Ajahn Mahāpañño: Italian, originally from Arezzo, he started off by practicing meditation as a teenager, following various approaches. Later in 2000 driven by the urge to deepen his knowledge of the Dhamma, he entered a monastery. In 2001 he was accepted as a samanera, and in 2004 as a bhikkhu. Ordained in England by Ajahn Sumedho, he spent much of his monastic life atSantacittarama, where he took care of welcoming guests, administering the monastery and publishing material.