Ven. Ajahn Karuniko (Christopher John Woodfine) was born in 1953 near Manchester, England. He graduated from Sheffield University in 1975 with an honours degree in electronics engineering. After graduation, he worked as an engineer in North London. His first contact with Buddhism was from reading a book in 1976, which made a deep impression on him. Two years later, he had the good fortune to meet Ven Ajahn Sumedho who had recently taken up residence in Hampstead Vihara, North London. He then became an anagarika (novice) in 1982 under the guidance of Ven Ajahn Sumedho at Cittaviveka Chithurst Buddhist Monastery, England. In July 1984, he took the monk’s (bhikkhu) ordination with Ven. Ajahn Sumedho. Ven. Ajahn Karuniko had spent most of his monastic life helping to establish monasteries in England and New Zealand. At present, he is the Abbot at Cittaviveka Chithurst Monastery.