#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 Pan...