高僧傳 7.4

7.4

生既潛思日久，徹悟言外，迺喟然歎曰：「夫象以盡意，得意則象忘；言以詮理，入理則言息。自經典東流，譯人重阻，多守滯文，鮮見圓義。若忘筌取魚，始可與言道矣。」於是校閱真、俗，研思因果，迺立「善不受報」，「頓悟成佛」。又著〈二諦論〉、〈佛性當有論〉、〈法身無色論〉、〈佛無淨土論〉、〈應有緣論〉等，籠罩舊說，妙有淵旨。而守文之徒，多生嫌嫉，與奪之聲，紛然競起。又六卷《泥洹》先至京師，生剖析經理，洞入幽微，迺說「阿闡提人皆得成佛」。于時大本未傳，孤明先發，獨見忤眾。於是舊學以為邪說，譏憤滋甚，遂顯大眾，擯而遣之。生於大眾中正容誓曰：「若我所說反於經義者，請於現身即表厲疾；若與實相不相違背者，願捨壽之時，據師子座。」言竟拂衣而遊。

Having meditated deeply for a long time and thoroughly comprehended what lies beyond words, Daosheng sighed and said: "Symbols are meant to fully express meaning; once the meaning is grasped, the symbols are forgotten. Words are meant to explain principle; once principle is reached, words cease. Since the scriptures flowed east, translators have encountered repeated obstacles; most clung to rigid phrasing, and few perceived the complete meaning. Only if one forgets the fish-trap upon catching the fish can one begin to converse about the Way with them." Thereupon, collating the ultimate and conventional truths and investigating causes and effects, he established that "good karma receives no retribution" and "sudden enlightenment leads to Buddhahood." He also composed the Treatises on the Two Truths (Erdi lun), on the Buddha-Nature to Be Attained (Foxing dangyou lun), on the Dharmakāya Lacks Form (Fashen wuse lun), on the Buddha Has No Pure Land (Fo wu jingtu lun), and on Response Accords with Conditions (Ying you yuan lun), which encompassed earlier doctrines and contained subtle and profound purports. But those who clung to the literal text mostly harbored resentment and jealousy, and clamors of approval and rejection arose in contention. Furthermore, when the six-fascicle Nirvāṇa-sūtra first reached the capital, Daosheng analyzed its scriptural principles and penetrated deeply into their subtleties, whereupon he stated that "even icchantikas can all attain Buddhahood." At that time, the large version had not yet been transmitted; his solitary illumination preceded it, and his singular view ran counter to the multitude. Thereupon, those of the old learning regarded it as heterodox teaching, and their mockery and indignation grew increasingly severe, until they brought it before the great assembly and expelled him. Facing the great assembly, Daosheng composed his countenance and vowed: "If what I have spoken contradicts scriptural meaning, may I manifest a malignant disease in this present body; but if it is not contrary to the true mark, may I occupy the lion throne at the end of my life!" Having spoken, he shook his robes and set forth on his journey.