續高僧傳 30.21

30.21

釋善權。楊都人。住寶田寺。聽採成論。深有義能。欻爾迴思樂體人物。隨言聯貫若珠璧也。眾以學工將立。不願弘之。而權發悟時機。為功不少。適詣。為得。遂從其務。然海內包括言辯之最。無出江南。至於銓品時事機斷不思。莫有高者。晚以才術之舉煬帝所知。召入京師住日嚴寺。獻后既崩下令行道。英聲大德五十許人。皆號智囊同集宮內。六時樹業令必親臨。權與立身分番禮導。既絕文墨惟存心計。四十九夜總委二僧。將三百度言無再述。身則聲調陵人。權則機神駭眾。或三言為句。便盡一時。七五為章其例亦爾。煬帝與學士柳顧言諸葛頴等語曰。法師談寫乍可相從。導達鼓言奇能切對。甚可訝也。頴曰。天授英辯世罕高者。時有竊誦其言寫為卷軸。以問於權。權曰。唱導之設。務在知機。誦言行事自貽打棒。雜藏明誡何能輒傳。宜速焚之勿漏人口。故權之導文不存紙墨。每讀碑誌多疏麗詞。傍有觀者。若夢遊海。及登席列用牽引囀之。人謂拔情實惟巧附也。大業初年。終日嚴寺。時年五十三矣。門人法綱。傳師導法。汪汪任放譎詭多奇。言雖不繁寫情都盡。蕭僕射昆季。時號學宗。常營福祀。登臨莫逮。每有檀會必遣邀迎。然其令響始飛颯焉早逝。釋門掩扇道俗咸惋。

Śramaṇa Shanquan was a native of Yangdu and resided at the Baotian Monastery. He studied and mastered the Tattvasiddhi-śāstra, possessing profound doctrinal capability. Suddenly he shifted his thoughts, taking pleasure in analyzing persons and things, connecting them with words as seamless as strings of pearls and jade. The assembly thought his scholarly expertise was about to be established and did not wish him to popularize it; but Quan was enlightened to the needs of the times, accomplishing no small feat. He adapted to the situation appropriately and successfully, subsequently pursuing this endeavor. When it came to encompassing the utmost eloquence within the seas, nothing surpassed the south of the Yangzi. In appraising contemporary affairs and making quick, incomprehensible discernments, none stood higher than he. In his later years, he came to be known by Emperor Yang on account of his recommendation for talent and technique. He was summoned into the capital to reside at Riyan Monastery. After Empress Xian passed away, an edict was issued to practice circumambulation. About fifty eminent and famous bhadantas, all styled 'think tanks', assembled together in the palace. For the six periods of meritorious practice, [the Emperor] ordered that he must attend in person. Quan and Lishen took turns leading the liturgical guiding. Having dispensed with written texts, they relied solely on mental composition. Across the forty-nine nights, the matter was entirely entrusted to the two monks; during nearly three hundred occasions, not a single word was ever repeated. Shen overwhelmed others with his tonal modulation, while Quan astonished the assembly with his agile spirit. Sometimes, a single three-character phrase would exhaust an entire session; five- and seven-character compositions followed the same pattern. Emperor Yang remarked to academicians such as Liu Guyan and Zhuge Ying: 'One may casually associate with the Dharma Master’s conversational style; but in guiding, stirring words, and marvelous replies to questions, he is truly astonishing.' Ying said: 'His heaven-bestowed hero-eloquence is rarely equaled in this world.' At the time, someone secretly memorized his words, transcribed them into scrolls, and asked Quan about them. Quan said: 'The purpose of establishing cantillation and guiding lies in knowing the opportune moment. Memorizing words to conduct an event will only bring a beating upon oneself. The Samyuktāgama gives a clear warning; how can this be rashly transmitted? It should be burned at once, so it does not leak into people’s talk.' Thus, Quan’s guiding texts were never preserved on paper and ink. Whenever he read stele inscriptions, he often omitted their ornate phrases. Those standing by and watching felt as if they were wandering in a dream upon the ocean; yet when he ascended the seat, he would weave them in with melodious modulations. People thought he was drawing purely upon his own sentiments, but in truth he was skillfully adapting them. In the early Daye era, he passed away at Riyan Monastery at the age of fifty-three. His disciple Fagang transmitted his master’s method of guiding: vast, unrestrained, capricious, and full of wonders. Though his words were not numerous, they expressed feelings entirely. The brothers of Vice Director Xiao were hailed as pillars of scholarship at the time; whenever they managed merits and offerings, their lofty standards were unreachable by others, yet whenever there was an almsgiving assembly, they would invariably send to invite him. However, just as his illustrious reputation began to soar, he abruptly passed away at an early age. The Buddhist gate shut its doors, and clergy and laity all lamented.