高僧傳 1.59

1.59

Dharmayaśas, translated as Fameng (Dharma-brightness), was a native of Kashmir. In his youth he was fond of learning, and at the age of fourteen he came to the notice of Puṇyatāra. When he grew up, his character and bearing were lofty and brilliant, and he had extraordinary spiritual wisdom. He was widely versed in the sūtras and vinaya, and his insight and understanding surpassed the crowd. He steeped his mind in the eight dhyānas and roved his spirit in the seven factors of awakening; people of the day compared him to Buddhabhadra. He traversed mountains and marshes alone, not turning aside from jackals or tigers; dwelling alone in contemplation, days and nights flew by without his noticing. He often reproached himself beneath a tree: "I am approaching thirty and have still not attained the fruit [of arhatship]—how indolent I am!" Thereupon, for days on end, he neither slept nor ate, applying himself with intense austerity to repent of his past misdeeds. He then dreamt that King Virūpākṣa spoke to him, saying: "A śramaṇa should survey all directions to propagate transforming teachings and take wide deliverance as his aim. Why hold to petty disciplines, seeking only personal perfection? The Way depends on myriad conditions and furthermore requires the ripening of time; if you force it beyond your measure, you will die without realization." Awakening, he reflected on this and wished to wander abroad to transmit the Way. He then traversed celebrated states and crossed through commanderies and kingdoms. During the Long'an era of the Jin, he first arrived in Guangzhou and stayed at Baisha Temple.