高僧傳 7.84

7.84

釋道猛，本西涼州人。少而遊歷燕、趙，備矚風化。後停止壽春，力精勤學，三藏、九部、大小數論，皆思入淵微，無不鏡徹。而《成實》一部，最為獨步。於是大化江西，學人成列。至元嘉二十六年，東遊京師，止于東安寺，復續開講席。宋太宗為湘東王時，深相崇薦，及登祚，倍加禮接，賜錢三十萬，以供資待。太始之初，帝創寺于建陽門外，勅猛為綱領。帝曰：「夫人能弘道，道藉人弘。今得法師，非直道益蒼生，亦有光於世望，可目寺為興皇。」由是成號。及創造功畢，勅猛於寺開講《成實》。序題之日，帝親臨幸，公卿皆集，四遠學賓，負帙齊至。猛神韻無忤，吐納詳審。帝稱善久之，因有詔曰：「猛法師風道多濟，朕素賓友。可月給錢三萬，令吏四人，白簿吏二十人，車及步輿各一乘。乘輿至客省。」猛隨有所獲，皆賑施貧乏，營造寺廟。以宋元徽三年卒于東安寺，春秋六十有五。

Shi Daomeng was originally a native of West Liangzhou. In his youth he traveled through Yan and Zhao, observing all aspects of local culture. Later he stayed in Shouchun, where he studied with utmost diligence and vigor; into the Tripiṭaka, the nine divisions of scriptures, and the counting-treatises of the Mahāyāna and Hīnayāna, his thought penetrated deeply and subtly, leaving nothing unmirrored and unpenetrated. The single text of the Tattvasiddhi-śāstra was where he stood unrivaled above all. Thereupon he carried out great conversion work west of the river, and students stood in rows. In the twenty-sixth year of Yuanjia (449), he traveled east to the capital and stayed at Dong'an Temple, where he once again resumed lecturing. When Emperor Taizong of Song was still the Prince of Xiangdong, he deeply revered and recommended him; upon ascending the throne, the emperor treated him with redoubled courtesy, granting him three hundred thousand cash to support his maintenance. At the beginning of the Taishi era, the emperor founded a temple outside the Jianyang Gate and decreed that Daomeng should serve as its director. The emperor said: 'A person can broaden the Way, but the Way relies on the person to be broadened. Now that we have obtained this Dharma Master, he will not only benefit the common folk through the Way, but will also bring luster to the hopes of the world; the temple may be named Xinghuang.' The name was thus established. When the construction work was completed, the emperor decreed that Daomeng should lecture on the Tattvasiddhi-śāstra at the temple. On the day the preface and title were presented, the emperor attended in person, all the dukes and ministers assembled, and scholars from all directions arrived simultaneously, carrying their book-wraps. Daomeng's spirit and demeanour were without hindrance, and his utterances were thorough and deliberate. The emperor praised him for a long time and consequently issued an edict: 'Dharma Master Meng's manner and teaching are of great benefit; We have always treated him as a guest and friend. He is to be provided monthly with thirty thousand cash, four clerical attendants, twenty white-register attendants, one carriage, and one palanquin. He may ride his palanquin as far as the Guest Reception Office.' Whatever Daomeng received, he gave away in relief to the poor and indigent, and to the construction of temples. He died in the third year of Yuanhui of Song (475) at Dong'an Temple, at the age of sixty-five.