Maharaja Shri Shantananda Saraswati, who introduced the School to Advaita philosophy

The School first made contact with Maharaja Shri Shantananda Saraswati, Shankaracharya of the North, and one of the great spiritual leaders of India, in the mid 60s. It was through this connection that the School was introduced to Advaita.

At the first meeting, Shantananda talked about the direction of enquiry and the part he could play in it. He said:

It is not my desire which has to be carried out. The desire, which has to be helped, is that which arises in people looking for the truth, wishing to acquire the divine life, and to make efforts in that direction; and so far as I can, I will always be ready. My door is always open to anyone, known or unknown, eastern or western, irrespective of his upbringing or culture, because in fact we all come from the same stock. As long as that desire and the decision are strong, permanent and stable, the help will always be available.

The School found this to be so: for the next 30 years he gave fully of his wisdom and guidance upon it through a series of conversations with the School’s leader at the time, Leon MacLaren.

Since his death in 1997, similar guidance has been provided to Donald Lambie by his successor, Shri Vasudevananda Saraswati.