高僧傳 8.86

8.86

釋曇斐，本姓王，會稽剡人。少出家，受業於慧基法師。性聰敏，素著領牒之稱。其方等深經，皆所綜達，《老》、《莊》、《儒》、《墨》頗亦披覽。後東西稟訪，備窮經論之旨。居于鄉邑法華臺寺，講說相仍，學徒成列。斐神情爽發，志用清玄，故於《小品》、《淨名》尤成獨步。加又談吐蘊藉，辭辯高華，席上之風，見重當代。梁衡陽孝王元簡及隱士廬江何胤，皆遠挹徽猷，招延講說。吳國張融、汝南周顒、顒子捨等，並結知音之狎焉。以天監十七年卒于寺，春秋七十有六。其製作文辭，亦頗見於世。初斐有譽江東，被勅為十城僧主，符旨適行，未拜便化。厥土僧尼，倍懷戀德。

Shi Tanfei, originally surnamed Wang, was a native of Shan in Kuaiji. He underwent pravrajyā in his youth and studied under Dharma Master Huiji. He was naturally intelligent and perceptive, and was long noted for his ability to comprehend written records. He thoroughly mastered the deep sūtras of the Vaipulya, and also read widely in Laozi, Zhuangzi, Confucian, and Mohist texts. Later, he sought instruction across eastern and western regions, comprehensively plumbing the purports of the sūtras and treatises. Living at the Fahuatai Temple in his home district, his expositions and discourses continued unbroken, and his disciples formed ranks. Fei's mind and disposition were sharp and clear, his aspirations and faculties refined and profound; hence in the Aṣṭasāhasrikā-prajñāpāramitā and the Vimalakīrtinirdeśa he was especially peerless. In addition, his conversation was cultured and reserved, his eloquence lofty and brilliant, and his manner on the preaching mat was esteemed in his generation. King Xiaowang of Hengyang under the Liang, Yuan Jian, and the hermit He Yin of Lujiang both admired his admirable model from afar and invited him to deliver discourses. Zhang Rong of the Wu commandery, Zhou Yong of Runan, and Yong's son She all formed close friendships with him as kindred spirits. In the seventeenth year of the Tianjian reign era, he died at the temple at the age of seventy-six. His literary compositions were also fairly widely seen in the world. Earlier, Fei had a reputation east of the Yangtze and was appointed by imperial decree to be monastic director of ten cities; the warrant had just been dispatched, and before he could assume the post he passed away. The monks and nuns of that region cherished his virtues all the more.