弘贊法華傳 6.18

6.18

釋法慧。本姓夏侯氏。少而秉志精苦。律行氷嚴。以宋大明之末。東遊禹穴。隱于天柱山寺。誦法華一部。蔬食布衣。志耽人外。居閣不下。三十餘年。王侯稅駕。止拜房而返。唯汝南周顒。以信解兼深。特與相接。時有慕德希禮。或因顒介意。時一見者。以齊建武二年。卒于山寺。春秋八十有五。

Shi Fahui was originally surnamed Xiahou. From his youth he maintained an austere aspiration, his observance of the Vinaya as pure as ice. At the end of the Daming era of the Song, he traveled east to the Cave of Yu and lived in seclusion at Tianzhushan Monastery. He recited one complete copy of the Lotus Sūtra, ate vegetarian food, and wore plain cloth garments. His aspiration was absorbed beyond the worldly realm, and he did not descend from his upper story for more than thirty years. When kings and princes stopped their carriages, they only bowed toward his room and returned. Only Zhou Yong of Runan, possessing both deep faith and understanding, was specially received by him. When there were those who admired his virtue and hoped to pay homage, they would occasionally see him through Yong's mediation. In the second year of the Jianwu era of the Qi, he died at the mountain monastery at the age of eighty-five.