續高僧傳 7.24

7.24

Śramaṇa Shi Huisong’s clan name is not known; he was a man of the kingdom of Gaochang. That realm had originally been where the Liang king of the Juqu had fled; therefore, all of its clans were well versed in the literary and institutional traditions of China. Huisong underwent pravrajyā when young, being perceptive and quick-witted. Opening a scroll, he would grasp its core principles upon reading it. Secretly harboring a mastery of profound doctrines, he especially savored the Za xin lun (Saṃyuktābhidharmahṛdaya-śāstra) and was highly esteemed in that kingdom at the time. Huisong’s elder brother was an Erudite (boshi) whom the royal clan revered; he deeply admired the Confucian grove and did not yet revere Buddhist truth. Seeing Huisong’s brilliant discernment, he urged him to return to lay life and instruct him in moral rectitude. Huisong said, 'The petty wisdom of rotten Confucians is unworthy of praise; it should firmly be treated as mere dregs. What else is there to discuss?' His brother repeatedly obstructed him, and then questioned him on the hidden arcana of the Yi lin. Huisong had never read mundane classics; yet holding the scroll, he dissected it in a way that surpassed all prior teachings. Although his brother marveled at him, he still did not believe in the breadth and essentials of the Buddha-Dharma. Huisong presented him with a single verse from the Abhidharma to have him explain it. He stalled for two months, producing confusing and erratic expositions; his words completely deviated from the doctrinal principles. Huisong refuted all that he stated and briefly expounded it once. With a cool clarity of spiritual awakening, [the brother] came to revere and believe in the Buddha-Dharma profoundly, acquiring a wide mastery of its profound arcana, and allowed [Huisong] to roam freely [in his study]. At that time, in the late years of the Northern Wei, scriptural teachings were being widely propagated. The king of Gaochang, wishing to expand the Buddhist order further, offered Huisong along with his younger brother to accompany an embassy into the imperial court. When the Gao clan acted as regents, they regarded him with great esteem. At that time, the scholastic master Zhiyou was renowned throughout the realm as an outstanding talent. Huisong then followed him to study the Abhidharma and the Tattvasiddhi-śāstra. Grasping the gist of the texts, he was deeply trusted and revered in that era. Although he held the status of a śrāmaṇera, his fame and renown spread ever wider. After receiving full ordination, he immediately mounted the high seat, expounding and judging the scriptures and treatises in graceful accord with the capacities of his audience, causing keen adversaries to take refuge and bow their heads at his feet. Having completed his studies and gained far-reaching renown, his native kingdom requested his return. Huisong said, 'Given my broad penetration, my doctrinal pursuits are not meant to benefit a border region.' He circulated between Ye and Luoyang, taking the propagation of the Way as his aim. Later, he was summoned again, but Huisong remained steadfast as before. Gaochang thereupon exterminated his three clans. Hearing of this, Huisong told his followers, 'Do not the scriptures say that the three realms are impermanent and all states of existence are devoid of joy? What is more, the three evil destinies and the eight sufferings are things experienced throughout cycles of existence; why should one find this strange?' When the Gao Qi established the Tianbao reign-era and brought about a renewal of mandate, the Grand Controller (shangtong) of high renown was heavily esteemed by Emperor Xuan. Because Huisong’s reputation had soared for his wisdom and learning, he frequently outshone him in doctrinal debates. Consequently, he was relocated to Xuzhou to serve as the Senior Provincial Controller of Monks (changnian sengtong). He remained living in Pengpei, grandly propagating his great designs. The regions south of the Yangzi and south of the Yellow River all followed his voice and teachings. He was the ancestral master from whom the scholastic master Zhinian at the beginning of the Sui derived his transmission. In the Tianbao reign-era, he died in Xuzhou.