高僧傳 8.3

8.3

Shi Sengyuan was originally of the Zhao clan, a native of Yingchuan, and a descendant of Yan, the Minister of Works of the Wei. In his youth he loved reading books. After taking full ordination, he devoted himself to Buddhist doctrine. At first he traveled through the region of Xu, staying at Baita Temple, where he studied the Tattvasiddhi-śāstra and the Abhidharma under Sengsong. Before three years of study had passed, his achievement surpassed ten years of labor, and the fame of his wisdom and understanding spread far and wide. Sengyuan had a grand and imposing physique, his waist measuring ten hand-spans around; his spirit was clear and aloof, and his discourse was completely uninhibited. The recluse Liu Yinzhi gave up the mountain where he lived to provide it as a monastery for him.