大明高僧傳 7.18

7.18

釋瑞仙會稽人。幼纏塵網幾溺愛河。年二十奮然去家。會試經披剃。精習大小律藏。至戒性如虛空持者為迷倒句。忽自省曰。戒者束身法耳。胡自縛耶。遂探究台教。一日閱諸法不自生亦不從他生。不共不無因是故說無生處。疑曰。既不自又不他不共不無因。畢竟從何而生也。歎曰。因緣生法雖照以空假三觀。不過抑揚性海。心佛眾生名異體同。十境十乘妙心成智不思議境。智照方明固非言詮所能及也。遂更衣謁諸耆宿。後登投子山見廣鑑禪師。問曰。甚處來。曰兩浙東越。鑑曰。東越事作麼生。曰秦望山高鑒湖水闊。鑑曰。秦望山與自己是同是別。曰梵語唐言。鑑曰。猶是業林秖對畢竟是同是別。師便喝。鑑便打。忽有省。禮拜曰。恩大難酬。後開法于慈氏。甞問僧。三箇槖馳兩隻脚日行萬里。趁不著。而今收在玉泉山。不許時人亂斟酌。爾等向甚處與仙上座相見。一眾無能下語投其機者。終于本山。

Shi Ruixian was a man of Kuaiji. In his youth he was entangled in the dust-nets and nearly drowned in the river of passion. At the age of twenty, he resolutely left home. Passing the scriptural examination, he received the tonsure. He intensively studied the Great and Small Vehicle Vinaya Pitakas. Coming to the line, 'The nature of precepts is like empty space; those who hold to them are deluded,' he suddenly reflected to himself: 'Precepts are merely a method for restraining the body. Why should I tie myself down?' He then investigated Tiantai teachings. One day he read the passage: 'All dharmas are not produced from themselves, nor are they produced from others, nor together, nor without cause; therefore it is said they are unproduced.' He doubted: 'If they are not from self, nor from other, nor together, nor without cause, from where ultimately are they produced?' He sighed and said: 'Although conditioned dharmas are illuminated through the three contemplations of emptiness and conventionality, this merely exalts and depresses the sea of true nature. Mind, Buddha, and sentient beings have different names but the same substance. The ten realms and ten vehicles—the wondrous mind becoming wisdom, the inconceivable realm—only when wisdom's illumination is bright is it revealed, and it certainly cannot be reached by verbal explanation.' He thereupon changed his robes and visited various venerable elders. Later, he climbed Mount Touzi and saw Chan Master Guangjian. Guangjian asked, 'Where have you come from?' He replied, 'Eastern Yue in Liangzhe.' Jian said, 'What is happening in Eastern Yue?' He replied, 'Mount Qinwang is high; the waters of Mirror Lake are wide.' Jian said, 'Is Mount Qinwang identical with or distinct from yourself?' He replied, 'Sanskrit words, Tang speech.' Jian said, 'These are still just monastery bantering words. Ultimately, are they identical or distinct?' The master shouted. Jian struck him. Suddenly he had an awakening. He bowed and said, 'The great debt of gratitude is hard to repay.' Later he opened the Dharma at Cishi. He once asked a monk, 'Three bags, two legs, travelling ten thousand li in a day. Unable to catch up, now they are gathered on Mount Yuquan; people of these times are not allowed to reckon them at will. In what place will you all meet with Elder Xian?' In the whole assembly, none could offer a word that hit the mark. He passed away on this mountain.