According to Osho, enlightenment inevitably feminizes consciousness—not as a change of gender but as a shift from aggression to receptivity. This receptive quality allows one to open inwardly and commune with the divine. When the will to dominate dissolves into listening, surrender, and openness, the inner doors unlock and true spiritual realization dawns.
It means truly wise people stop pushing and start gently listening inside, which lets the divine enter.
From the Discourses
Passages where Osho speaks to this question — each links to the complete discourse.
Tao Upanishad · Discourse 22
1971-11-08 · Bombay · Hindi · English translation
Question: A friend has asked: Osho, do all the enlightened have their consciousness become feminine? It will, inevitably. But by “feminine” it doesn’t mean they become women. By “feminine” I mean their consciousness shifts from aggression to receptivity, from being aggressive to being receptive. Only when this receptivity arises can one open the inner doors to the divine.Read the full discourse →
Yoga The Alpha And The Omega Vol 10 · Discourse 6
1976-05-06 · Buddha Hall · English
Question: BELOVED OSHO, I HEAR YOU, YOUR LOVING COMPASSION FOR ME AS A WOMAN, BEHIND YOUR WORDS, WHICH SOMETIMES JAR ME. AND I ALSO FEEL THAT MY VERY WOMAN-NESS IS THE MAIN BARRIER TO MY EVER EXPERIENCING THE BLISS OF ENLIGHTENMENT, BECAUSE ALL OF THE ENLIGHTENED BEINGS YOU EVER TALK ABOUT ARE MEN, AND BECAUSE YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES ARE AS A MALE. PLEASE SHARE WITH ME WHAT YOU CAN ABOUT HOW ENLIGHTENMENT IS FOR ME AS A WOMAN. History is recorded by men, and women are not interested in recording things. They are more interested in experiencing and living them: that is one thing. The second thing is that a woman finds it very easy to become a disciple, very easy to become a disciple, because she is receptive. For a man, it is difficult to become a disciple because he has to surrender, and that is the trouble.Read the full discourse →
Jin Khoja Tin Paiyan · Discourse 16
1970-07-09 · Bombay · Hindi · English translation
Question: Osho, up to the fourth body there remains an electrical difference between woman and man. Therefore, does the effect of shaktipat on a female seeker and on a male seeker differ when the conductor is a woman or a man who has reached the fourth body? And why? The same differences appear in men. As a man grows old, feminine elements increase in him. Old men often begin to behave like women. Many of the masculine traits of their personality weaken, and feminine traits begin to appear. Feminization of personality through receiving grace at the fourth body It is also necessary to understand that all those who receive grace at the fourth body find femininity arising in their personality. If we look at the bodies and personalities of Buddha or Mahavira, they will seem less masculine and more feminine. Feminine softness, pliancy, receptivity will increase in them.Read the full discourse →
The Beloved Vol 2 · Discourse 9
1976-07-09 · Buddha Hall · English
Question: MY HEART DRESS YOURSELF IN THE SPIRIT OF ALL WOMEN AND REVERSE YOUR NATURE AND HABITS. MILLIONS OF SUNS WILL BURST OPEN WITH BRILLIANCE AND THE FORMLESS IN VISUAL FORMS. YOU WILL SEE WHAT CANNOT BE SEEN ONLY IF YOU CAN BE He was seeking for six years; he tried the male-oriented approach. He was a warrior, the son of a great king, trained in the ways of war and fight and struggle. It was natural for him to seek God. He tried, he tried hard. He went from one Master to another, and he was so sincere that no Master could say to him, "You are not doing right, that's why you are not reaching." He was so sincere in his effort that all the teachers told him, "This is all we can say to you. And if it is not happening, then find some other Master.Read the full discourse →
The Way Of Tao Volume 1 · Discourse 22
1971-11-08 · Immortal Study Circle · English
Question: ONE FRIEND SAYS, "LAO TZU HAS TALKED OF THE PROFUNDITY OF THE FEMALE-CONSCIOUSNESS BUT NO TIRTHANKAR, OR AVATAR OR PAIGAMBARA (PROPHET) OR A JESUS OR A BUDDHA OR A MAHAVIRA OR A KRISHNA IS BORN OUT OF A FEMALE-CONSCIOUSNESS. IF THE FEMALE-CONSCIOUSNESS IS SO SUPERLATIVE, ALL RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD SHOULD HAVE BEEN THEREOF. ALL RELIGIONS HAVE HOWEVER ORIGINATED FROM MAN. WHY?" This definitely requires to be understood. There is a reason to this. Everything that is born in this world, is a result of the male and female relationship. In the birth of a child, the role of the male is accidental. His contribution is momentary, but he is the initiator. The birth of the child begins through him. All things in this world are born this way.Read the full discourse →