The Redemption of Mo Youzhuan: From Pandemic Demon to Pure Land

This interview was recorded on August 29, 2021, at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. It features the testimony of a spirit named Mo Youzhuan, who was involved in the spread of the pandemic before seeking deliverance through Practitioner Su. He now resides in the light of the Buddha-land under his new Dharma name, Shi Mingjing.

Mo Youzhuan (Dharma Name: Shi Mingjing) speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Mo Youzhuan. Before I was given the Dharma name Shi Mingjing by the Buddha, I was a spirit caught in the cycle of the pandemic. Approximately two hundred and thirty people were harmed by the influence I carried, with about ten deaths occurring before I was subdued. The affected countries were primarily concentrated in Central and South America and Europe. This is my story of returning to the light."

A Hesitant Descent into Darkness

"I have often asked myself: what kind of world is this? Before I stepped into the Demon Realm, I was filled with hesitation, yet I still chose to walk into the darkness. When the opportunity to participate in the spread of the pandemic arose, I hesitated again, but ultimately, I chose to join. In truth, when I was spreading the virus, my heart felt heavy. I am not a being of extreme evil; many times, I was condemned by my own conscience. Although I spent a long time spreading the pandemic, the number of people I actually affected was not high. I always targeted those who were truly wicked. The extent of the virus's transformation or the severity of its impact on them depended entirely on their own hearts."

The Pull of the Buddha-Light

"The reason I came to this radiant Buddha-land was that I witnessed its light-trace. From within that light, I heard a voice calling to save the world from the pandemic. I was astonished. The entire Demon Realm was focused on the pandemic, using it to stir up chaos—it was a time for the demon crowds to exert their full influence. Yet, the energy emanating from this place was so positive and upright that it shook me to my core, sparking a curiosity that compelled me to come and see.

I saw many other pandemic-related spirits arriving, just like me. They were preparing to take action, intending to test just how capable this Practitioner Su really was and whether his words were mere boasting. A demon leader charged forward with his 'demon children and grandchildren.' They were full of confidence, as they were a group of demons known for their immense speed. They held hammer-like objects used to spread the virus, aiming them at Practitioner Su, who sat before them. They intended to cause interference, but to their shock, they were instantly repelled by a protective membrane. Practitioner Su let out a loud sneeze and immediately asked, 'Who has come?' With that single question, their names were instantly revealed. As the large qing was struck, they were rapidly drawn away. I watched as they were transported to another space—a space that was incredibly bright. Upon reaching that light, their appearances changed instantly; their fierce, malevolent expressions transformed into looks of innocence. I was stunned. Suddenly, I felt a desire to see for myself. As I stepped forward, I feared I might regret it, and I hesitated there for a long time. Suddenly, a force pushed me forward. I looked back and saw that it was the very demon children and grandchildren who usually followed me who had given me a shove. That push brought me close to Practitioner Su, allowing him to sense my presence. He wrote down my memorial tablet, the qing was struck, and I truly arrived in this world of light."

A Childhood of Suffering

"I did not feel the agitation that the other demons displayed. I simply sat quietly and listened to Practitioner Su deliver Dharma talks. Every word he spoke entered the depths of my heart. These profound truths cleansed my inner being, and for the first time, I, who had been so restless and helpless, found a direction. The more I listened to the Dharma, the more my heart was shaken. I was amazed that there was still someone in the human world expounding such true Truth. I could not suppress my emotions and burst into tears. This weeping purified both my heart and my face.

I try not to think about the time before I entered the Demon Realm, for it is a memory too painful to bear. I was born in a slum. Life there was a daily struggle. From birth, we had no clean water to drink, let alone to bathe in. In that underdeveloped region, it might not rain for a year or two. The earth would crack, and the only things that could grow were tough, resilient grasses that were incredibly hard to chew.

Our family consisted of my father, my mother, and nine children. I was the eighth. My three older sisters and two older brothers had already perished because they could not withstand the harsh environment, leaving only four of us. My brother, only six years old, had to go out to find food. He would walk barefoot all day just to find a few berries to bring back to quench our family's thirst. When we opened the fruit, each child would take a turn to suck on it, and we would save the two largest ones for our hardworking parents, though they would always insist on giving them back to us. When the dry rations ran out, we had no choice but to pull up grass and chew it to stave off hunger.

In winter, we had no thick clothing. We had to keep rubbing our bodies to stay warm. We had no shoes, and our feet would freeze until they were numb. Winter was the hardest time to survive—no fruit, no grass, only cold and hunger. Many times, I felt my whole body turning cold, on the verge of hypothermia. My mother, seeing my condition, would hold me tightly, rubbing my body, not daring to stop for the entire night. She knew that such a state meant I was on the brink of death, as two of my brothers had died in exactly that way. Every child lost was a heartbreak for my mother."

The Desperate Stand

"Outside our village, there was a deep pit filled with the bodies of the dead. Every day, people were carried there. The pit made no distinction between the old and the young; people were constantly dying and being tossed inside. The sound of weeping was a constant presence in the village. For us, survival was an immense struggle, and those who managed to grow up did so having endured endless suffering.

When I was thirteen, a group of men in military uniforms arrived. Seeing our plight, they provided us with food and clean water. They helped us improve our lives, and then they built simple houses nearby and settled in. After a while, they began to act strangely. They started digging everywhere, as if searching for something. In our village, this was a great taboo. The elders had always taught us to cherish the land. Although the soil was barren, it was the earth that cared for us. Without the fruits it provided or the water it held, we could not survive. Therefore, the land must not be destroyed. Upholding the words of our elders, we had always protected this land. Now, these outsiders were destroying it, and we were anxious. The villagers gathered, discussing the situation in hushed, worried tones.

When these soldiers saw our resistance, they became angry and embarrassed. Although we did not speak the same language, their every move made their intentions clear. At first, they used violence to stop us. We clashed, and we showed them our fierce expressions, hoping they would leave. However, these soldiers had already surveyed our land and discovered vast, untapped natural energy resources beneath it. They realized that if they could gain ownership or management rights, they could reap huge profits. Driven by greed, they had come here, observing us all along. Now that they were certain, they planned to send more troops to exploit the land.

After that first conflict, we became wary of the soldiers, and they accelerated their looting. They marked off areas of our land and began digging from sunrise to sunset. It broke our hearts. Several village leaders were ruthlessly beaten to death for trying to stop them, and even my brother sacrificed his life to protect the villagers. The village was in chaos. The pit outside the village filled with more of our people within days. My heart ached. A fire of anger ignited within me. I wanted to protect my people, so I secretly sharpened wooden sticks to resist the soldiers. My mother, seeing this, was terrified. She had already lost my brother and did not want to lose me. She kept counseling me, and I temporarily relented. But a few days later, I witnessed a boy I had grown up with being shot dead by the soldiers. I was furious. The fire of rage in my chest erupted. I ran home, grabbed the sharpened sticks, and charged toward the soldiers' camp. Before I could even reach them, two shots rang out—bang, bang—and I fell to the ground, closing my eyes. I knew this would be the outcome; I had already embraced the determination to die. After death, my soul wandered the village, still wanting to protect my people.

When I saw them slaughtering my fellow villagers, including my parents, I was so enraged that my soul tried to rush at them, but I was sucked away by a force and entered the Demon Realm. In the Demon Realm, I targeted those who loved to bully the weak, ensuring they would meet a miserable end. I spent fifty years in the Demon Realm until I participated in the spread of the pandemic. Seeing the panic and anxiety on people's faces, I often could not bring myself to act, so I did not harm many people. It was only after entering this Buddha-land and listening to Practitioner Su's Dharma talks that I realized I should follow the Truth. I repent for the harm I caused after entering the Demon Realm. I do not want to be a person who harms others anymore; I want to start everything anew.

Life is so bitter! Only now has my heart finally settled. Looking at the Buddha's compassionate face, I am so grateful! The Buddha-light has been shining upon me, purifying my heart. I hope that more people can be saved by the magnificence of this Buddha-land. I am truly grateful for the compassion of the Buddha and Practitioner Su."

A New Beginning in the Light

"After arriving at the Buddha-land, my entire being was bathed in golden light, making my heart purer with every passing moment. My heart is filled with gratitude. Watching this Buddha-land, I see that every second is dedicated to saving people. Every being who arrives here, like me, has recovered their original nature. I have begun to practise chanting Namo Amituofo. I know that many beings connected to me by karmic affinity are waiting for me, and I will do my utmost to help them.

Seeing Practitioner Su perform Chao Du, sparing no effort, thinking of sentient beings at every moment, and using every Buddha-name to save countless beings—every vow he makes is a prayer that beings will no longer reincarnate. My heart is deeply moved. The light-trace emanating from this place can be seen throughout the universe. Practitioner Su's mental note is that saving people cannot wait. I hope to follow in his footsteps, helping sentient beings, dedicating merit to my own karmic creditors, and assisting beings throughout the universe. I am grateful to the Buddha and Practitioner Su for allowing me to be reborn."

Namo Amituofo.