宋高僧傳 26.17

26.17

系曰：觀其唐世已上，求戒者得自選名德為師。近代官度，以引次排之，立司存主之，不由己也。朗之求戒，不其是乎？如是師資相練，恩義所生；脫臨事請為，則喻同野馬也。

The appraisal states: Looking back at the Tang dynasty and before, those seeking ordination could choose a person of renown and virtue to be their master. In recent times, official ordination arranges candidates by registration ranks and establishes offices to govern them, so it is no longer up to oneself. Was not Lang's seeking of ordination just like that [of earlier times]? In this way, master and disciple tempered each other, giving rise to benevolence and righteousness; but if one merely makes an application when the occasion arises, it is like chasing wild horses.