歷代三寶紀 12.97

12.97

The above four works comprise twenty-seven fascicles in total. Written by Śramaṇa Shi Huiying of Shewei Temple. Huiying's secular surname was Jiang, and he was a native of Baxi. He was an eminent disciple in doctrinal exegesis under Shi Dao'an, the master of the Mahāprajñāpāramitopadeśa under the Northern Zhou. Passing on the lamp and pouring water from vessel to vessel, he followed in the footsteps of the turning of the Dharma wheel. Transmitting rather than originating, he propagated the Mahāyāna (he was also a master of the Twenty-five Assemblies). Concealing his form within monastery grounds, he drifted his intent upon the stream of wisdom. His traces were rare among men, his mind dwelling largely beyond worldly matters. A sharp literary edge issued from his mouth, and his cavern of principles entered the spirit. Looking upon the arising of his treatises, his intention can be perceived. 'Grieving over Learning' was written to eradicate the fault of slandering the Dharma; 'Preservation and Abolition' was to guard against the intent of treacherous ambition; and 'Weariness with Cultivation' was to cause people to reform their errors and submit to the Way.