聖嚴法師在寰遊自傳中敘述自己兩度出家的因緣，表達了自己修行弘法的強烈願望，並詳細記載了自己隨順因緣開宗立派的歷程。在整個寰遊自傳中，聖嚴法師開山宗長的角色意識非常濃厚，具體體現為如來家業的擔荷者、法鼓理念的建構者和教派認同的策畫者。他在寰遊自傳中的言行無不受到這些角色的框定和制約，寰遊自傳也因此成為聖嚴法師個人和中華禪法鼓宗這一教派的宗教神話。聖嚴法師的寫作既是為了自己更是為了讀者（尤其是信眾），其寰遊自傳既敘述已經完成的宗教實踐，又開啟新的弘法活動。

In his traveling autobiography, Master Sheng Yen mentioned the reasons for his decision to be a monk, and detailed the process of his founding the monastery by opportunity. The strong role consciousness in the works was reflected in three aspects: to bear the burden of promoting Buddhism, to plot the conception for Dharma Drum Mountain, and to build the group awareness of the Sangha. His words and activities in the Traveling Autobiography were guided by these thoughts, so this book series has become the religious myth of Master Sheng Yen and the Dharma Drum Mountain. His writing was for the sake of himself and readers (especially his followers) as well. Generally speaking, the Travelling Autography takes account of the history regarding the Master’s practice and cultivation, and at the same time opens up new opportunity for promoting Buddhism.