釋門自鏡錄 1.85

1.85

智稜俗姓賈。幼出家事沙門道乘。為師聰悟過人。長於諧謔。善涅槃淨名。尤攻數論。莊老二書彌所留意。後值寇還俗。生計屢空。而為道士孟悉達往來提誘給以資費晨夕曉喻使作黃巾。稜愧其為惠因從之。既夙有聲聞。便為道宗。解西昇妙真及諸大義皆稜之始也。而道家諸經略無宗指。稜遂參佛教為之潤色。武帝未捨道時頻引稜。於五明殿竪義。稜暮年於妙門館。為諸道士講西昇經。在席者數百人。而盛引佛經剖析符會。抗辭正氣欣然自得。俄而失音。舌卷下脣齒相去數寸。但流淚而已。遂死於講座焉。識者聞之以為破法之驗也。

Zhileng, whose secular surname was Jia, entered monastic life in his youth to serve the śramaṇa Daocheng as his teacher. He had intelligence surpassing others and excelled in joking and humor. He was proficient in the *Nirvāṇa Sūtra* and the *Vimalakīrti Sūtra*, and was particularly well-versed in the Abhidharma treatises; toward the two books of Zhuangzi and Laozi he paid even greater attention. Later, encountering bandits, he returned to lay life, and his livelihood was repeatedly destitute. The Daoist Meng Xida came and went to entice him, providing him with financial support, and day and night persuaded him to become a Yellow Turban. Zhileng was ashamed to receive his favor and thus followed him. Since he already possessed renown from of old, he became a leader of Daoism; the expositions of the *Xisheng jing*, the *Miaozhen jing*, and various major doctrines all began with Zhileng. However, the various Daoist scriptures generally lacked core tenets, so Zhileng drew upon Buddhist scriptures to embellish them. Before Emperor Wu renounced Daoism, he frequently summoned Zhileng to establish theses in the Wuming Hall. In his late years at the Miaomen Abbey, Zhileng lectured on the *Xisheng jing* for various Daoists, with several hundred people in attendance. He copiously cited Buddhist scriptures to dissect and reconcile the meanings, holding forth with righteous energy and cheerful self-satisfaction. Suddenly he lost his voice; his tongue curled down, and his upper and lower teeth were separated by several inches. He could only shed tears. He then died upon the lecture seat. Those who understood heard of it and considered it proof of the retribution for destroying the Dharma.