宋高僧傳 8.27

8.27

釋智威，俗姓陳氏，江寧人也。住近青山，地盤嘉氣，善符宿瑞，維嶽降神。爰在童年，器殊眾識，至於戲弄，曾不染俗。性惡浮飾，人皆異焉。無何一朝，忽失其所，父母莫知攸往，乃遍歷諸寺尋訪之，威已依天保寺統法師。誦大乘經，早數百紙，聰敏超倫，眾咸歎服。年二十，遇恩剃落，隷名于幽巖寺，因從持禪師諮請禪法，妙達深理，繼踵前修。既獲髻珠，淡然閑放，形容溫潤，面如滿月，言辭清雅，慧德蘭芳。望重一期，聲聞遠近，江左定學往往造焉。其中頓悟心源，即慧忠禪師，乃命嗣山門，盛傳道化。威自出止延祚寺，說法利人，廣施饒益。以開元十年二月十八日，終于住寺，遺囑林中飼鳥獸，弟子玄挺等依言奉行。春秋七十七。威一時夜行頭陀，將值天曉，有三虎遇之。威截路中過，了無怖色。虎隨至山門，四顧而去。每有二兔一犬庭際遊戲，各無間畏。蓋大悲平等，物我一均，故其然也。次司空山釋本淨，姓張氏，東平人也。少入空門，高其節操。遊方見曹溪六祖，決了疑滯。開元初於南嶽司空山閑放自處，人不我知，蔽偽之故也。天寶中因楊庭光採藥，邂逅相逢，論道終日，迴奏，詔赴京，於白蓮華亭安置。帝知佛法幽深，孰堪商攉，勅召太平寺遠法師及兩街三學碩德，發問鋒起，若百矢之逐一兔焉。淨舉措容與，四面枝梧，譬墨翟之解九攻機械矣。既而辯若建瓴，詶抗之餘，乃引了義教援證。復說「伽陀」，一無留滯。皇情懌悅，觀者歎嗟。以上元二年五月五日歸寂，壽齡九十五。勅諡大曉禪師，亦帶所居為名，曰司空山禪師也。

Shi Zhiwei, secular surname Chen, was a native of Jiangning. He lived near Qingshan, where the land pooled with auspicious vapors, harmonising well with signs of former destinies, as when mountain peaks bestow spirit. When he was a child, his capacity was distinct from ordinary perception; when it came to play, he never was tainted by worldly ways. By nature he abhorred frivolous ornament, and all found him extraordinary. Before long, one morning, he was suddenly nowhere to be found, and his parents did not know where he had gone. They searched through various temples, and found that Zhiwei had already taken refuge with Dharma Master Tong of Tianbao Temple. He recited Mahāyāna sūtras, soon reaching several hundred sheets; in quickness of wit and talent he surpassed all peers, and the multitude sighed in admiration. At the age of twenty, he received imperial favor to shave his head, and his name was registered at Youyan Temple. Thereupon he consulted Dhyāna Master Chi to inquire into the Dharma of dhyāna, marvelously penetrating its profound principles and following in the footsteps of former practitioners. Once he had obtained the jewel in the topknot, he was serene and free from care; his countenance was warm and moist, his face like the full moon, his words pure and elegant, his virtuous wisdom like the fragrance of orchids. His prestige was weighty in that age, and his fame was heard far and wide; those studying meditation in Jiangzuo often visited him. Among them, the one who suddenly awakened to the mind-source was Dhyāna Master Huizhong, whom he directed to succeed to the mountain monastery, flourishingly transmitting the teaching of the Way. Zhiwei left of his own accord to reside at Yanzuo Temple, expounding the Dharma to benefit people and bestowing bountiful advantages widely. On the eighteenth day of the second month of the tenth year of Kaiyuan, he passed away at his residing temple; his testamentary instruction was to feed his body to birds and beasts in the forest, and his disciple Xuanting and others respectfully complied with his words. His age was seventy-seven. Zhiwei once engaged in night-time dhūta practice; as dawn was breaking, three tigers encountered him. Zhiwei crossed straight through their path, showing not the slightest hint of fear. The tigers followed him all the way to the mountain gate, looked around, and departed. Often two hares and a dog would play in the courtyard, with no distance or fear between them. It was because his great compassion was impartial, and other and self were seen as one, that this was so. Next is Shi Benjing of Mount Sikong, surname Zhang, a native of Dongping. In his youth he entered the gate of emptiness, exalting his moral integrity. Traveling afar, he saw the Sixth Patriarch of Caoxi and resolved his doubts and impediments. In the early Kaiyuan era, he lived at ease in solitude on Mount Sikong in Nanyue, unknown to the world because he concealed his genuine state. During the Tianbao era, because Yang Tingguang was gathering medicinal herbs, they met by chance and discussed the Way the entire day. Reporting this back to the throne, an imperial edict summoned him to the capital, and he was housed in the White Lotus Pavilion. The emperor, knowing that the Buddhadharma was profound and wondering who was worthy to assess it, issued an edict summoning Dharma Master Yuan of Taiping Temple as well as eminent figures of the three learnings from both the Left and Right Streets. Questions arose like a fusillade of sharp points, like a hundred arrows chasing a single hare. Benjing's demeanor was composed and leisurely as he parried from all four sides, like Mo Di deflecting the nine siege engines. His eloquence was like water poured from a tilted jar; besides offering rejoinders, he cited the definitive teachings for corroboration. He also spoke gāthās without any hesitation. The imperial mind was delighted, and the onlookers sighed in admiration. On the fifth day of the fifth month of the second year of Shangyuan, he entered quiescence at the age of ninety-five. He was posthumously conferred the title Dhyāna Master Daxiao, and was also known after the place of his dwelling as Dhyāna Master Sikongshan.