He came into contact with Buddhism at a very early age through the interesting Dharma talks his father shared with him. This had helped to infuse in him immense interest and appreciation for Buddhism. Not long he became a full fledged vegetarian while he was doing his national service. He was then only 18. It was there that he made the resolute decision to dedicate his entire life and energy to walk the Middle Path and realize his spiritual goals.

While pursuing his engineering degree at the National University of Singapore, the calling came. It was further reinforced when he noticed the myopic mentality of those around him. He realized that those people were too preoccupied in pursuing meaningless material goals and they seemed oblivious to what they were pursuing actually were not permanent in nature. He felt saddened to see their main objective was mainly concerned with gain and loss. He saw the superficial and hypocritical side of men.

In 1979, Venerable Yuan Fan joined the monastic order. Upon his ordination, he immediately set forth the propagation of Buddhism into motion. He channeled his time and energy in teaching the Dharma to as many people as possible. To enhance his cultivation, he traveled to many countries which included India, Nepal, China, Korea, Taiwan and Thailand to receive the relevant training and teachings on Buddhism.

In 1986, he returned to Singapore and made Pulau Ubin his cultivation centre and he continued to practice Buddhism there. During that period, the Master was appointed the leading instructor and religious advisor to many Buddhist organisations. In 2000, he was recognized as Vajra Supreme Master. This is indeed a confirmation of the hard work and dedication that he has put into the practice.

In order to propagate the Dharma and help sentient beings, the Master started the Sagaramudra Buddhist Society, Sagaramudra Buddhist Institute, Sagaramudra Buddhist Hermitage and Hai Yin Buddhist Sangha Society. In recent years, Sagaramudra has expanded by setting up branches overseas in Malaysia: Sagaramudra Meditation Centre (Senggarang), Sagaramudra Buddhist Society (Batu Pahat, Johor Baru), Chenresig Meditation Centre (Johor Bahru); Sagaramudra Buddhist Association Inc. and Buddha Dharma Sangha Association Inc. both in Perth, Western Australia.

The Venerable is an expert on Zen, Vajrayana and Pureland Practices. He has an uncanny ability to explain very intricate and complex teachings in simple and palatable manner without compromising the essence of the teaching. Another outstanding attribute of the master is his linguistic ability. He is one of the very few distinguished monks who can give Buddhist discourses in English and Mandarin as well as in many local dialects. The master has shared his teachings with thousands of people from all walks of life. Among his students and followers are some of the most prominent businessmen, eminent leaders and industry professionals.

He is a staunch advocate of continuous improvement and self upgrading. He encourages his disciples to further their academic and spiritual pursuits in order to serve and benefit their fellowmen. To lead by example, the Venerable has not only completed and obtained his master degree programme in Chinese Literature from the University of Nan Jing; he is currently in the midst of pursuing his PhD at the University of Western Australia.

远凡法师生于1957年.  法师来自一个传统和简朴的家庭. 严厉的家庭教育, 使法师从小就建立了诚实和有责任感的美德，也培育了对一切众生的爱心和慈悲.

法师在童年时,父亲已和他分享佛法开示的心得.  父亲的善诱, 使法师对佛法产生了浓厚的兴趣.  在国民服役期间, 法师开始茹素. 当时法师18岁. 至那时开始, 法师已决定尽其一生, 把身心奉献于宗教道路上.

法师在新加坡国立大学攻读工程学士学位时, 对同学们的名利追求和明争暗斗感到厌倦。

在1979年, 远凡法师剃渡出家, 并刻不容缓的开始了他的弘法事业.  为了提升他的佛学知识和个人修行, 法师曾到过印度, 尼泊尔, 中国, 韩国, 台湾, 泰国等国家参学.

在 1989 年, 法师回到新加坡, 并落户乌敏岛, 继续他的修行. 在这其间, 法师曾被一些佛教团体邀请担任领导师和宗教顾问等.  在 2000 年, 法师被封为金刚上师.  这是对法师努力的一种肯定.为了更有效的弘法利生, 法师创办了海印学佛会, 海印佛学院, 海印精舍, 海印僧伽会等. 近年来, 海印再接再厉, 放眼国外. 在马来西亚设立的分院包括海印禅院（新加兰），柔佛州海印学佛会（峇株），观自在禅院（新山）;在西澳珀斯设立的分院包括海印禅寺和西澳聚德林三宝僧伽会.

法师专长于大乘密法, 禅法和净土法门.  法师用心的把博大精深的佛法以深入浅出的方式, 以一般人都能理解, 实际, 简单易懂和生活化的方式呈现给大家. 除此之外, 法师也具备了语言的天赋, 他能以华语, 英语和方言弘法.  因此, 法师能把佛法有效的传播到社会各个阶层.  法师的信徒包括了知名的企业家, 杰出的领袖人物和专业人士等.

法师坚信精益求精和自我提升的信念. 他也积极的在学术和宗教教育方面栽培他的徒弟, 提升他们的素质, 以便日后自利利他.  法师以身作则, 本身已完成了南京大学所颁发的文学硕士学位, 目前正在攻读西澳大学攻读博士学位.