釋鑑稽古略續集 1.140

1.140

福元講主　諱德謙。姓楊氏。字福元。寧州定平人。幼為勤策嗜誦佛書。稍長遍歷名邦。諮訪先德受般若於寧公。習瑞應於忠公。受幽贊於仙公。學圓覺於一公。究唯什俱舍於頙公。聽楞嚴四分於聞公。而數公並以識法解義。聲名遠著。師皆親熏炙之。必臻其道。後京都受華嚴於萬安揀公。初詔居萬寧寺。次遷慈恩前後十祀。道德簡於宸裏。聲光揚於海外未甞以榮顯寵遇改其志。甞曰。畦衣之上抗於世表。苟不媿於朝聞夕死。尚何慕焉。乃讓席幽居。括囊一室處世。而遺世者也。是年正月日示寂。賜緍旌幢津送塔於城之南隅云。

Prelector Fuyuan: Taboo name Deqian, surnamed Yang, styled Fuyuan, a native of Dingping in Ningzhou. In his youth, as a novice, he was fond of reciting Buddhist texts. When slightly older, he traveled through famous regions, inquiring of and visiting former worthies: he received Prajñā from Venerable Ning, studied the Ruiying from Venerable Zhong, received the Youzan from Venerable Xian, learned the Perfect Awakening from Venerable Yi, investigated the Vijñapti-mātra and the Abhidharmakośa under Venerable Shi, and heard the Śūraṅgama and Four-Part Vinaya from Venerable Wen. These masters were all renowned far and wide for their knowledge of the Dharma and understanding of doctrine; the Master personally received their influence and invariably attained their ways. Later, in the capital, he received the Avataṃsaka from Venerable Jian of Wan'an. Initially, an imperial edict appointed him to reside at Wanning Monastery, and then he moved to Ci'en Monastery, spending ten years in all. His morality and virtue were scrutinized and noted within the imperial palace, and his fame and glory shone abroad, yet he never altered his aspiration on account of glory or favor. He once said: "Wearing the patchwork robe, one rises above the worldly realm; if only one feels no shame in hearing the Dao in the morning and dying in the evening, what else is there to long for?" Thereupon, he yielded his abbot's seat to live in seclusion, keeping his mouth closed in a single room, dwelling in the world yet forsaking it. In the first month of this year, he manifested cessation. An imperial grant of currency and ceremonial banners was provided to transport him and escort him to be entombed in a stupa at the southern corner of the city.