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Shankara Astonished
These impersonalists of
the present age declare themselves to be the followers of Shripad
Shankaracarya, but even if Shankaracarya himself happened to appear, he would
be astonished to see his so-called followers. In fact, these impersonalists are
all atheists and materialists. They have nothing to do either with the actual
brahmavada school of Shankaracarya or with the bhagavata sampradaya represented
by the Vaishnava acaryas.
The impersonal conception
of the Absolute Truth, as propounded by the so-called brahmavada school, falls
short of spiritual progress from its first step. Shankaracarya’s impersonal
conception of brahmavada had some meaning because he emphasized renouncing
material activities. His ideal example of renunciation, as personally practiced
and taught by him, has great significance for the demoniac people of the age of
Kali, but the present impersonalists do not follow Shankaracarya or the
shastra. They do, however, preach something that is not only absurd from all
spiritual points of view, but is the start of material enjoyment, which they
try to cover with the red garments of renunciation. These so-called followers
of Shripad Shankaracarya are condemned by Shankaracarya himself, because they
have taken the red dress simply for the matter of filling their bellies.
The atheistic
impersonalists have done tremendous harm to the potential for spiritual
advancement of the people in general. Therefore, the impersonalists have become
the principal target of reformation for the peaceful sankirtana movement of
Lord Chaitanya.