高僧傳 7.73

7.73

釋曇斌，姓蘇，南陽人。十歲出家，事道禕為師。始住江陵新寺，聽經論，學禪道，覃思深至，而情未盡達。夜夢神人謂斌曰：「汝所疑義，遊方自決。」於是振錫挾衣，殊邦問道。初下京師，仍往吳郡。值僧業講《十誦》，飡聽少時，悟解深入。後還都，從靜林法師諮受《涅槃》，又就吳興小山法珍研訪《泥洹》、《勝鬘》，晚從南林法業，受《華嚴》、《雜心》。既遍歷眾師，備聞異釋，迺潛思積時，以窮其妙。融冶百家，陶貫諸部。於是還止樊、鄧，開筵講說，四遠名賓，負[袌-包+矢]皆至。

Shi Tanbin, surnamed Su, was a native of Nanyang. He entered the monastic life at the age of ten, taking Daoyi as his master. At first he resided at Xin Temple in Jiangling, where he listened to sūtras and treatises and studied the way of dhyāna. His contemplation was deep and penetrating, yet his comprehension was not entirely complete. At night he dreamed of a divine being who said to Bin: "The doctrines you doubt will be resolved by yourself when you travel to distant lands." Thereupon, shaking his khakkhara and clutching his robes, he went to other regions to seek the Way. First he went down to the capital, and then proceeded to Wu Commandery. Meeting Sengye lecturing on the *Daśādhyāya-vinaya*, he listened and absorbed it for a short time, gaining deep and penetrating comprehension. Later he returned to the capital, where he consulted Master Jinglin and received the *Mahāparinirvāṇa-sūtra*. He also went to Master Fazhen of Mount Xiaoshan in Wuxing to investigate the *Mahāparinirvāṇa-sūtra* and the *Śrīmālādevī-sūtra*. Later, he studied under Faye of Nanlin, receiving the *Avataṃsaka-sūtra* and the *Saṃyuktābhidharmahṛdaya-śāstra*. Having visited numerous teachers and heard the different interpretations in full, he then contemplated in seclusion over a long period of time to fathom their subtleties. Harmonising the hundred schools, he mastered and unified the various traditions. Thereupon he returned to dwell in Fan and Deng, where he set up lecture seats and preached, and renowned guests from far and wide arrived carrying their book satchels.