Ven. Ajahn Cagino, a Malaysian graduate of Liberal Arts was a professional photographer. As a photographer from the age of 22 to 27, he won no less than 40 awards and came out first in the Asia photography Competition. Before he ordained, he embarked on a journey to search for the Dhamma which led him to the forests of Thailand and New Zealand. He then ordained as a Samanera for one and a half years at the Ang Hock Si Temple in Penang. In 1996 at 29 years old, he ordained as a Theravada Bhikkhu and spent the next 5 years under Luang Por Gungha in Thailand. In 2001, he re-ordained at Wat Pah Nanachat under the Ven. Ajahn Chah tradition. It is during this period that he went “tudong” wandering through the forests of the North and North East of Thailand covering a distance of no less than 4000km on foot. During his stay in the caves in Mae Hon Son province, he came across poor and innocent orphans of the minority tribes whom he thought have great potential if they have the right guidance and education. This led Ven. Ajahn setting up Dhammagiri Foundation, a Buddhist orphanage to help the orphans.