高僧傳 3.17

3.17

Shi Zhiyan was a man of Western Liangzhou. He went forth from the household upon reaching adulthood (at age twenty), and became renowned for his diligent vigor. Wearing coarse patched robes, he sat in solitary meditation; eating vegetarian food, he passed year after year. Always lamenting that his native region lay in ruins, he resolved to seek out renowned masters widely and broadly search for scriptural teachings. Thereupon he traveled through the western countries and proceeded as far as Jibin (Kashmir), where he entered the Mathendra Monastery and received instruction in methods of dhyāna from the monk (bhikṣu) Buddhasena. Gradually immersed in it for three years, his achievement surpassed that of ten years. Buddhasena, seeing that his dhyāna contemplations were orderly and accomplished, regarded him as an extraordinary vessel. The monastics and laity there heard of it and sighed in admiration, saying: "Even in the land of Qin there are śramaṇas who seek the Way!" Thenceforth they ceased to look down upon the people of Qin, and respectfully welcomed those from afar.