高僧傳 7.32

7.32

釋僧弼，本吳人，性度虛簡，儀止方直。少與龍光曇幹同遊長安，從什受學。愛日惜力，靖有深思，什加賞特深，使頒預參譯。後遊歷名邦，備瞻風化。時有請弼為寺主，弼曰：「至道不弘，淳風日緬，自非定、慧兼足，無以鎮立風猷。且當隨緣致益，何得獨善一寺。」後南居楚郢，十有餘年。訓誘經戒，大化江表。河西王沮渠蒙遜遠挹風名，遣使通敬，䞋遺相續。後下都止彭城寺，文皇器重，每延講說。宋元嘉十九年卒，春秋七十有八。

Shi Sengbi was originally a native of Wu; his temperament was unpretentious and simple, and his demeanour upright. In his youth, together with Longguang Tangan, he traveled to Chang'an and studied under Kumārajīva. Cherishing his time and sparing no effort, he was quiet and deep in thought; Kumārajīva praised him exceptionally and had him participate in the translation work. Later he traveled through renowned regions and observed the customs everywhere. At that time someone invited [Seng]bi to become the temple abbot; [Seng]bi said: 'The supreme Way is not broadly propagated, and pure customs are daily receding; unless one is fully endowed with both samādhi and wisdom, there is no way to establish a moral tradition. Moreover, one should bring benefit according to circumstances—how can one care only for a single temple?' Later he lived south in Chu and Ying for more than ten years. Giving instruction in the scriptures and precepts, he greatly transformed the region south of the Yangtze. Juqu Mengxun, the King of Hexi, admired his reputation from afar, sending envoys to convey respects and continuously bestowing offerings. Later he went down to the capital and resided at Pengcheng Temple; Emperor Wen esteemed his capacity and frequently invited him to lecture. He died in the nineteenth year of the Yuanjia era of the Song, at the age of seventy-eight.