佛祖統紀 26.27

26.27

法師僧叡。冀州人。遊學諸方嘗行經蜀西界。為人所掠使牧羊。有商客異之。疑是沙門。及問以經義無不綜達。即出金贖之。後遊歷天竺諸國。還至關中從羅什諮稟經義。羅什翻法華經。以竺法護本云天見人人見天。什曰。此言過質耳。叡曰。將非人天交接兩得相見。什喜遂用其文。久之來入廬山。依遠公修淨業。既而適京師止烏衣寺。講說眾經聽者推服。宋彭城王義康要入第受戒。師曰。禮聞來學。王乃入寺祗奉戒法。王以貂裘奉師。常用敷坐。王密令以錢三萬買之。師曰。此雖非所宜服。然王之所施不可棄也。王聞益加敬。謝靈運篤好佛理。殊方俗音多所通解。甞以經中字音求證於師。因為著十四音訓。梵漢昭然。元嘉十六年無疾告眾曰。吾將行矣。即面西合掌而亡。眾見臥內一金蓮華倏爾而隱。春秋八十五。

Dharma Master Sengrui was a native of Jizhou. While traveling through various regions to study, he was once traveling across the western border of Shu when he was captured by people and forced to herd sheep. A traveling merchant thought him extraordinary and suspected he was a monk; when he questioned him on scriptural meanings, there was nothing he did not master, so the merchant immediately paid gold to ransom him. Later, he traveled through the various kingdoms of Tianzhu. Upon returning to Guanzhong, he inquired about and received scriptural meanings from Kumārajīva. When Kumārajīva translated the *Lotus Sūtra*, he noted that Zhu Fahu's version read: “Deities see humans, and humans see deities.” Kumārajīva said: “This expression is overly literal.” Sengrui suggested: “Would it not be better as: 'Humans and deities intermingle, and both can see one another'?” Kumārajīva was delighted and adopted his wording. After a long while, he came to Mount Lu and relied on Master Yuan to cultivate pure karma. Soon after, he went to the capital and resided at the Wuyi Monastery, lecturing on various scriptures, and his listeners looked up to and conceded to him. Prince Yikang of Pengcheng of the Song invited him to his mansion to administer the precepts. The Master said: “According to the rites, I have heard of students coming to learn, [not of teachers going to teach].” The prince then went to the monastery to respectfully receive the precept transmission. The prince offered the Master a marten fur robe, which the Master regularly used as a seat mat. The prince secretly ordered someone to purchase it back with thirty thousand cash. The Master said: “Although this is not something suitable to wear, an offering made by the prince cannot be discarded.” Hearing this, the prince revered him even more. Xie Lingyun was deeply fond of Buddhist principles and thoroughly understood many different regional pronunciations and vernacular dialects. He once consulted the Master to verify character sounds in the scriptures, and for his sake the Master composed *The Gloss on the Fourteen Sounds*, making Sanskrit and Chinese crystal clear. In the sixteenth year of the Yuanjia reign era, though free of illness, he announced to the assembly: “I am about to depart.” He then faced west, joined his palms, and passed away. The assembly saw a golden lotus blossom suddenly appear in his sleeping quarters and then quickly vanish. His age was eighty-five.