宋高僧傳 5.29

5.29

釋良秀，姓郭氏，蒲津人也。年及佩觿，挺然離俗，乃往中條山柏梯寺披削，誦通經業，受具律儀。誓以傳講為己事，勤苦忘疲。三藏俱尋，九流外贍。于時籍甚，孰不欽崇。貞元四年，奉詔與罽賓國般若三藏同譯《大乘理趣六波羅蜜經》十卷。至五年二月四日解座，寫本進過。尋奉德宗勅令秀造疏，上表云：「去年十一月二十八日右街功德使王希遷奉宣，令良秀等修撰新翻《大乘理趣六波羅蜜經疏》者。伏聞至道同源，聖人一貫，大雄示相，演妙音於獨園，寶位分身，霈湛恩於雙闕。開佛日於聖日，降絲綸於法輪，所以揚化慈航，致人壽域。不然，豈得握真符而契合，應休運以感通？況以此經，如來之密印，群生之度門，得白馬之寶函，啟青龍之祕藏，是第一義，理去筌蹄，於最後乘說無分別。加以天文煥發，叡思昭回。真如契心，已闡微於釋氏；般若製序，諒纘文於太宗。慈雲溥潤於大根，湛露垂滋於貝葉。良秀等材惟末學，性異生知，謬寄討論，伏增殞越。上承嚴旨，徒側管以窺天；虔奉本師，懼升堂而鼓瑟。所修撰疏一部，謹附王希遷隨表奉進，伏乞聖慈，許令同修疏沙門談筵於當寺讚演及流布中外。所冀落落真言，示丹青於新學；明明像教，流粉澤於將來。」帝覽奏，勅內給事毛瑛琦宣慰良秀、談筵、道恒等：「宜共賜絹九十匹，至可領取。比修《疏義》，甚大勤勞也。秋熱，兼問師等各平安好在。」秀之辭筆義端，時少倫匹。終沒罔知時代焉。

Shi Liangxiu, whose secular surname was Guo, was a native of Pujin. When he reached the age of wearing the horn bodkin, he stepped forth boldly to leave the secular world, going to Baiti Temple on Mount Zhongtiao to have his head shaved. He recited and mastered scriptural courses and received the full vinaya precepts. He vowed to make preaching and lecturing his personal mission, applying himself with diligence and forgetting weariness. He investigated all three piṭakas and was well versed beyond them in the nine schools of thought. At that time his renown was widespread, and none failed to admire and venerate him. In the fourth year of the Zhenyuan era, he received an imperial order to join the Kashmiri Tripiṭaka Master Prajñā in translating the Mahāyāna-naya-ṣaṭpāramitā-sūtra in ten rolls. On the fourth day of the second month of the fifth year, the translation assembly concluded, and fair copies were presented to the throne. Soon afterward, he received an imperial decree from Emperor Dezong commanding him to compose a commentary. Xiu submitted a memorial stating: 'On the twenty-eighth day of the eleventh month of last year, Commissioner of Merit and Virtue for the Right Street Wang Xiqian announced an imperial decree ordering Liangxiu and others to compile a commentary on the newly translated Mahāyāna-naya-ṣaṭpāramitā-sūtra. I have humbly heard that the supreme Way shares a single source, and the sage's intent is consistent throughout: the Great Hero manifested his form and preached the marvelous voice in the Solitary Garden; the Jewel Throne divided his emanations and poured down profound grace upon the twin palace towers. Opening the Buddha-sun beneath the Sage's sun, issuing the imperial silk filaments upon the wheel of Dharma, he thereby advanced the transforming bark of compassion and brought the people to a realm of longevity. Were it not so, how could he hold the true tally in tallying accord, or respond to the auspicious turn of fortune in supernatural resonance? How much more so with this sūtra, which is the Tathāgata’s secret seal and the gateway of deliverance for the multitude of beings! It obtained the precious case of the White Horse and opened the secret treasury of the Blue Dragon. It is the primary meaning; its principle transcends the trap and the snare; it preaches non-discrimination in the final vehicle. In addition, the celestial texts blaze brilliantly, and sagely reflections shine radiantly. True Suchness accords with the mind, having already elucidated the subtleties of the Śākya clan; Prajñā composed the preface, which truly continues the literary mantle of Taizong. Clouds of compassion broadly nourish great capacities; heavy dew drips down to moisten the pattra leaves. Liangxiu and the others possess only modest learning; our nature is unlike those born with innate knowledge. To presumptuously undertake discussion fills us with dread and trepidation. Receiving the strict decree from above, we merely peer at heaven through a narrow tube; reverently serving our original teacher, we fear entering the hall to play the zither. The one commentary compiled has been respectfully entrusted to Wang Xiqian to be presented along with this memorial. We humbly beg your Sagely Compassion to permit the monk Tan'yan, who co-compiled the commentary, to praise, expound, and circulate it within the capital and without at our temple. We hope that these distinct true words may provide a guiding model to new students, and this lucid image-teaching may bestow grace upon the future.' The emperor read the memorial and decreed that Palace Attendant Mao Yingqi convey condolences and encouragement to Liangxiu, Tan'yan, Daocheng, and the others: 'It is appropriate to jointly bestow ninety bolts of silk upon you, which you may receive. Compiling the commentary and its meanings recently was an exceedingly arduous task. In the autumn heat, we also inquire after the masters' well-being.' Xiu's diction, brushwork, and doctrinal formulations had few equals in his time. The time of his demise is unknown.