宋高僧傳 9.31

9.31

釋慧空姓崔，江陵人也。家世儒雅，奕葉纓緌，父任陝服靈寶縣。空丁艱天屬，堅請入空門，庸報乳哺重恩。乃投迴鑾寺恒超下，授受經業。三載誦通，及格蒙度，聽習敏利。因入嵩少，遇寂師禪會，豁如開悟。乃迴三峯於仙掌間，有道流綢繆論道，薄暮方散，非止一過。州帥元公頗知歸向，召之，多以疾辭，或至，必登元席。代宗皇帝聞其有道，下詔俾居京師廣福寺，朝廷公卿罔不傾信。後終于寺，春秋七十八。大曆八年癸丑九月四日，全身堅固而遷塔焉。次南嶽東臺釋元觀，姓袁氏，長安人也。父為河中府掾。母兄為沙門，甚敦道化，見觀幼齡聰慧，風標秀舉，有成人之度，因勸其出家。乃投興善寺，誦經通利。五年得度，乃於《律部》、《俱舍》二本，渙然條理。後出遊方，登諸禪會，明悟真性，如醒宿酲。遂趨衡山，於東臺而止。其道彌昌，冥有所感。恒得神人密送供施，隨其眾寡，不聞有闕。忽一日，神現形再拜曰：「我是此山檀越，常送薄供者，我身是也。」觀問：「汝何業所致？」曰：「我前身曾稱知識，體悟匪全，妄受信施，坐此為神。偶師居此，我曹饋糧，粗副私願。今二十年已足，得遂超度，故來決別也。」觀化緣斯極，囑累禪徒而終，春秋七十九。太和四年十月二日遷塔焉。

Shi Huikong, surnamed Cui, was a native of Jiangling. His family had for generations been cultivated scholars, with successive generations wearing official caps and ribbons. His father served in Lingbao County in the territory of Shan. Experiencing bereavement among his kin, Kong resolutely requested to enter the empty gate so as to repay the heavy debt of nourishment. He then turned to Hengchao at Huiluan Temple to receive instruction in scriptural study. In three years he was thoroughly versed in chanting, and qualifying for ordination, he received tonsure. In listening to and practicing [the teachings] he was quick and sharp. He then entered Songshao, where he encountered Master [Puji]'s Chan assembly and awakened with complete clarity. He then returned to Sanfeng, where between Xianzhang Peak he met with Daoists, discussing the Way intimately, dispersing only at dusk; this occurred more than once. Duke Yuan, the prefectural commander, had great reverence for him and summoned him, but Kong usually declined on grounds of illness; or when he did arrive, he was invariably seated in the place of honor. Emperor Daizong heard of his possession of the Way and issued an edict ordering him to reside at Guangfu Temple in the capital, where the court dukes and ministers all placed devoted faith in him. Later he died at the temple at the age of seventy-eight. On the fourth day of the ninth month of the eighth year of Dali (a guichou year), his whole body remained firm, and his stupa was relocated. Next is Shi Yuan Guan of the Eastern Terrace on Mount Nanyue, surnamed Yuan, a native of Chang'an. His father was an assistant in Hezhong Prefecture. His elder maternal brother was a śramaṇa who earnestly promoted the transformation through the Way; seeing that Guan was intelligent from his youth, with refined bearing and the demeanor of a mature adult, he encouraged him to leave home. Guan then went to Xingshan Temple, where he recited scriptures with fluency. Five years later he was ordained, and he became thoroughly clear about the structure of both the *Vinaya* and the *Abhidharmakośa*. Later he set out on itinerant travels, attending various Chan assemblies, and came to clearly awaken to the true nature, like sobering up after prolonged intoxication. He then hastened to Mount Heng and settled at the Eastern Terrace. His practice of the Way flourished further, and he received occult responses. He constantly received silent offerings sent by a spirit, unfailingly matched to the number of people, without ever being lacking. Suddenly one day, the spirit manifested in bodily form, bowed twice, and said, 'I am the dānapati of this mountain, the very one who has constantly brought slight offerings.' Guan asked, 'What karma brought you to this?' It replied, 'In my former life I was reputed to be a good friend, but my comprehension was incomplete, and I falsely received offerings from the faithful. For this offense I became a spirit. By chance you, Master, dwelt here, and our kind provided provisions, roughly fulfilling our private wish. Now twenty years are complete, and I am able to attain deliverance, so I have come to take my leave.' When Guan's transformative conditions were exhausted, he gave his final injunctions to his Chan disciples and passed away at the age of seventy-nine. On the second day of the tenth month of the fourth year of Taihe, his stupa was relocated.