肇論疏 2.41

2.41

般若無知論有三章：第一正是論文，第二劉公致問，第三肇師釋答。今是第二劉公致問也。廬山遠法師作《劉公傳》云：劉程之，字仲思，彭城人，漢楚元王裔也。承積慶之重粹，體方外之虛心，百家淵談，靡不遊目，精研佛理，以期盡妙。陳郡殷仲文、譙圀桓玄，諸有心之士莫不崇拭，祿尋陽柴桑，以為入山之資。未旋幾時，桓玄東下格稱永始。逆謀始，劉便命孥考室林藪。義熙公候咸辟命，皆遜辭以免。九年，大尉劉公知其野志冲邈，乃以高尚人望相禮，遂其放心。居山十有二年，卒有說云：入山已後，自謂是國家遺棄之民，故改名遺民也。初生法師入關，從什法師稟學。後還廬山，得〈無知論〉以示劉公，劉公以呈遠法師。因共研盡，遂致此書問其幽隱處。雖言迹在於劉公，亦是遠法師之意也。

The Bore wuzhi lun has three sections: the first is the treatise proper; the second is Venerable Liu's presentation of questions; the third is Master [Seng]zhao's explanatory response. Now this is the second, Venerable Liu's presentation of questions. Dharma Master [Hui]yuan of Mount Lu composed the Biography of Venerable Liu, which says: "Liu Chengzhi, whose courtesy name was Zhongsi, was a native of Pengcheng and a descendant of King Yuan of Chu of the Han dynasty. Bearing the accumulated, refined purity of successive generations and embodying the unattached mind that transcends worldly bounds, there were none of the profound discourses of the hundred schools through which he did not let his eyes wander; he meticulously studied Buddhist principles in order to exhaust their marvels. Among people of resolve such as Yin Zhongwen of Chen Commandery and Huan Xuan of Qiao Commandery, none failed to esteem and admire him. He took office in Chaisang of Xunyang to provide the means for entering the mountains. Not long afterwards, Huan Xuan went east and usurped the throne, proclaiming the era Yongsbi. When the rebellious plot began, Liu immediately ordered his wife and children to establish a home in the forests and marshes. The dukes and marquises of the Yixi era all summoned him to office, but he declined with modest words to avoid them. In the ninth year, Grand Commandant Venerable Liu [Yu], knowing that his rustic aspirations were lofty and distant, treated him with ritual respect as a figure of eminent and esteemed virtue, thus fulfilling his free mind. He lived in the mountain for twelve years, and died there." Some say: "After entering the mountains, he regarded himself as an abandoned subject of the state, so he changed his name to Yimin (Abandoned Subject)." Formerly, Dharma Master [Dao]sheng entered the Passes and studied under Master [Kumāra]jīva. Later he returned to Mount Lu, obtained the Treatise on Non-knowing, and showed it to Venerable Liu, who in turn presented it to Dharma Master [Hui]yuan. Together they investigated it thoroughly, and thereupon he sent this letter inquiring into its subtle and hidden points. Although the words and trace lie with Venerable Liu, they also represent the intention of Dharma Master [Hui]yuan.