The Scientist Who Became the Virus

This is a record of an interview with Lucas, who sought to be saved at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Dharma-Nature Land, having received the Dharma name Shi Hangzhou from the Buddha. This account reflects upon his life and his subsequent transformation into a spirit of vengeance. Recorded by the chief writer, Venerable Fa-xin, on April 7, 2020.

Venerable Fa-xin speaks: (The virus is accustomed to manifesting in its viral form. Through the Buddha’s light, I allow it to realise that it has been liberated. Because it presents itself as a virus, the Buddha teaches with a single sound, and all beings understand according to their own nature.)

(The spirit appears wearing a white laboratory coat, his body bloated and distorted.)

Lucas speaks: "I am a spirit. When the central laboratory first approached me, I had already been working there for five years. I was neither a novice nor a veteran, but I was deeply committed to researching the mutations of viruses. The microscope was my most trusted tool. The viruses I studied were, in a sense, the future of experimentation. Viruses are constantly changing, and the impact they have on the human body—whether it is an external manifestation on the skin and organs or a neurological impact—is vastly different. External viruses show themselves on the surface, while neurological viruses strip a person of their speech and autonomy. Viruses can never be truly killed; instead, when they encounter a human body, they move rapidly, mutate, and deliver a lethal blow."

The Genius and the Bird Migration

"I, Lucas, understood so much. Since I was a child, I was considered a freak genius in my family. I researched things that no one else had even imagined. I studied the retinas of human eyes and the bacterial strains found in the excrement of various animals. After a massive, tragic bird migration where thousands died, I began my research, hoping to help these creatures. Through my studies, I became proficient in the habits of various animals, even helping species on the brink of extermination to survive once more. I understood how to save them and how to heal them when they were sick. Seeing them survive and thrive brought me great joy. Most species die because of humanity's excessive destruction of the environment—building factories and houses for their own profit, turning natural habitats into something unnatural."

The Cruelty of Human Greed

"Ever since I began participating in conservation work, I learned about various ecosystems, examining their health through their diet and the state of their waste. To the natural world, I was a universal doctor. My Goodness caught the attention of the government, and I became a state-hired conservationist. I did this work for twenty years, until a viral infection broke out in an American town, spreading from animals to humans without warning. The mayor became anxious, as such situations usually resulted in many deaths. They found me and hired me at a high salary to study the mutated viruses that had jumped from animals to humans.

"At first, when the virus was simple, small doses of medicine could strengthen the human immune system and isolate the threat. But human appetite is insatiable. The demand for meat grew higher and higher, leading humans to inject growth hormones into animals to make their bodies grow strong in a short time to supply the global market. This dosage seemed effective, but it was a cruel, forceful way to change the animals' cells. This suddenly developed muscle actually made it impossible for the animals' hearts to cope. It was a brutal practice. And so, these animals were consumed by humans, and the same toxins acted within the human body. People in many countries that relied on meat as a staple diet developed strange diseases. Naturally, they came to me to solve these problems. I tried many solutions, but in the end, I could not resist the tide of human desire. Finally, I researched acute viruses, hoping to help humanity."

The Secret Laboratory and the Final Choice

"I was locked away by the government in a secret laboratory. I knew a thing or two about the government's inner workings, so my identity was hidden. The ambition of the United States was to use biochemical viruses to control the countries they wanted to invade, to plunder power, international status, and energy resources. Officials tracked my progress every day, demanding that I finish my research within two months—the moment the government decided to launch a war. My eyes were weary; I was like a prisoner, and I loathed what I was doing. But I had no choice. I was controlled by drugs.

"When I reached the semi-finished stage of my research, I was terrified. I feared that if such strains and viruses were spread, the consequences would be unbearable and impossible to clean up. This was not what I wanted to see. I could not commit suicide, so I injected the viruses I had been researching into my own body."

From Scientist to Vengeful Spirit

"Five days after the injection, the cells in my body burned and died in an explosive manner. When the government found me, they were afraid that my death would expose them, and they did not understand the situations regarding the virus I had been researching, so they burned the laboratory along with my corpse. At first, my soul remained in the space of that laboratory, filled with pain and disgust. As the intensity of my hatred accumulated, my soul shrank and sprouted many tentacles, turning black and purple. I became a dark, mutated virus, invisible to the physical eyes of humans. My intense heart led me to those officials, causing them to die from incurable illnesses. No one could find the cause.

"I invaded their bodies with the virus, causing them to die in a short time, just like the rapid-acting viruses I had once studied. I entered their bodies and quickly destroyed their healthy cells, changing them and taking their lives. From that moment on, I changed. I changed along with human nature, catering to it. After my revenge was complete, I drifted, becoming a highly spiritual virus. I attached myself to those who loved to grasp power and were selfish. After acting within a human body, I would leave and return to the space to find the next victim. Over the years, I have seen through the tricks in the human heart."

The Plague God's Weapon

"During this pandemic, the Plague God found me. I became their most powerful weapon. Invading human bodies and causing them to die quickly is my specialty. I have many viral cells under my command, and we all spread to every corner of the world. Those who fight for power in various countries are our targets. This time, there is no limit to the targets—from high-ranking government officials, entertainers, company executives, and shop owners, to those who are eager for quick success and instant benefits, greedy merchants, and even cleaners who dream of climbing high. Anyone whose heart is filled with the desire to fight, to snatch, and to climb to high positions—those who only think of their own achievements—are the places where the virus spreads. You ask why people who look like good people on the surface also get sick? Only they know what their hearts are thinking. Do not blame us."

A New Beginning at Hsiang Kuang

"When the Plague God who led us in spreading the virus suddenly disappeared, I was suspicious. I heard news of the direction they had gone, and even heard that they had surrendered, so I came to investigate. My mutation is so strong that no one can shake me off, so I felt safe. I approached in the form of a black ball. I never expected to be discovered the moment I got close. With a loud shout, my body instantly turned grey-black. They actually knew I was coming, and they even knew who I was! What kind of place is this? It looks like a group of Chinese people with light on their bodies. Just after a loud sound was struck, my body turned transparent, and then back into a human form. I don't know how all this happened. I don't understand what is going on here, but I just feel a sense of rebirth. Coming to this special place, everything looks fresh, and all the uncomfortable feelings in my body and mind have disappeared."

The Magic of the Dharma

"There is a gathering here every morning; it is very lively. I have never seen humans fly—it is more vivid than the action movies on American television! Every morning it is so crowded; many people are sent here just like me, and then they go to an even brighter place. That large, bright Buddha is different from the God I imagined. The light here is so beautiful and magnificent. It seems that everything here is about doing good. My heart has been softened, and I am resting here with peace of mind, continuing to observe everything that happens. I see many beings related to the pandemic being sent in. Everyone who looked fierce and evil becomes gentle the moment they enter. Everything here is like magic. To a foreigner like me, it is surprising and amazing. I have grown to like this place, and I will stay here; I do not want to wander anymore. Perhaps this pandemic will be slightly alleviated without me, with fewer anomalies. But if the human heart continues to churn, the mutated cells will continue to churn. The human heart and the pandemic are linked. In this open society, we must return to simplicity to change everything. Let us see how the human heart acts. I will stop here and continue to explore the wonderful world I have arrived in."

Namo Amituofo.