續高僧傳 15.24

15.24

釋智徽。俗姓焦。澤州高平人也。年十三。志樂出家不希世累。住本州清化寺。依隨遠法師聽涉經論。於大涅槃偏洞幽極。故齒年學稔為諸沙彌之卓秀者也。立性勤恪樂理僧務。每有執役不憚形苦。晝供眾僧夜讀章疏。衣不解帶研精無怠。受具已後。神思高正戒行明潔。然平恕儉約見者欽屬。歆慕弘道歲常講涅槃十地地持維摩勝鬘。用為恒業。聲務廣被遠近追風。提襆裹糧尋造非一。隋煬御曆珍敬彌隆。大業七年。下詔延請入於東都內道場。禮異恒倫日增榮供徽立操自昔一不受之。盈尺之貯不附箱囊。率性超然不妄傾涅。但專講誦宣導為先。偽鄭之初洛城恒閉。徽以兵戈方始開悟未因。乃杖錫出城思濟鄉壤。于時守衛嚴防梗澁難通。而徽安行限閾守當不覺。斯固善神之所送也。既達高平道俗欣赴。世接屯難飢餒相委。乃遺以糧粒拯濟寔多。皂素賴之皆餐法味。便即四時長講屢有升堂。外施衣帛悉供講眾。頻值儉歲米食不豐。異客暴來兩倍過舊。徽以聽侶不安。為營別院。四方學士同萃其中。財法兩施無時寧舍。懷州都督鄖國公張亮。欽抱德教遠延講說。道俗屯赴。又結河陽。乃請為菩薩戒師。珍敬道風誓為善友。夏講涅槃。解恣便訖。覺少不悆。眾咸怪之。還房靜念俄頃便逝。春秋七十九。即貞觀十二年三月二十日也。懷州道俗哀若至親。送葬歸于本邑。自徽之在遠門也。敬法尊人誠孝第一。每登法席。講析幽通。皆云。大法師意如此。因即聲淚俱下。常謂諸徒曰。父母生吾肉身。法師生吾法身。思報此恩何由可逮。惟有弘教利物。薄展余懷耳。所以每歲常講不敢告勞。以惟斯故也。兼以課己行業無虧六時。手執熏爐約數承禮。夜不解衣一生恒爾。清素寡欲不樂交遊。敷化之餘便營僧事。故澤部長幼詠仰于今。

Shi Zhihui's secular surname was Jiao, and he was a native of Gaoping in Zezhou. At the age of thirteen, his mind delighted in leaving the household and did not desire worldly encumbrances. Residing at Qinghua Monastery in his native prefecture, he relied upon Master Yuan to listen to and study the scriptures and treatises. In the Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra he was exceptionally perceptive of the profound ultimates; hence, his youthful mastery of learning made him the most outstanding of all the novices. By nature diligent and reverent, he delighted in managing monastic affairs. Whenever there was manual labor to perform, he did not fear physical hardship. By day he served the assembly of monks, and by night he read doctrinal treatises and commentaries, not loosening his sash, inquiring deeply without indolence. After receiving full ordination, his mental acumen was lofty and upright, his precept conduct immaculate and pure. Being fair, forgiving, and frugal, all who saw him looked up to him with reverence. Longing to propagate the Way, he expounded the Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra, Daśabhūmika Sūtra, Bodhisattvabhūmi, Vimalakīrtinirdeśa Sūtra, and Śrīmālādevī Sūtra every year as his constant task. His fame spread widely, and those from near and far chased his wind, packing their bags and wrapping their provisions to seek him out time and again. Under the reign of Sui Yangdi, precious reverence grew even more exalted. In the seventh year of Daye, an imperial edict was issued inviting him to enter the Inner Bodhimaṇḍa of the Eastern Capital. The honors paid to him differed from ordinary custom, and glorious offerings increased daily; yet Hui had maintained his discipline from of old and accepted none of them. Storage exceeding a foot was never placed in his boxes or bags. By nature transcendent, he never rashly wavered or fell away, focusing solely on recitation and exposition, placing propagation first. In the early days of the bogus Zheng dynasty, the walls of Luoyang were constantly shut. Seeing that warfare had just begun and the opportunity to open and enlighten was lacking, Hui took up his staff and went out of the city, wishing to bring relief to his native district. At that time, the guards kept strict vigilance and passage was obstructed and difficult, but Hui walked calmly across the threshold, unnoticed by the guards on duty. This was truly an escort provided by the benevolent spirits. Arriving at Gaoping, both monastics and laity joyfully flocked to him. The world was facing difficulties and chaos, with famine causing people to collapse; he distributed grain and provisions, bringing substantial relief. Monastics and laity relied on him and all tasted the flavor of the Dharma. He thereupon held perpetual lectures across the four seasons, frequently ascending the hall. External donations of clothing and silk were all provided to the lecture assembly. In years of frequent famine, rice was scarce, and unexpected visitors came in numbers twice that of before. Because his fellow listeners were unsettled, Hui built a separate compound for them, where scholars from the four directions gathered together. Offering both wealth and Dharma, he never rested for a moment. Zhang Liang, Area Commander of Huaizhou and Duke of Yun, admired and embraced his virtuous teachings, inviting him from afar to deliver lectures. Monastics and laity gathered in crowds, and he also visited Heyang; [Zhang Liang] then invited him to be his bodhisattva precept master, treasuring his way of life and vowing to be a good spiritual friend. In the summer he lectured on the Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra. No sooner had the final recess concluded than he felt slightly unwell. The assembly all wondered at it. Returning to his room to contemplate in stillness, he passed away in a brief moment, at the age of seventy-nine, on the twentieth day of the third month of the twelfth year of Zhenguan. The monastics and laity of Huaizhou mourned him as if he were their closest kin, escorting his funeral back to his native district. From the time Hui was under [Hui]yuan's gate, his respect for the Dharma and honor for his teacher were of the utmost filial devotion. Whenever he ascended the Dharma seat and expounded the profound and penetrating points, he would always say: 'Such was the intention of the Great Dharma Master,' whereupon his voice and tears would flow together. He often said to his disciples: 'My parents gave birth to my physical body, but the Dharma master gave birth to my Dharma body. When I think of repaying this kindness, how could I ever reach it? There is only propagating the teaching and benefiting living beings to express my feelings in a small way.' Therefore, he lectured every year and never dared to profess weariness, solely because of this reflection. Moreover, he disciplined his own actions and practice without falling short in the six periods. Holding a censer in hand, he paid reverence according to the prescribed counts. He never loosened his robes at night, constantly maintaining this throughout his life. Pure, plain, and with few desires, he did not take pleasure in social intercourse. In whatever spare time remained from expounding and transforming, he managed monastic affairs. For this reason, the young and old of Ze Commandery sing his praises and look up to him to this day.