#151, SANKARACHARYA WAS A MAN, YOU ARE A MAN

Shri A. Srinivasa Pai wrote in his reminiscences of Swami Vivekananda (of the Period 1897, after returning from World Parliament of Religions):

"... At times his manners were somewhat Johnsonian and brusque when he wanted to put down one who had asked a silly question or a question intended to show off one's knowledge. One hot morning (this was after he returned from America to Madras) at the end of a long sitting when many questions had been asked and answered, a somewhat conceited young man asked pompously, "What is the cause of misery in this world, Swami?" "Ignorance is the cause of misery", blurted out Vivekananda and rose and closed the interview. On another occasion one in the audience pointed out to the Swami that the view expressed by the Swami on some point of philosophy differed from that of Shri Shankaracharya. "Well", said the Swami, "Shankaracharya was a man, you are a man, and you can think for yourself." An orthodox Pandit appears to have had an interview with the Swami and attempted to show off his learning. Speaking of that interview the Swami said. "The fellow who cannot pronounce jnana properly has the cheek to criticize my pronunciation of Sanskrit. ..."

BLOGGER'S VIEW
1. Whether Adi Sankaracharya was a man or not, Vivekananda was a man.
2. Could Vivekananda pronounce every Sanskrit word correctly?
3. Didn't Vivekananda ever show off his knowledge?

Swamiji wrote to the King of Khetri from Belur Math in Nov. 1898:

"... The one great lesson I was taught is that life is misery, nothing but misery. Mother knows what is best. Each one of us is in the hands of Karma; it works itself out — and no nay...."

BLOGGER'S VIEW
If Vivekananda was miserable, did he mean that he suffered from ignorance? Then what was the role of Karma (in the meaning of : Carry forward consequences of actions of past birth)?