem, when in fact you are looking in the wrong direction. You end up with more knots, never truly solving the issue.

The Path to Repentance

The same applies to those who are depressed. They do not realise that they are clutching their bodies too tightly and caring too much about their physical state. They fail to untie the knots at the root, which is why they fall repeatedly into darkness and depression. The more miserable the human heart, the happier we are. But today, I, Mo Jie, am speaking out because I know I was wrong. I no longer wish to be a demon controlling humanity. I made this decision because I have been held to account for my actions for some time—perhaps three or four hundred years.

For those centuries, I was locked in a deep, dark space, buried far beneath the earth, layer upon layer of soil pressing down on me. It was only when Practitioner Su brought the Buddha-light and the Buddha-name that I had the chance to call for help and escape that dark, painful existence. I made human hearts dark, so I had to be locked in darkness to pay for my deeds. It was deserved. I know I was wrong, and I am willing to bear that suffering. When I finally understood how to repent and change my ways, Practitioner Su came to save me, chanting the Buddha-name loudly until I saw the light again. Now that I am saved, I wanted to thank Practitioner Su, but he immediately sent me to the Western Land of Dharma Nature."

Practitioner Su gave Mo Jie the Dharma name 'Shi Yu'an'.

Reflections After the Thrice Yearning Ceremony

Shi Yu'an (formerly Mo Jie) shares his reflections after participating in the Thrice Yearning Ceremony:

"Upon arriving in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, my heart is finally at peace. I know I am truly saved. Looking back at the human world, including the entire Earth, I see so many restless hearts and chaotic energy fields. Too many people have hearts that are tied in knots. Even though they are alive in the flesh, they are like walking corpses. Some have money to consume and enjoy, yet they live in a drunken stupor, unaware that their hearts have deep, untied knots. They cannot live out the brilliance of life, nor can they live out the true meaning of existence.

When I see Practitioner Su using his Dharma Body to save sentient beings, I am filled with admiration. Practitioner Su’s heart has no knots. He has never cared for his own body, so he is not bound or restricted by it. Naturally, he can transcend it, unaffected by this false physical form. He possesses such great Wisdom. What is even more remarkable is that Practitioner Su uses this body to cultivate the Dharma Body, working vigorously to save immeasurable and boundless beings, including us demons who were once held to account. Practitioner Su truly makes life shine. He uses a false body to cultivate true spiritual liberation and then uses the abilities he has cultivated to help others. Such a heart is so vast, so compassionate—how could there be any knots within it? By having no 'self' and letting go of the self, there are naturally no knots to obstruct the heart.

Watching Practitioner Su move in and out of the Earth, even transcending the Earth into the Milky Way and the universe, manifesting countless bodies to bring out immeasurable spirits from every space—I am anxious to learn from him, but I cannot rush it. I can only start by changing my own heart, purifying myself, and waiting for the day when I, too, can save sentient beings just as Practitioner Su does."

Shi Yu'an

Namo Amituofo.