高僧傳 7.57

7.57

The retired scholar Fei Wenyuan initially studied under him and established a temple northwest of the provincial capital, naming it Jetavana (Qihuan). Daowang's teachings spread throughout Ba and Shu, and his reputation reached both court and country. Shen Tan, the regional inspector of Liangzhou, had an old acquaintance with Daowang; when Shen later died, Daowang was about to go mourn him and intended to stay there. Fei Wenyuan then submitted a memorial to Regional Inspector Zhang Yue, stating: "Dharma Master Daowang's understanding and conduct are pure and spotless; his stern integrity is colder than wind and frost. He stands out conspicuously from the crowd, firm and unyielding. Recently, I heard that Liangzhou sent an escort to welcome him, and that Your Honor granted permission for him to leave. The collective opinion of our entire province is that this is inappropriate. Our humble province is on the remote frontier, with over ten thousand monks and nuns; for their reliance on dhyāna and the precepts, they depend solely on him. How can the waters lose their pearl, or the mountains lose their jade? May you reflect upon the sincerity of our provincial community, so that the fourfold assembly may have someone to rely on." Zhang Yue promptly urged him to stay, and so the journey was aborted. When Zhang Yue returned to the capital, he reported Daowang's virtues and deeds in detail to Emperor Xiaowu of the Song. The emperor issued an imperial decree ordering him to be welcomed as the abbot of Zhongxing Temple. Daowang, through Zhang Yue, firmly declined on grounds of illness and was excused. Thereupon, he pleaded illness, lowered his screen, and severed ties with the secular world.