續高僧傳 7.22

7.22

Shi Daochong's surname was Zhang, and his secular name was Bin. During the transition between Northern Qi and Northern Wei, Xiong Ansheng, a great Confucian master of the National University, was esteemed throughout the adjoining states. At that time, there were Li Fan and Zhang Bin, who matched his pace and shared his mat; wherever their talents and arts were directed, everyone submitted to them. Later, both served as assistants under Ansheng. Approaching his thirties, he led more than a thousand disciples to the side of Yanjiao Monastery in Yuanshi County, Zhaozhou—namely, what is now called Yingjue. He asked for water from the monastery. A novice brought it to him and asked, 'Possessing how many dusts may it be drunk?' Since he had never studied internal [Buddhist] teachings, he was at a loss and had no reply. The novice then splashed the water on his face. Bin was greatly mortified and said to his followers: 'This was not to humiliate me with water, but simply to manifest that the Buddha's Dharma is inconceivable. I now commit my mind to this Path; all of you should disperse.' On that very day he renounced household life at the monastery. The monastery rule required three years of probation before entering the Way, but seeing that Bin was brilliant and vastly learned and could not be bound by ordinary regulations, they gave him full ordination on that very day. He then entered the Western Mountains, extensively exploring the Piṭaka sections. His spiritual capacities were deeply eminent, and he lamented knowing [the Dharma] so late. Emperor Xuanwu of the Wei dynasty revered the Buddha's Dharma. When the Indic monk Bodhiruci from Tianzhu first translated the Daśabhūmika [Sūtra] in the Ziji Hall, and Ratnamati translated it in the Daji Hall, each had imperial guards preventing them from communicating words, out of concern that their translations might have discrepancies or redundancies. Beginning in the first year of Yongping, it was not until the fourth year that it was completed. When they collated them, [Bodhiruci] had only 'there is non-duality and non-exhaustion', whereas Ratnamati had 'definitely non-duality and non-exhaustion', differing by only a single character. Everyone was astonished and praised it, as if receiving the mind of a sage. When Chong heard of this matter, he went to Bodhiruci to inquire into its profound depths. Bodhiruci taught him the Daśabhūmika scriptural teachings for three winters. Chong produced commentaries as he listened, and thereupon commenced teaching. His fame and voice were lofty and broad, and Ye honored and praised him. At that time, the court dignitaries and literary giants Wei Shou, Xing Zicai, Yang Xiuzhi, and others had formerly attended Chong's lectures and achieved their official learning through him, yet having abandoned worldly nets, their physical forms and names were no longer bound. Following along, they came to listen, but none could understand. Chong silently recognized them and said, 'All you worthy sirs, since you are known as glories of the state, did you once receive learning from any master from whom you originated?' All replied, 'Originally relying on Master Zhang, we were dismayed with the world and left household life.' Chong said, 'Master and disciple have their origins; now we meet like this.' They then said, 'Our fault is extremely profound! When first hearing your voice, it truly equaled our former teacher, but your appearance was suddenly changed, causing this lack of recognition.' Thereupon they mutually affirmed the three great vows and emptied this single mind, sorrow and joy following one upon the other. It was subsequently reported to the throne. Because his virtue overflowed his generation, the imperial decree deemed it fitting to honor and promote him, daily bestowing three liang of yellow gold for the rest of his life. He trained and shaped scholars who could transmit the Way to over a thousand people. Among the highest were Sengxiu, Fajie, Danli, Laoyi, Ruguo, and others. One account says: originally the Tripiṭaka Master Ratnamati instructed three persons: he transmitted his mind-method to the two masters Fang and Ding, while solely teaching the Vinaya to Huiguang. Tripiṭaka Master Bodhiruci solely taught Chong. Chong taught Laoyi and four others on the north of the road, while Guang taught Ping, Fan, and ten others on the south of the road. Thus, Luoyang had the two traditions of North and South; the two doctrines of 'concomitant' and 'present' began from this. The four and five tenets also arose from this. Now they are obsolete, so they will not be elaborated in detail here.