高僧傳 7.35

7.35

Later he went east down to the capital, just when Zhihuan Temple was beginning a lecture series; followers of the Dharma gathered like clouds, and scholar-officials and commoners sat shoulder to shoulder. Since [Seng]bao had newly arrived and no one knew him, he rode a donkey to go and watch. His clothes were soiled and tattered, his appearance dusty from the road, and because the interior of the hall was crowded, he sat on his donkey saddle outside the door. Just as the lecturer on the high seat finished introducing the topic, [Seng]bao was about to speak when the Dharma master asked: 'What is the visiting monk's name?' He replied: 'My name is Bao (encompassing).' The master asked again: 'What can you encompass?' [Seng]bao replied: 'Even the person on the high seat can be encompassed.' He then raised several questions, all of which were beyond the contemplation of the senior masters; the lecturer on the high seat had no way to counter his arguments and stepped down, giving way. When Wang Hong and Fan Tai heard [Seng]bao's disputations, they marveled at his talent and intellect and asked to converse with him. They then persuaded him to reside at Zhihuan Temple to lecture on various scriptures, and his teachings continued uninterrupted. Xie Lingyun of Chen Commandery heard of his fame and came to visit; upon seeing [Seng]bao's spirit and demeanor, he was all the more deeply impressed. Someone asked: 'What do you think of Duke Xie?' [Seng]bao said: 'Lingyun's talent is more than enough, but his discernment is insufficient; in the end he will not escape disaster.'