大明高僧傳 7.10

7.10

釋道震號山堂。金陵趙氏子也。垂髫依覺印英禪師為童子。英遷泗之普照得度。久之辭謁丹霞淳。與論曹洞宗旨。震呈以偈曰。白雲深覆古寒巖。異草靈花彩鳳銜。夜半天明日當午。騎牛背面著靴衫。次依草堂。日取藏經讀之。一夕聞晚參鼓步出經堂。舉頭見月忽大悟亟趨方丈。堂望見即曰。子徹矣。遂為印可。尋出三遷而至百丈道顯著。紹興己巳有律師妄踞黃龍。衲子散子散去。主事者走錢塘。求王承宣繼先書。達洪師張如瑩。瑩公命震以從眾望。而主事者請致書謝王。震讓曰。王公為護佛法。何謝之有。況我與之素昧平生。於是主事恧退。故仲溫曰。彼交結權貴倚為藩垣者聞其言亦足顏汗。噫紹興以來宗師言行相應而與秋霜爭嚴。捨震其誰哉。

Shi Daozhen, styled Shantang, was a son of the Zhao family of Jinling. While still a boy with his hair hanging down, he relied on Chan Master Jueyin Ying as an acolyte. When Ying was transferred to Puzhao in Si, Daozhen received ordination. After a long time, he took leave to visit Danxia Chun and discussed the essential tenets of Caodong with him. Daozhen presented him with a verse, saying:

“White clouds deeply cover the ancient cold cliff;
Rare herbs and wondrous flowers held in the colorful phoenix’s beak.
At midnight the sky brightens; the sun is at high noon;
Riding an ox backward, wearing boots and gown.”

Next, he relied on Caotang, taking out the canon of sūtras every day to read it. One evening, hearing the drum for the evening consultation, he stepped out of the sūtra hall, raised his head to look at the moon, and suddenly had a great awakening. He hurried to the abbot’s quarters. Caotang saw him from afar and immediately said, “You have penetrated through!” Thereupon he gave him his seal of confirmation. Soon after, he went forth, was transferred three times, and arrived at Baizhang, where his path became prominent. In the jisi year of the Shaoxing era, a Vinaya master wrongfully seized Huanglong, and the patch-robed monks dispersed. The temple administrator ran to Qiantang to request a letter from Palace Commissioner Wang Jixian to deliver to Master Zhang Ruying of the Hong region. Master Ying ordered Daozhen to comply with the assembly's wishes. The temple administrator then requested to send a letter of thanks to Wang. Daozhen reproached him, saying, “Lord Wang acted to protect the Buddhadharma; what need is there for thanks? Moreover, he and I have never met in our lives.” Thereupon the administrator withdrew in shame. Therefore Zhongwen said, “Those who associate with the powerful and rely on them as bulwarks, hearing his words, would feel enough shame to make their faces sweat. Ah! Since the Shaoxing era, masters of our lineage whose words and actions correspond and rival autumn frost in severity—setting Daozhen aside, who else could there be?”