Vajragupta grew up in Bromley, London. He studied psychology and sociology at Aston University, and first came in contact with Buddhism in Birmingham in 1990. He was ordained in 1994 and given the name ‘Vajragupta’, which means ‘secret, or hidden, diamond-like truth’. He was director of the Birmingham Buddhist Centre from 1997 to 2005, and still teaches Buddhism and meditation at classes and retreats across the Midlands. He is author of Buddhism: Tools for Living Your Life, The Triratna Story and Sailing the Worldly Winds, all published by Windhorse Publications. He enjoys nature and wild places, and also loves gardening, poetry, and the visual arts.