佛祖統紀 37.75

37.75

三年。詔顗禪師入京居靈曜寺。四月赴太極殿講大智度論題般若經題。久之遷居光宅寺。帝幸寺聽講仁王經。躬禮三拜○朝議以僧尼類多無業。欲令策經不通者皆休道。顗禪師諫帝曰。調達日誦萬言未免淪墜。槃特唯憶一偈乃證四果（二事並見天台本紀注）篤論為道豈關多誦。帝大說。即停搜簡。

In the third year, an edict ordered Chan Master [Zhi]yi to enter the capital and reside at Lingyao Monastery. In the fourth month, he went to Taiji Hall to lecture on the title of the Dà zhìdù lùn and the title of the Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra. After some time, he moved to Guangzhai Monastery. The emperor visited the monastery to listen to the lecture on the Kāruṇikarāja-sūtra, personally paying homage with three prostrations. The court deliberated that since many monks and nuns had no profession, all those who failed the examination on the scriptures should be forced to abandon the Way. Chan Master [Zhi]yi admonished the emperor, saying: "Devadatta recited ten thousand words a day, yet could not avoid falling into the depths; Cūḍapanthaka remembered only a single verse, yet realized the four fruits (both matters are found in the notes to the Basic Annals of Tiantai). In a sincere discussion of practicing the Way, how could it depend on reciting much?" The emperor was greatly pleased and immediately stopped the investigation and purging.