[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Taishō Tripiṭaka (Chinese Buddhist canon)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho) › [佛祖歷代通載](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2036) › 7.53 # 佛祖歷代通載 7.53 佛祖歷代通載 7.53 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [7.53](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2036.7.53) 論曰。漢光武生於南陽。而南陽無賤士。羅什至關中而奇才畢集經稱。聖賢出世。皆有因中同行開士。隨從下生以佐佑其化。信不誣矣。方魏晉以來大法草昧。西域沙門至者。例以神迹顯化中國。雖有奇傑閒出。然多囿情外學。迨什公之來然後大法淵源始淳。學者得以盡心方等而蔑視老莊。蓋什公有力於法門。豈小補哉。特以宿障之累。致其居關中才九年所蘊十未行一而不克壽。秦王有致什之功而弗能成其美。嗚呼使什公峻德梵行副其所蘊。獲永天年以光大教之序。雖彌勒出世。尚何加焉。 > The appraisal says: Emperor Guangwu of the Han was born in Nanyang, and Nanyang had no base scholars. Kumārajīva arrived in Guanzhong, and exceptional talents all assembled there. A sūtra states that when sages and worthies appear in the world, there are always bodhisattvas who practiced together with them in the causal stage who follow and take rebirth beneath them to assist their transformation. This is truly not false! Since the Wei and Jin dynasties, the Great Dharma had been rudimentary and obscure. Śramaṇas from the Western Regions who arrived generally used miraculous feats to manifest their transformation in the Central Lands. Although extraordinary individuals appeared occasionally, many were confined by their inclinations toward secular learning. Only with the arrival of Master \[Kumāra\]jīva did the source of the Great Dharma begin to become pure. Scholars were able to devote their minds entirely to the Mahāyāna (vaipulya) and look down upon Laozi and Zhuangzi. Truly, Master \[Kumāra\]jīva's service to the Dharma gate was by no means small! It was solely due to the burdens of past karmic obstacles that he lived in Guanzhong for only nine years, bringing forth not even one-tenth of his vast learning before failing to live out his lifespan. The king of Qin had the merit of bringing \[Kumāra\]jīva, yet was unable to bring his excellence to fruition. Alas! Had Master \[Kumāra\]jīva's lofty virtue and pure conduct matched what he held within, and had he lived out his natural lifespan to glorify the succession of the great teaching, even if Maitreya were to appear in the world, what could he have added to that? > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) - [Previous: 7.52](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2036.7.52) - [Next: 7.54](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2036.7.54) - [Up: 7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2036.7) ## Translations (1) - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2036~en-mt.7.53) — English, machine translation --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2036.7.53](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2036.7.53) · Pramāṇa