This interview was recorded at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre in Australia on March 23, 2020. The being known as the Red Demon, having sought deliverance through the centre's compassionate efforts, shares his testimony regarding his profound transformation after witnessing the power of the assembly. This account was transcribed by the chief writer, Shi Fa.
Red Demon speaks:
". I am the Red Demon. When I witnessed the Dharma assembly over these past two days, I wept. Truly, I had never seen such a magnificent scene, especially one dedicated entirely to the salvation of others. I could hardly imagine that anyone would be willing to pour so much effort into beings like us—the demon crowds whom the world labels as the source of all evil. I never expected that someone would be willing to offer us such genuine, selfless care. It is a warmth we have never felt before. Even before I fell into the state of a demon, I had never witnessed such a moving display of ."
A First Encounter with Compassion
"In the past, I did not know what emotion was. I did not know what it meant to be moved. From the moment I was born, I was never blessed; my life felt as though it had been cursed with the power of a demon. It seemed I only ever had the opportunity to do evil. I simply did not know what Goodness was. So, when I saw all of you, I was deeply touched. I cannot even find the words to describe the true in my heart; this sensation is beyond the reach of language."
The Deception of False Practitioners
"I saw the Dharma assembly purifying beings one by one, leading them toward the light, guided by the compassion of Namo Amituofo. So, this is what the Buddha’s teachings truly are! I had heard of the magnificence of the Buddha’s teachings before, and of how good they were, but I never trusted any of it. I only knew that I could not see any Goodness in the people who claimed to represent them. I am a very straightforward person. If I believe something is right, I will insist on it. But if I believe something is wrong, I will never trust it. In the past, I believed the Buddha’s teachings were wrong because I saw people who appeared to be monastics on the surface, but their hearts and minds were nothing like those of true practitioners. I looked down upon those hypocritical humans, and I could not see any sign of the true Buddha’s teachings in them. Because of this, before I met all of you, I had never engaged in any study of the Buddha’s teachings. I felt they were not worthy of my time."
Finding the Path to Liberation
"But now, having seen your Dharma assembly and heard the sutras explained by Practitioner Su, I have finally come to truly understand what Buddhist education is. I have witnessed the power of this magnificent Dharma assembly. I saw countless beings being led into the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Although some were sent to different realms of light, it was clear that they had all reached a wonderful place. This is the true path to liberation from the cycle of being reincarnated. I realise now that a heart of sincerity and a truly genuine mind can break through the cycle of being reincarnated and liberate a life from suffering. I have been searching for this possibility of liberation for so long, and now, I have finally found it."
A New Beginning in the Dharma
"My heart has always been filled with such deep inferiority. You have all seen my past, and you know how bitter my life has been. Because my wrong thoughts and actions were never corrected, I became a demon. I never had the opportunity to receive education in Goodness, so I did not know that such a thing existed in this world. Now, I am so moved. I have finally been given the chance to learn. So, this is what the Buddha’s teachings are! This ability to save others is so wonderful—it is far more joyful than doing evil! I am so grateful to you for giving me this opportunity. I am deeply touched, and I am more than willing to join in this learning, to continue doing these good things together. Namo Amituofo."
IN THIS COLLECTION
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