續高僧傳 6.31

6.31

釋僧密。未詳氏族。樂安人。曾未勝衣便從翦落。幼而易悟情解過人。年至十六學友如林。更相開導有聞鄉黨。將欲廣開視聽。師弗之許也。因爾潛遁。出寺從道明沙門受業。一二年中聲華負海。泰始之初。濟江住莊嚴寺。器望凝練風儀峻雅。五眾宗推七貴敬異。深沈詳正。不以利害嬰心。雖復同居眾內。未有測其量者。時人以方法汰。頗謂確言。累居南面。徒眾甚盛。無經不講。專以成實繕奇負氣。高論少所推下。下才在事未能賞重。潛相讒構於竟陵王。密不敘濁清。任其書罪。乃啟擯淮南。學士隨者三十餘人。相仍講化。天監四年卒于江北。春秋七十三矣。

Shi Sengmi, whose lay surname is unknown, was a native of Le'an. Before he was even strong enough to wear adult clothes, he underwent the tonsure. From his youth he was quick to comprehend, and his intuitive understanding surpassed others. By the age of sixteen, his study companions were like a forest; they illuminated and guided one another, and his reputation was heard throughout the hometown. Desiring to broaden his sights and hearing, his teacher would not permit it. Because of this, he slipped away in secret, left the temple, and received instruction under the śramaṇa Daoming. Within one or two years, his fame covered the seas. At the beginning of the Taishi era, he crossed the Yangzi River and resided at Zhuangyan Temple. His capacity and renown were solid and refined, and his deportment was lofty and elegant. The fivefold assembly revered and deferred to him, and the seven ranks of nobles honoured him with wonder. He was profound, deliberate, and upright, never entangling his mind with gains or losses. Although he lived together among the assembly, none could measure his depth. People of the time compared him to Fatai, which was considered quite an accurate assessment. He repeatedly occupied the southern seat, and his followers were extremely numerous. There was no scripture he did not lecture on; he took special pride in the *Tattvasiddhi*, displaying his originality and high spirit. In elevated discussions, there were few to whom he would defer. Men of lesser talent holding official posts were unable to appreciate him, and secretly slandered him before the Prince of Jingling. Mi did not defend his innocence, leaving them to record his guilt. A memorial was then submitted banishing him to Huainan. Over thirty scholars followed him, and they continued lecturing and transforming people in succession. In the fourth year of the Tianjian era, he died north of the Yangzi at the age of seventy-three.