After the Hour with an Angel with Sri Shankara, Raj sent in the following comment which is quite germane to the interview. Thanks to Raj.
The interview with Adi Shankaracharya was just too beautiful to hear and brought tears to my eyes. I am familiar with most of Shankara’s works and commentaries and know that it is indeed Shankara that spoke. He does speak like a Jagadguru (World Teacher).
The part where Shankara speaks of him meeting Shiva in the most unexpected of forms and places is a reference to this story below.
“One of Adi Shankaracharya’s (eighth century) finest poems, ‘Manisha Panchakam’, was inspired by his dialogue with a Chandala, a member of the lowest [“untouchable”] caste. Once, when Shankara was on his way to the temple after a bath in the Ganga, he found a Chandala with four dogs blocking his path. His caste prejudice flared up when the Chandala refused to step aside, and asked him to do so.
But the Chandala asked: ‘If there is only one existence, what is it that you want to drive away: My body or my soul? If it is my body, both your and mine are made up of the same physical elements. But if it is my soul, it is also no different from yours. How can therefore be any distinctions of caste and creed?’ Filled with remorse, Shankara prostrated himself before the Chandala. The bard in him sang: ‘He who has learnt to see one existence everywhere/ he is my master – be he a Brahmin or a Chandala.'” (1)
His reference to prostration immediately after this also seems to be in reference to this same story.
Its a beauty how Acharya’s and Ramana’s teachings match so much, almost as if they are coming from the same being. Perhaps you could bring up the topic of Atma-Vichara/Sahaja Samadhi and Ramana Maharshi in a future interview, only if it fits in the context of discussion. (2)
Thanks and Much Love,
Raj
Footnotes
(1) https://www.hinduwisdom.info/Caste_System6.htm
(2) Sahaja Samadhi is the level of enlightenment associated with Ascension or Fifth Dimensionality. There are of course numerous articles on this site on the subject. Search on “sahaja.” Atma Vichara is Self-Enquiry, focussing on the question “Who am I?” Answering the question “Who am I?” is the purpose of life. It was also Sri Ramana’s discipline. On the question “Who am I,” see for instance “Know Thyself: The Spiritual Basis of the Path of Self-Awareness (Repost),” at https://goldenageofgaia.com/2013/04/know-thyself-the-spiritual-basis-of-the-path-of-self-awareness-repost/.