高僧傳 3.18

3.18

時有佛馱跋陀比丘，亦是彼國禪匠，嚴乃要請東歸，欲傳法中土，跋陀嘉其懇至，遂共東行。於是踰沙越險，達自關中。常依隨跋陀，止長安大寺。頃之，跋陀橫為秦僧所擯，嚴亦分散，憩于山東精舍，坐禪誦經，力精修學。晉義熙十三年，宋武帝西伐長安，剋捷旋斾，塗出山東。時始興公王恢從駕遊觀山川，至嚴精舍，見其同止三僧，各坐繩床，禪思湛然，恢至，良久不覺，於是彈指，三人開眼，俄而還閉，問不與言。恢心敬其奇，訪諸耆老，皆云：「此三僧隱居求志，高潔法師也。」恢即啟宋武帝延請還都。莫肯行者。既屢請懇至，二人推嚴隨行。恢懷道素篤，禮事甚殷，還都，即住始興寺。嚴性愛虛靖，志避諠塵，恢乃為於東郊之際，更起精舍，即枳園寺也。

At that time there was the monk (bhikṣu) Buddhabhadra, who was also a master of dhyāna in that country. Zhiyan invited him to return east, wishing to transmit the Dharma to the central lands. [Buddha]bhadra appreciated his earnest sincerity and traveled east with him. Thereupon, traversing sands and scaling perilous heights, they arrived in Guanzhong. Zhiyan consistently relied upon and followed [Buddha]bhadra, residing at the Great Monastery of Chang'an. Shortly afterward, [Buddha]bhadra was unjustly expelled by the monks of Qin, and Zhiyan's group dispersed as well; he rested at a monastery east of the mountains, practicing dhyāna, reciting sūtras, and applying himself with vigorous diligence to study and practice. In the thirteenth year of the Yixi era of the Jin, Emperor Wu of the Song campaigned west against Chang'an, and upon achieving victory turned his banners back, taking the route east of the mountains. At that time, the Duke of Shixing, Wang Hui, accompanied the imperial entourage to tour the mountains and rivers, and arrived at Zhiyan's monastery. He saw that the three monks residing together were each seated on a rope bed, their dhyāna contemplations serene and still. When Hui arrived, they did not notice him for quite some time; thereupon he snapped his fingers, and the three opened their eyes, but shortly closed them again, answering nothing when questioned. Hui was profoundly impressed by their extraordinary character, and upon inquiring of various elders, they all said: "These three monks live in seclusion to fulfill their aspirations; they are Dharma masters of lofty purity." Hui then reported to Emperor Wu of the Song, inviting them to return to the capital, but none was willing to go. As his repeated requests were so earnestly sincere, the other two urged Zhiyan to go with him. Hui had always possessed a sincere devotion to the Way and treated him with profound courtesy and offerings; upon returning to the capital, Zhiyan took up residence in Shixing Temple. By nature, Zhiyan loved quiet stillness and resolved to avoid the noisy world; Hui therefore built another monastery for him on the border of the eastern suburbs, which is the Zhuyuan Temple.