We now reach the ultimate, or what I call the peak experience. Realization of who we are and our role in this universe is the ultimate knowledge and experience that we can have. From the darkness of ignorance we move into the light of truth. We become enlightened.

When you see somebody swimming, you understand three things. The first thing is that swimming is possible, that a man can float on water. Secondly, you have a tremendous urge, ‘If he can do it, why not me? Why can’t I? I can too.’ The third thing is, ‘Let me jump in!’ You get inspiration and courage!

The Divine energy does not need your cooperation to perform the first four actions of creation, protection, destruction, and putting you in maya, but when it comes to pulling you out of maya, it needs your consent and cooperation!

In the same way, when you see an enlightened being walking on planet earth, when you live around him, you also understand three things.

The first thing is that enlightenment is possible. You can live like god on this planet earth.

The next thing is, ‘If he can attain enlightenment, why not me?’ because he radiates such simplicity and ordinariness, which is close to your own human nature. You naturally get confidence that it is possible for you too.

The third thing is courage, ‘Let me jump in!’ All these three will happen only if you live around an enlightened master and continuously watch his body language. Nothing else can trigger this in you.

There are five universal actions called panchakrityas. They are creation, protection, destruction, creating illusion or maya, and pulling a soul out of the illusion with grace. God is said to perform these five actions.

Nataraja, the dancing form of Shiva, has four hands. His upper right hand holds a drum, symbolizing Creation. The whole of Creation is believed to have evolved from sound vibration. The gestures of the lower right and left hands symbolize protection. The upper left hand holds fire, symbolizing destruction. The snake around his neck symbolizes ‘illusion’, into which man enters before liberation. Caught under his foot is the demon who symbolizes coming out of this illusion. Shiva symbolically destroys the illusion under his feet. Performing all these five actions simultaneously, Shiva remains utterly blissful and peaceful!

Shiva carries out these five activities while he performs what is called the Shiva Tandava, Shiva’s Cosmic Dance! The energy that performs all these five activities is the cosmic energy. Shiva performs the first four actions, creation, protection, destruction, and putting one into illusion, from his nirvanic layer or bliss body, which is the innermost body of the seven bodies. The Divine energy can perform all these four actions from the nirvanic layer itself. There is no need to take a physical form to perform them. It can be done by the energy level body itself.

However, to perform the fifth action of pulling souls out of illusion, the energy has to take a human form! The Divine energy does not need your cooperation to perform the first four actions of creation, protection, destruction, and putting you in maya, but when it comes to pulling you out of maya, it needs your consent and cooperation!

Creation is not done with your consent. Protection is also not dependent on you. Similarly, destruction takes place without your consent, and the fourth act of putting you in illusion also does not require your support.

However, the divine energy needs your support to pull you out of illusion and make you enlightened. It is like god asking you to fill out a visa application in order to issue the visa for liberation. You need to fill it out and sign it! The problem is that you may not complete the application or you may delay the process. In order to get your confirmed support for your own enlightenment, god assumes the human body and visits planet earth as an enlightened master.

God (Paramashiva) assumes all seven layers or bodies when he descends on earth as an enlightened master. When performing the first four actions, He only had the nirvanic body, but when He comes to give you enlightenment, He assumes all seven bodies. When god comes down as the master, He lifts you up!

source: Living Enlightenment