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under the guidance of Phra Acharn Sap. Luang Phaw was a true auto-didact, and never needed prodding from anyone. Such ability is not a skill developed in a single lifetime but is the fruit of many lifetime’s pursuit of wisdom, many lifetimes accruing the merit that purifies the mind. This same gift subse- quently enabled him to discover Vijja Dhammakāya, lost for so many thousands of years, without any in- struction or instructor and mirabile dictu, to instruct and initiate others in Vijja Dhammakāya! Sodh was fourteen when his father died. As soon as the news reached him in Bangla.in, he returned to Songpinong. As the eldest son, the burden of running the family business and supporting his mother and family fell on his young shoulders — however, with Sodh’s wisdom, judgment and leadership, he soon won the love and respect of his relatives and crew. Once, when the boat was anchored in Bangkok, his brother-in-law’s employee stole a thousand baht. He went to the police and together they pursued the thief by boat all night until dawn. Sodh spied the thief at one of the windows of a house and the officer was informed — but before the boat could come to shore the thief hid himself. Noticing that the man had left a trail of wet footprints, Sodh told the police to wait out front while he tracked the thief himself. He found the man hiding behind the haystacks. As soon as he saw Sodh, the thief dived into the straw. The police had already been informed; he was pulled out and handcuffed. They managed to retrieve every last baht.1 Sodh was always keen on developing himself — never content with his own level of development. He would emulate the success of others, and incorporate their 1. from ibid. p.2-3