續高僧傳 6.42

6.42

釋惠超。姓王。太原人。永嘉之亂寓居襄陽。七歲出家住檀溪寺。為惠景弟子。景清恒平簡雅有器局。普通之初總州僧正。以節儉聞之。超幼而清悟。容止詳美進趣合度。事景一年。以眾大諠雜乞移禪房依止僧崇禪師習學定業。年十二又從同寺僧受學通三玄。永明中。竟陵王請智秀法師。與諸學士隨方講授西至樊鄧。超因馮受學。同時合席皆共服其領會。隨秀還都住靈根寺。仍從法常乞受具足。誦戒不盈二日。聽律未周兩遍。皆識文知義鏡其纖密。稟承師訓無相忝也。及師亡後。又從智藏採習經論。藏曰。此子秀發當成美器。藏之出處多與同遊。備通諸部名動京邑。後從慧集飡聽毘尼。裁得數遍。集乃嘆曰。不謂始學已氷寒於水矣。後還鄉定省合境懷之。武帝勅還為壽光學士。又勅與觀寺僧伽婆羅傳譯阿育王經。使超筆受。以為十卷。而晦德進人不專矜伐。故有要請多推舊德。藏後使其代講讓不肯當。或逢群賢博論。未曾不預辯通塞。及抗擊前敵。知理將窮而必下。或遇機隙便亦應躡而默。然斯亦稟識同所不安。而超能謙降若此。衣食趣濟榮貴未邀襆無資蓄。安成康王蕭雅秀。欽敬戒德。出蕃要請相携於鎮。講發風被遠近服歎。康王薨後。吳平侯蕭昺遊夏口。復屈俱行。法筵又鋪。學者稱詠。還都續講聽侶相趍。二百餘僧四時習業。於普通七年卒。時年五十有二。

Shi Huichao was surnamed Wang and was a native of Taiyuan. During the disturbances of the Yongjia era, his family took refuge in Xiangyang. At the age of seven, he entered pravrajyā and dwelt at Tanxi Monastery as a disciple of Huijing. Jing was pure, constant, level-headed, simple, and possessed exceptional breadth of character; at the beginning of the Putong era, he was appointed Rector of the Saṅgha for the province, being celebrated for his frugality. Chao was lucidly perceptive from his youth, grave and pleasing in demeanor, and regulated in his conduct. Having served Jing for one year, because the community was large and clamorous, he begged to move to the meditation quarters to rely on the dhyāna master Sengchong and practice meditative concentration. At the age of twelve, he also studied under a monk from the same monastery and mastered the Three Mysteries. During the Yongming reign, the Prince of Jingling invited the dharmabhāṇaka Zhixiu to tour and lecture in various regions along with scholars, reaching west as far as Fan and Deng. Chao took the opportunity to study under him, and all who shared the seat with him marveled at his comprehension. He followed Xiu back to the capital and dwelt at Linggen Monastery, where he then requested to receive full ordination from Fachang. He recited the precepts in less than two days, and before listening to the Vinaya through twice, he recognized the text and understood the meaning, clearly comprehending its subtle minutiae. He received his master's instructions without bringing any shame to them. After his master died, he again studied sūtras and treatises under Zhizang. Zang remarked: 'This youth's brilliance and talent will make him a magnificent vessel.' Wherever Zang went, he often traveled in his company. Chao became thoroughly versed in the various canonical divisions, and his fame shook the capital city. Later, he received instruction in the vinaya from Huiji; after only a few hearings, Ji sighed and said: 'I did not expect that this beginner would already be colder than ice itself!' Later, he returned to his home region to pay his respects to his elders, and the whole region admired him. Emperor Wu imperially decreed his return to serve as a Scholar of Shouguang Hall, and also decreed that he assist Saṅghabhara of Guan Monastery in translating the Aśokāvadāna-sūtra, appointing Chao to record it, producing ten fascicles. Yet he hid his virtue and promoted others, never taking exclusive credit or boasting; hence whenever he received invitations, he mostly yielded them to elders of long-standing virtue. Zang later asked him to lecture on his behalf, but Chao modestly declined to accept. Whenever he encountered broad debates among the multitude of sages, he never failed to participate and resolve impasses; yet when contending against opponents, if he saw the logic about to be exhausted, he would surely yield. Or if an opening presented itself, he would step in and then fall silent. Though this was something that ordinary minds would find intolerable, Chao was humble and modest to such a degree. He took only enough food and clothing to get by, never sought riches and honor, and possessed no bundle of saved wealth. Xiao Yaxiu, Prince Kang of Ancheng, deeply revered his preceptive virtue; when the prince took up a regional command, he invited Chao to accompany him to his post, where Chao's lecturing swept like the wind and was admired by far and near. After Prince Kang died, Xiao Bing, Marquis of Wuping, journeyed to Xiakou and once again invited Chao to accompany him; Dharma seats were laid out again, and scholars praised him. Returning to the capital, he continued his lectures, and listeners flocked to him: more than two hundred monks practiced throughout the four seasons. He died in the seventh year of the Putong reign, at the age of fifty-two.