宋高僧傳 6.8

6.8

Shi Fahai, courtesy name Wenyun, was of the Zhang surname and a native of Danyang. When young he went forth from home at Helin Temple. 'The white colt did not graze on his field's sprouts; the golden-winged bird soon soared over his ocean.' He followed his teacher's instruction closely and perused the various scriptures: a vast ravine receiving rivers, Mount Deng's forest gathering birds of passage. Therefore he entered fully into the single nature, his learning ascending to the realm of the King of Emptiness. He enjoyed contemporary renown for his unique awakening and resolved issues left undecided by earlier sages; at the same time, he was thoroughly versed in external learning and the Six Classics. He once said to people: 'In the single gate of the Buddha's teaching, the ultimate lies solely in the mind-ground; all the rest are merely primitive wheelbarrows.' During the Tianbao era, he participated in the lecture hall of Vinaya Master Fashen of Yangzhou, and alongside Tanyi, Lingyi, and others, was praised as their Yan Hui and Ran Geng. Furthermore, he formed a carefree friendship with Master Zhou of Mount Zhu, roaming with him in the forests. Both ordained and lay followers frequently sought benefit from him.