The abbot Venerable Dhammavuddho Thero is a Malaysia of Chinese descent. He worked as an electrical engineer before going forth into the homeless life. In 1998, through donations from his supporters, he founded a 15-acre forest monastery, Vihara Buddha Gotama at Temoh, near Kampar, in the state of Perak, Malaysia. The manastery focuses on the study of the Suttas (discourses) and Vinaya ( monastic discipline), and the practice of meditation, according to the original teaching of the Buddha. It is open to monks and nuns ( maechees or anagarinis), and also laymen and laywomen.