宋高僧傳 29.44

29.44

釋慧演，姓苗氏，襄陽人也。父為東平紏曹。演幼入開元寺，聞經歡喜，求於辯章法師所度脫。章日講涅槃經，演常隨聽入神。既通深義，復能講談。一日結侶同遊華下，思登毛女峯，觀仙掌，路出洛中，乃參荷澤祖師，通達大觀。因入南嶽，遂住澧陽，江南得道者多矣。貞元十二年終，享齡七十九云。

Shi Huiyan, whose secular surname was Miao, was a native of Xiangyang. His father was a judicial officer in Dongping. In his youth, Yan entered Kaiyuan Temple, felt joy upon hearing the scriptures, and sought deliverance under Dharma Master Bianzhang. Master Zhang lectured daily on the *Nirvāṇa Sūtra*, and Yan would regularly listen with rapt attention. Once he penetrated the profound meaning, he was also able to lecture on it. One day, he formed a company of companions to travel together to the foot of Mount Hua, wishing to climb Maonü Peak and view the Immortal's Palm. Their route passed through Luoyang, where he visited the patriarch master of Heze and thoroughly attained the great contemplation. He then went to the Southern Peak and subsequently resided in Liyang; many in Jiangnan attained the Way through him. He died in the twelfth year of Zhenyuan at the age of seventy-nine.