自幼博通六經、老莊之學，二十一歲，聽道安講《般若經》，感嘆「儒道九流，皆糠粃耳！」遂禮道安出家。二十四歲代師宣講《涅槃經》，由於義理深奧，遂引用老莊思想，使聽講者曉然於心，自此道安特准他不廢俗書。棲止廬山三十餘載，影不出山，跡不入俗，文人高士群起皈依，王侯士宦肅然敬仰。桓玄下令沙門應禮敬王者，師著《沙門不敬王者論》，闡論佛法之前沙門與帝王平等。創立白蓮社，專以淨土念佛為修行法門，為中國淨土宗初祖。

From a young age, Huiyuan was well versed in Confucian and Daoist teachings. At the age of 21, while listening to a lecture by Dao’an on the Prajnaparamita Sutra, he realized the superiority of the Buddha’s teachings and subsequently became a monk. When Huiyuan was 24 years old, he used Daoist concepts to help his audience grasp the profound meanings of the Nirvana Sutra in a lecture he gave in place of his master. Dao’an then granted him special permission to use non-Buddhist texts in his teachings. He stayed at Lushan for over 30 years, without ever leaving the mountain. The nobility held him in high respect and educated people took refuge under him. When Huanxuan decreed that Buddhist monks must prostrate to emperors, Huiyuan wrote a commentary arguing that monastic and emperors are equal before the Dharma. He founded the White Lotus Society, which emphasized cultivation through reciting the Buddha’s name, and became the First Patriarch of the Chinese Pure Land School.

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