續高僧傳 19.18

19.18

釋道林。姓李。同州郃陽人也。年二十五發心出家。入太白山結宇深巖路絕登陟。木食濟形惟法檢心更無營拯。隋開皇之始。創啟玄宗。勅度七人。選窮翹楚。有司加訪。搜得林焉。文皇親命出家苦辭不可。乃啟曰。貧道聞山林之士往而不返。晧然之氣獨結林泉。望得連蹤既往。故應義絕凡貫。陛下大敞法門。載清海陸。乞以此名遺虛仰者。帝曰。名實相副其來久矣。禪師但隷公府身任山栖。林不從乃逃還大白。仍宗前業。後以事聞奏。乃更搜揚仄陋。窮巖倒穴。方始捉獲。而履節無虧。勅勞殷重崇敬彌異。乃賜香爐等物。仍令住馮翊大興國寺。經止少時。又逃于梁山之陽。河崖迴曲地稱天固。鑿山為窟凝道其中。武德七年七月。微覺有疾。遺誡門侍無越律儀。又聞笳吹響空。道俗歆會。又降異香大如桃棗。眾皆拾而供養莫知名目。燒發美暢聞者驚心。經於三日精氣爽朗跏坐而終。停屍七日。色相無改。即於山栖鑿龕處之。眾聚如煙數盈萬計。鼓舞而送。生死榮焉。自林之在道。隱括為先。從生至終儉約為務。女人生染之本。偏所誡期。故林一生常不親面不為說法。不從取食。不上房基。致使臨終之前有來問疾者。林隔障潛知。遙止之不令面對。斯行潔通幽故也。而慈濟生靈深護物性。蚤虱之屬任其遊行。每徐徐舉衣。恐其驚走。斯仁育之量。殆難嗣矣。

Śramaṇa Daolin, surnamed Li, was a native of Heyang in Tongzhou. At the age of twenty-five he generated the resolve to leave home, entering Mount Taibai and building a hut amidst deep crags where paths were cut off from climbing. Nourishing his body on wild herbs and fruits, and regulating his mind solely by the Dharma, he pursued no other ventures. At the beginning of the Kaihuang era of the Sui, when the profound school was first opened, an imperial decree ordered the ordination of seven people, selecting the most outstanding talents. The authorities carried out an inquiry and searched out Lin. Emperor Wen personally ordered him to take ordination, but Lin bitterly declined, saying it was not possible, and petitioned: 'This poor monk has heard that men of the mountain forests go forth and do not return, their bright spirit alone bound to the woods and springs. Hoping to follow the tracks of those gone before, I ought by principle to sever ties with ordinary ranks. Your Majesty has broadly opened the Dharma gate and purified the seas and lands; I beg you to bestow this name upon those who aspire in vain.' The Emperor said, 'Name and substance corresponding to each other has long been so. Let the Dhyāna Master merely register with the government office, while personally retaining your mountain dwelling.' Lin did not comply and fled back to Mount Taibai, continuing his former practice. Later, when the matter was reported to the throne, officials searched further into obscure places, exhausting crags and inverted caves, before finally capturing him. Yet his ethical conduct remained unblemished. The imperial commendation was earnest and profound, showing extraordinary reverence. He was bestowed an incense burner and other items, and ordered to reside at the Daxingguo Monastery in Fengyi. After staying a short while, he fled again to the south of Mount Liang, where the river cliffs bend and wind, a place known as a natural stronghold. He carved a cave into the mountain and concentrated his path within it. In the seventh month of the seventh year of the Wude era, he sensed a slight illness. He left instructions to his attendant disciples not to violate the Vinaya rules. Music of reed pipes was heard resounding in the sky, and clergy and laity gathered in joyful wonder. An extraordinary fragrance also fell, as large as peaches and dates; the assembly gathered them to make offerings, none knowing what they were called. When burned, they emitted a delicious and refreshing scent that astonished all who smelled it. After three days, his vital energy clear and bright, he passed away sitting cross-legged. His corpse was kept for seven days, its colour and appearance unchanged. They carved a niche at his mountain dwelling to place him. The crowd gathered like smoke, numbering over ten thousand, sending him off with singing and dancing, an honour in both life and death. From the time Lin took to the Path, self-discipline was his priority; from start to finish, frugality was his pursuit. Women are the root of generating defilement, which he particularly cautioned against. Thus, throughout his life, Lin never met them face-to-face, never expounded the Dharma for them, never accepted food from them, and never stepped onto the foundation of their rooms. Even shortly before his death, when someone came to inquire about his illness, Lin sensed it from behind a partition and stopped her from afar, not allowing an in-person meeting. This was because his conduct was pure and communicated with the unseen. Moreover, he compassionately rescued sentient beings and deeply protected the nature of creatures. Fleas and lice were allowed to wander freely on him; whenever he lifted his clothes, he did so very slowly, fearing they might be startled and run away. This capacity for benevolence and nurture is indeed hard to match.