釋門自鏡錄 1.85

1.85

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.