高僧傳 2.18

2.18

As a person, Kumārajīva had a clear and penetrating spirit, standing proud and lofty above the crowd; in grasping matters according to the circumstances, he had few equals. He was by nature deeply humane and kind, with universal love in his heart, humble in demeanor and skillful at guiding others, never tiring all day long. The ruler of Qin, Yao Xing, often said to Kumārajīva: 'The master's intelligence and transcendent awakening are without equal in the world. If suddenly you pass away, how can we let the lineage of the Dharma have no successor?' Thereupon he forced ten courtesans upon him, compelling him to accept them. From that time on, Kumārajīva did not reside in the monastic quarters, but had a separate official residence built for him, where supplies were lavishly provided. Whenever he was about to deliver a lecture, he would always first offer a parable himself, saying: 'Just as a lotus flower grows out of foul mud, only gather the lotus flower, do not take the foul mud.'