Interview with Phra Prajuab Boonyagaro, the most venerable Phrarajbhavanavisudh ( Luang Phaw Dhammajayo)'s assisant in sculpting the 1.5 times Life Size Preliminary Model of the Next Phra Mongkolthepmuni (Sodh Candasaro) Pure Gold Statue which Luang Phaw Dhammajayo sculptured with his own hands. The most in-depth information which has never been revealed anywhere before is here.
Q: what is the Beginning of the Sculpting Luang Pu Sod Preliminary Enlarged Model?
Q: How dedicated was Luang Phaw when sculpting Luang Pu Sodh Preliminary Enlarged Model?
A: . The day after Luang Phaw came to express his wish, he was ready to start the work right away. I could feel Luang Phaw's dedication for this piece of work. But the preparation processes took me a while. I decided to start with the head first. I carved the clay with rough details and made it ready for Luang Phaw to sculpture it on the table. I could feel his dedication and supreme respect for Luang Pu Sod. Some days, it was raining heavily, I thought Luang Phaw would not come but he did. Some days, the weather was very hot, I saw him covered in sweat but he did not stop. He continued with his work. The weather was no obstacle to him. Some days Luang Phaw felt dizzy, he would just ask his attendant for some medicine and cloth to cover his head and kept on sculpting and did not go back to his residence. His mind was with Luang Pu all the time. He wanted to make this enlarged model to be exactly like Luang Pu. His wish was to bring Luang Pu back to life again.
Moreover, during sculpting, Luang phaw had to stand for many hours. He did not stop to sit. I myself would get cramps or pain in the legs and would want to sit after standing for an hour but Luang Phaw would keep on standing for 2-3 hours straight. And when he saw the skin details of the palm of the hands were not right, he would use himself as an example, holding in the palm of his hands in meditation position and tell me to have a closer look of what an elderly's skin looked like. He wanted to make this model as real and alive as Luang Pu Sodh himself.
Q: Can you explain Luang Phaw's skills in sculpting?
A: Before sculpting Luang Phaw would say " Luang Pu Sodh, please come and be with me so I can sculpt this model to look just like you". This reminded me of the past when I first worked on the previous model and asked Luang Phaw how to sculpture well. Luang Phaw answered that all I needed to do was to ask Luang Pu to come and be with me and sculpt according to the way Luang Pu guided me. I only needed to ask him which part needed to be removed or mounted, then just remove or mount parts accordingly, that's all. After hearing it, I thought that if I was able to do what Luang Phaw could do, that'd be so great!
Q: How about Luang Phaw's Attentiveness to details?
When the Teacher sculpted the Master
(Luang Pu Sodh Candasaro Wat Pak Nam Bhasichareon)'s Preliminary Model with his utmost love, respect and worship.
Shall we dedicate ourselves too?