廣弘明集 6.32

6.32

瑯瑘人。有文章。好飲酒。放逸不護細行。宋元嘉中遷太常。沙門慧琳以才學逈拔。為太祖所賞。每升獨榻之禮。延之嫉焉曰。此三台之座。豈可使刑餘居之。帝變色。奕敘之為名士。斯可知也。以琳得寵於文帝。延之非莅政之能官。嫉而譏之。既不預朝廷。退居里閈。子峻為楊州刺史。乘軒還宅。延之負杖避而譏之。不營產業。布衣蔬食獨遊野外。時彥以其不參朝賢。亦顯論所不及。豈不以無預獨榻之榮嫉琳而謂刑餘也。餘如達性論所評議也。然顏公著論。褒贊極多。至如通佛影迹通佛頂齒爪通佛衣鉢杖通佛二㲲。不然。皆置言。高拔群英之所模楷者。刑餘之言。一時之貶琳耳。其四論並見宋陸澄續法論。

A native of Langya. He was skilled in literature, fond of drinking wine, and uninhibited, paying no heed to minor conduct. During the Yuanjia era of the Song, he was promoted to Minister of Ceremonies. The śramaṇa Huilin was appreciated by Emperor Taizu on account of his exceptional talent and learning, and was frequently granted the etiquette of a private couch. Yanzhi was jealous of him and said: 'This seat of the Three Excellencies—how can it be occupied by someone who has suffered mutilation?' The Emperor changed countenance.

Yi described him as a famous scholar; this shows what he was like. Because Huilin was favoured by Emperor Wen, while Yanzhi was not an official capable of governance, he was jealous and mocked him. Once he was no longer involved in the court, he retired to his village. His son Jun became the Inspector of Yangzhou; when he returned home in a high carriage, Yanzhi carried a staff, stepped aside, and mocked him. He did not engage in household management, wore plain clothes, ate vegetarian food, and roamed the countryside alone. Contemporary talents considered him uninvolved with the worthy ministers of the court and beyond the reach of public discussion. Was it not because he was denied the honour of the private couch that he envied Huilin and called him a mutilated person?

The rest is as evaluated in the Treatise on Reaching the Nature. However, Lord Yan composed treatises with immense praise and admiration, such as the Treatise on the Buddha's Shadow and Footprints, the Treatise on the Buddha's Ushnīsha, Teeth, and Nails, the Treatise on the Buddha's Robe, Bowl, and Staff, and the Treatise on the Buddha's Two Carpets. Were it not so, why would all these treatises be established as models by exceptionally talented figures? His words about 'mutilation' were merely a momentary slight against Huilin. His four treatises are all found in the Continued Treatise on the Dharma by Lu Cheng of the Song.