[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Taishō Tripiṭaka (Chinese Buddhist canon)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho) › [續高僧傳](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2060) › 20.17 # 續高僧傳 20.17 續高僧傳 20.17 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [20.17](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2060.20.17) 釋道昂。未詳其氏。魏郡人。履信標宗風神清徹。獨懷異操高尚世表。慧解夙成殆非開悟。初投于靈裕法師而出家焉。裕神識剛簡氣岸雲霄。審量觀能授其明訓。昂飲沐清化愛敬親承。歲積炎涼齋蹤上伍。常於寒陵山寺。陶融初教綱領玄宗。日照高山此焉攸屬。講華嚴地論。稽洽博詣才辯天垂。扣問連環思徹恒理。而混斯聲迹撝謙藏用。幽贊之功諒擬前傑。化物餘景志結西方。常願生安養。履接成務故道扇漳河。咸蒙惠澤。後自知命極預告有緣。至八月初當來取別。時未測其言也。期月既臨。一無所患。問齋時至未。景次昆吾。即昇高座。身含奇相爐發異香。援引四眾受菩薩戒。詞理切要聽者寒心。于時七眾圍遶飡承遺味。昂舉目高視。及見天眾繽紛絃管繁會。中有清音遠亮。告於眾曰。兜率陀天樂音下迎。昂曰。天道乃生死根本。由來非願。常祈心淨土。如何此誠不從遂耶。言訖便覩。天樂上騰須臾遠滅。便見西方香花伎樂充塞如團雲飛涌而來。旋環頂上舉眾皆見。昂曰。大眾好住。今西方靈相來迎。事須願往。言訖但見香爐墜手。便於高座端坐而終。卒于報應寺中。春秋六十有九。即貞觀七年八月也。道俗崩慟觀者如山。接捧將殯撿。足下有普光堂等文字生焉。自非道會靈章行符隣聖者。何能現斯嘉應哉。于斯時也遐邇嗟詠氣結成陰。坐既加趺掌文仰現。預覩相迹悲慶相臨。還送寒陵之山。鑿窟處之。經春不朽。儼然如初。自昂道素之聲被于東夏。慈潤溫柔德光攸屬。嘗養犬一頭兩耳患聾。每將自逐減食而施。及昂終後便失所在。又登講之夜。時屬陰暗素無燈燭。昂舉掌高示。便發異光朗照堂宇。大眾覩瑞怪所從來。昂曰。此光手中恒有耳。何可怪耶。其栖業隆深幽明感應。誠不可度也。故是道勝高世之人矣。時相州有靈智沙門。亦裕公弟子也機務亮敏著名當世。常為裕之都講。辯唱明衷允愜望情。加以明解經論。每昇元席。文義弘遠妙思霜霏難問銳指擅步漳鄴。故使四海望塵俱敦聲教。後便忽覺智涯難極法行須依徒設舟航終須艤棹。即屏絕章疏更修定業。步晷守心懷虛成務。乞食頭陀用清靈爽。垂行物範光德生焉。貞觀八年終於鄴下。春秋七十有五。後諸學行儉約。附其塵者眾焉。 > Shi Dao'ang: his clan name is not recorded. He was a native of Wei Commandery. Upholding faith and marking out the essential tenets, his bearing and spirit were pure and penetrating. Singularly possessing exceptional integrity, he was noble and aloof beyond worldly affairs. His insightful understanding matured early, as if scarcely needing instruction to awaken. At first, he went to Dharmabhāṇaka Lingyu and left the household life under him. Lingyu's mental acuity was firm and concise, his haughty spirit reaching the clouds; closely assessing his aptitude, he imparted clear instructions to him. Dao'ang bathed in this pure edification, personally receiving it with love and reverence. As the seasons of heat and cold accumulated, his pure conduct stood at the head of the ranks. He often dwelt at Hanling Mountain Monastery, synthesizing the fundamental teachings and bringing together the deep principles of the profound lineage. Like the sun shining upon a high mountain, it truly applied to him. When he lectured on the Avataṃsaka Sūtra and the Daśabhūmivyākhyāna, his comprehensive scholarship was vast and deep, his talent and eloquence seemingly bestowed by Heaven. When inquiries struck like an unbroken chain, his thoughts penetrated the enduring principle. Yet he blended his reputation and fame with humility, concealing his capacity; his subtle achievements truly rivalled those of former luminaries. Devoting the remainder of his days to transforming beings, he fixed his aspirations on the Western Region and constantly vowed to be born in the Land of Peace and Sustenance. As his practice and interaction bore fruit, his Way flourished across the Zhang River, and all were enriched by its benevolence. Later, knowing that his lifespan was nearing its end, he told those with whom he had karmic affinities beforehand: 'When the beginning of the eighth month arrives, I will come to take my leave.' At the time, they could not fathom his words. When the appointed month arrived, he had no illness at all. He asked whether the mealtime had arrived. Just as the sun approached noon, he ascended the high seat. His body possessed wondrous signs, and the censer emitted an extraordinary fragrance. Guiding the fourfold assembly, he administered the Bodhisattva Precepts to them. His phrasing and reasoning were so incisive and pressing that the listeners' hearts ran cold. At that time, the sevenfold assembly surrounded him, partaking of his departing flavor. Dao'ang lifted his eyes and gazed upward, and behold, heavenly beings swarmed in profusion, their stringed and wind instruments congregating in abundance. Amidst them was a clear voice, distant and resonant, which announced to the assembly: 'The music of Tuṣita Heaven descends to welcome him.' Dao'ang said: 'The heavenly realm is the root of birth-and-death; it has never been my desire. I have always prayed from my heart for the Pure Land. How can this sincere wish not be granted?' As he finished speaking, he saw the heavenly music soar upward, vanishing into the distance in a moment. Then they saw the incense, flowers, and instrumental music of the West fill the space like rolling clouds flying and surging toward them; circling above his head, the entire assembly beheld it. Dao'ang said: 'Great assembly, fare well! Now the wondrous signs of the West have come to welcome me; by circumstance I must go as vowed.' Having spoken, they saw only that the incense censer fell from his hands, and he passed away sitting upright upon the high seat. He passed away in Baoying Monastery at the age of sixty-nine, in the eighth month of the seventh year of Zhenguan. Clergy and laity wept in deep sorrow, the onlookers gathering like mountains. As they took him in their arms to prepare for burial, they inspected him and found words such as 'Universal Radiance Hall' appearing on the soles of his feet. Had he not been one whose realization joined with spiritual chapters and whose conduct matched that of the near-sage, how could he have manifested such auspicious responses? At that time, near and far lamented and chanted, their breath condensing into shade. He was already sitting cross-legged, with the markings on his palms turned upward. Having witnessed the signs and traces, grief and rejoicing met together. They escorted him back to Hanling Mountain, carved out a cave, and placed him therein. After passing the spring, he had not decayed, appearing serene as before. Ever since Dao'ang's reputation for the Way spread throughout the eastern realm, his compassionate moisture was gentle and mild, and the light of virtue was truly his. He once kept a dog that was deaf in both ears; whenever it followed him, he would reduce his own food to feed it. After Dao'ang passed away, its whereabouts were lost. Also, on an evening when he ascended to lecture, it happened to be dark and overcast with no lamps or candles. Dao'ang raised his palm and held it high; an extraordinary light immediately shone forth, brightly illuminating the hall. The assembly beheld this auspicious omen and wondered where it came from. Dao'ang said: 'This light has always been in my hand. Why should you marvel at it?' The profundity of his spiritual cultivation and his resonance with the unseen and manifest truly cannot be measured. Thus was he a man whose Way surpassed the elevated world. At that time in Xiangzhou, there was the śramaṇa Lingzhi, also a disciple of Master Lingyu. Quick-witted and astute, he was famous in his day. He often served as Lingyu's chief lecturer; his eloquence and cantillation expressed his true heart, fully satisfying everyone's expectations. Moreover, he possessed a clear understanding of the sūtras and treatises. Whenever he ascended the seat of mystery, his phrasing and meaning were expansive, his wondrous thoughts falling like frost and snow, his sharp refutations of difficult questions commanding preeminence across the Zhang and Ye regions. For this reason, all within the four seas looked up to him and followed his repute and instruction. Later, he suddenly realized that the shore of wisdom is difficult to exhaust, that the practice of the Dharma must be relied upon, and that constructing a boat in vain ultimately requires mooring the oars. He then shut out commentaries and sub-commentaries, turning instead to cultivate the practice of concentration. Measuring time by footsteps and guarding his mind, he emptied his heart to accomplish his tasks. Begging for food in the dhūta manner, he purified his spiritual vigor. Handing down a model for beings, his glorious virtue blossomed. In the eighth year of Zhenguan, he passed away in Ye at the age of seventy-five. Later, many who studied and practiced frugality attached themselves to his footsteps. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) - [Previous: 20.16](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2060.20.16) - [Next: 20.18](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2060.20.18) - [Up: 20](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2060.20) ## Translations (1) - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2060~en-mt.20.17) — English, machine translation ## Linked texts (2) - [往生集](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2072.1.109) — Classical Chinese - [華嚴經傳記](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2073.3.8) — Classical Chinese --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2060.20.17](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2060.20.17) · Pramāṇa