釋鑑稽古略續集 2.53

2.53

願證姓李字大猷。姑蘇人。母陶氏禱觀音大士而生。幼即頴悟異常。學佛於頓覺蘭若祝髮受具。與僧法秀游得友益焉。謁南京淨覺法師。師曰。子才銳甚宜留意文學。他日期子弘宗扶教也。於是竺墳魯典無不研窮之。著為文辭森然有奇氣。出世水西寺遷吳興之道場。退居武康山中。著觀幻子內外篇。以合儒釋一貫之妙。皆踔厲前人。其光燁燁不可襲祕。後至天界寺值太祖。訪良僧於宋濂。濂以師對。太祖覽其所著喜曰。論議甚高其鐵中錚錚者乎。召見謹身殿慰勞備至。勅吏部除以翰林官職。是年二月病歿。壽三十七。

Yuanzheng's surname was Li and his courtesy name was Dayou. He was a man of Gusu. His mother, of the Tao clan, prayed to the Great Being Avalokiteśvara and gave birth to him. From his youth he was singularly intelligent and alert. He studied Buddhism at the Dunjué Hermitage, where he was tonsured and received the complete precepts. He traveled with the monk Faxiu and gained the benefits of friendship. He called upon Dharma Master Jingjue of Nanjing. The Master said, 'Your talent is exceedingly sharp; you should pay attention to literature. In future days, I expect you to propagate the school and support the teaching.' Thereupon there was none among the Indian scriptures and Lu classics that he did not study exhaustively. In composing literary writings, they were imposing and had an extraordinary spirit. He came forth into the world at Shuixi Temple, moved to Daochang in Wuxing, and retired to live among the mountains of Wukang. He authored the Inner and Outer Chapters of Guan Huanzi to harmonize the wonder of the single consistency of Confucianism and Buddhism, all surpassing his predecessors; their brilliance was so radiant that it could not be kept hidden. Later he came to Tianjie Monastery and met Taizu, who was inquiring of Song Lian for fine monks; Song Lian responded with the Master. Taizu examined what he had written and said with delight, 'His discussions are exceedingly lofty; is he not a ringing standout among iron?' [The Emperor] summoned him to an audience in the Jinshen Hall, consoling him with utmost care, and ordered the Ministry of Personnel to appoint him to an official post in the Hanlin Academy. In the second month of that year he fell ill and died, at the age of thirty-seven.