1. Why Enlightened Beings Happen On Planet Earth

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! 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 pancha kriyas. 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 1 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

¹ Nataraja - Enlightened master Shiva in the dancing form in the temple of Chidambaram in south Bharat.

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 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!

People ask me during meditation programs, 'I felt a deep peace and a strong energy during the meditation. Does that mean my enlightenment is near?'

First I want you to understand, we are always near enlightenment. That is the important thing. We are always near to enlightenment. It is a very foolish and wrong idea to think that one person is closer to enlightenment than another. There are only two categories, either you are enlightened or not, that's all. If you are not yet enlightened, then be very clear, you are as close to enlightenment as all others in your category.

Even if you are 99.9 percent enlightened, you are not! Enlightenment is a complete and total change. It is just as water becomes steam only at 100 degrees Celsius, even at 99 degrees it is still only water, never steam. Only at the 100th degree does it become steam. At any point in time, it is either water or steam, never both. Even hot water can put out a fire. That means it still carries the quality of water, not steam. Can you put out a fire with steam? No. So even though it

is hot water, it can only have the quality of water. In the same way, at any point in time, you can be either enlightened or not, never both and never 'nearly'.

Understand, enlightenment is not a continuity of yourself. It can never be a development of yourself. It is a quantum leap, not continuity. If you feel some growth, some development, clarity, inner healing etc. during the spiritual process, it is okay. All these just give you the indication that you are on the right track, that's all. When you see a road sign saying 'Los Angeles, 100 miles', it is a helpful sign always. You know you are on the right track, that's all. But it does not mean you have arrived.

We always want somebody to give us some consoling words. You seek their support and give your support to them in return. But the master does not need your support, so he will straightway tell you the actual truth.

There is no such thing as 99.9 percent enlightened or very close to enlightenment or very near to enlightenment. Either you are enlightened or you are not.

Enlightenment is like a complete 'yes' or a complete 'no'. There are no steps in between. Enlightenment itself is not a step-by-step process happening in stages. Enlightenment is like replacing a gas cylinder, the old one is completely removed and a new one is put in its place!

After the evolution from monkey to human being, it is now time we take the quantum leap to the next level, to the ultimate level. A quantum leap in consciousness is the real goal of enlightenment.

When you are on the path, you don't have to stop and make records about your past. As long as you are stopping and taking record or accounts about your past, be very clear, the breakthrough has still not happened.

When a clear breakthrough, a quantum leap happens, you don't need to and you will not be able to check whether you have grown and how much you have grown. The jump will be beyond your logic.

After the quantum leap, you will be a totally different species, a totally different being. Your body may look like a human body, but your whole inner space will be totally different. Your way of living will become totally different.