釋氏要覽 1.223

1.223

寄歸傳云。鐸曷攞唐言小師（受戒十夏已前。西天皆彌小師）。毘柰耶云。難陀比丘呼十七眾比丘為小師（此蓋輕呼之也）。亦通沙門之謙稱也。昔高僧名僧導。為沙彌時。叡法師見而異之問曰。君於佛法且欲何為導。對曰。願為法師作都講。叡語曰。君當為萬人法主。豈可對揚小師乎。

The Record of the Western Seas says: 'Dahara (duóhélā) in the language of the Tang means "junior master" (before ten rains retreats following ordination, everyone in the Western Heavens is called a junior master).' The Vinaya says: 'The bhikṣu Nanda addressed the group of seventeen bhikṣus as junior masters (this was an informal address).' It is also commonly used as a modest self-appellation for a śramaṇa. Formerly, the eminent monk named Sengdao, when he was a śrāmaṇera, was seen by Dharma Master Sengrui, who thought him remarkable and asked him, 'What do you wish to do in the Buddhadharma?' Sengdao replied, 'I wish to serve as chief lecturer for the Dharma master.' Sengrui said to him, 'You will be a Dharma master of ten thousand people; how could you just respond to and assist a junior master?'