宋高僧傳 11.31

11.31

釋從諗，青州臨淄人也。童稚之歲，孤介弗群，越二親之羈絆，超然離俗。乃投本州龍興伽藍，從師剪落。尋往嵩山琉璃壇納戒，師勉之聽習，於經律但染指而已。聞池陽願禪師道化翕如，諗執心定志，鑽仰忘疲。南泉密付授之，滅跡匿端，坦然安樂。後於趙郡開物化迷，大行禪道。以真定帥王氏阻兵，封疆多梗，朝廷患之。王氏抗拒過制，而偏歸心於諗。諗嘗寄麈拂上王氏曰：「王若問何處得此拂子？答道老僧平生用不盡者物。」凡所舉揚，天下傳之，號趙州法道。語錄大行，為世所貴也。

Shi Congshen was a native of Linzi in Qingzhou. In his childhood he was aloof and independent, surpassing the constraints of his parents and rising transcendantly above the secular. He then went to Longxing Monastery in his home prefecture, shaving his head under a master. Soon he proceeded to the Liuli Altar on Mount Song to receive the precepts; his master encouraged him to listen and study, but he merely dipped his fingers into the sūtras and vinaya. Hearing that the Daoist transformations of Dhyāna Master Yuan of Chiyang were flourishing, Shen fixed his mind and settled his resolve, inquiring and looking up to him without wearying. Nanquan secretly transmitted the teaching to him, and Shen concealed his traces and hid his pointers, tranquil, peaceful, and joyful. Later, in Zhao Commandery, he opened the minds of beings and transformed the deluded, greatly propagating the dhyāna way. Because Commander Wang of Zhending rebelled with his troops, the borderlands were full of obstructions, which troubled the court. Wang resisted beyond measure, yet he devoted his heart exclusively to Shen. Shen once sent a whisk to Wang, saying: 'If the king asks where this whisk came from, answer: "It is something this old monk has used all his life without ever exhausting it."' Whatever he brought forth was transmitted throughout the realm, known as the Dharma-way of Zhaozhou. His recorded sayings circulated widely and were treasured by the world.