高僧傳 13.67

13.67

釋曇宗，姓虢，秣陵人。出家止靈味寺。少而好學，博通眾典。唱說之功，獨步當世。辯口適時，應變無盡。嘗為孝武唱導，行菩薩五法禮竟，帝乃笑謂宗曰：「朕有何罪，而為懺悔？」宗曰：「昔虞舜至聖，猶云予違爾弼。湯武亦云萬姓有罪，在予一人。聖王引咎，蓋以軌世。陛下德邁往代，齊聖虞殷，履道思沖，寧得獨異。」帝大悅。後殷淑儀薨，三七設會，悉請宗。宗始歎世道浮偽，恩愛必離。嗟殷氏淑德，榮幸未暢，而滅實當年，收芳今日，發言悽至。帝泫愴良久，賞異彌深。後終於所住，著《京師塔寺記》二卷。時靈味寺復有釋僧意者，亦善唱說。製《睒經》新聲，哀亮有序。

Shi Tanzong, whose secular surname was Guo, was a native of Moling. He left household life and stayed at the Lingwei Temple. He loved learning from youth and was broadly conversant with the scriptures. In the merit of chanting and preaching, he was peerless in his time. His eloquent tongue suited the moment, and his responses to situations were inexhaustible. He once led the chanting for Emperor Xiaowu; after performing the prostrations of the five bodhisattva practices, the Emperor smiled and said to Tanzong: 'What sin does Our Majesty have, that you make repentance on our behalf?' Tanzong said: 'In the past, Yu Shun was a consummate sage, yet he still said: "If I deviate, you must assist me." Tang and Wu also said: "If the myriad commoners have sins, they lie on me, the one man." Holy kings assume blame to set an example for the world. Your Majesty's virtue surpasses past eras, equaling the sagehood of the Yu and Yin dynasties; walking the Path and considering modesty, how could you be alone in differing?' The Emperor was greatly pleased. Later, when Noble Consort Yin passed away and a ceremony was held on the third seventh-day (twenty-first day), Tanzong was invited. Tanzong began by lamenting that worldly ways are floating and false, and that cherished affections must be parted. He sighed that Consort Yin's virtuous character and honor were not yet fully expressed, yet she perished in her prime; having gathered fragrance today, his words were exceedingly poignant. The Emperor wept for a long time, admiring him even more deeply. He later died at his dwelling, having authored the *Record of Pagodas and Temples in the Capital* in two fascicles. At that time, there was also Shi Sengyi at the Lingwei Temple, who was also skilled in chanting and preaching. He composed a new tune for the *Śyāma Sūtra*, which was mournful, clear, and orderly.