續高僧傳 26.59

26.59

釋曇瑎。江都人。少學成實兼諸經論。涅槃大品包蘊心目。雖講道時缺。而以慧解馳名。每往法筵亟陳論決。徵據文旨。學者憚焉。常讀經盈箱滿𭪠。記注幽隱追問老耄。皆揖其精府反啟其志。瑎乃為斟酌通問盤梗。自江左右歷覽多年。傳譽不爽實鍾華望。煬帝昔為晉王。造寺京室諸方搜選。延瑎入住。內史令蕭琮。合門昆季祖尋義學。屈禮歸心奉以家僧。携現大小常處第內。晨夕歡娛。講論正理惟其開悟。仁壽之末。勅送舍利于熙州環谷山山谷寺。古傳云。昔有齊人郭智辯。數遊環山之陽。世俗重之。因以名焉。此寺即蕭齊高帝之所立也。林崖重映松竹交參。前帶環川北背峻嶺。江流縈繞寔為清勝。瑎巡此地仍搆塔焉。初正月內當擬基處。屢放金光如一綖許。十餘日中然後方息。舍利恰到如即置基。先不相謀若同合契。皆大慶也。又初到治。天本亢陽。人物燋渴。夜降大雨高下皆足。無不賴幸。又放赤光流矚如火。行道七夕又放大光。被諸山也。五千餘人咸蒙斯瑞。及懺罪營福不可勝言。晚承故業。迄于隋運。後住弘善。以疾而終。春秋八十有三。武德初矣。

Śramaṇa Tanhai was a native of Jiangdu. In his youth, he studied the Tattvasiddhi-śāstra along with various sūtras and treatises. He held the Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra and the Pañcaviṃśatisāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra within his heart and mind. Although he was sometimes lacking in preaching the way, he was renowned for his wisdom and understanding. Whenever he went to Dharma assemblies, he frequently presented arguments and decisions, citing textual passages and principles such that scholars dreaded him. He always read sūtras so copious they filled boxes and hampers; he annotated hidden and obscure points, questioning the elders, all of whom paid respect to his refined treasury [of knowledge] and conversely had their own aspirations opened by him. Hai would then deliberate for them, resolving questions and clearing obstacles. Traveling through the regions to the left and right of the Yangtze for many years, his spread reputation was never falsified, and he truly gathered high esteem.

Formerly, when Emperor Yang was the Prince of Jin, he constructed monasteries in the capital and searched widely across all quarters; he invited Hai to come and reside [there]. The President of the Palace Secretariat, Xiao Cong, together with his entire household of brothers, traced and sought doctrinal learning; bowing with respect, they took refuge from their hearts and honoured him as their family monk. Accompanied by the young and old of the household, he constantly stayed within the residence. Morning and evening were joyous as they discussed correct principles purely for their awakening.

At the end of the Renshou era, an imperial decree ordered him to escort relics to Huangu Mountain and Shangu Monastery in Xizhou. An ancient tradition says: "In the past, there was a man of Qi named Guo Zhibian who frequently roamed the south of Huangu Mountain. The worldly esteemed him, and so it was named after him." This monastery was founded by Emperor Gaodi of the Southern Qi. Forested cliffs reflected one another, and pines and bamboos grew intermingled. Facing the Huan Stream in front and backed by precipitous ridges to the north, with the river winding around, it was truly a pure and scenic place. Hai toured this land and subsequently constructed a pagoda there. Originally, in the first month, at the place where the foundation was planned, golden light of about the thickness of a thread was repeatedly emitted; it ceased only after more than ten days. The relics arrived just in time to lay the foundation immediately; though not planned beforehand, it was as if they matched in perfect accord, and all rejoiced greatly. Furthermore, when he first arrived at the administrative seat, the weather had been extremely parched and sunny, so that people and creatures were scorched and thirsty; during the night a heavy rain fell, soaking high and low alike, and there was none who was not blessed. A red light was also emitted, flowing and shining like fire. After circumambulating for seven nights, a great light was emitted again, covering the mountains. More than five thousand people all received this auspicious omen; the repentance of sins and cultivation of merits were beyond description. Later he continued his former occupation until the end of the Sui dynasty. Afterwards he resided at Hongshan Monastery and died of illness at the age of eighty-three, at the beginning of the Wude era.