高僧傳 6.79

6.79

釋僧肇，京兆人。家貧以傭書為業，遂因繕寫，乃歷觀經史，備盡墳籍。愛好玄微，每以莊老為心要。嘗讀老子德章。乃歎曰：「美則美矣，然期神冥累之方，猶未盡善也。」後見舊《維摩經》，歡喜頂受，披尋翫味，乃言「始知所歸矣」，因此出家。學善方等，兼通三藏。及在冠年，而名振關輔。時競譽之徒，莫不猜其早達，或千里趍負，入關抗辯。肇既才思幽玄，又善談說，承機挫銳，曾不流滯。時京兆宿儒，及關外英彥，莫不挹其鋒辯，負氣摧䘐。

Shi Sengzhao was a native of Jingzhao. His family was poor, and he earned his living as a copyist; through copying manuscripts, he read extensively through the scriptures and histories, thoroughly mastering the ancient texts. He had a deep fondness for the dark and subtle, constantly taking Zhuangzi and Laozi as his essential guides. Once, when reading the 'De' section of Laozi, he sighed and said: 'Beautiful though it is, as a method for leading the spirit to transcend worldly entanglements, it is still not fully consummate.' Later, upon encountering the old translation of the Vimalakīrtinirdeśa-sūtra, he rejoiced, received it atop his head, and perused and savoured it, saying: 'Now at last I know where to take refuge!' Thereupon he left the household. He studied thoroughly the Vaipulya scriptures and mastered all three piṭakas. By the time he reached the age of capping (twenty), his fame shook the region of the Pass and Capital. At that time, rivals vying for renown suspected that he had risen too prematurely, and some travelled a thousand li carrying their baggage to enter the Pass and debate him. Sengzhao, possessing both profound discernment and great skill in exposition, seized the moment to blunt their arguments, never hesitating or faltering. The veteran scholars of Jingzhao and the distinguished talents from beyond the Pass all yielded before his sharp eloquence, their self-confidence shattered.