上人，名安慈，字度輪，接虛雲老和尚法，嗣溈仰，法號宣化。籍東北，誕於清末民初。年十九出家，廬墓為母守孝三年。修禪定，習教觀，日一食，夜不臥，修種種梵行，行腳參方，親近虛雲老和尚及當代耆德。一九四九年抵香港，成立佛教講堂等道場。一九六二年攜正法西來，在美開演大乘經典數十部，陞座說法萬餘次，是在美國建立三寶的第一人。
歷年來，上人創辦法界佛教總會及所屬道場機構多處。他教導東西善信，實踐佛法於日常生活；又訓練弟子翻譯經典、興辦教育，並督導法總所屬各道場之僧眾，成為真正行持佛法之僧團。
一九九五年六月七日，上人圓寂於美國洛杉磯，慧日遽殞，世人同悲；高僧示寂，風範猶存。上人一生大公無私，他慈悲智慧的教化，已令無數人改過自新，走向清淨高尚的菩提大道。故特恭錄上人所作「長白乞士」偈，以為後人之道範。
長白乞士性憨直 助人利他唯恐遲
為法忘軀捐生命 應病與藥捨髓皮
願同十萬成一體 行盡虛空攝萬機
無去無來無現在 亦無南北與東西
The Venerable Master, given name An Ci and courtesy name Du Lun, received the Dharma transmission from the Venerable Master Xu Yun and was a successor in the Weiyang lineage and received the Dharma name Xuanhua. A native of Northeast China, he was born during the transition from the late Qing Dynasty to the early Republic period.
At nineteen, he left the home life and observed mourning beside his mother’s grave for three years, practicing filial piety. He cultivated Chan meditation and studied doctrinal teachings, took only one meal a day, never lay down to sleep at night, and upheld various pure practices, traveled on foot to seek instruction, and drew near to the Venerable Master Xu Yun and other eminent elders of the time.
In 1949, he arrived in Hong Kong and established Buddhist lecture halls and other practice centers. In 1962, he brought the Proper Dharma to the West, lecturing in the United States on dozens of Mahayana sutras and ascending the Dharma seat to speak the Dharma more than ten thousand times. He was the first to establish the Triple Jewel in America.
Over the years, the Venerable Master founded the Dharma Realm Buddhist Association and numerous affiliated monasteries and institutions. He guided disciples from East and West to practice the Dharma in daily life, trained disciples in sutra translation, promoted education, and supervised the Sangha members in all the Association’s Way-places, forming a Sangha community that truly embodies the practice of the Buddha’s teachings.
On June 7, 1995, the Master entered stillness in Los Angeles, USA. Like the sudden setting of a sun of wisdom, people everywhere mourned his passing; though the great monk manifested stillness, his exemplary conduct endures. Throughout his life, the Master was completely public-spirited and selfless. Through his compassionate and wise teachings, countless people have reformed themselves and set forth on the pure and noble path to Bodhi. Therefore, we respectfully record the verse composed by the Master, “The Long White Mountain Mendicant,” as a guiding model for future generations.
The Mendicant of Chang Bai was simple and straightforward by nature,
Eager to help others, always fearing delay.
For the Dharma he forgot his body, even sacrificing his life;
Prescribing medicine according to illness, giving even marrow and skin.
He vowed to unite the myriad beings as one body,
His practice extending throughout space, adapting to myriad conditions.
Without coming or going, without present existence,
Likewise, without north, south, east, or west.