The Transformation of Mo Yisheng: An Interview with a Demon

This is a record of an interview with Mo Yisheng, also known as Shi Wenxin, who once interfered with the head of Practitioner Su. He sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia and now resides in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. This account reflects upon his long journey through the realms of existence. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxin, on April 16, 2022.

Mo Yisheng (Shi Wenxin) speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Mo Yisheng, though I am now known as Shi Wenxin. There is a profound Truth that governs the entire universe. Between Goodness and evil, there exists a natural force of attraction. The transitions between the six realms of existence and the ten directions of the Dharma Realm are all determined by this very heart of ours. When we possess a physical body, we are governed by this heart; when we are without a body, what we perceive is simply the purity of our spirit. The purer the spirit, the more luminous the realm in which it resides; conversely, the more malevolent the spirit, the darker the place it inhabits.

Now that I reside within the Dharma-Nature Land, I can see my past with absolute clarity. More importantly, I have come to realise that becoming a Buddha is my inevitable future."

A Shy Demon's Long Confinement

"Although I entered the Demon Realm, my spirit remained remarkably simple and honest. I did not interact much with the other demon crowds because I was naturally shy. Therefore, the major tasks the Demon King assigned—the destruction, the chaos, the attempts to control human beings—none of these were ever my responsibility. To be perfectly honest, I was a demon of insufficient ability. Other demons would often mock me, claiming that my nature was entirely unsuited for the Demon Realm. It is true; for the most part, I would simply stand quietly, observing the changes in the world around me. As things shifted between good and bad, my own heart would often fluctuate with them.

During the first few years after becoming a demon, I wandered alongside the others, learning the craft of controlling human beings. However, before my techniques had even matured, I made a careless mistake and was trapped deep within the earth, becoming a fossil. I was completely immobilised. At first, I was terrified, but the more I struggled, the tighter the earth pressed against me. I did not understand why I was being crushed. I remained in that state for hundreds of thousands of years. During those long aeons, the only way I could perceive the events occurring on this planet was through the sensitivity of my spirit. When I witnessed animals harming animals, humans harming humans, and various species inflicting pain upon one another, I found it quite ironic. I realised then that it was not only the Demon Realm that possessed demon nature; all spirits, in their own way, carried a trace of it. When I saw this clearly, I told myself that the term 'Demon Realm' was merely a label."

The Attack on the Buddha-Land

"The place where I was buried shifted from beneath the ice to beneath the mountains, and finally, due to tectonic movements, I was pushed to the surface. I was exposed to the sun, the wind, and the rain every single day. When the long period of my confinement finally ended, my character had not been refined much; I was still very much a part of the Demon Realm. Yet, my perspective had changed significantly. I had witnessed so much of human nature and understood the turbulence of the human heart. I saw how the human heart was becoming increasingly wicked, growing more and more in sync with the demon nature.

When the Demon King decided to launch an attack on the Buddha-land, I volunteered. My spirit sensed that this was a mission unlike any other. I had never truly intended to harm anyone; I simply followed orders because the Demon King required me to participate. He knew my temperament well and never held high expectations for my performance in battle."

Purification and the Vision of the Dharma Body

"In the end, I was subdued just like all the other demons who had intruded upon the Buddha-land. Upon entering the Dharma-Nature Land, I felt an extraordinary sense of peace. Looking back at my past, and the pasts before that, I realised that it had all been nothing more than a series of theatrical plays. I laughed at my own foolishness. I decided to stabilise my heart and integrate myself into this place. As I held this mental note, I discovered that all my previous extreme and negative tendencies were being purified. I was deeply moved to see so many other demons who had arrived at the Buddha-land completely transformed. After speaking with them about their own shifts in heart, I knew that my decision to stay was the right one.

Looking out across the universe, I see how the Dharma Body of Practitioner Su changes with such incredible speed. So many sentient beings who were trapped in spaces they could not escape have been liberated because of this. The spaces that have been opened span decades, centuries, and even tens of thousands of years—some even exceeding the two hundred thousand years I spent as a demon. Seeing everyone bathed in the Buddha-light, their spirits purified, fills my heart with immense joy. When the Dharma Body traverses these spaces, the entire realm shines with brilliant radiance. The way the Dharma Body naturally breaks through, and breaks through again, is a magnificent sight that words simply cannot describe.

The Chao Du performed by Practitioner Su has opened a new horizon for me. I no longer view the six realms of existence through the lens of my past. Instead, I sincerely hope that all sentient beings may be saved by the magnificent power of the Buddha’s teachings. I am filled with gratitude for the Buddha and for the compassion of Practitioner Su, which allows countless sentient beings to benefit from this grace.

Namo Amituofo."