Introduction
In this discourse delivered on 1 October 1968 at Gowalior Tank Maidan, Osho delves into a transformative journey from lust to spirituality. He explains the misunderstood nature of sex, the spiritual potential it holds, and its integral role in human evolution. Osho emphasizes that addressing sex openly is essential for personal and societal growth. By understanding and transcending sexual energy, one can elevate to love, and ultimately to spiritual realization. Through anecdotes, philosophical insights, and thought-provoking analogies, he dismantles conventional beliefs and advocates for a higher understanding of life’s energy.
Simplified Summary of Concepts
- Sex as a Starting Point:
Osho emphasizes that understanding sex is the first step toward spirituality. Ignoring or suppressing it leads to societal hypocrisy and personal frustration. - Three Levels of Sexual Experience:
- Physical: Basic, mechanical interaction, often superficial.
- Psychological: A deeper emotional connection, though still unstable and fleeting.
- Spiritual: The ultimate transformation where sex becomes a path to divine union, offering timeless ecstasy.
- Transformation of Energy:
Just as manure can help flowers bloom, sexual energy can be refined into love and higher consciousness through awareness and understanding. - Motherhood and Spiritual Sex:
Osho highlights the unique intimacy between a mother and child as an example of spiritual union. He contrasts this with the fleeting connections in marriage, which require deeper growth to become spiritually fulfilling. - Critique of Conventional Morality:
Religious and social taboos around sex have perpetuated ignorance, leading to perversion and repression. True morality arises from understanding, not suppression. - Path to Superconsciousness:
By observing the fleeting moment of bliss in sexual union, one can catch a glimpse of higher consciousness. Through meditation and awareness, this moment can be expanded into a permanent state of spiritual realization. - New Humanity through Celibacy:
Osho envisions a world where children are conceived out of spiritual union rather than lust, creating a society of healthier, more evolved individuals. - Rejection of Hypocrisy:
He critiques society’s tendency to revere religion superficially while avoiding deeper, transformative truths. Courage and openness are necessary to embrace spiritual growth. - Role of Tantra:
Osho acknowledges Tantra as an ancient practice that understood the spiritual potential of sex and used it as a path to transcendence. - Call to Action:
Osho concludes by encouraging individuals to transform their lust into love and use it as a ladder to reach higher states of consciousness.
This discourse is both a challenge to societal norms and an invitation to embark on a journey of inner transformation, turning base instincts into pathways to spiritual enlightenment.