pratap

....."First of all, I do not know any Paul Hecker"..... The name is Paul Hacker, a very notable scholar on Shankara and interestingly enough, put forth the same EXACT ideas you have here. In fact almost word for word on some things you have stated. Which led me to suspect you were a covered 'Hacker' follower. fancy that

Thanks for the "Himalayas through a lens of a Sadhu" link, it looks wonderful.