佛祖歷代通載 8.78

8.78

（三十五　庚申）　是年高祖有事于鍾山。因幸沙門僧遠所居。遠床坐辭以老病不能出迎。高祖將詣床下見之。左右以房閤狹不容輿蓋。遂駐蹕遣使勞問臥起而去。遠居山凡五十餘年。初猶有食。食不繼㵎飲二十餘年。天下仰其高行。及終武帝致書沙門法獻曰。承遠上無常。弟子夜中已知。遠去此玄甚得好處。諸佳非一。不復增悲也。一二遲見法師方可敘瑞夢耳。今為作功德。所須可具疏來。

(Thirty-fifth year; gengshen [480 CE]) In this year, Gaozu conducted state rites at Zhongshan. On that occasion, he visited the dwelling of the śramaṇa Sengyuan. Yuan remained seated on his bed and excused himself on grounds of old age and illness, unable to come out to welcome him. Gaozu was about to proceed right up to the bed to see him, but his attendants considered the chamber too cramped to accommodate the imperial sedan and parasol; he thereupon halted the imperial carriage, dispatched an envoy to extend his greetings regarding Yuan's daily rest, and departed. Yuan lived on the mountain for over fifty years in all. In the beginning he still had food; when provisions failed to continue, he drank from the mountain streams for more than twenty years. The realm revered his lofty conduct. When he passed away, Emperor Wu sent a letter to the śramaṇa Faxian, saying: 'I have learned that the venerable master Yuan has undergone impermanence. This disciple already knew of it in the middle of the night. Yuan has departed this obscure world and truly attained a wondrous place; his many splendours are manifold, so do not increase your grief. It will only be when I meet with the Dharma Master in person that I can relate the auspicious dream. I shall now cultivate merit on his behalf; you may draw up a complete list of what is required and submit it.'