Hsuan Hua facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hsuan Hua宣化 |
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Hsuan Hua in Ukiah, California
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| Religion | Chan Buddhism |
| School | Guyiang School |
| Lineage | 9th generation |
| Dharma names | An Tzu Tu Lun |
| Personal | |
| Born | Bai Yushu 白玉书 April 26, 1918 Jilin, China |
| Died | June 7, 1995 (aged 77) Long Beach, California, U.S. |
| Senior posting | |
| Title | Chan Master, Founder and abbot of the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, President of the Dharma Realm Buddhist Association, Rector of the Dharma Realm Buddhist University, the ninth patriarch of guiyang school. |
| Religious career | |
| Teacher | Hsu Yun |
| Students | Heng Sure, Heng Lyu, Heng Chau, Heng Lai |
Hsuan Hua (Chinese: 宣化; pinyin: Xuānhuà; literally "proclaim and transform"; April 26, 1918 – June 7, 1995) was a Chinese Buddhist monk. He was also known as An Tzu, Tu Lun, and Master Hua. He played a big part in bringing Chinese Buddhism to the United States in the late 1900s.
Hsuan Hua started several important groups in the U.S. The Dharma Realm Buddhist Association (DRBA) is a Buddhist group with locations in North America, Australia, and Asia. The City of Ten Thousand Buddhas (CTTB) in Ukiah, California, is one of the first large Chan Buddhist monasteries in America. Hsuan Hua also founded Dharma Realm Buddhist University at CTTB. The Buddhist Text Translation Society works to translate Buddhist books from Chinese into English, Vietnamese, Spanish, and other languages.
Contents
Early Life and Spiritual Journey
Hsuan Hua was born on April 26, 1918, in Jilin, China. His birth name was Bai Yushu. It is said that he cried for three days after he was born, feeling sad for all living beings.
When he was eleven, Hsuan Hua saw a dead baby. This made him think about how everything changes and how life and death are a cycle. He decided he wanted to leave home and become a monk, but his mother asked him to wait. His mother was a vegetarian and often recited the name of Amitabha Buddha. Hsuan Hua followed her example from a young age.
At age twelve, he started bowing every day to show respect to his parents. He later expanded this practice to include teachers, leaders, and all living beings. He hoped his bows would bring peace to the world. He would bow for five hours each day, making over 830 bows. When he was fifteen, with his parents' permission, he left home to find a spiritual teacher. He took refuge in the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha) under Venerable High Master Changzhi.
Education and Teaching
Hsuan Hua started formal school at age twelve. He was a very quick learner and could memorize things after reading them just once. By age sixteen, he was already giving talks on Buddhist scriptures to people in his village who couldn't read. He knew a lot about important Buddhist texts like the Sixth Patriarch's Dharma Jewel Platform Sutra.
He also joined many charity groups that helped people stop bad habits like smoking and drinking. He wanted to help people do good things and avoid harm. By age eighteen, he had learned about many Chinese philosophies, traditional medicine, and other religions. He saw how hard it was for people without education. So, he started a free school for thirty poor children and adults. He was the only teacher. He had already left his own studies to care for his sick mother.
Becoming a Monk
At nineteen years old, Hsuan Hua officially became a monk. He received the Dharma name An Tzu.
Bringing Buddhism to the West
In 1959, Hsuan Hua wanted to bring Chinese Buddhism to Western countries. He told his followers in America to start a Buddhist group. This group later became known as the Dharma Realm Buddhist Association.
Hsuan Hua traveled to Australia in 1961 and taught there for a year. In 1962, he came to the United States because American Buddhists invited him. His goal was to help create new Buddhist leaders and enlightened beings in America.
Starting in San Francisco
Hsuan Hua lived in San Francisco and opened a lecture hall. He began to attract young Americans who were interested in meditation. He led daily meditation sessions and often gave talks on Buddhist scriptures.
During the Cuban Missile Crisis, a tense time between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, Hsuan Hua fasted for thirty-five days. He prayed for peace and an end to the conflict. In 1967, he moved his Buddhist Lecture Hall to Chinatown.
First American Monks and Nuns
In 1968, Hsuan Hua held a summer study program on the Śūraṅgama Sūtra. Over thirty students from the University of Washington came to learn. After the program, five young Americans asked to become fully ordained monks and nuns. This was a very important step for Buddhism in America.
Hsuan Hua gave lectures on the entire Śūraṅgama Sūtra in 1968. These talks were written down in a series of books.
Hsuan Hua's Vision for American Buddhism
After his first American followers became monks and nuns, Hsuan Hua began to work on his big plans for Buddhism in the United States:
- He wanted to bring the true teachings of the Buddha to the West. He also wanted to create a proper community of fully ordained monks and nuns there.
- He aimed to organize and support the translation of all Buddhist scriptures into English and other Western languages.
- He wanted to promote good education by starting schools and universities.
Ordination Ceremonies
More and more people wanted to become monks and nuns under Hsuan Hua's guidance. So, in 1972, he held ordination ceremonies at Gold Mountain Dhyana Monastery. Two monks and one nun were ordained. Later, many more ceremonies were held at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. Over two hundred people from around the world became ordained under him.
Connecting Buddhist Traditions
Hsuan Hua had traveled to Thailand and Burma when he was younger to learn about the Southern Tradition of Buddhism. He wanted to bring together the Northern (Mahayana) and Southern (Theravada) traditions. He believed that all Buddhists are followers of the Buddha and should work together.
He said, "From now on, we won't refer to Mahayana or Theravada. Both the Southern and the Northern Traditions' members are disciples of the Buddha, we are the Buddha's descendants. As such, we should do what Buddhists ought to do."
Hsuan Hua also gave an honorary Ph.D. to a Theravada leader, K. Sri Dhammananda. He also donated land for Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery, a Theravada monastery in California. He would invite monks from both traditions to lead ordination ceremonies together.
Chinese and American Buddhist Connections
In 1987, Hsuan Hua hosted a special Buddhist ceremony called the Water, Land, and Air Repentance Dharma Assembly. This was the first time this ancient Chinese Buddhist ritual was held in North America. Over seventy Buddhists from mainland China came to attend.
In 1990, Hsuan Hua sent his followers to Beijing to bring a special collection of Chinese Buddhist scriptures, called the Dragon Treasury, back to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. This helped him achieve his goal of bringing Buddhism to the U.S.
Death and Legacy
Hsuan Hua passed away peacefully in his sleep on June 7, 1995, at the age of 77. He had been ill for some time. His last words were, "I came from empty space, and I will also return to empty space."
Funeral Services
Hsuan Hua's funeral lasted from June 8 to July 29. His body was brought back to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. A close friend, Ming Yang, led the main services.
On July 28, monks from both Theravada and Mahayana traditions held a memorial ceremony and cremation. More than two thousand followers from many countries came to honor him. Letters of sympathy from important people, including former President George H. W. Bush, were read.
The day after the cremation, Hsuan Hua's ashes were scattered from a hot air balloon over the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. This was his wish. His first two disciples, Heng Sure and Heng Chau, did this. After the funeral, memorial services were held around the world. His śarīra (relics) were given to his temples and followers.
Remembering Master Hua
To keep Master Hua's teachings alive, the Dharma Realm Buddhist Association created Dharma Radio. This project aims to make his wisdom teachings easy to access, just like tuning into a radio. This fulfills Master Hua’s wish for Buddhism to fit into Western culture.
There is also a YouTube series called "Master Hua's Oral History Project." In this series, many of his early followers share their favorite memories of the Master.
See also
- Buddhism in the United States
- Timeline of Zen Buddhism in the United States
- Buddhism in the West
