When the Evil Spirit Entered His Belly

The sunset draped the Sumsumāragiri forest as the last light filtered through the Bhesakalā trees, gilding the ground. Venerable Moggallāna was walking meditation outdoors, his steps light and graceful on the grassy path. Suddenly, a strange sensation arose within his body: his belly felt heavy and burdened, as if something was accumulating and pressing down inside. The Venerable paused, gently touching his stomach, clearly aware of the abnormality.

"Why is my body so heavy today? Something seems amiss," he reflected. With a calm mind, he stepped from the path, entered the vihāra, and sat down on his prepared seat, keeping his body upright, dwelling in mindfulness. As his mind settled into deep calm, he observed his entire body and discovered: an evil spirit had slipped into his belly, taking residence in his stomach.

The Venerable then called out, his voice resonating in the still air: "O evil spirit, come out! Do not trouble the Thus-Come One or the disciples of the Thus-Come One. If you do not leave, you will bear long-lasting misfortune and suffering."

Inside the Venerable's belly, the evil spirit stiffened, startled. He thought: "How does this ascetic know I am here? Even his own teacher could not detect me so quickly. How can he recognize me so easily?"

Venerable Moggallāna spoke again, his tone calm yet full of authority: "Do not think I do not know you. I have seen you clearly."

The evil spirit grew even more bewildered. He could not understand how this monk could perceive his presence. Finally, he had to emerge from the Venerable's mouth, revealing his original form, standing leaning against the vihāra door, his eyes full of resentment.

Venerable Moggallāna saw him and smiled faintly: "O evil spirit, I see you standing by the door. Do not think that I do not see you."

The evil spirit stood there silently, but inside, he was utterly astonished. The Venerable continued, his voice deep and gentle: "In ages past, I too was an evil spirit named Dūsī. I am your nephew, and you are the son of my sister, whose name was Kālī."

The evil spirit's eyes widened, unable to believe what he had just heard. Venerable Moggallāna recounted the ancient story: "During the time of the Buddha Kakusandha, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One, there were two great disciples, Vidhura and Sañjīva. Vidhura was unparalleled in expounding the Dharma, without equal. Sañjīva, meanwhile, was one who often walked in the forest, sitting beneath trees, and could easily enter the Cessation of Perception and Feeling."

The evil spirit listened, still astonished. The Venerable continued: "One day, Sañjīva was sitting absorbed in meditation beneath a tree. Cowherds, goatherds, and farmers passing by saw him sitting motionless and said to each other: 'How wondrous! How rare! This ascetic is dead but still sitting. Let us cremate him.' They piled wood and dried cow dung upon his body, set it alight, and left."

"But when the night waned, Sañjīva emerged from his concentration, brushed off the ash, and the next morning put on his robe, took his bowl, and went to the village for alms. The very people who had burned him the day before saw him and cried out in shock: 'How wondrous! This ascetic was dead but now lives again!' Thus, he was called Sañjīva, meaning 'continued life.'"

The evil spirit stood speechless, unable to utter a word. Venerable Moggallāna looked at him, his eyes filled with compassion yet also unwavering firmness: "O evil spirit, you have committed evil deeds, causing beings to suffer. But know this: no matter how skilled you are, you cannot disturb the mind of monks who uphold morality and wholesome states."

The evil spirit bowed his head, silent for a long time. He realized that the power of mindfulness and the wisdom of a saint is truly boundless, impossible to undermine with schemes. Finally, he had to leave the vihāra, disappearing into the darkness, carrying with him shame and a lesson about the futility of demonic power in the face of a liberated mind.

The Meaning of the Story

The story teaches us that the demon king uses every trick to disturb the mind of a practitioner, but if one can maintain a mind of clear awareness, dwelling in mindfulness, then demonic forces cannot penetrate. The Venerable Moggallāna's recognition and rebuke show the power of wisdom and meditative concentration in overcoming all obstacles, whether invisible or visible.

Compiled from a dharma talk by Venerable Thích Chân Quang.