神僧傳 3.12

3.12

Zhu Daosheng's original surname was Wei, and he was a native of Julu. From birth he was sharp, discerning, intelligent, and sagacious as if divine. His father knew he was no ordinary vessel, cherishing and marveling at him. Later he met the śramaṇa Zhu Fatai, whereupon he abandoned secular life and took refuge. When he reached the age of fifteen, he already ascended the lecture seat; his discourse, questions, and debates had words as pure as pearls and jade. Even elderly, venerable scholar-monks and eminent scholars of the day found their arguments thwarted and words exhausted, none daring to respond or resist. By the time he received full ordination, his capacity and discernment deepened daily. At first he entered Mount Lu and lived in seclusion for seven years. Always regarding wisdom and understanding as the basis for the essential path of entering the Dharma, he assiduously researched all the sūtras, traveling ten thousand li to follow masters without dreading weariness or hardship. Later he traveled to Chang'an to receive instruction from Master Kumārajīva; the monastic assembly of Guanzhong all praised his divine comprehension. He returned and resided at Qingyuan Monastery. Emperor Wen, Taizu of the Song dynasty, deeply praised and esteemed him. Later, Taizu held a feast, and the Emperor personally joined the assembly, dining on the ground mats. The food had been served for quite a while, and the assembly all suspected it was past noon. The Emperor said, "It has just reached midday." Sheng said, "The bright sun adorns the sky; since Heaven says it is just noon, how could it not be noon?" He then took his bowl and ate, whereupon the entire assembly followed suit, all marveling at his timely and fitting expedient. At that time, the latter section of the Mahāparinirvāṇa-sūtra had not yet arrived. Sheng said, "Icchantikas will all attain buddhahood; it is only that this sūtra has not yet fully arrived." Thereupon, literalist masters falsely accused Sheng of being heterodox, ostracized him, and drove him out. Sheng declared an oath before the assembly, saying, "If what I say does not accord with the meaning of the sūtra, I pray that in this very life I immediately experience evil retribution; if it truly tallies with the Buddha's mind, I vow that when I relinquish life, I shall occupy the lion's seat." Thereupon, he shook his robes and entered Mount Huqiu in Wu. He set up stones as his disciples and lectured on the Nirvāṇa-sūtra. When he reached the part where icchantikas possess Buddha-nature, he asked, "Does what I have said tally with the Buddha's mind?" The stones all nodded in assent. In the summer of that year, thunder struck the Buddha hall of Qingyuan Monastery; a dragon ascended into the sky, and its radiant shadow appeared on the western wall. Consequently, the monastery's name was changed to Longguang Monastery. People of the time sighed and said, "Since the dragon has departed, Sheng must surely leave!" Soon afterwards, he went to Mount Lu, blending his silhouette into the crags and ravines; the monks in the mountain all revered and submitted to him. Later, when the large edition of the Nirvāṇa-sūtra reached the Southern Capital, it indeed stated that icchantikas all possess Buddha-nature, fitting Sheng's words like two halves of a tally. Once Sheng obtained this scripture, he immediately expounded it. In the eleventh year of the Yuanjia era of the Song dynasty, he ascended the Dharma seat on Mount Lu to lecture on the Nirvāṇa-sūtra. As he was about to conclude, suddenly the chowry fell from his hand; sitting upright with composed dignity, he leaned against his armrest and passed away.