Once upon a time, when the great Shankaracharya was on his way to the holy salvation-offering Kashi, he saw on the road a Chandala, and said, ‘Get away, get away!’
The Chandala in turn spoke to acharya Shankara, “O worthy Brahmana, please let me know what exactly you wish to keep away. Is it the physical body from another body, or consciousness from another consciousness? Is there any difference between the reflection of the sun in the waters of the Ganga and that in the water flowing by the Chandala’s hut; or between the space within a golden jar and that within a clay pot? Wherefrom has arisen this great delusion, which sees one as a brahmana and another as a Chandala, in this inner Self—this one waveless ocean of self-existing bliss and consciousness?”
Sankara saluted him reverentially saying, “The yogi whose mind is tranquil due to constant contemplation on the effulgence of the pure Consciousness, perfectly at peace with itself—such person is my guru. This is my conviction.”