高僧傳 8.33

8.33

遠蔬食五十餘年，㵎飲二十餘載。遊心法苑，緬想人外，高步山門，蕭然物表。以齊永明二年正月，卒于定林上寺，春秋七十有一。帝以致書於沙門法獻曰：「承遠上無常，弟子夜中已自知之。遠上此去，甚得好處。諸佳非一，不復增悲也。一二遲見法師，方可敘瑞夢耳。今正為作功德，所須可具疏來也。」竟陵文宣王又書曰：「遠法師一代名德，志節清高。潛山樹美，四海餐風。弟子闇昧，謬蒙師範。方欲仰稟仁化，用洗煩慮，不謂比疾，奄成異世。悲痛之心，特不可忍。遠上即業行圓通，曠劫希有。弟子意不欲遺形影迹，雜處眾僧墓中。得別卜餘地，是所願也。方應樹剎表奇，刻石銘德矣。」即為營墳於山南，立碑頌德。太尉瑯瑘王儉製文。

Yuan maintained a vegetarian diet for more than fifty years and drank from mountain streams for over twenty years. Letting his mind wander in the grove of the Dharma and fixing his thoughts on what lies beyond the human world, he paced loftily through the mountain gates, aloof and detached beyond material things. In the first month of the second year of the Yongming reign era of the Qi, he passed away at Upper Dinglin Temple at the age of seventy-one. The Emperor sent a letter to the śramaṇa Faxian, saying: "Having received word of Master Yuan's passing, this disciple had already known it in the night. In departing this time, Master Yuan has reached a very good place. The many auspicious signs were not just one, so grief should no longer be increased. Only when I see the Dharma master in person can I relate the auspicious dream. We are presently performing meritorious deeds for him; you may prepare a detailed list of what is required." Prince Wenxuan of Jingling also wrote: "Dharma Master Yuan was a renowned virtuous figure of an entire era, pure and lofty in will and integrity. He concealed himself in the mountains and established beauty, and the four seas admired his influence. This disciple is dim and ignorant, but mistakenly received his masterly instruction. Just as I wished to respectfully receive his benevolent transformation to wash away my troublesome worries, I did not expect that recent illness would suddenly cause our separation between worlds. The sorrow and pain in my heart are especially unbearable. Master Yuan's deeds and practice were perfectly penetrating, rare across kalpas. This disciple's wish is that his bodily remains and traces not be mingled among the graves of the multitude of monks. If another separate piece of land can be divined, that is my desire. We shall erect a stūpa pillar to mark his rarity and carve a stone to commemorate his virtue." They immediately prepared a tomb for him south of the mountain and erected a stele to praise his virtue. Wang Jian, Grand Defender and native of Langye, composed the inscription.