高僧傳 6.55

6.55

Shi Daozu was a native of the state of Wu. He left household life at an early age and became a disciple of Zhi Faqi of Tai Monastery. From youth he possessed talent and insight, and was diligent and devoted to study. Later, together with like-minded companions Sengqian and Daoliu, he entered Mount Lu for seven years. They all received the precepts on the mountain, and following their respective studies, made daily progress. Master Huiyuan often said that Daozu and the others grasped things easily: "If all were like this group, one would no longer have to worry about the younger generation." Both Sengqian and Daoliu died at the age of twenty-eight. Huiyuan sighed, saying, "These men possessed flourishing talent and understanding, and their clear awakening advanced daily. To harbor this and depart forever—how deeply sorrowful!" Daoliu had compiled a catalogue of various sūtras but had not completed it; Daozu finished it for him, and it circulates in the world today. Later, Daozu returned to the capital to lecture at Waguan Monastery. Huan Xuan often went to listen, and said to people, "Daozu emerged later, yet surpasses Master Huiyuan; he only falls short of him in broad Confucian learning." When Huan Xuan assumed the regency and wished to make śramaṇas bow before the ruler, Daozu took his leave and returned to Tai Monastery in Wu. Shortly thereafter, Huan Xuan usurped the throne and ordered the commandery to escort Daozu out of the capital. Daozu pleaded illness and would not go; from then on he severed ties with worldly affairs and lectured on the Way all day. He died in the first year of the Yuanxi reign of the Jin dynasty at the age of seventy-two.