神僧傳 6.20

6.20

釋法冲。字孝敦。姓李氏。隴西成紀人也。幼而秀異傲岸時俗。年二十四遂發心出家。聽涅槃三十餘遍。又至安州暠法師下聽大品三論楞伽經。即入武都山修業。年三十行至冀州。貞觀初年下勅有私度者處以極刑。冲誓亡身便即剃落。時嶧陽山多有逃僧避難。資給告窮。便造詣州宰曰。如有死事冲身當之。但施道糧終獲福祐。守宰等嘉其烈亮膏網周濟。乃分僧兩處各置米倉。可十斛許。一所徒眾四十餘人。純學大乘并修禪業。經年食米如本不減。一所五十六人纔經兩日。食米便盡。由不修禪兼修外學。冲曰。不足怪也。能行道者白毫之惠耳。時逃難轉多無處投止。山有虎穴。冲詣告曰。今窮客相投可見容否。虎乃相携而去。及難解冲乃隨處弘法。冲雖廣宣經術專以楞伽命家。中書杜正倫每諮稟之。時三歲玄奘不許講舊繙經。冲曰。君依舊經出家。若不許弘舊經者。君請還俗。更依新繙經。方許君此意。奘聞遂止。師亦命代弘經護法。強禦之士不可及也。僕射于志寧曰。此法師乃法界頭陀僧也。不可名實拘之。

Śramaṇa Fachong, whose courtesy name was Xiaodun, had the surname Li and was a native of Chengji in Longxi. When young, he was exceptional and proud, rising above contemporary customs. At the age of twenty-four, he gave rise to the aspiration to renounce household life. He listened to the Mahāparinirvāṇa-sūtra more than thirty times. He then went to Anzhou under Master Gao to listen to the Pañcaviṃśatisāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā-sūtra, the Three Treatises, and the Laṅkāvatāra-sūtra, whereupon he entered Mount Wudu to cultivate his practice. At the age of thirty, he traveled to Jizhou. In the early years of the Zhenguan era, an edict was issued declaring that those who secretly underwent ordination would suffer the ultimate penalty. Chong vowed to sacrifice his life and immediately shaved his head. At that time, many monks had fled to Mount Yiyang to evade the crisis, and their provisions were exhausted. He then went to see the prefectural governor, saying: "If there is a matter of capital punishment, I, Chong, will bear it myself. Only provide provisions for the Way, and you will ultimately obtain blessing and protection." The governors and magistrates admired his ardent brilliance and, bending the law, provided relief. They divided the monks into two locations, establishing a granary of about ten hu of grain at each. At one location, there were more than forty disciples who exclusively studied the Mahāyāna and cultivated the practice of Chan; after a year, the grain remained as originally provided, without diminishing. At the other location, there were fifty-six people; after barely two days, their grain was exhausted, because they did not cultivate Chan and concurrently pursued non-Buddhist studies. Chong said: "This is not surprising; the ability to practice the Way is simply the benevolence of the white curl [of the Buddha]." At that time, more refugees arrived, and there was nowhere to stay. The mountain had a tiger's cave; Chong went there and announced: "A destitute guest comes to rely on you; can you accommodate me?" The tigers then took each other and left. When the crisis was resolved, Chong propagated the Dharma wherever he went. Although Chong extensively propagated the sūtras and arts, he specialized in the Laṅkāvatāra-sūtra as his specialty. Secretariat Director Du Zhenglun regularly consulted and received instruction from him. At that time, the Tripiṭaka Master Xuanzang did not allow the lecture on previously translated sūtras. Chong said: "You renounced household life relying on the old sūtras. If you do not permit the propagation of the old sūtras, please return to lay life first and then rely on the newly translated sūtras again; only then will I permit this intention of yours." When Xuanzang heard this, he desisted. The Master also was one who propagated the sūtras and protected the Dharma throughout his generation, an unyielding and resolute man whom none could equal. Vice Director of the Left Yu Zhining said: "This Dharma Master is indeed a dhūta monk of the dharmadhātu; he cannot be bound by name or reality."