高僧傳 5.27

5.27

釋僧先，冀州人，常山淵公弟子。性純素，有貞操。為沙彌時，與道安相遇於逆旅，安時亦未受具戒，因共披陳志慕，神氣慷慨。臨別相謂曰：「若俱長大，勿忘同遊。」先受戒已後，勵行精苦，學通經論，值石氏之亂，隱於飛龍山，遊想巖壑，得志禪慧。道安後復從之，相會欣喜，謂：「昔誓始從，因共披文屬思，新悟尤多。」安曰：「先舊格義，於理多違。」先曰：「且當分折逍遙，何容是非先達！」安曰：「弘贊理教，宜令允愜，法鼓競鳴，何先何後。」先乃與汰等南遊晉平，講道弘化。後還襄陽，遇疾而卒。

Shi Sengxian was a native of Jizhou and a disciple of Master Yuan of Changshan. By nature pure and plain, he had chaste integrity. When he was a novice, he met Dao'an at an inn; Dao'an had not yet received the full precepts at that time either, and they opened their hearts to discuss their aspirations and yearnings, full of noble spirit. On parting they said to each other: "When we both reach maturity, let us not forget to roam together." After Xian received the full precepts, he strove diligently through austerities and attained mastery of the sūtras and treatises; encountering the turmoil of the Shi clan, he hid away on Mount Feilong, letting his thoughts roam among the crags and ravines, fulfilling his aspirations in dhyāna and wisdom. Later Dao'an followed him there, and when they met they rejoiced, saying: "Our former vow is now fulfilled!" They thereupon opened the texts and applied their thoughts together, gaining many new insights. Dao'an said: "The previous scholars' method of matching concepts (*geyi*) often contradicts principle." Xian said: "For now we should merely analyze and roam freely; why need we pass judgment on our predecessors?" Dao'an said: "In promoting and praising the teaching of principles, one ought to ensure it is appropriate and satisfactory; when the Dharma drums compete in sounding, who cares who came first and who came later?" Xian then traveled south with Fatai and others to Jinping, lecturing on the Way and propagating the transformation. Later he returned to Xiangyang, fell ill, and passed away.