高僧傳 7.42

7.42

釋曇無成，姓馬，扶風人。家世避難，移居黃龍，年十三出家，履業清正，神悟絕倫，未及具戒，便精往復。聞什公在關，負笈從之。既至見什，什問：「沙彌何能遠來？」答曰：「聞道而至。」什大善之。於是經停務學，慧業愈深。姚興謂成曰：「馬季長碩學高明，素驕當世，法師故當不爾。」答曰：「以道伏心，為除此過。」興甚異之，供事殷厚。姚祚將亡，關中危擾，成迺憩於淮南中寺。《涅槃》、《大品》常更互講說，受業二百餘人。與顏延之、何尚之共論實相，往復彌晨。成迺著〈實相論〉。又著〈明漸論〉。宋元嘉中卒，春秋六十有四。

Shi Tanwucheng, whose secular surname was Ma, was a native of Fufeng. For generations, his family had fled troubles and relocated to Huanglong. At the age of thirteen, he underwent pravrajyā. His conduct and practice were pure and upright, and his spiritual understanding was peerless; before he even received full ordination, he was already adept in debate. Hearing that the venerable [Kumāra]jīva was in the Guanzhong region, he carried his book-box on his back to follow him. When he arrived and met Kumārajīva, Kumārajīva asked, "How was a novice able to come from so far?" He replied, "I came having heard of the Way." Kumārajīva thought very highly of him. Thereupon, Tanwucheng stayed to study, and his karmic capacity for wisdom grew ever deeper. Yao Xing said to Tanwucheng, "Ma Jichang (Ma Rong) was greatly learned and eminent, but was habitually proud in his era. You, Dharma Master, must surely not be like that." Tanwucheng replied, "Subduing the mind through the Way is done to eliminate this very fault." Yao Xing was greatly amazed by him and provided for him generously. When the Yao dynastic fortunes were about to end and the Guanzhong region became dangerous and turbulent, Tanwucheng rested at the Zhong Temple in Huainan. He alternately lectured on the Nirvāṇa[-sūtra] and the Pañcaviṃśatisāhasrikā-prajñāpāramitā-sūtra, with over two hundred disciples receiving his instruction. Together with Yan Yanzhi and He Shangzhi, he discussed the true nature of reality (tathatā), debating back and forth until the morning. Tanwucheng then wrote the Treatise on the True Nature of Reality (Shixiang lun). He also composed the Treatise on Illuminating the Gradual [Path] (Mingjian lun). He died during the Yuanjia era of the Song dynasty at the age of sixty-four.