高僧傳 7.39

7.39

釋曇鑒，姓趙，冀州人。少出家，事竺道祖為師。蔬食布衣，律行精苦，學究群經，兼善數論。聞什公在關，杖策從學。什常謂鑒為一聞持人。後遊方宣化，達自荊州，止江陵辛寺。年登耳順，勵行彌潔，常願生安養，瞻覲彌陀。後弟子僧濟，辭往上明，鑒云：「汝去迺佳，恐不復相見。」因委曲疏受付囑。至夜與諸耆老共敘無常，言甚切至。既夜，各各還房，鑒獨留步廊下。至三更，沙彌僧願請還房，鑒曰：「汝但眠，不須復來。」至明旦，弟子慧嚴依常問訊，見合掌平坐，而口不言，迫就察之，實迺已卒。身體柔軟，香潔倍常，因申而殮焉。春秋七十。吳郡張辯作傳并贊，贊曰：「披荔逞芬，握瑾表潔。渾渾法師，弗淄弗涅。暐曄初辰，條蔚暮節。神遊智往，豈伊實訣。」

Shi Tanjian, whose secular surname was Zhao, was a native of Jizhou. He underwent pravrajyā in his youth and served Zhu Daozu as his master. Eating vegetarian food and wearing coarse cloth, he was rigorous and austere in his discipline. He investigated the various sūtras thoroughly and was also adept in the Abhidharma. Hearing that the venerable [Kumāra]jīva was in the Guanzhong region, he leaned on his staff and went to study under him. Kumārajīva often said that Tanjian was one who retains everything upon hearing it once. Later, he traveled through various regions to propagate and transform [the people]. Arriving in Jingzhou, he stayed at the Xin Temple in Jiangling. When he reached sixty years of age, his practice became even purer. He constantly vowed to be born in the Land of Peaceful Nurture (Sukhāvatī) and behold Amitābha. Later, his disciple Sengji took leave to go to Shangming. Tanjian said, "It is fine for you to go, but I fear we will not see each other again." He then entrusted his affairs to him with detailed written instructions. When night fell, he discussed impermanence with the elders, his words deeply heartfelt. When the night grew late, each returned to his room, but Tanjian remained alone, walking under the corridor. At the third watch, the novice Sengyuan invited him to return to his room. Tanjian said, "Just go to sleep; you need not come again." The next morning, his disciple Huiyan went to pay respects as usual. He saw Tanjian sitting upright with palms joined, yet not speaking. Approaching to inspect him closely, he was indeed already dead. His body was soft and supple, and its fragrance and cleanliness were twice what was customary; they straightened him out and placed him in the coffin. He was seventy years of age. Zhang Bian of Wujun wrote a biography and a eulogy for him. The eulogy said: "Donning sweet grass to display fragrance, / Grasping fine jade to show purity. / Pure and deep, the Dharma Master / Was never blackened nor stained. / Brilliant in the morning of his life, / Flourishing in the autumn of his years. / His spirit roaming, his wisdom departed, / How could this truly be a final farewell?"